Governor Brown signed California's new $142.6 billion budget into law just hours before Wednesday's midnight deadline. Some of the most significant changes include the elimination of the Healthy Families program for poor children, a reduction in state welfare benefits and a 5 percent pay cut for state workers. Education funding for K-12 will remain intact unless the November tax initiative fails to pass, triggering automatic cuts of up to $5.6 billion. With the July 1 closure deadline looming, California parks officials saved 65 of the 70 parks slated for closure, at least through the next fiscal year. In recent weeks officials scrambled to prevent the state parks from closing for the first time in their 110 year history, by forging partnerships with both public and private donors. Governor Brown partially vetoed a state parks bill on Thursday, reducing the amount approved by lawmakers from $41 million to $10 million.

• The California Report's On The Rocks