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.
CalMatters
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.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
How Californians can use a new state website to block hundreds of data brokers
A new tool called DROP lets California residents fill out a few forms to keep their personal data from being tracked or sold by data brokers.
Posted inEducation
This change could deliver billions of more dollars to California schools. Here’s the tradeoff
By basing funding on enrollment, not attendance numbers, California schools would lose the incentive to get students to show up every day, a new report finds.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California tax revenue getting a boost from AI boom — but for how long?
As talk of a possible artificial intelligence bubble grows, so does uncertainty around an important source of California tax money.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gavin Newsom’s legacy: Can he deliver on unmet promises in his final year as governor?
Under Gavin Newsom’s tenure, health care has been expanded, but his housing goals and homelessness pledges remain unfinished. Can he deliver before eyeing the White House?