Dan Walters

Legislation to abolish California's test of would-be teachers' ability to teach reading should be deferred in this pandemic-shortened session.

California's attorneys general are empowered to write official titles for statewide ballot measures but the current AG, Xavier Becerra, continues the practice of providing slanted and partisan summaries.

California's Department of Housing and Community Development is getting tough with local officials about addressing the state's chronic shortage of housing.

California voters may see a slew of new local tax proposals after a state appellate court ruled that the two-thirds vote requirement doesn't apply to those placed on the ballot via initiative petitions.

California transit systems were struggling even before COVID-19, with stagnant ridership and soaring costs. Now they are seeking a huge bailout, saying they face an existential crisis.

California is conducting an accidental, but vast, experiment in whether at-home, on-line education works for K-12 students, especially high-needs, low-achieving kids.

California's high poverty rate stems mostly from its high cost of living and blue state policies impose extra living costs on the poor.

California's year of pandemic, recession and civic unrest also includes angst over the outcome of the 2020 census. The state likely will lose at least one congressional seat and perhaps two.

Gov. Gavin Newsom says the new California state budget is balanced, but in reality it has a huge deficit that will be covered by indirect borrowing.

Will California's public schools, with 6 million students, reopen after shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Or will stay-at-home classes continue?