Covid-19

WhatMatters

Bill advances to let California teens get vaccinated without parental consent

California lawmakers pass a bill to allow youths 12 and older to get vaccines without parental consent, despite lots of controversy.

By Emily Hoeven • May 6, 2022

K-12 Education

Some California school districts that grew during the pandemic feel shortchanged

Last school year, growing districts weren’t funded for all their students. Their leaders say they’ve been hurt by efforts to protect the majority of the state’s districts experiencing declining enrollment.

By Joe Hong • May 2, 2022

Politics

What would Malia Cohen do as California controller?

Democrat Malia Cohen wants to expand the role of state controller and advance equity and diversity in the job. In an 80-minute interview with CalMatters, she says the state's COVID response proves the need to do better on both those goals.

By Sameea Kamal • May 2, 2022

WhatMatters

COVID testing lab: California dismantles another piece of its pandemic response

CalMatters is dedicated to explaining how state government impacts our lives. Your support helps us produce journalism that makes a difference. Donate now. Piece by piece, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and state lawmakers are pulling down pillars of California’s emergency COVID response — even as the test positivity rate begins to tick back up. The latest cornerstone […]

By Emily Hoeven • April 21, 2022

WhatMatters

Abortion, COVID protests collide at Capitol

Abortion rights and COVID-related bills advance in the California Legislature despite loud protests in opposition.

By Emily Hoeven • April 20, 2022

Coronavirus

California backs away from COVID vaccine mandates for kids 

The state decides it won't require COVID vaccines for children this fall, and a bill to mandate kids vaccines without personal belief exemptions stalls out.

By Elizabeth Aguilera • April 15, 2022

WhatMatters

Student vaccine mandates fall like dominoes

California's possible COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students was significantly scaled back and then postponed until at least July 2023.

By Emily Hoeven • April 15, 2022

Commentary

Vaccine mandates are essential to state’s recovery

Requiring students and workers to vaccinate against COVID 19 will help California return to pre-pandemic normalcy, save lives and avoid long-COVID injury.

By Guest Commentary • April 11, 2022

Commentary

Evolving pandemic science has outpaced need for vaccine mandates

A slate of five bills in the California Legislature requiring vaccination for COVID is discriminatory and unnecessary as the pandemic wanes.

By Guest Commentary • April 8, 2022

WhatMatters

Strict COVID vaccine bills could face uphill battle

Vaccine bills, including one to pull state funding from law agencies that oppose public health orders, are facing headwinds.

By Emily Hoeven • April 7, 2022