California state employees are being required to get back to the office. Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration announced Wednesday that all state employees are now required to work at least two days a week in office, beginning in June. Cabinet Secretary Ann Patterson cited the dwindling COVID pandemic as the reason, with a standard policy needed for over 100-thousand employees. U.S. Census data released in February found that roughly 15-percent of American workers are fully remote, a number three times higher than before the pandemic.
California is one step closer to becoming more pet friendly. A new bill written by San Francisco Assemblyman Matt Haney addresses one part of the state’s housing crisis. Under current law, only 30-percent of available units in any given city are pet friendly, but 70-percent of renters in California are pet owners. In a press release, Haney says this issue is “dramatically exacerbating the housing crisis.” AB 2216 aims to fix this issue by requiring landlords to have reasonable reasons for not allowing pets in rentals. It also requires that property owners only ask about a tenant’s pet ownership status after their application’s been approved.
Freelance workers in California could soon have new protections. A bill that just passed in a Senate sub-committee would give basic protections to freelance workers, including the right to a contract and to be paid within 30 days. The bill makes work over 250-dollars subject to a mandatory contract outlining the scope, rate of pay and method of payment. It also includes 30-day payment terms, payment agreement protections and anti-retaliation language. Under the proposal, victims of non-payment are entitled to double the agreed upon amount, plus costs and attorney’s fees.
More details are being released about a Fort Bragg man accused of shooting his neighbor. Michal Jones is in the Mendocino County Jail facing multiple charges including attempted murder. He’s suspected of shooting is 62 year old neighbor in January, and then running from law enforcement on three separate occasions. He was finally arrested on Tuesday. Rachel Hunt, also of Fort Bragg was arrested in connection to the case. MCSO reported she helped Jones elude police. Hunt is also facing several charges including aiding a wanted person, possession of a controlled substance, and an outstanding felony warrant. She was booked into Mendocino County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Jones is scheduled to be arraigned today.
