Darrell Steinberg - CalMatters

Muhammad, who declined to provide his last name, warms his hand at a fire near his tent in Sacramento. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Lawmakers double down on mental health reform

by Emily Hoeven April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

Elected officials are zeroing in on mental health reform, as well as gun control, as voters show increasing concern on crime and homelessness.

Cities crack down on homeless encampments

by Emily Hoeven July 1, 2021July 1, 2021

Assemblymember Rob Bonta speaks during a press conference announcing his nomination as the new Attorney General at International Hotel Manilatown center in San Francisco on March 24, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Newsom picks Rob Bonta as California’s new attorney general

by Laurel Rosenhall March 24, 2021March 25, 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony at a new $120 million, 134,000 sq. foot coronavirus testing facility Oct. 30, 2020, in Valencia. The state is working with corporate partner PerkinElmer to run the lab which will enable the state to process an additional 150,000 COVID-19 tests per day. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo/Pool

Big announcements on the way

by Emily Hoeven February 9, 2021February 9, 2021

A look at top contenders to be California's top cop — and chief enforcer of consumer protection, internet privacy and criminal investigations. Image via iStock

As state attorney general job morphs post-Trump, who will be Newsom’s pick?

by Laurel Rosenhall February 8, 2021March 24, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Three mayors and three defeats

by Dan Walters December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Sacramento again refuses to grow up

by Dan Walters November 9, 2020November 5, 2020

Taun Hall stands on the porch of her Walnut Creek home next to a green ribbon, the international symbol for mental health awareness. She and some of her neighbors display the ribbons in remembrance of her son, Miles, who was killed last year by Walnut Creek police during a mental health crisis. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Who responds to nonviolent crises? New urgency to remove police from the equation

by Jocelyn Wiener July 1, 2020July 2, 2020

A police offer watches the crowd from behind a gas mask during a demonstration May 29, 2020 Downtown Oakland. Thousands took to the streets Friday night in solidarity with protesters in Minneapolis against the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police earlier this week. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Defund the police? Inside cities’ responses

by Emily Hoeven June 10, 2020June 10, 2020

A pedestrian walks past boarded up windows of a business in Oakland on the the eighth day of the shelter-in-place order on March 24, 2020.One month into the order, California's economy has entered a recession. Photo by Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group

What comes next for California cities? Deficits, bailouts and long recoveries

by Jackie Botts, Ben Christopher, Elizabeth Castillo, Ana B. Ibarra and Matt Levin April 17, 2020June 9, 2020