Dan Walters

Over the last four decades, as California's state budget became more complicated, governors and legislators have used "trailer bills" to sometimes pass major legislation with little or no public input.

It's been less than a month since California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his state budget proposal, and its rosier assumptions are already falling apart.

A decade-long legal dispute over the construction of a Fresno middle school seems to be reaching a climax. The outcome could affect other school construction projects in California.

Californians have a unique combination of high living costs, high poverty rates and large amounts of debt, factors that will likely influence debates over the state's budget deficit.

San Francisco is coping with a "doom loop" of declining employment and business activity in its downtown core, but a new study suggests Sacramento may be in worse shape.

California has amassed a catalog of programs and projects that fail to deliver as promised. The list of dysfunctional efforts has a couple of new entries.

Household use is a tiny fraction of California's overall water supply, but the state wants to spend billions of dollars to make a tiny reduction in that already infinitesimal bit of water consumption.

The revenue estimates in Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent budgets have been off by as much as $17 billion, fueling skepticism about his outlook on the state's financial reality.

The four leading candidates for California's U.S. Senate race had their first debate Monday night. The question it raised is whether Republican Steve Garvey can finish second in the March primary to win a spot on the November ballot.

The Private Attorneys General Act is a unique California law making it easier for employees to sue their bosses. For two decades, it's been the subject of political and legal infighting but a pending ballot measure would decide its fate.