CSU Chico details removal of SAT and ACT requirement | New water restrictions for CA | Most Californians cannot afford to buy a home

By Angel Huracha,

Published March 29, 2022 at 8:49 AM PDT

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Tuesday, March 29.

What dropping SAT and ACT testing requirements means for Chico State

The California State University Board of Trusteesvoted unanimously to permanently drop ACT and SAT scores from admission requirements. Chico State Director of Admissions Serge Desir said he hopes the decision will help close equity gaps, as the use of standardized test scores can put some students at a disadvantage.

"Folks who have the resources and access to a lot of test preparation are going to have a leg up,” Desir said. “And for folks coming from more rural environments, folks coming from socio-economically depressed environments, are not as likely to have that kind of support."

Desir said which courses students take in high school, and the rigor of those courses are a better indicator of how that student might perform in college. He added the university may still use any scores students submit to place them in classes and assess what support they may need upon arrival.

— Alec Stutson, NSPR

Gov. Newsom to impose new water restrictions

As California moves into another dry year, Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking state water regulators this spring to ban non-residential users from watering their grass.

Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said it would not apply to grass at parks, ball fields and golf courses.

"Turf [which] the only time it ever gets walked on is to mow, that’s just serving this aesthetic purpose,” Crowfoot said. “That would be a really good candidate for stopping irrigation. And frankly, incentivizing and ultimately moving toward replacing that turf with other surfaces, including native plants.”

Despite some rain over Northern California Monday, water officials expect this to be the driest first three months of any year in the state’s recorded history and are preparing for a third year of extreme drought.

— CapRadio Staff

California considers allowing election workers to keep home addresses hidden from public records

According to The Associated Press, a bill in the legislature could allow some election workers to keep their home addresses hidden from public records. A national survey of election workers found 1 in 6 have experienced threats due to their work. The bill is in response to rising threats after the 2020 presidential election, according to The AP.

Election workers have also reported rising tensions over the last two years. For example, during the recall election of former Shasta County Supervisor Leonard Moty earlier this year, The Redding Record Searchlight reported election workers there had experienced 'bullying' during conversations with residents.The bill cleared a committee in the California Assembly Monday, according to The AP. Victims of domestic violence and abortion providers can also hide their addresses in public records in the state.

— Adia White, NSPR

Report shows vast majority of Californians cannot afford to buy a home

Homeownership became even more unreachable for most Californians last year, and housing affordability was worse for prospective Black and Latino buyers.

As many as three-quarters of people in California couldn't afford to buy a home in 2021, according to a recent report by the California Association of Realtors. The report also breaks down access to homeownership by race in San Francisco and Alameda counties — just 10% of Black households could afford to buy a median-priced home. Economist Oscar Wei said racial disparities like that are entrenched everywhere.

“We are still seeing those issues,” Wei said. “And you know, we're seeing those issues not just in some remote area, but in every part of California.”

Wei said that affordability would likely worsen this year without drastic changes in average incomes and housing supply.

— Alex Emslie (KQED), The California Report

Interview: California to be first in the nation to include cannabis judging in state fair

This summer, at the California State Fair, farmers of one particular agricultural crop will get their first-ever chance to win the state’s top prize.

Cal Expo and the State Fair, which fall under the California Department of Food and Agriculture, are making a historic change by opening the door to judging cannabis. CapRadio’s Randol White spoke with Brian Applegarth, who is running the event. Listen to the interview in today’s headlines.