2024 - Page 18 of 178

Illustration of Judge Howard Shore, a White man sporting glasses and a mustache, looking downward; there are two panels to the left and right of him showing police body cam footage of Tommy Bonds III, a young Black man, being pulled over; one panel also shows a closeup of Shore banging a gavel

Justice

California lets defendants challenge racism in court. Few have succeeded

A Garrison Project and CalMatters analysis of the Racial Justice Act found about a dozen successful cases in which judges took action on racial bias in the legal process.

By

Sean Kevin Campbell

• November 21, 2024

A person stands in the middle of a library aisle, surrounded by shelves filled with books. They are wearing a black V-neck shirt and blue jeans, with one hand on their hip and the other relaxed by their side. The background shows books neatly organized on both sides, leading to a window at the far end.

Education

Conservative professors and students are suing California’s community colleges, and winning

In numerous lawsuits, conservative professors and students allege that California’s community colleges are hindering their right to free speech under the First Amendment.

By

Adam Echelman

• November 21, 2024

A surveillance tower monitor, with a background landscape of a brown fence, river and mountains.

Technology

California’s ‘Trump-proofing’ likely won’t include AI — at least not yet

President-elect Trump has vowed to rescind an executive order that imposed AI safeguards, and could use tech to enable mass deportations. How far will California go in the other direction?

By

Alex Shultz

• November 21, 2024

A person wearing a navy blue suit and sitting on a chair behind a desk as they hold a stack of papers that read "The 2021-22 Budget" and "California's Fiscal Outlook".

Commentary

$165 billion revenue error continues to haunt California’s budget

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst warns government spending could expand California's small budget deficit over the next few years.

By

Dan Walters

• November 21, 2024

A group of individuals standing in formation outdoors on a bright, sunny day. The person at the front of the group holds a blue flag with a gold anchor and rope emblem, displaying a confident posture. The group wears matching gray T-shirts and navy blue athletic shorts, with trees and a blue sky in the background.

Education

Cal State is trying to save its smallest campus by merging it with Cal Poly

Due to financial collapse brought on by enrollment declines, Cal Maritime is poised to merge with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The merger is expected to pass a final vote by Cal State leaders tomorrow after being approved in committee today.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

and

Jeremy Garza

• November 20, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom, standing to the left of the framel, listens to the director of the Department of Finance, on the right side of the frame, speak as both of them stand near a podium with an American flag, the California flag and the California state seal behind them during a press conference.

Capitol

California’s budget is ‘roughly balanced,’ but deficits could grow under Trump

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office projects a relatively small $2 billion shortfall for 2025-26, but says the state can’t afford new programs. Gov. Newsom has complained about attention on the office’s deficit estimates.

By

Alexei Koseff

• November 20, 2024

Stacks of purple and white mail-in ballot envelopes sit on a stable as election workers sort them. The arms and hands of the workers are visible, but the faces are not. The focus is on the ballots.

CalMatters en Español

El lento recuento de votos en California siembra dudas pero esta organización intenta solucionarlo

La California Voter Foundation lanzó una herramienta que rastrea los recuentos diarios de votos en 18 contiendas reñidas para el Congreso y la Legislatura estatal.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• November 20, 2024

Elections

California’s slow vote count sows doubt. Here’s how one group is trying to fix that

The California Voter Foundation launched a tool tracking daily vote counts in 18 close contests for Congress and the state Legislature. The tracker aims to show how counts change over time and dispel misinformation about election fraud, the group says.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• November 20, 2024

Mathew Garcia digs through the soil of his fallowed rice field near Glenn in April. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

California can make climate policy decisions today that address the problems of tomorrow

California has taken important steps to adapt to climate change’s effects on water, but it’s not yet on the right trajectory to manage some of the changes underway — or the greater challenges ahead.

By Letitia Grenier • November 20, 2024

The skyline of San Francisco as seen from Bernal Heights Hill on March 16, 2020. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Commentary

California’s political clout will fade as long as population growth remains slow

California’s clout in both presidential and congressional elections is shrinking. It’s a stark reminder of the old adage that demography drives destiny.

By

Dan Walters

• November 20, 2024