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:

Going electric: California car mandate would hit mechanics hard

Who loses and who gains as California cleans up its cars? Nearly 32,000 mechanics would lose jobs by 2040 under the proposed phaseout of new gas-powered cars. Electric companies would be the big winners.

Tue, May 24, 2022 5:28 am

California needs to put its money where its mouth is on public transportation

Unless the governor and Legislature address flaws in the way the state plans for and develops public transit and rail projects, California’s ambitious climate-related goals cannot be realized.

Tue, May 24, 2022 5:25 am

Money wars: Special interests spend big in California primary

Independent expenditure committees funded by special interest groups are spending millions of dollars to make their picks in the California primary. In some races, they are clearly supporting or opposing candidates. In others, the strategy is more complicated.

Tue, May 24, 2022 5:25 am

Confusion reigns as California election season heats up

With California’s June 7 primary election just two weeks away, political campaigns are intensifying — and getting more confusing. Take this mailer circulating in Southern California, which reads, “We all want to protect the environment, increase recycling and reduce plastic waste, but adding billions of dollars in higher costs on the backs of working families […]

Tue, May 24, 2022 5:00 am

Legislature’s supermajorities spawn super sneakiness

Democrats control three-quarters of the California Legislature's seats and one aspect of one-party domination has been ever-increasing secrecy in the legislative process, especially on the state budget.

Tue, May 24, 2022 12:01 am

Sex abuse suits pouring in as state’s Catholic leaders seek relief from highest court

California has twice extended the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims, prompting nine state bishops to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to declare the law unconstitutional.

Mon, May 23, 2022 5:30 am

‘Everyone loses’: Sacramento Valley struggles to survive unprecedented water cuts

Sacramento Valley growers protected for decades by their water rights are suffering for the first time during this record-breaking drought. Wildlife refuges are struggling, too.

Mon, May 23, 2022 5:28 am

Klamath Basin dam removal needs a science-driven oversight plan

A robust monitoring program is essential to ensure the success of the project to remove four aging hydropower dams on the Klamath River. More than $450 million has been allocated, but little has been allocated to fund the science to evaluate the project.

Mon, May 23, 2022 5:25 am

Sky-high prices mute California’s economic recovery

California's unemployment rate is improving, but inflation, sky-high prices and high interest rates threaten the state's economic recovery.

Mon, May 23, 2022 5:00 am

Progressives vie with ‘mod squad’ for power in California Legislature

This year's California elections are a venue for the state Legislature's power struggle, pitting progressive Democrats against business -friendly moderates.

Mon, May 23, 2022 12:01 am