Newsletters

Four white voting booths with American flags and the word "VOTE" emblazoned on the side are visible. A person wearing a baseball cap casts a ballot in one of the booths. They're located in a room, reminiscent of a community center.

WhatMatters

After five weeks, California knows its election results. Dive in

The holidays may be coming up fast (have you finished all your gift shopping yet?) but one thing that took its time was California’s final election results. On Friday, 38 days after Election Day, Secretary of State Shirley Weber certified the results of the November election. Some key takeaways: More than 16.1 million Californians voted, […]

By

Lynn La

• December 16, 2024

A side view of elderly person wearing a blue knitted sweater sitting in a yellow chair on stage next to another person during an event.

WhatMatters

Jerry Brown speaks on the American Dream, Trump and more

Jerry Brown, California’s longest-serving governor (1975-83, 2011-2019), had a lot to say Thursday. In an hour-long conversation hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California, Brown was typically blunt on a wide range of topics: The American Dream: In response to a PPIC poll that found most Californians do not believe that hard work will […]

By

Lynn La

• December 13, 2024

A close-up view of a person's hands sifting through a small black basket filled with pink mail-in ballot envelopes. A stack of pink mail-in ballot envelopes can be seen laying on the table in the background.

WhatMatters

Weber is open to fixing slow California election results

California’s 2024 election will finally, officially be done by Friday, when the Secretary of State’s office certifies the results. Leading up to that, Secretary of State Shirley Weber on Wednesday acknowledged concerns about the slow vote count in California, but stressed the need to ensure an accurate and transparent ballot counting process, reports CalMatters’ Yue […]

By

Lynn La

• December 12, 2024

WhatMatters

California confronts opioid crisis at work

For the first time in years, some California cities are seeing a decline in fatal drug overdoses. And some prosecutors are getting more aggressive charging drug dealers with murder if their buyers overdose. But a rise in fatal drug overdoses at work has public health experts, union leaders and employers sounding the alarm, write CalMatters […]

By

Lynn La

• December 11, 2024

A lawmaker, standing on the left and wearing a black suit with a purple tie, holds their right hand up while placing their left hand on a book. A person, standing in the center and wearing a black blazer, holds the book as they look towards Vice President Kamala Harris, standing on the right and wearing a purple blazer, as she directs the swearing-in ceremony.

WhatMatters

New Sen. Adam Schiff vows to defend democracy

Pledging to take on the affordable housing crisis and bring down health care costs, Adam Schiff was sworn in Monday by Vice President Kamala Harris as California’s junior U.S. senator. The Burbank Democrat will serve out the remaining term of the late Dianne Feinstein after winning a special election for the unexpired term. In January, […]

By

Lynn La

• December 10, 2024

A teacher points at a book while a child sitting at their desk looks at it. Other students are visible in the frame. The setting is a classroom.

WhatMatters

How California’s ban on bilingual education still hurts schools

It has been eight years since California voters repealed a 1998 law directing public school districts to essentially eliminate their bilingual programs. But the fallout from the state’s vacillating history of bilingual education has led to California falling short of providing a quality education not only to non-English speakers but also to students who want […]

By

Lynn La

• December 9, 2024

A person speaks at a podium in the sand next to a border fence. Behind the person is a row of people dressed in suits, and a group of people standing on the right in lines dressed in army uniforms.

WhatMatters

Newsom goes to Mexico border to counter Trump

From CalMatters’ Wendy Fry at the U.S.-Mexico border: Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday, railing against President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats and the economic damage a 25% tax on goods coming from Mexico would likely have on the binational region and the state. “Is the president-elect embarrassed by his own leadership as it […]

By

Lynn La

• December 6, 2024

A person sits at a bench leaning against a pole as they watch a group of people play basketball in a room.

WhatMatters

Will feds open a new California immigrant detention center?

During Donald Trump’s first presidency, California tried and failed to ban new federal immigration detention centers from opening. As Trump returns to the Oval Office in January with pledges of mass deportations, the agency overseeing immigration enforcement has been scoping out locations for a new detention center — possibly near San Francisco. As CalMatters’ Wendy […]

By

Lynn La

• December 5, 2024

A person with blonde hair and wearing a black and white flower pattern blouse stands in the living room of their home while looking towards their left.

WhatMatters

California EDD is still struggling to deliver benefits, stop fraud

From CalMatters investigative reporter Lauren Hepler: Money vanishing from EDD debit cards. Big-dollar bets on the technology that powers California’s job safety net. Billions in unemployment debt with no clear path forward. No, this isn’t a pandemic flashback. It’s today’s unsettled reality for the California Employment Development Department and the workers and businesses who still […]

By

Lynn La

• December 4, 2024

A room full of people place their right hands over their hearts as they stand and recite the pledge of allegiance at the floor if the Assembly room at the state capitol. Two lawmakers, one wearing a grey suit and the other wearing a red blazer, are seen at the center of the frame.

WhatMatters

California Legislature takes office under Trump’s shadow

I am grateful to be here for you every weekday, walking you through California’s vital news. The stories by my CalMatters colleagues are crucial to keeping you and your fellow community members informed and engaged. Our work helps you understand complex issues that impact your quality of life and keep tabs on your elected officials. […]

By

Lynn La

• December 3, 2024