Julie Small Sacramento Correspondent
- Phone: 916-930-9623
Julie Small covers state government, prisons and the California Supreme Court for Southern California Public Radio.
Before joining KPCC, Julie spent 7 years as the deputy foreign editor for Public Radio’s critically acclaimed "Marketplace." She helped shape the show’s coverage of Asia during China ascendency and India’s growing economic influence. She was the Los Angeles producer of a two-week live broadcast from China in 2006 and produced some other series on counterfeit goods, and the effect of the Iraq War on European-US trade relations. She also produced the "Marketplace Morning Report" for a stint.
Small is a former staff reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She's also reported for NPR, "The California Report," and "Weekend America."
Small earned her master's degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication.
In 1996 she helped launch a national campaign for redress for Japanese-Latin Americans interned by the U.S. government during World War II. The group won a settlement from the U.S. Department of Justice in 1998.
When she’s not walking the halls of the state capitol, Julie spends her free time enjoying life with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area, but she misses her home town of Los Angeles.
Stories by Julie Small
Legislative Bill Would Require Labels for Cloned Meat
California's Senate Health Committee takes up a bill today that would require labels for food containing products from cloned animals. Earlier this year, the federal Food and Drug Administration declared meat and dairy products from cloned animals safe to eat. KPCC's Julie Small reports that raises the prospects for cloned products on store shelves and for consumer pushback.
State Senate Holds Hearing on Insurance Rescissions
The State Senate held a hearing Thursday to examine what's being done to stop health insurers from illegally cancelling policies. Under state law, insurers are allowed to cancel policies only if the company proves the policyholder lied on the application. But state officials have found hundreds of cases where insurance companies "rescinded" policies anyway.
Feds Bust Mortgage Fraud Ring
Federal authorities in Sacramento say they've broken up a mortgage fraud scheme that cost more than 100 people their homes. The majority of the victims were California homeowners facing foreclosure. KPCC's Julie Small reports.
State Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill to Retire
Elizabeth Hill has been California's nonpartisan legislative analyst for two decades, but she announced this week she will retire later this year. KPCC's Julie Small caught up with the woman affectionately called "The Budget Nun" in her Sacramento offices.
Parolee Shift Under Consideration in Sacramento
A plan to shift supervision of thousands of state prison parolees to counties is gaining momentum in Sacramento. California's serious budget crunch has lawmakers looking for ways to save - and quickly. If approved, the plan would cut the state's parole budget in half next year. KPCC's Julie Small reports that counties are worried they'll get stuck with the bill.
California State Prison Bucks Trend and Builds Medical Staff
Two years ago, poor medical care in state prisons accounted for about one inmate death each week. A federal judge took over and the state got rid of about 60 physicians. That's left many prisons without enough doctors; but not the Calipatria prison about 100 miles east of San Diego. KPCC's Julie Small reports on one doctor who's quickly building the staff.
Battle Over California Budget Begins
In Sacramento Tuesday, state senators convened their first hearing on next year's budget. No matter what, they'll have to cut, and cut, and cut. If they don't, California could slip into a $16 billion deficit. Nobody in government wants that. KPCC's Julie Small reports that Democrats and Republicans are proposing very different plans to prevent it.
Sacramento Hearing Held into Massive Beef Recall
At a hearing in Sacramento Monday, California school officials told lawmakers they're worried about the cost of replacing thousands of pounds of recalled beef. The National School Lunch Program purchased it from Westland Hallmark, the Chino company at the center of the largest beef recall in history. KPCC's Julie Small explains.
School advocates prepare to fight Prop 98 suspension
Proposition 98 guarantees that Sacramento will spend about 40 percent of the state's general fund on public schools every year; but lawmakers can suspend that guarantee in tough economic times. The state currently faces a $16 billion deficit and Governor Schwarzenegger wants to suspend Prop 98 and cut nearly $5 billion from schools next year. KPCC's Julie Small says school advocates are gearing up for a fight.
Legislative Analyst Revises State Budget Deficit
The independent Legislative Analyst Wednesday announced that California faces a $16 billion state budget deficit next year. That's a billion-and-a-half bigger than earlier projections, but it's not as bad as it could have been. Last week, lawmakers agreed on some spending cuts to reduce the deficit, but they're still about $8 billion short. KPCC's Julie Small reports that means drastic cuts, any way you slice it.
California Prison Construction Running Behind Schedule
Lawmakers in Sacramento Tuesday got a less-than-impressive progress report on efforts to reduce overcrowding in state prisons. The Department of Corrections has packed about 170,000 inmates into prisons designed for half that many. Nearly a year ago, the State Legislature passed a plan to ease the overcrowding. But KPCC's Julie Small reports that since then, the Department of Corrections has spent most of the time changing that plan.
Think Tank Calls for More Affordable Housing
The California Budget Project says home prices in the state have risen three times faster than wages over the last three decades. The think tank wants more pressure applied on developers to build affordable housing.
Proposition 93 Would Change State's Term Limits Law
California's term limits for state lawmakers are the toughest in the nation. Politicians can serve six years in the Assembly and eight years in the Senate. That's a maximum of 14 years a politician can serve in the state legislature; but the proponents of Proposition 93 want to change that. KPCC's Julie Small tells us why.
Governor Vows to Continue Push for Health Care Reform
Governor Schwarzenegger gave his annual address at the Sacramento Press Club on Tuesday. He said he'll continue pushing for health care reform in California, despite a setback this week. Schwarzenegger also vowed to resolve a multibillion-dollar budget crisis. KPCC Morning Edition host Steve Julian spoke with state capitol reporter Julie Small about the governor's speech.
California Health Care Reform Plan Dies in Committee
The State Senate health committee on Monday rejected the health care reform plan that Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democratic Assembly Speaker agreed to last year. KPCC's State Capitol reporter Julie Small says it was a lack of money that killed it.
