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Home

Students without legal status have the right to attend public school. Will Trump change that?

Students without legal status have the right to attend public school. Will Trump change that?

by Carolyn Jones

NEWSLETTERS

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Get fact-based, quality reporting for free from CalMatters’ reporters on issues that matter to you.

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California cut coal from its energy supply. Why it might plug back into fossil fuels

California cut coal from its energy supply. Why it might plug back into fossil fuels

by Alejandro Lazo and Jeanne Kuang
California names the 5th state prison to close because of falling inmate population
Justice

California names the 5th state prison to close because of falling inmate population

by Adam Ashton
UC researchers are pushing back on Trump’s UCLA grant suspensions. Here’s how
Higher Education

UC researchers are pushing back on Trump’s UCLA grant suspensions. Here’s how

by Mikhail Zinshteyn
See the world-class murals changing San Quentin: ‘A piece of freedom’
Justice

See the world-class murals changing San Quentin: ‘A piece of freedom’

by Joe Garcia
10 YEARS OF IMPACT

CalMatters: Holding the state accountable for 10 years, and we’re just getting started

See exactly how CalMatters journalism has brought communities together, inspired lawmakers to create a better California and made the state more accountable to Californians.

California Voices

Immigration crackdown threatens historic housing reforms

Just as California removes the red tape, it may find itself caught in another bind: a lack of construction workers.

CalMatters Explains

  • Wildfires
  • Reparations
  • Housing Costs
  • Homelessness
  • Minimum Wage
  • Abortion Access

See more explainers

CalMatters en Español

Las políticas públicas y las leyes de California, explicadas.

Aprende Más

POLITICS

Newsom ramps up California redistricting threat as Texas weighs new Republican maps

Newsom ramps up California redistricting threat as Texas weighs new Republican maps

by Alexei Koseff

2,300 California ‘Dreamers’ are about to lose their health care coverage

by Ana B. Ibarra

Should Lyft and Uber charge more if your battery is low? California may soon ban that

by Maya C. Miller

A Trump order targets gender-affirming care for youth. California is suing to block it

by Ana B. Ibarra

Newsom wants voters to weigh in on new congressional districts in November

by Alexei Koseff

Kamala Harris will not run for California governor in 2026

by Alexei Koseff
They worked with the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now Trump could return them to the Taliban

They worked with the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now Trump could return them to the Taliban

by Alexei Koseff
Project Spotlight

Digital Democracy

Check out CalMatters’ custom-built AI tool that tracks every word spoken in public hearings, every dollar donated to politicians, every vote cast and more.

INSIDE THE NEWSROOM

What goes into our reporting on California’s biggest issues – how investigative stories come together, what challenges journalists face, CalMatters’ latest plans and more.

CalMatters: Holding the state accountable for 10 years, and we’re just getting started

CalMatters: Holding the state accountable for 10 years, and we’re just getting started

CalMatters’ Digital Democracy and CBS News collaboration wins Emmy award

CalMatters’ Digital Democracy and CBS News collaboration wins Emmy award

Nonpartisan, independent California news for all

We’re CalMatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide.

Our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential.

  • We are independent and nonpartisan. Our trustworthy journalism is free from partisan politics, free from corporate influence and actually free for all Californians.
  • We are focused on California issues. From the environment to homelessness, economy and more, we publish the unfettered truth to keep you informed.
  • We hold people in power accountable. We probe and reveal the actions and inactions of powerful people and institutions, and the consequences that follow.

But we can’t keep doing this without support from readers like you.

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JUSTICE

He confessed to a killing at 21. Is it time for California to give him a second chance?

He confessed to a killing at 21. Is it time for California to give him a second chance?

by Joe Garcia

California police misconduct records now available in public database

by CalMatters Staff

‘Freedom week’: California gun owners raced to buy ammunition after court ruling

by Joe Garcia

California may soon ban selling new Glocks like the one Kamala Harris owns

by Ryan Sabalow

Court blocks ammunition background checks in new blow to California’s gun control framework

by Nigel Duara

ICE releases deaf Mongolian immigrant after holding him for months without interpreter

by Wendy Fry
Resistance state: Tracking California’s lawsuits against the new Trump administration

Resistance state: Tracking California’s lawsuits against the new Trump administration

by Mikhail Zinshteyn
Investigation

They were convicted of killing with their cars. No one told the DMV

A CalMatters investigation found that courts didn’t report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions, prompting officials to belatedly take many drivers’ licenses.

HEALTH

She kept challenging one of California’s biggest health insurers. Then, it tried to cut her off

She kept challenging one of California’s biggest health insurers. Then, it tried to cut her off

by Jocelyn Wiener and Byrhonda Lyons

She had to fight for help with medical bills. A new California bill could make it easier

by Ana B. Ibarra

California files suit to restore Planned Parenthood funding

by Kristen Hwang

Planned Parenthood of California loses $300 million in federal funding under court order

by Kristen Hwang

Get insurance on Covered California? What you need to know about cost increases

by Kristen Hwang

California OSHA inspectors don’t visit worksites even when workers are injured

by Jeanne Kuang

Explainer

Health care in California: How the state made almost everyone eligible for coverage

Health care in California: How the state made almost everyone eligible for coverage

Series Spotlight

No Deliveries

Explore why hospitals are shutting down maternity wards, what this means for parents-to-be with limited options, and whether anything can be done to protect access.

