Cal Matters

Where death chamber once stood, Newsom shows off prison remodel emphasizing rehabilitation

By Cayla Mihalovich, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday showed off one of his marquee criminal justice reform

By Cal Matters

/ 20 Feb 2026

Where death chamber once stood, Newsom shows off prison remodel emphasizing rehabilitation

A former political ally tests LA liberals’ allegiance to Mayor Karen Bass

By Jim Newton, CalMatters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The race for mayor of Los Angeles is underway and will unfold along lines

By Cal Matters

/ 20 Feb 2026

A former political ally tests LA liberals’ allegiance to Mayor Karen Bass

Who’s running for California Insurance Commissioner? Here’s a look at the field of candidates

By Guest Commentary, CalMatters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Because of the first anniversary of the devastating Southern California wildfires, CalMatters asked candidates

By Cal Matters

/ 18 Feb 2026

Who’s running for California Insurance Commissioner? Here’s a look at the field of candidates

Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. As the first home rolled off the factory floor in Kalamazoo, Michigan — “like a

By Cal Matters

/ 16 Feb 2026

Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different

Facing ‘extinction vortex,’ California grants new protections to some mountain lions

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Just weeks after a mountain lion wandered into San Francisco, state officials voted to

By Cal Matters

/ 12 Feb 2026

Facing ‘extinction vortex,’ California grants new protections to some mountain lions

Los Angeles voters are moving ever leftward, shifting election politics in America’s second-largest city

By Jim Newton, CalMatters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. How liberal is Los Angeles? That question is very much on the minds of

By Cal Matters

/ 9 Feb 2026

Los Angeles voters are moving ever leftward, shifting election politics in America’s second-largest city

California’s once soaring population has hit a plateau. So will its national political clout

By Dan Walters, CalMatters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The federal Census Bureau annually announces new population numbers for the country and its

By Cal Matters

/ 8 Feb 2026

California’s once soaring population has hit a plateau. So will its national political clout

New transit housing bill revives California’s Democratic divisions over local control

By Nadia Lathan, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Just months after lawmakers enacted major reforms to speed up home and apartment building,

By Cal Matters

/ 5 Feb 2026

New transit housing bill revives California’s Democratic divisions over local control

California judges defend their independence and the rule of law

When the rule of law is under attack, judges are among its natural defenders. But the very nature of their positions prevents them from doing or even saying much outside

By Cal Matters

/ 4 Feb 2026

California judges defend their independence and the rule of law

Gavin Newsom’s autobiography adds struggle to a story of a politically privileged past

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new memoir aims to reframe his privileged past by highlighting personal struggles, including his parents' divorce, his mother's cancer, and his own battles with alcohol while addressing his Getty family connections.

By Cal Matters

/ 4 Feb 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom preparing to deliver State of the State address at California State Capitol in Sacramento

Republican Steve Hilton leads California governor fundraising as large pool of Democrats lag

Republican Steve Hilton raised $4.1 million for California's gubernatorial race, outpacing prominent Democrats including Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter. Only billionaire Tom Steyer, who poured $28M of his own money into the race, raised more.

By Cal Matters

/ 4 Feb 2026

Four Democratic candidates for California governor debate at UC Riverside, including Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Betty Yee

It ‘took a village’ to heal her trauma and homelessness. Will California keep funding this help?

A Los Angeles woman shares how the Downtown Women's Center Trauma Recovery Center helped her overcome decades of trauma and homelessness. Now, Proposition 36 threatens funding for these vital programs across California.

By Cal Matters

/ 28 Jan 2026

Homeless encampment with multiple tents lining a street in Los Angeles' Skid Row neighborhood, illustrating the connection between trauma and homelessness in California