But Cave Creek Mayor Robert Morris can’t shake the real possibility that it’s not enough to keep the desert community of about 5,000 people afloat well into the future. And a recent federal plan to address a deepening crisis in the river basin won’t help.

Cave Creek gets nearly all of its water from the river, which serves 40 million people across the U.S. West and has been dwindling because of climate change, demand and overuse. The town already was forced to make cuts this year and it stands to lose more under a new federal plan.

Morris likened the situation to planning for a meteor strike.

“You can see it coming, but you can’t get out of the way and you don’t know what the damage is going to be,” he said.

The uncertainty stretches across seven U.S. states, tribal nations and Mexico. Farmers are deciding which crops are worth the investment. Phoenix could lose some municipal and industrial water for the first time and turn to backup supplies. And residents could face even more costly water.

Nevada raised the stakes this week by suing the Interior Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, saying basic needs in the Las Vegas region will go unmet if the area has to absorb planned reductions of up to 70% of its Colorado River water in the next decade.

The bureau said Thursday it does not comment on litigation.

“The uncertainty is going to continue to build in the wrong direction,” said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Western reservoirs see record lows

In the U.S. West, water is stored primarily in reservoirs, aquifers and snowpacks. But a record snow drought means there’s far less water to recharge those sources.

The two largest reservoirs in the country serve as barometers of health for the Colorado River system: Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Both hit record lows this month.

Eight other reservoirs operated by the Bureau of Reclamation recently recorded the lowest levels in at least the last 30 years. Among them is Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico that’s critical for supplying water for crops in southern New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. The Green Mountain Reservoir serves the western part of Colorado, and the Guernsey Reservoir in Wyoming funnels water to farmers in the eastern part of the state and western Nebraska.

Under the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan, California, Nevada and Arizona will collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet (about 1.54 billion cubic meters) — enough to fill over 600,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools — annually in the next two years, with the possibility of larger cuts depending on conditions. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico are not required to make cuts for now but could voluntarily reduce water.

While El Niño could bring intense moisture to the northern Rockies and the Southwest in the coming months, it won’t erase decades of drought.

“Drought is a slow-moving phenomena and it can take some time to come into it and also come out of it,” said David Mocko, senior research scientist who authored a recent U.S. Drought Monitor map.

Farmers are reluctant to plant

John Boelts grows vegetables, melons, durum wheat and other crops in Yuma, Arizona — a region that produces about 90% of leafy greens eaten in North America during the winter.

Farmers there have high-priority rights and may avoid cuts to their Colorado River supply over the next two years but, Boelts said, the reprieve isn’t enough to make longer-term plans. That makes farmers reluctant to plant new acreage.

Citrus, date and other orchard crops that thrive in the region take years to become commercially productive, he said.

“There’s no food that we grow in a hurry,” said Boelts, the Arizona Farm Bureau president. “Beef takes years to produce. The lettuce you eat today? A farmer was working on how they would grow that crop six plus months ago.”

Ray Martinez grows alfalfa on a reservation that’s home to the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The tribe holds some of the river’s oldest rights, and while its Arizona allocation is huge, an old irrigation system and the lack of infrastructure have kept much of the water out of reach.

Martinez and the water department are concerned about having enough water to finish this growing season. He has left some fields unplanted for years to help prop up Lake Mead. If the reservoir keeps dropping, he said, surface water coming to him and neighboring farms will be further limited.

“Unfortunately, Mother Nature has its own way of doing things, and we have no control of that,” he added.

Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, was with a companion on Monday when the vehicle they were using got stuck in mud, the National Park Service said Friday in a news release.

The two set out on foot along the desert salt flats toward the paved Badwater Road, one of the park’s main roadways, to seek help, it said. Formosa said he couldn’t keep going and stopped about 1.3 miles into the trek, according to the park service.

The companion made it to the road and flagged down a driver at about 2 p.m., it said, triggering a search for Formosa that included park rangers and a California Highway Patrol helicopter.

Searchers found Formosa’s body that afternoon, about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road, the park service said.

Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds offered condolences to Formosa’s family. “This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous,” he said in a statement.

The location of Formosa’s and his companion’s vehicle was near a hiking trail in a historic mining area, according to the independent archive of the park service.

The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the area through Sunday night, warning of “dangerously hot conditions.” High temperatures in Death Valley were expected to remain in the 115- to 118-degree range Monday and Tuesday, with a high of 119 degrees expected Wednesday.

The park service urged visitors to stay on paved roads during times of extreme heat, carry satellite phones or beacons and have plenty of drinking water on hand.

“Death Valley is an extraordinary place,” Reynolds said, “but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.”

In many districts, the money has translated into new music programs, arts classes and performances. But the measure’s author — businessman, philanthropist and former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner — says the LAUSD has failed to use the funding as voters intended.

That dispute has led Beutner to sue the LAUSD, alleging the district improperly used Prop 28 money for purposes other than expanding arts education at individual schools.

“The arts matter,” Beutner said. “They matter particularly for kids.”

Prop 28 provides dedicated funding for arts and music instruction in California public schools. Beutner says the law requires schools to use much of that money to hire additional educators and provide arts instruction that would not otherwise have been available.

“LA Unified may have thought they were above the law and wanted to use the money for something else,” Beutner said. “Every school is supposed to use the money to hire teachers and provide arts classes at that school.”

The LAUSD has maintained in court that it has complied with the law.

Some district students, however, say they have yet to see the level of investment they expected.

“As a student, I would expect LAUSD to offer the art supplies instead of having art teachers use their own money or asking for donations from the community,” said 16-year-old LAUSD student Emma-Lee Del Hierro.

Noah Martinez, 13, said he hopes more opportunities will be available as he gets older.

“I’m definitely looking forward to being in high school and having art as a class,” Martinez said.

Beutner points to research showing participation in arts and music education can improve student engagement and academic performance. He has continued advocating for Prop 28 amid a profound personal loss.

In January, Beutner’s 22-year-old daughter, Emily, a student at Loyola Marymount University, died of a drug overdose.

“Our lives have changed,” Beutner said. “As a family, we are there for each other. We are trying to keep our lives, a sense of purpose and find joy. But I’d be misleading if I said, ‘Here I am today, and it’s not part of me every day.’ It is. It just is.”

Beutner said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who also lost a daughter as a young adult, spoke with him about grief.

“She said you become a member of a club you don’t want to be a member of,” he recalled.

His daughter had wanted to become an art teacher, Beutner said, giving his advocacy for arts education an added personal meaning.

“She wanted to be an art teacher,” he said. “Maybe there is a little bit of her in me with Prop 28.”

