Environment - CalMatters

A house burns on Platina Road at the Zogg Fire near Ono in 2020. Photo by Ethan Swope, AP Photo

State Farm won’t sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market?

by Ben Christopher and Grace Gedye May 31, 2023June 1, 2023

Wildfires and expensive rebuilding wiped out profits among California home insurers. State Farm isn’t the first insurer to retreat from the state, and may not be the last.

Mono Lake on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada on May 20, 2023. Photo by Sierra Farquhar for CalMatters

Water

L.A. has taken water from iconic Mono Lake for 82 years. Will California stop it?

by Alastair Bland May 30, 2023June 2, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses the media during a press conference announcing new gun legislation targeting the state's public carry laws on Feb. 1, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

California Democrats sideline Gavin Newsom’s plan to build big things faster

by Marisa Kendall and Julie Cart May 25, 2023May 26, 2023

Anaplex, a metal-plating company, was shut down by air-quality officials in 2017 and 2018 because of hexavalent chromium emissions. Small amounts of hexavalent chromium, which comes from nearby metal-plating plants, were found in the air inside Lincoln classrooms in 2017 tests. Photo by Lauren Justice for Cal Matters

California becomes the first state to phase out toxic hexavalent chromium

by Alejandro Lazo May 25, 2023May 25, 2023

CalFire firefighter Bo Santiago lights a backfire as the Rocky fire burns near Clearlake in 2015. Photo by Josh Edelson, AP Photo

Firefighters’ mental health is at risk. A California bill could help.

by Julie Cart May 24, 2023May 24, 2023

Jeff Dollente, a zanjero with the Imperial Irrigation District, opens a gate on the Redwood Canal north of El Centro on June 1, 2022. Photo by Mark Henle, The Republic via Reuters

Water

Colorado River deal: What does it mean for California?

by Alastair Bland May 22, 2023May 24, 2023

A drone provides a view of water pumped from the Harvey O. Banks Delta Pumping Plant into the California Aqueduct at 9,790 cubic feet per second after January storms. The facility located in Alameda County and lifts water into the California Aqueduct. Jan. 20, 2023. Photo by Ken James, California Department of Water Resources

Gavin Newsom wants to make it easier to build roads, dams and more. What’s in his plan?

by Ben Christopher, Alastair Bland, Julie Cart and Alejandro Lazo May 19, 2023May 19, 2023

Floodplains in the Yolo Bypass wilderness area near Sacramento on March 27, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Newsom restores floodplain funds, adds $290 million to flood control budget

by Alastair Bland May 11, 2023May 12, 2023

Gary Gragg examines the buds on a mango plant he is growing in the Sacramento Valley. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Mangoes and agave in the Central Valley: California farmers try new crops to cope with climate change

by Alastair Bland May 9, 2023May 10, 2023

A worker adds a retail sign to an electric Ford F-150 Lightning on the assembly line at the Ford River Rouge complex in Dearborn, Michigan on April 4, 2023. Photo by Emily Elconin for CalMatters

Facing California deadlines, automakers race to produce electric cars

by Nadia Lopez May 3, 2023May 3, 2023