Newsom to Give State of the State Speech

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California’s governor is expected to call for better mental health care to help the state’s huge homeless population when he addresses one of the state’s most pressing problems in his second State of the State speech. The number of people living on California’s streets jumped 16% last year. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom recently said he wants to change the state’s behavioral health system to help address the problem. It would involve taking a broader approach to address not just mental well-being but also interrelated physical challenges such as drug and alcohol abuse or poor diet and exercise. Newsom’s address is set for mid-morning Wednesday in the ornate Assembly Chambers.