It was a mixed bag for incumbents in the state, where Republican-led redistricting efforts scrambled congressional maps. Voters in Alaska, Wyoming and California were also choosing their nominees, sometimes considering multiple people running with matching last names.

Tuesday’s contests will help shape the midterms this fall to determine control of Congress, where Republicans have a narrow edge.

Here are some takeaways from this round of primaries.

Another progressive beats a far better-funded establishment rival

Progressives notched a surprise victory as the battle between outsider and establishment candidates that has roiled the Democratic Party in states like Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan moved to more conservative territory.

In a major upset, progressive state lawmaker Angie Nixon easily defeated retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a former National Security Council official who delivered searing testimony against Trump in his 2019 impeachment trial. Vindman had outraised Nixon by more than 16-to-1, with Nixon bringing in less than $1 million.

Now she will face Sen. Ashley Moody in a campaign to fill the last two years of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s former Senate term. Moody was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after Rubio stepped down.

But in another matchup in South Florida, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz won the nomination for reelection in a new Republican-friendly district against union organizer and democratic socialist Oliver Larkin.

Donalds joins historic slate of Black candidates for governor

Donalds, a rising star in the Republican Party, won his party’s nomination to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, joining a historic slate of Black gubernatorial nominees across the country as he vies to become the first Black governor of the state.

They include Republicans Rep. John James in Michigan and Lisa Demuth, who defeated pillow-selling conspiracist Mike Lindell in Minnesota. On the Democratic side, David Crowley won a razor-thin primary against a democratic socialist in Wisconsin, joining Attorney General Aaron Ford in Nevada, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson in South Carolina and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia.

Either Bottoms or Demuth could be the country’s first Black woman governor.

There is currently only one Black governor in the nation, Democrat Wes Moore of Maryland, who is seeking reelection in November.

Donalds will face David Jolly, a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat, who won the Democratic nomination Tuesday night.

Wasserman Schultz wins diverse, redrawn Florida seat

A Republican-led redrawing scrambled Florida’s congressional map, creating some awkward matchups for Democrats.

But longtime U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz easily won the most contentious race, beating U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and three other Black candidates in a South Florida district that is a plurality-Black district. Cherfilus-McCormick had resigned earlier this year under a pending federal indictment and threat of House ethics sanctions, but wanted her seat back.

Wasserman Schultz, a former national party chair seeking a 12th term in Congress, was the only white candidate competing to represent an area of Broward County that has helped send Black Democrats to Congress since 1992.

Her decision to run had stirred deep animosity, including charges by one rival that “she stabbed us in the back.”

Trump pick loses in race featuring transplants and scandal-plagued candidates

While Trump-backed Donalds emerged victorious, the candidate Trump had endorsed to fill his seat — Catalina Lauf — lost to Jim Schwartzel, owner of conservative talk radio station 92.5 FOX News.

The race had featured a cast of characters akin to a reality show reunion, including several who had spent time in prison and a handful who had run in other states.

They included two former members of Congress mounting comeback bids after departing in scandal: Former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s tenure was marred by repeat traffic stops, guns at airport checkpoints and a claim he had been invited to a Washington orgy. Former New York Rep. Chris Collins, who resigned before pleading guilty to insider trading charges, served prison time before he was pardoned by Trump.

Trump-endorsed Lauf had run twice for Congress in Illinois. She lost the 2020 primary to Jim Oberweis, a former state senator, who has also decamped to Florida and ran for the seat.

Another candidate, Ola Hawatmeh, previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New York, while Linda Sawyer once tried in Michigan.

Also in the race: John Strand, a former television actor, underwear model and romance novel cover model, who served prison time for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 assault of the U.S. Capitol.

Republicans lose an incumbent

While Democratic incumbents won their races, Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his bid for a third term to Ryan Elijah, a former television reporter.

Mills faced a series of scandals, including allegations of domestic violence involving a former girlfriend, which he denies. He had also been abandoned by DeSantis and other state officials.

Trump initially backed Mills in February but did not include him in a list of endorsements on Monday.

Double-checking the name in Alaska

Will Alaska voters need to contend with two Dan Sullivans going forward? It’s too soon to tell.

The primary ballot for the state’s Senate race, which is expected to be one of the country’s most closely watched this fall, included both Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Trump ally seeking a third term, and another candidate also named Dan Sullivan.

Republicans had claimed the second Sullivan — who appeared on the ballot as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” — was a sham candidate running at the behest of Democrats to cause confusion. Dan J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher, has denied the charge.

Under the state’s open primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, and the four who receive the most votes move on to a ranked-vote general election. Sullivan, the incumbent senator, and former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, who would become the first Alaska Native senator if she wins in November, swiftly advanced Tuesday, but it was too early to call the other two spots on the November ballot.

Another Trump pick for governor loses their race

While he had success with Donalds, another governor candidate endorsed by Trump lost her race, this time in Wyoming. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder was defeated by state Sen. Eric Barlow, a U.S. Marine veteran and livestock veterinarian who is also a former Wyoming House Speaker.

Trump’s picks for governor have occasionally struggled in primaries this year, including Lindell in Minnesota, Randy Feenstra in Iowa, Burt Jones in Georgia and Pamela Evette in South Carolina.

Trump had better luck in the Senate race in Wyoming, where his endorsed candidate, Rep. Harriet Hageman, easily captured the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

Pro-Israel group spending in former Swalwell seat

In California’s Bay Area, voters are choosing a replacement for Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, whose resignation amid sexual assault allegations ended his run for governor.

California’s 14th District will remain under Democratic control as state Sen. Aisha Wahab and Bay Area Rapid Transit Board President Melissa Hernandez advanced from a special open primary.

However, the race was too early to call on Wednesday morning, and California is notorious for counting slowly.

The campaign reprised a theme that dominated other Democratic primaries this year: outside spending, particularly from pro-Israel lobbying groups. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC spent more than $2 million against Wahab and in support of Hernandez, and another group funded by the super PAC has spent nearly $2 million in support of Hernandez.

Pro-Israel group spending seemed to backfire in Michigan’s recent Democratic Senate primary, where Abdul El-Sayed emerged victorious despite tens of millions of dollars backing his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens.

A pivotal trial for the parent company of Instagram and Facebook kicked off in a California federal court Tuesday, with four states seeking billions of dollars in damages as well as fundamental changes to how Meta runs its platforms.

A jury will decide whether the states’ attorneys general have made their case that the tech giant designed its apps to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data and hide the truth from the public,” as Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice, put it in her opening statement.

California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among the 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy — the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts, including one underway in Tennessee.

The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hides these harms from the public. It also argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.

The company has defended its safety record and said it has a strong case.

States argue Meta exploited research on child development

O’Neill laid out the states’ case for the eight jurors during opening statements in federal court in Oakland, California.

