Voices Spotlight
California faces a pediatric specialist shortage
The number of kids with chronic illnesses is doubling, but 90% of specialists who know how to treat them are retiring. Rural patients will suffer the most. Read more.
Series Spotlight
License to Kill
Read our investigative series on how California routinely allows dangerous drivers stay on the road.
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.
Nonpartisan, independent California news for all
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CALIFORNIA VOICES
Guest Commentary
Why California prisons should be barred from abruptly canceling visiting hours
California prisons sometimes cancel visitation periods at the last minute, creating hardships for people making rare trips or long journeys. A bill would rightly protect those visits.
Thousands of Joshua trees are dying as the Mojave region develops. They must be saved
Solar and rare earth projects are displacing Joshua trees, which bring millions of tourists and revenue to the region and support some rare species.
On Juneteenth, Californians should ask: What will it take for Black communities to thrive?
Amid a national backlash, is California willing to move from celebrations of freedom to building the structural conditions for Black people to permanently thrive?
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 turns to minimum wage hikes to offset high living costs. There’s a downside
California frequently turns to minimum wage hikes to offset the state’s high living costs, but that creates economic pressures that can also squeeze households stuck in the middle.
CALIFORNIA DIVIDE
Inequality Insights
A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.