@CalMatters

Your nonprofit & nonpartisan state newsroom dedicated to explaining how government impacts our lives.

 California, USA
calmatters.org/
Joined November 2014
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  • Followers51.6K
9.2KMedia
Supporters say California desperately needs money to fund housing construction and make a dent in its homelessness and affordability crisis. Critics say bond financing isn’t the way to do it. cal.news/4zzRonQ 📸 Damian Dovarganes, AP
Construction workers finish the exterior of an apartment building in downtown Los Angeles on June 18, 2021. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

ALT Construction workers finish the exterior of an apartment building in downtown Los Angeles on June 18, 2021. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

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If Proposition 3 looks familiar, it’s because this is the third time the income tax measure has appeared on California ballots. But this time might be the last. cal.news/3UzqjCu 📸 Florence Middleton
Teacher Emily Adams’ eighth-grade science class at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino on Aug. 26, 2025. Only two weeks into the school year, students are doing basic exercises to familiarize themselves with lab instruments, learn the value of accuracy, and practice working together to build a foundation for the rest of the year. Photo by Florence Middleton for CalMatters

ALT Teacher Emily Adams’ eighth-grade science class at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino on Aug. 26, 2025. Only two weeks into the school year, students are doing basic exercises to familiarize themselves with lab instruments, learn the value of accuracy, and practice working together to build a foundation for the rest of the year. Photo by Florence Middleton for CalMatters

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California state workers say they’re tired of governors balancing the budget “on their backs” and are beginning a statewide state strike today. It's the first-ever statewide walkout in 44 years. cal.news/4dTfyS5 📸 Fred Greaves
State workers march along 16th Street during a SEIU Local 1000 picket outside the CalHR building in Sacramento on July 22, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

ALT State workers march along 16th Street during a SEIU Local 1000 picket outside the CalHR building in Sacramento on July 22, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

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Although California lawmakers recently passed a suite of laws intended to bring transparency to the development of new data centers, local communities across the state are signaling that disclosure isn’t enough. cal.news/488kSxo 📸 Anna Hoch-Kenney
California currently ranks third among U.S. states in overall data center density. Local leaders there are increasingly trying to stop the build out. An Amazon Web Services data center under construction in Gilroy on Aug. 31, 2026. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney, CalMatters

ALT California currently ranks third among U.S. states in overall data center density. Local leaders there are increasingly trying to stop the build out. An Amazon Web Services data center under construction in Gilroy on Aug. 31, 2026. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney, CalMatters

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Next July, new Medi-Cal rules prohibit seniors and people with disabilities from saving more than $21,000. State leaders say they needed to make cuts to deliver a balanced budget. cal.news/4BlBzD4 📸 Larry Valenzuela
Elizabette Guecamburu, assisted by her caretaker Lexi Marsh, does her circulation exercises in the living room of her home outside of Patterson on Oct. 16, 2026. Guecamburu is afraid that recently passed state Medi-Cal cuts will disqualify her from benefits. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

ALT Elizabette Guecamburu, assisted by her caretaker Lexi Marsh, does her circulation exercises in the living room of her home outside of Patterson on Oct. 16, 2026. Guecamburu is afraid that recently passed state Medi-Cal cuts will disqualify her from benefits. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

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Opinion | Critics have laid out an array of potential legal challenges that would be novel because a wealth tax itself is unprecedented. cal.news/4dO8Lcq 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Manuel Orbegozo
A supporter holds a sign during a "Ballots Over Billionaires" rally in San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters

ALT A supporter holds a sign during a "Ballots Over Billionaires" rally in San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters

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The largest union in California state government held a one-day strike, drawing thousands of workers off the job. It’s pressing Gov. Gavin Newsom for raises and more flexibility to work from home. cal.news/3VUnnAQ 📸 Fred Greaves
State workers represented by SEIU Local 1000 strike at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Oct. 21, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

ALT State workers represented by SEIU Local 1000 strike at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Oct. 21, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

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Thousands of California state workers walk off the job in contract dispute with Newsom calmatters.org/economy/2026/…

Thousands of California state workers walk off the job in contract dispute with Newsom

The largest union in California state government held a one-day strike, drawing thousands of workers off the job. It's pressing Gov. Gavin Newsom for raises.

