California Lawmakers Propose Plans To Make Housing a ‘Human Right’

U.S. Justice Department Warns State Not To Violate Religious Freedoms Are measures put into place to protect Californians from the coronavirus also stepping on religious freedoms? In a letter sent to Governor Gavin Newsom, the U.S. Justice Department warns that keeping houses of worship closed might violate constitutional rights. Over One Million Undocumented Californians Seek Financial Relief This is the first week undocumented Californians hit hard by the pandemic can apply for state financial relief. The response has been overwhelming. Just two of the dozen nonprofits the state selected to screen applicants say they got 1.3 million calls on the first day. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED UC Regents Consider Cuts The financial toll of the pandemic is coming into focus for the University of California system. As UC Regents meet to discuss the issues this week, advocates are making a case against cuts. Reporter: Vanessa Rancano, KQED California Lawmakers Consider Making Housing a 'Right' California’s housing crisis has driven state lawmakers to think big: How can they guarantee housing as a right? Two different approaches to that problem have made their way to the the state capitol. Now the coronavirus pandemic is shaping the debate. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Housing Imperial County Is Turning Away COVID-19 Patients Two hospitals in Imperial County are turning away coronavirus patients because they say they can't handle any more. The hospitals attribute the recent spike to American citizens living in Mexico who've tested positive for COVID-19 there and are crossing the border to seek treatment. People Experiencing Heart Attacks Are Staying Away From Hospitals For weeks, doctors have been worried that patients having heart attacks were not coming in to emergency rooms because they were afraid of contracting the coronavirus. A new study confirms doctors’ suspicions. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Already Struggling, Recycling Industry Nosedives During Pandemic Californians are stuck at home and producing more trash than ever. However, the centers that process residential recycling say they can’t operate with workers standing six feet apart. Which means a lot of those materials aren’t getting recycled. Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices