Voices Spotlight
What Californians could lose betting on life through prediction markets
Prediction markets are becoming mainstream. But when people bet on an election or a public crisis, it becomes easier to ignore the human stakes. Read more.
Investigation
‘Psychological war’
Read our investigation into California’s expanding use of undercover stings in county jails.
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.
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
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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.
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.
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
California’s voter ID ballot measure would add unnecessary barriers to a secure system
Prop. 39 is a redundant proposal that will only make it harder for all voters to participate in future elections, argues a civic engagement advocate.
California lets teens preregister to vote before they’re 18. It doesn’t teach them how
California lets 16- and 17-year-olds preregister to vote by their 18th birthday, but only 11% do. High schools should be required to teach them how, a graduate says.
California voters have approved billions of dollars in bonds. Why don’t we track results?
Since 2000, the state has issued nearly $200 billion in bonds, but it hasn’t always measured the effectiveness of programs the bonds fund.
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
Pension boosts for California police, firefighters could spur increases for other workers
Even with higher CalPERS earnings, upping pensions for public safety employees would cost the state and local governments $4.8 billion more.
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.
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.
