Native American

Commentary

California can right a historic wrong by recognizing tribal authority for cultural burns

A bill on the governor's desk would acknowledge tribal sovereignty over cultural burning for the first time in California history. As state embraces prescribed burns to help reduce wildfire risk, Native American tribes still face legal barriers to performing a cherished cultural practice.

By Russell Attebery • September 18, 2024

College Beat

Native American students get free tuition to attend the UC. Why it isn’t enough.

The UC Native American Opportunity Plan seeks to make the system a viable option for Native students in California by offering them free tuition. But Native students enrolled at UC campuses report that strains on their budgets along with insufficient resources and faculty representation have been obstacles to academic success.

By Christopher Buchanan • April 5, 2024

Digital Democracy

High stakes: Inside the multimillion-dollar battle for gambling rights in California

California’s powerful tribal casinos and their longtime rivals, privately owned gambling halls, are spending huge sums of money to influence lawmakers. The legislative fight could reshape the state’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry.

By Ryan Sabalow and Jeremia Kimelman • March 27, 2024

K-12 Education

Rural California schools are desperate for state help, from special education to construction

At some rural schools construction projects are left undone, teaching jobs are unfilled and students who need specialized services don’t get them.

By Carolyn Jones • March 4, 2024

Reader Reactions

Why adopting sports gambling in California has to involve tribes

When and if California legalizes sports gambling, the policy should honor the laws established in partnership with tribes decades ago, says Assemblyman James Ramos.

By James Ramos • February 16, 2024

Commentary

Ironically, Californians and Missourians can’t legally bet on their Super Bowl teams

Sunday's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, the world capital of gambling, symbolizes the new alliance between professional sports leagues and the gambling industry. However, residents of the states with teams in the game, California and Missouri, cannot legally bet on it.

By Dan Walters • February 9, 2024

Environment

Saving salmon: Newsom unveils blueprint for ending decades-long decline 

Chinook and other salmon runs are collapsing. Conservation groups call it too little, too late. Plan includes dam removals and restoring river flows.

By Rachel Becker • January 31, 2024

Commentary

Offshore wind success in California requires developers, policymakers embrace ‘ocean justice’

As offshore wind faces setbacks on the East Coast, California has a chance to establish long-term success. Developers and policymakers at all levels can get there by embracing "ocean justice" principles.

By Daniela Schulman • January 2, 2024

College Beat

California is pressing universities to repatriate thousands of Native American remains and artifacts. How two campuses are succeeding.

Successive state audits of the University of California and the California State University found both systems have failed to comply with decades old state and federal laws mandating the return of Native ancestral remains and cultural artifacts, an act known as repatriation. Only UCLA and Cal State Long Beach have returned a majority of their collections back to local tribes.

By Amelia Wu and Helena San Roque • December 26, 2023

Water

Western States’ planned water cuts are enough to avert a Colorado River crisis, for now

Wet weather and planned cuts by California, Arizona and Nevada averted declines that could have threatened water deliveries and power production — but long-term threats to the Colorado River remain.

By Rachel Becker • October 25, 2023