“You’re going to hear that Meta knew a lot about kids’ brains,” O’Neill said. This includes how they are constantly seeking rewards, how they are sensitive to social feedback and “how they are still developing their ability to control impulses the way adults do.”

Meta, she said, researched these vulnerabilities and talked about how it could change Instagram to respond to them.

“‘The young ones are the best ones’ is a title of a Meta study we are going to show you,” she said, telling jurors that for Meta, “kids are the product.”

Meta, O’Neill said, also knew that kids under 13 were using its products even though they were banned from it, and “failed to take the simplest most obvious steps to keep them off.” For instance, she said, when Meta found that someone on Facebook was under 13, it would disable the person’s Facebook account but not their connected account on Instagram.

The states called as their first witness former Meta executive Arturo Béjar, who worked as an engineering director at Facebook from 2009 to 2015, attracting wide attention for his work to combat cyberbullying. He returned from 2019 to 2021 as a contractor to work on safety issues.

Béjar said that, contrary to Meta’s statements, the company’s research on safety issues was not being used to improve products.

For example, regarding eating disorder content, Meta’s engineers “had very good ideas on how to make it better” so that users, especially young ones, would not be exposed to it.

“But once it was reviewed, it got whittled down to a little pebble that didn’t make a difference,” he said.

Meta attorney highlights company work on safety

Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt laid out his case beginning with what is not disputed in the trial — that even though kids under 13 are not supposed to be on its apps, some lie about their ages; that some teens struggle to manage their time; and that some people post “negative content” on Facebook and Instagram.

But he said he will focus on the work Meta does to make its platforms safer and share information with the public.

“Much of this lawsuit is about the government attorneys and their witnesses saying in trying to improve, we’d do it a little differently,” Schmidt said. “In talking about how to improve, we disagree with how you talk about it. It’s meaningful, and the evidence will be meaningful, these efforts Meta has taken to improve.”

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland is overseeing the proceedings, which are expected to last six weeks with testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives and former employees. Gonzalez Rogers, appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama in 2011, has overseen a bevy of complex, high-profile cases involving Big Tech. These include Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and its founders as well as Epic Games’ lawsuit against Apple over its app store.

If Meta loses the trial, the court would have wide discretion over the size of any financial penalty. Meta has said if it loses, the case could leave it liable for damages amounting to $1.4 trillion, but legal experts say anything close to that amount would be unlikely.

Meta faces thousands of lawsuits, angry parents

The trial is the latest in an avalanche of lawsuits against Meta Platforms and other social media companies including Google’s YouTube, TikTok and Snap, over arguments that their platforms harm young people, illegally collect their data and are deliberately designed to addict them.

As the trial began, child safety advocates and parents who trace their children’s deaths to social media harms gathered outside of the courthouse Tuesday. Many parents held photos of their late children as they spoke to reporters outside, at times speaking through tears.

Several parents held a banner with the names and ages of children who died from social media-related harms. It was several feet long.

Mary Rodee, whose son Riley Basford died by suicide at age 15 after being sextorted on Facebook Messenger, was among the parents and said she had helped write the names. They have had to add 39 new ones to the banner since March, she said.

“It’s not just a banner,” Rodee said. “Every name that I wrote on there is a promise that these children will never be forgotten and that their stories will force accountability where silence once reigned.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

The confidence in the forecast has increased to 90%, compared to 81% a month ago, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which puts out updates on the second Thursday of every month. The forecasted strength, however, has not changed.

“This El Niño could be one of the strongest in the historical records going back to 1950, but CPC indicates that is no guarantee that we will see ‘typical’ impacts everywhere,” NBC Los Angeles meteorologist David Biggar said.

What is El Niño?

El Niño — which means little boy in Spanish — is a warming of ocean waters off the Pacific coast of South America, typically peaking during the winter months, that causes changes in atmospheric patterns. It’s a seasonal variation, not an individual weather system.

As they take shape, there’s often an increase in Pacific hurricanes and a decrease in Atlantic ones. A warmer-than-average summer is also possible.

However, no two El Niños are alike. They are just one part of a complex puzzle that makes up the atmosphere and day-to-day weather.

Meteorological organizations, such as NOAA, use the following categories to describe El Niño intensities: weak, moderate, strong and very strong. The categorizations are based on how far the water temperature is from normal — not the impacts of El Niño. There is no official “super” category.

Will Southern California have another wet winter this year?

El Niños are not storms, nor do they generate storms or guarantee wetter winters. Some El Niño seasons have been dry, some wet and others are closer to average.

Biggar says it’s still difficult to say whether we’ll see a wet winter this year. Our rainfall depends more on the number of atmospheric rivers, and the strength of them, through the winter.

Was last winter an El Niño?

No, the last two winters experienced La Niña conditions, which are the opposite of El Niño conditions.

The most recent El Niño was in 2023-2024, and it was categorized as “moderate.”

Our latest very strong El Niño was in 2015-2016, and it was one of the strongest on record. It ended up being one of the driest years ever for Los Angeles.

One of California’s worst drought years also occurred during an El Niño in 1976-1977, but the following year’s El Niño had more than double our average rainfall with 31 inches of rain. Again, no two El Niños are alike.

Is El Niño caused by climate change?

El Niño is a naturally occurring phenomenon. While climate change may influence the frequency, intensity and impacts of El Niño events, it does not cause them.

Ryder Williams, the 16-year-old lifeguard who rushed into the water to save a 10-year-old child who was overwhelmed by wave after wave last month, joined President Trump in the Oval Office.

“What you did was incredible, and everybody saw it,” Trump told Williams. “I know that when I first saw it, I said, ‘Roll that back, I want to see it again. Is that really happening?'”

The rescue was caught on a video that was watched by millions. Trump, who awarded the teen a high civilian honor, previously called Williams “heroic.”

The 16-year-old, who expressed his desire to become a firefighter in the future, wants more people to know about rip currents and how dangerous the surf can be. He encourages people to do their research before they go out into the ocean.

Williams said he received help from Aaron Bohnen, another lifeguard, and both brought the kid back to the shore.

“This is my job and I love what I do,” Williams wrote in a statement. “I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day.”

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Nathaniel Rai, the 10-year-old boy who Williams rescued, wants to be 11. That will happen Tuesday, which marks his birthday.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee spiked Inglewood Democratic Sen. Laura Richardson’s Senate Bill 1305. The measure would have tasked the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with creating a “roadmap that evaluates whether, and under what conditions, reintroduction of the grizzly bear is feasible and advisable.”

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As is typical with the Legislature’s appropriations committees, lawmakers didn’t discuss the bill; nor did they take public testimony before the committee’s chairperson, Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland, announced the decision.

