WhatMatters

Distance learning is dead. Long live distance learning — or something like it. Last week, a waiver allowing California schools to engage in distance learning expired — putting the state on track to resume full-time in-person instruction in the fall. But on Monday, state lawmakers introduced an amended budget bill that would require schools to […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom will face the most pivotal day of his political career on Sept. 14, the date of the second recall election in California.

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, July 1. Pandemic’s unequal toll Today, thousands of California families could have been at risk of losing their homes had Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature not cobbled together a last-minute extension of the state’s eviction moratorium. But even with those protections in place, sheriff’s departments locked out at least […]

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and businessman John Cox both embarked on statewide tours this week to promote their plans to reduce homelessness.

The governor sues Secretary of State Shirley Weber — whom he appointed to the position just months ago — for refusing to correct his lawyers' filing mistake that could result in Newsom appearing on the recall ballot without "Democratic Party" listed next to his name.

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, June 28. Ongoing negotiations As it turns out, deciding how to spend $262.6 billion is an extraordinarily complicated task. So, although state lawmakers will vote today on the record-breaking budget they unveiled Friday after reaching new agreements with Gov. Gavin Newsom, many details still have to be worked out. It’s […]

The state of California is paying itself $500,000 for administering Gov. Gavin Newsom’s vaccine lottery. The news, which I first reported Thursday, comes about a week after Newsom wrapped up a whirlwind series of events in which he gave away millions of dollars and other prizes to encourage Californians to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s […]

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, June 24. Things go up in flames The wind wasn’t blowing in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s direction Wednesday. First came the CapRadio investigation that found the governor vastly overstated the amount of land treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns to prevent wildfires from harming California’s most vulnerable communities. Newsom claimed in January […]

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, June 23. Deal or no deal? Hurry up, and wait. That’s all millions of Californians can do as Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democratic lawmakers negotiate — largely behind closed doors — the terms of an extended eviction moratorium and the details of a whopping $267 billion budget. The impact […]

California has a lot of moratoriums it needs to worry about. Even as Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers rush to extend California’s eviction moratorium before it expires next week, another big deadline looms on the horizon. In November, the state’s moratorium on insurance companies dropping coverage for Californians living in wildfire-prone areas is set […]