{"id":410575,"date":"2026-07-24T08:53:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/410575\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T08:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:53:33","slug":"should-grizzly-bears-roam-california-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/410575\/","title":{"rendered":"Should grizzly bears roam California again?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AA grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park on June 2, 2016. Photo by Jim Peaco, National Park Service<\/p>\n

Though it\u2019s emblazoned on our state flag, the last California grizzly bear died more than a century ago. Now, a group of Democratic lawmakers wants to consider bringing back the species in the state<\/a> \u2014 despite misgivings from communities that would be the most vulnerable to bear attacks if they return.<\/p>\n

As CalMatters\u2019 Ryan Sabalow explains, California was home to as many as 10,000 grizzly bears before the Gold Rush. But systematic extermination by settlers wiped out the species in the state.<\/p>\n

After passing through the state Senate, a bill before the Assembly would direct the state\u2019s Department of Fish and Wildlife to examine the feasibility of reintroducing the apex predator. Tribes, environmentalists and animal welfare organizations support the bill, arguing that the bears improve the ecosystem and reintroducing them would right an ecological wrong.<\/p>\n

Tiana Williams-Claussen, director of the Yurok Tribe\u2019s wildlife department: \u201cI can see the ways in which my homeland has suffered from the loss of iconic species such as the grizzly, and that this loss lingers in our heart and in the attenuation of a millennia-old relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill\u2019s Democratic author and coauthors represent predominantly urban districts in Southern California \u2014 a sharp contrast to the rural communities, ranchers and hunting groups that oppose the bill.<\/p>\n

These critics, along with nearly all Republican senators who voted against the measure, say it\u2019s preposterous to consider reintroducing an aggressive, apex predator to California \u2014 especially in rural places already overwhelmed with conflicts with other predators, such as mountain lions and wolves.<\/p>\n

It would also be cruel to the grizzlies, \u201cwho don\u2019t have any say in it,\u201d said Elizabeth Washoe, a Native American from Modoc County.<\/p>\n

Washoe: \u201cWhere they\u2019re at, they\u2019re living a pretty good life, and we\u2019d take them and put them here in a landscape that is so dramatically changed from what it was the last time that the bears were truly living a good life here. \u2026 It feels egotistical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CalMatters\u2019 11th Anniversary Drive: Double your gift and fund independent reporting that helps you vote with confidence, follow the facts and hold the powerful accountable. Every gift makes a difference, please give now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other Stories You Should Know<\/p>\n

Conviction tossed in CA COVID fraud scheme<\/p>\n

\"IllustrationIllustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock<\/p>\n

Three years ago a federal jury threw the book at a man who allegedly carried out a $1 million COVID fraud scheme while running a rehab home for parolees under a state contract.<\/p>\n

Attila Colar\u2019s conviction fell apart this week when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found the judge in the case allowed a juror with a disqualifying bias to participate in the trial.<\/p>\n

CalMatters exposed Colar\u2019s operation<\/a>, called All Hands on Deck, in a 2023 investigation into parolee rehabilitation programs. The investigation showed California had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the programs<\/a>, but couldn\u2019t say whether they helped anyone find a job or stay away from crime.<\/p>\n

Colar, who is Black and Muslim, represented himself during parts of his trial. He made statements to prospective jurors suggesting he believed he was unfairly targeted by law enforcement because of his race and religious beliefs.<\/p>\n

One juror reacted negatively to those statements, saying when Colar spoke, \u201call that came out was discrimination, conspiracy theories, and police corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 9th Circuit found the juror should have been removed. The appeals court noted the man\u2019s views \u201cwere rooted in his personal experience and emotion, and he told the court in plain terms that he would not be able to set them aside.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to do with leftover school AC money<\/p>\n

\"AnSchool officials show an HVAC unit inside a classroom at West Hollywood Elementary School in West Hollywood on March 18, 2021. Photo by Al Seib, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

California is sitting on $200 million once earmarked for school air conditioners and heating systems \u2014 and a fight is underway to claim it<\/a>, writes CalMatters\u2019 Alejandra Reyes-Velarde.<\/p>\n

On one side, schools say they should get the money. It was meant for them, after all, when lawmakers created a program in 2020 to pay for HVAC replacements with money raised from utility companies.<\/p>\n

Keith Butler, deputy superintendent of Torrance Unified School District: \u201cThis was money that was pulled back unjustifiably. This is a good use of funds that has been set aside already \u2014 we just wanted it to go back out to finish the work.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, consumer advocates have a claim on the money, too. They say the money should go back to the utility ratepayers whose bills increased for a program the state killed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A $340K transition for campus president<\/p>\n

\"Tom\u00e1sCal State San Bernardino President Tom\u00e1s Morales. Photo via California State University<\/p>\n

Tom\u00e1s Morales, the outgoing president of California State University, San Bernardino, will secure a\u00a0$340,000 salary from Cal State as he transitions to another job consulting for the university system. Morales was at the center of a $12 million lawsuit settlement, in which two female former administrators accused him of gender-based discrimination and retaliation. Read more<\/a> from Phoebe Huss of CalMatters\u2019 College Journalism Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n

California Voices<\/p>\n

CalMatters contributor Jim Newton: The future of Los Angeles\u2019 MacArthur Park is still tenuous, but it feels safer and cleaner than it did a year ago, and city officials are experimenting with limiting access to a major street in the middle of the park to only pedestrians and park-goers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other things worth your time:<\/p>\n

Some stories may require a subscription to read.<\/p>\n

Are CA voters signaling tax fatigue toward school bonds and parcel taxes? \/\/ EdSource<\/a> (free)<\/p>\n

San Francisco supervisors question Kaiser\u2019s use of AI in healthcare \/\/ KQED<\/a> (free)<\/p>\n

Gig economy workers depend on food stamps and Medicaid, according to government report \/\/ The Washington Post<\/a> (gift link)\u00a0<\/p>\n

3 years after mass shooting, Half Moon Bay voters to weigh in on farmworker housing \/\/ San Francisco Chronicle<\/a> (gift link)<\/p>\n

CA\u2019s displaced oil and gas workers\u2019 fund is a lifeline. Now advocates say it\u2019s time to expand \/\/ KQED<\/a> (free)<\/p>\n

One of CA\u2019s oldest schools changes name to comply with state law \/\/ Abridged<\/a> (free)<\/p>\n

CA Dems blast FCC in KABC, KGO license reviews \/\/ Los Angeles Times<\/a> (paywall)<\/p>\n

A year of ICE raids in LA County has cost Latino businesses millions in revenue \/\/ LAist<\/a> (free)<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Avatar\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\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
\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":"A grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park on June 2, 2016. Photo by Jim Peaco, National Park Service…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":410576,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":["post-410575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410575","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=410575"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410575\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/410576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}