Xavier Becerra

Elections

California GOP in legal standoff over ‘ballot harvesting’ with unofficial drop boxes

After the electoral hammering California Republicans took in 2018, the party decided to put aside any misgivings it had about “ballot harvesting” and set up its own operation. In so doing, it’s now earned itself a cease-and-desist letter from California’s Democratic secretary of state. At issue: Unofficial ballot drop boxes that the state GOP purchased […]

By Ben Christopher • October 12, 2020

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

WhatMatters

Trump, Biden face off over California wildfires

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, September 15. Golden State in the spotlight California took center stage on the national campaign trail Monday, with Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden leveraging the state’s record-breaking fires to advance their respective political visions. The faceoff will likely continue today, with Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala […]

By Emily Hoeven • September 15, 2020

WhatMatters

Last chance to avoid evicting renters

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, August 31. Legislative session ends today The fate of hundreds of thousands of California renters teetering on the brink of eviction — and of the landlords who depend on their rent payments — hangs in the balance of a cliffhanger vote lawmakers will take today. Their vote on a controversial […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 31, 2020

California Divide

Foster Farms processing plant in California ordered to shut down over COVID-19 outbreak

The Merced County Health Department ordered the Foster Farms Livingston Facility to shut down over the largest and most severe COVID-19 outbreak in Merced County, according to a statement released on Thursday by the health department. The shutdown order came Wednesday. However, late Thursday, Mike North, Merced County’s spokesperson, said county officials issued a 48-hour […]

By Manuela Tobias • August 28, 2020

WhatMatters

Amid lack of firefighters, residents step up

Brigades and beer As fires continue to rage across the state, stretching understaffed firefighting crews to the limit, some Californians are taking matters into their own hands and forming makeshift brigades to protect their communities. In the face of limited help from fire agencies, about 50 Bonny Doon residents defied evacuation orders to defend their […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 26, 2020

WhatMatters

History-making California blazes — worst likely yet to come

Two of the three largest fires in California history are raging across the state alongside about 600 others, burning more than 1.3 million acres — an area about the size of Delaware — and forcing more than 100,000 people to evacuate. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Dry lightning storms and gusty winds […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 24, 2020

WhatMatters

Inside Newsom’s tumultuous DNC appearance

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, August 21. From prime time to Santa Cruz forest Gov. Gavin Newsom was set to make the biggest appearance of his political career Thursday night — but things didn’t go as planned. Newsom backed out of his prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention Thursday morning, citing the need […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 21, 2020

WhatMatters

Pressure mounts on Newsom for reopening plan

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, August 19. Cases, hospitalizations, deaths decline Pressure is building on Gov. Gavin Newsom to figure out a reopening plan after San Diego, California’s second-largest county, fell off the state’s coronavirus watch list Tuesday and hospitalizations, case rates and deaths continue to decline statewide. The news came a few days after […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 19, 2020

Justice

Will California change policing?

State lawmakers will decide the fate of 15 reform bills during a pandemic-shortened session marked by civil unrest and an economic crisis. Not all of them will make it.

By Raheem Hosseini • August 18, 2020