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Students holding Pride and trans flags gather at Pat Birdsall Sports Park across the street from Great Oak High School in Temecula on Sept. 22, 2023. Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Orange County Register via AP Photo<\/p>\nStudents holding Pride and trans flags gather at Pat Birdsall Sports Park across the street from Great Oak High School in Temecula on Sept. 22, 2023. Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Orange County Register via AP Photo<\/p>\n
Though California is a relatively safe place for transgender youth, LGBTQ advocates warn that efforts to eliminate policies safeguarding transgender kids \u2014 led by right-leaning states and the Trump administration \u2014 may change that<\/a>.<\/p>\n As CalMatters\u2019 Carolyn Jones explains, a handful of California\u2019s policies may be at risk of being reversed or undermined as lawsuits challenging transgender protections play out in court. Two major cases are:<\/p>\n Student athletes: The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case based on a pair of lawsuits challenging Idaho and West Virginia\u2019s bans prohibiting transgender women from playing on women\u2019s teams. Legal experts say the high court appears poised to uphold states\u2019 rights, allowing them to keep the ban.\u00a0<\/p>\n Because California allows students to play on school-sponsored sports teams that align with their gender identity, a ruling upholding states\u2019 rights would also uphold California\u2019s policy. But it could also embolden the federal government to penalize states for protecting transgender athletes. Last year, President Donald Trump said he would withhold federal funding from schools that allow transgender females to play on girls\u2019 and women\u2019s teams.<\/p>\n Parental notification: In 2024 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law<\/a> banning schools statewide from requiring school staff members to inform parents if a child identifies as transgender without the child\u2019s consent.\u00a0<\/p>\n After the law went into effect, a pair of teachers from Escondido sued the state, arguing that it \u201cviolates their faith and ethics,\u201d according to the law firm that filed the suit on behalf of the teachers.<\/p>\n A federal judge sided with the teachers in December, but the state successfully requested a temporary injunction on the ruling while it prepares an appeal. The plaintiffs have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the stay and implement the ruling immediately, but the court has yet to issue a decision.<\/p>\n Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n CalMatters events: Mi Escuelita, a San Diego preschool, is transforming how young children recover from trauma. Join our event on Feb. 5, in person in Chula Vista or virtually, to hear from California leaders in trauma-informed care about what works, what it takes to sustain it and how policymakers can expand these programs. Register today<\/a>.<\/p>\n What should justice look like in California today? Join us in Los Angeles on Feb. 25th for a conversation with L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, former CDCR Director Dave Lewis and Heidi Rummel of the Post-Conviction Justice Project, on prosecution, incarceration and whether reform or tougher policies will define the state\u2019s future. Register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other Stories You Should Know<\/p>\n How helpful is $200 million?<\/p>\n In his latest budget plan, Newsom earmarked $200 million to revive California\u2019s rebate program for electric cars. Based on previous rebate models, that might not go very far<\/a>, writes CalMatters\u2019 Alejandro Lazo.<\/p>\n Using the state\u2019s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program model that ended in 2023 \u2014 which offered rebates of up to $7,500 toward some electric and hybrid cars \u2014 Newsom\u2019s proposal would cover rebates for only about 20% of last year\u2019s EV sales, a CalMatters analysis found.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not going to be enough, said Christopher Chavez, deputy policy director at the Coalition for Clean Air: \u201cTwo-hundred million for a mass-market program will go very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n Chavez also warned that in the time it takes to approve the budget and set up a new program, consumers may not get rebates until 2027.<\/p>\n Shortcomings from previous incentive programs are also renewing questions from experts and lawmakers about who should get the money. State regulators ended the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program over concerns it benefited higher-income buyers, and while California had programs aimed at low-income buyers, advocates say some of these programs weren\u2019t adequately funded.<\/p>\n Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tijuana River cleanup efforts inch forward<\/p>\n A bill to speed up the doling out of funds from a multibillion-dollar climate bond cleared a legislative hurdle Thursday<\/a>, advancing out of the Assembly\u2019s appropriations committee, reports CalMatters\u2019 Nadia Lathan.<\/p>\n The measure by Assemblymember David Alvarez<\/a> would lift some regulations tied to Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond that voters approved in 2024<\/a> for water, wildfire and other climate resistant projects. The Chula Vista Democrat said he wanted to accelerate the release of Prop. 4\u2019s money to address the sewage pollution issue in the Tijuana River, which affects his district. About $30 million from the bond is expected to be used for the river\u2019s cleanup efforts, and Alvarez said his bill could help speed up funding by up to 18 months.