Tougher on crime: Investigating California's Proposition 36
This year-long investigation by CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts examines the many components of California's new tougher-on-crime law.
Watch CBS News
This year-long investigation by CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts examines the many components of California's new tougher-on-crime law.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News California, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn reveal the timeline of Matthew Muller's cold-case crimes. Crimes they helped solve. The survivors detail how it took a decade, a documentary, a small-town chief, and a rural district attorney to get anyone to listen.
California lawmakers will try again to give public school teachers paid family leave. Critics worry it could come at the actual expense of students.
No one — not the Governor's Office, the CHP task force, nor the attorney general — can tell us how many of the people arrested by California's Organized Retail Crime Task Force were sentenced, let alone how many went to jail, received treatment, or re-offended.
CBS News California examined retail theft rates in California and whether the high-profile Proposition 36 would help combat those crimes.
CBS News California takes a closer look at the drug component of the high-profile Proposition 36 to fact-check claims about the ballot measure from supporters and opponents.
Fentanyl took her life. Frustrated with the legislature, Matt Capelouto took matters into his own hands and attempted to get Alexandra's Law on the ballot so that the public could vote on it themselves.
Credit card companies are responsible for fraud loss, under federal law. But there's no penalty for big banks when victims wire thousands of dollars to scammers.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that was prompted by a decade-long CBS News California investigation into the state's newborn genetic biobank.
When California Democrats accept oil money or vote against "climate-friendly" bills, they are often criticized or accused of being beholden to the oil industry. But are they?
A CBS News California investigation found roughly half of California voters will have someone new to the job running their presidential election this year.
Lawmakers quietly amended a bill prompted by a decade-long CBS investigation into California's Newborn Genetic Biobank. They removed the part that requires the state to reveal who is using our DNA for research and why.
A doctor who was released from jail after driving his family off a cliff is being called the "poster child" for and against a California law that allows attempted murder defendants to get at-home mental health treatment instead of standing trial for alleged crimes.
Amid concerns that some felony defendants could be misusing California's Mental Health Diversion Court to have their violent crimes dismissed, a CBS News California investigation found that there is no reliable data to indicate how successful the state program is.
In response to a CBS News California Investigation, California lawmakers are demanding answers from Caltrans and considering legislation to fix Caltrans' damage claim process.
A CBS News California investigation finds Caltrans only approved 1 out of every 25 damage claims from potholes and debris in the first half of 2023.
Caltrans is denying more freeway damage claims, approving fewer than 10% over the last five and a half years. How many have they approved in your county and which highways are the worst?
CBS News California has identified a spike in the number of "sexually violent predators" who are being granted conditional release by the Department of State Hospitals amid an ongoing struggle to find housing for the men. The reporting prompted several proposed changes to state law, but, one by one, the bills are dying inside California's capitol.
They fought for fentanyl legislation, but it was killed before lawmakers even got to vote. Four grieving moms wanted to know why. They're uncovering the truth using a new AI tool designed to help everyday Californians hold lawmakers accountable. They discovered powerful lawmakers killed the popular fentanyl bill by not voting.
The California State Capitol doesn't generally work the way people think it does. We're following bills prompted by our reporting, to show you how things really work inside California's Capitol.
California law says genetic testing companies have to get your permission before they store, use or sell your DNA, but the state itself doesn't have to get your permission and has been storing DNA samples from every baby born there since the '80s. Lawmakers want to change that, but face an uphill battle.
Watts will raise awareness of serious issues impacting Californians, hold local officials accountable, obtain answers for viewers and provide solutions.
A bill introduced in the wake of our "Handcuffs in Hallways" investigation aims to reduce "unnecessary" calls for police at schools. But one California lawmaker could kill it without a vote.
Fentanyl test strips used to be illegal in California. Now, state law requires them on community and state college campuses. We put fentanyl test strips to the test, and what we found could save someone you know.
We tried to work with law enforcement for nearly a year to avoid this lawsuit, but one local agency is simply refusing to release video that the public has a right to see. Its legal argument could impact law-enforcement policies across the state if allowed to stand.
LAUSD said that elevated levels of lead were found on two elementary school campuses
The $14.5 million Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge is almost 1,200 feet long and 15 feet wide, spanning the I-5 Freeway.
A video shows the driver in the right lane crashing into the electric scooter rider before colliding with several parked cars.
Homeowners getting their insurance through the California FAIR Plan will soon be paying even more, but industry observers say it may be a good sign for the state's insurance market.
After more than 50 years, the victim of a cold case homicide investigation whose body was found in the remote Riverside County desert has finally been identified.
LAUSD said that elevated levels of lead were found on two elementary school campuses
The $14.5 million Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge is almost 1,200 feet long and 15 feet wide, spanning the I-5 Freeway.
"With profound sadness that we share that [Jackie] passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care," Ojai Raptor Center said.
A video shows the driver in the right lane crashing into the electric scooter rider before colliding with several parked cars.
Homeowners getting their insurance through the California FAIR Plan will soon be paying even more, but industry observers say it may be a good sign for the state's insurance market.
LAUSD said that elevated levels of lead were found on two elementary school campuses
The $14.5 million Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge is almost 1,200 feet long and 15 feet wide, spanning the I-5 Freeway.
A video shows the driver in the right lane crashing into the electric scooter rider before colliding with several parked cars.
Residents said the coyote has become unafraid of people after one neighbor kept feeding it.
Verizon officials have announced a $25,000 reward program for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who allegedly cut fiber lines and cut off service to thousands of Southern California customers in recent days.
The $14.5 million Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge is almost 1,200 feet long and 15 feet wide, spanning the I-5 Freeway.
