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:

California’s Proposition 13 could spur innovative public schools and save lives

David Rattray, David Gordon and Bruce Fuller, LA-Unite, Sacramento Unified & UC Berkeley: The new Proposition 13 offers a chance to reinvigorate educational facilities and fund innovative schools, to invest in our long-term prospects, together.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 12:14 pm

California’s recycling collapse is about to hit home

James Strock and Winston Hickox, former California Environmental Protection Agency secretaries: One of the only remaining healthy parts of the California recycling industry is scrap-metal recycling. Now comes the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Out of the blue, the department has begun designating metal-recycling facilities as “hazardous waste treatment” facilities.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 12:00 pm

Dams at risk + Riding atmospheric rivers + Coronavirus concerns

California dams are at risk. Scientists study atmospheric rivers and climate change. State responds to coronavirus cases.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 5:45 am

Californians are free-spirited by nature. So why does the Legislature want them all to work for corporations?

Assemblyman Vince Fong: Californians are free spirited by nature. They want flexibility to support themselves and their families as they see fit. So why do the Democrats in the Legislature want them all to work for corporations?

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 5:44 am

After accident they warned about, sisters of mentally ill man blame the state — and beg governor to act

Everyone around Mark Rippee - a homeless man with a brain injury and paranoid schizophrenia — saw this coming. Nobody managed to stop it.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 5:40 am

As UC and Cal State seek new chiefs, here are their wish lists

California’s four-year university systems are both choosing new leaders whose decisions will shape not only their institutions but the future of public higher education in the state and nationally.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 5:30 am

Delayed and Confused: Will California’s election rules lead to an Iowa-style snafu?

Less than a week out from California’s March 3 primary, campaigns and election administrators here are sweating the small stuff.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 5:15 am

California getting tough on homeless?

California may be on the verge of adopting a tougher attitude about dealing with its ever-increasing crisis of homelessness.

Wed, Feb 26, 2020 12:01 am

California faces massive costs related to climate change. Oil industry must pay its fair share

Sen. Scott Wiener, San Francisco Democrat: Oil companies knew their products would cause climate change, and they responded with an unprecedented and multifaceted disinformation campaign that sowed confusion among the public and policymakers. Now, they should pay their fair share to clean the mess.

Tue, Feb 25, 2020 12:00 pm

Evan Low’s fundraising + The shifting 9th Circuit’s abortion ruling + Hard living in Salinas

Assemblyman's fundraising scrutinized by state watchdog. Family-planning ruling hits low-income women hardest. Trump judges begin to leave their mark.

Tue, Feb 25, 2020 5:45 am