This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed paring down the responsibilities of California’s elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction and shifting more power to the State Board of Education. “California can no longer postpone reforms that have been recommended...
Monique Limón Takes the Helm of California Senate
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. As California legislators return to Sacramento and prepare to tackle a budget deficit, all eyes are on new Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón of Santa Barbara and what tone she sets for her chamber. Limón, 46, a...
Will This Be the Year California Makes Kindergarten Mandatory?
By Carolyn Jones, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The past few years, California has been all about the ABCs, 1-2-3s and the wheels on the bus, investing more than $5 billion in early childhood education. But kindergarten, a staple of elementary schools...
Could Mysterious California News Site Influence 2026 Elections?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Earlier this year, as the political battle over Congressional redistricting brought California into the national spotlight, Facebook users were shown a curious series of ads. The ads, from a straightforward-looking news site called the California Courier, often felt...
California Homeowners Could Qualify for Grants for New Roofs and Fire Safety
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Some homeowners in areas of California with high wildfire risk could eventually get money for new roofs or to build fire-resistant zones around their properties under a new state law that went into effect on Jan. 1. The...
New California Fee Targets Batteries in PlayStations, Power Tools, Singing Cards
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Starting Jan. 1, Californians will pay a new fee every time they buy a product with a non-removable battery – whether it's a power tool, a PlayStation, or even a singing greeting card. The 1.5% surcharge, capped at...
New California Law Requires a Working Fridge and Stove in All Apartments
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Fridge-less apartments dotting the pricey California rental market will soon be a head-scratching relic. Beginning Jan. 1, landlords will be required to provide all apartments with a working stove and refrigerator thanks to a new state law. It...
How California Justice Changed in 2025: Prop. 36 Toughened Penalties, Prisons Shrank
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. A year after Californians voted for a conservative shift in criminal justice policy, they began to see the results. Proposition 36, approved by voters last year, gave prosecutors the ability to charge people convicted of various third-time drug...
New California Law Requires Tortillas to Include an Extra Ingredient. Here’s Why
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Tortillas sold in California are going to have a new ingredient, one that’s intended to help nurture healthy infants. Starting Jan. 1, a new law will take effect requiring most tortillas and corn masa products sold in the...
New California Laws Rewrite Car-Buying Rules With Return Policy and Pricing Reforms
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. California lawmakers made major changes to the state’s car-buying rules this year, including a controversial rewrite of the state law that allows buyers to get their money back if they are sold a defective vehicle and a right...