Voices Spotlight
As LA prepares for the Olympics, a lot is riding on its transit system
Ridership for LA’s transit system grew by 2.4 million riders during the World Cup. The Olympics will be a tougher challenge. Read more
Investigation
‘Psychological war’
Read our investigation into California’s expanding use of undercover stings in county jails.
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.
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
We’re CalMatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide.
Our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential.
- We are independent and nonpartisan. Our trustworthy journalism is free from partisan politics, free from corporate influence and actually free for all Californians.
- We are focused on California issues. From the environment to homelessness, economy and more, we publish the unfettered truth to keep you informed.
- We hold people in power accountable. We probe and reveal the actions and inactions of powerful people and institutions, and the consequences that follow.
But we can’t keep doing this without support from readers like you. Please give what you can today.
Every gift helps.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CALIFORNIA VOICES
Guest Commentary
UC should examine how it sorts students by campus
New students are pegged by the informal hierarchy of UC campuses, affecting resources, faculty credentials, graduation chances and future earning ability.
Counting votes quickly and accurately are not mutually exclusive. Here’s how California can do it
California’s slow vote counts are a policy problem, argues the Republican candidate for state elections chief. Three changes could made a concrete difference, he says.
California must grow ‘connective tissue’ to better link employers to young people seeking careers
California has fostered programs that move students from classroom to careers, but employers need regional help navigating them, and the young people in them need to be paid, a nonprofit executive 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
Increased spending on California public schools has not raised achievement. Here’s what’s next
The governor will appoint new state education leadership. But three bills to hold the state more accountable just died in the state senate.
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.