Wicks later told reporters that before intentionally reintroducing grizzly bears, the state must figure out how humans can best coexist with predatory wildlife. She pointed to the controversial return of gray wolves to California and the subsequent loss of cattle.

“The state needs to really invest in how we are actually addressing and dealing with those conflicts,” she said.

Grizzlies once lived across most of California. As many as 10,000 may have roamed before the Gold Rush. They were so prevalent that when California settlers tried to form their own nation, they called it the Bear Flag Republic. A grizzly bear is memorialized on California’s flag.

Settlers systematically exterminated the animals. They were gone by the 1920s, leaving the smaller black bear as California’s only surviving native bear species.

Two Native American tribes cosponsored the bill, and several animal welfare and environmental groups supported it. They argued that bringing the second largest land predator back to America’s most populated state would right an ecological wrong and help restore California’s degraded ecosystem.

Opponents included ranchers, hunting associations and rural communities. They argued California is far too populated with people to sustain another apex predator. Rural communities are already overwhelmed with conflicts with mountain lions, black bears and wolves that attack livestock and wander into their towns, opponents said.

The measure set aside no funding for the study, but it allowed for a future Legislature or an outside group to do so.

The event brought musicians like popular girl groups Katseye and XG, among other performers like Dabin.kr, Rich Brian, and Be:First to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, while also partnering with an American nonprofit to make music education accessible to young people.

Music Will is the largest nonprofit music program in American public schools. It aims to make music education accessible for all students, regardless of their background or financial status. The nonprofit reaches more than one million students annually and gives these students opportunities to perform on large stages in front of thousands by partnering with different music festivals, such as Head in the Clouds.

At Saturday’s festival, the nonprofit partnered with Toyota to host a special stage for students from John Marshall High School in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood.

The high schoolers were given the opportunity to perform with Korean American rapper, Dankadan, on their Toyota Den Stage. Music Will’s Chief Growth Officer, Janice Polizzoto has seen firsthand how students manage to find community within their programs. 

“I truly believe that all kids should have access to arts and music in their academic career. What we hear from kids when we go into classrooms and visit — it’s how much music means to them. Music is a really great source to support their social, emotional learning in addition to their creative self-expression. Being in our program whether they’re in a classroom band or form their own band, kids get a sense of belonging. When they are in music and they play with their classmate, they find their tribe,” Polizzoto said.

Both Music Will and Head in the Clouds seek to provide young musicians with access, opportunity, and a moment to shine. That spirit of opportunity and community is what made Head in the Clouds a fitting stage for Be:First as they grow their presence globally. 

Japanese band Be:First aims to represent their home country in U.S. performance

Be:First is a six-member Japanese group that blends pop, hip-hop, and R&B, making them one of Japan’s most successful contemporary music acts. Formed in 2021 through the audition program The First, created by producer and rapper SKY-HI, the group consists of Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Junon, and Leo. Since their debut, they have earned multiple chart-topping hits in Japan and expanded their global reach by collaborating with artists including ATEEZ, Janet Jackson, and, most recently, Flo Milli and ALT Jacob.

Following their first world tour in 2025, Be:First continued their international expansion with an appearance at Head in the Clouds, one of the world’s largest festivals dedicated to Asian and Asian diaspora artists. The festival has become an important platform for showcasing Asian talent to global audiences, making it a fitting stage for the group’s growing presence.

Their Head in the Clouds performance was the group’s first ever show in the U.S.

Following their performance, NBC San Diego caught up with Be:First to talk about taking the festival stage, connecting with fans around the world, and what’s next for the group.

“We want to do something unprecedented as Japanese artists. We want to introduce people around the world to the greatness of Japanese music and Japanese culture. We hope to share what makes J-pop special with audiences who may not have experienced it before. Above all, we want to teach ‘Bestie’ fans, as Japanese people who haven’t seen anything like this before, the greatness of music and culture of J-Pop itself,” the group told NBC San Diego.

“Head in the Clouds brings together so many incredible artists with Asian roots,” they said.

“We hope more Asian artists and Asian music can continue to reach audiences around the world,” the group said.

“Our international EP ‘WATCH ME’ will be released on Sept.18, and we’ll be promoting it through our world showcase tour. We hope people around the world listen to the songs and connect with the project. Most importantly, we hope everyone stays healthy and that we can successfully complete the showcase together,” they said.

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It is a common scene at Bolsa Chica State Beach and some other popular beaches in Southern California where the number of people being hit by the sharp, serrated caudal barbs found on the tails of stingrays has gone up significantly from a year ago as a marine heat wave draws more stingrays — and people — to shore.

Hemann, a 31-year-old tourist from New Mexico, said he was learning to surf when he hopped off his board and landed on what he thought was a sharp stick. “It hurt pretty bad,” he said, while sinking his throbbing foot into the hottest water tolerable to ease the pain. “It was radiating up to my ankle.”

Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches reported more than 3,100 incidents so far this year, twice the number for all of 2025. The city of Huntington Beach’s 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) stretch of shoreline has reported more than 2,000 such incidents so far this year, more than during all last year.

In San Diego, more than 900 stings were recorded during the first half of 2026, more than during the first six months of any of the past five years, lifeguard data shows.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase,” said Bryan R. Etnyre, state park superintendent in northern Orange County. “A lot of it is due to warming ocean temperatures that are consistently staying in the 60s. I don’t think there was a week all winter where we dropped below 60 this year.”

Warmer water draws rays and people

Round stingrays are found in Pacific Ocean waters from Panama to Southern California and are known to veer toward the shore when the swell is down and the water warm.

In recent years, many species that feed on rays, such as sharks, sea lions and giant sea bass, have seen their populations dwindle, causing the number of stingrays to grow, said Chris Lowe, a professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach.

Rays are known to prefer warmer water, such as lagoons. Females prefer these waters to reproduce, and during the summer male rays have a higher metabolism that drives them to seek out food in the invertebrates along the shore, Lowe said.

“They’re really a subtropical species that is thriving at the end of its range because of climate change,” Lowe said.

The ocean already has been warming because of human-caused climate change, according to meteorologists.

This year has seen even more rays with a marine heat wave persisting off parts of the West Coast, marking the third time on record that such a large section of coastal waters stayed warm for so long, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In June, officials confirmed the formation of an El Niño, the natural warming of parts of the central Pacific that alters weather worldwide, that is expected to grow to historic strength.

Meanwhile, more people have been heading to beaches seeking outdoor recreation since the coronavirus pandemic. And when the water is warm, they are more likely to swim.

