CalMatters Impact

Journalism that makes a difference

A person with a beard speaks at a podium holding a photograph, with others standing nearby, flags behind them, and several printed photos displayed in the foreground.

‘It’s time’: California leaders unveil biggest crackdown on drunk drivers in decades

A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers has introduced 10 bills, an unprecedented package designed to stop deadly drivers.

Robert Lewis

and

Lauren Hepler

On the steps of a building at night, two people hug beside a microphone, while rows of small orange traffic cones and string lights line the stairs, each cone paired with a photo of a person, creating a memorial-like display.

Lawmaker targets repeat drunk drivers as part of larger push to fix problems exposed by CalMatters

The DUI bill is intended to be the “tip of the spear” in a movement to address how California allows dangerous drivers to stay on the roads.

Lauren Hepler

and

Robert Lewis

Graphic of 9 images from the featured impact stories of 2025, alternating in a golden or blue overlay

How CalMatters kept our government transparent and our leaders accountable in 2025

In 2025, CalMatters’ and The Markup’s reporting prompted lawmakers to introduce eight new bills, agencies to take action, companies to change their practices and constituents to contact their representatives.

Sisi Wei

Rural California gets a lifeline in school funding as Congress restores money it cut

A century-old program pays for schools, roads and other services in 39 California counties.

Carolyn Jones

A wide view of cars as they pass by three signs that indicate different exits on a busy freeway.

Technology

LA County moves to limit license plate tracking, citing CalMatters report

Citing a CalMatters report, LA County supervisors voted to push their sheriff to restrict sharing and retention of license plate data collected with high-tech surveillance cameras

Phoebe Huss

and

Khari Johnson

• October 23, 2025

Health

CalMatters shined a light on struggling birthing centers. Newsom just signed a law to help them

Birth centers are disappearing in California. A newly-signed law expands support for labor and delivery services to address the problem.

Kristen Hwang

• October 17, 2025

People stand in the rotunda section of a Capitol building along the railing of the second floor.

Politics

After CalMatters report, Newsom signs law forcing lawmakers to disclose their new jobs

After a CalMatters report, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring lawmakers to disclose when they’ve gotten a new job. Will it uncover corruption?

Ryan Sabalow

• October 16, 2025

Two hands with painted nails hold a heart-shaped photograph of a person smiling and wearing a baseball hat. The hands belong to a mother and a daughter, and the image has a feeling of "remembrance." The image is focused on the heart and the hands.

Mental Health

‘I will do it again’. Mom of California overdose victim pledges to keep fighting in Capitol

After a CalMatters investigation, lawmakers asked Christine Matlock Dougherty to testify on behalf of bills to regulate mental health insurance. They didn't pass this year.

Jocelyn Wiener

• September 9, 2025

A large crowd gathers in an outdoor lot, inspecting vehicles parked in tight rows. Some individuals lean against cars, while others engage in conversation or examine vehicles up close. A silver Honda Civic with a missing license plate is in the foreground, with a person resting their arm on its trunk.

Investigation

CalMatters created a tool to help you get your money back from the DMV. Now the agency’s copied it

The California DMV is now allowing vehicle owners to see if the state owes them money for sales of their towed cars.

Byrhonda Lyons

• September 5, 2025

A person wearing glasses speaks into a microphone while seated at a desk in a government hearing room, with nameplates visible on the desks and other people blurred in the background.

Technology

Data brokers face new pressure for hiding opt-out pages from Google

After reporters found dozens of firms hiding privacy tools from search results, US senator Maggie Hassan insisted the companies explain their practices—and pledge to improve access to privacy controls.

CalMatters Staff

• August 18, 2025

Illustration of a hand holding a magnifying glass over a group of opt out web pages labeled with phrases like "Opt Out" or "Delete My Data"; the magnifying glass shows a dashed outline of those browser windows, conveying that they are concealed

Technology

You have a right to delete your data. Some companies are making it extra difficult

Dozens of companies are hiding how you can delete your personal data, The Markup and CalMatters found. After our reporters reached out for comment, multiple companies have stopped the practice.

Colin Lecher

and

Tomas Apodaca

• August 12, 2025

The backs of people wearing dark green jumpsuits that say "detainee" in the back as they walk down a hall at a detention facility.

Justice

ICE releases deaf Mongolian immigrant after holding him for months without interpreter

A deaf immigrant who sought asylum at the California-Mexico border was released from detention after a federal judge ordered authorities to provide him with an interpreter.

Wendy Fry

• July 22, 2025

Collage of featured images from various CalMatters stories over the past ten years, including an image of a fireman, migrant workers in the field, a woman overlooking documents, a woman giving birth, two people embracing, a portrait of an older man and a group of people holding protest signs

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters: Holding the state accountable for 10 years, and we’re just getting started

In our first decade, CalMatters journalism has brought communities together, inspired lawmakers to create a better California and made the state more accountable to Californians.

Sisi Wei

• July 18, 2025

Justice

California Highway Patrol fell behind other agencies on body cams. Now it’s trying to fix that

In 2022, CalMatters reported that the CHP was far behind local law enforcement agencies, a distinction the agency plans to address.

Byrhonda Lyons

• July 9, 2025