Explainers and guides from our team of journalists, a curated news digest from trusted local newsrooms, local government announcements and upcoming meetings, and resourcces to help you better engage with your civic community..
A movement started just 12 years ago has gone global—and local. Meanwhile, one of the oldest and largest philanthropic enterprises in the world continues to serve.
Week One of the charismatic-megafauna segment of our Doing Good series features the BPOE Elks. And: San Diego Zoo cams!
Two plans to protect the ocean and its beaches—and the coolest marine-life webcams on the planet.
This Veterans Day, we pay tribute to those who have given parts of their lives to our armed services, and those who serve in our nation's army of government workers.
As white-hot rhetoric and threats of political violence bring many voters to the edge of madness, we offer a hopeful reminder.
Democratic institutions are at work statewide, dealing with local issues and big stuff including the California Delta.
An international network of business leaders are working to build local alliances and solve global problems.
Californians are being asked to approve two bond measures totaling $20 billion in the election now underway. What does that mean, and how does it work? Find out here.
As voters receive their ballots for the 2024 presidential election and important statewide and local races, we look at efforts to build democracy, and efforts to weaken it.
Volunteering and looking out for one another is central to community life.
A spectacular piece of land north of Santa Cruz shows what a determined group of people, with the help of a tenacious little media company, can do.
California's first big reservoir project in decades is underway, as the state finally gets rid of some old dams. Environmental responsibility meets aridification.
As some municipalities struggle to find people to run for elected offices and advisory boards, we look at the civic engagement pipeline.
In which we salute the hard workers who make California the fifth largest economy on the planet.
For one thing, "citizen," like "garden," can be used as a verb.
In the midst of charges that California, and its favorite daughter Kamala Harris, are soft on crime, lawmakers step up in the name of public safety.
Joe Biden visited the Santa Cruz County beach towns of Aptos and Capitola following bad storms a couple winters ago. Last week, his administration delivered a big pile of money to help these communities and their neighbors build resilience.
As July goes down in the history books as the hottest ever recorded, the 2024 California fire season has already burned more than 30 times as much acreage as in 2023.
This week: Two examples of ways people in and around government and politics worked behind the scenes, and in the state house, to make things better.
If you've ever wondered how your governments raise and spend your tax money, here's a primer.
The California Local newsletter goes out Mondays and Thursdays.
Mondays: Local and state news roundup, the recipe of the week, an introduction to a local community nonprofit and recent government announcements and press releases.
Thursdays: California Local explainers and other articles, and civic engagement resources to make it easy to connect with local government and nonprofits working in your community.
