Adam Ashton
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Deputy news editor @calmatters. Email: adam@calmatters.org. Previously @sacbee_news, @thenewstribune and @modbee.
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Articles by Adam Ashton
Lawmakers vote to let first responders retire earlier and with more money. Will Newsom sign on? Original
California police and firefighters will be able to retire earlier and earn more generous pensions under a bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom. It’s potentially expensive and government agencies are urging him to veto it. Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: Sign up for My Legislator, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Editor’s note: This story contains a term for a 1950s federal immigration program that some might find offensive.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Editor’s note: This story contains a term for a 1950s federal immigration program that some might find offensive.
Sacramento exhibit compares 1950s mass deportations with today’s immigration raids
PABLO ESPINOZA AND HIS OLDER SON were at the California Museum in downtown Sacramento checking out an exhibit on the World War II internment of Japanese Americans when he had an idea: He wanted to use the same space to tell a different story, one that would document America’s largest-ever deportation campaign. By then he had dedicated his career as a journalist and then Capitol staffer to highlighting the experiences of Latinos in California.
In California’s biggest cities, Turner’s Outdoorsman is a top source of crime guns
A new report from the California Department of Justice adds to concerning pattern documented in previous reporting by The Trace. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State. This story was originally published by The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Editor’s note: This story contains a term for a 1950s federal immigration program that some might find offensive.
Exposición en Sacramento conecta las deportaciones masivas de los años 50 con las redadas migratorias actuales
Un visitante toma una fotografía de una obra de arte en la nueva exposición “Help Wanted/Leave Now” en el California Museum de Sacramento, el 12 de agosto de 2026. (Foto de Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters). El California Museum presenta una muestra que compara la histórica Operación Wetback con las políticas contemporáneas de deportación, a través de testimonios de personas afectadas en distintas generaciones.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids
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New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart Original
The new “Help Wanted/ Leave Now” exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento on Aug. 12, 2026. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters Editor’s note: This story contains a term for a 1950s federal immigration program that some might find offensive.
US DOJ finds ‘unbroken pattern’ of sexual abuse by California prison staff Original
A two-year federal investigation found decades of staff sexual abuse against incarcerated women at California correctional facilities. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
Madi Bolaños - CalMatters
A two-year federal investigation found decades of staff sexual abuse against incarcerated women at California correctional facilities.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart
America’s largest-ever deportation campaign unfolded 71 years ago, when agents evicted about 1 million people. A new California Museum exhibit in Sacramento draws comparisons to President Trump’s immigration crackdown. The new "Help Wanted/ Leave Now" exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento on Aug. 12, 2026. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Editor’s note: This story contains a term for a 1950s federal immigration program that some might find offensive.
¿Qué conecta a los californianos deportados bajo Trump, Eisenhower?
Por Adam Ashton / CalMatters La última vez que visité el Museo de California, en el centro de Sacramento, fui acompañante de una excursión escolar de primaria. Los niños se agolparon alrededor de una estatua de Mickey Mouse para hacer fotos y se empujaron unos a otros para controlar un videojuego educativo. Esta semana el museo aborda un tema más controvertido con una exposición especial que repasa la mayor campaña de deportación en la historia de EE. UU., la Operación Wetback de los años 50.
Nueva exhibición sobre deportaciones masivas muestra a californianos atrapados en redadas, con décadas de diferencia Original
EN RESUMEN: La mayor campaña de deportación en la historia de Estados Unidos tuvo lugar hace 71 años, cuando los agentes expulsaron a cerca de un millón de personas. Una nueva exposición del Museo de California establece paralelismos con la represión migratoria del presidente Trump. La mayor campaña de deportación en la historia de Estados Unidos tuvo lugar hace 71 años, cuando los agentes expulsaron a cerca de un millón de personas.
What connects Californians deported under Trump, Eisenhower
Portraits of immigrants reflect on display glass in the new “Help Wanted/ Leave Now” exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento on Aug. 12, 2026. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney, CalMatters I last visited the California Museum in downtown Sacramento as a chaperone for an elementary school field trip. The kids crowded around a statue of Mickey Mouse for photos and elbowed each other to control an educational video game.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids decades apart
America’s largest-ever deportation campaign unfolded 71 years ago, when agents evicted about 1 million people. A new California Museum exhibit draws comparisons to President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: Sign up for My Legislator, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do.
New take on mass deportations shows Californians caught in raids — decades apart
Part of States Newsroom Stories From The States Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in 7 states 30:08 https://play.prx.org/e?ge=prx_14251_2655964d-4718-48b3-8086-8d4e75c37dfb&uf=https%3A%2F%2Fpublicfeeds.net%2Ff%2F14251%2Fstoriesfromthestates.xml Share Description The new "Help Wanted/ Leave Now" exhibit at the California Museum in Sacramento on Aug. 12, 2026.
