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Today marks the first day of a planned three-day trial to determine whether the U.S. military unlawfully carried out civilian law enforcement when it was deployed to Los Angeles under President Donald Trump. As CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn explains, a California federal district court will take up the matter, which stems from a June lawsuit Gov. […]

By the time the winds started blowing the Palisades Fire from the Santa Monica Mountains toward Will Rogers State Historic Park on Jan. 7, California State Parks staff were boxing up artifacts where the famous 1930s vaudeville actor built his ranch house.  A color-coded sticker system marked which art, books, ceramics and other objects to […]

Let’s dive into some education news: CalMatters events: Join us Aug. 20 for a lunchtime discussion on the final days of the 2025 legislative session and what’s ahead for 2026. CalMatters’ Alexei Koseff will moderate a panel featuring Capitol community insiders Leah Barros, Keely Martin Bosler, Cesar Diaz, Ben Golombek and more. Register here to […]

From CalMatters deputy editor Adam Ashton: Gov. Gavin Newsom shouldn’t expect much pushback from the next city in line to lose a state prison.  Norco in Riverside County for years has been lobbying to close the California Rehabilitation Center, arguing the city can find a better use for the site. It was an art deco […]

Amid decreasing demand and rising costs, the U.S. and California wine industry have struggled in recent years. But while some in the industry regard President Donald Trump’s tariff policies as bad for business, others say they could help domestic wine makers, writes CalMatters’ Levi Sumagaysay. Since the beginning of August, the Trump administration has enacted […]

A Bay Area lawmaker wants to ban companies from charging prices based on information stored on customers’ phones, laptops or other hardware devices. The bill, which sits before the Assembly after advancing through the Senate in May, is one of the 30 measures the Legislature introduced this year to regulate artificial intelligence technology, writes CalMatters’ […]

California gun owners are eager to get their hands on ammunition after a federal appeals court struck down a state law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases, reports CalMatters’ Joe Garcia. Last week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a blow to gun control advocates and California’s own policy framework when it ruled that […]

As the federal administration carries out what it says is the largest deportation effort in the country’s history, immigrants already struggling to make rent are facing greater housing challenges that experts say undermine the state’s tenant protection laws, write CalMatters’ Yue Stella Yu and Ben Christopher. In addition to including immigrants with no criminal background, […]

For California prisoners who committed crimes when they were young and received life sentences without parole, few opportunities exist to get a second chance. The possibility of a parole review is slim, while the likelihood of dying behind bars is all but guaranteed. But one bill — which the Legislature is holding for consideration until […]

Let’s dive into some news affecting California education: Have a question about higher ed? Fill out this form (also in Spanish) and it could be answered by the CalMatters’ College Journalism Network. Other Stories You Should Know Newsom: Have we tried gerrymandering? As the Texas Legislature continues its special session this week to redraw the […]