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A28 u.s. news
Diasabra 8 Mei 2021

California reports first ever yearly population decline

years to fall to an overall population officials say was a direct impact from
of just over 3.9 million. the Trump administration's decision
to stop issuing new visas for much
California became a state in 1850 on of that year. Coronavirus restrictions
the heels of a gold rush that prompt- around the world also caused about a
ed people to seek their fortune out 29% decline in international students
west. The population soared follow- coming to California, or about 53,000
ing World War II with the help of a people.
robust defense and aerospace indus-
try. It boomed again in the 1980s and Plus, about 51,000 people died from
1990s as technology companies put the coronavirus in California last
Silicon Valley on the map. year. That's a 19% increase above the
state's average death rate for the past
But the growth slowed after the end three years. In all, 51 of the state's 58
of the Cold War in the 1990s when counties posted death rates above the
the federal government cut back on three-year average — including 12
defense spending and again in the that had increases of 20% or more.
years before the Great Recession in The state's population has become a
the late 2000s. political issue this year in light of the
effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom,
State officials say California has seen with Republicans blaming high taxes
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — gressional seat for the first time be- more people leave than move in from and the governor's policies for people
California's population fell by cause it grew more slowly than other other states for much of the last three fleeing the state. From 2010 to 2020,
more than 182,000 people in 2020, states over the past decade. decades. However, that had been off- about 6.1 million people left Cali-
marking the first year-over-year set by international immigration and fornia for other states compared to
loss ever recorded for the nation's But the census numbers reflect the births so that California continued to about 4.9 million people who moved
most populous state. state's population in April 2020. The grow. to California from other states, ac-
new state numbers released Friday cording to an analysis of census data
State officials announced Friday that reflect the state's population as of That changed in 2020. State officials by the Public Policy Institute of Cali-
California's population dipped 0.46% January 2021. say a declining birth rate, plus reduc- fornia.
to just under 39.5 million people tions in international immigration
from January 2020 to January 2021. The state four most populated cities and an increase in deaths because of The Department of Finances popula-
-- Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose the coronavirus, led to the state's first tion estimate comes from a number
The news comes one week after the and San Francisco -- lost a combined ever year-over-year population loss. of sources, including birth and death
U.S. Census Bureau announced a 88,000 people. LA dropped the most counts, the number of new driver's
paltry population growth for Califor- at nearly 52,000 and has now lost California had a negative interna- licenses and address changes, school
nia, resulting in the state losing a con- about 75,000 people in the last three tional migration in 2020, which state enrollments and federal tax returns.

NASA's new chief big on climate, hedges on 2024 moon landing

CAPE CANAVERAL, His underlying vision for Nelson grew up near Cape the U.S. Army Reserve dur-
Fla. (AP) — NASA's new NASA: "to explore the heav- Canaveral, graduating from ing the Vietnam War. After a It was while Nelson was a
administrator is big on ens with humans and ma- high school a year before few terms in the Florida leg- congressman that he rock-
tackling climate and di- chines." Mercury astronaut Alan islature, Nelson, a Democrat, eted into orbit aboard space
versifying the agency's Shepard became the first won election to Congress, shuttle Columbia in January
workforce, but hedging on Nelson said he did not seek American in space 60 years first in the House and then 1986 — just two weeks be-
whether the U.S. can put the NASA administrator job ago this week. He went on the Senate, before a 2018 de- fore Challenger's astronauts
astronauts on the moon and had recommended three to law school and served in feat ended his political career. perished during liftoff.
by 2024. women to lead the space
agency. He said he told the
In his first interview since be- Biden administration he
coming NASA's top official would accept the nomina-
this week, former Sen. Bill tion only if one of the wom-
Nelson told The Associated en could serve as his deputy.
Press on Friday that tracking Selected for the job: former
climate change is a top issue. space shuttle commander
He also wants to diversify the Pam Melroy.
space agency's workforce so it
reflects America. Nelson, 78, is NASA's 14th
administrator, the third to fly
As for landing astronauts on in space and the first to grow
the moon, Nelson said the up in the shadow of rockets.
goal remains 2024, a deadline He was sworn in Monday
set by the Trump administra- by Vice President Kamala
tion. But he cautions space is Harris, who will head the
hard and he needs more time National Space Council. In
to review the matter, espe- a show of bipartisan space
cially with a contract protest support, the two previous ad-
over the lunar lander for as- ministrators took part in the
tronauts. ceremony, representing the
Obama and Trump adminis-
"We all know that space is trations.
hard," he said, noting there
are often delays developing Nelson steps into NASA's
new technologies. "But the top job after 44 years of pub-
goal is 2024." lic service, 42 of them in an
elected public office.