When rays are stepped on, they instinctively flick up their tails, stinging people with venomous barbs. Lifeguards urge bathers to shuffle their feet as they enter the water as the movement often gets rays to slide out of the way without stinging.

In Southern California, lifeguards can treat 10,000 stingray injuries a year, Lowe said.

In Seal Beach, one area draws so many due to an influx of warm water from a nearby power plant it is known as “ray bay,” though lifeguards there haven’t seen much change in stings this year.

Using a 75-foot-long net, researchers swept up some 200 stingrays, each about the size of a dinner plate, on a section of the beach on a recent morning.

“There can be so many that they actually carpet the bottom, like you can’t see sand,” Lowe said. “During El Niños, we get more of them up from the south, and they come closer to shore. So this year, we’re expecting record numbers.”

Sting advisory and booties aim to help

Lowe said he is working with television stations to develop a stingray advisory to help reduce the number of people who get stung, and the number of rays that get squished. Rays help keep the beach healthy by feeding on small clams and aerating sediment.

Many beaches use an app to notify bathers when there are multiple stings at a location. Meanwhile, a company has developed surf booties that claim to be barb-resistant — though swimmers are urged to still tread lightly to avoid trampling the rays.

At Bolsa Chica State Beach, swimmers suffering stings to the sides of their feet and toes sat in a circle refilling their pails with hot water from a hose. Some were there more than an hour waiting for the pain to ease.

Most stings don’t require additional medical attention. If redness and swelling continue more than four or five days, there could be a medical complication such as an infection or a retained barb that can be seen on an X-ray, said Dr. Christanne Coffey, who researches the stings at University of California, San Diego Health.

Allen Lowry said he was playing with his 7-year-old grandson when he came down on something squishy. He lifted his foot and saw blood so his wife drove him to the lifeguard station for a hot water soak, which is the remedy for stings.

Lowry, 69, said he swims three times a week at another beach, and getting stung, though painful, won’t change that. He said some people in his swim group have been stung multiple times.

“Usually, once the pain you feel goes away, you feel fine the next day,” he said.

A baby with a rare heart defect at the center of a multistate legal dispute over abortion and parental rights was born Wednesday to a surrogate in Texas, a day after a judge in Dallas ordered life-saving care for the newborn.

McKenna West, an Alaska nurse, was carrying a baby for a California couple when at about 20 weeks, doctors diagnosed the baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a potentially life-threatening heart condition that will require multiple surgeries. West alleges the parents invoked an “abortion clause” in their surrogacy agreement, according to a lawsuit filed in Alaska.

West accused the biological parents of pressuring her end the pregnancy, according to court documents, but West refused, saying in an interview with the anti-abortion group Live Action, “I didn’t think that I could live with myself doing that.” She also said she was concerned they would not provide life-saving care after birth to let the child die.

Instead, she went to Texas, where abortions are illegal, and found specialists who could treat the baby’s condition, according to her attorney.

“She chose that hospital because she wanted the best care for him possible,” attorney Lincoln Wilson said.

West’s case drew support from anti-abortion groups and Republican officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, who intervened in support of the surrogate. Paxton’s office sent a letter to UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. The state also filed a brief Tuesday in Dallas County court to provide life-saving care after the child is born and to keep the child in Texas.

Hours later, a Dallas judge sided with the State, ordering that the baby receive life-sustaining medical care in Texas.

The biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, have disputed West’s account of what happened after the diagnosis and denied in court filings that they intended to refuse surgery once the baby was born. They said medical professionals had told them it was not possible to determine whether the baby would be a candidate for open-heart surgery.

“That is not and has never been our position,” Ahmed wrote in court documents filed in Texas. “Since Ms. West moved to Texas, we have consistently sought the opportunity to consult with physicians caring for our child to make informed medical decisions for him as his parents.”

The baby was born Wednesday in Dallas. The biological parents now have custody.

Lee Budner, an attorney for the biological parents, said the baby was receiving medical care and accused West and Paxton of turning a family tragedy into “political theater.”

“Our clients’ son was born yesterday morning and he is now in their physical custody while he receives expert medical care at a tertiary care center. Thankfully, McKenna West’s baseless attempt to interfere with his medical care has been soundly rejected by the courts. Right now, our clients are continuing to place their baby’s health and well-being first, following the advice of the baby’s medical team, as they always have and just as any loving parent would. As if the heartbreak of his condition were not enough, they are devastated to see their family tragedy transformed into political theater by the Texas Attorney General’s office and McKenna West.

“Our clients’ only focus at this time is ensuring that their baby receives the medical care that he vitally needs and that they, as his parents, are able to spend every precious moment they can with their beautiful newborn son,” Budner said.

West’s attorney says she wants custody of the child.

“We do believe that she is the mother under Texas law because that’s what Texas law says. If you give birth to a child, you are the child’s mother,” Wilson said.

A California court has already ruled the baby’s biological parents are the child’s legal parents.

But West’s attorney is challenging that ruling.

“We think that judgment flagrantly violated due process. It pulled Ms. West into an expedited proceeding from 2,000 miles away on two days notice,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he’s prepared to take the case the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

For now, the biological parents have custody of the newborn, while West’s fight to have a role in his care continues.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome occurs when the left side of the heart does not form correctly during pregnancy. The condition prevents normal blood flow and if left untreated, causes severe symptoms such as breathing problems, weak pulse and ashen or bluish skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The condition must be treated with multiple surgeries that are complex and challenging, according to the CDC. Surgical repairs are not necessarily cures but help restore heart function. Additional surgeries or heart transplants may be needed, according to the CDC. Without treatment, children affected by the heart defect can die within days or weeks.

About 925 babies in the U.S. are born with HLHS each year.

Researchers said there have been no reports of hackers exploiting the vulnerability, but drivers who have a KARR or SWDS anti-theft device should install an available security update — even if the device is disabled.

The vulnerability could potentially allow someone to remotely unlock a vehicle, honk its horn, flash its lights or even turn off the car without touching it, regardless of whether the vehicle is parked or moving.

Nishan Bhaskar, a former UC San Diego Ph.D. student, demonstrated what someone could potentially do from a few yards away.

“This vehicle currently is locked, but then I can just press this button here, and it’s fully unlocked,” Bhaskar said.

“I can turn on the horn, and the lights also can be used so they can flicker when I unlock and lock,” Bhaskar said.

Bhaskar laid the groundwork for the research in 2018, which eventually led later students to discover a system vulnerability affecting vehicles protected by KARR or SWDS anti-theft devices.

“The entire system utilizes this sort of security key, and that security key is used universally on all the alarms that are out there,” Bhaskar said.

More than 2 million vehicles in Southern California were found to be at risk in 2024, according to UC San Diego professor Aaron Schulman, who oversaw the research.

