California Budget

A close-up of a person wearing sunglasses as they are surrounded by reporters holding microphones and cameras near the person's face.

Commentary

Allegation that Gavin Newsom presides over an ’empire of fraud’ doesn’t stick

A conservative magazine wrongly labeled as fraud signs of Gov. Newsom's mismanagement. That's not an investigation; it's a campaign ploy.

By

Dan Walters

• April 2, 2026

Rear view of a teenage boy sitting on bed as they look out a window.

Commentary

California shouldn’t bail out beleaguered foster family agencies

Agencies that put kids in foster homes sought $30 million for insurance, because abuse victims have won multimillion-dollar lawsuits against them.

By Richard Wexler • March 30, 2026

A close-up view of vacutainers of blood samples are displayed on a holder.

Commentary

California’s care for sickle cell patients finally works. We can’t abandon it now

The 12 clinics serving sickle cell patients reduced ER visits and hospital stays, saving CA taxpayers money. But a $15 million grant for the program has ended.

By Mary E. Brown • March 27, 2026

Hands hold a printed booklet clipped at the top titled “Governor’s Budget Summary 2026–27, Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California,” featuring a photo of the state capitol building on the cover.

Commentary

California’s budget bleeds red ink with added pressure to cover Trump’s cuts

State officials are expecting higher than predicted revenues to close California's persistent budget deficit. The question is for how long.

By

Dan Walters

• March 26, 2026

A person dressed in medical scrubs places a stethoscope on a patient's back during a blood pressure and blood sugar test. The patient wears a beige fedora and sits near a medical bed inside a clinic.

Commentary

Medi-Cal faces funding emergency from state miscalculations, federal budget cuts

Gov. Gavin Newsom is retracting Medi-Cal for immigrants, years after he wrongly figured a state surplus. And President Trump is cutting health funds to states.

By

Dan Walters

• March 24, 2026

A view of two open prison cells doors inside viewed from the hallway looking in as a prison guard looks around inside the cell on the right. The guard is backlight by light shinning in from a small window towards the back of the cell.

Justice

Newsom closed 5 California prisons. Why lawmakers might want to shut one more

California is incarcerating 70,000 fewer people than in 2010, enabling the Newsom administration to close five state prisons. It has capacity to shut one more, according to a new analysis.

By

Adam Ashton

• March 18, 2026

A close-up view of a person's hands near the keyboard of a laptop. The person wears a denim jacket and holds a pen in between their right index and middle finger.

Higher Education

Lawmakers tried to kill California’s online community college. Now it’s growing rapidly

Calbright College, the state’s free online community college, is growing rapidly, despite concerns about its effectiveness. Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes tripling its annual budget.

By

Adam Echelman

• March 16, 2026

A close frame of a person wearing a CHP police uniform, with straight brimmed hat. In the background, more officers in the same uniform are out of focus, but visible.

Digital Democracy

Why California cops and firefighters are pushing for a new perk on top of their pensions

Unions for California Highway Patrol officers and Cal Fire firefighters are asking the state for a new retirement option that would complement their CalPERS pensions. It might reduce some pension-related payroll costs to the state.

By

Adam Ashton

• March 5, 2026

A person, with long brunette hair and wearing reading glasses, sits on the corner edge of wooden steps inside a building.

Higher Education

How one Cal State campus is trying to break out of a doom loop of declining enrollment

Several Cal State campuses are caught in a spiral of declining enrollment, threatening their budgets and programs. One in LA is focused on retention and re-enrolling students who dropped out.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• March 4, 2026

An aerial view of vehicles driving through a highway surrounded by farmland on both ends.

Politics

California GOP lawmakers are incensed over a gas tax study. Rural groups say they need it

California’s gas is so radioactive, even a bill to study alternatives is fraught. Rural officials are frustrated over the partisan fight because their local industries depend on well-maintained roads.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• March 2, 2026