Sacramento

A finger points at a bullseye taped over the official portrait of Democratic Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer

Elections

In attack ad, California prison guards put bullseye on legislator

Maybe you saw the video on Facebook before it was deleted: Glen Stailey, president of the state prison guards’ union, rails against “failed public safety policies” and “cheap political points” and announces that “it is time to bring accountability back to the state Capitol.” Cut to a shot of the union president, with a horseshoe […]

By

Ben Christopher

• September 17, 2020

President Donald Trump listens as California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a briefing at McClellan Park in Sacramento on Sept. 14, 2020, on the Western wildfires. Photo by Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

Politics

Trump and Newsom: Political frenemies make nice amid California’s mounting disasters

The dynamic between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump has turned out to be a surprise during Newsom’s short time as governor, as he’s navigated an extraordinary spate of disasters requiring federal aid and diplomacy.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 14, 2020

Capitol

The young Republican lawyer taking on California’s governor

Welcome to the next installment of Insiders. Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, a 35-year-old Rocklin Republican with degrees from Harvard and Yale, left a promising law career to run for a state Legislature so heavily dominated by Democrats as to render Republican votes almost meaningless. “I would do it all over again if I had the opportunity,” […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 14, 2020

Capitol

Democrats divided: Newsom’s family-leave plan faces resistance from his own party

The pandemic has revealed a schism between progressive Democrats and moderates, wrestling with the needs of hard-hit businesses and working parents and caregivers.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• August 21, 2020

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

Dan Walters

Two mayors seek more authority

The mayors of two large California cities, Sacramento and San Jose, want to become "strong mayors" with executive authority, but are learning that it's politically difficult.

By

Dan Walters

• August 3, 2020

A man walks past wooden boards and graffiti outside of the Alameda County Courthouse in Oakland on July 26, 2020. Last night, protests in downtown Oakland in support of racial justice and police reform turned violent when "agitators" among the demonstrators set fire to a courthouse, vandalized a police station and shot fireworks at officers, according to authorities. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

WhatMatters

Protests escalate across California

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, July 27. Government buildings targeted Peaceful protests against racism, police brutality and the intervention of federal agents in Portland, Ore. splintered over the weekend into destruction, vandalism and violence. Protests in Oakland, Los Angeles and Sacramento resulted in numerous arrests and hospitalizations, further inflaming tension between law enforcement and demonstrators. […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• July 27, 2020

El Centro Regional Medical Center staff attend to patients who are suspected COVID-19 positive on May 30, 2020. Photo by Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun

Coronavirus

The trouble with hot spots: Hard-hit counties send COVID-19 patients to other areas

Imperial County on the Mexican border has the state's highest rate of COVID-19 cases, straining hospitals and forcing the transfer of 500 critically ill patients outside the region.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• July 2, 2020

Needles and Pens owner Breezy Culbertson and her boyfriend, Scott Carl, prepare to reopen for curbside pickup on May 18, 2020 as San Francisco enters phase 2 of the Gov. Newsom’s plan to reopen California. “There’s not a lot of communication, it’s been frustrating to figure this out,” said Culbertson. “We’re trying to catch up.” Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Coronavirus

After record COVID week, some California counties to reverse reopening plans

As Gov. Gavin Newsom demands Imperial County return to sheltering-in-place, 14 other counties are on the state's watchlist.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• June 26, 2020

WhatMatters

Middle class to bear brunt of budget cuts

The UC and and CSU systems will take a $602 million hit under California budget cuts, potentially leading to a tuition hike for some families.

By

Emily Hoeven

• June 24, 2020

Eddie Wutangsy uses a bullhorn while chanting to the crowd of several thousand protesters as they march past Fresno Police headquarters during a protest over the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, May 31, 2020. Photo by John Walker, The Fresno Bee

Justice

Voices of California protesters: same message, different motives

Nathaniel Johnson walked past a CVS pharmacy in Hollywood with his phone camera trained on men running out of the looted store with armfuls of stolen goods. After a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, Johnson had protested police brutality for two days while dressed in civilian clothes. But that afternoon, he decided to change […]

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• June 5, 2020