A tank at a Garden Grove aerospace plant came within a crack of exploding and forcing a toxic chemical cloud over 50,000 evacuated residents — here’s what regulators knew before it happened.
Alejandra Reyes-Velarde / CalMatters
Posted inBusiness & Technology
California’s new plastic recycling rules spark fights from all sides
California set the country’s most ambitious plastic recycling deadline. Now, both environmental advocates and plastic producers could head to court.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California is spending hundreds of millions on heat. Will it ever be a public health priority?
As heat becomes a year-round reality, California is often still responding like it’s an emergency.
Posted inEducation
What California’s planned power outages are costing schools: Darkness, disruption and debt
California schools faced repeated planned power outages in 2024-25 as Southern California Edison cut electricity to prevent wildfires, forcing closures and costly backup power solutions.
Posted inLatest News
California spends billions based on this pollution tracker. Who benefits from its latest update?
California is updating CalEnviroScreen, the influential pollution tracker that helps determine which communities get environmental grants. Advocates say the state should improve the tool and use it more frequently to cut pollution.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California has a fallback plan for Trump’s clean car attacks. Does it go far enough?
Amid a legal fight over California’s power to regulate car and truck pollution, state agencies are suggesting policies that need stable funding, legislative action or lengthy rulemaking.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Cleaning up smog is suddenly much harder. Reined in by Trump, what will California do next?
With seven of the state’s most ambitious rules for cars, trucks and trains repealed, California officials now must find new ways to clean up the nation’s worst air pollution. But officials face growing pushback about affordability and costs.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
U.S. Senate blocks California’s electric car mandate in historic vote
Thursday’s vote in Washington could upend California’s phaseout of gas-powered cars and its decadeslong battle against air pollution. Some experts say Congress’ move is illegal and is likely to trigger a court battle.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
In nationwide first, California plans to rev up sales of electric motorcycles
Bikers — many of whom love their noisy combustion engines — say zero-emission motorcycles aren’t ready for long-distance rides. Motorcycles emit an “outsized portion” of smog-causing pollutants.
Posted inLatest News
More extreme heat + more people = danger in these California cities. ‘Will it get as hot as Death Valley?’
Inland California communities with big population booms will experience the most extreme heat days under climate change projections. The combination puts more people at risk — and many cities are unprepared.
