Voices Spotlight
What Californians could lose betting on life through prediction markets
Prediction markets are becoming mainstream. But when people bet on an election or a public crisis, it becomes easier to ignore the human stakes. Read more.
Investigation
‘Psychological war’
Read our investigation into California’s expanding use of undercover stings in county jails.
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.
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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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.
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
This high-income tax was pitched as ‘temporary.’ California voters can ensure it stays that way
Proposition 3 is not about whether education and healthcare matter, an anti-tax advocate argues, but whether it is good policy to permanently extend tax hikes that voters were promised would expire.
Newsom’s wildfire recovery proposal will make sure Californians get paid first
After wildfires, any recovery reform must put victims ahead of hedge funds, trial attorneys, insurance companies and other profiteers, a Creek Fire survivor says.
California can prevent wildfires without abandoning safety, environmental protections
California lawmakers are considering exempting wildfire mitigation projects from some state environmental and health rules, including allowing herbicide use.
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
How California’s midterm election could shape national political conflicts
In some congressional races and key ballot issues, California Democrats’ left-leaning wing and its more centrist forces are clashing.
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.