CALMatters | Almanac Online |

CALmatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media (publisher of the Palo Alto Weekly, Mountain View Voice, Pleasanton Weekly and The Almanac in Menlo Park and their websites.)

Here are the most recent stories reported by CALmatters' team of journalists:

My turn: What Oakland can teach California about gun violence prevention

Oakland, long synonymous with gun violence, is suddenly emerging as a national leader in the field of violence prevention. Since 2012, shootings are down more than 50 percent and are on pace to reach their lowest levels in decades. California leaders have much to learn from how people in Oakland came together to rewrite the violence reduction playbook.

Tue, Dec 11, 2018 3:18 pm

California AG labels Trump’s draft “public charge” crackdown on immigrants reckless—and unconstitutional

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is labeling as unconstitutional the Trump administration’s proposed rule that would block some legal immigrants from getting a green card if they’ve used—or may use in the future—public services like health care, food assistance and housing programs.

Tue, Dec 11, 2018 10:18 am

My turn: We can prevent gun violence. Here’s one way

Tue, Dec 11, 2018 8:00 am

FPPC sanctions, Trump threats, a Trekkie tax credit

California's campaign finance watchdog barks up the wrong tree, Trump threatens CA water, businesses and immigrants and Star Trek gets a film tax credit.

Tue, Dec 11, 2018 4:30 am

My turn: Gavin Newsom should embrace a digital transformation of state government

Up to this point, information technology systems have been the province of system administrators. Now, a digital transformation must be a focus of incoming Gov. Newsom. The choice is simple. California can continue its role as a lighthouse state or let others pass us by.

Mon, Dec 10, 2018 11:18 am

Water, Obamacare and a GOP shellacking

Good morning, California. “The proximate cause of 22 years of election losses are changing demographics and our inability to connect with non-white voters. … A president with an approval rating in the low 30s in your state can’t be all that helpful to you.”—Outgoing California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte to NBC News. At the 2016 […]

Mon, Dec 10, 2018 4:30 am

Time ripens for much-needed school data system

California lacks a comprehensive data system to track how well its K-12 students are learning, but that may change with Gavin Newsom's succession to the governorship.

Mon, Dec 10, 2018 12:01 am

My turn: The last time two Democrats exchanged power

It has been 132 years since a Democrat governor of California last turned over the keys to the Capitol’s corner office to another Democrat. Social and technological changes of the past 132 years have been vast. But some political rhetoric is uncomfortably similar.

Sun, Dec 9, 2018 9:00 am

Rethinking California’s electric utilities

With the state's big, investor-owned electric utilities on the hot seat for wildfire damages, maybe it's time to consider making them into fully public entities.

Sun, Dec 9, 2018 12:01 am

Weekly CALmatters 12/07/2018

Highlighting all of CALmatters' work over the past week

Fri, Dec 7, 2018 9:49 pm

State explores how to counteract end of Obamacare mandate‚ or risk a million more Californians without health insurance

California could create its own mandate or subsidies—or both—to keep up to a million people from going without health insurance, now that the Trump administration has canceled the Obamacare mandate that everyone be insured or pay a penalty.

Fri, Dec 7, 2018 4:36 pm

Weekly Walters 12/07/2018

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

Fri, Dec 7, 2018 4:46 am

School dashboards, Dieselgate power struggles, animal rights

California's School Dashboard reports, Dieselgate funds start a fight, a GOP candidate tweets and lawmakers and ferret lovers want animal rights.

Fri, Dec 7, 2018 4:30 am

My turn: How Newsom could create a new golden era for higher education

Fri, Dec 7, 2018 4:29 am

CALQuiz: A Harris aide resigns, a housing bill returns, and the state works to stop floods

Thu, Dec 6, 2018 5:05 pm

New California School Dashboard paints a colorful picture—in which one in three school districts needs help

Fewer than half of California's schools got a passing grade in English on Calfornia's School Dashboard, and only about a third passed in math. The state's colorful new assessment tool, in its second year, expands beyond test scores to include graduation rates, absenteeism, college readiness and other measures, but the big picture remains grim.

Thu, Dec 6, 2018 12:46 pm

My turn: Newsom must prepare for the worst. Here’s a roadmap

The historical record no longer brackets what we can expect in intensity or duration from drought, flood, or wildfire. So we cannot move quickly enough to cut emissions from our millions of tailpipes in California, and we must change state governance, funding, and planning as necessary—no matter how difficult—to get ready for the worst.

