Laura Richardson
Coverage of Laura Richardson in the Nexus archive.
- They’re on our flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California?
Democrats are advancing a bill to study reintroducing grizzly bears to California, facing opposition from rural residents, ranchers, and Republicans. The grizzly bear on California’s flag became extinct in the state over a century ago, and tribes and environmentalists argue its return could benefit the ecosystem.
- Can California afford to cover Ozempic for public employees?
California's Senate passed a bill requiring health insurers to cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic for public employees, but CalPERS opposes it due to projected $437 million premium increases and $187 million state fund costs. Sen. Laura Richardson advocates for a five-year pilot program to cover chronic weight management treatments, citing potential long-term savings from reduced healthcare costs.