CalMatters

Two years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a strategy to save declining salmon. Now, tribe officials say the state is ending its support, potentially causing salmon restoration efforts on the McCloud River to die mid-stream. cal.news/4m7SUIi 📸 Xavier Mascareñas

California clocked its second-worst snowpack on record Wednesday, a potentially troubling signal ahead for fire season. cal.news/48plrn5 📸 Stephen Lam

Two years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a strategy to save declining salmon. Now, tribe officials say the state is ending its support, potentially causing salmon restoration efforts on the McCloud River to die mid-stream. cal.news/4m7SUIi 📸 Xavier Mascareñas

In an executive order, California’s governor pushed back on Trump administration moves against a California AI startup. At the same time, the governor moved to add further guardrails for the technology. calmatters.org/politics/2026/… 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

Is California's push to build more housing going to make more food deserts? @StateAffairsUS used #digitaldemocracy to discuss a bill that critics say could give anti-housing cities a tool to block development. pro.stateaffairs.com/ca/housing/foo…

California lawmakers want more restrictions on crowd-control weapons like flash bangs. Caló News used #digitaldemocracy to show how the bill’s author is taking a stand against a powerful police union that she votes in line with over 70% of the time. calonews.com/news/californi…

Just 16% of school-age kids on Medi-Cal saw an eye doctor between 2022 and 2024 for first-time eye exams, continuing vision check ups or glasses cal.news/4sNX3Um 📸 Ariana Drehsler

In an effort to put a dent in the state’s housing shortage, California is considering something unprecedented: getting into the construction insurance business. cal.news/4t1ZWRT 📸 Jungho Kim

Opinion | ... the eight top-polling Democrats seem to be in a children’s game, sitting in a circle staring at each other, waiting for someone to blink. cal.news/3PZRp2Y 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Larry Valenzuela

Opinion | This incident could have been worse. We should treat it as an opportunity to confront the growing liabilities embedded in our water system — before the next failure happens somewhere closer to home. cal.news/3PKXGj6 📝 Keiko Mertz 📸 Yuba Water Agency

California Republicans have an unusual shot of claiming an upset victory in the governor’s race this year — but to win, neither of their candidates can get too far ahead of the other just yet. cal.news/4sfdhoC 📸 Larry Valenzuela

Citing fear of authoritarianism and invasive surveillance, California lawmakers voted this week to audit the operation of joint intelligence centers where federal, state, and local agencies share information. cal.news/4bMyOyz 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

For years, a fiduciary in Ventura County has been directing her clients’ money to her husband’s law firm and health care company, all with the court’s approval. cal.news/4dSmijN 📸 David Buchan

Breaking: A federal judge rules that the Border Patrol again broke the rules in California immigration sweeps, saying agents acted “without considering or complying with law Congress enacted.” cal.news/47AyzFJ 📸 Larry Valenzuela

High school seniors across CA are anxiously awaiting word on their public university acceptances. But thousands of other soon-to-be graduates are virtually locked out. A key reason? Nearly half haven’t taken the required classes. cal.news/4bCElJt 📸 Ariana Drehsler

Green-card holders no longer qualify for loans from the Small Business Administration, eliminating a longtime source of financing for immigrants that advocates say will discourage job creation and harm the economy. cal.news/4sCXmBl 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr

Opinion | The city’s election system has opened an unusual path for Mayor Karen Bass — if she uses more of her resources to boost the signal of a fringe candidate in order to clear the field of more serious opponents. cal.news/41HdnKH 📝 Jim Newton 📸 Ted Soqui

Opinion | Newsom should be held responsible for what he did or did not do as governor, but this is just slinging mud to see if some of it sticks. cal.news/4m6FNHB 📝 Dan Walters 📸 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

California Republicans have an unusual shot of claiming an upset victory in the governor’s race this year — but to win, neither of their candidates can get too far ahead of the other just yet. cal.news/4sfdhoC 📸 Larry Valenzuela

Just 16% of school-age kids on Medi-Cal saw an eye doctor between 2022 and 2024 for first-time eye exams, continuing vision check ups or glasses cal.news/4sNX3Um 📸 Ariana Drehsler