“We estimate over half of them actually don’t even know that this system is active in their car,” he said.

Schulman added that he contacted KARR after his students told him about the universal key they found that could access millions of devices.

“Within a few days, they brought their security team and implementation team on campus here. We demoed the vulnerability to them. And then we had about an hour-long meeting just talking about what should happen next to get this patch,” Schulman said.

How to check your car and install the security update

Drivers should first determine whether their vehicle has one of the affected anti-theft devices. Look for a decal on the driver’s side window, but keep in mind that the decal may have been removed if the vehicle was purchased used.

Drivers can also look for the device itself under the steering wheel.

Do not forcefully remove the device. It is intertwined with the vehicle’s computers and ignition systems.

To install the patch, download the KARR app, which provides options for either an activated or disabled device. Get inside the vehicle and follow the prompts in the app to complete the update.

Schulman said researchers discovered the problem almost two years ago before discussing their findings publicly, giving the company time to develop a fix.

“If this was a catch-up game, we would be in a lot of trouble,” Schulman said, referring to hackers finding the vulnerability before they did.

Schulman described how computer security researchers approach potential vulnerabilities.

“That’s one thing we are very good at as a computer researcher, is that we focus on kind of like, if I were evil, what would I do?” Schulman said.

Now that a security update is available, Schulman said vehicle owners need to take action.

“And it is urgent for you to do it right now,” Schulman said.

KARR said the issue is not limited to KARR security systems because other companies use the same anti-theft device technology across the country. KARR also provides online instructions and tutorials for installing the update.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.

The Gann Fire started Monday in forest land in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County. The fire, which authorities said appears to have been ignited by sparks from a chain saw, burned more than 10,300 acres by Friday and forced evacuations.

Containment was at 40 percent.

Live monitoring cameras provided by ALERTCalifornia show how the fire spread. See the time-lapse view below.

A body was found inside a burned home and at least seven structures have been destroyed. Investigators will determine whether the fire contributed to the death of the person found in a burned home near the town of Angels Camp.

A 65-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fire.

According to a statement released by Chase Center, the show with Lionel Richie was postponed after an Earth, Wind & Fire band member had a medical emergency.

The city’s fire department said they received a medical call to Chase Center at around 5:30 p.m., and one person was transported to the hospital via private ambulance.

Chase Center and the band encourage fans to hold to their tickets since those will be honored for the new date, or “refunds will be available at the point of purchase.”

“Earth, Wind & Fire is unable to perform as scheduled tonight due to a medical emergency involving a member of their band,” the band wrote on social media. “As a result, tonight’s show with Lionel Richie will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced soon. Ticket holders should retain their tickets, which will be honored for the new date, or refunds will be available at the point of purchase. We sincerely apologize for the unexpected change and appreciate everyone’s understanding.” 

RWE U.S. Offshore said its leases represented years of planning, investment and partnership with federal agencies, but it determined there was no path forward to permit the projects for the foreseeable future. In exchange for $1.22 billion, RWE is relinquishing the wind power leases.

Trump Administration Jul 24

Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics

Wildfires Aug 6

Goats are brush clearance stars on the Universal Studios Lot

President Donald Trump, who often talks about his hatred of wind power, has said his goal is to not let any “windmills” be built. The Republican administration has been buying back offshore wind leases from energy companies as it seeks to discourage the expansion of wind energy in favor of fossil fuels. Offshore wind produces electricity cleanly. Oil, coal and natural gas emit carbon pollution when burned.

RWE announced it is investing $900 million in a liquified natural gas project in Louisiana and spending $300 million on natural gas turbines. The company is developing 15 natural gas peaking projects across the United States.

This latest deal brings the total amount spent on these agreements to roughly $3.9 billion. The administration adopted this strategy after federal courts thwarted Trump’s efforts to stop offshore wind development through executive action.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Thursday that Americans “deserve an energy system built on common sense, not one dependent on costly subsidies or technologies that can’t meet our country’s current demand.” He said he welcomes RWE’s agreement and voluntary investment in projects that strengthen the nation’s energy security, provide dependable baseload power and help keep electricity affordable.

But Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said the lease buybacks are effectively bribing companies to step away from clean energy that can displace more expensive fossil fuel plants, which in turn will raise costs for consumers.

“They are creating this enormous money pump, pulling billions of dollars out of consumers’ pockets,” he said. “That’s the real story of what is going on here. And that is both a cost story because of the billions in extra costs consumers pay, and it’s a corruption story because it’s Trump’s sneaky way of getting regular families to pay off his big fossil fuel donors. There’s method here, and it’s a real scam.”

Under the first deal announced in March, French company TotalEnergies is getting nearly $1 billion — essentially a refund of its two offshore wind leases — if it invests the money in fossil fuels instead. Golden State Wind and Bluepoint Wind agreed in April to end their leases in exchange for reimbursements totaling nearly $900 million, provided it invests equally in fossil fuels. Chicago-based Invenergy agreed in June to end its four offshore wind leases that were very early in development in exchange for reimbursements of lease fees totaling $765 million.

States that are losing offshore wind energy are suing. California intends to sue.

U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín wrote that the trial will take place from March 2 to March 19 of next year in federal court in Oakland.   

The trial dates are significant because after Sept. 30, Paramount will have to pay about $7 million for every day the transaction doesn’t close, under an agreement with WBD.

Paramount previously announced that the planned takeover would remain on hold while it defends against antitrust lawsuits filed last month by a coalition of 12 state attorneys general led by California. As a result, the
companies, the state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America agreed to cancel a preliminary injunction hearing that had been scheduled for Aug. 3.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said last week that if the court finds in favor of the states, the merger would be blocked pending appeal.

“Our argument against this illegal merger is straightforward: When too few corporations have too much power in markets central to American life, it makes things more expensive, and it makes things worse,” Bonta said in a
statement. “We are eager to continue to make our case in court and celebrate another tremendous win in our effort to ensure this unlawful merger never sees the light of day.”

Paramount reported mixed quarterly numbers Tuesday with strong streaming and a continuing drop in traditional broadcast TV viewing. The company also said it “fully expects” the merger to close.

“As it relates to the planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, we fully expect the transaction to close and remain focused on preparing for a successful combination once it is complete,” Paramount CEO David Ellison wrote in a letter to shareholders.

After the states filed suit July 13, the Writers Guild of America sued to block the deal on the grounds it would cause harm to writers and shrink the labor market.

The guild alleges Paramount’s pending acquisition of WBD would reduce opportunities, lower pay and worsen working conditions for writers. The union argues that the elimination of a key competitor and the creation of a dominant firm would reduce the quantity and variety of theatrical films and television series as the merged company would have a greater ability to reduce output.

