WhatMatters

Illegal cannabis farms hidden inside California forests harm nearby wildlife, ecosystems and watersheds. But with little being done at the federal and state levels to clean up these sites fast enough, ecologists are sounding the alarm about the pollution the farms wreak on the state’s public lands. As CalMatters’ Rachel Becker explains, the nonprofit Integral […]

A tool used by state agencies to help guide policy and billions of dollars in environmental funding is getting updated for the fifth time — but critics say that it still falls short of its intentions, writes CalMatters’ Alejandra Reyes-Velarde. Developed in the 1990s, CalEnviroScreen evaluates different geographical regions in California on nearly two dozen […]

For nearly a decade, California community colleges have gradually increased the number of ways students can receive college credit for their prior work experience. But the state is facing challenges in its goal to expand access to these credits, writes CalMatters’ Adam Echelman. Credit for prior working experience enables students to bypass some classes, saving […]

California is suing a San Diego hospital after it said it would limit gender-affirming care for young patients. But some parents of transgender children and LGBTQ advocates say the state still isn’t doing enough to protect the transgender community amid a federal administration that continues to target them. As CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang explains, Rady Children’s […]

With roughly 1.8 million commercial trucks on California roads, chances are high that you’ll encounter one on your next drive. But despite the heightened dangers that come with such colossal vehicles, over a hundred unlicensed schools operate in California with little to no oversight.  As CalMatters’ Adam Echelman and Erica Yee explain, under current state […]

President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign has disrupted the lives of California immigrants involved in the state’s early child care industry, commercial trucking business and court system. Let’s dive into the details: CalMatters co-founder retires: Dave Lesher helped found CalMatters in 2015 with the aim to hold politicians accountable and engage with California residents. In […]

Would raising a county sales tax help local residents stave off federal health care cuts? A coalition of health care organizations and workers say yes. As CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra explains, Restore Healthcare for Angelenos is pushing to place a measure on the June ballot that would ask Los Angeles County voters to decide whether […]

As federal agents conduct aggressive and deadly immigration raids across the U.S., CalMatters’ Wendy Fry and Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett report that their sweeps in San Diego have sent arrest numbers soaring and put residents on edge. Between May through October 2025, immigration arrests in San Diego and Imperial counties increased by 1,500%, according to government data […]

Californians are one step closer to being able to sue federal officials — including federal immigration enforcement agents — over violations of their constitutional rights after a bill advanced in the state Senate Tuesday. In a floor speech advocating for his bill, Sen. Scott Wiener cited the recent deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, […]

Can artificial intelligence help medical professionals treat California’s unhoused population? Or will the technology open a can of worms that critics say may do more harm than good? As CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall explains, Los Angeles-based Akido Labs plans to use an AI model it developed on unhoused patients next month in the Bay Area. Akido, […]