California Local Explainers, Guides, Etc.


Image caption: With just two courthouses, Santa Cruz County has one of the smaller court systems in the Bay Area.
The Superior Court—Explained

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

Image caption: The Santa Cruz civil grand jury meets in County Government Center
The Grand Jury—Explained

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

Image caption: The state's housing market never recovered from the 2008 recession.
House Poor in California

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

Image caption: The city of Santa Cruz gets just over 20 percent of its water from Loch Lomond in the mountain community of Lompico.
Where’s Our Water?

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

Image caption: Gov. Gavin Newsom has seen some of his pandemic emergency powers curtailed by a judge.
How Courts Ruled on the Governor's COVID Powers

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.

Image caption: At the dump, food waste is methane-producing garbage. At a farm, it's a valuable part of the food web.
Back to the Land, Not the Landfill

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

Image caption: Lighthouse Field in Santa Cruz, which might be a huge resort if not for the Coastal Commission.
The Public Shore Protectors

The future of 1,100 miles of spectacular coastline is in the hands of the California Coastal Commission, which is beloved by coastal environmentalists, notorious among those who favor development, and little-known in the inland parts of the state.

Image caption: California’s school reopening plan was criticized for favoring wealthy, mostly white districts.
California School Reopenings, Explained

California’s plan to get schoolchildren back into classrooms after a year of distance learning is taking shape. Here’s the latest on the state’s school reopenings.

Image caption: It was clear that lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom would have to find some kind of compromise to pass a 2020-21 budget.
Winners and Losers in Budget Deal

Here's how Santa Cruz County is affected by California’s 2020-21 budget deal.

Image caption: California Governor Gavin Newsom gave a press conference Nov. 16 to update the state on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seeing Purple in COVID-19 Fight

On Nov. 16, Santa Cruz County moved further away from reopening in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Image caption: Cal Fire personnel engaged in live fire training in Williams, California.
Fighting Fire With Fire

What is California’s Forest Management Task Force and what does it do?

Image caption: The first wave of lightning lit up the Bay Area's late night sky on Aug. 15, 2020.
The Lightning Fires of August

This year's dry lightning storms left the state scrambling to for climate change solutions.

Image caption: Governor Gavin Newsom issued new reclosing orders for many businesses on July 13.
Coronavirus on the Rise—Again

In June, California was a success story. Less than a month later, the state was in crisis.

Image caption: Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel closed beaches throughout the county, as well as the Boardwalk, on April 8 in advance of the Easter weekend. They reopened on April 16.
Santa Cruz County vs. COVID-19

Infection rates have been low in Santa Cruz County. Here's why.

Image caption: Jacqueline Bradford, an office assistant at Travis Air Force Base, disinfects a kiosk at a testing site in March. The state promises to be delivering 10,000 tests per day by the end of April.
State Sets COVID-19 Checklist

Officials take steps toward reopening California, adhering to a six-item action plan.

Image caption: The model for the state’s new public-banking law is the Bank of North Dakota, founded in 1919, the nation's only true public bank.
Public Banking Bill a First for State

Local rep co-sponsored AB 857, which would pave the way for publicly owned banks.