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? How do I keep track of it once I drop it in the mail?
The CalMatters voter guide has got you covered. We answer your most frequently-asked election questions and provide you with resources you’ll need to make sure your vote counts.
Check it out here.
California’s housing crisis, explained: CalMatters has detailed looks at why housing is so expensive in California and why homelessness is so persistent. Now, there’s a lesson-plan-ready version of these explainers and other information — especially made for teachers, libraries and community groups — as part of the CalMatters for Learning initiative, with Spanish translations.
Other Stories You Should Know
Are oil companies gouging California?
Three years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom claimed “California took on Big Oil and won.”
He said it after signing legislation that purportedly gave state regulators the power to cap refinery profits and penalize oil companies for price gouging. But California has never used those powers. Instead, last year, the California Energy Commission voted to delay the rules for five years.
Now, with gas topping $5.30 a gallon statewide, that decision is under a new spotlight. The Iran war has sent global oil prices soaring — but the war is only part of the story. California has a structural problem: fewer refineries, a captive market and no easy outside supply options. When prices rise nationally, they can rise even more here.
Proponents say this is precisely the moment the 2023 law was designed for. Read more here.
A California war hero finally gets his Medal of Honor at 100
You’re not alone if you hadn’t heard the amazing story of an American pilot in the Korean War taking on seven enemy fighters, shooting down four of them before barely landing his heavily damaged aircraft. That’s because the military kept Royce Williams’ heroic tale secret for decades.
No longer.
Williams, at 100 years old, received a Medal of Honor last month during Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address. CalMatters reporter Deborah Brennan recently interviewed Williams at his San Diego County home. Read about it here.
And lastly: Malignant mussels
Golden Mussels are still threatening life in the Delta. CalMatters water reporter Rachel Becker and video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment on Rachel’s story on the mollusks as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. Friday on PBS SoCal.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Real investigative journalists dig deep to find facts that officials want to keep hidden. They don’t share fables posing as investigative journalism.
New plastic container regulations put the health of Californians at risk, while increasing food prices, limiting food selection and putting small businesses and family farmers out of operation, writes Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging.
Other things worth your time:
An $80 million mistake — why Sutter County must return the money to the state // Sacramento Bee
We visited “ground zero” for hospice fraud: Los Angeles, California // CBS News
Ultrawealthy consider $500 million fund to influence California politics // Bloomberg
Bay Area climbers rescued off Mt. Shasta. What went wrong? // Redding Record Searchlight
L.A. Chinatown, a place for outlandish yearnings and improbable dreams // Los Angeles Times
San Francisco video showing ballot initiative petition collectors offering $5 for signatures prompts fraud investigation // KCRA
San José council advances plan to spread homeless shelters citywide // KQED
Rural health care ‘on life support’: Thompson, Huffman and McGuire hold town hall // Eureka Times-Standard
Controversial ‘illegal orders’ billboard goes up near Naval Base San Diego // NBC San Diego