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.
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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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.
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.
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.
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
In fire-prone California, cities like Napa offer a safer way to celebrate July Fourth
As the safety calculus for fireworks changes across California, cities like fire-prone Napa have turned to drone lights to maintain the spectacle and tradition of the July Fourth holiday.
Garden Grove’s chemical emergency is a warning for other communities near plastics factories
Researchers say about 800 plants are involved in plastics or plastics-chemicals in California. Many are in Southern California and are expanding.
How California can ensure wine labeled ‘American’ uses exclusively American grapes
If wine is labeled as “American,” that doesn’t necessarily mean the grapes were grown in the U.S. A California bill seeks to change that and aid the struggling industry.
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
On USA’s 250th birthday, Californians should remember when we saved the world from tyranny
There is one event that encapsulates USA’s unique place in human history: World War II, when we saved the world during one of its darkest periods.
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.