August 2020

Capitol

Modernize the way we price auto insurance – telematics is a sensible approach

Telematics – used to measure speed, hard braking, distracted driving and other related driving habits – can help Californians save money on auto insurance.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 19, 2020

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Dan Walters

Blackouts reveal our power shortage

California has a shortage of electrical energy that's resulting in blackouts during a severe heat wave. Warnings about the shortage were ignored.

By

Dan Walters

• August 19, 2020

Trabajadores cosechan col rizada verde en la granja de Ratto Bros. al oeste de Modesto, el viernes 24 de julio de 2020. Foto de Andy Alfaro, Modesto Bee

CalMatters en Español

La región agrícola de California se doblega ante el COVID-19. ¿Se levantará o sucumbirá el Valle Central ante el coronavirus?

El Gobernador Gavin Newsom describió recientemente el Valle Central como su “mayor área de preocupación” y envió tres de sus “equipos de ataque” contra el coronavirus para ayudar a los funcionarios locales a detener la propagación allí.

By

,

,

and

• August 18, 2020

Events

Watch: Student Town Hall with California Community College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley

California community college students: Got questions about what college will look like this fall? We hosted a virtual discussion with Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley on how campuses are addressing your concerns during the pandemic, from the cost of tuition to remote learning. This event took place on Tuesday, August 18. You can read a recap […]

By

Vanessa Richardson

• August 18, 2020

Las montañas de San Gabriel. Fotografía vía iStock

CalMatters en Español

Opinión: Una respuesta a la falta de acceso equitativo al espacio destinado a los parques en toda California

La aprobación de la Ley de Tierras Públicas (PUBLIC Lands Act) aumentaría las oportunidades de recreación para las comunidades de California que carecen de acceso a los parques

By

Guest Commentary

• August 18, 2020

Workers harvest green kale at Ratto Bros. farm west of Modesto, on Friday, July 24, 2020. Photo by Andy Alfaro, Modesto Bee

California Divide

California farming country buckles under COVID-19. Will pandemic make or break the Valley?

Gov. Gavin Newsom described the Valley as his “biggest area of concern” recently and dispatched three of his coronavirus “strike teams” to the region to help local officials halt the spread.

By

Dale Kasler

,

Manuela Tobias

and

Tony Bizjak

• August 18, 2020

Assemblymember Shirley Weber, center, receives applause from fellow lawmakers after the Assembly approved her measure to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to let voters decide if the state should overturn its ban on affirmative action programs, at the Capitol in Sacramento June 10, 2020. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli

Education

California State University now requires ethnic studies

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature Monday on AB 1460 means students in the CSU system will have to take an ethnic studies course before graduation. The bill overrides a similar but less strict requirement the system imposed earlier this summer.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• August 18, 2020

PG&E’s Oakland K substation is silhouetted at sunset in the hills of Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, October 9, 2019. PG&E was supposed to shut off power at noon in the Oakland hills, but at 8:45 PM it was still on. Photo by Jane Tyska, Bay Area News Group

WhatMatters

Bigger blackouts ahead

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, August 18. Newsom orders investigation Millions of Californians should expect rolling blackouts through Wednesday night — and they’ll likely last hours longer than those over the weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Newsom said the state anticipates being 4,400 megawatts short of Monday’s energy needs. One megawatt can power up […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 18, 2020

Capitol

Legislation would hurt small businesses that have turned to online sales

As a birthplace for innovation, California should promote and encourage online commerce for small businesses, not stifle it.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 18, 2020

Police officers fire rubber bullets at demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police, in Los Angeles on May 30, 2020. Photo by Ringo H.W. Chiu, AP Photo

Justice

Will California change policing?

State lawmakers will decide the fate of 15 reform bills during a pandemic-shortened session marked by civil unrest and an economic crisis. Not all of them will make it.

By

Raheem Hosseini

• August 18, 2020