Capitol Basement

Civility pledge

2026-03-16T10:19:14Z

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California lawyers must soon take a yearly civility oath, prompting free speech concerns

CHRONICLE, BOB EGELKO: "Starting next month, each of California’s 286,000 attorneys will have to swear each year to “strive to conduct myself at all times with dignity, courtesy and integrity” or risk losing their license to practice law. Unless, that is, the oath is found to unduly restrict freedom of speech, an argument that may find some support in the state Supreme Court, which would have the last word.

The “civility” oath was first proposed in 2013 by then-State Bar President Patrick Kelly and was required by the bar for all new lawyers in 2014. The latest action by the bar’s Board of Trustees, approved Feb. 27 and taking effect on April 1, will add the civility pledge to the oath every lawyer in California must take, when renewing their license each year, to “support the Constitution of the United States and the State of California” and “perform my duties as an attorney to the best of my ability.”"

California Congress members demand answers on deportation of 6-year-old deaf child, family

CHRONICLE, JESSICA FLORES: "Members of California’s congressional delegation on Monday called for an investigation into the recent deportation of a Bay Area mother and her two young children, including a 6-year-old boy who is deaf.

In a letter sent Monday, the congress members demanded that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State work with the family’s legal representatives to return them back to the United States through humanitarian parole so the deaf child can access their assisted hearing devices and receive medical support."

Villaraigosa’s dreams for a political comeback meet reality — again

LAT, DAKOTA SMITH: "Former L.A. mayor and current candidate for governor Antonio Villaraigosa wants voters to know that he navigated billion-dollar budgets, cracked down on violent crime and championed the expansion of bus and rail lines.

The onetime state Assembly speaker argues he’s the only Democratic candidate with the experience to do the complicated job of running California."

Former Newsom advisor received $50,000 payout after leaving state job amid federal probe

LAT, MELODY GUTIERREZ: "Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, left state service with two things: a federal corruption investigation and more than $50,000 in pay for vacation time she accrued but never took.

State payroll records reviewed by The Times show Williamson used approximately $30,000 in unused vacation time to remain on California’s payroll through Jan. 31 — seven weeks after Newsom’s office indicated she had departed — before collecting an additional $22,000 lump-sum payout for the hours she had left."

Capitol Briefs: Dems launch ‘get out’ effort

CAPITOL WEEKLY, STAFF: "His open letter asking low-polling Dems to get out of the gubernatorial race fell mostly flat, so California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks is trying something new in hopes of culling the field – math. Or more accurately, a new polling project he hopes will give said candidates empirical reasons to get out and reduce the chance of his party being shut out of the November election.

Hicks on Tuesday introduced the California Voter Opinion, Trend, & Engagement Research (VOTER) Index, a new large-sample statewide polling project he says will “provide a consistent snapshot of the California Governor’s race ahead of the Primary Election.”"

Citing Iran crisis, Trump orders Santa Barbara oil pipeline restart. California will fight it

CALMATTERS, ALEJANDRO LAZO: "The Trump administration invoked emergency powers under the Defense Production Act Friday, ordering the restart of the Santa Ynez offshore oil platform and pipeline along the Santa Barbara County coast that was shuttered after a spill released thousands of barrels of crude into the Pacific 11 years ago.

The move, which comes in response to skyrocketing fuel prices in the wake of the Iran conflict, brought an immediate threat to sue by Gov. Gavin Newsom."

Trump’s war rhetoric is coarse. It’s also heard differently, depending on the audience

LAT, KEVIN RECTOR: "In one of his latest missives on social media, President Trump complained that he wasn’t getting enough credit for “totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise.”

“We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time,” he wrote of a war that has crippled the global supply of oil, sharply increased gas prices, cost U.S. taxpayers billions, left thousands dead and wounded, and so far defied Trump’s own “short term” timetable."

Cuban leaders signal concessions to appease Trump, but also ensure political survival

LAT, PATRICK J. MCDONNELL/ANA CEBALLOS/KATE LINTHICUM: "For more than six decades, communist Cuba thwarted every destabilizing measure Washington aimed its way — assassination plots, a trade embargo, sabotage, travel bans and, most notoriously, the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, when Fidel Castro’s revolution was still young and the Cold War raging.

Now, many are wondering: Is the death knell finally tolling for the Cuban Revolution?"

Lawmakers tried to kill California’s online community college. Now it’s growing rapidly

CALMATTERS, ADAM ECHELMAN: "Calbright College seemed doomed from the start. Just months after enrolling its first students in 2019, the online community college was under fire from faculty groups, and the state Assembly had agreed to shut it down. It had “poor management,” “ineffective and inappropriate hiring,” and “inadequate” support for students, a 2021 state audit found.

Yet Calbright College managed not only to soldier on but to grow."

Which California colleges are the best investment? Here’s how they compare to other schools

CHRONICLE, HANNA ZAKHARENKO/NAMI SUMIDA: "When it comes to affordability and long-term payoff, California’s public universities are some of the best in the country.

According to a 2025 analysis by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, attending a University of California or California State University campus yields a higher return on investment than the typical public university in the rest of the country. After 10 years, the study found that a graduate of the typical UC or CSU school will see an ROI of $247,000, while it is only $178,000 in the rest of the country."

‘I loved it because I love writing’: Student filmmakers, animators strive for a spot in L.A.’s entertainment industry

EDSOURCE, VANI SANGANERIA: "In an old auto shop classroom in Hollywood High School, Mawuena Akorli zips across the room with a tripod-mounted camera in one hand and a penciled directive in the other: more black goo.

