Jerry Brown

Commentary

California’s battle over taxing multinational corporations heats up again

Companies' and state tax officials' war over how multinational corporations should be taxed just got new ammo: two new lawsuits and a critical report.

By Dan Walters • January 9, 2025

Health

Emergency room workers are facing more attacks. A new California law increases penalties

A new California law imposes harsher penalties for assaulting emergency room workers. It responds to rising attacks on health care workers, despite concerns from progressives and prison-reform advocates

By Ryan Sabalow • December 30, 2024

Commentary

Oakland needs serious leadership changes. What about bringing back Jerry Brown?

Oakland often seems like California's municipal basket case with problems almost too numerous to list. It needs some adult supervision. How about Jerry Brown?

By Dan Walters • August 23, 2024

K-12 Education

California spends more on schools with the neediest kids. Here’s how it’s succeeded, and failed.

A decade ago the state remade its school funding system to funnel more money to low-income students, English learners and foster youth.

By Carolyn Jones • March 20, 2024

Commentary

Will Gavin Newsom wind up as one of California’s unpopular ex-governors?

Some California governors leave office on a high note and some in clouds of disdain. New polling suggests Gavin Newsom may become one of the latter.

By Dan Walters • November 8, 2023

Commentary

Newsom adopts Jerry Brown’s ‘canoe theory’ of political shifting

Gov. Gavin Newsom appears to be following predecessor Jerry Brown's "canoe theory" of politics, paddling alternatively on the left and right with his vetoes and bill signings.

By Dan Walters • September 26, 2023

Politics

Buried treasure: California politicians stash $35 million in leftover campaign cash

Nearly 100 committees are sitting on $35 million in leftover campaign funds. Candidates could give the cash to charity or return it to their donors, but many hold on to the money to retain political influence or to possibly run again.

By Alexei Koseff and Ben Christopher • December 21, 2022

Justice

‘A perfect storm of bad’: Report finds incarceration rates highest among rural Californians

A new report from a prisoners’ advocacy group finds Kings and Shasta counties have the state’s highest rates of residents incarcerated for crimes.

By Nigel Duara • August 31, 2022

WhatMatters

Will Newsom OK supervised drug injection sites?

Gov. Gavin Newsom has a big decision to make — one that could have equally big implications for his national profile. Heading to Newsom’s desk is a controversial bill that would allow Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles to launch trial supervised drug injection sites through Jan. 1, 2028. The sites — which are currently […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 11, 2022

Economy

Will a new oversight position help California’s high speed rail plans get on track?

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature agreed to create an inspector general job for high-speed rail as part of a compromise that they hope will get the project moving and end with an actual train.

By Ralph Vartabedian • July 6, 2022