Richard Ramos

CBS News • 2nd April 2026

California gas prices are the highest in the U.S., but there's no proof of price gouging. Here's why.

For years, California leaders accused oil companies of price gouging.

Instead, a six-month-long CBS News California investigation revealed a complicated reality shaped by state policies, refinery closures, and global supply risks that uniquely impact California's isolated fuel market.

California drivers pay the highest gas prices in the nation. As the conflict in the Middle East increases gas prices globally, California gas continues to be the most expensive in the nation, rising above $6 a ga...

CBS News • 20th March 2026

"American Nightmare" survivor Denise Huskins' shocking new discovery exposes victim privacy loophole in California law

The failure to protect explicit case evidence in "American Nightmare" survivor Denise Huskins' kidnapping and sexual assault case is driving reform at the California State Capitol. New developments in her case exposed a little-known gap in state law that could expose videos of sexual assault victims.

Huskins and her husband, Aaron Quinn, are preparing to testify on behalf of a victims' privacy bill after discovering her kidnapper and his wife had been given copies of explicit case evidence duri...

CBS News • 11th March 2026

California is holding $15 billion in unclaimed property. Other states automatically return the money.

California is holding roughly $15 billion in unclaimed property — one of the largest totals in the country. That's money and valuables that legally belong to California residents, businesses and nonprofits.

A CBS News California Investigates analysis found large charities and hospitals had no idea the state was holding on to tens of thousands of dollars that belonged to them.

While state leaders say they want to return billions of dollars in unclaimed assets, CBS News California Investigates h...

CBS News • 9th March 2026

Eric Swalwell's landlord says he lives in California after Tom Steyer questioned his eligibility to run for governor

A sworn declaration, first obtained by CBS News California Investigates, supports Congressman Eric Swalwell's claim that he is a California resident, as Tom Steyer, a rival candidate in the governor's race, faces criticism for exposing Swalwell's home address while calling for an investigation into his gubernatorial eligibility.

In the declaration, filed on March 6, Swalwell's landlord states under penalty of perjury that the congressman has rented and lived at her Livermore property since 2017...

CBS Sacramento • 25th February 2026

Sacramento's Black-owned Universoul Cafe transforms lives through food recovery and workforce training

Improving access to food and lifting a community — that's been the mission of a Black-owned Sacramento food recovery organization since 2019.

In honor of Black History Month, we bring you the story of how Universoul Cafe is transforming lives.

In Old Sacramento, young chefs in training are sharpening their skills. The group is part of a new cohort led by Tonya Mack, CEO and founder of Universoul Cafe. Her passion and purpose come from within.

"I know what it feels like to go to bed hungry. I...

CBS News • 16th February 2026

They didn't just ignore audit warnings — California lawmakers quietly killed dozens of audit-backed bills

For decades, California lawmakers requested state audits, Californians have paid for those audits, and the State Auditor provided detailed recommendations on how to fix waste, fraud, and oversight failures across state government.

In most cases, CBS News California found lawmakers did not act on those recommendations.

When they did act, former majority party leaders quietly killed dozens of audit-backed bills in committee. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed at least a dozen more.

A CBS News California...

CBS News • 3rd February 2026

FAIR Plan secrets: New bill would force transparency after CBS News California investigation

A year after CBS News California Investigates exposed concerning secrecy within the California FAIR Plan, state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is making good on his promise to change state law.

Lara announced legislation on Monday to require more accountability and transparency from the state's insurance of last resort.

The proposal follows a recent Department of Insurance examination that found the FAIR Plan failed to implement more than a dozen key recommendations related to governance,...

CBS News • 26th January 2026

California lawmakers ignore most state audit warnings, costing billions

For more than a decade, the California State Auditor has issued warnings to lawmakers about government waste, fraud, cost overruns, and broken oversight systems across state government. Again and again, audits called for changes in state law meant to fix those problems.

In many cases, those fixes did not happen.

CBS News California Investigates recently exposed how lawmakers ignored years of warnings from the California State Auditor about hidden traffic violation fees.

That raised a broader...

CBS News • 19th January 2026

Your boss could be watching: Why California lawmakers killed a workplace surveillance bill

Do you ever feel like someone's watching you? Well, you might be right, and it might be your boss.

CBS News California Investigates correspondent Julie Watts looked into why state lawmakers killed a bill that would have limited workplace surveillance when you're off the clock and in private places.

Artist Olivia Stober was working to make ends meet at a retail job until she realized her boss was tracking her every move in real time.

"Along with watching us, she was also listening," Stober sai...

CBS News • 12th January 2026

How California quietly adds hundreds in hidden fees to drive up traffic tickets

Getting a traffic ticket is a terrible feeling that is made even worse when you find out how much it's going to cost you.

What you may not realize is that buried in the dollar amount you're told to pay is a long list of hidden fees, some that have nothing to do with traffic. CBS News California Investigates looked at what you're paying for and why.

A red light camera recorded Kris Kahrs as she drove through an intersection in April 2025.

"As I was pulling, approaching this light, which was s...

CBS News • 30th October 2025

Robocalls are the top U.S. consumer complaint. Here's how California and tech companies are fighting back.

How many spam calls have you gotten so far today? Unwanted robocalls are Americans' number one consumer complaint, and that has CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts asking: What's being done to stop them?

Whether they're pushing payday loans, sketchy charities or they're just a straight-up scam, robocalls aren't just annoying. If that automated voice is asking you for money, odds are that it's illegal.

Once a world traveler working on development projects for the U.S. Ag...