George Skelton

Legendary Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton shares a wealth of stories and perspectives from his six-plus decades of covering the key people and events that have shaped modern day California. From his early beginnings at UPI, Skelton’s career has taken him from Sacramento to Washington D.C. and around the world and back again. Since 1992, his twice-weekly column for the Times has been a must-read for anyone looking to know the skinny on what is happening with California’s movers and shakers. A three-part interview conducted by longtime Capitol reporter Rich Ehisen.

How much money are we willing to spend to seize guns from the likes of the disturbed father who shot and killed his three daughters in a church?. And are state Democrats now willing to retool California’s controversial sanctuary law after it probably protected the father living here illegally from federal immigration agents days before he killed his kids?

Thirty-two years ago, I saw something in Odessa, Ukraine, that still fascinates me. We were at a popular park on the Black Sea. A long line of Ukrainians — maybe 50 — were at a booth where T-shirts, snacks and newspapers were being sold. People were there for the newspapers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — If the U.S. Supreme Court had heeded a gun lobby warning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom wouldn't be pushing Texas copycat legislation aimed at the firearms industry. The Texas vigilante law targeted abortions. And the court seemed to think that was OK. But the court and the...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One surefire formula for making clean energy is lots of sun and less hay. Or fewer tomatoes and — heaven forbid — a reduction in almonds. Plow over some San Joaquin Valley croplands and plant solar panels. Turn alfalfa fields and nut orchards into solar farms.