CalMatters is your nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to explaining how state government impacts our lives.

Cayla Mihalovich

California Local News Fellow

Cayla Mihalovich is a justice reporter for CalMatters. She is a California Local News fellow and a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, where she studied investigative reporting and audio storytelling. She has covered reparations, aging and incarceration for outlets including KQED, The Oaklandside, Oakland North, and others.

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Latest Stories

Politics

California’s NPR and PBS stations will cut staff and programs after funding slashed

Small NPR and PBS stations in California are teetering after Congress pulled funding from public broadcasting. Even big stations are bracing for cuts.

By Maya C. Miller and Cayla Mihalovich • July 25, 2025

Higher Education

How much education does a California police officer need? What a new bill proposes

California lawmakers could set new education requirements for police officers, but the bill has critics from all sides — including former Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who authored the state’s watershed 2021 police reform bill.

By Cayla Mihalovich and Adam Echelman • July 8, 2025

Justice

In a first, California moves toward paying incarcerated firefighters minimum wage

California sent incarcerated firefighters to battle blazes in Los Angeles this year. It's moving toward paying them minimum wage for their work in emergencies.

By Cayla Mihalovich • July 2, 2025

Justice

Hunger strike begins as California prisons hand down biggest restrictions since COVID

More than 20 California prisons shut off outside communication for their incarcerated populations under expansive restrictions that took effect this month. Some prisoners commenced a hunger strike in protest.

By Cayla Mihalovich • June 19, 2025

Justice

California Democrats give in to GOP criticism on immigrant aid, tighten rules for defense fund

California Democrats set aside millions of dollars for immigrant legal services. They're tightening that aid in a way that would deny it to people convicted of felonies.

By Cayla Mihalovich and Jeanne Kuang • June 13, 2025

Justice

California prisons have a narcotics problem. Now, more people will face canine searches

California prisons will make more use of canine searches on visitors and staff as they attempt to stem the flow of drugs and other contraband among the incarcerated population.

By Cayla Mihalovich • June 2, 2025

Justice

New Alameda County DA changes course on historic death penalty resentencing

Evidence of racial bias in jury selection led Alameda County to review dozens of death penalty cases. A new district attorney is withdrawing from that effort.

By Cayla Mihalovich • May 30, 2025

Justice

Floods exposed weaknesses in California prisons’ emergency plans. They still aren’t ready

Earthquakes, wildfires and floods all could cause problems for California prisons. A new audit says they aren't ready to quickly evacuate prisoners.

By Cayla Mihalovich • May 9, 2025

Justice

Trump cuts millions in California crime prevention grants: ‘This was a sledgehammer’

Groups that support California crime victims and attempt to reduce gun violence lost millions of dollars in grants when the Trump administration pulled funding.

By Cayla Mihalovich • April 29, 2025

Justice

California crime victim fund ordered to change course: ‘They didn’t lift a damn finger’

Ruby Marichalar couldn't get an in-person meeting after California's crime victim compensation fund denied her claim. She wasn't the only one.

By Cayla Mihalovich • March 18, 2025