Dan Walters

Commentary

Some schools are closing ‘achievement gap’

California's educational "achievement gap" remains wide, but some local school systems are seeing success.

By

Dan Walters

• December 12, 2021

Commentary

California’s ‘tort wars’ heating up again

California's "tort wars" over the rules governing personal injury lawsuits are heating up again and dueling ballot measures may land on the 2022 ballot.

By

Dan Walters

• December 8, 2021

Commentary

California housing crisis both wide and deep

California's housing crisis is a hot current topic but it has been developing for decades and there are no magic solutions for it.

By

Dan Walters

• December 7, 2021

The annex at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Dec. 3, 2021. Photo by David Lesher for CalMatters

Commentary

Good riddance to state Capitol’s ugly annex

The state Capitol's annex will soon disappear and a replacement will be built costing more than a billion dollars. No one will be sorry to see the ugly, dysfunctional building go.

By

Dan Walters

• December 6, 2021

Apprentices sort through wire ropes called chokers at Iron Workers in Benicia on June 20, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Commentary

California economy lags, but not Nebraska

California's economy was tied for the nation's highest unemployment rate in October while Nebraska had the lowest.

By

Dan Walters

• December 5, 2021

Commentary

California gun law headed to Supreme Court?

California's ban on firearms magazines holding more than 10 rounds has been upheld by a federal appeals court - but the U.S. Supreme Court may have the last word.

By

Dan Walters

• December 1, 2021

An active farmer's alfalfa field in Lancaster, on July 2, 2021. Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Commentary

Drought has big impacts on California agriculture

California's serious and prolonged drought is having serious and prolonged impacts on California's agricultural industry, the nation's largest.

By

Dan Walters

• November 30, 2021

Commentary

Crime could become hot issue in 2022

Political reaction to a spate of smash-and-grab retail thefts indicates that crime could be a hot button issue in next year's California elections.

By

Dan Walters

• November 29, 2021

A vacant parking lot overlooked by the Urban Town House Project construction site in Long Beach, on July 22, 2021. The affordable housing project will be for low-income families. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Commentary

California housing crisis drifts toward political war

California politicians have been jousting over the state's chronic housing shortage but now the debate is turning into a political war.

By

Dan Walters

• November 28, 2021

An election and redistricting illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

Commentary

LA County’s board is too small for 10 million people

Los Angeles County has 10 million residents but just five county supervisors. The difficulty of drawing new supervisorial districts underscores the need to enlarge the county's governing board.

By

Dan Walters

• November 24, 2021