Proposition 4 would lift a ban that prohibits state and most local candidates from using public funding for their political campaigns. Proponents argue the mechanism helps more candidates run for office, but opponents are skeptical.
CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Dozens of California dams need repair as El Niño winter draws closer
As El Niño nears, California found 57 dams in poor or unsatisfactory condition, and regulators have never yet penalized an owner.
Posted inFood & Drink
As beloved craft breweries close around the state, beer lovers wonder what’s next
Changing consumer tastes, market saturation and rising costs from tariffs has forced the closure of some of the most beloved craft breweries in California.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
How would Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton manage California’s most precious resource, water?
CalMatters asked California gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton how they’d manage conflicts over water. The Republican endorsed more spending on dams.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Prop 43 would make special taxes harder to pass. That’s the point, say anti-tax advocates
The statewide ballot measure would require two-thirds of voters to approve any local special taxes, instead of the simple majority for citizen-led initiatives. Anti-tax advocates say it should be that hard for governments to tax Californians, but local officials say it could constrain funding for essential services.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Sudden surge in ICE arrests empties streets in California’s San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is California’s agricultural heartland. Suddenly, it’s the focus of an immigration enforcement campaign that has communities on edge.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Deadly e-bike crashes shaped three new California safety laws. Here’s what they do
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law allowing San Mateo County to restrict teens’ access to e-bikes. It was inspired by fatal accidents in the Bay Area community.
Posted inEducation
The UC got rid of the SAT in admissions. It could be on its way back
After the University of California stopped requiring the SAT, some professors say students are coming in with weak math and writing skills.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
How election deniers are using public records to sow doubt in California
California election skeptics filed dozens of public records requests. Some are soliciting donations from people who believe election results can’t be trusted.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom apologized to tribes for historic harms, but vetoed two bills that would have empowered them
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills that would’ve given tribal governments a greater voice in water projects and in preventing the destruction of sacred Indigenous religious sites on state land.
