University Of California

Higher Education

California colleges are going online. How ready are they?

California is about to embark on an enormous, unplanned experiment in remote learning — and no one knows how long it will last.

By Vanessa Arredondo, Felicia Mello and Janelle Salanga • March 17, 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

WhatMatters

$2 billion a year to fight homelessness?

Cruise ship passengers headed to air force base for quarantine. Legislators want $2 billion to fight homelessness. Kamala Harris endorses Joe Biden.

By Emily Hoeven • March 9, 2020

Education

Fate of huge California bond to update school facilities hangs in balance

Last October, when he signed the legislation that placed Proposition 13 on the ballot, Gov. Gavin Newsom made a prediction: “Voters will approve this bond, because voters historically approve school bonds.” Newsom and supporters, who spent millions of dollars campaigning for a statewide ballot measure with no organized opposition, billed Prop. 13 as a critical […]

By Ricardo Cano • March 3, 2020

WhatMatters

Dams at risk + Riding atmospheric rivers + Coronavirus concerns

California dams are at risk. Scientists study atmospheric rivers and climate change. State responds to coronavirus cases.

By Dan Morain • February 26, 2020

Higher Education

As UC and Cal State seek new chiefs, here are their wish lists

California’s four-year university systems are both choosing new leaders  whose decisions will shape not only their institutions but the future of public higher education in the state and nationally.

By Felicia Mello • February 26, 2020

Newsletters

Dramatic rise in mental illness cases in county jails + What a new PG&E might look like

County jails see spike in mental illness cases. Turning PG&E into a public utility comes with a hefty price tag. State aims to fix bottle-recycling program.

By Dan Morain • February 6, 2020

WhatMatters

Bloomberg does Sacramento + A new state park, perhaps + Two Californians who made a difference

Bloomberg brings presidential campaign to Sacramento. Talk of turning PG&E into a publicly owned utility grows. California may get a new state park.

By Dan Morain • February 4, 2020

Higher Education

UC task force: Keep the SAT, for now

Though not the university’s final decision on the subject, the recommendations are a blow to critics who say the tests discriminate against low-income students and underrepresented minorities. And they are a boon to the test administrators, the College Board and ACT Inc, who offered the exams to more than 100,000 students who applied to UC last year.

By Felicia Mello • February 3, 2020

WhatMatters

Mental illness as a campaign issue + oil spends big on legislative races + UC drops tuition hike, for now

Candidates open up about impacts of mental illness. Oil companies spend big on upcoming Senate elections. University of California puts off tuition hike.

By Dan Morain • January 22, 2020