Furthermore, WGA asserts that the merger would increase the ability of the few remaining companies to tacitly coordinate to further suppress competition for writers’ work.

Also last week, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced its support for the lawsuits challenging the merger.

“Our members have every right to expect that the government will do thorough regulatory oversight when a deal of this magnitude takes place. The workers in this industry should not have to rely on promises and aspirational
statements,” SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said. “These companies have the ability to commit to making more films and shows in this country and they should. This isn’t a conversation about shareholder value, it’s about the survival of the entertainment business in America.”

A Paramount representative previously said the planned merger “is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry.”

The company has said that the European Commission has formally cleared the acquisition, adding to approval from antitrust and competition authorities in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Kuwait, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine and the regional competition authority for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The New York Times reported that one of the victims, Christopher Claunch, is from Santa Clarita. Claunch was a patron of the restaurant at the time of the shooting. 

The other victim, 23-year-old Ashley Garibay, of Stockton. Garibay had traveled to Twin Falls as an associate of the restaurant chain to help train other employees at Idaho’s first In-N-Out location.

The shooting left three people dead in total and at least seven others injured. 

Authorities say there could have been more victims if it was not for an armed bystander who distracted the gunman. The bystander was seen in a video shooting into a Tesla outside of the restaurant. 

“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Matthew Hicks, the Twin Falls police chief said about the bystander and an off duty state trooper who also engaged the gunman.

Witnesses say the ordeal lasted between 10 to 15 minutes. 

A pastor who was there at the scene described the immediate aftermath when the gunman opened fire as a “sea of panic.”

“There were hundreds of people around there in the restaurant,” said witness Glenn Kirby. “We were just mainly running for our lives. It was very scary so we didn’t have time to really analyze what was happening. It was mainly just get out of there without getting shot.” 

In a statement from Claunch’s family, they described him as someone with a “huge heart.” And the family of Garibay described her as “an amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life and was a friend to all.”

A motive for the shooting is still unknown.

His name is Ryder Williams, and he is just 16. This was his first season as a lifeguard, and his very first rescue.

Facing 8- to 10-foot-high pounding surf, sneaker waves and rip currents at Seabright Beach last week in Santa Cruz, Williams sprinted into the potentially deadly conditions.

“I look up and see a young boy get swept off his feet from a low point on the beach, and I started running up the beach as he gets pulled out,” Williams said.

He grabbed onto 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai and never let go, even as they were both slammed over and over again by unrelenting waves. Williams described what was going through his mind during his fight against the powerful surf.

“As I grab the child, he goes limp. I’m thinking is he unconscious or not … the whole time I just need to hold my position ’til my partner can get there,” Williams said.

Another lifeguard and others on the beach jumped in to help. Nathaniel’s father, Sumit Rai, said his son was unconscious during the rescue and that he is forever grateful for the young lifeguard’s courage and resilience.

“He risked his life to save my child going into that water and those tumultuous conditions and getting thrown under is incredibly dangerous,” Sumit Rai said.

Rai added that words cannot fully express his gratitude.

“It’s incredibly courageous, brave, heroic and resilient. Had he let go of him, this would have been a different outcome,” Rai said.

When Williams pulled Nathaniel onto the beach, he completed his first rescue as a lifeguard, but it was not his last that day.

“I returned to the tower and ended up making more rescues later that day,” Williams said.

He went on to make four additional rescues in conditions he said were even more challenging than the life-saving measures he took to save Nathaniel.

Video of the rescue captivated people around the nation and the world, including President Donald Trump, who called the young man “heroic.” On social media, the president said he plans to invite Williams and his family to the White House to receive a high civilian honor.

The organization announced Friday afternoon that it is “suspending payment” to Bader pending an investigation into a scooter accident over the weekend. It was a rare step, but one that felt necessary given the uncertainty about Bader’s future and the way in which he got himself hurt.

“Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison’s prior treatment timeline for plantar fasciitis and, unfortunately, his return to the field,” president of baseball operations Buster Posey said in a statement. “We are still investigating the circumstances of the accident, but will be suspending payment to Harrison until he is able to resume performing services for the Club.”

The decision will cost Bader roughly $1.5 million the rest of this season, but potentially much more in 2027. Bader is owed $10 million in the second season of a two-year deal he signed in January, but there are long-term concerns about the left foot, per league sources. 

Bader and the MLBPA could fight the move, but he also is likely to have a tough time proving his side of the case. He was injured when he crashed his scooter in the Marina around 2 a.m. on Saturday night, and some within the organization expect that more information will come out, including the possibility of video.

This is not the first scooter-related incident for Bader, who was suspended while at the University of Florida because he was involved in an accident. During that collision, which occurred in 2014, Bader reportedly struck a curb and then ran into a Ford pickup truck. 

Bader went on to become a third-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, and after several other stops, he signed in free agency with the Giants this past offseason. The goal for the front office was to improve the outfield defense by putting Bader’s glove in center and moving Jung Hoo Lee to right, and at the time of the agreement, Posey spoke about the front office’s feeling that Bader could be a contributor at the plate, too. 

At the time of the plantar fasciitis injury, Bader was hitting just .170 with a .198 on-base percentage. The move of Lee to right has been a success, but the Giants have had to rely on others in center field. Bader has played just 30 games because of a hamstring strain and the plantar fasciitis, the latter of which landed him on the IL on May 30.

The Giants never expected Bader to miss this much time, but he had so many setbacks during the rehab process that they made an appointment to send him to Indianapolis to see a foot specialist. The scooter accident happened in the hours before Bader was set to go, but he did end up making the trip.

In a release on Tuesday, the organization stated that the scooter injury “changed the nature of his evaluation” and “complicated” the visit. Bader returned to San Francisco to get an MRI and see team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki. 

The Giants have not given results of that new MRI and likely will not. Because this was an off-the-field injury, it would now be up to Bader to provide information about the nature of this new injury and how it happened. 

Bader has not spoken to reporters since getting hurt, although he did visit the ballpark twice after returning from Indianapolis, visiting with people in the clubhouse during a couple of games. He was said to be contrite.

The Giants have a somewhat lengthy history with this type of thing, including with Jeff Kent and Madison Bumgarner. But Bader’s situation is complicated by the fact that he reportedly was seen at bars before the accident, and he also already was hurt at the time of the scooter accident. Even without those circumstances, he might have been disciplined.

MLB’s collective bargaining agreement bans so-called “high-risk activities,” and players need the written consent of their organization to participate in sports like skiing, skydiving, or even exhibitions for other sports like basketball. 

Scooters seemingly would fall in a gray area, but after several days of looking into the legal aspects of what’s next, the Giants felt they knew enough to stop payment to the veteran center fielder. 