Court: Trump’s immigrant mass detention policy contradicts 30 years of precedent
Immigration People walk out the main entrance of the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego on Feb. 20, 2026. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters Your link has expired. Please request a new one. Your link has expired. Please request a new one. Your link has expired. Please request a new one. Great! You've successfully signed up. Great! You've successfully signed up.
Why truckers always seem to be on the phone while they drive on the highway Original
Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State. The calls started rolling in nonstop to Fresno trucker Gurinderjit Singh as he prepared for an out-of-state delivery earlier this summer. Some congratulated him on his son’s recent engagement while others were fellow drivers inviting him to join a conference call.
LA County says a program meant to help people with serious mental illness is gaining traction Original
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mental health court is gaining more participants in Los Angeles County. CARE Court treats people with serious mental health conditions. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
Tribunal: La política de detención masiva de inmigrantes de Trump contradice 30 años de precedentes
Un tribunal federal asestó un duro golpe a la detención masiva de inmigrantes indocumentados por parte de la administración Trump en un nuevo fallo que sostiene que muchos de ellos deberían haber tenido la oportunidad de ser liberados mientras esperaban las decisiones sobre su deportación.
Tribunal: La política de detención masiva de inmigrantes de Trump contradice 30 años de precedentes Original
EN RESUMEN: El Tribunal de Apelaciones del Noveno Circuito falló en contra de la política del gobierno de Trump de negar audiencias de fianza a la mayoría de los inmigrantes indocumentados detenidos dentro de los Estados Unidos. This article is also available in English. Read it here.
Court: Trump’s immigrant mass detention policy contradicts 30 years of precedent
A federal court dealt a blow to the Trump administration’s mass detention of unauthorized immigrants in a new ruling that held many of them should have had opportunities to be released while awaiting deportation decisions. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the federal government for more than 30 years has treated people detained inside the U.S. differently than immigrants apprehended at the border.
Why federal court struck down Trump’s mass detention policy
A detainee sits at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego on Aug. 23, 2017. Photo by Gregory Bull, AP Photo A federal court dealt a blow to the Trump administration’s mass detention of unauthorized immigrants in a new ruling that held many of them should have had opportunities to be released while awaiting deportation decisions.
Court: Trump’s immigrant mass detention policy contradicts 30 years of precedent Original
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Trump administration’s policy of refusing bond hearings to most unauthorized immigrants who are detained in the interior of the United States. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
California Pension Ruling Limits How Many Vacation Hours Workers Can Count For Retirement
California Pension Ruling Limits How Many Vacation Hours Workers Can Count For Retirement By Adam Ashton, CALMATTERS An attorney speaks at the California Supreme Court in San Francisco on May 8, 2024. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo A new California Supreme Court ruling on retirement pay for public employees centered on a small amount of money — just one week’s salary for a retired attorney — but it had the potential to be a much costlier decision for government agencies and taxpayers.
Betye Saar
Federal immigration agents arrest a man in Bell as residents clash with U.S. Border Patrol agents after a traffic collision involving one of the agency's vehicles during immigration raids across the Los Angeles area on June 20, 2025. Read on... for more on what court records show. Why now: Plaintiffs in the Vasquez Perdomo vs.
Int'l students react
People hold up signs during the Harvard Students for Freedom rally in support of international students at the Harvard University campus in Boston on May 27. Why it matters : Studies have shown international students — since they are not eligible for financial aid — help boost colleges’ financial footing .
CA pension ruling
Critics of the L.A. Sheriff's Department say law laws are getting in the way of civilian oversight of the troubled department. What's at stake: The head of the civilian oversight panel says nothing less than independent unfettered oversight of the Sheriff's Department is at stake.
California pension ruling limits how many vacation hours workers can count for retirement Original
A new California Supreme Court ruling upholds limits on how many vacation hours government workers can cash out and apply toward the pension formulas. Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: Sign up for My Legislator, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do.
California pension ruling limits how many vacation hours workers can count for retirement
California's prison reform experiment worked. The state's crime rate has fallen by 27% in 15 years. Facts don't care about the GOP's "crime wave" feelings. For those of us who are more interested in policy than politics, it's frustrating to try a …
Conviction tossed in $1 million Bay Area COVID fraud case over juror bias Original
Atilla Colar in 2023 was convicted on 44 felony charges related to an alleged COVID benefit fraud scheme at a Bay Area parolee rehabilitation program. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
CalPERS had a record year— why this helps taxpayers sm
California’s largest public pension fund just had a banner year, riding a soaring stock market to record its second consecutive double-digit annual investment return. The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) announced Monday that it gained 14.8 percent on its investment portfolio in the 2025-26 financial year, more than doubling its target of 6.8 percent.
