Palm Springs International Airport adds San Francisco, Denver flights
Palm Springs Animal Shelter raises over $79,000 at 'Tail-A-Thon'
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Thursday, December 19-December 25, 2024
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Newsom unveils plan to create high-paying jobs without 4-year degrees By Staff
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onday, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the final framework for the Master Plan for Career Education to make it easier for Californians to receive college credit for their real-world experience — especially veterans — and create more pathways to careers in California. The governor also announced the removal of a college degree or other educational requirements for nearly 30,000 state jobs, along with a new goal to double that number. The Master Plan will be supported by funding in the upcoming state budget. “Every Californian deserves the opportunity to build real-life skills and pursue a fulfilling career — including those that don’t require college degrees,” said Newsom. “California is working to ensure that every
Governor Gavin Newsom unveils the Master Plan for Career Education at a press conference in Redding Monday. | Photo courtesy of the California Governor’s Office
person has what they need to get a well-paying, longlasting job so we can build
an economy for the future that supports all families.” The plan introduces
several key instruments aimed at facilitating career opportunities without
necessitating higher education. Central to these innovations is the "Career
Passport" — a digital portfolio that integrates traditional academic records, like college transcripts, with verified skills and credentials earned outside the classroom, such as military service, job training, or volunteer work. Employers will be able to use the Career Passport to see a validated record of a person’s abilities, helping to shift hiring practices toward valuing skills over just degrees. As part of a $100 million budget investment to implement key components of the Master Plan, Newsom is proposing scaling the state’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) effort to make it easier for Californians to turn their real-world experience into college credit. For example, veterans could See Newsom Page 27
Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries to say so-long
Riverside County to host events highlighting plight of area's homeless
By Paul J. Young, City News Service
By City News Service
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See Kevin Jeffries Page 14
See Homeless Page 28
he most senior member of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors closed out his political career Tuesday, attending his final board meeting, where he was lauded by colleagues who recognized him as "very principled" and a "mentor." Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, 64, of Lakeland Village will officially retire on Jan. 1, but Tuesday was the last board meeting of 2024, providing a final opportunity for official farewells. "You've been a mentor to me, and when I needed your help or guidance, you were always open," Supervisor Karen Spiegel said during a presentation in which Jeffries received a nearly three-foot-long commemorative gavel and a plaque with a resolution highlighting his service — which included never missing one board meeting from his first day in January 2013 to now. "I'm going to sorely miss ... the knowledge and your experience that you were available to share with us," Spiegel added. "Thank you for the opportunities. I'm really going to miss you."
he plight of the region's homeless and ongoing efforts to provide resources to help them will be at the heart of multiple events planned Thursday in Riverside, Hemet and Indio. Riverside County officials have organized gatherings to commemorate the "Longest Night," which precedes the winter solstice by just two days, serving as an occasion to underscore the adversity facing those on the streets or otherwise unsheltered, as well as honor those who have died under the same circumstances. "We remain steadfast in our mission to uplift those facing homelessness by providing critical resources and care," Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Washington said. "Events like these help us honor those we've lost while continuing the fight for solutions that bring hope and change." A Longest Night ceremony is scheduled between 5 and 8 p.m. Thursday at Fairmount Park, 2601 Fairmount Blvd., Riverside. Representatives from the county and city will be in