August 6, 2026

CalMatters en Español

¿Por qué los camioneros siempre parecen estar hablando por teléfono mientras conducen por la autopista?

Las redes sociales pueden estar relacionadas con sentimientos de aislamiento, pero no necesariamente para los camioneros. Ellos se benefician de largas llamadas telefónicas y de la comunicación a través de aplicaciones como FaceTime y WhatsApp.

By Tfrontado • August 6, 2026

Mental Health

Why truckers always seem to be on the phone while they drive on the highway

Social media can be linked to feelings of isolation, but less so for truckers. They benefit from long phone calls and connections on apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp.

By Gagandeep Singh • August 6, 2026

A homeless man wearing a white button up shirt and plaid shorts pushes a wheelchair next to a homeless encampment in Skid Row with the Los Angeles skyline in the background.

Commentary

LA’s homelessness uptick lets Raman target Bass. If only accountability was that simple

L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman criticized Mayor Karen Bass over the increase in homelessness, but disentangling the records of the two candidates on this issue is difficult.

By Jim Newton • August 6, 2026

A landscape of scorched hills shows remnants of a wildfire, with dry, barren slopes dotted with blackened vegetation. Power lines and transmission towers stretch across the terrain. In the foreground, a blurred warning sign with red lettering reads "DANGER" and cautions against open fires and smoking. The hazy fence adds a sense of distance, emphasizing the vast, rugged expanse of the burned landscape under a clear sky.

Commentary

California’s catch-22: Who should pay when utilities’ power lines cause wildfires?

Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking legislators to limit utilities' liability if their equipment ignites fires. Meanwhile SoCal Edison's tower is blamed for the deadly Eaton fire.

By Dan Walters • August 6, 2026

A person wearing a face mask and blue gloves stands inside a sparsely furnished apartment, lifting the blinds to look out a window. Empty shelves and moving boxes are visible in the dimly lit room behind them.

Economy

Why insurance matters to renters, landlords and California

Insurance affects the cost of rent, housing supply and recovery from disaster.

By Levi Sumagaysay • August 6, 2026

An illustration shows a person sitting on a bed looking at a smartphone while supportive text messages appear in speech bubbles around them, including phrases such as "You're allowed to feel this way" and "It's a lot to carry and work through." Blue graphic shapes and a muted color palette emphasize the mental health theme.

Mental Health

As AI ‘therapists’ dish out advice, California lawmakers try to set some limits

With the rise in popularity of chatbots and AI use in mental healthcare, lawmakers are pushing legislation that they say is needed to protect consumers.

By Ana B. Ibarra • August 6, 2026