Voices Spotlight
Clock is ticking as LA Olympics organizers plan massive spending spree to retool venues
LA28 officials are stockpiling money and preparing to spend it fast. The committee has effectively built a Fortune 500 company in Downtown L.A. Read more
Investigation
‘Psychological war’
Read our investigation into California’s expanding use of undercover stings in county jails.
JUSTICE
Investigation
They were convicted of killing with their cars. No one told the DMV
A CalMatters investigation found that courts didn’t report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions, prompting officials to belatedly take many drivers’ licenses.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
What goes into our reporting on California’s biggest issues – how investigative stories come together, what challenges journalists face, CalMatters’ latest plans and more.
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POLITICS
Project Spotlight
Digital Democracy
Check out CalMatters’ custom-built AI tool that tracks every word spoken in public hearings, every dollar donated to politicians, every vote cast and more.
HEALTH
Series Spotlight
No Deliveries
Explore why hospitals are shutting down maternity wards, what this means for parents-to-be with limited options, and whether anything can be done to protect access.
CALIFORNIA VOICES
Guest Commentary
From slavery to riches: A founding mother of Black Los Angeles finally gets her due
Biddy Mason, while enslaved in California, sued and won her freedom. Then she bought and developed CA land and launched a church and a school. Now LA is renaming a park for her.
Did Altadena’s unincorporated status play a role in safety lapses during the Eaton fire?
Unincorporated Altadena relied on county agencies during the 2025 fire. Most residents polled said they weren’t warned and never saw a firefighter.
California’s community work isn’t a Band-Aid in times of crisis. It’s a resource deserving long-term funding
State government treats community organizations like temporary vendors, not long-term partners needing steady funding and a place at the table, a nonprofit consultant says.
We want to hear from you!
Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. For questions, please email commentary@calmatters.org
DAN WALTERS
California’s high cost of living places state near — but not at — the top in poverty rates
California no longer leads the nation in cost-adjusted poverty; it’s No. 2. Rivals will likely weaponize that status anyway should Gov. Gavin Newsom run for president.
ECONOMY AND TECHNOLOGY
Tech Spotlight
Why California backed off again from ambitious AI regulation
For the third year, the state delayed AI regulations for disclosing and appealing many automated decisions.
ENVIRONMENT
Series Spotlight
Lake Tahoe: A tarnished jewel
Lake Tahoe is an innocent victim — but there isn’t just a single villain. This series reveals the problems plaguing this alpine treasure.
EDUCATION
About College Beat
College Beat is produced by the CalMatters College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. Read more.