“And the secret to it is food dye and blue agave,” said Mawuena, a junior. “It’s very sweet and very yummy, but it’ll get the job done. You’ll look terrifying.”"

Education equity in California must have MLLs at the center (OP-ED)

CAPITOL WEEKLY, ALMA CASTRO: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom has released his proposed state budget, and K-12 education is a major part of it. But while the budget is discussed in terms of billions of dollars, the most important issue is not how much is spent, but how the decisions are made and for whom. Curriculum adoption is not just a purchasing decision, but one of the most significant equity decisions educators can make.

For California’s 1.1 million multilingual learners (MLLs), equity does not happen automatically but requires intentional action. While the Governor’s proposed budget appropriately elevates education as a statewide priority through broad investments and initiatives, those efforts alone cannot guarantee equitable outcomes. Generalized education funding often leaves decisions to local discretion, where MLL needs can be overlooked."

California bets on an obscure tool to replace clean air authority Trump revoked

CALMATTERS, ALEJANDRA REYES-VELARDE: "When a package arrives at your door, it has likely traveled through a chain of ports, railyards and warehouses throughout the state. All those ships, trains and trucks leave behind a trail of diesel exhaust as they go, driving some of the highest asthma rates in communities.

For decades, state and federal regulators have tried to clean that up. Now much of their authority is in doubt: the Trump administration revoked California’s authority to mandate electric vehicles and pulled back federal power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions — undermining California’s most effective tools."

California’s record-shattering heat forecast explained in five numbers

CHRONICLE, ANTHONY EDWARDS: "Unseasonable heat is set to shatter records across California this week. The hot spell will be remarkable not only for its intensity, but its duration and areal extent.

San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose and Los Angeles could all measure their hottest March temperature in modern history. Millions of people are covered by heat warnings and advisories, snowmelt is rapidly accelerating, and wildfire danger is creeping up."

California’s snowpack was already meager. Now comes an extraordinary heat wave

LAT, IAN JAMES: "The warm winter has left very little snow in California’s Sierra Nevada, and now an extreme heat wave is accelerating the rapid melt in the mountains.

The Sierra snowpack measures 48% of average for this time of year, according to state data, down from 73% of average in late February."

The Bay Area’s hottest job market right now? It’s not tech

CHRONICLE, ROLAND LI: "After Sydney Villanueva was laid off from her job as a project manager at a San Jose web design agency in 2023, she spent two years looking for new work, sending out thousands of applications.

“That’s kind of when the job market started to go down,” she said. “It got worse and worse and worse.”"

Downtown L.A. needs retail resuscitation. San Francisco’s subsidized shops offer a solution

LAT, ROGER VINCENT: "As much of downtown L.A. continues to feel dark and deserted, local businesses want the city to steal San Francisco’s secret for firing up foot traffic.

The tech mecca has slowly begun to emerge from one of the country’s deepest declines in downtown retail, in part through a program that peppered the city with subsidized pop-up shops."

Plan for 900 homes could bring transformative change to this Bay Area city

CHRONICLE, SARAH RAVANI: "A Las Vegas developer is proposing more than 900 homes on a former Coast Guard site in a large East Bay suburb — a major move in a city that has struggled to bring massive housing projects to fruition.

Developers Eddie Haddad and Georges Maalouf want to build 940 homes — 403 townhomes, 409 detached homes, 56 accessory dwelling units and 72 affordable homes — on the 59-acre site at 3295 Haleakala St. in Concord, just two miles from the North Concord BART station."

Gas gouge

2026-03-13T10:13:17Z

How the spike in gas prices is jolting California’s giant economy

LAT, LAURENCE DARMIENTO: "With crude oil topping $100 a barrel, and the average price of gas in the state approaching $5.50 a gallon, every touch of the nozzle is painful for California drivers.

Now, with the Iran war nearing its third week, the soaring costs of energy are rippling through the world’s fourth-largest economy."

California passed a law to curb spikes in gas prices. Why isn’t it using those powers now?

CALMATTERS, ALEJANDRO LAZO: "Three years ago, California built a first-in-the-nation system aimed at protecting drivers when oil markets turn calamitous. The legislature passed it. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it. He proclaimed “California took on Big Oil and won.”

Its author, then-Sen. Nancy Skinner called it a “landmark law” that “will allow us to hold oil companies accountable if they pad their profits at the expense of hard-working families.”"

A U.S. military refueling plane crashed in Iraq, killing 4. Here’s what to know

LAT, KIM TONG-HYUNG/ADAM SCHREK: "The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran crashed in western Iraq, killing four of its six crew members.

The U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely."

Dem House members say they’re in the dark about potential Iran threats to California

CHRONICLE, SARA DINATALE: "e Trump administration is keeping Congress in the dark about the war in Iran and potential threats to California, Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee said Thursday.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Castro Valley, said the administration is refusing to brief Congress, leaving him and other state leaders without any information about what the FBI “actually knows” about nonspecific threats to California and which cities could be at risk."

Get ready for California’s 2026 primary. Your questions about voting, answered

CALMATTERS, STAFF: "Where do I vote? Am I registered to vote? Does everyone get a ballot in the mail? Get the answers to your election day questions ahead of California’s June 2 primary election.

Be prepared for California’s primary: Sign up for our free election newsletter and be the first to know when we update the CalMatters 2026 Voter Guide with information on key primary races."

California sues over Trump demand for college race, test score and GPA admissions data

LAT, JAWEED KALEEM/MICHAEL CASEY: "California and 16 Democratic states are suing to challenge a Trump administration policy requiring higher education institutions, including University of California and California State University campuses, to collect data — including student grade-point averages — to prove they don’t illegally consider race in admissions.

