California cracked down on data broker LocateSmarter with the first-ever enforcement action under Governor Newsom's signature data broker privacy law.

Californians have consistently invested in new government programs. Over the past quarter century, voters have approved tens of billions of dollars in state bonds to build schools, improve water systems, address climate risks, expand housing opportunities and strengthen public infrastructure. Those investments shape daily life across our state. Yet years after the votes are counted and projects are underway, it can be surprisingly difficult to answer a simple question: Did we get the results we were promised?

The state budget cut $5.5 million for school libraries. That money pays online fees for student research materials at school libraries.

State lawmakers’ budget plan would reject or delay many of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s social service cuts. Now, the budget negotiations begin in earnest.

Though the report names six high-risk systems in use today, California state agencies have used some for several years.

California State University’s $17 million contract with ChatGPT’s maker OpenAI is up for renewal. Some students and faculty say equal access to AI is important for preparing students for the workforce. Others the implementation of AI tools has been confusing and opens the door to cheating.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan both oppose a 5% one-time tax on the state’s 200-plus billionaires, a proposed ballot initiative that is supported by all other Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

To encourage housing developers to build more homes inside factories, state government might get into the construction insurance business.

Homelessness prevention shows promising results in California, as advocates push to spread it statewide and nationally.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s new regulations will severely restrict California cardrooms’ ability to operate their most popular table games, including by outright prohibiting them from offering modified blackjack-style and other games.

California built a first-in-the-nation system to police refinery profits during price spikes, but regulators delayed it for five years.

Thousands of affordable units across California are stuck in financial purgatory, according to a new report. California lawmakers are considering a $10 billion affordable housing bond for the 2026 ballot.

In January 2027, independent medical investigations in California will be required for all deaths in custody — including those in county jails and state prisons, as well as deaths that occur during arrests.

The California Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst Office say the governor and the Legislature have created a multibillion-dollar “structural deficit,” meaning that revenues cannot cover spending.

As Gov. Gavin Newsom pressures local governments to regulate homeless encampments, many cities and counties fall short of fulfilling requirements for $500 million in new state aid.

The deal, which Newsom said would ensure "the survival of newsrooms,” was reached after Google spent $11 million on lobbying state lawmakers to drop proposals that would have forced Google to pay newsrooms for using their content.