Thu, Dec 6, 2018 11:42 am

Today’s docket: Pensions, CalSavers, Kamala Harris, YIMBYs and PG&E

California Supreme Court weighs Jerry Brown's pension reform, Jarvis sues over retirement plans for poor workers, Kamala Harris' MeToo suit, YIMBYs, PG&E.

Thu, Dec 6, 2018 4:30 am

New water deal isn’t a political certainty

Gov. Jerry Brown, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy have a deal on water in the San Joaquin Valley but its future is not certain.

Thu, Dec 6, 2018 12:01 am

A gentler, still incredibly controversial housing bill is back—with a powerful new ally

California lawmakers reconsider a controversial idea to keep cities from blocking new apartment buildings near transit. Changes make it more palatable to organized labor and the mayor of Los Angeles.

Wed, Dec 5, 2018 3:07 pm

Jerry Brown’s last stand on pension reform

The California Supreme Court is weighing a key legal precedent that could restore the generous pension formulas Jerry Brown worked so hard to tighten.

Wed, Dec 5, 2018 2:37 pm

My turn: We must build strong children

A child’s earliest months and years are critical to her or his life trajectory. We know that 90 percent of a child’s brain develops before age 5. That’s why it’s so important to invest early in our children. First 5 L.A. and First 5 organizations across the state are eager to support our governor-elect in his efforts to build strong children. Like Gavin Newsom, we know we can and should do more to build strong children today.

Wed, Dec 5, 2018 9:00 am

Newsom gets climate advice, Atkins offers ‘Trump insurance’

Gavin Newsom gets expert environmental advice, the feds estimate California wildfires' carbon footprint, Toni Atkins introduces some 'Trump insurance, wrecking levees to avert floods, a possible Newsom advisor, and a California air filter trend.

Wed, Dec 5, 2018 4:30 am

Legislature, Newsom have an ambitious agenda

The California Legislature reconvenes with stronger Democratic majorities that its leaders and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom hope to use for an expansionist agenda, leading off with a comprehensive array of early childhood education services.

Wed, Dec 5, 2018 12:01 am

Let it flow: In about-face, state breaks and shifts levees to restore natural floodplains

A growing emphasis on reconnecting California floodplains to rivers so they can absorb floodwaters is a U-turn from past reliance on levees to protect cities and towns.

Tue, Dec 4, 2018 7:23 pm

My turn: We shouldn’t have to pay for gas company’s lobbying

Southern California Gas Co.’s business model depends on selling natural gas. So while many California utilities have begun to plan for the state’s clean energy future, SoCalGas uses ratepayer money to help pay for its lobbying to undermine that future.

Tue, Dec 4, 2018 8:00 am

California’s next Legislature takes shape

California's 2019 legislative session commences, lobbyists crowd a lobby after a swearing in, a sign of the stakes, McKesson leaves, and a Hall of Famer.

Tue, Dec 4, 2018 4:30 am

On Day One, hints of California’s Democratic agenda to come

California's Democratic-dominated Legislature, which convened Monday, hinted at its coming agenda with first-day bills on issues from housing to wildfire.

Mon, Dec 3, 2018 5:52 pm

A deep blue sea of California lawmakers takes oath of office

A new Legislature was sworn in at the Capitol on Monday, with a Democratic mega-majority in both chambers. But within that huge margin is historic diversity.

Mon, Dec 3, 2018 1:26 pm

My turn: California must keep its promise to our public servants

The California Public Employees' Retirement System is building for the future and staying true to its mission of providing retirement security to public sector workers while respecting the taxpayers who benefit from their dedicated service. My hope is that everyone’s grandparents who depend on us will be able to retire in dignity.

Mon, Dec 3, 2018 8:00 am

A new Legislature, a new session

A new Leglslature arrives, Jerry Brown and Tom Steyer both move on water, California opioid deaths, Pasadena's Al Lowe passes, and wildfire recovery.

Mon, Dec 3, 2018 4:30 am

Newsom will inherit troubled bullet train project

When Jerry Brown departs the governorship, he will leave behind a barely-started, financially and managerially challenged bullet train project. Getting on track or abandoning it will fall to successor Gavin Newsom.

Mon, Dec 3, 2018 12:01 am

Democrats won big in CA but face big challenges nationally

Ellen O. Tauscher: Democrats flipped seven congressional seats by organizing and talking directly to voters about issues that mattered most to them. Tom Epstein: Democrats cannot abandon the rest of the country. To win, they must directly engage with rural voters and focus on issues that matter to them.

