Lawsuits and Trump administration policy changes are targeting trans athletes, bans on outing by school staff and health care. Some California policies are in jeopardy.
CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom wants $200M for EV rebates. Experts say it’s not enough to fix California’s slump
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $200 million proposal to revive the state’s electric vehicle market would reach only a fraction of buyers, raising fresh questions about who should benefit and whether limited incentives can meaningfully move a slowing market.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Fires burn swiftly, but insurance battles linger: New bills propose consumer-friendly regulations
As fire survivors continue to navigate life after disaster, California lawmakers roll out new bills attempting to further regulate insurance companies like State Farm.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Fighting L.A. wildfires broke my heart but prepared me for life outside prison
“When people think of incarcerated people, they often see us as a danger, with our past mistakes magnified,” writes Jose Angel Amezcua, a formerly incarcerated firefighter from Salinas who helped battle the disastrous January 2025 blazes in the Los Angeles area. “Amid the smoke, ash, and destruction of the L.A. fires, people saw us as heroes, recognizing the good we could achieve when given a second chance.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom plans no new journalism funding despite $175 million deal with Google
Gov. Gavin Newsom included no new funding for local journalism in his latest budget proposal, walking back an August 2024 deal with Google to commit $175 million over five years to help the diminishing industry.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The fight over how to pay for Medi-Cal puts pressure on Newsom to raise taxes
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has already vowed to tank a proposed ballot initiative that would impose a 5% wealth tax on the state’s billionaires to bolster Medi-Cal. Progressive lawmakers and their allies in labor and health seem hopeful that Newsom could support a different long-shot funding idea.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Building homes is a top priority for California Democrats again this year. Voters could get a say
California Democrats are eager to advance a pair of bond measures to fund affordable housing construction, but lack enthusiasm for tenant rights protections as a controversial rent control measure bites the dust for a second consecutive year.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A Carlsbad homeowner is fighting a multimillion dollar fine over beach access and a pickleball court. Does he stand a chance against the Coastal Commission?
Carlsbad homeowner John Levy is challenging a $2.4 million fine from the California Coastal Commission over alleged beach access and environmental violations, arguing that while the underlying disputes are typical, the commission’s power to impose massive penalties without court oversight violates due process.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California investigates Elon Musk’s AI company after ‘avalanche’ of complaints about sexual content
Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is looking into whether a new artificial-intelligence image editing tool from Elon Musk’s company violates California law.
Posted inEducation
More Latino students are attending Cal State. But where are the Latino professors?
Faculty representation in the California State University system is lagging far behind the growing number of Latino students. That burdens the small circles of Latino faculty who take on more mentorship tasks, many times in non-tenure positions and for lower pay.