Building homes is a top priority for California Democrats again this year. Voters could get a say
CALMATTERS, YUE STELLA YU: "California lawmakers showed historic enthusiasm for the abundance movement last year as they passed sweeping housing laws that roll back landmark environmental reviews for most urban developments and allow denser housing near transit — ambitious endeavors that would have gotten nowhere just a few years ago.
This year, housing advocates are trying to seize the moment again, particularly in the last year in office for the pro-building Gov. Gavin Newsom."
For now, Newsom’s rosy budget proposal bodes well for state worker payroll costs
SACBEE, WILLIAM MELHADO: "The Newsom administration said Friday that it does not plan to use state employee compensation costs as a means to shore up the state’s budget as it did last year when California faced a larger-than-expected deficit.
When asked what actions California might take in the event positive revenue projections don’t hold in the coming months, Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw said: “It would be premature to say what we will ultimately do, so we have to wait and see.”"
Tax laws are changing. Here’s what to know as you fill out your 2025 return
SACBEE, DON SWEENEY: "Filling out your tax 2025 tax return may go a little differently this year, tax experts said.
The One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress and signed into law July 4 contains some tax code changes, TurboTax said."
What do ‘sell by’ and ‘use by’ really mean? New California law changes food labels
SACBEE, ANGELA RORDRIGFUEZ: "“Best by,” “use by,” “sell by” and “best if used by.”
These are all labels California retailers use to show how long a food product is at its “best quality.”"
Iranian Americans in SoCal watch Iran protests with a mix of hope and ‘visceral dread’
LAT, HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS: "Tabby Refael’s messages to Iran are going unanswered.
For weeks, she has called, texted and sent voice memos to loved ones in Tehran, where massive crowds have demanded the overthrow of the country’s authoritarian government."
Many California prisoners get a second chance. A declining parole rate shows that’s no guarantee
CALMATTERS, JOE GARCIA: "Thousands of prisoners in California go before the Board of Parole Hearings each year in hopes of a chance at freedom. It’s a daunting situation that deals in high stakes for all involved.
Parole commissioners must follow legal standards while balancing questions of rehabilitation, public safety and the lasting harms caused by the crime. Convicted offenders must try to present themselves truthfully — warts and all — as their custody files and psychological risk assessments are openly discussed. Victims and prosecutors attend hearings, usually to argue against someone’s parole. Every so often, they advocate for the incarcerated person’s release."
Trump is demanding a 10% cap on credit card interest. Here’s why that’s a lousy idea (COLUMN)
LAT, MICHAEL HILTZIK: "A few days ago, President Trump staked a claim to the “affordability” issue by demanding that banks cap their credit card interest rates at 10% for one year.
Actually, Trump announced that in effect he had imposed the cap, a claim that some news organizations accepted as gospel."
Lincoln City Council refuses calls to censure Andreatta for controversial comments
SACBEE, JENNAH PEN DLETON: "Holly Andreatta’s fellow Lincoln City Council members opted not to censure her Tuesday night after a lengthy public debate surrounding the polarizing comments she made at a conservative high school club last month.
Andreatta gained national attention in December after her remarks at the school’s inaugural Turning Point USA chapter meeting at Twelve Bridges High School were published by The Sacramento Bee."
California flu hospitalizations are climbing. Here’s what doctors are watching next
CHRONICLE, CATHERINE HO: "Flu hospitalizations are increasing across California, with projections showing further rises in the coming weeks, state officials warned Tuesday — though forecasts indicate this flu season may not be as bad as last year’s, which was one of the worst in at least a decade.
“We are seeing increasing flu cases and (hospital) admissions in California,” State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan said Tuesday during a briefing with medical professionals. “It is not too late to recommend and administer flu vaccines for this season for anyone 6 months and older.”"
Families remain concerned amid pause in federal child care funds
EDSOURCE, BETTY MARQUEZ ROSALES: "Marilynda Bustamante, mother of 2-year-old Serenity, is starting her final semester as a graduate student in social work at USC.
Five days a week, she relies on child care that is subsidized by a combination of state and federal funds. The help has meant her daughter is growing up in a safe environment while she works toward earning her degree."
