Page 6 - aruba-today-20190502

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 2 May 2019
California inches toward 40M people, but growth rate slows

By ADAM BEAM day they expected the
Associated Press state's birth rate to decline,
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) but they were surprised
— California had its slow- by how much: More than
est recorded growth rate 18,000 fewer births than the
in its history last year as the previous year. Tina Daley,
country's most populous chief of California's De-
state was hit by a slow- mographic Research Unit,
down in immigration and a noted teen pregnancy
sharp decline of births. rates are declining and, in
Estimates released general, people are wait-
Wednesday show Califor- ing longer to have children.
nia had 39.9 million peo- What has surprised them,
ple as of Jan. 1, adding Sharygin said, is that fewer
nearly 187,000 people for people are coming to Cali-
a growth rate of 0.47% — fornia from other countries,
the lowest since 1900, the especially neighboring
earliest records available. Mexico, where birth rates
And while thousands lost are higher. Now, he said,
their homes after last year's more people are com-
deadly wildfire in the north- ing from places like China,
ern part of the state, initial where birth rates are lower.
estimates show most peo- In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo morning rush hour traffic moves along the southbound lanes along The new population esti-
ple shuffled to cities closest US 101 near downtown Los Angeles. mates come as the state
to the blaze. Associated Press is preparing for the 2020
California's population has national census, an impor-
been creeping toward 40 Despite the slowdown, Cal- tion growth. is a lot of PTSD in people tant head count used to
million people, viewed as ifornia remains by far the The college town, home to who lost everything," Rega- distribute federal tax dollars
a milestone for a state that country's most populous California State University- lia said. and decide congressional
began as a frontier out- state. Texas at No. 2 is still Chico, has been affected The fire destroyed more representation. State offi-
post and now boasts the shy of 30 million people. broadly, including increas- than 14,600 housing units. cials are concerned many
world's fifth largest econ- The Northern California city es in toilet flushes and vol- But Sharygin said most of Hispanics won't be count-
omy. While the state will of Chico added more than ume of trash. Orme also those people stayed in ed if the Trump administra-
surely reach that peak, offi- 19,000 people for a whop- said traffic collisions are up California. Only about 400 tion succeeds in placing a
cials on Wednesday noted ping 20% increase to more 24%. Traffic is up about 25% left the state, according to citizenship question on the
the latest estimates should than 112,000. But that was on average and is as high initial estimates. census form.
temper expectations for prompted by tragedy, as as 77% in some places, he "People were just reacting State officials expect Cali-
robust growth as births de- the nearby town of Para- said. immediately to the loss of a fornia to continue to grow,
cline, deaths rise and immi- dise lost 83% of its popula- Doriane Regalia, a real es- home and finding a short- predicting the state's pop-
gration slows. tion after the most destruc- tate agent with Century 21 term solution," he said. "I ulation could top 50 million
"We see that as a process tive wildfire in state history. in Chico, said all her clients don't think we can make by 2055. By 2051, officials
of maturity," said Ethan "In a single word, it's been lost their homes in the fire. any claims right now about project the state will join
Sharygin, a demographer overwhelming," said Mark She said for some, the idea what happens in the first Japan and other European
with the California Depart- Orme, Chico's city manag- of going back to the town quarter of this year." countries by having more
ment of Finance. er, of the overnight popula- is too overwhelming. "There State officials said Wednes- deaths than births.q
Florida lawmakers pass bill allowing more armed teachers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — shoot back," said Republi- ple were killed by a rifle- ing schools places where one was hurt. "We see acci-
More Florida classroom can Rep. Chuck Brannan toting shooter at Marjory students feel they belong," dents happen every day,"
teachers could carry guns of Lake City, a retired law Stoneman Douglas High Tony wrote. "Teachers enter said Rep. Susan Valdes, a
in school under a bill passed enforcement officer. "The School in February 2018. that profession to educate Tampa Democrat. "This is
Wednesday by state law- guardian is the last line of Nikolas Cruz, 20, faces the children, not to serve as not the answer. Don't put
makers, the latest response defense. He or she will be death penalty if convicted school security." more guns in our schools."
to last year's mass shooting there when a police officer of those slayings. Most Democrats voted The bill was strongly op-
at a Parkland high school. is not." Yet new Broward County against the bill, contend- posed by teachers unions,
The Republican-led House Teachers who want to Sheriff Gregory Tony, who ing that introducing more and school boards in some
voted 65-47 on Wednes- carry guns in districts that was appointed by DeSan- weapons into schools of Florida's most counties
day to send the bill to GOP choose to join the program tis after the suspension of would place children at risk, have voted against join-
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who would have to undergo former Sheriff Scott Israel in raise the dangers of mistak- ing the guardian program,
is expected to sign it. The police-style training, psy- the aftermath of the Park- en shootings and even lead preferring instead to leave
measure expands an exist- chiatric evaluation and land shooting, said in a let- to more violence against the security job to trained
ing school "guardian" pro- drug screening. Under a ter Wednesday to the local African American students police officers. But the bill's
gram to allow any teach- law passed last year im- school board and superin- because of inherent bias- sponsor, Republican Rep.
er to volunteer to carry a mediately after the Park- tendent that he opposes es. Several mentioned an Jennifer Sullivan of Eustis,
weapon if their local school land shooting, only teach- arming teachers in schools. incident Tuesday in Pasco said it was the best oppor-
district approves. ers who also have another "This program would place County along Florida's west tunity to protect schoolchil-
"It allows the good guys role, such as sports coach, students, teachers, and first coast in which a police of- dren from future shooters —
to stop the bad. The bad are eligible to carry weap- responders at risk, when our ficer assigned to a middle and noted it was purely vol-
guys will never know when ons on campus. focus should be on keeping school had his gun dis- untary for teachers to be-
the good guys are there to The bill comes after 17 peo- our children safe and mak- charge in a cafeteria. No come armed guardians.q