CALMatters | Mountain View 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:

CA bill addressing armed vigilantism draws swift GOP backlash

Los Angeles Assemblymember Rick Zbur says he wants to narrow the standards for justifiable homicide. Critics say he wants to make self-defense illegal. Assembly Bill 1333 has provoked a great deal of debate since its introduction in late February. In response to several states’ “stand-your-ground laws,” which permit people in certain cases to use deadly […]

Fri, Mar 7, 2025 6:00 am

An audit found California was unprepared to help vulnerable people in a fire. Five years later, lawmakers finally talk about it

Five years ago, as COVID-19 hit the state, legislators cancelled a hearing to discuss a state audit that found the state’s office of emergency services and at least three California counties weren’t prepared to help vulnerable people during natural disasters. That hearing finally took place Wednesday. It was co-led by Assemblymember John Harabedian, who chairs […]

Fri, Mar 7, 2025 5:33 am

As LA County sues Edison over deadly fire, is the state’s wildfire fund in jeopardy?

Fire investigators have not found Edison responsible for the Eaton fire — but mounting lawsuits heighten concerns about its potential liability for the deadliest and most destructive blaze since the state created a fund to prevent wildfires from bankrupting utilities.

Fri, Mar 7, 2025 5:32 am

A California union boss thought his $300K salary would count toward his pension. Here’s why it won’t

Gerry Serrano had an outsize presence in Orange County politics as a police union leader. He lost a court battle over how much of his pay should count toward his CalPERS pension.

Fri, Mar 7, 2025 5:30 am

Politicians that assail judges and lawful court rulings are not making California any safer

It may be common for an arresting law enforcement officer or local prosecutor to express their disappointment in a particular ruling or verdict, but it is irresponsible, dangerous and the last refuge of the perpetually aggrieved to publicly attack the legitimate rulings of a particular judge, much less disparage an entire body of them.

Fri, Mar 7, 2025 5:30 am

Study tells California legislators to declare war on red tape — but will they?

California needs to "facilitate new construction at an unprecedented scale" to solve housing, water and climate issues, a legislative report says.

Fri, Mar 7, 2025 12:01 am

Gavin Newsom shocks LGBTQ allies with criticism of transgender athletes

Gov. Gavin Newsom called it “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports today — a notable change in his position that thrust the Democratic governor into the center of a national maelstrom. It was unclear whether he will act on his new position as Republicans urged him to follow conservative states in […]

Thu, Mar 6, 2025 2:18 pm

Here’s a first look at CA college athletes’ NIL money

Millions of dollars for basketball and football players from private donors. Thousand-dollar deals with the Biden Campaign, the former crypto-currency company FTX and clothing brands like Crocs and Aeropostale. In a first-ever look, CalMatters’ Adam Echelman and Erica Yee obtained and analyzed California universities’ records of college athletes’ brand deals. Some records mention popular athletes, […]

Thu, Mar 6, 2025 6:00 am

El jefe de policía de Los Ángeles asume el cargo en un período de incertidumbre y de señales contradictorias

Jim McDonnell llega al mando del Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles en un momento de incertidumbre, en el que se espera que combata el crimen y mejore la seguridad de la ciudad, entre otras prioridades, mientras la ciudad se reconstruye tras los incendios mortales.

Thu, Mar 6, 2025 5:35 am

California gasta miles de millones de dólares en viviendas para personas con problemas de salud mental. ¿Llegará esa cantidad a quienes más la necesitan?

El gobernador Gavin Newsom quiere ver resultados tangibles del bono de salud mental de 6,400 millones de dólares que los votantes aprobaron el año pasado.