A California city tried to ban homeless shelters. It’s giving up after Newsom’s lawsuit
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:
Feds say Southern California Edison started Eaton fire, sue for damages
Federal prosecutors say faulty Edison equipment sparked the January wildfire that burned 8,000 acres. The company had already been investigating that possibility.
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 10:32 am
Breakthrough on California housing could put taller buildings in single-family neighborhoods
A powerful California construction union is no longer fighting a bill that would ease barriers to the construction of tall apartment buildings near train and bus stations.
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 8:36 am
More lighting, more wildfire ⚡️
John Muir once wrote “everything is refreshed” by a summer storm in the Sierra Nevada. But then, as now, the lightning strikes that come with them pose a perennial wildfire risk. Fires raging in the Sierra foothills have burned nearly 14,000 acres, prompted evacuations and destroyed the historic Gold Rush town of Chinese Camp. Lightning […]
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 6:00 am
Secrecy, cost overruns plague California’s billion-dollar Capitol annex project
California should audit the the Capitol annex project, examining its contracts, scope, budget decisions and financial dealings.
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 5:30 am
CalMatters created a tool to help you get your money back from the DMV. Now the agency’s copied it
The California DMV is now allowing vehicle owners to see if the state owes them money for sales of their towed cars.
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 5:30 am
California changed the way it teaches science. But test scores remain low
Nearly a decade after California revamped its K-12 science curriculum, two-thirds of students failed to meet the statewide standard.
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 5:30 am
San Mateo County lawsuit exposes California’s penchant for state budgeting tricks
The tools and tricks employed to close California's budget deficits come from an inventory of techniques developed over decades. A recent lawsuit spotlighted a strategy used in 2004.
Fri, Sep 5, 2025 5:00 am
Dozens of lightning strike fires are burning across California. A warming climate could bring more, according to new study
When lightning strikes are abundant, so are wildfires – some in remote places across the state. Scientists warn there may be more in the future.
Thu, Sep 4, 2025 12:57 pm
Will California ban companies from charging vets to secure benefits? Some say it should
A burgeoning for-profit industry caters to veterans who want help preparing disability claims. California may ban the practice, which is known for high fees that some view as exploitative.
Thu, Sep 4, 2025 10:28 amStay informed.
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