Dan Ross

Dave Lesher in the CalMatters newsroom on April 3, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Inside the newsroom:

Dave Lesher turned CalMatters into one of California’s most influential newsrooms — and launched new tools to make your government transparent. bit.ly/3ZdKPr6

I’m not sure what we’re expecting to happen when we don’t provide financial support to what are effectively small businesses w 80% fixed costs which have lost much of their customer base, and don’t have other revenue sources.

The plan to build a massive data center in Imperial County — without environmental review As demand for computing power soars nationwide, a Southern California entrepreneur with past legal troubles is trying to speed forward an immense data center in Imperial County.

Plans for a $10 billion data center are moving forward in the Imperial Valley. It could consume almost double the amount of electricity that the entirety of Imperial County used in 2024. @korisuzuki.com @kpbssandiego.bsky.social www.kpbs.org/news/environ... h/t @kypetzl.bsky.social

These LA businesses are closing in solidarity with the nationwide anti-ICE strike From bakeries to bars, businesses are denouncing the increase in violent federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and LA.

These LA businesses are closing in solidarity with the nationwide anti-ICE strike:
From bakeries to bars, businesses are denouncing the increase in violent federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and LA.

lapublicpress.org/2026/01/la-s...

YouTube video by California Environmental Voters Our Climate Future: A Forum with California's Next Governor

TODAY at 4pm PT, I'm moderating a forum of leading candidates for California governor, all about climate change. Watch live here as we find out how Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Eric Swalwell stack up: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsLc...

A truck drives through the entrance of the WM-Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility outside of Kettleman City on Jan. 13, 2026. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters. Hed: Residents of a polluted California town pinned hopes on new state rules. They’re still waiting

Residents of Kettleman City live surrounded by pollution.

A composting facility handles human sewage waste. Particulate matter and diesel fumes from heavy freeway traffic in the air. And the West Coast’s largest hazardous waste landfill is just a few miles away bit.ly/3LFrLPs

📸 Larry Valenzuela

Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West The snowpack this winter is smaller than average in California's Sierra Nevada as well as the Rocky Mountains. The lack of snow reflects record warmth.

Water, water everywhere, and nary a foot of snow? Warm temperatures across the West are fueling low snowpack from California to the Rockies, which is not good for water supplies: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social

LA charter reform commissioners could decide Wednesday on whether to share private chats with Mayor, other electeds The commission is set to take up a motion by its chair, Raymond Meza, who had previously taken a hands-off approach to sharing such private conversations, saying it was up to the City Council.

LA charter reform commissioners could decide Wednesday on whether to share private chats with Mayor, other electeds thelareporter.la/p/la-charter...

A data center boom is coming to the San Gabriel Valley. Residents had no idea LA County residents are being blindsided by proposals that may drain massive amounts of electricity and water. In Monterey Park, a single facility would use more power than the entire city.

A data center boom is coming to the San Gabriel Valley. Residents had no idea

LA County residents are being blindsided by proposals that may drain massive amounts of electricity and water. In Monterey Park, a single facility would use more power than the entire city.

🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 15: What's getting voted off the island at the LA City Charter Reform Commission? News from an LA Reporter. This issue is focused just on the Charter Reform Commission, which is headed into an elimination round on Saturday, with a last minute push to get a proposal to give 16 and 1...

🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 15: What's getting voted off the island at the LA City Charter Reform Commission? thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...

CalMatters reporters at the office in Sacramento on Oct. 4, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters. Hed: Newsom plans no new journalism funding despite $175 million funding deal with Google

Gov. Gavin Newsom included no new funding for local journalism in his budget proposal last week, walking back an August 2024 deal with Google to commit $175 million over five years to help the diminishing industry. bit.ly/4qNmdBg

📸 Rahul Lal

Trump’s EPA Could Limit Its Own Ability to Use New Science to Strengthen Air Pollution Rules In government records that have flown under the radar, the EPA is questioning its legal authority to revise pollution rules more than once when new science shows unacceptable health risks.

After the EPA found that ethylene oxide is 30 times more carcinogenic than previously thought, it updated regulations to protect the people who are most exposed to it.

Now, the agency’s ability to do that for many air pollutants is under threat.

By @lisalsong.bsky.social

This Tribal News Agency Shows How to Defend a Free Press at the Grassroots As Trump erodes press freedoms, the resurgence of Mvskoke Media offers lessons on how to protect independent media.

As Trump erodes press freedoms, the resurgence of Mvskoke Media offers lessons on how to protect independent media.

Uruguay’s Renewable Charge: A Small Nation, A Big Lesson For The World Uruguay built a power grid that runs 99% on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels. Here’s how its bold energy overhaul became a global model.

“Uruguay did what most nations still call impossible: it built a power grid that runs almost entirely on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels. The physicist who led that transformation says the same playbook could work anywhere—if governments have the courage to change the rules.”

Newsom's signature water tunnel is set back by California court ruling An appeals court has rejected a California agency's plan to issue bonds to pay for a proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Gavin Newsom's Delta water tunnel hit a courtroom setback, although it doesn't sound like a death blow: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social

As Arizona groundwater disappears, an agricultural giant agrees to use less Agriculture has been free to use Arizona's groundwater, but as water levels drop, the state may have hit a turning point.

