Under a system that has long prioritized local control for school districts. state officials now are fighting some recent board decisions regarding LGBTQ students.

Southern California school boards have been battling with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta over book bans and other culture wars in the classroom. 

Instead of the two-thirds supermajority required for local bond measures, legislators are considering a proposed threshold of  55%. Had that standard been in place in 2018, San Jose, Santa Cruz County, Berkeley, San Diego and Santa Rosa would have been granted the power to borrow a total of $2.26 billion.

Three of the biggest housing bonds in state history are bound for the 2024 ballot. But with no shortage of crises facing the state, California can only borrow so much and voters may succumb to bond fatigue.

In the past few months, a former employee of the San Jose mayor’s office sued the city for extending deadlines for responding to records requests, while Mendocino County repealed an ordinance that charged as much as $150 per hour to locate, review and redact documents.

California has spent billions of dollars in recent years to reduce homelessness, but the problem is only getting worse. Lawmakers should consider involving the private sector and repeal laws that make it too expensive to build housing.

California’s electric rates are among the highest in the country, but the three biggest power companies say low-income customers will save money under their proposed plan. Critics doubt it will work.

California lawmakers tried nine times to stiffen penalties for trafficking of a minor. The latest effort appeared to die — until a social media campaign forced Democrats to reconsider.

In an interview, Rivas offered few specifics about what might be a priority as the Legislature enters its final month of session.

Mildred García confronts a budget shortfall, declining enrollment and complaints about how Cal State officials have handled sexual misconduct allegations.

Consumers throw away more food than they need to because of confusing product labels, advocates say.

On Monday, the Assembly finished its votes on Newsom’s series of infrastructure streamlining bills, although not without reservations. Today, the Senate is expected to take its final vote on the infrastructure package, agreeing to some Assembly amendments before sending it to Gov. Newsom’s desk.

The California Nurses Association, which led the coalition behind the high-profile 2017 push for a single-payer system, has re-branded its campaign with the slogan “Fight to Win Medicare-for-All."

Corporate reports would reveal top polluters and climate-related financial risks. But companies warn about faulty data and a “gold-plated exercise” if the two bills become law.

An obscure 1910s-era labor board once regulated everything from canneries to film sets to sheep farms. Why is California trying to revive it now?

As a final California state budget is being negotiated, special interest goodies are being written into it and the dozens of related “trailer bills” that follow.