Voices Spotlight
Reform that re-traumatizes: California’s elderly parole program burdens victims, frightens the community
Under elderly parole, inmates 50 or older who served 20 years or more could be eligible for a parole hearing — regardless of how violent their crime was. Read more.
Series Spotlight
License to Kill
California’s DMV allows drivers with horrifying histories to keep driving. Too often they go on to kill. Many still continue driving. Some go on to kill again. Read the series.
HEALTH
Series Spotlight
No Deliveries
Explore why hospitals are shutting down maternity wards, what this means for parents-to-be with limited options, and whether anything can be done to protect access.
INSIDE THE NEWSROOM
What goes into our reporting on California’s biggest issues – how investigative stories come together, what challenges journalists face, CalMatters’ latest plans and more.
Nonpartisan, independent California news for all
We’re CalMatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide.
Our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential.
We are independent and nonpartisan. Our trustworthy journalism is free from partisan politics, free from corporate influence and actually free for all Californians.
We are focused on California issues. From the environment to homelessness, economy and more, we publish the unfettered truth to keep you informed.
We hold people in power accountable. We probe and reveal the actions and inactions of powerful people and institutions, and the consequences that follow.
But we can’t keep doing this without support from readers like you.
Please give what you can today. Every gift helps.
POLITICS
Project Spotlight
Digital Democracy
Check out CalMatters’ custom-built AI tool that tracks every word spoken in public hearings, every dollar donated to politicians, every vote cast and more.
ENVIRONMENT
Series Spotlight
Lake Tahoe: A tarnished jewel
Lake Tahoe is an innocent victim — but there isn’t just a single villain. This series reveals the problems plaguing this alpine treasure.
JUSTICE
Investigation
They were convicted of killing with their cars. No one told the DMV
A CalMatters investigation found that courts didn’t report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions, prompting officials to belatedly take many drivers’ licenses.
ECONOMY AND TECHNOLOGY
Tech Spotlight
Why California backed off again from ambitious AI regulation
For the third year, the state delayed AI regulations for disclosing and appealing many automated decisions.
EDUCATION
About College Beat
College Beat is produced by the CalMatters College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. Read more.
CALIFORNIA VOICES
Guest Commentary
New California law will stop sheriffs from medically examining deaths in their own jails
Many jail deaths are preventable. To reduce bias and coverups, independent doctors will investigate deaths in custody, starting in 2027.
California’s new governor must hold down clean energy costs, drive innovation
In polls voters say they want a cleaner energy future — but not if it wrecks jobs, doubles their bills or pushes out California’s middle class.
California should help neighborhoods in need ‘decarbonize,’ leave natural gas
Regulators can approve up to 30 neighborhood decarbonization zones. Will poorer neighborhoods get first shot at climate saving energy options?
We want to hear from you!
Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. For questions, please email commentary@calmatters.org
DAN WALTERS
Californians despair about high cost of living. This housing can help
Factory-built housing could bring down construction and housing costs in California, which has the highest cost of living in the country.
CALIFORNIA DIVIDE
Inequality Insights
A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.