San Francisco

Economy

California sued Uber and Lyft — will it help drivers?

California’s top prosecutor sued Uber and Lyft for classifying drivers as independent contractors, depriving them of employee benefits and wages that are even more essential during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Jackie Botts • May 5, 2020

Economy

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

California cities face budget deficits as a pandemic-induced recession sets. Mayors are calling for federal bailouts in what's expected to be a long recovery.

By Jackie Botts, Ben Christopher, Elizabeth Castillo, Ana B. Ibarra and Matt Levin • April 17, 2020

Coronavirus

Home is a perilous place for some Californians during coronavirus pandemic

Throughout California, families sheltering in place are cut off from school, work and friends — lifelines the most vulnerable rely upon. Officials and advocates worry because domestic violence reports have surged and, with fewer eyes on kids, reports of potential abuse are down.

By Elizabeth Aguilera • April 16, 2020

WhatMatters

CA gives feds 500 ventilators

Calfiornia sends 500 ventilators to federal government. Essential workers get child care help. Demand for small business loans crashes system.

By Emily Hoeven • April 7, 2020

Coronavirus

Schools shut down in massive numbers across California amid coronavirus fears

More than 5.7 million K-12 California children, including more than nine out of 10 public school students, will be home from school starting Monday after a majority of the state’s school districts announced emergency closures to stem the novel coronavirus’ spread. In a wave of announcements triggered Friday by the Los Angeles and San Diego […]

By Ricardo Cano and Jocelyn Wiener • March 13, 2020

Health

Quarantine grandma? California families scramble as coronavirus hits

Government policy is one thing, real life another. What happens if your germ-carrying preschoolers suddenly pose a lethal threat to their elderly grandparents? What becomes of your teenagers’ future if their education is disrupted, long-term? How protected are we if schools cancel class but kids then disperse to malls and bounce houses and movie theaters?

By Elizabeth Aguilera and Judy Lin • March 11, 2020

Elections

Do endorsements for president even matter?

The race for California endorsements has ratched up. Taken for granted by campaigns is a debatable premise — that these imprimaturs make a difference.

By Ben Christopher • February 6, 2020

WhatMatters

Sacramento’s growth industry + California’s educational divide + San Francisco’s latest scandal

California struggles to close educational divide. Construction workers get behind schools bond measure. Lobbying industry grows in spending, influence.

By Dan Morain • February 3, 2020

Economy

Changing lives — and credit history — one micro-loan at a time

It’s a Catch-22: to get good credit, consumers must first have good credit scores. Programs like the one run by the nonprofit Mission Asset Fund bridge informal traditional lending practices with the mainstream financial system. 

By Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED • November 22, 2019

WhatMatters

Gavin Newsom’s slow start on housing, cannabis’ carbon footprint, and San Francisco tries to impart its values on Nevada

Newsom's plans for housing construction off to slow start. Air Resources chief points out math error by feds. S.F. blacklists Nevada over abortion.

By Dan Morain • October 21, 2019