293 people died from the coronavirus in California yesterday and more than 50,000 new cases were reported, setting new daily records as the virus surges. This is putting the statewide healthcare system under great strain.

Next year, there are big changes coming to how California deals with young people convicted of crimes. Starting July 1st, the Department of Juvenile Justice will stop accepting virtually all new wards, leaving the state’s 58 counties to figure out how to handle those young people.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

A lot of the Golden State’s history is the story of booming population growth, but according to new state figures, California's population grew at the slowest rate in more than a century.

Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED

Early in the pandemic some grocery store chains offered employees hazard pay to compensate workers for the health risks they faced at work during the pandemic. Now, the City of Long Beach is looking to make it a requirement for large chain stores operating in the city.

Reporter: Angel Carreras, KCRW

Many Americans, including hundreds of thousands of people in California, are hoping for more than just money in the new relief package being hashed out in Congress. They’re hoping they won’t have to pay back unemployment money they’ve been overpaid by their state unemployment agencies.

Reporter: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED

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