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CalMatters

CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues while holding our leaders accountable. For more information about its mission, donors, staff and contact information, see CalMatters' About Us page.

Above, smoggy skies are seen in downtown Los Angeles. Gas-powered cars and trucks remain the state’s biggest producers of air pollution. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Cleaning up smog is suddenly much harder in a California reined in by Trump

July 7, 2025 at 6:01 p.m.

Gas-powered cars and diesel trucks remain the state’s largest sources of smog and soot despite decades of cutting emissions.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, at podium, smiles on the passing of Proposition 1, a $6.4 billion bond ballot measure, during a coalition news conference at the Ronald Reagan State Building Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Los Angeles. California voters have passed the measure that will impose strict requirements on counties to spend on housing and drug treatment programs to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

California’s mental health support centers reeling from budget cuts now expect layoffs

July 3, 2025 at 4:06 p.m.

Operators of mental health support lines are laying off staff and ceasing or curtailing services due to California budget cuts and a 2024 ballot measure.

Senate Bill 436 failed to advance out of California’s Assembly Judiciary Committee, the latest example of progressive Democrats’ struggle to add protections for California’s 17 million renters. (File photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters)

California lawmakers side with landlords to kill renter eviction relief

July 3, 2025 at 1:34 p.m.

The proposal would have extended an eviction grace period for tenants who fall behind on their rent.

Officials silhouetted make their way to the field during the UCLA football spring practice at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

California colleges can now pay athletes directly. Why taxpayers may foot some of the bill

July 2, 2025 at 6:10 a.m.

As part of a settlement to a class-action lawsuit, a school will be able to dole out up to a combined $20.5 million this year in payments to any or...

Construction of what will be one of the largest mass timber towers in the world at 1510 Webster St. in downtown Oakland on Aug 7, 2023. Of the 222 units 35 are designated affordable housing for households earning around 80% of the Area Median Income. (Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters)

CEQA, one of the biggest obstacles to new housing in California, gets sidelined

July 1, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

“The lion share of housing being built” in California will no longer be governed by CEQA."

Emily Longnecker, of San Fransisco, pumps gas at the ARCO station along Old Town Avenue and Moore Street on Friday, June 27, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

California climate rule tied to gas prices goes into effect

July 1, 2025 at 2:44 p.m.

No immediate hike in gas prices will occur and experts say the future impact is uncertain.

The California State Capitol, in Sacramento, as seen June 24, 2021, houses the chambers of the State Legislature, made up of the Assembly and the Senate, along with the office of the governor of California. (Photo by Jerry Rice/The Press-Enterprise, SCNG)

California lawmakers approve last-minute, sweeping rollbacks of environmental law

July 1, 2025 at 2:13 p.m.

Major changes to the CEQA include an exemption for high-tech industrial plants and other projects.

Brandon Mejia, center, shown at his 909Tacolandia pop-up, started the event after he said a 2023 hit-and-run car crash left him with severe nerve damage and unable to keep working as a chef. He shut down the events on the weekend of June 14-15, 2025, because his vendors fear LA-area immigration raids, and now he and the vendors are debating when to reopen. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Mejia)

From Southern to Northern California, restaurants are on edge over ICE raids

June 19, 2025 at 2:25 p.m.

Some food trucks, farmers markets and small restaurants are temporarily closed, while others are shielding workers and raising funds to help.

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer granted an emergency temporary restraining order to stop President Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard, Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the California State Supreme Court building in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new AI report aims to rein in potential cyber-dangers

June 20, 2025 at 12:27 p.m.

In one example, a language model from the AI company Anthropic threatened to blackmail engineers and tell their partners they cheated on them.

Auto registrations show 2.67 million used-auto sales were recorded in California through September, 8% below last year. In 2019’s first nine months, sales had risen 1% vs. 2018. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

California car buyers face 488% higher fee under this Senate bill

June 10, 2025 at 11:11 a.m.

California lawmakers from both parties say the state is too expensive. So why did its Senate vote to raise car buying costs as much as $415?

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