WhatMatters

For the record: A story in this issue of WhatMatters contained a number of erroneous characterizations and conclusions based on an incorrect interpretation of campaign finance data. Read the full correction. Almost no one in the California Legislature actually votes “no” on bills.  They choose an easy way out, electing to not cast a vote […]

In some ways, Silicon Valley’s courting of President Donald Trump upon his return to the White House has worked out for Big Tech: Corporate tax rates are expected to remain low, and the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industries likely won’t have to worry about strict regulation.  But in other ways, Trump’s haphazard policy approach has […]

From CalMatters’ Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang:  Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a new law attempting to have California take over the role of the National Labor Relations Board if it is hobbled under President Donald Trump. Under Assembly Bill 288, workers with pending cases before the board, including pending union elections, could ask the […]

Amid the third year in a row that officials have shut down California’s commercial salmon fishing season, a vital fish hatchery for the Chinook salmon will have to reduce its salmon production due to insufficient federal funds — further threatening jobs and the declining fish species, officials and advocates say. Operated by the state but […]

Filthy bathrooms. It’s among the things retired law enforcement park ranger John Lauretig remembers about the last government shutdown. National Parks staff were furloughed, but the parks remained open from December 2018 through January 2019, leading to a human waste problem: There was a half-ton of human waste alone at Death Valley outside the restrooms […]

At the state Capitol this year, lawmakers, policy experts, housing advocates and others said the term “housing shortage” at least 30 times in committee hearings and floor speeches — underscoring how California’s housing crisis remains one of the state’s top issues. But what exactly is a housing shortage, and how bad is it in California? […]

As President Donald Trump’s administration continues its crackdown on immigration, one California school district stands out to ensure all its students — regardless of legal status — can feel safe and access vital resources, reports CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones. Serving more than 500,000 students, Los Angeles Unified School District is the country’s second largest school district. […]

From CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay: California homeowners who fireproof their homes would get guaranteed insurance coverage under a ballot measure filed this week by Consumer Watchdog. The consumer advocacy group filed the initiative in response to a competing measure that seeks to repeal Proposition 103, which Watchdog’s founder wrote in the late 1980s and […]

Immigration arrests at federal courthouses have taken up most of the national attention since Donald Trump became president, but across California, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents are showing up at state courts and arresting undocumented immigrants, CalMatters Nigel Duara reports.  It happened this summer in Fresno: A judge reportedly congratulated a man for completing […]

Do you like your representative in Congress and don’t want to lose them? Did you vote yes on creating an independent redistricting commission to mitigate the role of partisan politics in drawing congressional maps more than a decade ago? All of that can change on Nov. 4. That’s when Californians will be asked to vote […]