Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers reached a final budget deal last week that largely relies on AI revenue projections and new taxes to delay social service cuts and shrink future deficits.
Author Archives: Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters
Yue Stella Yu covers politics for CalMatters, with a particular focus on campaigns, elections and voters.
After arriving in California in October 2023, she dove into the state’s once-in-30-years U.S. Senate primary, a fierce contest to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Stella helped write CalMatters’ 2024 March primary Voter Guide, dug deep into Senate candidates’ voting records and policy positions, covered three televised debates and examined their pledges against corporate PAC money. She also reported on issues affecting Latino voters’ turnout across California.
Stella will be a lead reporter covering the November election, including the U.S. Senate race, congressional contests and key statewide issues.
Before joining CalMatters, Stella covered state and local politics in Michigan, Tennessee and Mississippi while dabbing in investigative stories. In 2023, her reporting revealed the highly unregulated housing conditions for Michigan dairy farm workers and the lack of state actions to protect workers. She won first place in investigative reporting in press association contests in Tennessee, Mississippi and Missouri.
She graduated from the University of Missouri with a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 2017. She is based in Sacramento.
Other languages spoken: Mandarin (fluent) and Korean (conversational)
Posted inPolitics & Government
Billionaire tax, affordable housing: See the measures on California’s November ballot
California voters will decide on 14 statewide policy proposals come November, including the high-stakes billionaire tax, an $11 billion affordable housing bond and voter ID requirements.
Posted inPolitics & Government
This lawmaker’s proposal could make California ‘the most secretive state in the country’
Pacheco’s legislation would allow public agencies to delay records requests it deems “improperly” filed, sue for “malicious” requests and charge up to $66 an hour to produce government records.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Judge rejects Green Party candidate’s bid to appear on California governor ballots
Candidate Rudolph “Butch” Ware argued he was inappropriately disqualified over tax requirements.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Newsom’s final year in office begins with an $18 billion deficit. How will he address it?
As Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to release his spending plan this Friday, a projected $18 billion deficit awaits. Will he raise taxes or cut spending? Either could spell trouble for Newsom’s legacy.