CALMatters | Palo Alto 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:

Delay in school ethnic studies plan would bring more voices to the table

As Gov. Gavin Newsom weighs a deadline extension for the fraught plan, other officials say they’ll hear from some 200 districts with programs already in place.

Sun, Sep 22, 2019 9:00 am

Here’s a way to put people to work, reduce wildfires and generate electricity

Rich Gordon, California Forestry Association: California’s biomass market is ripe for expansion and offers an environmentally responsible way to reduce forest fuel loads, fight climate change, and produce renewable energy. Without leadership, however, a crucial opportunity will be lost.

Sun, Sep 22, 2019 8:00 am

Immigrants afraid of Trump’s ‘public charge’ rule are dropping food stamps, MediCal

a looming change in what is known as the "public charge" rule is sowing confusion and fear within the immigrant community, causing many people to abandon programs they need for fear of retaliation from immigration authorities

Sun, Sep 22, 2019 6:30 am

Is there a California tipping point?

Is there a tipping point at which California's negative factors cause the state to decline?

Sun, Sep 22, 2019 12:01 am

Gov. Gavin Newsom should sign Senate Bill 1 into law. Without its environmental protections, Californians will suffer

Jerry Butkiewicz, San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board member: Threats to our quality of life are very real. Clean air, clean water, the Endangered Species Act and worker health and safety are important values worth preserving. We must work together to protect California from the damaging actions of the Trump administration. That’s why SB 1 is so important.

Fri, Sep 20, 2019 12:00 pm

The Deciders: Meet the lawmaker behind new gig economy law

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat from San Diego, is among California’s more […]

Fri, Sep 20, 2019 10:31 am

All public university students should have access to health care. This bill will help

Jessy Rosales, justCARE campaign campus coordinator at the Women’s Foundation of California: Every student should be able to make the decisions we believe are best for our health, our circumstances, and our future. SB 24 would ensure the full range of reproductive and sexual health services are available to all California students, no matter where they live, go to school, or how much money they make.

Fri, Sep 20, 2019 8:00 am

Gloria Allred, #MeToo, a PG&E alliance, union wins, implicit bias, and vaping

Women's rights attorney comes under scrutiny in book on #MeToo movement. New alliance forms in battle over PG&E. Unions celebrate legislative wins.

Fri, Sep 20, 2019 3:30 am

Labor had a banner year in California — now will workers unionize?

Turning paper victories into a meaningful labor movement with more private-sector members could take work, even in pro-labor California.

Thu, Sep 19, 2019 12:52 pm

What Newsom got right and what Trump got wrong about vaping

Assemblyman Adam Gray, Democrat from Merced: Given how little we know about vapes and their link to the lung illnesses being reported across the country, it may be time to impose a moratorium on the technology as a whole, regardless of what drug it is being used to deliver. If we are unwilling to put a moratorium in place, then we must radically alter our current approach to regulating vaping technology.

Thu, Sep 19, 2019 12:02 pm