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Image caption: Margaret Cho, George Lopez, Tiffany Haddish and eight other California-bred comedians offer unique perspectives on their home state.
Califunny

Plenty of East Coast comedians make California the butt of their jokes. Here are some locals who’ve earned the right to make fun of this place.

Image caption: Over two weekends last October, residents of Santa Cruz and Watsonville  participated in demonstration rides aboard an electric streetcar on rails.
The ‘Rail Trail’ Movement, Explained

Thousands of miles of railroad track, including some in Santa Cruz County, now sit idle. The fate of those largely abandoned tracks has become a burning controversy.

Image caption: How much is too much? There’s no simple answer, but here are some questions to ponder.
Six Steps to Mindful Drinking

Thinking about making a change in your relationship to drugs and alcohol? Here are some things to consider.

Image caption: Keep your eyes on the road, Hank.
The Vexation of Taxation

America is weird. Nobody likes taxes, but everyone enjoys the benefits of the services funded by the taxes.

Image caption: Elkhorn Slough, California's second largest estuary, is just one of the natural wonders in the Monterey Bay region.
National Heritage Areas, Explained

The Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act would evaluate whether Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties have cultural, natural and historic resources that tell an important American story.

Image caption: California has tried to pass single-payer health plans before. Is 2022 the year it happens?
Single-Payer Healthcare: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Single-payer healthcare may be the most-discussed but least-understood form of medical coverage. Here’s what you need to know as California considers a new bill for publicly funded universal insurance.

Image caption: Sheriffs are supposed to stand for ’law and order,’ but some believe they are a law unto themselves.
Right-Wing Extremism Among County Sheriffs, Explained

Sheriffs in some California counties and across the USA are engaging a dangerous movement toward right-wing extremism. What does this mean for local law enforcement?

Image caption: California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger.
Leondra Kruger of California: Possible Biden SCOTUS Pick

California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, 45, reported to be high on Pres. Joe Biden’s list for a U.S. Supreme Court nomination, is known for her cautious, moderate legal opinions.

Image caption: Connections make the network.
Find the Others

An exploration into the mechanisms and uses of the attention traps purposefully designed into digital platforms, and the importance of our real life relationships in countering manipulation.

Image caption: Trump supporters are seen in the NY Times video “Days of Rage” attacking police officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. About 140 officers received injuries ranging from lacerations to concussions, rib fractures and chemical burns.
The Big Lie, and the Epiphany that Didn’t Happen

I hoped the events of Jan. 6, 2021, would put an end to the Big Lie—that the election of 2020 was bogus. But on Jan. 6, 2022, the Big Lie got even bigger.

Image caption: It’s good to know traffic and weather conditions before you hit the road.
Accurate Traffic Information Is Vital

We take a look under the hood of California Local’s Traffic and Transportation portal, which provides comprehensive information on local road and traffic conditions, current CHP incidents and traffic congestion hot spots.

Image caption: New Year's Day has been a time for celebration for at least 4,000 years.
Happy New Year, Explained

New Year's celebrations have been around as long as civilization itself. Here's how they started and how California marks the New Year today.

Image caption: California is taking at least small steps to reform the county sheriffs system.
The Trouble With Sheriffs

Though they are elected officials, county sheriffs have less accountability than any other law enforcement officials. Here's why, and what California is doing about it.

Image caption: SB 35 aims to make it easier for developers to build projects that include significant amounts of affordable housing units.
SB35, California’s Key Affordable Housing Law, Explained

SB 35 is one of California’s most important affordable housing laws. Here’s what it does, and a look at how well it’s working.

Image caption: Supercell storms are just one of many weather phenomena in the era of climate change.
The New Vocabulary of the Climate Change Era

The climate change era has created a whole new set of terms for a wide variety of storms and other weather phenomena. Here are some of the most important.

Image caption: Why are homicides on the rise in California? There are several plausible theories.
What Drove Homicide Rates Up?

California homicide spiked by 31 percent in 2020. The shocking increase has continued into 2021. Here are several theories that attempt to explain the state’s suddenly rising murder rate.

Image caption: Despite a new law, leaf blowers may not be going away anytime soon.
Is California’s New Leaf Blower Ban Really a Ban?

California has a new law to ban leaf blowers, which both annoy neighbors and pollute the air. Here’s why the law might not do enough, explained.

Image caption: California continues to work on legislation that would make voting easier.
Voting Rites

California keeps on taking legislative steps that will keep it ranked in the top 10 of voter-friendly states.

Image caption: Stacy Caldwell, right, says the annual Give Back Tahoe campaign has become a “collective giving engine.”
Give Back Tahoe’s Biggest Season

A conversation with Stacy Caldwell, CEO of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation.

Image caption: The Omicron variant spreads twice as fast as the highly contagious Delta variant.
What is ‘Omicron,’ and What’s California Doing About it?

Omicron is a new variant of the COVID-causing coronavirus that has now arrived in California and is causing fears of a new pandemic wave. What is it? Why are people so worried? And what, if anything, is California doing to …

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