Atty. Gen.Rob Bonta is among the state attorneys general who filed the suit Wednesday against a Department of Education rule that asks colleges to submit “the race and sex of colleges’ applicants, admitted students and enrolled students.” Bonta called the requirement a “fishing expedition” that is “demanding unprecedented amounts of data from our colleges and universities under the guise of enforcing civil rights law.”"

For 2 a.m. mental health care, Cal State explores working with an outside vendor

EDSOURCE, AMY DIPIERRO: "Jazmin Guajardo has seen students with the kind of anxiety that “consumes them” not only throughout their day, but outside the normal business hours of the campus mental health center.

“As a peer mentor, I have directly seen these impacts of mental health on student success,” said Guajardo, a student at CSU Channel Islands who serves on the California State University Board of Trustees, during a board meeting this week."

The new pillar of progressive politics

CAPITOL WEEKLY, CHRIS RAMIREZ: "There’s a wave of wealth tax proposals likely to appear on California ballots this year. Despite mounting opposition from lawmakers and some of the state’s wealthiest residents, progressives feel confident voters will approve them.

Taxing high earners has become a pillar of modern progressive politics. The slogan “eat the rich,” coined during the 18th-century French Revolution, regained popularity among progressives in 2020 — a response to growing economic inequality amid the pandemic. That phrase has evolved into calls for taxing billionaires and their corporations in the June primary and November midterm elections."

Stanford is No. 1 in nation for students reporting disabilities. Why?

CHRONICLE, LUCY HODGMAN/JACK LEE: "The number of college students who register as disabled has increased across the country, rising in tandem with diagnoses of anxiety, depression and ADHD among young people since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nowhere has that trend been more pronounced — or debated — than at Stanford University."

If the giant sequoia is dying out, why are there tens of thousands of seedlings and saplings?

LAT, DOUG SMITH: "In a Sierra Nevada canyon all but incinerated in the 2021 KNP Complex fire, a new forest of California’s beloved giant sequoias is now growing. Only not yet one that is actually giant.

The seedlings and saplings are mostly knee-high to chest-high and mixed with thickets of ceanothus and other post-fire brush growing amid the true giants that stand dead among them."

SoCal heat wave is intensifying in coming days: How bad will it get?

LAT, CLARA HARTER: "Southern California continues to sizzle under a heat advisory on Friday, as temperatures across the region remain a toasty 15 to 25 degrees above normal, with no meaningful relief in sight.

And although there will be a slight dip in temperatures on Saturday, officials warned that another round of even more extreme heat would arrive next week, bringing with it additional heat advisories and more record-breaking temperatures, according to the National Weather Service."

READ MORE -- Bay Area heat wave is about to get dramatically worse. Here is a timeline -- CHRONICLE, GREG PORTER

This O.C. city has California’s richest real estate. Why it beat out Silicon Valley gold

LAT, TERRY CASTLEMAN: "It’s hundreds of miles from the AI boom and tech billionaire class of Silicon Valley.

It maintains an image, at least in some minds, as a beachside mecca for old money, big yachts and conspicuous consumption."

Exclusive: Foreign government buys San Francisco’s ‘most iconic’ mansion

CHRONICLE, LAURA WAXMANN: "After more than two years on and off the market, one of Pacific Heights’ most recognizable historic mansions has finally found a buyer — the government of Algeria.

Public records show that the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria finalized a deal Tuesday to purchase 2800 Pacific Ave. for just under $10 million. The deal marks one of the rare occasions in recent years that a foreign government has stepped into San Francisco’s luxury housing market — and closes the chapter on the property’s prolonged sale that involved a series of price cuts."

S.F. public defender held in contempt for refusing cases. He’s not backing down

CHRONICLE, DAVID HERNANDEZ: "San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju said Thursday he plans to continue to turn down some criminal cases even after a judge found him in contempt.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman's ruling Tuesday marked the latest fallout from a rare institutional clash over Raju's stance."

Diplomatic relations

2026-03-12T12:06:27Z

Cuba is ‘ready to engage’ in talks with U.S. amid escalating pressure from Trump

LAT, ANA CEBALLOS: "Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington says Havana is prepared to enter diplomatic talks with the United States, reiterating the country’s willingness to engage even as tensions escalate with President Trump asserting that the island nation’s government could soon collapse.

“We are ready to engage with the U.S. on the issues that are important for the bilateral relations, and to talk about those in which we have differences,” Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera, who leads Cuba’s mission in Washington, told The Times on Wednesday."

S.F. judge releases man who fought with Mayor Lurie’s bodyguard, saying he was ‘violently assaulted’

CHRONICLE, J.D. MORRIS/DAVID HERNANDEZ: ""A San Francisco judge on Wednesday ordered the release of the man charged with assaulting Mayor Daniel Lurie’s police bodyguard, after viewing video of the scuffle and saying it appeared the man was “violently assaulted.”

Judge Sylvia Husing’s decision came after Tony Sheravaughn Phillips’ attorney pushed for his release while a prosecutor argued that he had repeatedly failed to appear in court in prior cases. Phillips, 44, sat next to his attorney in an orange jail suit."

The new pillar of progressive politics

What is the SRIA?

CAPITOL WEEKLY, CHRIS MICHELI: "What is the SRIA? The acronym stands for “standardized regulatory impact analysis.” For those involved in significant regulatory work at California’s 200+ rulemaking agencies, departments, boards, and commissions, you have probably heard of a SRIA being done for any “major regulations.”

