1. Backers of a November ballot measure that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in California by 2021 turned in petition signatures to the state, the Chron reports. Currently, about 4 million California workers make less than $15 an hour. The wage increase is being pushed by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West and is opposed by many businesses in the state. The Service Employees International Union’s state council is collecting signatures for a separate measure that would also raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour — but by 2020.
2. Childhood vaccination rates have soared in Oakland and Alameda County thanks to a new statewide mandate that eliminated the so-called “personal belief” exemption and requires all schoolchildren to be vaccinated unless they have a medical excuse. KQED reports (h/t Rough & Tumble) that vaccination rates in Oakland public schools jumped from 74 percent in 2014–15 to 97 percent this year. In Alameda County overall, rates increased from 89 percent to 97 percent.
3. Pro-development members of the California Coastal Commission, which is in charge of protecting the state’s coastline, are attempting to oust Executive Director Charles Lester, who is backed by environmentalists, Capitol Weekly reports (h/t Rough & Tumble). The pro-development coalition, which is aligned with Governor Jerry Brown, has been in a fight with environmentalists over the future of the California Coast.