California

California Divide

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

A racial equity organization launched a new $500,000 fund to help Indigenous Californians record the state's history of colonial violence. Leaders are partnering with the state’s Truth & Healing Council, which will produce a report.

By Levi Kalish • May 11, 2022

Economy

Eleven new California laws for 2022, explained in one minute

The new year brings a raft of new laws for Californians. They’re likely to affect what your neighborhood looks like, how safe you feel, what recourse you have against discrimination — even how you take out your trash. In 2021 the Legislature’s super-majority of Democrats sent Gov. Gavin Newsom hundreds of bills that he signed […]

By Byrhonda Lyons and CalMatters Staff • December 28, 2021

Politics

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

History will remember 2021 as the year when a windfall of governmentspending sought to address years of inequality, poverty and a growingpopulation left behind. Trillions of dollars were spent by the federal government, but California’s state government, facing the nation’s highest poverty rate, also saw an unprecedented budget surplus that the state’s supermajority Democrats used […]

By David Lesher • December 10, 2021

Economy

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

At a CalMatters/Milken Institute event, experts discuss how the pandemic has changed the California economy, but why there's reason for hope. Here are three key takeaways.

By Sameea Kamal • December 2, 2021

WhatMatters

State beefs up Highway Patrol around stores and malls after brazen thefts

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that Californians could expect to see “substantially more” law enforcement officers near “highly trafficked” retail stores starting immediately, as businesses prepare for hordes of holiday shoppers after a weekend wave of Bay Area robberies that saw thieves abscond with thousands of dollars of merchandise. He directed the California Highway Patrol […]

By Emily Hoeven • November 23, 2021

Housing

California’s top housing officials share their vision for affordability and accountability

In the new episode of "Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast." CalMatters' Manuela Tobias and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon interview the heads of California’s top three housing agencies under the Newsom administration.

By Manuela Tobias • November 1, 2021

Commentary

Texas is no model for California

Its power system was a disaster last winter, and its policies on health care and abortion are contrary to what many Americans want.

By Guest Commentary • October 22, 2021

Commentary

The replacement election in the recall is unnecessary; here’s why

If the polls are correct, the recall election has a greater possibility of an absurd result, and it’s time for the state Supreme Court to weigh in.

By Guest Commentary • September 1, 2021

Politics

California’s population shrank in 2020, but don’t call it an exodus

The number of Californians declined in 2020 for the first year since at least 1900. But state officials blame the pandemic and insist it's not an exodus.

By Ben Christopher • May 7, 2021

CalMatters en Español

La población de California se redujo en 2020, pero no lo llames un éxodo

El número de californianos disminuyó en 2020 durante el primer año desde al menos 1900. Pero los funcionarios estatales culpan a la pandemia e insisten en que no es un éxodo.

By Ben Christopher • May 7, 2021