Cal matters.

This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. California State Auditor Elaine Howle speaks with CalMatters at her office in Sacramento on Nov. 9, 2021. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters. CalMatters: “We wanted to get your thoughts on the last 30-plus years that you’ve been doing this … and what prompted this transitionAbout 8,000 families and 12,000 children were homeless in California last year. In Los Angeles, their number spiked by 45.7%. As a result, family homelessness was the main focus of the 2021-22 state budget; Newsom announced a goal of zero family homelessness in the next five years.CalMatters. Legislators wanted 1,100 reports on how California’s laws are working. Most haven’t arrived. A state senator works during session on suspense file day at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Sept. 1, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters. Given the state’s budget deficit, legislative leaders are calling for …Mar 15, 2024 · WhatMatters. The latest official tally from the Secretary of State’s office shows that more than 5.8 million ballots have been counted from California’s primary, with 1.7 million still to go. Based on today’s updated umbers, the total of 7.5 million votes means a turnout of about 34%, well below the norm for presidential primaries, but ...

CalMatters covers quality of life issues, holds leaders accountable and explains state government to 39 million Californians. Learn about its mission, funding, diversity, ethics and accessibility. In summary. There won’t be much drama in campaigns for statewide office this year, but voters will face a clutch of high-dollar ballot measures. Last week’s primary election told us that there will be very little drama in November’s general election vis-à-vis California’s statewide offices. With one potential exception, Democrats will ...

CalMatters events promote non-partisan civic engagement and build awareness about important issues, politics and policies that shape California’s future. From intimate salon sessions at the CalMatters Studio in Sacramento to public events across the state, our events bring interesting and compelling content to Californians in person and ...In summary. Learning loss during the pandemic hit California’s low-income students hardest. An agreement requires the state to focus spending there. California schools will have to spend $2 billion of their remaining Covid relief funds on tutoring and other measures to help high-needs students recover from learning loss, according to a …

Outgunned. Illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters; iStock. California is struggling to recover illegally owned firearms, despite some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. For more than a decade, the state has tried to recover guns from people who possess a registered firearm even though they have lost their Second Amendment ... As primary looms, California voting made simple. CalMatters has launched an election guide with everything you need to know about California voting for the June 7 primary. CalMatters is dedicated to explaining how state government impacts our lives. Your support helps us produce journalism that makes a difference. Donate now.Feb 14, 2022 · Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters. In summary. California’s first-of-its-kind Medi-Cal reform aims to help low-income patients navigate problems like homelessness, poverty and substance abuse that can harm health. Lea este artículo en español. At 66, Edward El has a new lease on life — literally. California is eliminating its popular electric car rebate program — which often runs out of money and has long waiting lists — to focus on providing subsidies only to lower-income car buyers. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, in existence since 2010, will end when it runs out of money this year. In its place, the state will …Nov 3, 2020 · Come rain, shine, pandemic or crippling recession, California voters can always count on one thing: a very long, very complicated ballot. Live election results beginning Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. Though the presidential race will gobble up most of the attention, the choice between GOP President Donald Trump and former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden ...

Proposition 1 opponents revive campaign- CalMatters. Politics. Why Prop. 1 foes are getting back in the fight. by CalMatters March 18, 2024. From left, protestors …

Outgunned. Illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters; iStock. California is struggling to recover illegally owned firearms, despite some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. For more than a decade, the state has tried to recover guns from people who possess a registered firearm even though they have lost their Second Amendment ...

Sameea Kamal is a reporter at CalMatters covering the state Capitol and California politics. She joined CalMatters in June 2021 from the Los Angeles Times, where she was a News Desk editor. Sameea was... More by Sameea Kamal. New members of the California Legislature count some victories in representing constituents, but criticize the …Jan 18, 2024 · California will dole out $250 million more in down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers this spring, while making changes to its 1-year-old program aimed at reaching a more diverse group of borrowers across the state. Last year frenzied homebuyers hoovered up nearly all $300 million budgeted for the California Dream for All loan program ... How college admissions are changing after the end of affirmative action. by Carolyn Jones and Mikhail Zinshteyn November 3, 2023. Maya Murchison at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista on Oct. 23, 2023. Murchison, a high school senior, says the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action has …The proposed rules would affect any company making more than $25 million in annual revenue or processing the personal data of more than 100,000 Californians. AI …Jan 2, 2023 · Not to be outdone, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature passed this new law that allows private citizens to collect $10,000 by suing those who make or sell illegal “ghost guns” or assault-style weapons. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, could throw out the Texas law and ones like it, including California’s.