CalPERS pension fund posts 14.8% return, best investment year in more than a decade
CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST PUBLIC PENSION FUND just had a banner year, riding a soaring stock market to record its second consecutive double-digit annual investment return. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System announced Monday that it gained 14.8% on its investment portfolio in the 2025-26 financial year, more than doubling its target of 6.8%. Sign in to read this story and receive the weekly roundup in your inbox. Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
CalPERS just had one of its best years in a decade. Why it matters to taxpayers
In summary CalPERS’ investment returns are important markers because they determine whether government agencies — and taxpayers — have to kick in extra money to cover losses at the pension fund. It eclipsed its target in 2025-26. California’s largest public pension fund just had a banner year, riding a soaring stock market to record its second consecutive double-digit annual investment return.
CalPERS Just Had One of its Best Years in a Decade. Why it Matters to Taxpayers
The suns peaks over the California Public Employees Retirement System’s building in Sacramento, on Sept. 6, 2022. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo California’s largest public pension fund just had a banner year, riding a soaring stock market to record its second consecutive double-digit annual investment return. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System announced Monday that it gained 14.8% on its investment portfolio in the 2025-26 financial year, more than doubling its target of 6.8%.
Strong CalPers investment year is good news for Solano, Fairfield, others
SACRAMENTO — The California Public Employees’ Retirement System announced Monday that it gained 14.8% on its investment portfolio in the 2025-26 financial year, more than doubling its target of 6.8%. What that specifically means for Solano County was not immediately known, but in general it means reduced pension debt, or the unfunded accrued liability, easing pressure on its General Fund to contribute more to cover those costs. Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo also will benefit by the news.
Section 8 renters
Why it matters: Just one in five voucher holders in L.A. County live in a census tract that the state ranks as either “high” or “highest resource.” California considers areas “high resource” based on factors like home values and its residents’ incomes and educational attainment.
Mental health phone line
Soh Yun Park, founder of the Youstar Foundation's warmline hopes to break the stigma among the Korean speaking community when it comes to talking about mental health. Read on... for more on the phone line. Why it matters: The thrust of the Youstar Foundation’s warmline is to reduce that stigma around mental health and address the generational struggle in seeking support.
Minor cooldown
Why now: California lawmakers are considering several bills regulating AI in the workplace, including one that would protect from retaliation doctors and nurses who override automated care recommendations. Why it matters: Kaiser Permanente is the largest private employer in California, meaning the company’s use of artificial intelligence could set important precedents for managing workers with AI.
California is running short on money. Should the state boost police and firefighter perks? Original
California police and fire unions are backing bills that would create new retirement benefits or raise pay. Lawmakers approved them overwhelmingly. Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: Sign up for My Legislator, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do. The Legislature wants to make putting on a California police or firefighter uniform more lucrative.
California to share driver license data despite fears it could expose unauthorized immigrants Original
The new state budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed includes $55 million for the DMV to build a data-sharing system, a program meant to bring the state in compliance with the federal REAL ID law. Keeping up with your California representatives felt impossible before. Now you can watch them like a hawk: Sign up for My Legislator, your weekly, personalized report that tracks what your state representatives say and do.
Gavin Newsom signs law limiting mental health diversion for people accused of crimes Original
A new California law gives just more flexibility to keep defendants in jail rather than releasing them to community-based mental health treatment programs. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State. Gov.
California prisons clamp down on overtime, limit access to classes for incarcerated people Original
California prisons are limiting access to programs for incarcerated people as the system manages it overtime budget. The state spends about $18 billion a year on corrections. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
They asked 6,000 Californians about inequality and learned how we live with it Original
A conversation with G. Cristina Mora and Tianna S. Paschel, authors of “Normalizing Inequality: How Californians Make Sense of the Growing Divide” In their new book, UC Berkeley sociologists G. Cristina Mora and Tianna S. Paschel set out to understand how we make sense of the difference between the California we see in the movies and the California we see while we’re driving our kids to school.
Newsom signs law that lets Uber, attorneys avoid ballot measure fight Original
New California law limits medical cost recoveries from ride-hailing crashes, imposes new driver background check rules Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State. Gov.
California agencies disciplined officers for biased conduct, but they rarely lost their jobs Original
California disciplinary records show officers who used racist, sexist and anti-LGBTQ language often kept their jobs after agencies sustained misconduct findings. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
A $28 minimum age for California construction workers is dead — killed by construction workers Original
A plan to set a $28 minimum wage for certain California homebuilders died when the influential trades union protested that it could undermine prevailing wage pay rates. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
Trump renews push to shift homelessness funding. What’s at stake Original
The Trump administration wants to shift more money to homeless shelters that require sobriety, a change that would disrupt California’s “housing-first” policies. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State.
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