California Voices

Viewpoints from across California

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

A person wearing glasses and a black jacket stands in front of a wooden podium, speaking into a microphone, during a press conference at the site of a wildfire, as tractors work behind them, moving debris. Other people surround them, all wearing construction helmets and safety vests.

Commentary

LA Mayor Karen Bass deflects blame, adds insult to injury for wildfire victims

The Los Angeles Times reports Mayor Bass has been pressuring fire officials to soften or downplay findings in reports about the city's wildfire response.

By Dan Walters • February 27, 2026

A truck unloads organic waste to be used for composting at the Anaerobic Composter Facility in Woodland, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Commentary

California is ‘nowhere near’ emissions goals. It’s still sending organic waste to landfills

California trucks much of its organic waste to landfills instead of recyclers, largely because of an exclusive franchise hauling system.

By Clemens Stockreiter • February 25, 2026

A close-up view of a student as they write on a whiteboard as an instructor watches in a classroom with brightly colored decorations. The student uses a marker to write math equations as the students watch and learn.

Commentary

California’s reading reforms drive push for better math skills in early grades

Some of the supporters of the phonics curriculum California adopted last year are now urging statewide math screening for young students.

By Dan Walters • February 25, 2026

Commentary

Uber’s ballot measure would protect rideshare companies, not riders, from safety lapses

A proposed California law — if it made it to the ballot — would cap medical payouts in vehicular accidents and shrink lawyers’ payments in lawsuits against rideshare companies.

By Jamie Court and Nick Rowley • February 24, 2026

A classroom full of high school students sits facing a whiteboard and projected slide titled “Algal bloom” during a biology lesson. The teacher, wearing a mask and cap, stands at the front of the room gesturing toward the board. Students take notes on laptops and notebooks, with posters and educational materials visible on the walls.

Commentary

Californians finally get a guide to deciphering state’s school data dashboard

A nonprofit created a reader-friendly explainer of California school district ratings, a decade after the state created its confusing data dashboard.

By Dan Walters • February 24, 2026

A wooden podium bearing the seal of the State of California stands with two microphones, with a screen in the background displaying “2026–27 Governor’s Budget” and an image of the state capitol.

Commentary

Gavin Newsom’s last budget belies his ‘California for All’ pledge

The 2026-27 proposal fails to respond to President Donald Trump’s cuts. Nor does it help families meet needs for housing, food and health care.

By Chris Hoene • February 23, 2026

A person wearing a face mask and medical scrubs stands next to a sign with an eye exam on it in the hallway of a medical facility. In the foreground, a young person in overalls faces the eye exam with a hand over their right eye.

Commentary

The problem is clear: Medi-Cal is failing to protect children’s eyesight

Poor children are struggling at school because of undetected and uncorrected vision problems. Medi-Cal has been neglecting vision care.

By Dr. Brian Park and Ted Lempert • February 20, 2026

A close-up view of people's hands typing or scrolling on their laptops at an event.

Commentary

Silicon Valley flexes financial muscle in governor’s race and wealth tax battle

Compared to other sectors of California's economy, Silicon Valley hasn't doled out as much campaign money or hired as many lobbyists — until now.

By Dan Walters • February 20, 2026