In one of the highest-profile California election results, Proposition 30 failed despite the state’s commitment to climate action and its history of taxing the wealthy. But the ballot measure also was complicated and divided Democrats, a recipe for failure.
CalMatters
Posted inLatest News
California might levy a new tax on gas companies. Here’s what to know
Here are the basics of the new windfall profit tax Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed, and how similar taxes have worked in the past.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
What you need to know about the California governor debate
In their only scheduled debate, Gov. Gavin Newsom and challenger Brian Dahle clashed on abortion right, homelessness, public schools, the state budget and more. But neither landed a knockout punch.
Posted inEducation
For undocumented students, job opportunities are scarce. This state program could help.
California’s estimated 75,000 undocumented students don’t qualify for federal work-study or most job opportunities, and often struggle to make ends meet. A new state service program launched last week, College Corps, will give hundreds of them as much as $10,000 per year to perform community service in areas including K-12 education, food insecurity and climate action.
Posted inLatest News
California homeless population grew by 22,000 over pandemic
The latest point-in-time count of California’s homeless population shows that it increased at roughly the same pace as previous years, although it appears to have disproportionately affected Latinos. Experts say homelessness interventions are paying off but “the inflow is killing us.”
Posted inEducation
Dual-admission program will give community college students an early taste of life at UC
The University of California aims to ease the transition from community college to university with a new dual-admission pilot program launching this spring at UC Santa Cruz and elsewhere. High school graduates will be accepted simultaneously to a community college and nearby UC, with access to libraries and counseling on the UC campus. The program, however, excludes UC’s most selective campuses.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Fact-checking ads for California’s sports betting propositions
The campaigns for Propositions 26 and 27 on this November’s ballot have made a wide variety of claims, especially about how the money gleaned from sports betting in California will get distributed. CalMatters parses it all.
Posted inLatest News
Newsom signs abortion protections into law
As other states restrict or ban abortions, the new California laws aim to improve access and protect patients and clinicians. They will also expand services to accommodate an expected influx from other states.
Posted inLatest News
Ranchers, tribes, state officials clash over Shasta River water
A standoff over shutting down ranchers’ pumps signals a flareup of water wars as California is gripped by seemingly endless drought. “To hell with it. We’re starting the pumps,” one Siskiyou County rancher said.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California’s fast food bill could link chains to wage theft and other workplace violations
Proponents say AB 257 could curb wage theft, but restaurateurs say it could raise costs and prices and fundamentally change relationships with fast food chains.