Santa Ana police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who crashed into a man on an e-bike late Monday night, leaving him hospitalized.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has a new policy this school year that bans kindergarten through 8th-grade students from riding e-bikes on school property and along the perimeter.
Metrolink has opted to suspend routes heading through Orange County this week due to an extended period of high tides that are expected to batter the Southern California coast.
The looming El Niño could bring one of the wettest winters on record to California, according to renowned climatologist Daniel Swain.
After more than 50 years, the victim of a cold case homicide investigation whose body was found in the remote Riverside County desert has finally been identified.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said the suspects got away after opening fire on an officer.
A deadly shooting suspect turned himself in to San Bernardino County authorities just hours after their investigation began in Hesperia on Friday.
Deputies say that the man pointed a firearm at them during the incident.
Deputies say that the 33-year-old man pointed a gun at another driver during a road rage incident in July.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks that are intended to gain compliance from combative individuals.
Pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott have been fired by the Los Angeles Angels.
The Social Security Administration is expanding its list of diseases and other health conditions that may qualify for accelerated approval of disability benefits.
No winning tickets were sold for Monday night's $905 million Powerball jackpot, so the estimated grand prize for Wednesday's drawing will be at least $1 billion, Powerball says.
The recalled products with jalapeño were distributed at national retailers, including Walmart, Target and Trader Joe's, in 26 states.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks that are intended to gain compliance from combative individuals.
Ahead of a flight from Turkey, President Trump secretly left Air Force One and was moved to another plane with the help of a catering truck, according to a source, as the U.S. grappled with a threat from Iran.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
In a narrow 50-49 vote, President Trump's former defense lawyer was confirmed as attorney general in a vote early Saturday.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli hired former top aide Shawn Lewis to be a federal law enforcement liaison, though Lewis has three prior convictions for driving under the influence and a pending battery charge.
Homeowners getting their insurance through the California FAIR Plan will soon be paying even more, but industry observers say it may be a good sign for the state's insurance market.
Voters in California may soon decide on a ballot measure that seeks to help the state's middle class afford to buy a home, by establishing a $25 billion loan program that would provide down payment assistance.
Some Trader Joe's shoppers will get a payout after a lawsuit alleged that the retailer's customer receipts put shoppers at risk of ID theft.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and local prosecutors urged parents to check their children's e-bikes, saying some of the vehicles may be motorcycles or mopeds capable of high speeds.
San Francisco officials said Tuesday that the city has filed a lawsuit against leading manufacturers of ultra-processed foods, accusing them of producing products linked to serious health issues and alleging that the companies knowingly made the foods addictive.
The Social Security Administration is expanding its list of diseases and other health conditions that may qualify for accelerated approval of disability benefits.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
Orange County Health Care Agency officials have confirmed the county's first human West Nile virus case of 2026, amid what some medical experts believe could be one of the worst mosquito seasons on record.
Taylor Farms said none of its branded salads or kits contain the iceberg lettuce associated with the outbreak.
A lettuce supplier to fast-food giant Taco Bell has been linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people, the CDC said.
A California lawmaker wants to address the rising cost of event tickets by limiting how much some tickets can be marked up on the resale market.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced the rollout of the state's new electric vehicle instant rebate program, touting it as part of an investment in the state's clean-vehicle future.
Initial findings showed no evidence of rising statewide unemployment claims from workers in occupations considered highly exposed to AI.
Ford is recalling more than 250,000 vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under a previous recall meant to fix a problem that caused the engine to stall while driving, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.
The California State Assembly passed a new bill that they hope can rein in a black market in restaurant reservations.
Pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott have been fired by the Los Angeles Angels.
Brandon Nimmo singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 to snap a five-game road losing streak.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat Kansas City 6-5 for only their second victory in 10 games.
Former NFL quarterback Derek Carr has joined UCLA's coaching staff as a special adviser to head coach Bob Chesney.
Congress is asking MLB to prohibit promotional deals with betting operators after Phillies star Bryce Harper was featured in a video for a FanDuel VIP reward customer.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced that nine new television productions would be awarded through the state's film and television tax credit program, which his office estimates will bring over $600 million in production spending.
A California lawmaker wants to address the rising cost of event tickets by limiting how much some tickets can be marked up on the resale market.
Some parts of the LA Jazz Festival were canceled just days before the citywide, two-week party was slated to begin, leaving performers and fans alike in the dark.
A performer will be living inside a billboard 30 feet above the Sunset Strip as Netflix promotes its new film "The Last House."
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is releasing its first new show in four decades as the iconic team works to raise money and purchase its permanent home in Highland Park.
The watchdog's review warns the $4 billion federal funding loss now leaves the project needing billions in financing within 16 months, as the rail authority acknowledges for the first time that it still has no train contract.
Verizon officials have announced a $25,000 reward program for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who allegedly cut fiber lines and cut off service to thousands of Southern California customers in recent days.
A very bold and brazen coyote is making its presence known in an Atwater Village neighborhood, sometimes seen chasing dogs, cats and even kids. Alys Martinez reports.
Two cabinet secretaries held a news conference announcing the end of federal funding for Los Angeles Homeless Services. Luzdelia Caballero reports.
Investigators are searching for the suspect who shot at an officer during a train burglary in San Bernardino County.
Some of golf's best are facing off at the U.S. Women's Open at the Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades over the weekend. The event runs from June 2 to June 7.
Widely considered the greatest architect of his time, Frank Gehry helped shape Los Angeles' skyline.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
The Franklin Fire in Malibu quickly grew overnight and threatened several homes. Evacuation orders were issued and Pepperdine University instructed students to shelter in place.
