![US President Joe Biden speaks about restoring protections for national monuments on the North Lawn of the White House on October 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/6V5TEVMR6JKJBDMP37DMN2FNNM.jpg?auth=731efdcd0adeaa08b4207716f01457dfba8cfe8824f0d375f1d32df85059f01c&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
![California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference at Kingston 11 Cuisine on October 08, 2021 in Oakland, California. California Gov.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/TOTZA5AGGZLU5LHPWXZ6BJTV7M.jpg?auth=f0be993cc6dcb2bd9f3f297d9380a34094854e08a79a03530f66f8447676f00e&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Golden State Stimulus
What is the deadline to file taxes in California and receive a stimulus check?
Oliver Povey
![On Wednesday the SSA confirmed a substantial raise for the programme's recipients to help cover the cost of inflation and mitigate the financial damage of covid-19.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/IAKI5WKJ4ZI4NO3YTJHTE3Z6FM.jpg?auth=f07f250c6e459e349ffab131d6ce7a705ae36de666d91cd544596c5077e54c2e&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
SOCIAL SECURITY | COLA 2022
Will all Social Security recipients receive the new increase of $1,100?
William Gittins
![Last month President Biden introduced new restrictions for unvaccinated workers, but some states have moved to overturn the mandates with their own orders.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/FDUGXEOLZVOMHG4ELEXZ6JWGJ4.jpg?auth=c33df6710fea5d50c453ef835c6895a322e1b5220654ccc78910d3cd5076d1e6&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
CORONAVIRUS VACCINES
Why is Texas Governor Greg Abbott rejecting vaccine mandates?
William Gittins
![A vial of Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccination sits on a table at a vaccination booster shot clinic in San Rafael, California.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/POUL432GNFKDDDLE5KH7E4BW74.jpg?auth=4beff3d5e90d6818b274b1c0779e78bbd50ee4dad1a92fc4737e9de57b5f81b9&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Coronavirus vaccines
Are third vaccine booster shots for covid-19 necessary?
Oliver Povey
![The pharmaceutical company Merck has submitted a new drug, molnupiravir, to the FDA for emergency use authorization for the treatment of covid-19.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/WFDYRFH2N5IM3PSMAWRYF3LJN4.jpg?auth=ff85ed068910d50591ecd2d30fdef6671d18a2fcb4037518abb6ef297bc25516&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
CORONAVIRUS NEWS
What is Merck's new covid-19 pill? How does it work?
Maite Knorr-Evans