CalMatters

Jason Zapata's experience in a Riverside County jail highlights the use of undercover agents in 'Perkins operations,' a controversial tactic where law enforcement poses as incarcerated individuals to extract information. These operations, criticized for coercion and false confessions, are widely used in California to secure murder convictions but face scrutiny for disproportionately targeting Black and Latino suspects.

Attila Colar's 2023 conviction on 44 felony charges related to a $1 million COVID benefit fraud scheme was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals due to a juror with disqualifying bias being allowed to participate in his trial. The court ruled the conviction invalid and ordered a retrial, citing the juror's inability to remain impartial after reacting negatively to Colar's claims about law enforcement bias.

California has made progress in fire prevention, but risks remain due to federal retreat and unstable funding. Recent wildfires like the Altadena and Palisades fires have caused significant damage, including loss of homes, lives, and threats to sequoias and water supplies.

Randy Villegas, a progressive college professor, defeated Democratic Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains in a primary election, advancing to face Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao in the general election. Bains, known for occasionally voting against her party, lost support due to her moderate stances compared to Villegas' progressive views. Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis continues to vote according to his conscience despite risks of primary challenges from right-wing opponents.

California's Public Utilities Commission lowered the temperature threshold from 100 to 90 degrees to prevent power shutoffs for delinquent customers during heatwaves. Two new laws address heat safety in schools, requiring heat-safety plans and education on heat illness, though critics note they lack funding for infrastructure improvements.

The California Supreme Court is set to decide whether controversial Perkins operations—where law enforcement poses as incarcerated individuals to obtain incriminating statements—are legally and ethically acceptable. Critics argue these tactics are coercive, risk false confessions, and disproportionately target Black and Latino people, while prosecutors defend them as effective investigative tools.

CalMatters investigated Perkins operations, a controversial law enforcement tactic in California jails where undercover agents pose as inmates to extract incriminating statements from suspects. David Allen, who invoked his right to silence, was convicted based on statements from such an operation and is challenging his conviction in the California Supreme Court.

California public colleges and universities are found to possess military-grade weapons like AR-15s and sonic devices, but an investigation reveals inconsistent compliance with state laws requiring transparency and public reporting. Some campuses delayed or omitted required disclosures, while others claimed exemptions for standard-issue equipment.

Therapists in California are providing mental health treatment directly to homeless individuals in encampments, addressing common conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This approach has helped patients like Jessica Scott transition from homelessness to stable housing, though access remains limited due to high demand.

A CalMatters investigation found that many California public colleges and universities owning military-grade weapons, such as AR-15s and sonic devices, are not fully complying with state laws requiring public reporting and transparency. Some institutions, including UC Berkeley, San Jose State University, and San Francisco State University, delayed or omitted required disclosures about their equipment.

The College Journalism Network at CalMatters investigated compliance with California's Assembly Bill 481, which mandates transparency about military-grade equipment used by campus police. The law requires public oversight and annual reporting, but some colleges lack key documents detailing their arsenals. Student journalists can use guidelines to assess their campus's adherence to the law.

California requires automakers to install data-recording devices in new cars to monitor emission reduction programs, part of the state's goal to phase out gas and diesel vehicles. This has created political challenges.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom claims President Donald Trump's Justice Department launched a politically motivated investigation against him, but reports indicate key federal probes began before Trump's second administration. Multiple news outlets, citing sources, report investigations involving Newsom's orbit started under the Biden administration or originated from local complaints in California.

San Diego's commercial fishing fleet, once the tuna capital with 40,000 workers, now has 130 fishermen. A Scripps apprenticeship aimed to help but only a few succeeded due to high costs, complex regulations, and competition. Some career-changers persist despite challenges.

California offers a new tool called DROP for residents to request data brokers delete their information and stop tracking them. CalMatters and The Markup are seeking public participation to test compliance with the program.

California's new budget allocates $55 million for the DMV to build a data-sharing system with a national database to comply with the federal REAL ID Act. Immigrant advocates warn this could expose undocumented residents to deportation risks, while state officials claim safeguards limit data exposure and prevent misuse.

California residents can now use a new tool called DROP to request data brokers delete their personal information and stop tracking them. Journalists from CalMatters and The Markup are seeking public help to test if brokers comply with these requests.

California voters, despite the state's blue political leanings and high tax rates, are becoming increasingly critical of ballot measures that introduce new taxes. The state's high taxation includes retail sales, personal and corporate incomes, and property values, which result in elevated property tax bills. Specific taxes on items like fuel, utilities, and medical care are also mentioned.

