Forum | Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 9:30 AM

Prop. 29: The Cigarette Tax

It's hard to argue that any effort to stop cigarette addiction isn't a worthy pursuit. Still, Proposition 29 -- which plans to increase the cigarette tax by $1 a pack and give that money to cancer research -- is under fire. Critics say the program may be well intentioned, but that any new tax revenues should pay down the budget deficit. Proponents say making people pay more for their bad habit is a way raise needed research money, and break an addiction.

The California Report | Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 8:50 AM

Budget Plan Includes In-Home Health Cuts, Higher Co-Pays

A hefty chunk of Governor Jerry Brown's newly proposed $8 billion in cuts may end up coming from state health care programs -- although previous attempts have been stymied by lawsuits or federal agencies.

The California Report | Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 8:50 AM

Gov. Brown Details 'Austere' Budget Plan

Four-day work weeks for state workers and fewer services for some of California's most vulnerable residents are among the grim proposals outlined in Governor Brown's new spending plan. The state's budget deficit has ballooned to nearly $16 billion.

Forum | Friday, May 11, 2012, 9:00 AM

Attachment Parenting

The cover of the new edition of Time magazine features a woman breastfeeding a nearly 4-year-old child -- and the reaction has lit up the mommy blogs. We look at the philosophy and controversy of attachment parenting.

Wilmington | May 18, 2012

Trying to Help Students Swap Hot Cheetos for Healthier Fare at Banning High

Posted by Anabell Romero

Edamame, couscous, asparagus and more fruits are among some of the foods that will be served during lunch by Los Angeles Unified School District in the fall. The federal government recently adopted new rules to make school lunches healthier, and at Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington vegetables, more servings of fruits and grains have been served since the beginning of the school year. Foods like vegetarian calzones and even Mexican inspired dishes like the popular stew pozole have been incorporated into the menu, but it has been a challenge for high school students to replace Flamin' Hot Cheetos with apples.

San Bernardino | May 07, 2012

San Bernardino School Lunch Changes Coming Soon

Posted by Bobbi Albano

Dark green, red and orange. These are colors you may be seeing more often on kids’ school lunch trays starting this fall. The new school lunch standards unveiled by first lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in January “will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation,” according to a press release from the United States Department of Agriculture. Even though french fries are still considered a vegetable, new requirements state that kids must be offered at least one serving of a dark green vegetable, one serving of a red or orange vegetable and one serving of beans or peas each week.

Greater Oroville | May 04, 2012

Lunch Time At Palermo School

Posted by Marley Zalay

With new healthy food standards going into effect this fall, schools across the nation will be required to offer more wholesome foods and reduce unhealthy ones. Palermo Middle School, however, is already ahead of the game. The USDA’s new school lunch standards stem from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in 2010. The new requirements limit sodium and trans fats, include more fruit, vegetable, and whole grain servings and replace whole milk with low-fat and non-fat options. The long term objective of improved school nutrition, advocated heavily by Michelle Obama, is decreased childhood obesity.