Under existing law, all regulations are required to have an analysis of the potential economic impact of a regulation. Specifically, pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.3, a state entity proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal any regulation must assess the potential for adverse economic impact on California business enterprises and individuals."

Will Newsom hand Californians the bill for plastic pollution?

CAPITOL WEEKLY, JASON SCORSE: "A Financial decision is around the corner that will impact local governments, ratepayers, and our environment in a big way. CalRecycle is anticipated to finalize regulations any day aimed at implementing Senate Bill 54—the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. But disappointingly, economic benefits owed to Californians through implementation of the state’s landmark plastic pollution prevention law won’t be realized if pending regulations are adopted as is. Currently, at the Governor’s direction, the latest regulations include massive industry giveaways that threaten to leave us holding the bill to deal with the single-use plastic waste industry floods into our everyday lives.

Plastic packaging is ubiquitous in American life, wrapping most products we purchase for use in our bathrooms and kitchens, children’s toys, and take-out food. And so is plastic pollution, with tons of single-use plastics ending up in our waterways, beaches, and now disturbingly, in our bodies and bloodstreams thanks to the scourge of microplastics. Many of these tiny plastic particles come from disposable packaging that is often used momentarily and then tossed away, like single-use plastic cutlery, coffee cups and lids, and the plastic wrapping that accompanies our online purchases."

‘A Top Gun pilot like no other’: The story behind a 100-year-old veteran’s surprise Medal of Honor

CALMATTERS, DEBORAH BRENNAN: "In 1952 Navy pilot Royce Williams flew into a 35 minute dogfight against seven enemy planes during the Korean War, shooting down four before landing his badly damaged plane on the USS Oriskany.

That air battle would make military history, but only after half a century of silence and secrecy. It took the U.S. decades more to recognize his victory."

10 projects from Newsom’s mental health bond were supposed to open in 2025. That didn’t happen

CALMATTERS, MARISA KENDALL: "None of the projects expected in 2025 under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mental health ballot measure have opened, CalMatters has found, even though the governor says the bond is exceeding its goals.

Newsom promised that thousands of mental health treatment beds would come out of Proposition 1, a $6.4 billion bond California voters passed by a narrow margin in 2024. But projects in the initial round have hit delays, in some cases pushing back opening dates by two years, or been cancelled."

Charts show acceptance rates by major at every UC and Cal State

CHRONICLE, NAMI SUMIDA: "UC Berkeley's first-year acceptance rate for the fall of 2025 was 11%, ranking it among the most selective universities in the country. But that number was far higher or lower depending on the major to which that student applied. For computer science, just 6% of students were admitted, while 25% of those intending to get an arts and humanities degree were let in.

That variation in admission rate by major holds true across many UC and Cal State campuses. Some of the most competitive majors, like computer science and engineering, saw higher admission rates in fall 2025 than in previous years at many campuses, newly released data shows. At UC Santa Barbara, for example, admissions for computer science rose from 17% in 2024 to 34% in 2025."

How to fix the contamination in the Tijuana River? A new report lays out the multi-step solution

CALMATTERS, DEBORAH BRENNAN: "Authorities charged with cleaning up Tijuana River pollution should finish upgrades to wastewater plants on both sides of the border, fund operations as well as construction of those facilities, and plan for eventual wastewater reuse, a report issued today recommended.

Those are some key suggestions of the report “Tijuana River Contamination Crisis: A Five-Pillar Framework for Binational Solutions,” released today by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Prebys Foundation. Maria Elena Giner, former Commissioner of the U.S. International Boundary and Doug Liden, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official, authored the report."

Why Bay Area allergies are suddenly so bad this year

CHRONICLE, GREG PORTER: "Bay Area subreddits have been lighting up with allergy complaints since late February.

A couple living near Golden Gate Park said they sneezed for days but weren’t sick. Another city resident joked about buying stock in Kleenex due to using so many tissues."

‘We’re talking about people’s lives:’ California lawmakers grill DMV director on deadly failures

CALMATTERS, LAUREN HEPLER/ROBERT LEWIS: "The man in charge of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles finally had to face tough questions Tuesday about what his agency is doing to address an increase in road deaths in recent years.

Though he didn’t provide many answers."

What if gas hits $10 a gallon? Many Bay Area commuters say they’d keep driving anyway

CHRONICLE, RACHEL SWAN: "Grand Gasoline on San Pablo Avenue has a direct sightline to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station. But many drivers who fill up there say they wouldn’t consider taking BART — even if gas prices hit $10 a gallon.

“For me, it’s just not an option,” said Leo Sanchez of Concord, hooking a fuel nozzle into his white Chevrolet pick-up truck. He uses the vehicle for work and said he currently pays about $20 a day for gas, a figure that could quickly increase amid the ongoing war with Iran."

California’s richest real estate: Why these cities top our list without Silicon Valley gold

LAT, TERRY CASTLEMAN: "It’s hundreds of miles from the AI boom and tech billionaire class of Silicon Valley.

It maintains an image, at least in some minds, as a beachside mecca for old money, big yachts and conspicuous consumption."

Why hundreds of people in L.A. are strapping cameras on their bodies to do chores

LAT, NILESH CHRISTOPHER: "The hottest new gig-economy job in Los Angeles is performing at home to help artificial intelligence understand how humans move.

Hundreds of people from Santa Monica to Los Feliz are strapping cameras on their heads and hands as they do chores at home so bots can watch how they make coffee, scrub toilets, water plants and wash dishes."

You are what you eat

2026-03-11T10:45:53Z

Nearly 40% of California produce contains PFAS pesticides, report finds

LAT, SUSANNE RUST: "A new report shows that nearly 40% of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables tested by California regulators have residues of “forever” or PFAS chemicals, a family of compounds that can be lasting and harmful.

