West
California state health insurance to cover sex changes for illegal immigrants
The Golden State is expanding its massive health care system this year, which means more taxpayer dollars will fund sex change surgeries for state residents, regardless of their citizenship status.
According to a memo first circulated in May 2022 and reported by the Daily Caller Foundation, California’s Medi-Cal covers costs for hormone therapy and procedures “that bring primary and secondary gender characteristics into conformity with the individual’s identified gender, including ancillary services, such as hair removal, incident to those services.”
Nearly 700,000 illegal immigrants between the ages of 26 and 49 qualify, as of Jan. 1, for these federal health care services, which will cost California taxpayers an estimated $3.1 billion. For those living in California illegally within this age range, it translates to approximately $4,058 per year in medical coverage subsidies funded by the state’s general fund.
“Gender affirming care is a covered Medi-Cal benefit when medically necessary,” the memo states. “Requests for gender affirming care should be from specialists experienced in providing culturally competent care to transgender and gender diverse individuals and should use nationally recognized guidelines.”
CALIFORNIA’S NEW MENTAL HEALTH COURT SEES OVER 100 PETITIONS IN 2 MONTHS
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks alongside local officials at the opening of a recently completed Clean California beautification project. (California Gov. Gavin Newsom YouTube channel)
The memo adds that “medical necessity” is determined “and services shall be recommended by treating licensed mental health professionals and physicians and surgeons experienced in treating patients with incongruence between their gender identity and gender assigned at birth.”
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, over 302,000 migrants were documented attempting to cross the U.S. southern border, the highest total for a single month ever recorded. It also marked the first time monthly migrant encounters surpassed 300,000.
A recent report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows a significant rise in the number of undocumented immigrants not held in detention. It went up from 3.7 million in 2021 to almost 4.8 million in 2022 and nearly 6.2 million in 2023. These are illegal migrants with final orders to leave or who are in the process of being removed but aren’t held in ICE custody.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO BE DOMINATED BY AI REGULATIONS AND STATE’S STRUGGLING BUDGET
More than 1,000 migrants awaiting entry into the United States from Juarez, Mexico. (Fox News Digital/Jon Michael Raasch)
“In California, we believe everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care coverage — regardless of income or immigration status,” Gov. Newsom’s office reportedly said in a statement. “Through this expansion, we’re making sure families and communities across California are healthier, stronger and able to get the care they need when they need it.”
Newsom announced California would begin providing health care coverage to additional illegal immigrants on top of the 1.1 million already in the Medi-Cal system. More than one-third of California’s shrinking population of 39 million is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program.
A nurse gives a senior adult health care worker a COVID-19 vaccine (iStock)
California has been incrementally adding illegal immigrants to the Medi-Cal program since 2015. That was the year it made undocumented children eligible. Four years later, it added adults 50 and older.
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
Fox News’ Chuck DeVore contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
SAN FRANCISCO – Even as votes continue to be counted in California’s gubernatorial primary, one candidate spent part of Wednesday campaigning in the Bay Area.
Hilton looks ahead to November
Some were surprised to see Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton in San Francisco. With the primary election behind him, Hilton visited Osmanthus Dim Sum Lounge to meet with voters and begin laying the groundwork for a potential fall campaign.
Hilton acknowledged that ballots are still being counted and criticized the pace of the process, saying results should be available more quickly. Still, he expressed confidence that he will finish among the top two candidates and advance to the November election.
“This is my plan to grow my support,” Hilton said, gesturing to supporters gathered inside the restaurant. “To be out with the people of California desperate for change.”
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, another leading candidate, also projected confidence on election night.
“I take nothing for granted. There are lots of ballots to be counted; it appears we are on track to advance to November,” Becerra said.
Voters voice concerns
What they’re saying:
Among those attending Hilton’s event was Nelson Lum, a former San Francisco police officer who said he wanted to hear the candidate’s views on crime.
“It’s not an endorsement of anybody at this point,” Lum said. “I’m certainly not going to exclude anyone because I want to hear their views.”
Meina Young, with the Business and Housing Network, said she attended to discuss issues she sees as burdensome regulations in the rental housing market.
“I want to make our voices heard, and I feel that Steve has been very good,” Young said. “This is our second time meeting with him.”
Small protest outside event
Outside the restaurant, a small group of protesters gathered after noticing signage for the event. They said they are concerned San Francisco is becoming more welcoming to Republican candidates.
“We’re here today because we know San Francisco is a Democratic, progressive city,” said Romalyn Schmaltz. “We’re not going to just let a Republican come here and fundraise in our neighborhood without saying something.”
Counting continues
What’s next:
Ballots are still being counted statewide. More than 23 million ballots were mailed to California’s registered voters for the primary election.
The extended counting process often fuels accusations of irregularities. Election officials and supporters of the system, however, say the process takes time to ensure every eligible ballot is counted accurately.
On this day 52 years ago, the Pacific Northwest’s upper-left city of Seattle was granted an NFL Franchise. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced the news that they would join the league as an expansion franchise in 1976 and would be the league’s 28th, alongside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The name “Seahawks” was chosen from a survey with over 20,365 entries. This tweet from @HawkMania shows an article from the now-online and former print local newspaper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. They were known for the big globe with an eagle on top that resided on top of their building in downtown Seattle, and as it says on their front page here, a staple in the community since 1863.
The article mentions Seattle drafting Archie Griffin as a possibility, who was the two-time Heisman Trophy winner for Ohio State and the massive hotshot prospect back then. It mentions the Nordstrom family, represented by Lloyd Nordstrom, as the majority owners, and Herman Sarkowsky as the chief operating officer. Sarkowsky says he thinks the team will pick high in 1976 before they play their inaugural season, and they did, taking defensive tackle Steve Niehaus 2nd overall (Griffin ended up going 24th to the Cincinnati Bengals). Ironically, the article mentions the Portland TrailBlazers as well and their ability to draft Bill Walton early on, the NBA franchise which the Seahawks’ most prominent owner Paul Allen also owned.
It’s great to look back on the history of the franchise, and the sport overall. In 2026, it’s one of the few institutions that preserves memories well enough to stay in touch with its roots. Seattle and the Seahawks have grown up together as an American sports city and franchise, and 52 years ago today was one of their most important turning points.
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