Explainers

If it's an election year, it must mean California ballot measures for voters to decide. Here's why and how propositions are such a big deal.

California once criminalized abortion. Now it's the US leader on abortion rights, and may become a 'sanctuary' for out-of-state seekers.

Getting a handle on California crime statistics is tricky business, as inconsistent reporting and short-term snapshots can obscure real trends.

California cities face an array of crippling threats to water supplies: rising seas, extreme weather, drought, contamination, quakes, fires.

While California faces extreme labor stratification, unions represent just 16% of workers. Would more unions in the private-sector reduce inequality or raise costs?

The second year of the coronavirus pandemic in California was shaped by two political undercurrents at the state Capitol: a budget awash with cash, thanks to a booming stock market and federal aid, and a looming recall election asking voters to throw Gov. Gavin Newsom out of office.   The massive budget surplus allowed Newsom and […]

Since taking office in 2019, California's governor has made progress on education and other key issues, but left much to be done. Recall supporters are spotlighting his shortcomings.

Seven write-in candidates have joined 46 others who qualified to be on the ballot in California’s second recall election for governor. They include politicians, activists and others.

On March 19, 2020 Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a statewide shelter-in-place order. In response to an unprecedented public health threat, it was an equally unprecedented shuttering of day-to-day life. “This is not a permanent state,” Newsom assured us at the time. “This is a moment in time. And we will meet this moment together.” On […]

Thousands of out-of-work Californians are struggling through the most severe job crisis on record as the state tries to account for up to $31 billion in benefits lost to fraud. Here’s what went wrong — and what might come next.