California Supreme Court to rule on high-stakes battle over ballot measure restricting tax increases
The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the legality of a ballot measure that could significantly impact the balance of power between business and labor. [ more ]
California's proposed budget cuts would leave many autistic young adults without a safety net
Families struggle to find appropriate adult programs for developmentally disabled children after aging out of school services, leading some to create their own solutions. [ more ]
'Inconceivable': Hundreds of Barnet residents face paying up to 23,000 to reclad ex-council homes over fire risk
Residents in Barnet face paying up to £23,000 to reclad their ex-council properties for fire safety, urging the government to step in with funding. [ more ]
The GOP has had enough of Marjorie Taylor Greene's antics: "Nobody cares" what she thinks
Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene refuses to back down from her efforts to oust Mike Johnson despite lack of support.
Greene is outraged over Johnson's actions involving government funding bills and his perceived lack of action against trans people's rights and 'full-term abortion.' [ more ]
Senate to Pass Stopgap Spending Bill as Congress Moves to Avert Shutdown
The Senate is expected to pass legislation to fund the government through early March, putting pressure on the House to follow suit and avoid a shutdown.
The legislation is intended to give Congress time to pass spending bills totaling $1.66 trillion to fund the government through the fall, holding most federal spending steady while bolstering the military. [ more ]
Some worry California proposition to tackle homelessness would worsen the problem
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging voters to approve a ballot initiative to tackle the state's homelessness crisis, but social providers argue it would threaten programs that prevent homelessness.
Proposition 1 on the March 5th ballot would require counties to spend 60% of millionaire tax funds on housing and programs for homeless people with mental illnesses or substance abuse problems, regardless of the size of the homeless population in each county.
The change could cause existing programs, such as cultural centers and peer-support programs, to lose funding, and some organizations fear they may have to close their doors. [ more ]
Trial without a lawyer: Cuts leave families without lawyers in UK
Cuts to government-funded legal aid have left many people in England and Wales without representation, particularly in family law cases.
The 2012 LASPO Act implemented drastic cuts to legal aid, making it difficult for individuals to afford a lawyer and meet the criteria for legal aid. [ more ]
Sunak to give councils 500m in emergency bailout amid cash crisis
Local authorities in England will receive an emergency bailout from the government to prevent bankruptcy.
Upper tier councils will receive an additional 500m for social care while lower tier districts will receive a boost of approximately 30 to 40m. [ more ]
No permanent budget for free school meals in London, Sadiq Khan warns
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced an extension to free school meals until July 2025, but cannot guarantee them indefinitely due to a lack of funding.
Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall has pledged to keep the policy going until the cost of living situation improves. [ more ]
No permanent budget for free school meals in London, Sadiq Khan warns
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced an extension to free school meals until July 2025, but cannot guarantee them indefinitely due to a lack of funding.
Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall has pledged to keep the policy going until the cost of living situation improves. [ more ]
No permanent budget for free school meals in London, Sadiq Khan warns
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced an extension to free school meals until July 2025, but cannot guarantee them indefinitely due to a lack of funding.
Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall has pledged to keep the policy going until the cost of living situation improves. [ more ]
British universities can no longer financially depend on foreign students. They must reform to survive | Simon Jenkins
Universities are becoming primary victims of the chaos enveloping Britain's public sector.News reported in the Guardian has vice-chancellors pleading for a new model of government funding.This follows reports that one-third of England's universities are trading at a deficit.Since almost one-fifth of UK students in higher education now come from abroad 125,000 of them from China there is near panic at the Home Office's determination to slash student immigration.
My opponents are shedding a tear' - Sadiq Khan hits back on housebuilding claims
S adiq Khan has hit back at claims he is building tower blocks people do not want in a desperate bid to reach his housing targets.The Mayor of London revealed on Monday that he had hit the Government's target of starting work on 116,000 new affordable homes by April 2023.He achieved the milestone after work was started on a record 25,658 affordable properties in the last year.
English councils holding back millions of pounds of free childcare funds
MPs have expressed concern that local authorities in England are failing to pass on government funding for free childcare places to nurseries, after research showed councils were holding back millions of pounds to offset deficits or add to reserves.Freedom of information requests submitted by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) revealed that more than 90 of the 150 local education authorities that responded underspent to the tune of almost 46m in total last year.
Sadiq Khan suggests Government may change mind on cash for Ulez scrappage scheme
Following pressure from MPs and borough leaders in his own party, the Mayor has announced that he is expanding the eligibility criteria for the scheme.The funding pot has currently only been open to Londoners on certain low income or disability benefits, as well as charities, sole traders and businesses of fewer than 10 people.
Bus industry warns one in seven services could face closure without extended funding
Up to one in seven bus services across England could be lost if government funding is not extended, an industry body has warned.The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) urged ministers to provide long-term support for the sector and claimed passengers are clearly worried about services being cut.
Government's childcare reforms risk worsening outcomes' for poorer children
The Government's reforms to the childcare system risk worsening outcomes for disadvantaged children, charities have warned.Plans to expand free childcare for working parents in England do not support poorer children or improve childcare quality, according to a report by Coram Family and Childcare (CFC) and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Imported gas to cost UK households 6,000 each as prices continue to soar
British homes will send an average of 5,700 abroad to foreign gas producers to heat their homes and water and cook food by the middle of the next decade, a new analysis suggests.The average home could be buying foreign gas worth around 500 a year by 2035 unless efforts are made to reduce the country's dependency on gas.
Households could spend nearly 6,000 on imported gas over next 12 years
British homes will send an average of 5,700 abroad to foreign gas producers to heat their homes and water and cook food by the middle of the next decade, new analysis suggests.The average home could be buying foreign gas worth around 500 a year by 2035, unless efforts are made to reduce the country's dependency on gas.
Drivers to report road surface blemish as pothole breakdowns soar
Drivers are being urged to report every road surface crack no matter how small amid a surge in pothole-related breakdowns.The AA, which issued the plea, said it wants authorities to understand the true state of our roads.In April, the company received more than 52,000 call outs to vehicles stranded due to faults likely caused by potholes.
Drivers urged to report every road surface blemish as pothole breakdowns soar
Drivers are being urged to report every road surface crack no matter how small amid a surge in pothole-related breakdowns.The AA, which issued the plea, said it wants authorities to understand the true state of our roads.In April, the company received more than 52,000 call outs to vehicles stranded due to faults likely caused by potholes.
Sunak U-turn on ban for China's Confucius Institute like script for Yes Minister'
Rishi Sunak's U-turn on a pledge to shut down 30 Chinese state-sponsored Confucius Institutes in the the UK has been compared to the scriptwriters for Yes Minister.The retreat, first reported by TalkTV, has been criticised by more hawkish Tory backbenchers, with former prime minister Liz Truss urging him to deliver on the language he used during last summer's contest.
Sunak backtracks on leadership pledge to shut down Confucius Institutes
Rishi Sunak has backtracked on a pledge made during his 2022 leadership bid to shut down 30 Chinese state-sponsored Confucius Institutes across the UK.The retreat, first reported by TalkTV, has been criticised by more hawkish Tory backbenchers, with former prime minister Liz Truss urging him to deliver on the language he used during last summer's contest.