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California is trying to block the Trump administration's voter lawsuit. Here’s what the attorney general said in a court filing. calmatters.org/politics/2026…
‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots

ALT ‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots

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California state government's largest union is scheduled to strike this week. It could affect services at a number of offices that people visit every day, including the DMV. calmatters.org/economy/2026/…
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With California bracing for a wet winter, the state auditor warns that nearly a third of local agencies maintaining vital flood control levees in parts of the Central Valley have been performing “unacceptable routine maintenance.” cal.news/3WiM4a8 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
A repaired section of the levee near Isleton on the Sacramento River on April 1, 2025. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

ALT A repaired section of the levee near Isleton on the Sacramento River on April 1, 2025. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

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Opinion | For my son Rio and his classmates, these next two years should be about growing as athletes and teammates — not becoming test cases for a plan that doesn’t fit the place they live. cal.news/3UGUMhY 📝 Xavier Jimenez 📸 Brooke Hess-Homeier, AP
The Tahoe-Truckee Unified School district holds a meeting in Truckee on Dec. 17, 2025. Photo by Brooke Hess-Homeier, AP Photo

ALT The Tahoe-Truckee Unified School district holds a meeting in Truckee on Dec. 17, 2025. Photo by Brooke Hess-Homeier, AP Photo

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If Proposition 3 looks familiar, it’s because this is the third time the income tax measure has appeared on California ballots. But this time might be the last. cal.news/3UzqjCu 📸 Florence Middleton
Teacher Emily Adams’ eighth-grade science class at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino on Aug. 26, 2025. Only two weeks into the school year, students are doing basic exercises to familiarize themselves with lab instruments, learn the value of accuracy, and practice working together to build a foundation for the rest of the year. Photo by Florence Middleton for CalMatters

ALT Teacher Emily Adams’ eighth-grade science class at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino on Aug. 26, 2025. Only two weeks into the school year, students are doing basic exercises to familiarize themselves with lab instruments, learn the value of accuracy, and practice working together to build a foundation for the rest of the year. Photo by Florence Middleton for CalMatters

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Opinion | The federal crackdown on voting by non-citizens in California is obviously aimed more at having a political impact than combating serious crime. cal.news/4BgOtCa 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Jae C. Hong, AP
Homeland Security Investigations task force officers arrest a person accused of illegally registering to vote in Commerce on Oct. 19, 2026. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

ALT Homeland Security Investigations task force officers arrest a person accused of illegally registering to vote in Commerce on Oct. 19, 2026. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

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California state workers say they’re tired of governors balancing the budget “on their backs” and are beginning a statewide state strike today. It's the first-ever statewide walkout in 44 years. cal.news/4dTfyS5 📸 Fred Greaves
State workers march along 16th Street during a SEIU Local 1000 picket outside the CalHR building in Sacramento on July 22, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

ALT State workers march along 16th Street during a SEIU Local 1000 picket outside the CalHR building in Sacramento on July 22, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

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‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots calmatters.org/politics/2026…

‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots

California is trying to block the Trump administration's voter lawsuit. Here’s what the attorney general said in a court filing.

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Opinion | Whatever accomplishments Gavin Newsom might claim from his eight years as governor, he will also leave a legacy of mismanagement that has squandered untold billions of taxpayers’ dollars. cal.news/4zGv1x0 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Keith Birmingham
Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to former state Sen. Richard Pan discuss insulin needs during a tour of Kaiser Permanente's Central Refill Pharmacy in Downey on March 18, 2023. Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

ALT Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to former state Sen. Richard Pan discuss insulin needs during a tour of Kaiser Permanente's Central Refill Pharmacy in Downey on March 18, 2023. Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

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The Trump administration charged 28 immigrants with allegedly illegally voting or registering to vote in California in its latest push to hunt down voter fraud. Such cases are exceedingly rare and not proof elections are fraudulent. cal.news/4e6H2nt 📸 Jae C. Hong, AP
Homeland Security Investigations task force officers escort a suspect accused of illegally registering to vote to a processing facility at Federal Building in Los Angeles on Oct. 19, 2026. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

ALT Homeland Security Investigations task force officers escort a suspect accused of illegally registering to vote to a processing facility at Federal Building in Los Angeles on Oct. 19, 2026. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

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Opinion | Whatever accomplishments Gavin Newsom might claim from his eight years as governor, he will also leave a legacy of mismanagement that has squandered untold billions of taxpayers’ dollars. cal.news/4zGv1x0 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Keith Birmingham
Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to former state Sen. Richard Pan discuss insulin needs during a tour of Kaiser Permanente's Central Refill Pharmacy in Downey on March 18, 2023. Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

ALT Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to former state Sen. Richard Pan discuss insulin needs during a tour of Kaiser Permanente's Central Refill Pharmacy in Downey on March 18, 2023. Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

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Opinion | The Trump administration’s attack on California’s ongoing elections is merely one episode in a long and dismal series of efforts to undermine confidence in the integrity of the American democratic system. cal.news/4zbb1CQ 📝 Robert Greene 📸 Pablo Unzueta
Jerome Jones casts her ballot while holding her 2-year old grandson in Los Angeles on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

ALT Jerome Jones casts her ballot while holding her 2-year old grandson in Los Angeles on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

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