Jackie, famed Big Bear bald eagle, dies
August 10, 2026
Jackie, the bald eagle who won the hearts of nest watchers throughout Southern California and beyond, has died. The Ojai Raptor Center announced that the famed eagle had died Monday morning
California
California
Fire Department report: Edison equipment started Eaton Fire
August 5, 2026
By Signal Staff The Los Angeles County Fire Department has released “initial and supplemental investigative reports” identifying the cause of the Eaton Fire that started Jan. 7, 2025, and the county’s conclusion is that Southern California
Judge holds DHS in contempt in case over LA immigration sweeps
August 5, 2026
By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos CalMatters Writers A federal judge on Tuesday held the Department of Homeland Security in contempt for allegedly slow-rolling an order to create digital copies of communications from personal
California Democrats defy Newsom, back billionaire tax
August 4, 2026
By Maya C. Miller and Jeanne Kuang CalMatters Writers California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, opposes the billionaire tax on voters’ ballots this November. So does Xavier Becerra, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate
LA County says a program meant to help people with serious mental illness is gaining traction
August 4, 2026
By Robert Garrova LAist Writer/via CalMatters After a slow start, a program that aims to bring thousands of Angelenos living with serious mental illness under court-led care has seen a spike
Two cities burned in LA fires settle YIMBY lawsuit
August 4, 2026
By Ben Christopher CalMatters Writer Homeowners in Malibu and Pasadena who saw their neighborhoods burn in the Eaton and Palisades fires last year will soon be able to build up to
Valladares joins bipartisan coalition aiming to protect entertainment industry jobs
July 24, 2026
News release State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Acton, joined 38 of her legislative colleagues in sending a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, urging them to protect
Over 148,000 mail ballots rejected in California primary
July 24, 2026
By Jack Phillips Contributing Writer Election data that was provided by California state officials for last month’s primary elections show that more than 148,000 mail-in ballots were rejected, an uptick of more
Valladares convenes health advisory committee roundtable
July 20, 2026
News release State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Acton, hosted a health advisory committee meeting last week at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Bernardino County High Desert, bringing together frontline medical professionals, health care administrators, and local stakeholders from across
Schiavo’s Sexual Predator Accountability Act signed into law
July 20, 2026
News release Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, announced that her bill – the Sexual Predator Accountability Act, Assembly Bill 2147 — was signed into law. The new law strengthens law enforcement’s ability to prosecute serial sexual
Their town burned to the ground. Should they get a pass from California’s new housing laws?
July 20, 2026
By Ben Christopher CalMatters Writer Altadena may get a reprieve from two of California’s marquee housing laws after a bill to temporarily exempt the fire-torn community sailed through back-to-back Assembly hearings. The two laws being
Election Returns, June 2 Primary (Final)
July 15, 2026
Public Health confirms measles case, possible exposures in LA County
July 12, 2026
News release The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating a confirmed case of measles in a traveler who was infectious while traveling to Los Angeles County. People
Billionaire tax, affordable housing: See the measures on California’s November ballot
July 10, 2026
By Yue Stella Yu and Kristen Hwang CalMatters Writers On Nov. 3, Californians will vote on 14 statewide ballot measures on environment, taxation, election, housing and health care. For months, interest groups sponsoring ballot initiatives
Should coastal commission get more power over rebuilding after wildfire? Some lawmakers say yes
July 8, 2026
By Nadia Lathan CalMatters Writer $3.3 million. That’s how much May Sung estimates it’ll cost to rebuild her Pacific Palisades home. With her two-bedroom house atop a hillside abutting the Pacific
California fishing industry’s workforce is graying
July 4, 2026
By Deborah Brennan CalMatters Writer In choppy surf off of La Jolla, fisherman Shane Volberding fought to land a yellowtail, a silver and gold fish prized in the sushi seafood trade. Gulls wheeled above the water as
California lawmaker rolls back new public records barriers after fierce opposition
June 30, 2026
By Kate Wolffe CalMatters Writer Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco has once again rolled back her controversial proposal to amend California’s public records rules. The Downey Democrat alarmed First Amendment advocates in March
5.6 magnitude quake hits Northern California
June 25, 2026
By Jill McLaughlin Contributing Writer An earthquake shook Redwood Valley in California at about 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, preliminarily measuring 5.6 magnitude, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The temblor was centered 11
Report: LA warehouse fire likely linked to rooftop solar panels
June 24, 2026
By Melanie Sun Contributing Writer The massive warehouse fire that has been burning for more than six days and causing health hazards for much of Los Angeles is believed to have
California Democrats won’t clamp down on late voters
June 23, 2026
By Maya C. Miller CalMatters Writer Everyone agrees it would be nice to know the outcomes of California elections sooner. What they can’t agree upon is whether and how to make that happen. The