One of the largest farming businesses in Arizona has agreed to use less water and pay $11 million in a deal state officials say will help preserve dwindling groundwater and provide financial help for residents whose wells have run dry. www.latimes.com/environment/...

6 new laws affecting LA County students, from ICE raids to cell phones Schools must now follow new state rules on immigration enforcement, LGBTQ+ privacy, antisemitism, cell phones, bathrooms and drug education. Here's what families need to know.

6 new laws affecting LA County students, from ICE raids to cell phones

Schools must now follow new state rules on immigration enforcement, LGBTQ+ privacy, antisemitism, cell phones, bathrooms and drug education. Here’s what families need to know.

One year after Eaton Fire, Altadena's small businesses fight to survive From buying burned lots to securing grants and reopening storefronts, Lake Avenue entrepreneurs are rebuilding — even as thousands of displaced residents remain unable to return. From buying burned lo...

One year after Eaton Fire, Altadena’s small businesses fight to survive

From buying burned lots to securing grants and reopening storefronts, Lake Avenue entrepreneurs are rebuilding — even as thousands of displaced residents remain unable to return.

A Study Is Retracted, Renewing Concerns About the Weedkiller Roundup

Another blow for truth from @naomioreskes.bsky.social and colleagues. A great story from @hirokotabuchi.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/c...

A recently filed "Olympic Wage Initiative" ballot measure proposal appears to counter a recent effort to scale back an ordinance to raise hotel/airport worker wages.

And ... it includes provisions to raise the wage for all LA workers' within LA city to $30 an hour by 2030.

Westlands approves plan to repurpose fallowed land for solar, energy storage Fallowed agricultural land along the west side of the Central Valley will now have the opportunity to be repurposed for clean energy development.

California’s Westlands Water District approved a plan to convert huge amounts of San Joaquin Valley farmland to solar power: sjvsun.com/ag/westlands...

An image of Francois Tissot standing in a lab. Headline at the bottom of image reads “‘Lead Contamination: An Old Foe Rises from the Ashes of the Eaton Fire,’ Live With Francois Tissot At Caltech’s Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series”

Learn about investigations into lead contamination after the 2025 L.A. Fires and how they can help communities prepare for future disasters, at Francois Tissot’s Watson Lecture.

One of our favorite parts: it's totally free to the public!

The full story: lataco.com/lead-contami...

Inside the LA funeral for unclaimed dead Angelenos that sold out in days LA County buried 2,308 unclaimed dead in Boyle Heights this year — nearly 500 more than last year and the highest number in two decades.

LA County buried 2,308 unclaimed Angelenos last week — nearly 500 more than the year before.
Since 1896, LA has held an annual ceremony in Boyle Heights to honor those who died without next of kin to claim their remains.
bit.ly/4oY1b1z

The brawl over the Colorado River is about more than water The lifeblood of the West is drying up — and scrambling state and local politics.

"Water politics are not fun. Nobody wants to deal with them." Annie Snider of @politico.com talks with several people who explain why the Colorado River talks are at an impasse, and what they stand to gain or lose if negotiators can’t come to a solution. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

The EPA Was Considering a Massive Lead Cleanup in Omaha. Then Trump Shifted Guidance. The Trump administration says it will speed cleanups, but residents of the largest residential lead Superfund site worry fewer properties will be remediated.

Omaha residents face a hidden danger: the lead in their yards.

The Trump administration’s new guidance on high levels of the toxic metal in soil has put tens of thousands of properties in limbo.

With @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social

SJV WATER: Proposed pumping allocations by two Kings County groundwater agencies ignite flurry of responses By Monserrat Solis Incompatible pumping allocations being considered by two groundwater agencies in north Kings County have prompted a blizzard of responses, and even some accusations, from farmers an...

Incompatible pumping allocations being considered by two groundwater agencies in north Kings County have prompted a blizzard of responses, and even some accusations, from farmers and multiple entities. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2025/12/11/s...

California cities pay a lot for water; some agricultural districts get it for free Water costs are confusing — even for the experts. A new study shows huge differences in what cities and farm water districts pay for supplies from rivers and reservoirs in California, Arizona, and Nev...

Been waiting for this to come out from colleagues Noah Garrison & Mark Gold of @uclaioes.bsky.social:

The team investigated how much major suppliers spend on water from rivers and reservoirs in California, Arizona and Nevada.

As covered by @ra-becks.bsky.social:

calmatters.org/environment/...

LAPD is finally getting taken up by the LA Charter Reform panel. What took so long? Some point to a tight timeline and crowded plate for the commission. Others say it's a political hot potato.

LAPD is finally getting taken up by the LA Charter Reform panel. What took so long? thelareporter.la/p/lapd-is-fi...

Secretive New Mexico Data Center Plan Races Forward Despite Community Pushback To power the growing demand for AI, New Mexico is gearing up to build a data center with a city-sized carbon footprint.

At the very Southeastern tip of New Mexico bordering Texas and Mexico, a new AI data center is gearing up to be a greenhouse gas and air pollution behemoth, an additional water user in a drought-afflicted region, and a sower of community discontent.

How to report foul odors in your LA County neighborhood to air quality officials If the air outside smells like rotten eggs, call the AQMD.

How to report foul odors in your LA County neighborhood to air quality officials.

Southern California residents can submit complaints about odors, asbestos, dust, gasoline dispensing and other air quality concerns to the district.

If the air outside smells like rotten eggs, call the AQMD.