California Fights Back, Protects Whales & Courts

0:00It's April 22nd. This is California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. California scored a big win this week, against the Trump administration's push to redirect federal homelessness funds. Counties can keep pouring most of that cash into permanent housing, instead of temporary or sober spots. Back in November, the Fed's tried capping permanent housing at 30%, but California and 19 other states sued, a Rhode Island judge, locked it, and now the appeals dropped. Shifting gears to the coast, a new program kicks off today, asking big ships to slow down to 10 knots or less when whales are around, cutting. Collision risks statewide. Ship strikes are killing whales left and right, especially after last year's rough toll in San Francisco Bay, where gray whale numbers aren't. Recovering and fewer cabs showed up. Communities are feeling the heat from rising federal immigration arrests at courthouses, scaring folks away from seeking justice. Before this administration, I steered clear sensitive spots like courts,

1:03schools, and hospitals to keep access open. Now, with more undocumented people getting nabbed inside or nearby, states like Washington and New York are tracking it for transparency. This Friday, California's Judicial Council votes on whether state courts must start collecting data on these civil arrests. The aim is to gauge impacts on court access and help judges respond. Meanwhile, South Bay Rep Sam Lakarto drops federal legislation today for a well-alured desk at the San Francisco Coast Guard. These moves show California pushing back on federal shifts while protecting oceans and open courts. Stay tuned as these stories unfold.