The California Senate passed a bill that would make it easier to sue federal officers over civil rights violations. Recent shootings of civilians by immigration agents in Minnesota lent urgency to the measure, one of several targeting ICE.
CalMatters
Posted inEducation
Bachelor’s degrees at community colleges: Lawmakers say yes, UC and CSU say slow down
A bill making its way through the California Assembly would allow Southwestern College to create up to four additional bachelor’s programs aimed at workforce needs in south San Diego County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Los Angeles won’t be tweaking its ‘mansion tax.’ Now the debate is likely to go statewide
A ballot measure do-over in Los Angeles was intended to ward off a statewide anti-tax crusade. Hanging over the debate is the specter of a proposed statewide proposition that would sharply cap municipal transfer taxes while also restricting other local taxes.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Can AI help make homeless Californians healthier?
A California company is using artificial intelligence to help diagnose homeless Californians. The technology promises better access to health care, but it also raises questions.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
How California lawmakers are trying to speed up spending on voter-approved climate projects
Assemblymember David Alvarez is pushing a proposal to get Proposition 4 dollars out the door faster, more than a year after voters approved the state’s biggest climate bond to date.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trans youth still have a safe haven in California — but that could change
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.
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.