Tech interests have spent tens of millions of dollars this year on state legislative races alone. Industry advocates say they want to protect innovation from overregulation.

Ian Choudri, who has led the California High Speed Rail Authority since 2024, leaves a legacy marked by budget woes, project delays, and various scandals, including questionable taxpayer-funded trips by consultants.

After California lawmakers voted to share driver license information with a national nonprofit database, the Trump administration sought trucker records from the organization.

Polls show voters are turning sharply against data centers and several bills to regulate the facilities are advancing in the California Legislature. Utilities and tech companies, meanwhile, are spending millions lobbying state officials.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development has ordered every city and county to plan for 2.5 million new homes by 2030, but nearly all municipalities are not on track to hit their numbers.

Some California colleges revealed their military weapons stockpiles after CalMatters investigation uncovered violations of college policies and state law. San Jose State University and San Francisco State University revealed they own AR-15s even though this is not authorized by CSU policy.

Billionaire Tom Steyer is paying influencers to boost his $200 million California governor campaign. Some didn’t disclose it. A state law offers little accountability.

Thanks to one of the “Friends of Trump,” federal tax evasion charges against the bitcoin investor and entrepreneur were dismissed after he paid $49.9 million in back taxes.

Gov. Gavin Newsom had called for accountability on mental health and homelessness when he proposed his CARE Court program. What became law, however, pleased almost no one.

The state’s health insurance exchange transmitted pregnancy and domestic abuse data during a marketing campaign.

When disaster strikes, California gets federal funding to hire temporary workers to clean debris. But the jobs are tough, and some agencies struggle to manage the grants.

Trying to avoid antitrust suits, Google systematically told employees to destroy messages, avoid certain words and copy the lawyers as often as possible.

The sudden disappearance of half a billion dollars of state money meant to help community land trusts has left some housing advocates questioning California’s commitment to preserving existing affordable housing.

A CalMatters analysis shows that California’s campaign finance watchdog has sometimes taken years to resolve cases, sometimes after politicians have won election or left office.

California was nearly $2 billion over forecast in corporate tax receipts this summer, including by $844 million in July. A tax change meant to help the budget deficit helped drive the surge.

Ads connected to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and Israel’s war in Gaza brought Facebook millions.