The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., reviewed California’s own test data and found PFAS pesticide residues on peaches, grapes and strawberries, and about three dozen other types of fruits and vegetables."

Man threatened to ‘Bruce Lee’ kick Mayor Lurie’s bodyguard, S.F. DA says

CHRONICLE, STAFF: "The man charged with assaulting Mayor Daniel Lurie’s police bodyguard last week threatened the officer moments before the security detail shoved him to the ground, saying “Bruce Lee I’ll kick your ass!” prosecutors said in court documents filed Tuesday.

The alleged threat represents the first time authorities have offered a detailed explanation for why the San Francisco police officer protecting Lurie was seen initiating the physical contact with Tony Shervaughn Phillips during the violent encounter late Thursday afternoon near the Tenderloin, which was captured on widely shared videos."

The exodus of California’s tech billionaires from the Golden State to Florida’s Gold Coast

LAT, STACY PERMAN: "Last December, a large coterie of Silicon Valley billionaires descended upon Miami to attend Art Basel, the ritzy, contemporary art fair that marks the end of the moneyed set’s yearly social calendar.

Much of the buzz surrounded the spectacle of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, among the world’s richest men, docking his 466-foot, $450-million yacht, the Dragonfly, in Biscayne Bay while he stepped ashore to view the art installations."

California’s foster care system is buckling under the weight of this unexpected cost

CALMATTERS, CAYLA MIHALOVICH: "An insurance crisis continues to rattle California’s foster care system, threatening to displace thousands of vulnerable children.

Since 2024, more than two dozen nonprofits that recruit, train and support foster parents have shuttered across 13 counties, according to the California Department of Social Services."

San Diego County sues ICE after it blocked health inspection at detention center

CALMATTERS, WENDY FRY: "San Diego County filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday alleging the Trump administration illegally blocked a public health inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center, escalating a dispute over oversight of the privately-run immigration detention facility near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The complaint seeks a court order requiring the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and private prison contractor CoreCivic to allow county health officials inside to conduct a full inspection. According to the lawsuit, ICE initially cleared county officials to enter the facility but reversed that decision when the inspection team arrived."

A team of immigrant developers created a video game to simulate the chaos of the H-1B visa system

CHRONICLE, KO LYN CHEANG: "A team of immigrant game developers created a video game to simulate the lives of H-1B visa holders amid tightening immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Called “H-1B Life,” the game invites users to play as immigrants hoping to build lives and careers in the United States."

California DACA recipient sues Trump administration over her deportation

LAT, ANDREA CASTILLO: "Attorneys for a Sacramento DACA recipient who was deported to Mexico last month have filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking her immediate return to the U.S.

Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, 42, was detained Feb. 18 during a scheduled interview for her green card application. She was deported to Mexico the next day, despite having active deportation protection through the Obama-era program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals."

California needs to streamline permits for heat pump installations (OP-ED)

CAPITOL WEEKLY, SHARON LAWRENCE: "Last summer, my old air conditioning system was on its way out, so I started looking for a replacement to keep my home cool. That’s when I learned that modern heat pumps are three to five times more efficient than gas appliances and can help households save money by providing heating and cooling in one system year-round. After weighing my options, I decided this was the best long-term investment for my home.

With available incentives and rebates, a heat pump, which can replace both my gas furnace and the air conditioner (A/C), would have actually cost less than installing a new A/C alone, and I was ready to move. But what I didn’t anticipate was how complicated the approval process with my Home Owner’s Association (HOA) would be."

Carvalho probe looms over LAUSD meeting as labor talks, charter renewal demand attention

LAT, HOWARD BLUME: "Los Angeles school officials took action on major issues Tuesday during their first public board meeting after an FBI raid of the home and office of Supt. Alberto Carvalho: denying the renewal of one of the nation’s better-known charter schools, approving four significant union contracts and passing a resolution that seeks to end business with vendors who have ties with federal immigration enforcement.

The meeting took place as Carvalho issued his first statement since the raid, asserting his innocence and expressing hopes to return to work as soon as possible."

California teachers ‘tread lightly’ for America’s 250th as they navigate competing narratives

CALMATTERS, CAROLYN JONES: "The national political climate may be polarized and combative, but California is taking steps to ensure K-12 students learn to have respectful debates, get involved in their communities and understand their rights.

The State Board of Education is poised on March 11 to add civics to the California School Dashboard, the primary accountability tool for the state’s public K-12 schools. The aim is to encourage more students to excel in their government classes, show a strong understanding of the Constitution and the foundations of democracy, and get involved in civics-related extracurricular or community activities."

California schools debate how much AI belongs in classrooms

EDSOURCE, BETTY MARQUEZ ROSALES: "When Mike Lawrence joined ABC Unified School District as director of information and technology two years ago, he inherited a set of guidelines on the district’s approach to artificial intelligence tools.

The next step was opening up the conversation to the broader education community, said Lawrence, so the district posted the draft document online and invited comments. Many people responded and continue to engage. Each quarter, the district hosts community roundtable discussions on the topic."

Proposed changes to law allowing childhood sex abuse cases mostly repeats 2025’s failed effort

EDSOURCE, THOMAS PEELE: "With the legislative clock ticking, California lawmakers are working on possible solutions to curb payouts from childhood sexual abuse lawsuits that local officials say are crippling schools and other public agencies.

But rather than proposing sweeping changes, some of the proposals being discussed are similar to those that failed last year, documents obtained by EdSource and interviews show."

