Kindergartners repeat worries heard at home. Older kids text to check on parents during class. As the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues, therapists say mental health is at risk now and in the long term.
CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California lawmakers keep dodging tough bills by not voting. Here are the worst offenders
In the California Capitol, lawmakers almost never vote “no.” These three Democrats have decided it’s OK to buck protocol and vote against their colleagues’ bills. Check CalMatters’ database to see how Santa Cruz County’s representatives voted.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom just vetoed a bill to regulate license plate readers — even as fresh evidence of misuse emerges
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required regular purges of license plate databases and regularly audited how automated plate readers are used. He said the regulations would have impeded criminal investigations.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The campaign over Gavin Newsom’s maps is one of California’s most expensive ever
Gov. Gavin Newsom is raising money from labor unions and Democrats all over the country for Proposition 50, his redistricting ballot measure. Republicans are pouring in money to fight it.
Posted inHousing & Development
New California law restricts HOA fines to $100 per violation, giving homeowners a break
Millions of California residents could get a break if they violate homeowners association rules under a new state law that caps fees at $100, without late fees or accumulating penalties.
Posted inLatest News
What a government shutdown will mean for Californians, from Social Security to national parks
Social Security and Medicare benefits will keep flowing in a government shutdown, but federal employees will be working without pay and delays likely will occur across many services.
Posted inHousing & Development
Why figuring out how many homes California needs is more art than science
56,000. 2.7 million. 840,000. Why is one of California’s most pressing policy problems so hard to measure?
Posted inEducation
Does another education bond stand a chance with voters? California colleges hope so
Lawmakers are considering putting a bond measure before voters in 2026 to fund billions of dollars in building repairs and student housing projects for California’s colleges and universities.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ricardo Lara proposes insurance rule that critics call ‘revenge’
California’s insurance commissioner has sparred with Consumer Watchdog, which says a proposed rule Ricardo Lara says will make the rate-review process more efficient is retaliatory.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California law forbids ICE from making arrests at courthouses. Officers are showing up anyway
A California law bans immigration enforcement at courthouses. ICE under the Trump administration is detaining people there, anyway, arguing that it’s a safe place to apprehend someone.