Barabak: California is having its most wide-open governor's race in decades. Why's that?

The Oakland community is mourning the tragic loss of John Beam, a beloved football coach, who was fatally shot on the Laney College campus. His death has sparked widespread grief and outrage, highlighting the deep connections between sports and community in Oakland, where coaches often serve as mentors and role models for young athletes.

The race for California governor is heating up, featuring a diverse array of candidates including a county sheriff, a billionaire, and two women who could potentially be the first female governor. The contest has been marred by scandal, with one campaign nearly collapsing, highlighting the intense competition and drama surrounding the election.

Culver City has become the first city in California to permit the construction of six-story apartment buildings with only one staircase, a significant policy change aimed at addressing the ongoing housing crisis in the region.

A small school district in Merced County, California, successfully reduced chronic absenteeism to 14.2% in spring 2024 by expanding school counselor services. This initiative aimed to address the underlying issues contributing to student absences and suspensions.

The car wash industry in Los Angeles, heavily reliant on immigrant labor, faces significant challenges due to the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies, which threaten the workforce essential for its operation. This situation highlights the precarious position of many immigrant workers in the U.S. economy.

The deaths of two immigrants from Orange County have drawn attention to the treatment of detainees at the Adelanto federal immigration detention center in California, raising serious concerns among lawmakers regarding the conditions within ICE facilities.

California Congressman Eric Swalwell has officially announced his candidacy for governor in the 2026 election, positioning himself as a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump amid a new Department of Justice investigation that Swalwell describes as politically motivated.

Rep. Eric Swalwell is facing scrutiny as he reportedly used a Washington, D.C. house, which is at the center of mortgage fraud allegations, to launch his campaign for California governor. A review of public records indicates that Swalwell does not currently own any property in California.