Commentary

People wearing white jumpsuits and yellow safety vests gather up debris from a home destroyed during a wildfire.

Commentary

Candidate comment: He lost his home in the Palisades fire. Now he’s running to ‘fix the broken system’

After the fires, homeowners were traumatized by insurers. Farren's philosophy: “The best response to hardship is to create change that protects others.”

By Merritt Farren • April 8, 2026

Several candidates raise their hands as they sit in chairs on a stage in front of a crowd. Behind the candidates is a banner that reads “Affordability and Rural California,” with decor of an American flag, a California flag, and potted plants.

Commentary

Candidates for governor are playing it safe. Gen Z voters can’t afford that.

Gen Z voters, especially Latino students, felt the effects of budget cuts and now question if candidates care about their economic mobility.

By Andrea Escobar and Joselen Contreras • April 8, 2026

Petroleum pump jacks are pictured in the Kern River oil field in Bakersfield. Photo by Jonathan Alcorn, Reuters

Commentary

Battles over business regulation resume in California’s Capitol with new legislation

Lawmakers discussed bills that allow lawsuits against business monopolies and businesses that affect climate change.

By

Dan Walters

• April 8, 2026

A man in a grey suit sits on a chair on a stage in front of a banner that reads “Affordability and Rural California” with an American flag next to it.

Commentary

Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot grab is a campaign stunt, not an investigation

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican running for governor, seized 650,000 ballots cast in 2025, though his deputies aren’t trained vote fraud investigators.

By Bryon Gustafson • April 7, 2026

A person in a dark suit and light blue tie stands outdoors among a crowd, facing the camera with a serious expression. Behind them, an American flag waves near a construction crane, with trees and a bright blue sky in the background.

Commentary

Trump endorsing Hilton may help keep California governorship in Democratic hands

If ex-TV commentator Steve Hilton pulls far ahead of Sheriff Chad Bianco, it cuts the chances for a 1-2 GOP outcome — likely the only way California can get a Republican governor.

By

Dan Walters

• April 6, 2026

A doctor uses a dental mouthscope as they examine inside a patient's mouth. The patient wears a jean jacket styled hat and a black and pink floral shirt.

Commentary

After a four-year wait to see a dentist, her son suffered. With Medi-Cal cuts, the wait will be even longer

People try for months, sometimes years, to find dentists who take Denti-Cal, Medi-Cal for teeth. The state may slash those dentist reimbursements.

By Pat Hornbecker • April 6, 2026

A close-up view of a person's right index finger pointing to writing on a small stack of redacted papers.

Commentary

California shouldn’t price the public out of public records. Democracy is at stake

A bill letting governments charge for public documents would let them base the cost on the time it takes to review and redact the information. It doesn't limit them.

By David Snyder • April 6, 2026