WhatMatters

Saying it’s time for President Joe Biden to “pass the torch,” U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff on Wednesday became the highest-profile Democrat so far to publicly call for Biden to end his re-election bid.  In a statement, the Burbank Democrat — who is running for U.S. Senate — says he has “serious concerns” about whether Biden […]

In 2021, responding to reports that the state’s homeless shelters were dirty and dangerous, the state Legislature crafted a plan: It would require local governments to inspect their shelters after complaints and file annual reports on shelter conditions. Three years on, California’s cities and counties have basically ignored the mandate. A new investigation from CalMatters […]

If President Joe Biden does somehow drop out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris is very likely next in line. So after three-and-a-half years of relative obscurity and thankless tasks, the former U.S. senator and California attorney general finds herself center stage during one of the most defining elections in America’s history.  But many […]

Former President Donald Trump evaded serious injury, or death, by mere centimeters after a bullet struck his upper right ear during a campaign rally Saturday in Pennsylvania. The Republican presidential candidate pumped his fist, his face bloodied, as Secret Service agents hustled him off the stage following the shooting. But one spectator was killed, two […]

Beginning Monday, 150 households in Fresno County are expected to receive a $500 prepaid card to spend on anything they’d like — no strings attached. It will be the first of 12 monthly recurring payments those Southwest Fresno and Huron residents will receive as part of a guaranteed basic income program for low-income families.  For […]

From CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff: After abandoning plans to place a competing measure on the November ballot, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that he would campaign against an initiative to increase penalties for some drug and theft crimes in California. Newsom accused supporters of the initiative — which would roll back provisions of Proposition […]

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, California’s Democratic leaders moved fast to shore up reproductive rights: They persuaded voters to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, approved a dozen bills strengthening abortion protections and passed a law in May to enable Arizona doctors to temporarily provide […]

With temperatures rising and the state Legislature on break, summer is officially underway. That also means the state is seeing an influx in tourism, as folks from within and outside California pump money into the state’s restaurants, hotels and attractions. That’s something of a return to form. In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom touted California’s tourism […]

Amid a sweltering heat wave that began last week, several regions across the state shattered temperature records over the weekend. Palm Springs broke its all-time record high on Friday as temperatures climbed to 124 degrees. And on Saturday, cities in the San Joaquin Valley, as well as Death Valley where temperatures reached 128 degrees, broke […]

Scheduling note: WhatMatters is celebrating the Fourth of July and will return to your inboxes on Monday, July 8.  California lawmakers met into Wednesday night to finish the November ballot before heading off on summer vacation until Aug. 5. They sent voters two bond issues: $10 billion for climate programs (60-5 in the Assembly, 33-6 […]