WhatMatters

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments this week in a lawsuit that could affect elections for more than a dozen states, including California, requiring voters to send their mail-in ballots early. The dispute is over a Mississippi law that allows election officials there to count such ballots when they are postmarked by Election Day […]

From CalMatters politics and campaign reporter Yue Stella Yu: California’s campaign ethics watchdog has opened two investigations into Dana Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff indicted last November on bank and wire fraud charges, and her co-conspirators in the criminal probe. To catch you up: Federal prosecutors last year accused Williamson of falsifying […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow, and I’m pinch hitting for Lynn today.  No more César Chávez Day, California. Democratic leaders said Thursday they’re going to fast-track legislation to rename the March 31 holiday “Farmworkers Day.” The move came a day after the New York Times published a bombshell investigation into allegations that the once-beloved farmworker’s […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Adam Echelman and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. Multiple women, including Dolores Huerta, said they endured sexual abuse at the hands of California icon César Chávez. The abuse detailed by these women came out in a New York Times investigation published Wednesday. Two of the women were children at the time […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Adam Echelman and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. Border Patrol agents have been roving from city to city, far from their home bases in California and elsewhere along the U.S./Mexico border, over the last 15 months, engaged in an unprecedented mass deportation campaign.  CalMatters, along with partners Evident Media and Bellingcat, has […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Adam Echelman and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. After students walked out of school to protest ICE back in February, the Clovis and Los Angeles Police Department threatened to arrest adults who helped them leave. No charges have been filed yet, but Alfred Aldrete expects a call from the police any […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Mikhail Zinshteyn and I’m subbing in for Lynn today. Who doesn’t like a good back-from-the-dead story? California’s only fully online community college seemed like it was on political life support. Twice the state Assembly voted to shutter the school but was rebuffed by either Gov. Gavin Newsom or the state Senate, CalMatters’ […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow, and I’ve tapped in for Lynn today. Another contentious election season is upon us, and you may have questions. Am I registered to vote? How do I register to vote? Is my ballot safe? Can I vote in a language other than English? What if I messed up my ballot? […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow, and I’m pinch hitting for Lynn today. As Gov. Gavin Newsom courts national voters for his anticipated presidential campaign, he’s sure to face criticism on two fronts. One is California’s largest-in-the-nation homeless population. The other is California’s inability to complete ambitious, multi-billion-dollar projects, even after voters give the go-ahead. The […]

I’m CalMatters reporter Marisa Kendall, and I’m filling in for Lynn today. America is turning 250 this year. For California students, this milestone 4th of July will be about more than fireworks and backyard BBQs: It will be a time to learn something about how their government works.  For decades, civics education has been sidelined […]