Emily Hoeven

WhatMatters

Fatal final day: Why major California proposals died

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, September 2. Housing, police, economic bills Gov. Gavin Newsom made his 2020 priorities for California very clear in his February State of the State speech: Address homelessness and pass a major housing production bill. But the state’s highest-profile housing bill died minutes before the legislative session ended Monday amid political […]

By Emily Hoeven • September 2, 2020

WhatMatters

Renters saved from eviction — for now

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, September 1. Newsom signs in nick of time Hundreds of thousands of California renters were saved from eviction — at least for the next few months — under a bill lawmakers passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed late Monday night, a day before the state’s eviction ban is set to […]

By Emily Hoeven • September 1, 2020

WhatMatters

Last chance to avoid evicting renters

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, August 31. Legislative session ends today The fate of hundreds of thousands of California renters teetering on the brink of eviction — and of the landlords who depend on their rent payments — hangs in the balance of a cliffhanger vote lawmakers will take today. Their vote on a controversial […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 31, 2020

WhatMatters

Protests heat up across California

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, August 28. Police reforms uncertain Protests over racism and police brutality are reigniting across California following the Wisconsin police shooting of Jacob Blake, even as state lawmakers back away from a slate of police reform bills introduced after George Floyd’s death as the legislative session draws to a close. As […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 28, 2020

WhatMatters

Lawmakers running out of time

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, August 27. Deadlines fast approaching The clock is ticking for lawmakers to chart a recovery path for the world’s fifth-largest economy, keep millions of Californians from being evicted and respond to fires of historic proportions. They have until Friday to introduce new bills. The legislative session ends Monday, and lawmakers […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 27, 2020

WhatMatters

Amid lack of firefighters, residents step up

Brigades and beer As fires continue to rage across the state, stretching understaffed firefighting crews to the limit, some Californians are taking matters into their own hands and forming makeshift brigades to protect their communities. In the face of limited help from fire agencies, about 50 Bonny Doon residents defied evacuation orders to defend their […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 26, 2020

WhatMatters

A pivotal week for California

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, August 25. Lots on the line This week will be decisive for California’s battles against crises ranging from wildfires to the pandemic to a looming eviction cliff. Here’s a look at what lies ahead. —Wildfires. More than 14,000 firefighters are fighting about 625 fires, including two of the three largest […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 25, 2020

WhatMatters

History-making California blazes — worst likely yet to come

Two of the three largest fires in California history are raging across the state alongside about 600 others, burning more than 1.3 million acres — an area about the size of Delaware — and forcing more than 100,000 people to evacuate. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Dry lightning storms and gusty winds […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 24, 2020

WhatMatters

Inside Newsom’s tumultuous DNC appearance

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, August 21. From prime time to Santa Cruz forest Gov. Gavin Newsom was set to make the biggest appearance of his political career Thursday night — but things didn’t go as planned. Newsom backed out of his prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention Thursday morning, citing the need […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 21, 2020

WhatMatters

Crises collide as fires rage

Disasters abound in California right now. Fires raging across the state have forced thousands to evacuate, put a severe strain on firefighting crews, and contributed to poor air quality amid a scorching heat wave that led to blackouts. Oh, and there’s also the global pandemic. Lightning struck California more than 10,849 times in the last […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 20, 2020