Commentary
Mailed votes don’t cause California’s slow count. A glut of ballots does
Ending 2024 election week, California hadn’t yet counted 243,976 postmarked ballots — and 4.1 million ballots cast on or before Election Day.
No clear frontrunner for governor, but new poll names five with the best shot
A poll shows three Democrats and two Republicans have voter support percentages in the teens. The top two vote-getters in June will face off in November.
She spent six of her last years in arbitration with her HMO. Her husband’s still fighting the system
Arbitrators in medical disputes are supposed to be unbiased, but this couple suspected there is an incentive to favor HMO’s in arbitration.
A former political ally tests LA liberals’ allegiance to Mayor Karen Bass
Mayor Karen Bass isn't vulnerable on her right, but she may be on her left, as City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a Democratic Socialist and ex-supporter, runs against her.
California promised accountability for inmate deaths in jails. A year later, no results.
Lawmakers passed a law creating a state department to review inmate deaths, but it hasn’t completed a single death review in its first year.
Yousef Baig
California Voices Editor
Denise Amos
California Voices Deputy Editor
Dan Walters
Columnist
Jim Newton
Contributor
Pedro Rios
Contributor
Robert Greene
Contributor
Commentary
Voting rights are health rights. That’s why California must reject the SAVE Act
People of color, naturalized citizens, and low-income voters are less likely to have birth certificates, passports, or other ID that the SAVE Act would require.
Commentary
Frozen lasagna dispute shows how arbitrary California tax law can be
Whether a food is deemed hot or cold determines if it's subject to CA sales tax. It's not as simple as it sounds, though.
Commentary
We can’t ‘restore’ American history by flagging Native American books
Pres. Donald Trump is pressuring Redwood National and State Parks to tag tribally-centered books and material critical of American history.
Commentary
California college students struggle to afford to eat, sleep and graduate. It’s time lawmakers helped
CalFresh helps only a fourth of students who qualify for it because it’s too unwieldy to apply for and stay on. It’s like having another job.
Commentary
California lawmakers must weigh long-term consequences before granting tribe a state park
Assemblymember James Ramos proposed giving Tolowa Dunes State Park, 4,300 coastal acres in Del Norte County, to the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation.
Commentary
Taxing LA mansions likely hindered efforts to build affordable housing. Can it be fixed?
Though it raised more than $1 billion for affordable housing and rent relief, LA’s mansion tax depressed apartment construction. Is it worth it?
Commentary
California’s districts are cheating disadvantaged students out of music and arts education
Only 11% of schools spend what voters earmarked for arts on those classes. Music education is rare at many low income neighborhood schools.
Commentary
Candidates for California governor ought to get serious about these pressing issues
The top nine remaining candidates for CA governor should address the recent think tank articles on schools, jobs and housing issues.
Commentary
California must protect gender care for young people, despite hospitals’ fears
A court will decide if Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and Children’s Hospital of Orange County can stop their gender‑affirming care to avert federal funding loss.