ECONOMY AND TECHNOLOGY

California launched an AI chatbot for wildfires. It can’t answer one crucial question

California launched an AI chatbot for wildfires. It can’t answer one crucial question

by Malena Carollo

Some California winemakers don’t want tariffs on their European competitors. Here’s why

by Levi Sumagaysay

What unionization could mean for California Uber and Lyft drivers — and riders

by Levi Sumagaysay

Trump wants sensitive data about food stamp recipients. California is suing to block him

by Wendy Fry and Mikhail Zinshteyn

Debt-free at a tech job: How the powerful UC system lands students at Apple and Google

by Mikhail Zinshteyn

It’s not just about cheating. How AI is quietly eroding college students’ networks

by Tara García Mathewson

series spotlight

Internal documents reveal the story behind California’s unemployment crash

Internal documents reveal the story behind California’s unemployment crash

Tech Spotlight

California has 30 new proposals to rein in AI. Trump could complicate them

The new president’s difference approach may affect how California regulates artificial intelligence.

ENVIRONMENT

A new invader threatens California water supplies. Can the state stop its spread? 

A new invader threatens California water supplies. Can the state stop its spread? 

by Rachel Becker

Southern California Edison says it will create an Eaton Fire ‘compensation program.’ Survivors are skeptical

by Malena Carollo

Key player in California’s water wars embraces controversial pact

by Rachel Becker

To fight cancer-causing ‘Erin Brockovich’ toxin, California may give water districts legal cover

by Ryan Sabalow and Brianna Vaccari, The Merced FOCUS

California’s wind and solar projects face new federal hurdles

by Alejandro Lazo

Reined in by cost and a hostile president, California ponders next move to clean its air pollution

by Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

water watch

‘Not improving’: Lake Tahoe had one of its murkiest years on record

‘Not improving’: Lake Tahoe had one of its murkiest years on record

Series Spotlight

Lake Tahoe: A tarnished jewel

Lake Tahoe is an innocent victim — but there isn’t just a single villain. This series reveals the problems plaguing this alpine treasure.

EDUCATION

Heinous, heartbreaking — and expensive. California schools face avalanche of sex abuse claims

Heinous, heartbreaking — and expensive. California schools face avalanche of sex abuse claims

by Carolyn Jones

UCLA research grants suspended after Trump administration faulted campus for antisemitism

by Mikhail Zinshteyn

This group has one of California’s highest graduation rates. So why are they skipping college?

by Deborah Brennan

Why a new Trump policy could expel thousands of adult students from classes

by Adam Echelman

As Trump takes on education, candidates line up for state’s top schools job

by Carolyn Jones

California schools regain federal money they counted on after Trump releases hold

by Adam Echelman

K-12

Schools in this California town won acclaim for their pandemic comeback. How they did it

Schools in this California town won acclaim for their pandemic comeback. How they did it

by Carolyn Jones
About College Beat

College Beat is produced by the CalMatters College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. Read more.

CALIFORNIA VOICES

Democracy be damned: Texas and California plot dueling congressional gerrymanders

Democracy be damned: Texas and California plot dueling congressional gerrymanders

Guest Commentary

Why building more homes near transit will transform lives across California

For decades, California cities have systematically banned apartments and condos, preventing working people from living near jobs and transit systems their taxes fund.

I overcame homelessness and 30 years of addiction. Now I help others make the journey

Tommie Trevino knows how to make a comeback. He says treating mental health and emotional harm are keys to recovery for addicts.

My only ‘inheritance’ is education: Why first-generation college students strive

For many Latino students, college seems like a foreign country. Many work jobs, are food insecure and yet aim to graduate. Don’t count us out; we are the future.

We want to hear from you!

Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. For questions, please email [email protected]

Learn more

DAN WALTERS

With Kamala Harris out, who will emerge as frontrunner in California governor’s race?

With Kamala Harris out of the picture, the field remains crowded in the race for California governor. There is no clear frontrunner and at least one more potential candidate lurking.

HOUSING

California, epicenter of the nation’s housing crisis, is finally getting a housing agency

California, epicenter of the nation’s housing crisis, is finally getting a housing agency

by Ben Christopher

California affordable housing programs are on the chopping block after Supreme Court ruling

by Ben Christopher

The Supreme Court criticized California development fees. A new court ruling just upheld them

by Ben Christopher

They already live on the edge. Trump’s immigration crackdowns now threaten their housing

by Yue Stella Yu and Ben Christopher

So many reasons to stay put: What’s behind California’s frozen housing market?

by Ben Christopher

Trump’s crackdown on homelessness: What does it mean for California?

by Marisa Kendall

Homelessness

They were repeatedly ticketed because of their homelessness. What did it change?

They were repeatedly ticketed because of their homelessness. What did it change?

by Marisa Kendall, Aaron Schrank and Lisa Halverstadt

Explainer

Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high

by Ben Christopher and Manuela Tobias

CALIFORNIA DIVIDE

California food banks brace for funding cuts, and not only from the Trump administration

California food banks brace for funding cuts, and not only from the Trump administration

by Jeanne Kuang

Republicans cap student loan debt. Why that’s bad news for California medical students

by Mikhail Zinshteyn and Kristen Hwang

California’s population shrank in Trump’s first immigration crackdown. It could happen again

by Mikhail Zinshteyn

He misled the public about his last big immigration sweep. Now he’s leading the Border Patrol in LA

by Andrew Donohue, Sergio Olmos and Wendy Fry

Geologically rich but economically poor, Salton Sea communities want a say in their lithium future

by Deborah Brennan

They tried to pay their overdue rent. Their landlord wouldn’t accept it

by Felicia Mello

Explainer

What to know about California reparations: Is the state’s apology the beginning or the end?

What to know about California reparations: Is the state’s apology the beginning or the end?

by Wendy Fry, Erica Yee and Rya Jetha
Inequality Insights

A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

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