WhatMatters

If a drug test that could come back with a false positive denies you parole, would you avoid participating in a treatment program that required the drug test in the first place? Some California prison physicians say yes. As CalMatters’ Cayla Mihalovich reports, about 50,000 incarcerated people in California have received medication-assisted addiction treatment since […]

By 2030, the number of Californians age 65 and older will likely exceed those who are under 18. Some of these estimated 8.6 million residents will experience loss and grief, intensifying feelings of loneliness. But as CalMatters’ Joe Garcia explains, senior centers can offer a vital respite — helping elders live out their golden years […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Nigel Duara and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. Education dollars have been a major element of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s seven-plus years in office. But two bills he signed have created unforeseen consequences that are impacting school districts and school kids’ families. CalMatters’ Jeanne Kuang writes that one of Newsom’s signature education […]

California is suing the Trump administration after it said it plans to pull over $600 million in public health care funds to four Democratic-led states, including California. Last week President Donald Trump’s budget office directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rescind the grant money from California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. California Attorney […]

A federal judge has pumped the brakes on a California law banning local and federal officers from wearing masks. But both sides — California lawmakers and the Trump administration — are claiming victory. In her ruling Monday, District Judge Christina Snyder, a Clinton-appointee, said that because the legislation exempted state law enforcement, it discriminated against […]

California Democratic officials often tout California as a sanctuary state, but some local police departments — including police at UC San Diego — have been participating in a federal program that provides agencies millions of dollars to collaborate with Border Patrol, writes Phoebe Huss of CalMatters’ College Journalism Network. Operation Stonegarden is a U.S. Department […]

Illegal cannabis farms hidden inside California forests harm nearby wildlife, ecosystems and watersheds. But with little being done at the federal and state levels to clean up these sites fast enough, ecologists are sounding the alarm about the pollution the farms wreak on the state’s public lands. As CalMatters’ Rachel Becker explains, the nonprofit Integral […]

A tool used by state agencies to help guide policy and billions of dollars in environmental funding is getting updated for the fifth time — but critics say that it still falls short of its intentions, writes CalMatters’ Alejandra Reyes-Velarde. Developed in the 1990s, CalEnviroScreen evaluates different geographical regions in California on nearly two dozen […]

For nearly a decade, California community colleges have gradually increased the number of ways students can receive college credit for their prior work experience. But the state is facing challenges in its goal to expand access to these credits, writes CalMatters’ Adam Echelman. Credit for prior working experience enables students to bypass some classes, saving […]

California is suing a San Diego hospital after it said it would limit gender-affirming care for young patients. But some parents of transgender children and LGBTQ advocates say the state still isn’t doing enough to protect the transgender community amid a federal administration that continues to target them. As CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang explains, Rady Children’s […]