Story Spotlight
Crime is down and kids are back, but drugs still plague Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park
After a year of effort — and despite ICE’s military theatrics — L.A.’s iconic MacArthur Park is just beginning to regain some of its mojo. It still struggles with drugs and homelessness. Read the story.
Series Spotlight
License to Kill
California’s DMV allows drivers with horrifying histories to keep driving. Too often they go on to kill. Many still continue driving. Some go on to kill again. Read the series.
JUSTICE
Investigation
They were convicted of killing with their cars. No one told the DMV
A CalMatters investigation found that courts didn’t report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions, prompting officials to belatedly take many drivers’ licenses.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
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POLITICS
Project Spotlight
Digital Democracy
Check out CalMatters’ custom-built AI tool that tracks every word spoken in public hearings, every dollar donated to politicians, every vote cast and more.
EDUCATION
About College Beat
College Beat is produced by the CalMatters College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. Read more.
HEALTH
Series Spotlight
No Deliveries
Explore why hospitals are shutting down maternity wards, what this means for parents-to-be with limited options, and whether anything can be done to protect access.
ENVIRONMENT
Series Spotlight
Lake Tahoe: A tarnished jewel
Lake Tahoe is an innocent victim — but there isn’t just a single villain. This series reveals the problems plaguing this alpine treasure.
ECONOMY AND TECHNOLOGY
Tech Spotlight
Why California backed off again from ambitious AI regulation
For the third year, the state delayed AI regulations for disclosing and appealing many automated decisions.
CALIFORNIA VOICES
Guest Commentary
As oil and gas companies pivot to plastic, California neighborhoods become sacrifice zones again
As oil and gas companies pivot to plastic, certain California neighborhoods become unhealthy sacrifice zones again.
Biomass is a money pit that won’t solve California’s energy or wildfire problems
Utilities customers help pay for biomass because electric utilities buy its products to produce electricity, paying four times more. Is it worth it?
California’s freeways are fueling its housing crisis
Caltrans construction forces families from homes and neighborhoods, though its efforts to widen freeways don’t seem to reduce traffic jams.
We want to hear from you!
Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. For questions, please email commentary@calmatters.org
DAN WALTERS
Newsom’s $18 billion budget gap has roots in pandemic aid ending
During the pandemic, federal money flooded into state and local coffers. Once that funding ended, government spending didn’t adjust downward.
CALIFORNIA DIVIDE
Inequality Insights
A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.