Sameea Kamal is a reporter at CalMatters covering the state Capitol and California politics. She joined CalMatters in June 2021 from the Los Angeles Times, where she was a News Desk editor. Sameea was... More by Sameea Kamal. New members of the California Legislature count some victories in representing constituents, but criticize the …Nov 7, 2022 · by Rachel Becker November 7, 2022. Recycling is one way for California to boost its water supply. Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge captures and reuses water to irrigate its lush forests, ponds and gardens. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters. Lea este artículo en español. Over and over again, drought launches California into a ... Round two: Garvey, Lee, Porter and Schiff clash at Senate debate. U.S. Senate candidates (from left) Rep. Barbara Lee, Steve Garvey, Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter during a televised debate at KRON4 studio in San Francisco on Feb. …by Ana B. Ibarra February 8, 2024. California's new Office of Health Care Affordability is charged with capping price increases for consumers. It set a preliminary goal of limiting increases to 3% a year. Here, Dr. Oscar Casillas removes a pair of stitches from Alex’s hand at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital on July 26, 2022.CalMatters covers how decisions by California politicians and officials shape your lives and the forces and players that influence them. Find stories on elections, budget, housing, …website

Sep 12, 2023 · The effort to allow California’s legislative staff to unionize — at least 23 years in the works — is nearly across the finish line. But to win enough support from their bosses, significant changes were made: New lawmakers would be able to dismiss their predecessor’s staffers. In July, the bill was amended to push back when the union ...

WhatMatters. The latest official tally from the Secretary of State’s office shows that more than 5.8 million ballots have been counted from California’s primary, with 1.7 million still to go. Based on today’s updated umbers, the total of 7.5 million votes means a turnout of about 34%, well below the norm for presidential primaries, but ...It was intended to be his knockout punch at Newsom on the issue of California’s spiraling homelessness crisis, which he said has gotten so bad that “human feces is now a fact of life” for residents. DeSantis blamed Democrats’ lax attitude. “You have the freedom to defecate in public in California,” DeSantis said.In summary. California has one of the nation’s broadest laws to clear criminal records, and it’s about to expand even more. Supporters say expungements give a fresh …As forecasts tease California with rainstorms this week, the state’s reservoirs are already flush with water. It’s a big departure from a year ago: The state’s major reservoirs — which store water collected mostly from rivers in the northern portion of the state — are in good shape, with levels at 124% of average.California lawmakers, raising fears of political violence, want to shield their properties. Lawmakers on the first day of session on the Assembly floor at the state Capitol on Jan. 3, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters. A bill would let state legislators, who say they fear for their safety, shield their property holdings …Nov 8, 2022 · Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom cast their ballots on election day at the California Museum in Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo by MIguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters. Results: Gavin Newsom, 59%. Brian Dahle, 41%. Demand has plunged 80%. by Julie Cart January 26, 2024. Ken Wells runs O&M Solar Services, a small residential solar company in South Los Angeles, where he works with disadvantaged communities. But a new state rate structure for rooftop solar has decimated his business. He had to lay off all 20 employees. Photo by Lauren Justice for …

Updated: 8:35 AM PDT March 18, 2024. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With lingering uncertainty over the fate of a signature mental health proposal and the scope of …

Photo via iStock. Rebates ranging from $200 to $1,050 are one step closer to landing in millions of Californians’ pockets after state lawmakers in marathon Wednesday night floor sessions passed a record-breaking $300 billion budget plan for the fiscal year beginning Friday. Though heated and hours-long, the sessions were in many ways ...

