California - CalMatters

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

California Divide

Welfare: As US tightens work rules, California considers loosening them

by Jeanne Kuang June 2, 2023June 2, 2023

State lawmakers want to loosen CalWORKs job requirements so people keep cash benefits. Congress’ debt limit deal could curb that.

CalMatters' incoming Editor in Chief Kristen Go. Photo courtesy of Kristen Go

Inside the Newsroom

Kristen Go joins CalMatters as its next editor in chief

by Sonya Quick May 8, 2023May 8, 2023

Fast food workers from across California rallied at the state Capitol in Sacramento, urging lawmakers to pass AB 257. Aug. 16, 2022, Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

California Divide

California’s fast food bill could link chains to wage theft and other workplace violations

by Jeanne Kuang August 17, 2022August 17, 2022

Students wait in line before heading to their classrooms on the first day back to school at Sunkist Elementary School in Anaheim on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP

California schools face avalanche of changes

by Emily Hoeven August 16, 2022August 16, 2022

Starting wages are advertised on a sign in the window of a Taco Bell in Sacramento on May 9, 2022. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

California Divide

Proposal to boost state minimum wage to $18 won’t go on ballot

by Jeanne Kuang July 1, 2022May 24, 2023

People line up to speak during a reparations task force meeting at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco on April 13, 2022. Photo by Janie Har, AP Photo

California Divide

Reparations could include tuition, housing grants, California task force says

by Lil Kalish June 1, 2022June 1, 2022

Smoke Johnson, right, helps her son Asa Johnson, 9, of Pinole, dress up with their Kanienkehaka tribe outfits before the start of the opening ceremony and the Grand Entry with other ingenues people during 27th annual Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow and Indian market at Civic Center Park in Berkeley on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Photo by Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group

California Divide

New fund to plant seeds of reparations for California’s Native American communities

by Lil Kalish May 11, 2022May 11, 2022

Several new California laws will kick in for 2022. The state Capitol. Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

Economy, Housing, Justice

Eleven new California laws for 2022, explained in one minute

by Byrhonda Lyons and CalMatters December 28, 2021December 28, 2021

California's state government in 2021 faced a windfall of dollars to address persistent inequality, a recall seeking to oust its government, and the challenges of learning to live with a pandemic. This CalMatters primer explains it all. Collage via CalMatters

Here’s your primer: What California state government has been up to in 2021

by David Lesher December 10, 2021December 10, 2021

Workers build electric buses at the BYD electric bus factory in Lancaster on July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Why isn’t California’s economy adding jobs faster?

by Sameea Kamal December 2, 2021December 2, 2021