California Divide

Covering income inequality across the state

Families carry boxes full of fresh produce during a food bank event at El Verano elementary on Nov. 1, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

How hungry is California? Millions struggle to eat well in an abundant state

How bad is California hunger? A lot depends on your access to food aid, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic but is being reduced.

Rya Jetha

Jeanne Kuang

and

Jeremia Kimelman

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

California Divide

10 years later, California may finally allow undocumented immigrants cell service subsidies

Advocates say the California Public Utilities Commission’s 10-year-old promise to make the state’s cell phone service subsidy program available to undocumented immigrants could be fulfilled in November.

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• July 30, 2024

Inmates work in the Delancey Street Restaurant kitchen at the California State Prison Solano in Vacaville on July 24, 2024. "We actually built this restaurant," said Ray Williams, Jr., front right. "We started with hard hats and elevated to smocks." Photo by Florence Middleton, CalMatters

California Divide

In this California prison, inmates who operate a restaurant for their guards and others ‘rely on each other’

The venture, launched by a venerable San Francisco foundation, counts former Governor Jerry Brown and current Governor Gavin Newsom among its supporters.

Carol Pogash

• July 30, 2024

Members and supporters of the United Farm Workers march through Fresno during day 10 of their 24-day march on Aug. 12, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

A California court just granted an ag giant a win. It could jeopardize new farm union law

A judge has halted a union effort at the Wonderful Company, throwing into question a new state law designed to make it easier for agricultural workers to organize.

Jeanne Kuang

• July 19, 2024

People detained inside the Golden State Annex, a U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement detention facility, in McFarland on July 8, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Capitol

California says ICE detainees have labor rights. They earn $1 a day scrubbing bathrooms

California failed to ban private detention centers. Now, it’s focusing on their working conditions, for immigrants who toil for $1 a day.

Jeanne Kuang

• July 18, 2024

The panel "How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?" hosted by Zócalo Public Square and California Humanities. The panel was moderated by Brian Levin, Professor Emeritus at Cal State San Bernardino, School of Criminal Justice, and featured panelists Corey A. Jackson, Candice Mays, and Luis Nolasco in Riverside on July 16, 2024. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters

California Divide

Inland Empire leaders see ‘buffet of hate’ as discriminatory attacks and bias increase

Hate crimes always increase during presidential election years, but the targets of vitriol and discrimination vary with the political rhetoric, say experts at a community forum in the Inland Empire.

Deborah Brennan

• July 18, 2024

Farmworkers harvest strawberries at Rancho Laguna Farms in Santa Maria on May 28, 2024. Photo by Julie Leopo-Bermudez for CalMatters

California Divide

State inspectors are supposed to visit all farmworker housing to ensure its safety. Sometimes they used FaceTime instead

The number of agricultural guest workers has risen dramatically in California. But state regulators have struggled to ensure that farms are providing safe housing to their workers.

Felicia Mello

and

Wendy Fry

• July 1, 2024

Prisoners from the McCain inmate crew from San Diego prepare to clear brush from a road in Calistoga on Oct. 11, 2017. Photo by Ben Margot, AP Photo

Politics

Californians will decide — in 2024 — whether to ban slavery. What will the measure do?

California's constitution allows forced labor as a form of criminal punishment. That would change if voters approve an anti-slavery amendment this fall.

Shaanth Nanguneri

• June 27, 2024

The Secretary of State building in Sacramento on Nov. 7, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Education

The effort to bring back affirmative action in limited form is dead

The measure’s author said it would compete with other priorities this year, including an effort to fend off a proposed constitutional amendment to punish retail thieves and another to restrict forced labor in prisons. He wants to propose it for a future election season.

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• June 25, 2024

Technology

Still need your landline? California regulators just stopped AT&T from pulling the plug

The California Public Utilities Commission rejected the telecom’s bid to stop providing service in many parts of the state.

Khari Johnson

• June 20, 2024

Sergio Carrillo prepares food at El Rincon restaurant in the San Ysidro neighborhood of San Diego on April 16, 2024. The restaurant is one of several businesses that has been affected by the recent closures at the U.S.-Mexico border. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

California Divide

What California’s long-delayed indoor heat rule means for workers

After five years, a state occupational health board approves rules to protect workers from extreme heat indoors. They could take effect in August, but state prisons will not be covered.

Jeanne Kuang

• June 20, 2024