How California quietly adds hundreds in hidden fees to drive up traffic tickets
CBS News California investigates why lawmakers are ignoring a state audit that urged them to reduce fees and revise the entire program - nearly a decade ago.
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CBS News California investigates why lawmakers are ignoring a state audit that urged them to reduce fees and revise the entire program - nearly a decade ago.
Julie Watts interviewed every candidate for California governor ahead of next year's election.
A CBS News Confirmed analysis of a dozen skincare influencers' accounts found that many featured ingredients not suitable for kids and were undisclosed brand partnerships or sponsored posts.
CBS News California's Julie Watts and her daughter's fifth-grade class go undercover shopping and head to the State Capitol to investigate what lawmakers are doing about the skincare industry making billions by marketing potentially harmful products to tweens.
Get-ready-with-me videos saturate social media feeds, targeting young girls with multi-step skincare routines where popular brands partner with kid-fluencers to create viral skincare products. The skincare industry is cashing in on so-called "Sephora kids," fueled by Gen Alpha (kids under 12). But dermatologists warn that many viral products contain anti-aging ingredients that can harm young skin, and it's hard to tell the products apart. A California lawmaker wants to restrict the sale of some anti-aging products for kids under 18. Critics say that's misguided. So, CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts teamed up with her daughter's fifth-grade class and the CBS News Confirmed team to examine the risks and the proposed solutions. WATCH PART 1 - Investigating "Sephora Kid" Concerns: How skincare brands make billions selling products to tweens. WATCH PART 2 - Investigating "Sephora Kids" Solutions: Fifth-graders help investigate California bill targeting anti-aging skincare sales to minors. READ MORE HERE: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/skincare-industry-products-tweens-harm-young-skin/
Just how much power will the next governor have to repeal controversial California laws?
The leading candidates for California governor weigh in on the state's transgender student sports law: whether to keep it, overturn it, or let voters decide
The leading candidates for governor share their views on complex and often misunderstood aspects of California's sanctuary state law and healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
Glocks are among the most popular handguns sold in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that bans Californians from buying new Glock guns in the state.
Believe it or not, an 8-month-old's sleep schedule is what led to a face-off between California lawmakers and the entertainment industry over loud commercials on streaming services.
In this ongoing series, CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts presses candidates in the 2026 California governor's race on top issues including redistricting, immigration and homelessness.
The leading candidates for governor share their views on California's controversial redistricting measure, respond to critics and address the ethical dilemma behind the partisan measure.
CBS News California examined why and how a recent alleged kidnapping might have been avoided if the laws were working the way they were supposed to.
Never-before-released interrogations of Matthew Muller, the serial predator who kidnapped Denise Huskins in 2015, show his confessions to decades of other home invasions and sexual assaults.
Once thought of as a small, rarely-used backstop, the FAIR Plan is now one of the largest insurers in the state, and people without FAIR Plan insurance are the ones on the hook for the FAIR Plan's debt. Yet the FAIR Plan is still cloaked in secrecy.
Skincare brands are making billions of dollars a year selling products to tweens: kids under 12. Dermatologists warn that some of those products can be harmful to young skin. So, a California lawmaker wants to require an ID to buy some of those products. CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts teamed up with her daughter's fifth-grade class and the CBS News Confirmed team to examine the risks of the "Sephora Kids" trend and the proposed solution to help protect children. BEHIND THE INVESTIGATION: CBS News California investigates troubling trend in skincare industry WATCH PART 1 - Investigating "Sephora Kid" Concerns: How skincare brands make billions selling products to tweens. WATCH PART 2 - Investigating "Sephora Kids" Solutions: Fifth-graders investigate California bill targeting anti-aging skincare sales to minors. READ MORE HERE: How the skincare industry makes billions marketing products to tweens, including some that could harm young skin
If you have a tween in your life, get-ready-with-me videos may be familiar to you. These videos saturate social media feeds, targeting young girls with multi-step skincare and routines. Popular brands partner with kid-fluencers to create viral skincare products and social media content, and the skincare industry is cashing in, turning many in Generation Alpha into so-called "Sephora kids." The problem is that many viral products contain anti-aging ingredients like retinol and alpha hydroxy acid, which, unbeknownst to many of these kids, can harm their young skin, and it's hard to tell the products apart. So CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts teamed up with her daughter's fifth-grade class and CBS News Confirmed to examine the risks and what is being done to protect children. WATCH PART 1 - Investigating "Sephora Kid" Concerns: How skincare brands make billions selling products to tweens. WATCH PART 2 - Investigating "Sephora Kids" Solutions: Fifth-graders investigate California bill targeting anti-aging skincare sales to minors. READ MORE HERE: How the skincare industry makes billions marketing products to tweens, including some that could harm young skin
