Dan Walters

Hands hold a printed booklet clipped at the top titled “Governor’s Budget Summary 2026–27, Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California,” featuring a photo of the state capitol building on the cover.

Commentary

California’s budget bleeds red ink with added pressure to cover Trump’s cuts

State officials are expecting higher than predicted revenues to close California's persistent budget deficit. The question is for how long.

By

Dan Walters

• March 26, 2026

Four speakers sit onstage in armchairs for a moderated panel discussion, with an audience watching from the foreground. Behind them are purple backdrops reading “Health Matters” and “La Salud Importa,” lit by spotlights.

Commentary

California governor’s race gets weirder with debate cancellation, new poll

USC cancelled its debate amid allegations of bias because all the invited candidates are white while candidates of color were not invited.

By

Dan Walters

• March 25, 2026

A person dressed in medical scrubs places a stethoscope on a patient's back during a blood pressure and blood sugar test. The patient wears a beige fedora and sits near a medical bed inside a clinic.

Commentary

Medi-Cal faces funding emergency from state miscalculations, federal budget cuts

Gov. Gavin Newsom is retracting Medi-Cal for immigrants, years after he wrongly figured a state surplus. And President Trump is cutting health funds to states.

By

Dan Walters

• March 24, 2026

Commentary

It’s supposed to be a race for governor, but candidates and voters seem disengaged

Two Republican candidates are leading the pack of 10 main candidates for governor, while lukewarm Democratic support is split eight ways.

By

Dan Walters

• March 20, 2026

A person in a kitchen at a fast-food restaurant prepares a meal, while in the foreground, four trays sit on a counter.

Dan Walters

California’s $20 fast food wage yields higher prices, fewer jobs, more automation

UC - Santa Cruz found fewer jobs and worker hours, but more order kiosks, mobile apps and AI drive-through ordering systems at CA eateries.

By

Dan Walters

• March 19, 2026

The back of an elementary-aged student as they look at a colorful phonetic alphabet hung up on a wall inside a classroom.

Commentary

California lawmakers weigh statewide plan to be accountable for closing student achievement gaps

The four-bill plan calls for a "comprehensive statewide strategy with clear goals, measurable benchmarks and annual performance targets."

By

Dan Walters

• March 18, 2026

A sign from the Unrig California campaign lists corporate profit figures, executive pay and median worker pay alongside a QR code inviting people to join the campaign, with an illustration of a shipping box in the background.

Dan Walters

Billionaires bolt from blue states amid tax fears, mirroring rebellion in ‘Atlas Shrugged’ novel

In Ayn Rand's novel, society suffered after business leaders and other achievers left. Will that really occur if a tax chases away the rich?

By

Dan Walters

• March 17, 2026

A person wearing a purple shirt sits in the front row of the audience section at a press conference, where four people stand behind a lectern as one of them speaks into a microphone. A graphic displayed on an easel shows an image of traffic cones with the words "Stop DUIs, Save Lives" on it.

Commentary

Real journalism tells real stories, not YouTube fables to solicit money

Real journalism is distinct from social news tricks for clicks. Journalists hold the powerful accountable, and most won't ask you for money.

By

Dan Walters

• March 13, 2026

An illuminated gas station price sign displays the cost of regular, plus, and premium gasoline for cash and credit. The bright digital numbers stand out against a dark background.

Commentary

As gas prices soar, California’s new carbon emission rules prompt a war of words

With some California gas prices topping $5 a gallon, anything that pushes prices even higher, like emissions crackdowns, will become a political football.

By

Dan Walters

• March 12, 2026

A green casino card table with labeled betting areas, surrounded by black padded chairs in an expansive cardroom. The room features multiple tables, overhead lights, digital displays, and a chandelier in the background, creating a lively gaming atmosphere.

Commentary

California’s tribal casinos trample smaller cardrooms with new regulations

The tribes with casinos guard their gambling dominance with political clout gained from lavish contributions to political campaigns.

By

Dan Walters

• March 11, 2026