August 3, 2026

A close-up view shows a surveillance camera mounted to a metal pole beside a solar panel. The camera points outward against a bright sky, with mounting hardware and wiring visible.

CalMatters en Español

‘No me acosen’: Legisladores de California y EE. UU. debaten sobre la tecnología de lectura de matrículas

Están por todas nuestras carreteras y son muy útiles para ayudar a la policía a resolver delitos, pero ¿necesitan los lectores automáticos de matrículas de California algún límite?

By Ryan Sabalow • August 3, 2026

Floodwater covers a low-lying area at dusk, the surface choked with debris—plastic bottles, reeds, and a partially submerged tire—while distant hills and scattered lights sit under a cloudy, fading sky.

CalMatters en Español

¿Inundaciones violentas u olas gigantescas? Así se prepara San Diego para un invierno de clima extremo bajo el efecto de El Niño

A medida que la temporada del "Super El Niño" cobra fuerza, San Diego se enfrenta a sistemas de drenaje pluvial obsoletos y presas centenarias.

By Deborah Brennan • August 3, 2026

An empty desk with paperworks, pens, cables and miniature U.S and California flags on it. Various people can be seen in the blurry background.

Politics

Keep an eye on these 5 deals as California lawmakers close out the legislative session

Lawmakers could tackle climate money, wildfires and California Forever before they adjourn for the year and hit the campaign trail.

By Yue Stella Yu and Maya C. Miller • August 3, 2026

Politics

‘Don’t Flock me’: California, U.S. lawmakers debate license plate reader technology

They’re all over our roads and really good at helping police solve crimes, but do California’s automated license plate readers need limits?

By Ryan Sabalow • August 3, 2026

A woman picks up a hand full of sungold tomatoes from a cardboard box.

K-12 Education

‘Kids are actually eating the food’: State expands lunch program that pairs schools with farms

Through the Farm to School program, schools get grant money to obtain fresh, local food; send students on field trips to farms; and send cafeteria workers to culinary academies.

By Carolyn Jones • August 3, 2026

Construction workers building an apartment complex site for an affordable housing project in Bakersfield on May 29, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

California voters have approved billions of dollars in bonds. Why don’t we track results?

Since 2000, the state has issued nearly $200 billion in bonds, but it hasn’t always measured the effectiveness of programs the bonds fund.

By Cathy Cockrum Dean • August 3, 2026