Solar panel reimbursements to remain low under California appeals court ruling

CALMATTERS, MALENA CAROLLO: "A California appeals court this week sided with state utility regulators in a case seen as crucial to the spread of solar panels on the rooftops of California homes.

Three appeals court judges ruled that the California Public Utilities Commission was justified in reducing the rate utilities pay customers for excess energy the customers’ solar panels generate."

Near-90-degree heat is headed for the Bay Area. Here’s when to expect it

CHRONICLE, ANTHONY EDWARDS: "The Bay Area is about to warm up, big time.

Historically high March temperatures are forecast as early as Sunday, but it’ll be a gradual climb to get there. Wednesday will be the start."

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts, blasting lava 1,000 feet into the sky

CHRONICLE, AIDIN VAZIRI: "Lava from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano shot as high as 1,000 feet into the air Tuesday, sending ash and volcanic debris across parts of the Big Island and forcing officials to close sections of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a key highway.

The eruption began at about 9:17 a.m. Hawaii time inside HalemaÊ»umaÊ»u crater at Kilauea’s summit, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. It lasted about 10 hours."

L.A. County deputy collected paychecks after felony excessive force conviction

LAT SALVADOR HERNANDEZ: "A Los Angeles County deputy who was convicted of excessive force continued to collect a paycheck for months even though he was barred from carrying a badge in California, according to Sheriff’s Department officials and county records.

A federal jury convicted Trevor Kirk in February 2025 of a felony after he was recorded throwing a woman face first onto the ground outside a supermarket in Lancaster."

Suppressing the vote

2026-03-10T10:43:19Z

Voter ID could be headed to the California ballot. Opponents plan to make it about Trump

CALMATTERS, NADIA LATHAN: "Not long after Steve Clarke found out there was a push to require voter ID at the polls, he began canvassing for signatures in Sacramento.

Many of the residents he encountered were angry, Clarke said. He began volunteering for Reform California, the group behind the initiative, last year after feeling frustrated with homelessness and the cost of living. “They want the same things: Integrity back in our elections.”"

Iran’s threats on U.S. soil: sleeper cells, lone wolves, cyberattacks and eerie numbers code

LAT, RICHARD WINTON: "With U.S. and Israeli forces continuing offensive strikes on Iran, federal counterterrorism authorites are warning that the desperate theocracy could launch retaliatory strikes on American soil using sleeper cells, affiliated Iranian terrorist groups, lone wolf sympathizers or targeted cyberattacks.

Within days of the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28, cryptic messages were broadcast globally on a new shortwave radio frequency."

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Patrick Wolff

CAPITOL WEEKLY, STAFF: "I have twenty-five years of relevant professional experience. From 2001-2005 I worked at a major bank, where for those four years my job was to build a home and auto insurance brokerage business. Since 2005, I have worked as a financial analyst, analyzing and investing in markets and companies, including insurance.

I spent most of the year 2025 deeply studying our insurance regulations and the role of Insurance Commissioner. Then, shortly after launching my campaign, I took the time last fall to study for and pass my California P&C insurance license exam, in order to deepen my knowledge of the specifics of how P&C insurance operates in the state of California. To my knowledge, I am the first candidate ever to pass this exam during their campaign."

Cardrooms file legal challenge to new gaming regulations

CAPITOL WEEKLY, BRIAN JOSEPH: "Less than a month after California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced new regulations for California’s cardrooms, the cardrooms struck back on Monday filing two lawsuits to block their implementation.

Both filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, the lawsuits seek to invalidate two regulations that combined would significantly change how cardrooms may offer their most popular and profitable games, which the state’s gaming tribes maintain have always been provided illegally."

California cut health care for undocumented immigrants. One lawmaker wants it back

CALMATTERS, KRISTEN HWANG: "Only two Democratic lawmakers voted against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal last year curtailing health care for undocumented immigrants. Sen. Maria Elena Durazo was one them.

Now, Durazo, a Democrat from Los Angeles, is proposing legislation that would reverse many of those immigrant health care cuts and reinstate Medi-Cal eligibility for all income-qualifying residents regardless of citizenship."

When a deaf 6-year-old was deported, Rep. Swalwell sent staff to Colombia to deliver hearing aids

LAT, CLARA HARTER: "“What was the sin?” asked Rep. Eric Swallwell on Monday, decrying the deportation of a 6-year-old deaf boy and his family when they showed up for a “routine immigration check.”

The Bay Area Democrat said that his staff had traveled to Colombia to return hearing aids to the boy. According to his family’s attorney, Nikolas De Bremaeker, the boy was separated from the medical devices during the deportation process."

‘ICE stole someone here’: These signs popping up across the Inland Empire tell a story

LAT, KATRINA PORTELA: "Outside Andrea Galván’s Ontario home, two young boys stop on their scooters to watch their neighbor create signs. Galván, an art consultant and activist, is accompanied in her driveway by a group of volunteers passing stencils and aerosol paints around to one another.

“Can we join?” the boys ask."

A conversation with Sanjay Wagle of the California Association of Realtors

CAPITOL WEEKLY, STAFF: "Housing remains the hottest topic in California policy, and our guest today is Sanjay Wagle, who heads up the Governmental Affairs team for the California Association of Realtors. The Realtors’ Gubernatorial Forum was a hot ticket in Sacramento last week, and we discuss the topics raised there, and many others. And, of course we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics."

A little-known virus is spreading in Northern California. Here’s what to know

CHRONICLE, AIDIN VAZIRI: "In offices and classrooms across the Bay Area, sick days are piling up again.

