Abortion

Health

Why ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ will be California’s next abortion battleground

California legislators have passed a slew of laws to protect abortion rights. But after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many fear attempting to regulate “crisis pregnancy centers” is legally risky.

By Kristen Hwang • June 16, 2023

WhatMatters

Will Newsom’s Delta tunnel plan hold up the budget?

Scheduling note: WhatMatters will observe the Juneteenth holiday on Monday and be back in your inboxes on Tuesday. From CalMatters politics reporter Alexei Koseff: As legislative leaders continue to negotiate a budget deal with Gov. Gavin Newsom ahead of the start of the fiscal year on July 1, expansive “trailer bills” proposed by the governor […]

By Lynn La • June 16, 2023

Capitol

Legislative Survivor: Which big California bills were shelved in ‘suspense file?’

In their twice-a-year exercise, legislators killed hundreds of California bills in the process known as the suspense file. They included ones on abortion access, climate and homelessness. The state budget deficit also made an impact.

By Alexei Koseff and Sameea Kamal • May 18, 2023

WhatMatters

High-stakes battle brewing over California power bills

California utility companies are working on a controversial pricing structure that would bill households a different fixed charge depending on their income — but the idea is catching heat from Republicans who argue it will hurt low-income families. As you may have already noticed on your own bill, monthly electric bills come with a few […]

By Lynn La • April 24, 2023

Health

Supreme Court upholds approval of abortion pill — what it means for Californians

The court decision preserves the FDA's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone until a lower federal court hears the case. California legislators and officials vow to protect abortion rights no matter the final outcome of the case.

By Kristen Hwang • April 21, 2023

WhatMatters

California preps for abortion pill ruling

From CalMatters’ health reporter Kristen Hwang and political reporter Alexei Koseff: Gov. Gavin Newsom and a cadre of Democratic lawmakers want to be clear: They will protect medication abortion in California no matter what the U.S. Supreme Court decides on the issue — they’re just not entirely sure how. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, […]

By Lynn La • April 19, 2023

WhatMatters

Spotlight on California leaders after abortion pill rulings

From CalMatters’ health reporter Kristen Hwang: Doctors and patients in California can rest assured that the abortion pill mifepristone is legal to prescribe and take — for now.  Late Wednesday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the most significant part of U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s ruling last week out of Texas that the […]

By Lynn La • April 14, 2023

WhatMatters

Police videos don’t always tell the whole story

In response to calls for greater police accountability, California passed laws to make police misconduct records more accessible to the public and placed the state Attorney General’s office in charge of investigating police killings of unarmed civilians. Following the 2018 Sacramento police shooting of Stephon Clark, who was unarmed, lawmakers now require law enforcement agencies […]

By Lynn La • April 10, 2023

Health

What can California do about abortion pill ruling? Not much

A ruling that suspends federal approval for medication abortion will not be easy for California abortion access advocates to overcome. Unless it's reversed on appeal, the drug will likely be pulled from pharmacy shelves.

By Kristen Hwang • April 7, 2023

WhatMatters

Newsom’s threat to Walgreens fizzles

On March 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom sent the policy world into a frenzy when, without any notice, he tweeted that “California won’t be doing business with Walgreens,” because of the company’s decision to not distribute an abortion pill in states that banned the medication.  But it turns out that Walgreens won’t lose that much state […]

By Lynn La • April 7, 2023