Los Angeles Unified superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigned amid an FBI probe into an AI chatbot contract he promoted. The district stated acting superintendent Andrés Chait will lead until a successor is chosen, while Carvalho denied wrongdoing.

California has the nation’s highest cost of living, with rents 53% higher and utilities 63% higher than the national average, contributing to the highest poverty rate. High housing costs are a primary factor in Californians moving to other states.

California, one of two states without funding for basic public defense, has established a new commission to push for state funding and enforceable standards. The commission includes legislators, public defenders, and advocates aiming to create a five-year plan addressing issues like excessive caseloads and lack of defense investigators, as highlighted by a CalMatters investigation.

CalMatters won five Golden State Journalism Awards for impact journalism, public health reporting, criminal justice reporting, education reporting, and courage in journalism. Byrhonda Lyons received the impact award for uncovering the California DMV's retention of millions in auction proceeds, leading to a proposed law requiring owner notifications. Sergio Olmos was honored for courageous coverage of immigration enforcement protests.

Gavin Newsom claims President Donald Trump has placed him on a political 'hit list' and directed federal investigators to conduct a 'fishing expedition' to find a crime against him. Newsom stated federal agents have interviewed his friends and former employees but not him or his partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, directly.

California lawmakers plan to pass a $356 billion budget that diverges from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal, with disagreements over education, healthcare, and homelessness funding. Lawmakers reject Newsom’s cuts to in-home supportive services and Medi-Cal premium increases, while proposing higher education spending and expanded childcare subsidies.

The U.S. Department of Education plans to expand federal Pell grants to short-term job training programs starting July 1, but California faces delays due to administrative challenges. The California Student Aid Commission lacks the infrastructure to implement the program by the federal deadline, pushing availability to weeks or months later. The grants aim to fund programs like automotive mechanics and IT, with federal regulations requiring graduates to earn above-poverty wages in in-demand careers.

A California law inspired by George Floyd's death transferred fatal police shooting investigations from local authorities to the state attorney general to ensure independence and speed. However, the attorney general's office has faced significant delays, with most investigations exceeding two years and some surpassing three years, leading to missed statute of limitations and no officer prosecutions or decertifications.

California shifted police shooting investigations to the state Department of Justice in 2021, but cases now take an average of two years and five months to resolve, with some exceeding three years. The delay risks statute of limitations expiration, blocking decertification and criminal charges, and 41 completed investigations have never resulted in criminal charges against officers. Jeanelle Couch’s family remains without closure after a three-year investigation into her son’s death by a California Highway Patrol officer.

The Trump administration's new green card rules, which initially required visa holders to return home while awaiting residency, have caused confusion among California employers and immigrants. The policy was later backtracked but remains unclear, affecting thousands of green card applicants and stoking fear in the tech sector and families.

An investigation by The Markup and CalMatters revealed that many California-registered data brokers used 'no-index' code to hide opt-out pages from search results, making it harder for consumers to delete their data. Following the report and a Senate inquiry led by Sen. Maggie Hassan, most of these brokers removed the code, though eight remain non-compliant.

The California State Assembly primary on June 2 will elect representatives for all 80 districts, each with over 400,000 constituents. Many Assembly members will be new due to retirements and term limits, making the election of challengers and potential seat flips significant. State Assembly members pass laws on issues like paid family leave, in-state tuition for undocumented students, and minimum wage standards, which can influence statewide policies.

A California bill requiring online dating apps to perform background checks on users and flag those with certain convictions advanced in the state Senate's public safety committee. The bill, authored by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, aims to enhance safety but faces criticism over privacy concerns and potential misuse.

Congress estimates data broker breaches have cost consumers $20 billion in identity theft. An investigation by Congress's Joint Economic Committee, prompted by reporting from The Markup and CalMatters, revealed that major brokers are now making it easier for consumers to opt out of their databases.

The Markup's job posting for an engineer attracted over 400 applications, many of which exhibited signs of AI-generated content, impersonation, and scams, including repeated contact information, identical resume designs, and formulaic application responses. The article highlights red flags for employers and job seekers in an era of AI-driven application fraud.

AI-generated dance videos produced by leading models failed to accurately replicate requested dances despite creating lifelike footage. Testing nine dance styles across four commercial AI models (Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, Hailou 2.3) revealed inconsistencies in appearance and movement, with about a third of videos exhibiting abnormalities.

California's new DROP tool allows residents to block data brokers from tracking or selling their personal information. The system, mandated by the 2023 Delete Act, enables users to submit requests to all registered brokers at once, simplifying a process previously requiring individual opt-outs for each broker.