Sun, Dec 2, 2018 10:06 am

Where do middle-of-the-road voters go now?

California's two major parties are becoming more polarized, leaving middle-of-the-road Californians without representation. Two new organizations, however, are trying to change that.

Sun, Dec 2, 2018 12:01 am

Weekly CALmatters 11/30/2018

Highlighting all of CALmatters' work over the past week

Fri, Nov 30, 2018 9:45 pm

Your county’s favorite? Where state props succeeded and failed across California

These maps illustrate how California counties split over the midterm ballot propositions.

Fri, Nov 30, 2018 12:53 pm

Weekly Walters 11/30/2018

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

Fri, Nov 30, 2018 4:46 am

Bauman’s exit, PG&E’s finances and fires give way to mudslides

How to think about Eric Bauman's resignation, wildfires give way to mudslides and floods across California, what happens if PG&E goes bankrupt, how blue this state is, Paul Ryan vs. Alex Padilla on California elections and the CALmatters quiz.

Fri, Nov 30, 2018 4:30 am

One lesson from Bauman’s resignation? MeToo isn’t going away

The resignation of California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman is a sign that the #MeToo story is far from over.

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 8:19 pm

CALQuiz: Women on corporate boards, the priciest ballot prop, and PG&E faces possible bankruptcy

Have you been paying attention to the latest California policy and politics news this week? Take our quiz.

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 7:00 pm

Those flipped House seats created a visible Dem wave—but big blue shifts also lurked beneath the surface

In every single congressional district that featured a face-off between a Democrat and Republican in this midterm and the last, the California electorate shifted further blue. The average Democratic gain was 9 percentage points.

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 6:39 pm

What happens if PG&E goes bankrupt?

What could happen if PG&E, which provides natural gas and electricity to 16 million people in northern and central California, goes bankrupt in the aftermath of the deadliest blaze in state history.

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 3:26 pm

California’s top bracket, and bottom rung

Patagonia founder donates Trump tax cut, private equity firms fight a CA tax hike, how California Republicans voted, Eric Bauer details and TJ Cox's win.

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 4:30 am

Legislators spared from living in their districts

The Legislature has now made it quasi- legal for state legislators to live outside their districts and one who had been prosecuted has been pardoned by Gov. Jerry Brown

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 12:01 am

Why bother? Many Republicans skipped voting when their option was Dem or Dem

The data shows how California's top-two primary left GOP voters with few good options—or an option they couldn't stomach—in several key races.

Wed, Nov 28, 2018 7:21 pm

My turn: What Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom can be

Earthquakes, floods, mega-fires, a recession and other unforeseen events can disrupt the best-laid plans of any California governor. Potential disasters aside, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom should hit the ground running. Here are five policy initiatives for him to consider:

Wed, Nov 28, 2018 2:37 pm

By the numbers: Migrants, online Black Friday taxes and the CA GOP

Troops and migrants at the California border, online sales taxes soon to be collected, California's dwindling Republican Party, artificial intelligence, scamming seniors and suspect supplements.

Wed, Nov 28, 2018 4:30 am

Democrats control California, but are fragmenting

Democrats enjoy political control of California, but are splitting into three factions that struggle for power within the party.

Wed, Nov 28, 2018 12:01 am

Whiter, poorer, Trumpier: the new Republican California

The midterm elections whittled away all the purple sections of the state now represented by the GOP, leaving only the bleeding-red core.

Tue, Nov 27, 2018 6:18 pm

The latest rip-off risk for elderly homeowners? Clean energy loans

Lenders are selling seniors on the idea of home renovation work; sometimes homeowners don’t realize they’ve taken on debt until it’s too late.

Tue, Nov 27, 2018 2:51 pm

California's campaign finance watchdog barks up the wrong tree, Trump threatens CA water, businesses and immigrants and Star Trek gets a film tax credit.

Up to this point, information technology systems have been the province of system administrators. Now, a digital transformation must be a focus of incoming Gov. Newsom. The choice is simple. California can continue its role as a lighthouse state or let others pass us by.

California lacks a comprehensive data system to track how well its K-12 students are learning, but that may change with Gavin Newsom's succession to the governorship.

It has been 132 years since a Democrat governor of California last turned over the keys to the Capitol’s corner office to another Democrat. Social and technological changes of the past 132 years have been vast. But some political rhetoric is uncomfortably similar.

With the state's big, investor-owned electric utilities on the hot seat for wildfire damages, maybe it's time to consider making them into fully public entities.

