WhatMatters

A person wearing a cap, sunglasses, and a plaid shirt crouches beside a roadside trailer device, holding a phone up to photograph or inspect its rear panel, with brush and dirt terrain in the background.

WhatMatters

More government surveillance found along CA’s southern border

If you’re driving down California’s southern border, there’s a chance that a trailer or construction barrel you passed has a hidden camera in it operated by the federal government. As CalMatters’ Wendy Fry and Khari Johnson explain, in the last few months of former President Joe Biden’s term, California granted permits to federal agencies, including […]

By

Lynn La

• February 26, 2026

People walk along a pathway aligned with palm trees and with buildings on both sides at a school.

WhatMatters

Power outages can be costly for CA schools

Planned power outages by utility companies are intended to lower the risk of wildfires during severe weather events. But as climate change prompts more extreme weather events and outages become more frequent, some California school districts say these outages are taking a steep financial toll. As CalMatters’ Alejandra Reyes-Velarde reports, school districts can be notified […]

By

Lynn La

• February 25, 2026

A damaged black sedan with crumpled front and side panels sits in the street after a collision, positioned near a red car while a police vehicle is parked nearby.

WhatMatters

Uber fighting lawyers, doctors to CA ballot box

A multimillion-dollar battle is playing out between Uber and an opposition coalition over a November ballot initiative that could affect every driver on California roads, writes Levi Sumagaysay. Since last fall, the ride-hailing service has poured $32.5 million into a proposed ballot measure that would cap personal injury lawyers’ contingency fees to 25%. The measure […]

By

Lynn La

• February 24, 2026

Audience members hold up blue and yellow campaign signs with an image of a bear alongside the words "Swalwell for Governor."

WhatMatters

CA Democrats can’t agree on endorsement for governor. Will Republicans benefit?

The California Democratic Party’s state convention wrapped up Sunday in San Francisco, concluding a three-day event in which 3,500 delegates chose some of their party endorsements for the June 2 primary election. As expected, none of the nine Democratic candidates hoping to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom earned the necessary 60% of votes to win an […]

By

Lynn La

• February 23, 2026

A person raises their fist up while they stand on a stage beneath blue lights, in front of a large backdrop reading “Billionaire Tax Now” and “Vote Yes 11/3/26.”

WhatMatters

Sanders rallies for CA’s proposed billionaire tax

At a rally in Los Angeles to drum up support for a proposed “billionaire tax” in California, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders gave a warning to his audience: Beware of deceptive messaging. The Vermont independent, reports CalMatters’ Nigel Duara, said Wednesday that ads opposing the tax will not be as transparent as, “‘We are billionaires, we […]

By

Lynn La

• February 20, 2026

A gloved hand points to a holding cell at the hospital ward of the Twin Towers jail in Los Angeles on April 16, 2020. About 3,000 inmates were recently transferred out of jails to prisons, but on Thursday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation again suspended transfers following a rise in coronavirus cases. Photo by Chris Carlson, AP Photo

WhatMatters

False positives create dilemma for CA prisoners

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

Lynn La

• February 19, 2026

Two older adults sit on a bench along a hallway wall displaying framed documents, lit by a patch of sunlight, while another older adult wearing a cap stands nearby facing them.

WhatMatters

CA senior centers offer critical services

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 […]

By

Lynn La

• February 18, 2026

A detailed look of two unidentifiable toddlers playing with toy trucks at a playground.

WhatMatters

CA private daycare centers struggle under free early-ed expansion

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 […]

By

Lynn La

• February 17, 2026

A nurse wearing blue medical gloves stands near a table as they prepare the equipment they need to conduct a blood draw.

WhatMatters

CA sues Trump over public health funds

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 […]

By

Lynn La

• February 12, 2026

A person, dressed in green riot gear and wearing a cloth mask to cover their mouth, holds a protective shield in front of them as people gather during an immigration raid.

WhatMatters

Judge rules on CA’s mask ban for law enforcement

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 […]

By

Lynn La

• February 11, 2026