How California draws congressional districts, and why it might change in a proxy war with Trump
LAT, SEEMA MEHTA: "The potential redrawing of California’s congressional district lines could upend the balance of power in Washington, D.C., in next year’s midterm congressional election. The unusual and unexpected redistricting may take place in coming months because of sparring among President Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Redrawing these maps — known as redistricting — is an esoteric practice that many voters tune out, but one that has an outsized impact on political power and policy in the United States."
Three people killed in mass shooting at Reno casino; police seek motive
LAT, SUMMER LIN: "A gunman opened fire Monday morning at one of Reno’s biggest casino and hotel complexes, killing three people and injuring several others before being shot and taken into custody by police, officials said.
The violence rocked Reno’s sprawling resort district and left investigators trying to piece together what happened and determine a motive for the shooting."
Former California Democratic leader plans a political comeback
Sacramentll Bee, NICOLE NIXON: "Former California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon will run for the open superintendent of public instruction’s office next year, he announced today.
The Democrat termed out of the Legislature last year after leading the lower chamber from 2016-2023 and becoming one of the longest-serving Speakers in state history."
California sues after Trump demands access to sensitive data about food stamp recipients
LAT, WENDY FRY/MIKHAIL ZINSHTEYN: "California, 18 other Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C. are suing the Trump administration to halt the U.S. Department of Agriculture from collecting sensitive information about people who receive federal food vouchers, known as SNAP.
The Trump administration told states to provide the data by July 30 or risk losing federal funding to administer the program. California receives $1.3 billion annually to distribute about $12 billion a year to 5 million residents who rely on the food vouchers, called CalFresh in California. About 13% of the state’s population receives the aid."
California’s major home insurers are likely to raise rates soon. Here’s why
The Chronicle, KATE GALBRAITH: "California home insurance companies could begin requesting rate increases within weeks, after state regulators approved a key step that will undergird new rate filings.
Insurance rates have soared in California in recent years, but insurers say they still don’t reflect the cost of doing business in the expensive, wildfire-prone state."
Civil rights work is slowing as Trump dismantles the Education Department, data show
LAT, COLLIN BINKLEY: "The Trump administration says it hasn’t wavered in its duty to protect the civil rights of America’s children even as it dismantles the Education Department. Yet its own data show the agency has resolved far fewer civil rights cases than in past years despite families filing more complaints.
The Education Department’s civil rights branch lost nearly half its staff amid mass layoffs in March, raising questions about its ability to address a deep backlog of complaints from students alleging discrimination based on disability, sex or race. Pressed on the issue in June, Education Secretary Linda McMahon denied a slowdown."
Why a new Trump policy could expel thousands of adult students from classes
CALMatters, ADAM ECHELMAN: "As President Donald Trump ramps up immigration enforcement, targeting immigrants at workplaces and street corners across California, his administration is turning its attention to adult students.
In a memo earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education said adult students without legal status must be banned from federally funded career technical education classes, English-language programs and high school equivalency courses. Adult schools offer these courses to anyone over 18 years old, including immigrants, and many school leaders say the new policy could lead to enrollment declines. California’s K-12 districts may also need to adapt since they use federal funding to offer numerous career technical education classes that teach skills such as welding and farming."
US citizen detained in Sacramento immigration raid charged with vandalism
Sacramento Bee, SHARON BERNSTEIN: " A U.S. citizen whose arrest by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers was captured on video during an immigration raid at a Home Depot store in south Sacramento was charged Monday with vandalism, federal prosecutors said.
Jose Manuel Castillo, 31, was charged with a misdemeanor count of depradation of government property, after the Border Patrol officers said he punctured a tire on a van they were using to transport undocumented immigrants arrested in the July 17 raid, a criminal complaint filed Monday in Sacramento federal court shows."
As he takes on University of California’s presidency, Milliken will lean on his experience in three other states
EdSource, MICHAEL BURKE: "When describing James Milliken’s legacy as chancellor of the University of Texas system, his supporters point to a plan that, starting this fall, allows many additional undergraduate students to attend tuition-free if their families earn $100,000 or less annually.
Milliken, who on Aug. 1 will become president of the University of California system, pushed through the policy to fully cover tuition and fees for those in-state students, greatly expanding a previous version that gave the benefit to students with families who earned up to $65,000."
UC admits more California freshmen than ever — but fewer at top campuses
The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "The University of California admitted more than 100,000 California first-year students for fall 2025 — a systemwide record — even as the most selective campuses extended fewer offers to in-state applicants.
According to data released Monday by the UC Office of the President, 100,947 California residents received offers of admission, a 7.4% increase over last year’s total of 93,990."
Under pressure, UC admits a record number of Californians; racial diversity remains strong
LAT, JAWEED KALEEM: "UC admitted its largest class of California undergraduates for fall 2025, while also maintaining a diverse student body and increasing the number of students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, according to preliminary data released Monday.
The University of California also offered admission to 17% more undergraduate international students, a group which has come under scrutiny from the Trump administration with increased vetting and visa delays."
So many reasons to stay put: What’s behind California’s frozen housing market?
CALMatters, BEN CHRISTOPHER: "The national housing market is stuck in a post-pandemic rut.
Prices and interest rates have stalled out at unaffordable highs, keeping buyers at bay. Sellers, unable to fetch the still-higher prices they want, are backing out of the market in droves. The result is a housing market stuck in molasses, with a slow down in new listings, stagnant sales and an uptick in deals cancelled at the last minute."
Despite new sales tax to reduce homelessness, LAHSA cuts back an effective path to housing
LAT, ANDREW KHOURI: "When people walked into the Downtown Women’s Center in Skid Row seeking help, the organization often turned to a lifeline.
The center enrolled people in a temporary housing subsidy designed to help homeless individuals pay rent for a limited time while they get back on their feet."
Why S.F. eviction notices are at highest level in years
The Chronicle, JULIE ZHU: "San Francisco landlords have filed more eviction notices in the first half of this year than in the same period of any year since 2019.
San Francisco’s Rent Board received 812 eviction notices between January and June of this year, more than double the 385 filed during the same period in 2024, and roughly the same as the 810 recorded in 2019. The reasons for the rise in eviction filings are complex, but overwhelmingly, it was non-payment of rent that drove the increase in notices."
He confessed to a killing at 21. Is it time for California to give him a second chance?
CALMatters, JOE GARCIA: "Nathan Gould wakes up in a California state prison cell every morning at 6 a.m. He stirs a cup of instant coffee, prays with his Bible and reflects on the day in 1994 when he killed a man in Bakersfield.
Homeless and drifting from one drug score to the next, Gould and his wife holed up with another transient in an abandoned warehouse. Gould attacked him with a knife, beat and tied him up, and proceeded to rifle through his belongings for a wad of cash he’d flashed earlier. When the man began yelling, Gould stuffed a sock in his mouth."
