January 2023

Newsletters

Gun talk in Washington, gun bills in Sacramento

After twice spurning the Trump White House following NBA titles, the Bay Area’s Golden State Warriors paid a visit Tuesday to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for a celebration of the team’s 2022 NBA championship. And prior to a few backslapping speeches by President Joe Biden and Warriors superstar Steph Curry, White House staffers gathered with Warriors […]

By Ben Christopher • January 18, 2023

Commentary

Unemployment insurance in crisis, needs a fix

Unemployment insurance, the California program that supports workers who lose their jobs due to layoffs, has been dysfunctional during the last two recessions. It's time to fix it.

By Dan Walters • January 18, 2023

Environment

Growers brace to give up some Colorado River water

The Colorado River’s water transformed the Imperial Valley desert into one of California’s most productive farm regions. But now growers will have to sacrifice 10% of their supply because of shortages in the river's supply.

By Alastair Bland • January 17, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Sigue el problema de vivienda en las Universidades de California para estudiantes de posgrado

EN RESUMEN El acuerdo reciente entre los trabajadores estudiantes graduados en huelga en el sistema de Universidades de California (UC) hizo poco para resolver sus problemas de vivienda. Read this article in English. ¡Felicidades! Ha aceptado una oferta para obtener un doctorado en la Universidad de California. Su salario inicial como trabajador graduado es de […]

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • January 17, 2023

CalMatters en Español

¿Puede la red eléctrica de California soportar un aumento hasta 15 veces debido a los autos eléctricos?

EN RESUMEN A pesar de que se esperan 12.5 millones de autos eléctricos para 2035, los funcionarios de California insisten en que la red puede proporcionar suficiente electricidad. Pero eso se basa en múltiples suposiciones, incluida la construcción de proyectos de energía solar y eólica a casi cinco veces el ritmo de la última década […]

By Nadia Lopez • January 17, 2023

Environment

Race to zero: Can California’s power grid handle a 15-fold increase in electric cars?

Despite expecting 12.5 million electric cars by 2035, California officials insist that the grid can provide enough electricity. But that’s based on multiple assumptions — including building solar and wind at almost five times the pace of the past decade — that may not be realistic.

By Nadia Lopez • January 17, 2023

Commentary

How California can prepare for future floods before a megastorm hits

Californians have largely forgotten the disastrous toll of deadly floods in the state's past, and even larger floods are likely to occur. They will affect all Californians, and require greater investment in flood preparation, insurance and evacuation planning.

By Guest Commentary • January 17, 2023

Education

UC housing problem persists for graduate students

The recent agreement between striking graduate student workers in the UC system did little to solve their housing woes.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • January 17, 2023

WhatMatters

Will California’s transformation to electric vehicles work?

To battle climate change and clean up its severe air pollution, California enacted a historic mandate to replace gasoline cars with zero-emission vehicles within 12 years. But can the transition really happen as quickly as the state requires? And what will it mean for Californians and their economy? Today, CalMatters launches “Race to Zero: California’s […]

By Sameea Kamal • January 17, 2023

Commentary

Storms tell California to upgrade its plumbing

A series of storms has dumped immense amounts of water on California, but the state needs some new plumbing to take advantage of such events and counteract the effects of drought.

By Dan Walters • January 17, 2023