Skincare brands make billions of dollars annually selling stuff to children 12 and under, even though dermatologists caution against minors using some of these products that are meant for adults. The CBS News Confirmed team analyzed top kidfluencers with more than 42 million followers combined and found that 94% of their recent skincare posts did not let kids know they were getting free products or commissions from the brands they promote. That social media marketing is turning many in this generation into so-called "Sephora kids," but they often don't realize that some viral products can harm young skin. Check out what happened when CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts sent her 11-year-old daughter undercover shopping with her friends. BEHIND THE INVESTIGATION: CBS News California investigates troubling trend in skincare industry WATCH PART 1 - Investigating "Sephora Kid" Concerns: How skincare brands make billions selling products to tweens. WATCH PART 2 - Investigating "Sephora Kids" Solutions: Fifth-graders investigate California bill targeting anti-aging skincare sales to minors. READ MORE HERE: How the skincare industry makes billions marketing products to tweens, including some that could harm young skin
FAIR plan problems are nothing new, but suddenly, everyone is paying attention to California's insurance crisis. Are we any closer to a fix? CBS News California investigates the flood of insurance-related bills in the aftermath of the L.A. fires and why it's taken so long for lawmakers to take action. WATCH OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE: CBS NEWS CALIFORNIA INVESTIGATES California's Insurance Crisis
As more people in California lose private insurance, the state's FAIR plan is filling up with homes in places the industry itself has classified as low-risk for wildfire.
The public is on the hook for the FAIR Plan's debt, but we don't have access to the FAIR Plan's financials. Should that be legal? California's Insurance Commissioner says, "No." Now he's committing to fix it following a CBS News California Investigation. WATCH THE FULL INVESTIGATION HERE: California FAIR Plan secrets: Why the state's insurer of last resort is so secretive FOLLOW OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE: CBS NEWS CALIFORNIA INVESTIGATES California's Insurance Crisis
In an exclusive interview, Huskins and Quinn take us through his interrogation, showing us step-by-step how old-school interrogation training led to their "American Nightmare."
CBS News Confirmed checked Gov. Newsom's "fact checks" on the L.A.-area fires and found that although many were correct, a few omitted crucial context. Here's what we know.
Two days after CBS News California Investigates initially aired this story, Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire re-appointed Democratic Sen. Susan Rubio, who served in the role for the last six years, to lead the committee.
Emails obtained by CBS News California Investigates reveal the Governor's Chief of Staff did not want to negotiate with the initiative coalition unless they agreed to postpone their ballot measure until 2026.
A homicide suspect accused of a deadly shooting in San Pablo has been arrested after nearly a year on the run, officials said.
Jimmy Butler had 32 points and eight rebounds, Stephen Curry warmed up in the second half to finish with 27 points and seven assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 126-113 on Thursday night.
Three people were arrested Thursday afternoon following a helicopter-tracked pursuit tied to a shooting investigation in Oakland, police said.
From the California coast, you can see a lot of surfers. It's not so easy to see a blue whale. However, at UC Santa Cruz, you can walk right up to a legendary blue whale, or at least its skeleton.
A construction controversy is building over the massive Sites Reservoir that could help solve California's water-storage problem.
A homicide suspect accused of a deadly shooting in San Pablo has been arrested after nearly a year on the run, officials said.
Three people were arrested Thursday afternoon following a helicopter-tracked pursuit tied to a shooting investigation in Oakland, police said.
From the California coast, you can see a lot of surfers. It's not so easy to see a blue whale. However, at UC Santa Cruz, you can walk right up to a legendary blue whale, or at least its skeleton.
Kittle tore his Achilles during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. He became the latest Niners star to have a season-ending injury.
A man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and acquitted of murder in the 2021 killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old San Francisco man killed in an unprovoked attack that helped galvanize a national anti-Asian hate movement.
A man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and acquitted of murder in the 2021 killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old San Francisco man killed in an unprovoked attack that helped galvanize a national anti-Asian hate movement.