Rules for thee: How California Legislature skirts its own laws. by Sameea Kamal February 6, 2023. New California legislators stand to take the oath of office in the Senate chambers in the state Capitol on Dec. 5, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters.That’s what prompted the Republican lawmaker from Bakersfield to introduce, for the third time, a bill to test for three years the Office of the California Public Records Act Ombudsperson. “To expect the average citizen to take the government to court and expend resources was just a nonstarter. It’s not fair,” Fong said.Mar 5, 2024 · In summary. Recent polls show many Californians were undecided heading into Election Day on Gov. Newsom’s Proposition 1, which would fund new mental health treatment facilities. Opponents to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $6.4 billion plan to build mental health treatment beds and housing today conceded that his ballot measure is likely to pass. Grief, fear, and hopes for peace: California college students describe campus climates during Israel-Palestine conflict. Hillel, a campus religious group, hosts a rally calling for the release of kidnapped Israelis at UCLA's Wilson Plaza in Los Angeles on Nov. 7, 2023. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters.A group of California lawmakers is tackling reparations for Black descendants of enslaved people with a set of bills modeled after recommendations that a state reparations task force spent years studying and developing. The legislative package — a set of 14 bills the California Legislative Black Caucus released Wednesday — addresses ...Fifty-six counties out of the state’s 58 are requesting permission to delay implementing the law, Tony Vartan, Stanislaus County’s Behavioral Health Director, told his Board of Supervisors this week. Only San Luis Obispo and San Francisco counties plan on beginning implementation next month, Vartan said. …Cal Fire tracks how many firefighters and civilians have lost their lives in wildfires. Since 1992, at least 268 people have died in a wildfire, and since 2008, 193 civilians and 32 firefighters lost their lives. Half of California's 20 deadliest fires occurred in the 21st century. The deadliest fire in California history was the Camp Fire in ...California Democrats have been on a decade-long tear increasing voting access. Same-day voter registration, automatic registration at the DMV and pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds are among the recent pro-vote innovations to come out of the Capitol. Letting people under 18 vote would be yet another …Nov 15, 2023 · Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters. In summary. More than 4,000 state scientists have worked under an expired contract for three years. Average wages in 2020 were $83,586, 27% less than state engineers’ pay. The state filed an unfair labor practice charge to stop the strike. Hundreds of scientists working for the state of California to ... Jan 2, 2023 · Not to be outdone, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature passed this new law that allows private citizens to collect $10,000 by suing those who make or sell illegal “ghost guns” or assault-style weapons. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, could throw out the Texas law and ones like it, including California’s. Mar 8, 2024 · Dan Walters. California's capital city, Sacramento, has become a startling example of official sneakiness in how it conducts its business. CalMatters columnist Dan Walters writes about California and its politics. Read his column and sign up for his Weekly Walters email newsletter.

Dec 10, 2021 · The journalists at CalMatters followed these and many other California state government issues closely this year, listening to experiences from neighborhoods, schools and farms and questioning elected leaders, advocates and experts. CalMatters’ 2021-2022 Primer about state politics and policy is a collection of what we saw and learned. Cal Fire tracks how many firefighters and civilians have lost their lives in wildfires. Since 1992, at least 268 people have died in a wildfire, and since 2008, 193 civilians and 32 firefighters lost their lives. Half of California's 20 deadliest fires occurred in the 21st century. The deadliest fire in California history was the Camp Fire in ...A group of California lawmakers is tackling reparations for Black descendants of enslaved people with a set of bills modeled after recommendations that a state reparations task force spent years studying and developing. The legislative package — a set of 14 bills the California Legislative Black Caucus released Wednesday — addresses ...Instagram:https://instagram. char huthimalayan institutemarine corp universitysouth mountain creamery Become a CalMatters member with a tax-deductible donation today to stay informed, bolster our journalism and expand how many people we reach across California. One of the most pressing issues in California is inequality. Sign up for a weekly must-read to stay informed on critical issues. Dec 18, 2023 · More than 928,000 people had their Medi-Cal terminated between June and October, according to state data. The vast majority of them — close to 90% — lost Medi-Cal coverage because of so-called “procedural reasons,” often meaning problems with paperwork. California has the fourth worst rate of terminations linked to procedural issues in ... audi exchange highland parkfive star call centers A group of California lawmakers is tackling reparations for Black descendants of enslaved people with a set of bills modeled after recommendations that a state reparations task force spent years studying and developing. The legislative package — a set of 14 bills the California Legislative Black Caucus released Wednesday — addresses ... midnight tyrannosaurus WeeklyMatters Catch up on the top stories in California with a summary of our reporting and commentary from the past week. Weekly Walters Get a digest of new insights from veteran journalist Dan Walters, who holds powerful people in California accountable. WhatMatters Start your day with a comprehensive rundown of the most important stories in California …Jan 18, 2024 · Prop. 1, the only proposition on California ballots this March, asks voters to green-light a $6.4 billion bond for treatment beds and housing units catering to people with mental illnesses and addictions. It also would restructure some current funding to funnel more mental health money toward housing. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has championed the ... The scoop. Primary results: Ken Cooley 50.9%, Josh Hoover 34.0%. Races in this part of Sacramento County have been relatively close recently between the two parties: In 2020, about 52% of voters went for Democrat Joe Biden, while …