March 4, 2025

A group of people inspects a white SUV in an outdoor lot. One person lifts the hood to examine the engine, while another leans into the driver’s side window. A traffic cone is placed on top of the vehicle. The windshield has handwritten markings, and the setting includes metal buildings and a chain-link fence in the background.

CalMatters en Español

Las empresas de grúas pueden vender tu automóvil y el DMV puede quedarse con las ganancias sin decírtelo

Desde 2016, el DMV ha recaudado más de $8 millones en casi 5,300 ventas de automóviles, según un análisis de CalMatters

By Byrhonda Lyons • March 4, 2025

California Divide

The DMV makes millions from auctioned cars, and doesn’t tell the owners

Since 2016, the DMV has collected more than $8 million from nearly 5,300 car sales, according to a CalMatters analysis.

By Byrhonda Lyons • March 4, 2025

A pixelated 8-bit style illustration in purple, pink and yellow tones that shows a student using a laptop with several icons — a medical bag, a graduation cap, an art color palette and brush, music notes, science testing tubes and a book — around her that represent different careers. Several tex bubbles can also be seen throughout the illustration. Faced with a shortage of counselors, California schools are offering AI chatbots to more students. They're offering advice on college and career options. Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock

K-12 Education

AI chatbots can cushion the high school counselor shortage — but are they bad for students?

The more students turn to chatbots, the fewer chances they have to develop real-life relationships that can lead to jobs and later success.

By Tara García Mathewson • March 4, 2025

CalMatters en Español

Los programas de inteligencia artificial pueden amortiguar la escasez de consejeros en las preparatorias, pero ¿son buenos para los estudiantes?

Cuanto más recurran los estudiantes a los chatbots de Inteligencia Artificial, menos posibilidades tendrán de desarrollar relaciones en la vida real que puedan conducir a empleos y al éxito posterior

By Tara García Mathewson • March 4, 2025

CalMatters en Español

‘Es muy difícil construir’: esta es la iniciativa de un demócrata de California para acelerar la construcción

La demócrata de Oakland Buffy Wicks dijo que los legisladores pronto verán 20 proyectos de ley para acelerar la construcción de viviendas, junto con otros sobre energía, agua y transporte.

By Ben Christopher • March 4, 2025

Housing

‘Too damn hard to build’: A key California Democrat’s push for speedier construction

Oakland Democrat Buffy Wicks said lawmakers will soon see 20 bills to speed up housing construction, along with more on energy, water and transit.

By Ben Christopher • March 4, 2025

Commentary

Reflecting on 50 years of writing about California’s politics — and still counting

As CalMatters columnist Dan Walters reaches a personal milestone entering his 50th year covering California politics, he reflects on his early days on the Capitol beat.

By Dan Walters • March 4, 2025