California Local Explainers, Guides, Etc.

Noise is a form of pollution that threatens public health like any other type of environmental pollution. Here's what federal, state and local governments are doing to quiet things down.

What’s a LAFCO? That’s the odd-sounding acronym for the independent boards that get a grip on suburban sprawl and government inefficiency.

Under California law, local governments may work together in a "Joint Powers Authority." But these little-known agencies can wield broad powers—even to levy taxes—with little public accountability.

The state of California, as well as some local governments, will soon require all public employees to be vaccinated against COVID. Here’s why they’re taking that step.

AB 1185, authorizing civilian sheriff's oversight bodies, was one of the few law enforcement reform bills to pass in the wake of the George Floyd protests. What does the law accomplish, and will it make a difference?

Climate scientists say that global warming is making wildfire season much worse. Here's how climate change causes fires to be more destructive.

California's recall system for public officials was originally intended to root out corruption, but it quickly took on a different use.

California‘s veterans are as varied as the nations in which they served—a tapestry of different educational levels, professions, and life experiences. And they all deserve our respect and support.

At hundreds of Stand Down events throughout California, veterans agencies and organizations come together to deliver life’s necessities.

A grand jury report blasted the Santa Cruz County fire system's 'dizzying' complexity just a few months before the CZU Lightning Complex Fire struck.

Santa Cruz County's water system is run by a decentralized collection of entities.

How California's extensive public school system is organized and managed, explained.

California has gone from one library to more than 1,100 in the last 171 years.

Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.

One of 58 superior court systems in the state, here's how the Santa Cruz County courts work.

Santa Cruz’s civil grand jury promotes accountability in local government.

A USC study shows the economy recovered fully from the 2008 recession—except for housing.

Santa Cruz is one of the few California communities that receive 100 percent of its water from local rainfall.

A Superior Court Judge has placed at least some limits on the governor's power to impose health-related restrictions. Here's what that means.

In 2022, California trash haulers will begin turning millions of tons of methane-emitting organic waste into a new cash crop: compost.