The new name will apply to Music Concourse Drive between JFK Promenade and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, directly adjacent to the Academy of Sciences, where Claude welcomed millions of guests during his 17 years at the museum.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
Protesters gathered outside the Veterans Administration hospital in San Francisco, including health care workers and their veteran patients, protesting a plan to eliminate thousands of unfilled positions in the VA healthcare system.
The JP Morgan Healthcare Conference brings thousands of people to the city, from investors to innovators to executives and more. For many of the attendees, the city is making a good impression, whether it is a first or a new one.
A homicide suspect accused of a deadly shooting in San Pablo has been arrested after nearly a year on the run, officials said.
Three people were arrested Thursday afternoon following a helicopter-tracked pursuit tied to a shooting investigation in Oakland, police said.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
Oakland's John Waters-hosted music festival has announced its full lineup for its 2026 edition, with a rock legend getting top billing.
Oakland officials said they have been placed at the most dangerous stretches of road in the city.
From the California coast, you can see a lot of surfers. It's not so easy to see a blue whale. However, at UC Santa Cruz, you can walk right up to a legendary blue whale, or at least its skeleton.
A wayward sea lion pup is now in the care of the Marine Mammal Center after it wandered into Mountain View last week.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
Nearly three weeks after severe winds damaged an iconic observatory in the mountains near San Jose, crews are still focused on emergency mitigation efforts.
A small earthquake shook the South Bay area on Thursday morning.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
A man serving life in prison for a deadly gang shooting in Southern California has died following an altercation with another inmate at a prison in Solano County, officials said.
One Clearlake family said, considering how long it took to stop the leak, they don't have a lot of faith in the district, and that when the cleanup is completed, they will be hiring an independent company to test the neighborhood wells before using the water again.
San Rafael plans to build a shelter for people who are homeless, about 70 small cabins, using a Housing First approach. The model is built on the idea that for people living on the streets and battling addiction, it's hard to get sober without a place to live.
Residents say that what could replace an empty office building, which sits off the 101 Freeway in San Rafael at 700 Irwin Street, will worsen already heavily congested traffic.
Jimmy Butler had 32 points and eight rebounds, Stephen Curry warmed up in the second half to finish with 27 points and seven assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 126-113 on Thursday night.
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold injured his left oblique during Thursday's practice and was listed as questionable for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against the 49ers, but he said he's confident he'll play.
San Francisco's star linebacker Fred Warner is out for the 49ers' playoff game against Seattle.
FIFA says it has received over 500 million ticket requests for 2026 World Cup matches in the U.S., Canada and Mexico— with prices as high as $8,680.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that the goal is for Warner to return "next week," referencing a potential NFC Championship Game if the 49ers were to advance past the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.
A homicide suspect accused of a deadly shooting in San Pablo has been arrested after nearly a year on the run, officials said.
Three people were arrested Thursday afternoon following a helicopter-tracked pursuit tied to a shooting investigation in Oakland, police said.
A man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and acquitted of murder in the 2021 killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old San Francisco man killed in an unprovoked attack that helped galvanize a national anti-Asian hate movement.
Oakland officials said they have been placed at the most dangerous stretches of road in the city.
Police said the 15-year-old girl was walking to school when the suspect approached her, pulled her into his vehicle, and sexually battered her.
Verizon says it's giving a $20 credit to customers affected an outage that disrupted service across the U.S.
Grok faces mounting scrutiny from government officials and advocacy groups after people used the AI chatbot to create sexualized images of minors and women.
Mother of Colorado man who committed suicide in 2025 alleges that OpenAI's AI chatbot told him death was a "beautiful place."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will start using Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok. The word comes days after Grok drew global outcry for generating highly sexualized deepfake images.
Kaiser Permanente has reached a lawsuit settlement over alleged patient data breaches involving Kaiser websites and mobile applications, with members eligible to receive a payment from a $46 million settlement fund, the health care giant announced.
The Bay Area's Spare the Air alert has been extended to at least Saturday as a high-pressure system is expected to hang around and impact air quality.
Kaiser Permanente has reached a lawsuit settlement over alleged patient data breaches involving Kaiser websites and mobile applications, with members eligible to receive a payment from a $46 million settlement fund, the health care giant announced.
Several East Bay hospitals that serve Alameda County's most vulnerable residents have issued layoff notices to staff, citing major federal cuts to Medicaid that administrators say will significantly affect their finances.
