CalMatters@CalMatters

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

 California, USA
calmatters.org/
Joined November 2014
8,999 Photos and videos
A look at the incentives California has offered to keep film and television productions in the state, starting when movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor. cal.news/4d7mSJv
Paramount says it will stay. California is still fighting for Hollywood

ALT Paramount says it will stay. California is still fighting for Hollywood
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Insurance companies are starting to write new policies in California again after years of holding back as wildfire risk climbed higher. cal.news/4hICMMR 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
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There are some people for whom their whole job is guiding others through California's housing permitting bureaucracy. calmatters.org/housing/2026/…
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Recent polling shows voters narrowly support Prop. 40 — the billionaire tax — and two measures designed to kill it. Only one outcome can prevail. cal.news/4hLb6a8 📸 Jeff Chiu, AP
People visit the Billionaire Tax Now booth at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco on Feb. 21, 2026. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

ALT People visit the Billionaire Tax Now booth at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco on Feb. 21, 2026. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven data center laws, signaling a tide change toward regulation of the industry. They center on environmental and consumer impacts. cal.news/4ArG7Y7 📸 Anna Hoch-Kenney
A block of Equinix data centers sit across the street from a Prime data center on Great Oaks Blvd. in South San Jose on Aug. 31, 2026. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney, CalMatters. HED: Newsom clamps down on California data centers as voters turn against the industry

ALT A block of Equinix data centers sit across the street from a Prime data center on Great Oaks Blvd. in South San Jose on Aug. 31, 2026. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney, CalMatters. HED: Newsom clamps down on California data centers as voters turn against the industry

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Gov. Newsom signed into law four bills aimed at curbing a startling rise in DUI fatalities in recent years, including measures that make it easier to charge repeat drunk drivers with a felony and, if they kill someone, with murder cal.news/4dZ7rTQ 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
A photo display of people who have died as a result of drunk driving and vehicular homicide at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento prior to a press conference announcing a series of bills aimed at reducing DUI fatalities and injuries in the state on Feb. 12, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

ALT A photo display of people who have died as a result of drunk driving and vehicular homicide at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento prior to a press conference announcing a series of bills aimed at reducing DUI fatalities and injuries in the state on Feb. 12, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

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Opinion | My path to advocating for ocean protection began when I was about 10, watching my dad and other Chumash community members build our traditional maritime tomols, or canoes... cal.news/4iOHidU 📝 Eva Pagaling 📸 Reuven Bank
Members of the Chumash community participate in the Tomol crossing at Channel Islands National Park off the coast of Santa Barbara on Aug. 11, 2023. Photo by Reuven Bank, National Park Service

ALT Members of the Chumash community participate in the Tomol crossing at Channel Islands National Park off the coast of Santa Barbara on Aug. 11, 2023. Photo by Reuven Bank, National Park Service

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Opinion | Tricking voters is election fraud as onerous as stuffing ballot boxes. Unfortunately, while officials may be a bit embarrassed if caught, such behavior does not invalidate a ballot measure that voters pass. cal.news/4xLtFQi 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Juliana Yamada
Tasheena Braxton records her son Xavier Braxton, 19, as he drops off his ballot for the first time on Super Tuesday in San Francisco on March 5, 2024. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters

ALT Tasheena Braxton records her son Xavier Braxton, 19, as he drops off his ballot for the first time on Super Tuesday in San Francisco on March 5, 2024. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters
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After years of hoses run town to town during wildfires, Fire Chief Willie Sapeta built an alliance to fix it himself. cal.news/4hlhQu0 📸 Fred Greaves
A remote hydrant unit is deployed for a firefighter training session in Clear Lake near Clearlake Oaks on Aug. 27, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

ALT A remote hydrant unit is deployed for a firefighter training session in Clear Lake near Clearlake Oaks on Aug. 27, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
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The tension between tourists, Californians living in the state’s coastal enclaves, and the tech companies that profit from vacation rentals is coming to a boil. cal.news/4Ay6pIi 📸 Kathryn Wheeler
Visitors gather at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica on Aug. 2, 2025. The beach is a major draw for tourists and surfers. Photo by Kathryn Wheeler

ALT Visitors gather at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica on Aug. 2, 2025. The beach is a major draw for tourists and surfers. Photo by Kathryn Wheeler

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The Legislature is forcing the city and county of Sacramento to try something unusual in their fight against homelessness. cal.news/4iI18r6 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
At right, Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond speaks with an unhoused person during the city's point-in-time count on Jan. 26, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

ALT At right, Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond speaks with an unhoused person during the city's point-in-time count on Jan. 26, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
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FBI agents paid a visit to Shasta County last week after Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis claimed ballots looked, felt and smelled funny as workers were counting them in the June primary, an election he happened to lose. cal.news/4AGHW3E 📸 Salvador Ochoa
Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis stands next to a recently installed lock and seal securing ballots at the county's elections office in Redding on Sept. 17, 2026. Photo by Salvador Ochoa for CalMatters

ALT Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis stands next to a recently installed lock and seal securing ballots at the county's elections office in Redding on Sept. 17, 2026. Photo by Salvador Ochoa for CalMatters

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The two laws — Senate Bill 960 by Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, a Democrat from Napa, and Assembly Bill 2694 by David Alvarez — allow college districts to have anywhere from two to 12 new bachelor’s degrees a year starting in 2028. cal.news/4y8z8lt 📸 Larry Valenzuela
A student walks through the Dolores Huerta Plaza at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on May 7, 2026. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

ALT A student walks through the Dolores Huerta Plaza at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on May 7, 2026. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

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The bill would've narrowed a manufacturing exemption Newsom pushed last year. Its author says she'll try again in 2026. cal.news/3VOuuuh
Newsom vetoes bill meant to protect homes and schools from polluting manufacturers

ALT Newsom vetoes bill meant to protect homes and schools from polluting manufacturers
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Overall, unionized staff and faculty compensation at the California State University is on par with national averages for similar public universities, but about a third of workers’ total salary and benefits are below national averages. cal.news/4hNdJaz 📸 Fred Greaves
Supporters gather for a California Faculty Association “Hands Off Our Healthcare” rally at Sacramento State in Sacramento on Sept. 23, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

ALT Supporters gather for a California Faculty Association “Hands Off Our Healthcare” rally at Sacramento State in Sacramento on Sept. 23, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

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Opinion | This crisis has largely occurred under the watch of California’s elected sheriffs. Since 1993, sheriffs have held sole and exclusive operating authority over California’s jails. cal.news/4ydp9eF 📝 Paul R. Parker 📸 Jules Hotz
Protestors hold signs outside the John F. Tavaglione Executive Annex building in protest of jail deaths in Riverside County, on Oct. 31, 2023. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters

ALT Protestors hold signs outside the John F. Tavaglione Executive Annex building in protest of jail deaths in Riverside County, on Oct. 31, 2023. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters

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Breaking: It was illegal for Sheriff Chad Bianco's office to seize ballots from the Riverside County registrar, rules California Supreme Court. cal.news/4hKSRle 📸 Noah Berger, AP
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco arrives at the Supreme Court of California in San Francisco for a hearing about his seizure and recount of more than half a million 2025 election ballots on Aug. 24, 2026. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

ALT Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco arrives at the Supreme Court of California in San Francisco for a hearing about his seizure and recount of more than half a million 2025 election ballots on Aug. 24, 2026. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

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Opinion | It’s the latest episode of California officials confronting big corporate interests over some issue, loudly promising to make business executives change their ways and then caving in. cal.news/3UZxggd 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Pablo Unzueta
A small group of people gather in front of the California Attorney General’s Office to protest Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery in Oakland on Sept. 20, 2026. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

ALT A small group of people gather in front of the California Attorney General’s Office to protest Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery in Oakland on Sept. 20, 2026. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

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The Legislature is forcing the city and county of Sacramento to try something unusual in their fight against homelessness. cal.news/4iI18r6 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
At right, Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond speaks with an unhoused person during the city's point-in-time count on Jan. 26, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

ALT At right, Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond speaks with an unhoused person during the city's point-in-time count on Jan. 26, 2026. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

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Recent polling shows voters narrowly support Prop. 40 — the billionaire tax — and two measures designed to kill it. Only one outcome can prevail. cal.news/4hLb6a8 📸 Jeff Chiu, AP
People visit the Billionaire Tax Now booth at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco on Feb. 21, 2026. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

ALT People visit the Billionaire Tax Now booth at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco on Feb. 21, 2026. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

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