WhatMatters
Google, privacy, vaccines, DMV lines, an end to animal trapping, and wild horses
Tech amps up lobbying over data privacy. Vaccination bill passes, but future is uncertain. Newsom moves to end California's fur trade.
Transportation
Environment
Can California put cars in the rear-view mirror?
It's as hard for drivers to contemplate life without cars as it is for officials to discuss it.
California Wildfires
Worried about wildfires, Californians ready to spend, vote to fight climate change
Californians want the state to lead the world in fighting climate change, according to a new poll — and many are ready to tackle the problem on the road, at the ballot box, and even with their pocketbooks.
Environment
California steers toward a future of self-driving cars
Self-driving cars will be part of ridesharing fleets, reducing the number of personal vehicles on the road and helping wean motorists off gasoline.
Environment
California’s emissions deal with automakers dodges Trump EPA plan to gut rules
California made its own tailpipe emissions deal with four major carmakers, officials said Thursday, ignoring Trump administration threats to roll back Obama-era vehicle standards.
WhatMatters
Newsom steps into PG&E ownership fight, mending the DMV, and Trump’s food stamp cuts
Newsom unveils plan for fixing DMV and introduces its new boss. Trump proposes cuts to food aid. Podcast looks at dangers of policing in U.S.
WhatMatters
Battle for PG&E, a coming housing crisis, transit funding, oil divestment and child care
Battle for control of PG&E takes shape. Pay raises missing in budget increase for child care. Professors want UC to divest from oil and gas industry.
Economy
California wants to allow credit cards at the DMV, but it’ll cost you a fee
Got a driver’s license to renew or a vehicle to register? Well, if you were planning to pay for it with a credit card, you may want to do it this summer. Under the new state budget, the Department of Motor Vehicles will be making an administrative change to pass credit card fees on to […]
Commentary
Stop raiding California’s cap-and-trade funding
Fabian Núñez: Important progress may be threatened by diversions of cap-and-trade funds for investments that are barely related to the original intent of AB 32. The last thing our state and the planet can afford is for cap-and-trade funds to be turned into a slush fund for pet projects that do little or nothing to improve our environment.
Commentary
Bringing high-speed rail to California, one building block at a time
Lenny Mendonca, High-Speed Rail Authority chairman: The high-speed rail’s building block approach starting in the Central Valley makes sense. To hear some say that this project is something that is not important to California is insulting. Ensuring that we are all connected is essential to the California Dream. It always has been, and it always will be.