No way out: How the poor get stranded in California nursing homes

A man wearing a light blue striped shirt and glasses sits in a motorized wheelchair in a kitchen. The room has wooden cabinets and a white refrigerator in the background. The man, who appears deep in thought like he's pondering Berkeley Journalism, has a mustache and is looking ahead with a neutral expression.

(Bradley Fisher, 62, in the Antioch home he eventually moved into after spending 14 years in a Bay Area nursing home. Sept. 2, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters) By Jesse Bedayn (’21) This story appeared in CalMatters on January 20, 2022. Bradley Fisher, a 62-year-old retired mechanic, lived in a Bay Area nursing home…

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In LA, smooth voting (so far) after primary stumbles

A group of people wearing masks stand and maintain social distance in line on a sidewalk. An individual in a cap and mask appears to be directing the crowd. The background includes storefronts, a McDonald's sign, and a few pedestrians walking by, capturing the essence of Berkeley Journalism's street scene.

BY ELENA NEALE-SACKS OCTOBER 30, 2020 For thousands of voters in Los Angeles County, the primary last March was a debacle. A glitch in the new electronic voting system, compounded by the inability of election workers to rectify problems, meant that many voters waited in lines for up to three hours to cast their ballots. Some…

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California facing a “moderate” risk from right-wing militias

A vehicle door with "TRUMP 4 More Years" written in red marker. The image shows a portion of a white vehicle with black door handles and large tires, capturing a moment that could pique the interest of Berkeley Journalism students reporting on political expression.

BY NAHIMA SHAFFER  NOVEMBER 3, 2020 Just five days ahead of Election Day, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a bulletin to law enforcement about state laws that prohibit voter interference and intimidation. But how likely is it that voters will face threats, or even violence? And where? California has been identified as one of the states with…

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In the Bay Area, hope and anxiety

Person holding a large pink flag with a heart symbol, standing in an urban area with tall buildings. Surrounded by others holding protest signs, including "Count Every Vote" and "Trump & Co Must Go." Many wear face masks, and trees are visible in the background—captured perfectly by Berkeley Journalism students.

BY BRIAN HOWEY AND STEVEN RASCÓN  NOVEMBER 5, 2020 As President Trump and his supporters moved to stop the counting of mail-in votes in key battleground states yesterday, local activist groups greenlighted rallies in several Bay Area cities. Their message was simple: count every vote. Anxious, scared, but cautiously optimistic, hundreds of protesters peacefully gathered in parks and…

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Voting at 17? Not so fast

Two individuals interact at a "Drop-off Station" in a spacious indoor setting. One person, seated at a table with the sign “Drop-off Station,” hands an item to another person standing nearby. Both wear masks. Signs with guidelines hang on the wall in the background, reflecting Berkeley Journalism's commitment to safety.

BY ELENA NEALE-SACKS  NOVEMBER 6, 2020 A proposal to give younger people a greater voice in elections was resoundingly rejected by about 55% of California voters. By some measures Proposition 18, which would have allowed 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they turned 18 by the next general election, should have been a shoo-in. It had…

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A debunked theory fuels a Trump lawsuit

Close-up image of three markers on a wooden surface with a white sheet of paper in the center. The markers, two black and one red, are uncapped, displaying their tips. Two of the markers are pointing towards the center, and one black marker is partially visible—perfect for Berkeley Journalism notes.

BY STEVEN RASCÓN NOVEMBER 10, 2020 As if permanent markers didn’t already make enough of a mess, enter #sharpiegate. With votes for Biden mounting, a group of Trump supporters showed up to a ballot counting facility in Arizona’s Maricopa County last Wednesday and cried foul. Their claim: Poll workers were encouraging voters to mark their ballots…

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As Election Day neared, conflict in Bakersfield between Trump and BLM groups intensified

A lifted black GMC truck with several American flags drives down a road as a crowd of people nearby watches. The scene, reminiscent of stories covered by Berkeley Journalism, unfolds in a rural area with mountains in the background. Other vehicles and a food truck are also visible.

BY FREDDY BREWSTER, DEREKA BENNETT AND INJEONG KIM  NOVEMBER 5, 2020 Months before Election Day, tensions had been building in Bakersfield between Black Lives Matter supporters and a group of Trump backers calling themselves the 1776 Patriots. They’ve clashed in parking lots, on sidewalks and in the road, leading to three arrests–one of a BLM protester brandishing a firearm,…

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A free ride, and a chance to vote

A SolTrans bus is parked at a station with passengers boarding. The bus is white with green and yellow accents, branded with the SolTrans logo. Its destination sign reads "VOTE." In the background, a covered bus stop with supporting structures evokes a scene perfect for a Berkeley Journalism feature.

BY ELIZA PARTIKA NOVEMBER 4, 2020 Election Day in Vallejo and Benicia offered a new feature: free bus service from the suburban residential areas into polling stations scattered across the two small cities in Solano County on the edge of the San Francisco Bay. From 6:30 a.m. until the polls closed last night at 8:00, the…

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The last of the early voters

A close-up of various voting materials spread out, including a "Business Reply Mail" envelope, an "I Voted" sticker, a return envelope, and a black pen. Documents provide instructions and options for mailing ballots—captured with the keen eye typical of Berkeley Journalism.

BY ZACHARY FLETCHER AND LEY HEIMGARTNER NOVEMBER 2, 2020 From the time Geoffrey Bara parked his car to the moment he walked out of the Agoura Hills Courtyard Hotel with an ‘I Voted’ sticker, only seven minutes had passed. Bara is one of many voters choosing to visit a polling place in the final days of voting across…

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