WhatMatters

Newsletters

The revolving door revolves, a teen sues Trump and don’t call it the Brown court

Ricardo Lara opens the revolving door for a pharma lobbyist, an immigrant teen sues Trump for her parents, Jerry Brown's judges by the numbers and Pelosi and Becerra get the band back together again.

By Dan Morain • January 4, 2019

Newsletters

A drug price reveal, a dirty trick and a handy Brown-Newsom translator

A California law reveals a big drug price hike, legal weed a year later, a dirty trick may have cost the GOP an Assembly seat and a Brown-Newsom translator.

By Dan Morain • January 3, 2019

LAUSD teachers march in solidarity in mid-December in downtown Los Angeles as a threatened January 10 strike date looms.

Newsletters

Strike, recession, homelessness: What will test Governor Newsom in 2019

LAUSD gives Gavin Newsom his first big test, redevelopment gets resurrected, California reduces homelessness but only slightly, and recession is nigh.

By Dan Morain • January 2, 2019

Newsletters

New Year, new rules: California laws that will matter 2019

A minimum wage bump, women in boardrooms, new HOV stickers, rescues-only in pet stores. Here are some of the new laws that will directly affect Californians in 2019.

By Dan Morain • January 1, 2019

photo of Governor Jerry Brown's retirement home outside Williams, California, December 17, 2018. Photo by Max Whittaker for CALmatters

Newsletters

Supreme Court watch, a question of justice and Colusa greets Jerry Brown

A new California justice is sworn in, new crime data is inconclusive, electric car sales rise, water tables fall and Colusa County makes way for Jerry Brown

By Dan Morain • December 21, 2018

Newsletters

Janus plaintiffs sue to weaken labor, and LAUSD’s union sets a strike date

Right-to-work forces take a next step, teacher unions threaten to walk out in L.A., an ag giant raises its pay, California mandates electric buses.

By Dan Morain • December 20, 2018

Newsletters

A Jerry Brown talk, a wildfire policy fail and an emissions rollback

Gov. Jerry Brown meets the press, government wildfire policies worsen the problem, the backstory on emissions and what won't happen on death sentences.

By Dan Morain • December 19, 2018

Newsletters

Homeless in CA, a death penalty push and a quiz on Jerry Brown

Good news on California's homeless, governors ask Jerry Brown to show leniency, labor gets a seat at Newsom's table and how well do you know the governor?

By Dan Morain • December 18, 2018

Proponents of single payer health care rally at the annual convention of the California Nurses Association at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco, on Sept. 22, 2017. Photo by Dan Honda, Bay Area News Group

Newsletters

The coming battles over Obamacare, schools, housing and cap and trade

California reacts to the Obamacare ruling, lawmakers make school spending wish lists as LAUSD plans a walkout, cap and trade's flaw, and housing control.

By Dan Morain • December 17, 2018

Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the chief justice of the California State Supreme Court, talks with the Mercury News editorial board at the Mercury News in San Jose Thursday Jan. 26, 2012. (Patrick Tehan/Staff)

Newsletters

Judges, beaches, COP24 and a heartbreaking fire map

California's top judge leaves her party, the Brock Turner judge asks for money, a memory of the late Judge Newsom, and fingerpointing at the COP.

By Dan Morain • December 14, 2018