A UC Berkeley student was briefly stopped onstage and told to set aside a Palestinian flag before receiving his diploma, footage shows. The clip has drawn both cheers and criticism.

The state’s new HOPE program seeds $3,000 trust accounts for eligible foster youth and children who lost a caregiver to COVID. Applications and pilot sign‑ups are rolling out this spring.

California has begun mailing SUN Bucks EBT cards loaded with $120 per eligible child to help families buy groceries while school is out.

Oakland approved roughly $3.1M to fund summer jobs and enrichment programs, splitting awards among 21 nonprofits and offering paid 100‑hour placements for teens.

Snap and YouTube struck deals to resolve a school‑district lawsuit alleging their platforms addicted students and forced districts to spend on mental‑health services.

Students and parents say limited bathroom passes, locked restrooms and spotty period supplies have turned basic needs into a school-day problem at several Oakland high schools.

A former Sierra Club Foundation director sued in Alameda County, alleging Black leaders were pushed out amid high‑profile exits that include Ben Jealous’s 2025 firing.

Steph Curry and Davidson College will award 5–10 full‑ride Curry Scholars to Bay Area students, with applications due Sept. 21, 2026 and the first class arriving in fall 2027.

Cal Fire staged a hands‑on demo of aircraft, crews and readiness tools as Northern California warms. Officials urged home hardening and defensible space ahead of peak season.

The CPUC set a permanent 4.5¢/minute cap on intrastate jail calls and tightened rules on hidden fees, a change advocates say will ease costs for families.

Alameda has opened Arnold’s Place, a 50‑bed medical respite program at the Alameda Wellness Campus to help unhoused residents recover and connect to care and housing.

CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit requires burn permits for residential hazard burning starting May 1. Apply online and confirm permissive burn days with your air district.

Samsung phone users in California can now add driver’s licenses to Samsung Wallet; airport acceptance will be limited at first.