Dan Walters

Four decades after education reformer Marian Joseph pushed phonics in schools to change the way young readers learn, California lawmakers are embracing it.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is counting $7 billion drawn from a reserve account as revenue, making California's $20 billion budget deficit seem smaller.

A conflict in the Imperial Valley offers a window into an increasingly sharp debate within California's $60 billion agricultural sector over what should happen as acreage devoted to crops and livestock shrinks.

The Los Angeles Times recently made a valiant attempt to explain how homelessness became a seemingly intractable crisis in L.A. County.

Lawmakers are considering creating an inspector general role just to oversee charter schools. It might slow the charter school movement.

State pressure to allow more housing in Marin County is relentless, but some in Fairfax aren't giving up without a fight.

South Carolina could host the first presidential primary again in 2028. Democratic politicians who see themselves as potential candidates are finding reasons to visit. Gavin Newsom went there this week.

Congressional Republicans in California are facing attacks over their support for Trump's controversial megabill. What happens in three targeted districts next year could easily determine which party controls the House, with potentially major consequences for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.

In contrast to New York voters favoring a "democratic socialist," Californians chose moderate politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.

Kamala Harris' poorer than expected performance with key demographic groups and increases in young voters registering Republican are signs of political change in California.