According to Al Jazeera, there has been a sharp rise in demand for luxury property in the UAE among Ukrainian citizens

California created an agency to stop conservatorship abuses. It didn't work A CalMatters investigation finds the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau hasn't fulfilled its promise to protect Californians as the state’s population ages.

The latest in @calireporter.bsky.social’s investigation into California’s conservator system reveals how weak and undermanned (one employee!) the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau really is, and the stunning amount of harm that happens calmatters.org/investigatio...

Another must-read story from my colleague @calireporter.bsky.social

Thank you, Levi!

She directed $2.7 million from her elderly clients to her husband’s company. The judge approved every penny

Angelique Friend was appointed by the Ventura County court to take care of elderly people’s money. She directed millions of it to her husband’s company while a judge signed off and regulators stood by.

📝 @calireporter.bsky.social
🎨 Gabriel Hongsdusit

Thank you!

A collage-style illustration in green and black and white tones with several cut-out images. The main image of the illustration shows two separate photos of two individuals posing for a photo. Photos of other people can be seen behind them, alongside several receipts.

Angelique Friend is one of Ventura County’s main private fiduciaries, chosen frequently by a probate judge to handle the financial and personal interests of elderly people deemed too ill to care for themselves.

1/6

Thank you for sharing!

How conflicts of interest can continue for years with little consequence: bit.ly/3MF9ORB

A collage-style illustration in green and black and white tones with several cut-out images. The main image of the illustration shows two separate photos of two individuals posing for a photo. Photos of other people can be seen behind them, alongside several receipts.

Angelique Friend was appointed by the Ventura County court to take care of elderly people’s money. She directed millions of it to her husband’s company while a judge signed off and regulators stood by.

📝 @calireporter.bsky.social
🎨 Gabriel Hongsdusit

Live in #California? Had your car towed away and sold? The DMV may owe you some $$$.... Great reporting by @calireporter.bsky.social and @CalMatters. #DMVDrama #TowedCar @nclc4consumers.bsky.social @consumercal.bsky.social

California released 15,000 prisoners early during COVID. Here's how many went back New records show what happened to some of the former prisoners after state leaders chose to shrink a prison population imperiled by the spread of COVID.

Nearly one-third of California prisoners released early during the pandemic by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration ended up back in prison, @calireporter.bsky.social reports
calmatters.org/justice/2025...

Sat 1:15 at the@spj-norcal.bsky.social regional conference! Check out FAC’s Watchdog Workshop, featuring FAC’s @ginnylaroe.bsky.social & investigative reporters @calireporter.bsky.social, @pickoffwhite.bsky.social, and @thomaspeele61.bsky.social, who will reveal secrets of public records sleuths.

Sergeant Gregory Bovino during an interview at El Centro Border Patrol headquarters on Feb. 25, 2025. Photo by Kevin Clancy, CalMatters and Evident Media Headline: Border Patrol said it targeted known criminals in Kern County. But it had no record on 77 of 78 arrestees

Contrary to its public narrative, the agency cast a wide net in its California immigration raid, setting the stage for a legal battle over how the government carries out mass deportations. buff.ly/pM77fg0

📸 Kevin Clancy

And with a signature from Trump’s pen, convicted felon Carlos Watson does free. Happy weekend, everybody.

(quite a motley crew in the thank-yous, too)

Trump’s Migrant Gang Members Appear to Be Anything But Unless there is something ICE is not saying, at least two of the men deported to a terrifying El Salvador super prison do not have criminal records or gang ties.

Unless there is something ICE is not saying, at least two of the men deported to a terrifying El Salvador super prison do not have criminal records or gang ties.

​The numbers speak for themselves.

Over 80% of 16-24-year-olds get their news from social media. ​

So, I started influencerjournalism.com, we empower journalists and creators to responsibly leverage this shift, ensuring audiences receive accurate and compelling news content.​

💥 The California DMV can keep profits from vehicle auctions without even telling you! 🚗💸 What?? 😱 Here's how you can ask for your money back. #DMVDrama #TowedCar

Story: calmatters.org/california-d...

Towing companies can sell your car — and the DMV gets to keep the profit without telling you The California Department of Motor Vehicles has collected more than $8 million from about 5,000 car sales since 2016.

In California, towing companies, storage yards and repair shops can sell your car to recoup their costs if you don’t settle your debts. Unclaimed profits go to the DMV, which has received millions of dollars over the past decade, @calireporter.bsky.social reports: calmatters.org/california-d...

Sacramento area Assemblymember @JoshHooverCA will be among the panelists at "The Future of the California GOP," our next luncheon, 3/11, 12-1 pm, moderated by @PoliticoCA @jonesblake.bsky.social. Tickets: sacpressclub.org

‘A volunteer jail:’ Inside the scandals and abuse pushing California’s homeless out of shelters A hidden epidemic of death lurks in California's homeless shelters, where violence and unhealthy conditions drive people back on the streets.

My @calmatters.org colleague, Lauren Hepler is shedding some light on what what’s it’s like for people living inside California shelters. It’s a sad story that MUST be told.
‘A volunteer jail:’ Inside the scandals and abuse pushing California’s homeless out of shelters
calmatters.org/housing/2025...

A 'lifeline' for California's rural schools is about to expire. Why is it stalled in Congress? Rural schools nationwide, including in 39 counties in California, could lose funding for counties with large amounts of public land.

“Since 1908, the federal government has compensated counties that have large tracts of U.S. Forest Service land, making up for lost tax revenue.”

calmatters.org/education/k-...

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and a Smear Campaign After ‘It Ends With Us’ (Gift Article) Private messages detail an alleged campaign to smear Blake Lively after she accused Justin Baldoni of misconduct on the set of “It Ends With Us.”

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/21/b...

Georgia Court of Appeals strips Fulton DA Fani Willis of Trump election interference case The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office should be removed from the 2020 election interference case, a bombshell decision that wil...

The Georgia Court of Appeals just stripped Fani Willis and her office of the 2020 Trump election interference case

Luigi Mangione, CEO Killing Suspect, Faces Hearing Over Extradition to New York Luigi Mangione, who is currently jailed in Pennsylvania, was charged in New York this week with first-degree murder in what prosecutors said was part of an “act of terrorism.”

Breaking News: The man charged in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO has agreed to be extradited to New York, where he will face a first-degree murder charge.

‘It’s living hell’: Nurses say a California addiction recovery program ended their careers California nurses say an addiction recovery program managed by their licensing board has become a trap that drives them out of their careers.

Eye-opening story from my @calmatters.org colleague, Kristen Hwang.

“One misdemeanor is costing my entire life,” Sage said. “Punish me for something with my (nursing) license that I’ve done with my license.”

calmatters.org/health/2024/...

Sen. Joni Ernst wants to hear from Hegseth on sex assault in the military and women in combat

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst told a largely GOP audience at a California security conference Saturday that she needs to hear more from President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled defense secretary pick on key issues before she decides whether to support him. www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...

Feeling festive and accomplished after putting up my tree. Merry Christmas!

Me as soon as I step outside of my house: