CalMatters Impact

Journalism that makes a difference

A person with a beard speaks at a podium holding a photograph, with others standing nearby, flags behind them, and several printed photos displayed in the foreground.

‘It’s time’: California leaders unveil biggest crackdown on drunk drivers in decades

A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers has introduced 10 bills, an unprecedented package designed to stop deadly drivers.

Robert Lewis

and

Lauren Hepler

On the steps of a building at night, two people hug beside a microphone, while rows of small orange traffic cones and string lights line the stairs, each cone paired with a photo of a person, creating a memorial-like display.

Lawmaker targets repeat drunk drivers as part of larger push to fix problems exposed by CalMatters

The DUI bill is intended to be the “tip of the spear” in a movement to address how California allows dangerous drivers to stay on the roads.

Lauren Hepler

and

Robert Lewis

Graphic of 9 images from the featured impact stories of 2025, alternating in a golden or blue overlay

How CalMatters kept our government transparent and our leaders accountable in 2025

In 2025, CalMatters’ and The Markup’s reporting prompted lawmakers to introduce eight new bills, agencies to take action, companies to change their practices and constituents to contact their representatives.

Sisi Wei

Rural California gets a lifeline in school funding as Congress restores money it cut

A century-old program pays for schools, roads and other services in 39 California counties.

Carolyn Jones

A kitchen staffer works behind the counter of a restaurant in Los Angeles on June 8, 2021. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

California workers can’t get timely hearings on wage theft claims. State orders audit.

It takes the state nearly 800 days — four times longer than is legal — to handle wage claims. Lawmakers ordered an audit to start Sept. 1, if agency issues aren’t addressed by then.

Alejandro Lazo

and

Jeanne Kuang

• March 22, 2023

The South Yuma County Landfill in Yuma, Arizona on Nov. 29, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Environment

California keeps sending toxic soil to out-of-state landfills — Newsom and legislators are slow to change course

California sends toxic soil to landfills in Utah and Arizona, including sites near Native American reservations. Will lawmakers step in to keep the waste in state?

Robert Lewis

• February 28, 2023

A police officer in Sacramento on Apr. 3, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal, Sipa USA via Reuters

Justice

State Justice Department hasn’t probed — or even logged — all police shootings of possibly unarmed people

The department told CalMatters it can’t say how many cases it chose not to investigate during the past 18 months under a new state law, which aimed to ensure state oversight of police shootings.

Nigel Duara

• January 26, 2023

Voters register and receive their ballots at the San Francisco voting center at City Hall on Nov. 3, 2002. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Politics

Lost in translation: How many languages for California election ballots?

The Secretary of State's office moved toward requiring election ballots and other voter information to be translated into fewer languages. Advocacy groups are alarmed and urging action in time for the June primary. On March 1, the secretary of state reversed course.

Sameea Kamal

• February 21, 2022

Students walk through the Fresno State campus in Fresno, on Feb. 9, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters

Higher Education

Do-over: Cal State resubmits application, increasing affordable student housing projection by 800 beds

Cal State resubmitted an application for state money to be used for student housing. The new application, which follows a CalMatters report on Cal State misreading the fine print, should produce 800 more affordable beds.

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• February 15, 2022

Health

Call 988: California finds $20 million to help pay for new crisis hotline

After a push from advocates, California officials agreed to help fund a 988 network — a "robust statewide call center" for mental health.

Jocelyn Wiener

• September 2, 2021

Bank of America is being sued for failing to provide sufficient protections for unemployment payment debit cards after thousands across California have fallen victim to fraud this year. Image via iStock

Economy

Bank of America sued over EDD unemployment debit card fraud

A class-action lawsuit accuses Bank of America of exposing unemployed California workers to large-scale fraud and cutting off access to jobless benefits during the pandemic.

Lauren Hepler

• January 15, 2021

Matt Hoffman pets his Saint Bernard Jackson while on hold with Bank of America at his girlfriend’s house in Escalon on Nov. 13, 2020. Hoffman, who has been unemployed since suffering a stroke last year, has been unable to access his benefits since July. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Economy

California may change how unemployment gets paid

Could jobless Californians soon receive benefits by direct deposit? State legislators are considering reforms and asking Bank of America for answers following a CalMatters investigation into payment problems impacting more than 350,000 unemployment debit cards.

Lauren Hepler

• November 25, 2020

Alice Huffman has resigned as president of the California State Conference of the NAACP, after controversy over the fact that she collected millions in fees from corporate interests as her organization sided with them on state ballot measures. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Politics

California NAACP leader resigns amid conflict-of-interest backlash

Alice Huffman was paid millions by corporate ballot measure campaigns that her historic civil rights organization endorsed, while many Black leaders took opposing positions.

Laurel Rosenhall

• November 20, 2020

California Divide

CalMatters investigation, COVID cases spur bill requiring employers disclose workplace outbreaks

A bill on the governor's desk would require employers to notify workers and county public health officials about coronavirus outbreaks. A joint investigation by CalMatters and The Salinas Californian uncovered reports of guest worker outbreaks where neither workers nor counties were notified.

Kate Cimini

• September 12, 2020