Petition to Ban Strawberry Pesticide
Nearly 23,000 people have joined an online campaign over the last two days, urging Governor Jerry Brown to ban a chemical called methyl iodide that's used on strawberries. California has approved the use of methyl iodide injected into the soil, although it is also listed by the state as a known carcinogen.
Public Health Cuts Causing More Pain
Public health insurance programs take up an enormous part of California's budget, and they took a big hit from lawmakers and the governor this year in their efforts to close the state's massive deficit. Recipients of both Medi-Cal and Healthy Families will face co-pays and restrictions on number of visits, and their medical providers will get smaller payments.