This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Lawmakers’ efforts to free up state money for sober homeless housing have been thwarted for a second year in a row, after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that had sailed to his desk with few “no” votes....
New California Law Limits HOA Fines to $100 a Violation
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. An ornate balcony or quirky garage door might be in reach for more Californians as homeowners associations across the state are being forced to govern without the power of exorbitant fees to enforce regulations. Millions of California residents...
Charlie Kirk Fallout Hits California Schools as 20 Teachers Face Discipline for Comments
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. At least 20 teachers in California’s K-12 schools are facing disciplinary action after they made derogatory comments about right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination last month. Most of the disciplinary investigations are based...
California Leaders Stack the Deck and Promote Inequality in Tribal Gaming
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. A stacked deck doesn’t just tilt the odds, it erases fairness. When the powerful and wealthy dictate the terms, smaller voices are silenced and opportunity is denied. Recently my tribe, the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, received a devastating...
Democrat Toni Atkins Drops Out of Crowded Race to Succeed Gavin Newsom
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Democrat Toni Atkins is dropping out of the crowded 2026 race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor, she announced Monday. Atkins, the former Senate president, wrote in an email to supporters that she was leaving the race with a “heavy...
How Bad Is California’s Housing Shortage? It Depends on Who’s Doing the Counting
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Imagine you’ve finally taken your car to the mechanic to investigate that mysterious warning light that’s been flashing on your dashboard for the past week and a half. The mechanic informs you that your car's brake fluid is...
What a Government Shutdown Will Mean for Californians, From Social Security to National Parks
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. John Lauretig remembers the filthy bathrooms, the overflowing trash cans and the community of people who rallied to clean up Joshua Tree National Park the last time the U.S. Government shut down. For more than a month from...
Newsom to Decide on Renter Protections Tied to Social Security Changes Under Trump
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. With the Trump administration again threatening mass firings of federal employees, Gov. Gavin Newsom must soon decide whether California landlords must accept Social Security benefit delays as an excuse not to evict tenants who fall behind on rent....
Figuring Out How Many Homes CA Needs Is More Art Than Science
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Imagine you’ve finally taken your car to the mechanic to investigate that mysterious warning light that’s been flashing on your dashboard for the past week and a half. The mechanic informs you that your car's brake fluid is...
Does Another Education Bond Stand a Chance With Voters? CA Colleges Hope So
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Aging buildings, failing infrastructure, earthquake safety issues, and a severe lack of campus housing are straining California’s public higher education systems. As they face high-cost fixes, lawmakers have introduced a bond bill that ambitiously intends to fund both...