"California Gov. Newsom Boosts Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers"

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that will raise the minimum wage for health care workers in the state to $25 per hour. The wage increase aims to address the workforce shortage in the health care sector, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. The governor's office was not directly involved in the negotiations between hospitals, clinics, and unions, but labor leaders have praised the decision. The bill also includes provisions to preempt any local ordinances and halt a ballot initiative seeking dialysis industry regulation. The estimated cost of the wage increase is over $1 billion per year.