Californians over age 80 will be able to get a permanent exemption from jury duty under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed.
Posted inEconomy
New California law sets first-in-nation standards for smoke damage in homes
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws that detail insurers’ responsibilities in addressing smoke damage in homes. Some survivors from the Los Angeles County fires have yet to return home because of insurance disputes.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
Find a VotingMatters community discussion about California’s 2026 election near you
CalMatters is bringing its 2026 Voter Guide to life at more than 45 free, in-person events across California ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Here’s the full schedule — and how to host your own.
Posted inEducation
California K-12 schools with military-style rifles don’t always disclose them as law requires
A 2021 state law mandates schools that own military-grade weapons must disclose them annually. However, a CalMatters investigation has found that the nine K-12 districts in California with these weapons have not been routinely reporting their inventories, renewing their policies, or holding public forums, as required by the law.
Posted inCommentary
California’s community work isn’t a Band-Aid in times of crisis. It’s a resource deserving long-term funding
State government treats community organizations like temporary vendors, not long-term partners needing steady funding and a place at the table, a nonprofit consultant says.
Posted inCommentary
Sacramento Bee slashes staff as Gov. Gavin Newsom weighs state aid for news outlets
After a 144-year-old newspaper war, a bankruptcy and the internet gobbling its ad revenue, the Sacramento Bee is deeply cutting its staff, its owners announced.
Posted inPolitics
How a gym, a farmers market and MMA fighters landed millions in Newsom’s last budget
The California Legislature’s secretive earmark process allows lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to dole out money for projects with little public scrutiny or notice, raising transparency and equity concerns even among some lawmakers.
Posted inPolitics
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump’s mail-in voting limits as November election nears
Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision shooting down President Trump’s proposal to restrict mail-in voting just before the November midterm election.
Posted inEconomy
CalPERS leaders air AI fears after Anthropic researcher’s resignation: ‘This is humanity’
The resignation of Anthropic researcher over his concerns about artificial intelligence companies “gambling with our lives” led to a discussion about the technology’s risk at California’s largest pension fund.
Posted inCalMatters en Español
California concentra una cuarta parte de todas las condenas a muerte del país. ¿Las conmutará Newsom?
Más de 560 personas siguen condenadas a muerte en California, a pesar de la moratoria sobre las ejecuciones que lleva vigente desde hace tiempo.