<\/p>\n Over the past two decades, California voters have approved billions of dollars in bonds, some of which going toward projects that have been mired in regulatory obstacles that delay timelines and balloon costs. In 2014, for example, voters passed Prop. 1 to allocate $1 billion for a water storage project in the Sacramento Valley. It remains under construction.<\/p>\n The bill is backed by local governments and environmental groups, and has no formal opposition. It is expected to go before the Assembly for a floor vote next week.<\/p>\n Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n And lastly: More like Balb-no way I\u2019m paying for parking<\/p>\n San Diego this month imposed parking fees for the century-old Balboa Park to help pay for the park and its museums. Though the new fees are estimated to result in $2.9 million in revenue this fiscal year, backlash has been swift: Museum visits have dropped, vandals are defacing meters and San Diego County mayors are urging the city to reverse the policy. Read more<\/a> from CalMatters\u2019 Deborah Brennan.<\/p>\n California Voices<\/p>\n CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Newsom\u2019s proposal to have the governor manage the state\u2019s schools would streamline a governance system that is currently opaque, but it would also hold the governor more accountable for educational achievement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other things worth your time:<\/p>\n Some stories may require a subscription to read.<\/p>\n Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge\u2019s warrant, memo says \/\/ AP News<\/a><\/p>\n Newsom\u2019s record is a problem \/\/ The Atlantic<\/a><\/p>\n The \u2018nightmare\u2019 budget scenario looming over CA \u2014 and Newsom \/\/ Politico<\/a><\/p>\n Fearing deficits, CA senators ask Newsom for budget transparency \/\/ The Sacramento Bee<\/a><\/p>\n After snub, Newsom completes Davos mission to excoriate Trump on world stage \/\/ The Sacramento Bee<\/a><\/p>\n CA sees 150,000+ sign-ups for new data broker deletion request tool \/\/ CBS News<\/a><\/p>\n At Yosemite, rangers are scarce and visitors have gone wild \/\/ The New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n No one knows who\u2019s behind Sacramento Valley billboard message to 80-year-old Democrat \/\/ SFGate<\/a><\/p>\n Immigration agent shoots at suspect during operation in South LA \/\/ Los Angeles Times<\/a><\/p>\n .wp-block-group__inner-container > :not(h2){margin: 16px 40px !important;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container{display: flex;gap: 12px;align-items: center;}.cm-cta.long-ask figure{max-width: 40px;flex-shrink: 0;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group p{font-size: 18px;font-weight: 700;line-height: 120%;letter-spacing: -0.36px;width: 100%;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-buttons{flex-shrink: 0;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-button__link{padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;}@container long-ask (min-width: 601px){.cm-cta.long-ask *{font-size: 16px;}}@container long-ask (max-width: 600px){.cm-cta.long-ask h2,.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group p{text-align: center;}.cm-cta.long-ask h2{background: linear-gradient(90deg,#FFE094 0%,#FFB500 100%);padding: 12px 20px;font-size: 20px;letter-spacing: -0.4px;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container{flex-direction: column;}.cm-cta.long-ask > .wp-block-group__inner-container > :not(h2){margin: 16px 20px !important;}}]]><\/p>\n Nonpartisan, independent California news for all<\/p>\n We\u2019re CalMatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide.<\/p>\n Our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential.<\/p>\n We are independent and nonpartisan. Our trustworthy journalism is free from partisan politics, free from corporate influence and actually free for all Californians.<\/p>\n We are focused on California issues. From the environment to homelessness, economy and more, we publish the unfettered truth to keep you informed.<\/p>\n We hold people in power accountable. We probe and reveal the actions and inactions of powerful people and institutions, and the consequences that follow.<\/p>\n But we can\u2019t keep doing this without support from readers like you.<\/p>\n Please give what you can today. Every gift helps.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California\u2019s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters\u2019 flagship daily newsletter…\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769180589_66_070519-Electric-Vehicles-AW-CM-02.jpg\")
An electric vehicle owner unplugs their Nissan Leaf at a rapid charge station in Emeryville on July 5, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters<\/p>\n![\"Layers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/112125_Paloma-Aguirre_AH_CM_04.jpg\")
Layers of foam caused by sewage and chemicals bubble up along a section of the Tijuana River in San Diego on Nov. 21, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012126_Balboa-Parking_AH_CM_01.jpg\")
The California Tower at Balboa Park in San Diego on Jan. 21, 2026. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Asset-2ii-2.png\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Avatar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/cropped-Lynn-La-80x80.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMore by Lynn La\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Students holding Pride and trans flags gather at Pat Birdsall Sports Park across the street from Great Oak…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":146394,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-146393","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-california","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-california-headlines","10":"tag-california-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}