Los Angeles County

Taylor Craig stands for a portrait on the edge of his family’s property outside of Vacaville on Oct. 2, 2020. Charred trees and ground on the adjoining property were caused by the LNU Lightening Complex Fire in August; Craig was able to fight off the flames and protect his home from the fire after not receiving an evacuation warning. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Wildfires

‘Totally inadequate’: Most Californians in wildfire-prone counties aren’t signed up for emergency alerts

The systems that warn people about evacuations have dangerous drawbacks. Millions of Californians are relying on alerts that may never arrive. In some counties, only 1% of adults are signed up.

By

James Bikales

• October 7, 2020

LA County is working with state, federal and local partners on Project Roomkey, an initiative to bring medically vulnerable people experiencing homelessness indoors during the COVID19 pandemic. Photo by Michael Owen Baker, County of Los Angeles via Flickr

California Divide

Newsom allocates $600 million for permanent housing for homeless

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, California established Project Roomkey, an ambitious initiative to house homeless people in hotels and motels to keep them safe from infections. The project leveraged federal dollars to pay for lodging. Knowing that the program only offered temporary housing, state and local officials have created what they say is a permanent […]

By

Jacqueline Garcia

• October 2, 2020

The Glass Fire burns behind Kelly Fleming Wines in Calistoga on Sept. 28, 2020. All of Calistoga was under mandatory evacuation Monday night. Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo, Bay Area News Group

WhatMatters

What will become of Wine Country?

California’s Wine Country, one of the most famed and iconic tourist destinations in the state, is at a tipping point. Gone is the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood, home to the region’s most celebrated fine dining. Gone are sections of well-known wineries, including Chateau Boswell, Castello di Amorosa, Hourglass Winery and Spring Mountain Vineyard. Gone are […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 30, 2020

Una médica con chaqueta blanca usando un estetoscopio y escuchando el corazón de su pequeño paciente en el hospital

CalMatters en Español

Opinión: El sistema de Medi-Cal para la salud de los niños está roto; Newsom puede ayudar a arreglarlo

Al promover una verdadera reforma, el Gob. Gavin Newsom tiene la oportunidad de reformar el sistema de atención médica administrada de Medi-Cal para los niños.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 29, 2020

A hospital employee enters Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland on August 24, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Health

California COVID-19 workers’ comp claims soar

Health care workers make up nearly 40 percent of those seeking wage and medical benefits from the program.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• August 26, 2020

In Los Angeles County about 491,000 renters are at risk of eviction if Rule 1 is not replaced. Activists say this will exacerbate the county’s homelessness crisis and worsen the spread of COVID-19, which has already disproportionately impacted Latino and Black Angelenos. Image via iStock

California Divide

Elderly tenant on the verge of being displaced during the pandemic

Advocates for tenants rights have said the government has to step up and treat the pandemic as a health crisis.

By

Jacqueline Garcia

• August 25, 2020

WhatMatters

Inside Newsom’s tumultuous DNC appearance

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, August 21. From prime time to Santa Cruz forest Gov. Gavin Newsom was set to make the biggest appearance of his political career Thursday night — but things didn’t go as planned. Newsom backed out of his prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention Thursday morning, citing the need […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 21, 2020

A sign requiring customers to wear a mask is posted outside of Modern China Cafe in Walnut Creek on August 16, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Health

Mask fines vary widely throughout California

Despite a statewide order to wear masks, there’s no statewide penalty for not doing so. Local governments have instituted their own fines for violations, but critics worry that enforcement will disproportionately affect people of color.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• August 17, 2020

A homeless person in a wheelchair on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The has struggled with how to provide care for people with mental illness, but a new state audit says the solution isn't lowering the criteria for compelling mentally ill Californians to get treatment. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

Mental Health

Audit: Don’t make it easier to force mentally ill Californians into treatment — just improve treatment

California’s half-century-old involuntary mental health treatment law isn’t broken, but much of the system meant to serve those with serious mental illness is, state auditors concluded in a much-anticipated report released today. Some critics have called for rewriting state law to make it easier to force people into involuntary treatment, particularly by expanding the state’s […]

By

Jocelyn Wiener

• July 28, 2020

Isidoro Contreras Flores, sells an arrangnment of flowers in Seaside, Calif, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Photo by David Rodriguez, The Salinas Californian

California Divide

Close Quarters: California’s overcrowded homes fuel spread of coronavirus among workers

Until the pandemic struck, every day for the last 10 years, Isidoro Flores Contreras stood at the edge of the Sand City Costco parking lot, just a few feet from a set of McDonald’s arches, selling $15 flower bouquets. No matter the weather, he slowly walked back and forth along the sidewalk, a hitch in […]

By

Kate Cimini

and

Jackie Botts

• June 12, 2020