WhatMatters

The California Highway Patrol graduated 780 new officers this year, including more than 130 cadets on Friday, underscoring the success of the agency’s recruitment push during a once-concerning vacancy rate. Grappling with vacancies that ballooned 94% between 2015 and 2023, the agency in 2022 asked for $2 million from the state Legislature to hire more […]

California is home to nearly 1 million children with physical, developmental or cognitive disabilities — most of whom receive at least some services through Medicaid. But cuts from President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget bill have put those crucial services at risk — leaving California parents worried about their children’s futures. As CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones explains, […]

From CalMatters economy reporter Levi Sumagaysay: California, whose unemployment rate has been at 5% and above for the past couple of years, is likely to see a weak job market through at least early next year, according to the winter UCLA Anderson forecast published this week.  Authors of the longtime economic forecast cited continued uncertainty […]

From CalMatters homelessness reporter Marisa Kendall: There are still people living on streets and sidewalks throughout the state, but Californians are starting to care a little less about the issue of homelessness, according to a recent survey.  Only 37% of Californians asked in October said they were “very concerned” about homelessness — down from 58% […]

Let’s jump into some California housing news: Give now for Giving Tuesday. Every gift has triple the impact thanks to two matching funds. Keep independent, trustworthy information in every Californians’ hands, and hold people in power accountable for what they do — and what they don’t do. Please give today. Other Stories You Should Know […]

For many migrant and immigrant farmworkers in California who do not have legal status, mobile medical clinics are their only access to health care. But as President Donald Trump’s administration continues its crackdown on immigrants, vulnerable farmworker patients are delaying care out of fears of deportation. As CalMatters’ Larry Valenzuela explains in a visual essay, […]

Scheduling note: WhatMatters is giving thanks for our readers and other blessings, and will return to your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 1. Will a cap on student loans discourage Californians from becoming nurses? We may find out. The Trump administration is proposing to restrict the amount of money nursing students can borrow to advance their […]

This year California lawmakers passed a handful of measures regulating artificial intelligence. But President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are reigniting efforts to block states from regulating the technology — potentially upending these recent laws and prompting outcry from California officials.  The Trump administration last week floated a draft of an executive order calling for […]

Will migrant and undocumented immigrant workers return to California farms next year? As the harvest season comes to a close, that question looms over Central Valley — raising concerns about the region’s economy and the state’s agricultural industry, reports CalMatters’ Nigel Duara. In addition to California’s overall economy and the economies of its big cities, […]

The chain of California nursing homes owned by Shlomo Rechnitz has faced state scrutiny for years, including an unsuccessful effort by then-Attorney General Kamala Harris to stop him from acquiring more facilities. Now, a series of recent lawsuits has brought renewed attention to his companies.  Elder care advocates say Rechnitz’ companies are Exhibit A in […]