Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Students walk to class at Orange Vista High School in Perris, on Nov. 18, 2025.

What California’s planned power outages are costing schools: darkness, disruption and debt

California schools faced repeated planned power outages in 2024-2025 as Edison cut electricity to prevent wildfires, forcing closures and costly backup power solutions.

Local News

These gas appliances — one of the largest sources of LA’s smog — could be phased out

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Air quality board will vote Friday on targets and fees that aim to phase out water heaters and furnaces powered by natural gas. These appliances emit more smog-causing gases than the region’s largest industrial polluters.

Khari Burton of IMC Logistics demonstrates how to charge a zero-emissions big rig

Local News

CalMatters two-way: Communities hold their breath as companies struggle with CA's diesel truck ban

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Anthony Victoria

California aims to replace diesel trucks with electric or hydrogen ones, but challenges remain for trucking companies…and diesel exhaust still pollutes the air.

Jose Ulloa, who suffers from asthma, watches diesel trucks driving in his neighborhood in Wilmington. California is phasing out diesel trucks, which cause smog and soot and are linked to lung cancer, over the next two decades. But companies are struggling with the new hydrogen and battery technologies.

California News

Polluted communities hold their breath as companies struggle with California’s diesel truck ban

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust.