California Budget

California’s independent legislative analyst is warning that the state faces a nearly $18 billion deficit. It is “critical” for lawmakers to rein in spending and increase revenues long term, he said.

State revenue is several billion dollars more than expected, but that cash must pay for schools and go into reserves. The deficit stays.

Federal cuts to Medicaid will mean fewer slots, longer waits and fewer therapists at Early Start, a program for children and babies with special needs.

California ranks near the top in tax rates but still has structural deficits in its budget. Legislators would rather tax more than cut costs.

California lawmakers faced a difficult budget year, but they still managed to put hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks in the state budget to benefit their districts — and help them get re-elected.

Potentially volatile cellmates are a fact of life in California prisons. That may change as the state's incarcerated population declines, freeing up space for single-person quarters.

Technology companies and Hollywood corporations are laying off thousands. The only job growth is in government and healthcare.

Gov. Gavin Newsom may run out of reserves and other ways to paper over his last state budget deficit before he eventually runs for president.

Stanford Chatfield worked for decades as a prisoner, making 28 cents an hour. Now he's out and supports himself with tours at Alcatraz. He says people value his lived experience.

California's legal weed industry is still overshadowed by the larger black market. A new state law gives businesses a break by delaying a tax increase.