CalMatters

Multiple deaths of firefighters, pilots, and contractors have occurred across Colorado, Utah, and Oregon due to fast-moving fires that have burned millions of acres in the West. The Trump administration has reshaped fire fighting by consolidating crews into a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service to pursue "full suppression." Critics argue this aggressive default response could perpetuate environmental problems caused by dry fuels while demanding more resources than are available.

The California Supreme Court ruled that courts must permit electronic recordings of hearings when a certified professional reporter cannot be available. The decision challenges legal restrictions and court reporter unions who advocated for limiting recording. The ruling aims to ensure indigent litigants have access to an official verbatim record, addressing the problem created by a massive shortage of court reporters.

An extensive lobbying effort failed to keep shipping products allowed in California for craft liquor distillers, meaning the delivery of small-batch whiskey and gin to customers' homes is ending. This issue underscores how wealthy and powerful interests influence policy among lawmakers. Previously, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order allowing this shipping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trucker Gurinderjit Singh spends at least eight hours a day on the phone while hauling freight, describing this 'call of empathy' as a ritual to combat stress and social isolation inherent in his profession. While drivers are aware that it is illegal to drive while handling a cellphone and must keep one ear free, they recognize the dangers associated with distracted driving. The article notes that California lacks statewide studies or programs offering support for truck drivers' mental health issues.

Insurance is vital to renters and landlords in California because it affects rent costs, housing supply, and recovery from disasters. The story of Gil Barel after the Eaton Fire illustrates that safe recovery depends significantly on the landlord's engagement with their insurance company regarding necessary testing and cleaning following smoke exposure. These events highlight why a healthy property insurance market is essential for many state residents.

California is dismantling its healthcare system due to budget shortfalls and federal restrictions, reversing decades of progress in expanding Medi-Cal coverage. Analysis projects the state’s uninsured rate could nearly double to 15% by 2030, disproportionately affecting undocumented immigrants, low-income residents, and Black and Asian Californians.

The article details how Trump-era Medi-Cal funding cuts in California impacted healthcare providers and patients, focusing on clinics like St. John’s Community Health and collaborations with media partners to document the effects. It highlights patient struggles, provider responses, and the broader political debate over Medicaid expansion.

California voters have approved billions in state bonds over the past 25 years for schools, water systems, climate risks, housing, and infrastructure. The article questions the lack of tracking to determine if promised results were achieved years after projects began.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Nicole Dragoo as the new director of the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, ending a two-year leadership vacuum. CalMatters' investigation revealed the bureau has failed to address conflicts of interest or misconduct by fiduciaries, despite its mandate to enforce ethical standards. Examples include fiduciaries misappropriating millions from clients, with the bureau often inactive on complaints.

Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías attempted to place her mother, AnaMaria Ávila Bugarin, in a conservatorship amid a real estate dispute. Court records show Bugarin, who did not have dementia, settled the case by signing over real estate. Ávila Farías, who sits on California’s eldercare committee, faced a temporary restraining order for alleged elder abuse, and her spokesperson denied any judicial findings of wrongdoing.

A report finds that California's privatized public defense system leads to caseloads three times the recommended standards, with a 2025 example in Kings County showing a lawyer representing nearly 600 defendants. Flat-fee contracts in 24 counties incentivize minimal case work, undermining defense quality and leading to pressure on defendants to accept plea deals.

California is compared to Brazil's ECA Digital law in regulating children's online privacy. The article highlights Brazil's granular parental controls on social media features and warns against California bending to tech industry influence.

California prisons are using correctional officers and office assistants as human smoke detectors due to outdated fire alarm systems that would cost $1.5 billion to replace. The state has spent $50 million on 'fire watch' programs since 2020, with mixed expert opinions on the adequacy of this approach.

California's seed bank stores seeds for reforestation, but the state cannot replant forests fast enough to offset wildfire damage. Climate change and historical fire suppression have intensified wildfires, threatening to permanently convert forests into brush. Reforestation efforts face challenges due to insufficient seed capacity, staffing, and funding, with federal lands requiring significant attention.

Jason Zapata's experience in a Riverside County jail highlights the use of undercover agents in 'Perkins operations,' a controversial tactic where law enforcement poses as incarcerated individuals to extract information. These operations, criticized for coercion and false confessions, are widely used in California to secure murder convictions but face scrutiny for disproportionately targeting Black and Latino suspects.

Attila Colar's 2023 conviction on 44 felony charges related to a $1 million COVID benefit fraud scheme was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals due to a juror with disqualifying bias being allowed to participate in his trial. The court ruled the conviction invalid and ordered a retrial, citing the juror's inability to remain impartial after reacting negatively to Colar's claims about law enforcement bias.

California has made progress in fire prevention, but risks remain due to federal retreat and unstable funding. Recent wildfires like the Altadena and Palisades fires have caused significant damage, including loss of homes, lives, and threats to sequoias and water supplies.

Randy Villegas, a progressive college professor, defeated Democratic Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains in a primary election, advancing to face Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao in the general election. Bains, known for occasionally voting against her party, lost support due to her moderate stances compared to Villegas' progressive views. Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis continues to vote according to his conscience despite risks of primary challenges from right-wing opponents.

California's Public Utilities Commission lowered the temperature threshold from 100 to 90 degrees to prevent power shutoffs for delinquent customers during heatwaves. Two new laws address heat safety in schools, requiring heat-safety plans and education on heat illness, though critics note they lack funding for infrastructure improvements.

