Up until this month, Madera County — with a population of more than 150,000 spread out across 2,000 square miles of Central Valley farmland and sparse Sierra — had a single general hospital. Then, on Jan. 3, it closed its doors for good. As CalMatters health reporter Ana B. Ibarra and California Divide reporter Nicole […]
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Posted inNewsletters
Gun talk in Washington, gun bills in Sacramento
After twice spurning the Trump White House following NBA titles, the Bay Area’s Golden State Warriors paid a visit Tuesday to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for a celebration of the team’s 2022 NBA championship. And prior to a few backslapping speeches by President Joe Biden and Warriors superstar Steph Curry, White House staffers gathered with Warriors […]
Posted inCalifornia Legislature
Misfire: Behind the California concealed carry bill’s big fail
In a state known for its strict gun laws, a concealed carry bill failed in the final hours of the legislative session. Its supporters rolled the dice with a proposal that would take effect quickly, but that required two-thirds approval.
Posted inEnvironment
State lawmakers reject bill to curb farms’ water pumping
During one of the driest years on record, California legislators didn’t approve laws to protect depleted groundwater or boost water supplies.
Posted inWhatMatters
The Diablo is in the details
At least two days of statewide Flex Alerts asking Californians to voluntarily conserve energy amid an extreme heat wave that could last more than a week, pushing temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal and endangering vulnerable communities. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaiming a state of emergency to take last-ditch measures to keep people’s lights and […]
Posted inWhatMatters
Tough decisions loom for lawmakers, Newsom
In some ways, the suspense file that state lawmakers churned through on Thursday — a lengthy list of hundreds of bills that they either silently sent to their death or let survive another day — didn’t live up to its reputation. That’s because the secretive, twice-annual process — which allows legislators to shelve bills they […]
Posted inCalifornia Legislature
Decision day: Which bills did California lawmakers kill?
On suspense file day, state legislators killed dozens of bills, including some controversial proposals on health care costs, social media regulation, pay transparency, climate change and much, more more.
Posted inWhatMatters
Lawmakers, lobbyists gather in Napa ahead of key votes
Blockchain and cryptocurrency. Artificial intelligence. Facial recognition technology. Health care innovation. The energy industry. Building tech economies in “underestimated” cities such as Fresno. Understanding the benefits of remote work. Helping small businesses thrive online. Those are among the topics that state lawmakers and tech industry lobbyists are set to discuss today at the luxurious four-star […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
California’s change to concealed carry permits would reduce wide variations among counties
Responding to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, California legislators push a bill to restrict concealed carry permits. New numbers show a wide variation among counties in how many permits have been issued. But in publishing the data, the state Department of Justice exposed personal information of permit holders.
Posted inWhatMatters
Inside California’s climate change paradox
A Bay Area train derailing from tracks overheated by an early-summer heat wave, sending at least one person to the hospital. Lightning strikes killing a woman and her two dogs in Southern California and injuring a man pushing a baby stroller in Kern County. A wildfire causing PG&E power outages so persistent that Stanford University […]