Proposition 45, billed as a pro-housing development measure, could have the unintended consequence of making it easier to build data centers, opponents say.
CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Get up to speed fast on the California election with CalMatters’ guide for the still undecided
Californians have a full ballot for the November 2026 election, including a governor’s race, congressional seats and 14 propositions. Don’t miss your chance to make your ballot count.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Californians revolt against police drones after rapid adoption across state
Across California, police departments are rapidly expanding “Drone as First Responder” programs, triggering intense public backlash over warrantless surveillance and corporate overreach.
Posted inEducation
California is about to overhaul the way it runs K-12 schools. Will it fix a fragmented system?
A bill passed in July calls for a new governor-appointed education commissioner, who will oversee the California Department of Education and ensure that policies set in Sacramento are enacted in classrooms.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A last-minute voter guide to all 14 propositions on the California ballot
Californians are voting on 14 ballot measures, including propositions on taxes, voting, healthcare, housing and the environment. It’s a lot to take in, but CalMatters is here to help.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California has more revenue than expected thanks to AI. Should the state save it?
Proponents say Proposition 2 would allow the state to shore up its reserves for an economic downturn. Critics say it would only allow state leaders to spend more in the future.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
California cities pull the plug on data centers after state regulations don’t scale up fast enough
Despite seven new statewide laws regulating data centers, at least 26 resolutions, moratoriums or bans on data centers have been passed or proposed in California since June.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Medi-Cal cuts could push seniors and people with disabilities off of coverage
Next July, new Medi-Cal rules prohibit older adults and people with disabilities from saving more than $21,000. State leaders say they needed to make cuts to deliver a balanced budget. Senior and disability rights advocates argue the cuts unfairly target vulnerable groups.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
What to know about California’s other tax-the-rich measure: Prop 3
Voters first passed the income tax on the wealthy in 2012, then renewed it in 2016. Now, its supporters are asking California voters to make it permanent before it expires in 2031.
Posted inLatest News
Vital Central Valley flood control levees are poorly maintained, state watchdog finds
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” — some of them for years.
