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.
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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.
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.
Rainstorms and a widespread power outage dampened what is typically the most important shopping week of the year for many San Francisco retailers.
Almost every day, you will find amateur photographers Dan Sarka and David Young traversing the trails around Alameda Creek looking to capture and document the return of Chinook salmon in the Niles Canyon area.
A person was taken to the hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance in San Mateo on Friday, authorities said.
Beef and lamb stacked onto a vertical rotisserie greet diners walking into Shawarmaji, a Bay Area eatery that co-owner Feras Abutaha says is filling a long-missing niche in the region's crowded Mediterranean food scene.
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.
Almost every day, you will find amateur photographers Dan Sarka and David Young traversing the trails around Alameda Creek looking to capture and document the return of Chinook salmon in the Niles Canyon area.
A person was taken to the hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance in San Mateo on Friday, authorities said.
A man riding a scooter in Santa Rosa was hit and killed while crossing an intersection Friday morning, authorities said.
Two Mammoth Mountain ski patrollers were caught in an avalanche while doing avalanche mitigation work on Friday, the resort said.
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 person was taken to the hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance in San Mateo on Friday, authorities said.
A suspicious package discovered at San Francisco International Airport on Friday morning led to the evacuation of a terminal amid ongoing flight delays, authorities said.
On Christmas Day, kitchens across America hum with familiar activity. Vegetables are chopped. Pots are stirred, and cooks prepare meals for the people they love.
It was a dark and dreary Christmas night for many people throughout the Bay Area, but especially for those in and around Half Moon Bay.
Almost every day, you will find amateur photographers Dan Sarka and David Young traversing the trails around Alameda Creek looking to capture and document the return of Chinook salmon in the Niles Canyon area.
A police officer in Brentwood shot and killed a man with a rifle during a traffic stop on Wednesday, authorities said.
The closure is due to the storm affecting the electrical system. Bores 2 and 4 will stay open.
Another minor earthquake struck San Ramon on Wednesday morning, the latest in a series of small quakes in the area, authorities said.
A shooting in Oakland over the weekend left four people injured, police said Monday.
A shooting at an after-hours business in San Jose early Friday morning left one person dead and three other people injured, police said.
A gasoline tanker overturned on U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose Thursday morning, blocking traffic for hours, authorities said.
Tens of thousands of PG&E customers across the Bay Area are again without power on Christmas morning after another wet and windy storm moves through Northern California.
A San Jose school district will pay $5.75 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that a teacher impregnated a student decades ago, forced her to have an abortion, and continued to abuse her.
Wyatt Johnston scored twice and the Dallas Stars beat the San Jose Sharks 5–3.
A man riding a scooter in Santa Rosa was hit and killed while crossing an intersection Friday morning, authorities said.
Heavier rainfall and stronger winds prompted small businesses in low-lying flood-prone areas like Goodman Building Supply in Mill Valley to place sandbags in front of their entrance.
Soskin became a park ranger when she was 84 and worked at the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park in Richmond. She was 100 when she retired.
The National Park Service said two people were captured on video throwing rocks at an elephant seal that was resting on a Point Reyes National Seashore beach on Dec. 6.
Despite rain in the forecast, much of Saturday in Santa Rosa remained dry, giving residents a brief window to run errands, enjoy the outdoors and prepare for the storms expected in the days ahead.
Stephen Curry scored 23 points and knocked down a key 3-pointer with 3:45 left to help seal it, Jimmy Butler added 14 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 126-116.
Brock Purdy threw a career-high five touchdown passes and Dee Winters returned an interception 74 yards for a score to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 48-27 victory at Indianapolis.
Stephen Curry had 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Jimmy Butler scored 25 points, and the Golden State Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Phoenix Suns 119-116.
As the San Francisco Giants prepare for the upcoming season, the team has made an acquisition beyond baseball, purchasing the historic Curran Theatre near Union Square.
Wyatt Johnston scored twice and the Dallas Stars beat the San Jose Sharks 5–3.
A shooting at an after-hours business in San Jose early Friday morning left one person dead and three other people injured, police said.
A police officer in Brentwood shot and killed a man with a rifle during a traffic stop on Wednesday, authorities said.
Police said officers learned the shooting happened on the 400 block of Cottonwood Drive and that they have launched an investigation.
A San Francisco man convicted of sexually assaulting two of his relatives was sentenced to a lengthy prison term, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
A prominent California farmer was arrested in the shooting death of his estranged wife in a remote mountain community in Arizona, authorities said.
Instacart had drawn criticism for testing an AI-based system that enabled retailers to charge different prices for the same grocery items.
Sports betting companies face mounting competition from rapidly growing prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
Instacart's "unlawful tactics" hurt shoppers and raised the cost of groceries, according to the FTC.
The lack of fuel availability for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles has prompted 700 Mirai owners to sue Toyota, an attorney said.
The DMV said it is giving Tesla Motors 60 days to address its misleading use of "autopilot," or it could have its dealer license temporarily suspended.
Millions of people with an Affordable Care Act health plan face a massive jump in premiums next year — this chart shows just how much.
A California digital health company and a Florida medical practice have been indicted in an alleged $100 million scheme to illegally distribute Adderall over the internet to patients across the country who didn't need it, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
"I don't know how I'm going to pay for this," said one person with an Affordable Care Act plan that will cost her $1,100 a month starting in January.
California's public health department said one person has died and several others have suffered severe liver damage due to eating toxic mushrooms that were foraged.
Officials in Monterey County have issued a warning to people foraging for wild mushrooms amid a rise in poisonings.
The Veterans Affairs Department is reimposing a near total ban on abortions for veterans and their families that was modified in 2022.
Strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
President Trump said TV broadcast licenses should be revoked if newscasts and late-night shows are almost entirely negative about him and the GOP.
President Trump has overhauled parts of the White House at a sprinter's pace with virtually no oversight, and it appears there is little standing in his way.
The Education Department signaled earlier this year that it would move to resume wage garnishment, among other forms of involuntary collection, for those in default.
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.
Advocacy group The Trevor Projected released data from the first year of a study following more than 1,600 LGBTQ+ youth across the country.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
Chris Rea found fame in the 1980s in Britain with hits such as "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" and "Let's Dance."
James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series "The Wire" and appeared in many other TV shows and movies, has died.
Comedian and actor Bowen Yang performed his final sketch on "SNL" Saturday night, after announcing his unexpected mid-season exit from the show.
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.
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.
Rainstorms and a widespread power outage dampened what is typically the most important shopping week of the year for many San Francisco retailers.
A shooting at an after-hours business in San Jose early Friday morning left one person dead and three other people injured, police said.
An East Bay family watching our news stories about community food donations had an idea that led their own fundraising endeavour. Anne Makovec reports.
Two amateur photographers are documenting the return of salmon to Alameda Creek. Ryan Yamamoto 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.