Officials said there were 35 cases of wild mushroom poisoning across California between Nov. 18 and Jan. 4. In an average year, fewer than five cases of wild mushroom poisoning occur statewide, according to Sonoma County health officials.
This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new vaccination guidelines and now, some western states are telling people they're too dangerous to follow.
A construction controversy is building over the massive Sites Reservoir that could help solve California's water-storage problem.
Protesters gathered outside the Veterans Administration hospital in San Francisco, including health care workers and their veteran patients, protesting a plan to eliminate thousands of unfilled positions in the VA healthcare system.
The Oakland City Council discussed how to keep the city's watch party event safe and how to help out in Santa Clara during the Super Bowl.
The State Department announced it will stop giving out visas to nationals of dozens of countries who are seeking to move to the U.S. permanently.
A panel for the U.S. Central District Court of California ruled Democrats can proceed in using their redrawn congressional maps for the 2026 midterm elections.
The billionaire and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $45 million to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention and advocacy for LGBTQ young people.
Oasis nightclub announced plans to close six months ago. New Year's Eve was slated for the final performance. A last-minute, multi-million dollar donation turned the final curtain call into an encore performance.
A 16-year FBI employee has filed a lawsuit alleging he was fired last month because he had a Pride flag displayed near his desk.
A group of transgender members of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force forced to leave active duty under the Trump administration's policies say their benefits were revoked in a rare move.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco announced Wednesday that he is running for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat next year.
The livestream unfolded with his team from LaRussell's garage, where he connected with fans through Instagram Live. During the broadcast, one woman shared that she was facing eviction. LaRussell covered the exact amount she needed to remain in her home.
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
From historic wins to powerful speeches, here are the highlights and most memorable moments from the 2026 Golden Globes.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the 2026 Golden Globes.
The San Francisco Grateful Dead community is coming together after it was announced that one of the founding members, Bob Weir, has died at the age of 78.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland Unified School District has seen an alarming spike in the number of unhoused students in the school system who deal with a host of challenges far beyond what most children face.
Meteorologist and CBS News Bay Area's resident pilot Lt. Jessica Burch got a treat during Fleet Week, taking to the skies with one of the Blue Angels.
A Bay Area man discovered his devastating loss left him with a new opportunity to rethink how he lives -- follow his journey in virtual reality, 360-degree video.
A groundbreaking medical study involving the UCSF Medical Center has shown some colorectal cancer patients can safely skip radiation treatment and enjoy a potentially higher quality of life.
Every day, San Francisco bar pilot Captain Zach Kellerman goes through what might just be the world's most dangerous commute.
A man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and acquitted of murder in the 2021 killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old San Francisco man killed in an unprovoked attack that helped galvanize a national anti-Asian hate movement.
From the California coast, you can see a lot of surfers. It's not so easy to see a blue whale. However, at UC Santa Cruz, you can walk right up to a legendary blue whale, or at least its skeleton.
New details have emerged in the gas explosion in Hayward last month.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be deadly to dogs and, in rare cases, humans.
Kevin Ko reports.
In 2025, KPIX is moving to a new community service award: the CBS News Bay Area Icon Award. Submit nominations for an outstanding community hero at kpix.com/icon.
It's the most wonderful time of the year for a South Bay woman who has played Mrs. Claus for more than 40 years for the children of North San Jose's Alviso District.
For residents of the Oakland Hills, the prospect of another wildfire always remains a concern. This week's Jefferson Awards winner has made it his mission to make the hills and other high-risk areas safer.
In East Palo Alto -- where state education numbers show more than nine in ten public school students are low income and more than half are English learners -- many are finding hope and connection at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.
This week's Jefferson Award winner is Army veteran who continues to live a life of service into his 80s, by feeding hundreds of San Francisco families a week.
A Bay Area man who overcame tremendous obstacles to excel in school has made it his mission to gear up other students for success in the classroom and in life.
For Students Rising Above scholar Josh Collins it took moving across the country to realize the value of his Bay Area family.
Samir Hooker had to grow up fast after his stepfather was shot dead 12 years ago. Now he is watching over his mom and sister while attending UC Berkeley.
It's hard enough to graduate from one of the most prestigious schools in the country when you're the first in your family to go to college. Imagine doing that while you're also trying to protect your parents from being deported?
Some students who are the first in their families to go to college face the challenge of balancing a rigorous academic load while still working to help support their family back home.