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In 2022, California lawmakers tried to stop “pay to play” by local elected officials — taking campaign money from various groups and then approving licenses, building permits and other goodies for the same donors.  The law passed easily, but business groups sued to kill it in 2023. They failed, but now, there’s a move afoot […]

From CalMatters health reporter Ana B. Ibarra:California can buy more overdose-reversing medication at a lower price under a deal Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Monday with a pharmaceutical company, potentially giving law enforcement, schools and others more resources to address the state’s fentanyl crisis. Under a government-run pharmaceutical program called CalRx, California will purchase naloxone […]

California’s Democratic leaders often tout the state as a safe haven for abortion rights. They’re now trying to help women in Arizona get around a potential ban. But as CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff explains in his deeply reported story, there are hurdles to abortion access that remain in California, including in the Democratic stronghold […]

The federal government is spending billions to reduce border wait times, yet small business owners say long delays are threatening their livelihoods.

From CalMatters’ Ben Christopher:  A bill to rein in a proposed monthly fee on California electric bills has been quietly shelved in the Assembly without receiving a single vote. Assembly Bill 1999, written by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, was a response to the California Public Utilities Commission’s proposal on fixed charges. The version to be voted […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom sought to make California a haven for abortion rights. Now he’s trying to bring women in neighboring Arizona under those protections. Wednesday, members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus and Newsom formally introduced a bill that would enable Arizona doctors to temporarily provide abortion services for their patients traveling to California through Nov. […]

Some bills before California’s Legislature don’t come from passionate policy advocates, or from powerful interest groups. Sometimes, the inspiration comes from a family car ride.  While campaigning two years ago, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo’s daughter, then nine, jokingly asked her to make a law banning homework. Since then, however, the Democrat from Santa Clarita Valley has […]

One of the 2024 session’s big deadlines is staring California legislators in the face this week: By Friday, bills that cost money must pass their first policy committee to stay alive this year. So lawmakers of both parties are busy promoting their proposals with press events and trying to shepherd them through committees.  On Monday:  […]

Over the last ten years, California has been locking up fewer people in jail. But the number of people dying in them has increased, with the past few years being the most deadly. And as advocates continue to face setbacks for the additional accountability they seek, jail deaths in one county have sparked protests and […]

Good morning, Inequality Insights readers. I’m CalMatters reporter Wendy Fry. For the first time in decades, California’s Black population decreased, from 2.2 million people in 2000 to 2.1 million now. Also Black Californians have moved away from urban centers to places like the Inland Empire and Sacramento.  Why? Researchers cite the impacts of gentrification and […]