Commentary

A group of five people, dressed in professional attire, sit on chairs on a stage in front of a crowd, with a banner behind them reading “Governor Candidate Forum.” Four of the five people sitting on stage have their hands up to answer the question while a crowd of people watches in the dark.

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.

By Dan Walters

A person in medical protective clothing, wearing a face mask and a hair net, pushes a hospital gurney through a hallway inside a hospital, viewed from an open door.

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.

By Stephen Martinez

Two people face each other as they speak: the person on the left has a happy expression and her arm to her chest, while the person on the right wears a grey suit jacket and glasses. Both people are standing in a park area on a sunny day. In the background is a fence to a baseball field.

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.

By Jim Newton

A close-up view of a person's hand holding a sign that reads "We wants answers! No more deaths!" and they stand at the front steps of a building surrounded by other people holding signs.

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.

By David Myers

Commentary

Stimulus checks for the coronavirus pandemic won’t be sent to my family

Undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families, often among the lowest paid workers in America, will not be helped by the $2 trillion stimulus package to help in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

By Guest Commentary • April 2, 2020

Capitol

Governor, legislators helping to ensure equity to computer science education in California

California needs to provide high quality computer science education to our students, especially to girls, students of color, and students in low-income and rural communities.

By Guest Commentary • April 2, 2020

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Three big Democratic clashes in California

Elections between competing factions of Democrats are the most interesting political duels in California, as three examples in Southern California show.

By Dan Walters • April 2, 2020

Empty shelves of toilet paper and paper towels at Safeway in the Fillmore neighborhood of San Francisco on March 13, 2020. On Thursday Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order banning events of more than 250 people amid coronavirus concerns. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Californians realize it may take three months or longer before life gets back to normal, poll shows

Californians approve of Gov. Newsom’s handling of the state’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic and the state government’s response to the crisis.

By Guest Commentary • April 1, 2020

Climate Change

California’s next renewable energy goal: A million solar batteries

One million solar batteries represents a game changer in renewable energy for California and would provide a simple way to attain the state’s goal of 100 percent clean energy.

By Guest Commentary • April 1, 2020

Commentary

California also failed to prepare

While the federal government and President Donald Trump take their lumps for failure to prepare for the pandemic, California officials, including former Gov. Jerry Brown, also were lax.

By Dan Walters • April 1, 2020

Commentary

If we can safely distance at the grocery store, surely we can do the same at parks

Instead of closing California parks and trails to halt the transmission of the coronavirus, why can’t we safely manage these resources with safe distancing.

By Guest Commentary • March 31, 2020

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks plays with her two-year-old daughter, Josephine Ambler, on her desk after being sworn into the California Assembly, December 3, 2018 at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California. Photo by Max Whittaker for CalMatters

Capitol

California election 2020: Will women continue to gain ground?

The number of women in the California Legislature is at an all-time high, but fewer than one-third is female. Will their numbers increase in November?

By Guest Commentary • March 31, 2020

Commentary

What a cost-analysis shows of going back to work during the coronavirus pandemic vs. California’s stay-at-home policy

In dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, is the stay-at-home cure (advocated by Gov. Newsom) worse than the economic problem (President Trump would like to end)? Read this cost analysis.

By Guest Commentary • March 30, 2020

Commentary

California must seize the opportunity to become a pioneer in online higher education

Spurred to offer online college courses because of the coronavirus pandemic, California should invest in an innovative education strategy.

By Guest Commentary • March 30, 2020

California Voices

Viewpoints from across California