But many people testing negative for COVID-19 and the flu may be dealing with something else: a respiratory virus many Americans have likely never heard of — human metapneumovirus, or HMPV."

Survey reveals almost 50% of California teachers may quit teaching soon

LAT, DIANA LAMBERT: "California teachers have slightly better morale on average than their peers in other states, but more are planning to leave the profession in the next decade, according to Education Week’s annual The State of Teaching report.

Teacher morale dipped slightly across the country this year, after some improvement last year, according to the survey of 5,802 U.S. teachers."

California to see unprecedented heat wave in coming days

CHRONICLE, ANTHONY EDWARDS: "One of California’s most startling weather events in recent memory is set to unfold over the next 10 days, a spell that could shatter records by extraordinary margins.

Daily temperature records are a near guarantee. Monthly records are likely. Highs as much as 30 degrees above normal are forecast in parts of California. The first 90- and 100-degree readings of the year might occur more than two months earlier than normal in many cities."

California can’t lead on climate while wild horses disappear

CAPITOL WEEKLY, COLETTE KALUZA: "California calls itself a leader on climate and conservation, but its treatment of wild horses tells a different story: when it comes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — a bedrock environmental safeguard — the state is letting these herds wither away.

I have documented federal helicopter-driven roundups across the West for years and worked inside courtrooms and publicâ€‘lands planning processes. From that experience, I have seen how often wild horses are left out of the picture. When agencies treat these herds as afterthoughts, NEPA’s promise of informed, transparent decisionâ€‘making collapses and clears the way for removal and development."

‘Smells like swamp’: This Wine Country town is fed up with brown tap water

CHRONICLE, JULIE JOHNSON: "In the heart of Napa Valley, St. Helena is home to world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, a historic stone-and-brick downtown and, to locals at least, brown tap water.

Some days, clear water flows from the taps in this city of about 5,250 residents between Napa and Calistoga. But other days, some residents say the water looks more like beer or Chardonnay but with less appealing attributes: Silty. Frothy. Stinky."

What soaring gas prices mean for California’s EV market

LAT, CAROLINE PETROW-COHEN/BIANCA BEGERT: "It has been a bumpy road for the electric vehicle market as declining federal support and plateauing public interest have eaten away at sales.

But EV sellers could soon receive a boost from an unexpected source: The war in Iran is pushing up gas prices."

Homeless mortality is down in L.A. County for the first time in a decade

LAT, DOUG SMITH: "For the first time in the decade that homeless mortality has been tracked in Los Angeles County, fewer people have died on the streets and in shelters, the Department of Public Health reported Tuesday.

A sharp decrease in overdose deaths drove a decline of 10% in the rate of homeless deaths from all causes in 2024, the most recent year of data analyzed by the county."

First look at plans to turn S.F. railyard into high-rise neighborhood with thousands of homes

CHRONICLE, J.K. DINEEN/LAURA WAXMANN: "The owner of the Caltrain railyards at the junction of Mission Bay and the South of Market in San Francisco is slated to file an application Tuesday for a development proposal that would turn the 20-acre property into a dense high-rise neighborhood with a new Caltrain station below an 850-foot skyscraper, thousands of homes and millions of square feet of commercial space.

Prologis, the property owner, is proposing a redevelopment that would total as much as 8 million square feet, with as many as 2,500 housing units and four million square feet of commercial space. It calls for the tower on the corner of Fourth and King Streets, and another high-rise at Seventh and King streets."

L.A.’s eviction defense program up in the air amid battle with city attorney

LAT, NOAH GOLDBERG: "The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles routinely sues the city — and wins.

In the last two months, the nonprofit has notched victories in three lawsuits over the city’s handling of the homelessness crisis."

Post-redistricting clamber

2026-03-09T09:57:10Z

Candidates scramble, one quits, after redistricting shakes up California’s congressional races

LAT, NICOLE NIXON: "Two years after Huntington Beach residents voted to effectively ban Pride flags from being displayed on city property, the conservative coastal city could be represented by a gay member of Congress and outspoken critic of President Trump — Rep. Robert Garcia.

That twist of fate came after last year’s unprecedented mid-decade rejiggering of California’s congressional districts."

Khamenei’s son is selected as Iran’s supreme leader; 7th U.S. service member killed

LAT, ANA EBALLOS/KEVIN RECTOR: "The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran entered its ninth day Sunday with no clear path toward de-escalation, as the U.S. announced a seventh American service member had been killed and Iranian state TV reported the selection of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son as his successor.

Meanwhile, the price of oil surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in 3½ years."

READ MORE -- Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping -- LAT, ALEX VEIGA/ELAINE KURTENBACH; ‘What is the mission?’ With Iran, California military families fear another ‘forever war’ -- LAT, ALE WIGGLESWORTH/HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS/HANNAH FRY

The field is set: Meet the candidates officially running for California governor

CALMATTERS, YUE STELLA YU: "It’s official: Eight Democrats and two Republicans say they have filed paperwork for the June 2 primary ballot in the California governor’s race, setting up a wide-open contest in which two Republicans who have consistently led in polls could shut out all other Democrats.

Here are the 10 candidates:"

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa to retire rather than run in redrawn San Diego district

CALMATTERS, NADIA LATHAN: "Longtime Republican Rep. Darrell Issa will not seek reelection, he announced Friday.

His decision comes four months after his San Diego-area congressional district was redrawn to favor Democrats, and shortly after San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican, filed papers to run in the same district."

Newsom’s fight with Trump and RFK Jr. on public health

LAT, ANGELA HART: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom has positioned himself as a national public health leader by staking out science-backed policies in contrast with the Trump administration.

After Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez for refusing what her lawyers called “the dangerous politicization of science,” Newsom hired her to help modernize California’s public health system. He also gave a job to Debra Houry, the agency’s former chief science and medical officer, who had resigned in protest hours after Monarez’s firing."

Special Episode: Housing – Innovations and New Ideas (PODCAST)

CAPITOL WEEKLY, STAFF: "This Special Episode of the Capitol Weekly Podcast was recorded live at A Conference on Housing, which was held in Sacramento on Tuesday, February 24, 2026."

It was John Wayne’s political club. Now it’s spending millions on online influence

CALMATTERS, COLIN LECHER: "A conservative organization with decades of influence in California has quietly turned attention, and millions of dollars, to a national initiative of right-leaning news operations, records show.

The Lincoln Club was established in the early 1960s by a group of California business leaders. Since then, it’s been a quiet but formidable force in state and local politics, pushing right-leaning causes and candidates."

California governor pushes for permanent state funding of community schools

EDSOURCE, LASHERICA THORNTON: "In late February, students at Coarsegold Elementary School in Madera County roamed around a classroom that’s like no other on campus.

One student jumped on a mini-trampoline, releasing pent-up energy. Others settled into a rocking chair or on beanbags to read books. Another wore headphones as she constructed blocks."

California lawsuit asks judge to halt billions for school repairs until state commits to grant it equitably

EDSOURCE, JOHN FENSTERWALD: "Attorneys for parents and students in school districts with unsafe, unhealthy and inadequate facilities that say they can’t afford to fix asked the Alameda County Superior Court on Friday to freeze $3 billion in state funding for building repairs until the court has ruled on their lawsuit challenging the state’s funding system.

The motion for an injunction argues that the state’s funding formula “shortchanges” property-poor districts, condemning children to subpar school buildings."

Teachers in East Bay school district to strike Monday

CHRONICLE, DAVID HERNANDEZ: "Dublin teachers planned to strike Monday after their union and the school district failed to reach a labor agreement Sunday.

Dublin Unified School District sites were expected to remain open on an adjusted schedule during the strike, with administrators and guest teachers planning to supervise students, according to the district. Meals, sports and special education services were expected to continue, as well."

S.F. built teachers affordable housing. But many make too much money to live there

CHRONICLE, JILL TUCKER: "City and school leaders predicted a decade ago if they built affordable housing for educators in San Francisco, teachers would come — and stay.

After several years of planning and construction, their dream became reality in late 2024 with construction complete on a 135-unit apartment complex built in the Sunset neighborhood near the beach. Following a lottery and lengthy application process, it’s now filled with residents."

Striking weather contrast to hit West Coast, with gobs of snow and record heat

CHRONICLE, ANTHONY EDWARDS: "A striking weather contrast is expected to unfold across the West Coast in mid-March as buckets of rain and feet of mountain snow are on tap for the Pacific Northwest, while true summerlike heat is anticipated in California.

Monthly temperature records may be threatened in Yosemite National Park, while Mount Rainier National Park contends with its wettest March in years."

California has 40,000 affordable housing units ready to break ground. One setback is holding them up

CALMATTERS, BEN CHRISTOPHER: "The apartment building planned on East Morris Avenue in Modesto is exactly the kind of thing that California’s political leaders want to see a whole lot more of: The project promises 44 units of affordable housing — half reserved for people without homes. It’s received zoning approval, weathered public feedback, earned the support of local elected officials and sits beside a busy bus line. Once built, the project promises on-site mental health services, job training and Zumba classes.

What the project lacks is money."

Oakland mass shooting: Slain woman was a ‘deeply cherished’ teacher, artist

CHRONICLE, ANNA BAUMAN: "A 33-year-old woman who died Saturday in a mass shooting at a bar in downtown Oakland was a local teacher and creative artist who was dedicated to living out her Christian faith, friends and co-workers said.

Latetia Bobo and a 25-year-old man were fatally shot and five other people were injured by gunfire around 3:30 a.m. at a nightclub on 14th Street near Broadway that media reports have identified as EZ’s Lounge. The Oakland Police Department has not confirmed the identity of any victim or released details about the circumstances of the shooting."

Caltrain may ban bikes with child seats. Parents say it could upend their commutes

CHRONICLE, RACHEL SWAN: "When Matt Sorgenfrei boarded a southbound Caltrain to work last week, he faced a stern warning from the conductor.

Sorgenfrei hadn’t cheated on his fare. He wasn’t barefoot or shirtless, nor was he blaring music through a loud speaker. But he did carry an item that would soon be banned from the rail system: a small e-bike with a child’s bucket seat in back."

After his crash killed a child, the DMV renewed his license – then it hid his records

CALMATTERS, ROBERT LEWIS: "Placer County prosecutors wanted any information the California Department of Motor Vehicles had on Kostas Linardos, who drove a three-ton pickup truck at high speed into the back of a sedan in late 2022, killing a toddler.

The district attorney’s office, which charged Linardos with felony vehicular manslaughter, already obtained records showing he had at least 16 traffic violations — including speeding, reckless driving and street racing — and was in at least four collisions before the fatal crash, court records show."

Where are different parking tickets most common in San Francisco? See the map

CHRONICLE, DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "If you’re a resident of San Francisco’s Financial District, Marina or North Beach, you’re the most likely to see a parking ticket adorning the cars stopped in your neighborhood, according to a Chronicle analysis.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency keeps data on the location of every parking ticket it issues. The Chronicle geolocated the more than one million tickets handed out last year into each of the city’s analysis neighborhoods. That made it possible to answer: Which neighborhoods get the most tickets — and which kinds?"