S.F. to expand child care subsidies as Mayor Lurie rolls out new affordability push
CHRONICLE, J.D. MORRIS: "The “affordability” mantra being touted by Democrats trying to mend their party’s frayed brand with voters has a new San Francisco proponent: Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Lurie on Wednesday announced what he called his “Family Opportunity” agenda, a new initiative to try to rein in costs in one of the nation’s most expensive cities."
Exclusive: Vanderbilt deal includes second property — an upscale East Bay site slated for housing
CHRONICLE, J.K. DINEEN/LAURA WAXMANN: "Vanderbilt University’s expansion into the Bay Area reaches beyond the school’s purchase of the California College of the Arts’ longtime campus in San Francisco and includes a prominent campus in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood that has long been slated for a major housing development.
A spokesperson for Vanderbilt confirmed to the Chronicle that CCA has “contributed” its historic 4-acre Oakland campus as part of the blockbuster deal between the two institutions unveiled Tuesday, which involves Vanderbilt buying CCA’s 4.5-acre campus in Showplace Square near Mission Bay and filling it with 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students starting in 2027."
Community college officials urge approval of blocked bachelor’s degrees
EDSOURCE, MICHAEL BURKE: "California community college officials on Tuesday urged approval of proposed bachelor’s degree programs that have been blocked, in some cases for years, by California State University.
The degrees were discussed at length during a meeting of the California Community Colleges system’s 17-member Board of Governors in Sacramento. State law allows community colleges to create bachelor’s degrees as long as the programs don’t duplicate what’s offered by the state’s four-year universities."
California must create climate-resilient state parks (OP-ED)
CAPITOL WEEKLY, RACHEL NORTON: "On New Year’s Day, many Californians participate in “First Day Hikes” in our state parks. They take in the incredible height of redwoods, the rolling surf of our state beaches, and the delight of seeing wildlife. Participants in these experiences often report using the peace and tranquility of First Day Hikes to reflect on their hopes for the year ahead.
I, too, am reflecting on the start of the new year and what I hope California’s leaders will keep top of mind as they make decisions that will impact our state parks in 2026."
National park staff are asking about citizenship status. Here’s why
LAT, KAREN GARICIA: "If you’re planning to visit one of the 11 most popular national parks in the U.S. — two of which are in California — staff might ask a question that could be disquieting: Are you an American citizen?
A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said that the question is being posed only to confirm whether the visitor will have to pay a nonresident fee — which is hefty."
L.A.’s biggest theaters have been through upheaval. It’s time to evaluate their leadership
LAT, CHARLES MCNULTY: "The Los Angeles theater world underwent a historic leadership shift in 2023 when two artistic directors of color were placed at the helm of the city’s most prestigious nonprofit companies.
Snehal Desai, the former producing artistic director of East West Players, was appointed to lead Center Theatre Group, which consists of three separate theaters, the Ahamanson, the Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas. And playwright and Oscar-winning screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney was chosen to lead the Geffen Playhouse, a more modest yet nonetheless nationally prominent venue with two stages, the Gil Cates Theater and the intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater."
‘Thrilled’: Iconic stretch of California Highway 1 is about to reopen after years of closure
CHRONICLE, GREGORY THOMAS: "A damaged section of Highway 1 in Big Sur, closed for three years, will reopen Wednesday, once again allowing people to drive through one of the most spectacular sections of the California coast.
“It’s a definite reopening, barring something unexpected happening,” Big Sur Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Gafill told the Chronicle. “For the first time in three years, there will be through-traffic between S.F. and L.A. on the Big Sur coast.”"
READ MORE -- Plan to put Great Highway fight back on S.F. ballot fails — for now -- CHRONICLE, ALYCE MCFADDEN
Scott Adams, Bay Area creator of Dilbert, dies at 68
CHRONICLE, SAM WHITING: "Scott Adams, the once enormously successful Bay Area cartoonist who built a simply drawn comic strip lampooning corporate culture into a small publishing industry on multiple platforms, has died at 68.
Adams, whose strip Dilbert appeared in 2,000 papers worldwide before his racist remarks and public turn to far-right politics led most publishers to cancel it, announced in May 2025 that he had metastatic prostate cancer. In November he said he needed a drug authorized for patients with advanced prostate cancer who had exhausted all other options, but claimed his insurer, Kaiser Permanente, had been slow to provide it. So he reached out directly to his friend President Donald Trump, whom he had endorsed in 2016."