Contributed

We've learned a great deal in recent years about the dramatic changes children's brains undergo in the first years of life. But what about their parents’ brains — do they undergo big changes, too?

Americans traditionally have been wary of a large permanent military establishment, believing it to be a threat to democratic institutions. This attitude goes all the way back to the Founding Fathers who deliberately kept the army small, preferring to rely on local militia in case of an emergency. This was done to prevent the army from being used to repress the rights of any individual state during the long and ongoing battle over the issue of states’ rights; the echoes of which still reverberate to this very day. The past nine months’ events show how wise this attitude was.

Officials warn that next year’s cuts in water supply could go even deeper as severe drought grips nearly 90% of California. Residents of the North Coast and Bay Area conserved more than Southern Californians did.

Assembly Bills 9 and 10 could now eliminate single-family neighborhoods. Gov. Newsom just signed the bills. This will allow a single-family home to be replaced by up to four units.

Many retired educators in California are finding retirement far less comfortable than they had assumed. By law, retired educators aren't allowed to collect Social Security benefits, though many have paid into the system.