Economy

Facebook employees take a photo in front of the new Meta sign at the company headquarters in Menlo Park on Oct. 28, 2021. Photo by Tony Avelar, AP Photo

Economy

Lawmakers want more social media regulation. Here are the legal hurdles that could face

A California bill would hold social media companies legally responsible for addicting kids to their platforms. Tech lobbyists, digital rights advocates, and others say the proposal would run afoul of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

By

Grace Gedye

• May 1, 2023

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

Economy

Lawmakers attempt crackdown on hidden fees

A bevy of new legislation takes aim at hidden fees across several industries. A growing body of research mostly shows that people spend more when fees are revealed later.

By

Grace Gedye

• April 20, 2023

Employees at Pinterest work at their desks in San Francisco on Nov. 13, 2014. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Economy

What stands between you and a four-day week

Evidence from pilot programs show that 32 hour weeks are feasible, but business groups in California say it won’t work for all companies. Lawmakers in California and D.C. are introducing bills that would encourage or require shortened work weeks.

By

Grace Gedye

• April 6, 2023

A Lyft driver working in San Francisco in 2013. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Economy

Court ruling opens door to gig driver unionization bill, union says

A court ruling last week upheld much of a 2020 gig-worker initiative, but found part of the measure was invalid. The part the court struck down opens the door to driver unionization legislation, according to labor advocates challenging the initiative.

By

Grace Gedye

• March 20, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses the media during a press conference announcing new gun legislation targeting the state's public carry laws on Feb. 1, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Politics

Blocked by legislators, Newsom shifts oil profits penalty plan to regulators

The Newsom administration announces it will go through the state Energy Commission instead of the Legislature for a penalty on windfall profits of oil refiners.

By

Alexei Koseff

• March 15, 2023

Michelle Hackett at the entrance to Riverview Farms in Salinas that flooded in the mid-March storms. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Economy

As emergency aid flows to flooded-out Californians, will thousands get the help they need?

California has sometimes moved to help victims of emergencies who are excluded from federal aid‚ such as undocumented workers and cannabis businesses.

By

Lauren Hepler

,

Nicole Foy

and

Wendy Fry

• March 15, 2023

App-based gig workers hold demonstration outside Los Angeles City Hall to urge voters to vote no on Proposition 22, a ballot measure that would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors and not employees or agents, in Los Angeles on October 8, 2020. Photo by Mike Blake, REUTERS

Economy

Court upholds California Prop. 22 in big win for gig firms like Lyft and Uber

An appeals court ruled Monday in favor of companies that want to classify some workers as independent contractors, saying that Proposition 22 is mostly constitutional.

By

Grace Gedye

• March 13, 2023

A Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara on Mar. 10, 2023. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Economy

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank: A one-off calamity, or sign of more trouble for California?

Silicon Valley Bank’s failure is a sign of weakness in the tech industry, and that could spell trouble for the state of California.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 13, 2023

Economy

Is your boss complying with California’s new pay transparency law? Here’s how to find out

Businesses and workers have questions about California’s new pay transparency law. CalMatters answers which companies need to post pay ranges in job openings, who can ask for their current pay scale, and more.

By

Grace Gedye

• March 13, 2023

Construction on the High-Speed Rail over a ramp above Highway 99 in south Fresno on March 3, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Economy

New cost estimate for high-speed rail puts California bullet train $100 billion in the red

The latest report from the California High-Speed Rail Authority projects costs for the initial segment at $35 billion, which exceeds secured funding by $10 billion. Other segments of the system are likely to have their projected costs increase, too. The state hopes it will get more federal aid.

By

Ralph Vartabedian

• March 7, 2023