Accelerated by the COVID pandemic, a shift by state officials toward emails and written statements is making it more difficult for journalists to be watchdogs for Californians.

After years of record California budget surpluses, Gov. Newsom outlined a plan to deal with a deficit he projects at $22.5 billion and said he can keep his big promises despite the shortfalls.

The California Legislature reconvenes with record diversity, but with several key questions and many significant challenges. A soaring homeless population. A bitter battle with the oil industry over gasoline prices.

Nearly 100 committees are sitting on $35 million in leftover campaign funds for California legislative seats and statewide offices, including one for 29th District Assembly member Mark Stone, who did not seek re-election this year. 

After manuevering for months, Anthony Rendon and Robert Rivas make a deal on who will be Assembly speaker in the next Legislature. Rendon will stay on, but Rivas will take over at the end of June 2023.

Opponents of Proposition 1 argue it would expand California abortion law to allow late-term procedures for any reason, but the measure’s supporters and legal experts dispute that interpretation.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the special legislative session will consider a windfall profits tax on oil companies, in the form of an excise tax, with revenue returned to taxpayers as rebates to offset high gas prices. 

Among the biggest beneficiaries of Govern For California, a network of local chapters — 'force mulipliers' — that amplifies its donors’ influence on legislative races, is Assemblymember Robert Rivas, who wants to become the next Assembly speaker.

Gov. Newsom and the Legislature cut a California cannabis tax, but not everyone is convinced it’s enough to stabilize the legal market. Social equity operators say the changes don’t do nearly enough to help them.

After weeks of talks, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders announce a tax relief plan that includes refunds of as much as $1,050, part of a $300 billion budget deal announced Sunday night.

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Roe decision, here are key takeaways of what to expect for abortion in California. They include the politics, more legislation, a possible influx of out-of-state patients and changes for health care providers.

On what they call Suspense File Day, legislators killed about 220 California bills on issues including education, health care, housing and workers.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats are counting on abortion rights to drive their voters to the polls. But some may still care more about crime, homelessness and inflation.

Even before a Supreme Court draft opinion to reverse Roe v. Wade was leaked, California abortion rights groups, providers and Democratic lawmakers were getting ready for a potential influx of out-of-state women.

The bill for single-payer health care in California didn’t even get a vote in the state Assembly after its author, Rep. Ash Kalra of San Jose, couldn’t round up enough support before a Jan. 31 deadline.