Highlighting all of CALmatters' work over the past week

California could create its own mandate or subsidies—or both—to keep up to a million people from going without health insurance, now that the Trump administration has canceled the Obamacare mandate that everyone be insured or pay a penalty.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

California's School Dashboard reports, Dieselgate funds start a fight, a GOP candidate tweets and lawmakers and ferret lovers want animal rights.

California Supreme Court weighs Jerry Brown's pension reform, Jarvis sues over retirement plans for poor workers, Kamala Harris' MeToo suit, YIMBYs, PG&E.

Gov. Jerry Brown, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy have a deal on water in the San Joaquin Valley but its future is not certain.

California lawmakers reconsider a controversial idea to keep cities from blocking new apartment buildings near transit. Changes make it more palatable to organized labor and the mayor of Los Angeles.

The California Supreme Court is weighing a key legal precedent that could restore the generous pension formulas Jerry Brown worked so hard to tighten.

Gavin Newsom gets expert environmental advice, the feds estimate California wildfires' carbon footprint, Toni Atkins introduces some 'Trump insurance, wrecking levees to avert floods, a possible Newsom advisor, and a California air filter trend.

The California Legislature reconvenes with stronger Democratic majorities that its leaders and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom hope to use for an expansionist agenda, leading off with a comprehensive array of early childhood education services.

A growing emphasis on reconnecting California floodplains to rivers so they can absorb floodwaters is a U-turn from past reliance on levees to protect cities and towns.

Southern California Gas Co.’s business model depends on selling natural gas. So while many California utilities have begun to plan for the state’s clean energy future, SoCalGas uses ratepayer money to help pay for its lobbying to undermine that future.

California's 2019 legislative session commences, lobbyists crowd a lobby after a swearing in, a sign of the stakes, McKesson leaves, and a Hall of Famer.

California's Democratic-dominated Legislature, which convened Monday, hinted at its coming agenda with first-day bills on issues from housing to wildfire.

A new Legislature was sworn in at the Capitol on Monday, with a Democratic mega-majority in both chambers. But within that huge margin is historic diversity.

A new Leglslature arrives, Jerry Brown and Tom Steyer both move on water, California opioid deaths, Pasadena's Al Lowe passes, and wildfire recovery.

When Jerry Brown departs the governorship, he will leave behind a barely-started, financially and managerially challenged bullet train project. Getting on track or abandoning it will fall to successor Gavin Newsom.

California's two major parties are becoming more polarized, leaving middle-of-the-road Californians without representation. Two new organizations, however, are trying to change that.

Highlighting all of CALmatters' work over the past week

These maps illustrate how California counties split over the midterm ballot propositions.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

How to think about Eric Bauman's resignation, wildfires give way to mudslides and floods across California, what happens if PG&E goes bankrupt, how blue this state is, Paul Ryan vs. Alex Padilla on California elections and the CALmatters quiz.

The resignation of California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman is a sign that the #MeToo story is far from over.

Have you been paying attention to the latest California policy and politics news this week? Take our quiz.

In every single congressional district that featured a face-off between a Democrat and Republican in this midterm and the last, the California electorate shifted further blue. The average Democratic gain was 9 percentage points.

What could happen if PG&E, which provides natural gas and electricity to 16 million people in northern and central California, goes bankrupt in the aftermath of the deadliest blaze in state history.

Patagonia founder donates Trump tax cut, private equity firms fight a CA tax hike, how California Republicans voted, Eric Bauer details and TJ Cox's win.

The Legislature has now made it quasi- legal for state legislators to live outside their districts and one who had been prosecuted has been pardoned by Gov. Jerry Brown

The data shows how California's top-two primary left GOP voters with few good options—or an option they couldn't stomach—in several key races.

Earthquakes, floods, mega-fires, a recession and other unforeseen events can disrupt the best-laid plans of any California governor. Potential disasters aside, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom should hit the ground running. Here are five policy initiatives for him to consider:

Troops and migrants at the California border, online sales taxes soon to be collected, California's dwindling Republican Party, artificial intelligence, scamming seniors and suspect supplements.

Democrats enjoy political control of California, but are splitting into three factions that struggle for power within the party.

The midterm elections whittled away all the purple sections of the state now represented by the GOP, leaving only the bleeding-red core.

Lenders are selling seniors on the idea of home renovation work; sometimes homeowners don’t realize they’ve taken on debt until it’s too late.

Index