The California Supreme Court is set to decide whether controversial Perkins operations—where law enforcement poses as incarcerated individuals to obtain incriminating statements—are legally and ethically acceptable. Critics argue these tactics are coercive, risk false confessions, and disproportionately target Black and Latino people, while prosecutors defend them as effective investigative tools.

CalMatters investigated Perkins operations, a controversial law enforcement tactic in California jails where undercover agents pose as inmates to extract incriminating statements from suspects. David Allen, who invoked his right to silence, was convicted based on statements from such an operation and is challenging his conviction in the California Supreme Court.

California public colleges and universities are found to possess military-grade weapons like AR-15s and sonic devices, but an investigation reveals inconsistent compliance with state laws requiring transparency and public reporting. Some campuses delayed or omitted required disclosures, while others claimed exemptions for standard-issue equipment.

Therapists in California are providing mental health treatment directly to homeless individuals in encampments, addressing common conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This approach has helped patients like Jessica Scott transition from homelessness to stable housing, though access remains limited due to high demand.

A CalMatters investigation found that many California public colleges and universities owning military-grade weapons, such as AR-15s and sonic devices, are not fully complying with state laws requiring public reporting and transparency. Some institutions, including UC Berkeley, San Jose State University, and San Francisco State University, delayed or omitted required disclosures about their equipment.

The College Journalism Network at CalMatters investigated compliance with California's Assembly Bill 481, which mandates transparency about military-grade equipment used by campus police. The law requires public oversight and annual reporting, but some colleges lack key documents detailing their arsenals. Student journalists can use guidelines to assess their campus's adherence to the law.

California requires automakers to install data-recording devices in new cars to monitor emission reduction programs, part of the state's goal to phase out gas and diesel vehicles. This has created political challenges.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom claims President Donald Trump's Justice Department launched a politically motivated investigation against him, but reports indicate key federal probes began before Trump's second administration. Multiple news outlets, citing sources, report investigations involving Newsom's orbit started under the Biden administration or originated from local complaints in California.

San Diego's commercial fishing fleet, once the tuna capital with 40,000 workers, now has 130 fishermen. A Scripps apprenticeship aimed to help but only a few succeeded due to high costs, complex regulations, and competition. Some career-changers persist despite challenges.

California offers a new tool called DROP for residents to request data brokers delete their information and stop tracking them. CalMatters and The Markup are seeking public participation to test compliance with the program.

California's new budget allocates $55 million for the DMV to build a data-sharing system with a national database to comply with the federal REAL ID Act. Immigrant advocates warn this could expose undocumented residents to deportation risks, while state officials claim safeguards limit data exposure and prevent misuse.

California residents can now use a new tool called DROP to request data brokers delete their personal information and stop tracking them. Journalists from CalMatters and The Markup are seeking public help to test if brokers comply with these requests.

California voters, despite the state's blue political leanings and high tax rates, are becoming increasingly critical of ballot measures that introduce new taxes. The state's high taxation includes retail sales, personal and corporate incomes, and property values, which result in elevated property tax bills. Specific taxes on items like fuel, utilities, and medical care are also mentioned.

Los Angeles Unified superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigned amid an FBI probe into an AI chatbot contract he promoted. The district stated acting superintendent Andrés Chait will lead until a successor is chosen, while Carvalho denied wrongdoing.

California has the nation’s highest cost of living, with rents 53% higher and utilities 63% higher than the national average, contributing to the highest poverty rate. High housing costs are a primary factor in Californians moving to other states.

California, one of two states without funding for basic public defense, has established a new commission to push for state funding and enforceable standards. The commission includes legislators, public defenders, and advocates aiming to create a five-year plan addressing issues like excessive caseloads and lack of defense investigators, as highlighted by a CalMatters investigation.

CalMatters won five Golden State Journalism Awards for impact journalism, public health reporting, criminal justice reporting, education reporting, and courage in journalism. Byrhonda Lyons received the impact award for uncovering the California DMV's retention of millions in auction proceeds, leading to a proposed law requiring owner notifications. Sergio Olmos was honored for courageous coverage of immigration enforcement protests.

Gavin Newsom claims President Donald Trump has placed him on a political 'hit list' and directed federal investigators to conduct a 'fishing expedition' to find a crime against him. Newsom stated federal agents have interviewed his friends and former employees but not him or his partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, directly.

California lawmakers plan to pass a $356 billion budget that diverges from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal, with disagreements over education, healthcare, and homelessness funding. Lawmakers reject Newsom’s cuts to in-home supportive services and Medi-Cal premium increases, while proposing higher education spending and expanded childcare subsidies.

The U.S. Department of Education plans to expand federal Pell grants to short-term job training programs starting July 1, but California faces delays due to administrative challenges. The California Student Aid Commission lacks the infrastructure to implement the program by the federal deadline, pushing availability to weeks or months later. The grants aim to fund programs like automotive mechanics and IT, with federal regulations requiring graduates to earn above-poverty wages in in-demand careers.

A California law inspired by George Floyd's death transferred fatal police shooting investigations from local authorities to the state attorney general to ensure independence and speed. However, the attorney general's office has faced significant delays, with most investigations exceeding two years and some surpassing three years, leading to missed statute of limitations and no officer prosecutions or decertifications.