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A fighter jet crashed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego Friday morning, sparking a small fire on the military base.

The F-35B assigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Group 11 went down around 10 a.m. in what Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Steven Keenan called a “Class A mishap.”

The pilot, the only person aboard, ejected from the plane and was transported to the hospital with undisclosed injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, according to Marine Corps spokesperson Maj. Larry Boyd.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, which was several feet away from an airport runway.

Class A mishaps are the most severe of the four classes. It involves an incident with damage worth more than $2.5 million, and/or that resulted in debilitating injuries or death, according to military documents.

In a post on social media, a person who described witnessing the accident while driving on nearby Interstate 15 wrote that the aircraft flew over the freeway with its cockpit open before going down in “a big fireball” as a parachute presumably carrying the ejected pilot floated down toward the ground.

The F-35B is the Marines’ short-takeoff aircraft; it can take off and land vertically, which is particularly useful for use on aircraft carriers. It is primarily used for anti-air warfare, reconnaissance and offensive air support, according to the Marines.

This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Starting Aug. 1, registered California data brokers must begin honoring requests submitted through the state’s Delete Request Opt-out Platform, better known as DROP.

The online tool allows California residents to ask registered data brokers to stop selling their personal information without having to contact hundreds of companies individually.

Since Jan. 1, about 350,000 Californians have already signed up through the DROP website.

Every time someone shops online, streams entertainment, or simply browses the internet, pieces of that person’s digital footprint can be collected, packaged and sold.

“In the digital economy, our personal information is basically oil,” Tom Kemp with Cal Privacy said.

Kemp said many consumers don’t realize just how much information is collected whenever they go online.

“We oftentimes are the product, our information, our data is the product that people collect, package up into digital dossiers and sell,” Kemp said.

He said that information has long been used for targeted advertising.

“Historically, that’s been used for targeted advertising. So if you go shopping for red shoes, the red shoes follow you around for the next three weeks,” Kemp said.

But Kemp said the information can also become valuable to criminals.

“The bad guys, the hackers are leveraging the data from data brokers,” Kemp said.

Instead of contacting roughly 600 registered data brokers one by one, Californians can submit a single request through the DROP website.

“We’re all gonna hear a giant sucking sound outside of our data being deleted from all these data brokers systems,” Kemp said.

He said doing the process manually would be overwhelming.

“The alternative is you would have to contact 600 companies and say, please delete my information. And who’s got time for that?” Kemp said.

Beginning Aug. 1, registered data brokers have 45 days to process requests submitted through the system. That 45-day processing period repeats for new requests.

Companies that fail to comply can face fines of $200 per day for each affected Californian.

“And my agency has a dedicated team that will go after to make sure that the will of Californians to take control of their information is taken care of,” a Cal Privacy representative said.

Cal Privacy told NBC 7 Responds it has already fined 12 data brokers tens of thousands of dollars each for failing to register in the DROP system.

The agency said only California residents are eligible to use DROP, and the tool will not erase all personal information that exists online. Consumers should continue watching for scams and take other steps to protect their personal information.

More information about the Delete Request Opt-out Platform is available at https://privacy.ca.gov/drop/.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.

On June 7, 39-year-old Kai Sato left from Catalina Island to sail to Hawaii, NBC affiliate KHNL of Honolulu, Hawaii, reported Saturday.

Nearly two weeks in, things took an unexpected turn. Amid strong winds and rough seas, his mast snapped, and he eventually ran out of gas while attempting to motor back to shore.

“I was literally like a sitting duck, just getting taken south by the current going way off course,” Sato told KHNL.

To repair his 32-foot boat, he used materials on hand, such as PVC pipes and kayak paddles.

Another obstacle came weeks later, on July 11. He ran out of water, forcing him to take buckets of seawater and tie plastic bags around them to collect the condensation — an effort to make the salty ocean water drinkable.

“I was just licking that to survive,” Sato said, adding that his diet while drifting had consisted mostly of oatmeal and the fish and squid he came across.

His luck finally turned around last Tuesday when a Pasha Hawaii ship crew spotted the distressed sailboat around 900 miles from Hawaii, according to the Seafarers International Union. They helped him climb aboard and gave him a suite, clothes and food.

“I was like crying and like so happy, and then they got me fruit and water, and yeah, they were so good to me, those guys,” Sato said.

The solo sailor isn’t letting one bad experience diminish his passion. He told KHNL that he is now planning a sail to the Philippines.

Republican candidate for governor of California Steve Hilton spoke Wednesday at a general election campaign kickoff event near the site of a cold food storage warehouse fire that plagued neighborhoods in Boyle Heights.

Hilton, who advanced from the June primary election to the November runoff against Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, was joined by supporters across a street from the sprawling burned out warehouse in the community east of downtown Los Angeles.

California Jun 11

Xavier Becerra leads CA governor's poll against Steve Hilton

California Jun 9

Becerra kicks off general election campaign as Hilton calls for CA election system change

Hilton said the location represents what he called a “rotting regime” of Democrats elected to political office.

“Think about the people who live here, who had to put up with this,” Hilton said. “This is the symbol of Democrat failure.”

Residents in the area have faced poor air quality due to the smoke from the eight-day fire at Lineage Logistics. In the aftermath of the fire, the stench of rotting food filled the air as it was removed from the storage building.

Hilton will be a significant underdog is a state where Democrats outnumber registered Republicans nearly 2 to 1. California hasn’t elected a Republican to the governor’s office in 20 years.

Hilton was born in the United Kingdom, where he worked as an aide to former Prime Minister David Cameron. He became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and rallied enough Republican support to finish among the top two in a crowded primary field after an endorsement from President Trump in April.

Hilton said he would be honored to have Trump’s support in the general election, but that the two Republicans have not had any conversations on the topic.

“I’m a pragmatic problem solving change-maker,” Hilton said. “We may not agree about national politics, but I think we can agree we need change in California. So many people are desperate to see that.”

He is vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newson, who is in his final term.

The event also served as a general election campaign kickoff for Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Gloria Romero. The former state Senator will face current State Treasurer Fiona Ma in the showdown for the office held by Eleni Kounalakis, who is running for California State Treasurer in November.

Pelosi, 86, was driving his brown convertible July 3 in Yountville, a town in the heart of wine country, when he struck a legally parked car on the side of the road, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement at the time. He briefly stopped and then allegedly drove away. The parked car was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.

Pelosi did not have any alcohol in his system, according to the statement.

State law requires drivers involved in accidents resulting in property damage to stop and provide their vehicle and license information; Pelosi was charged with a misdemeanor violation of that law. In addition, Pelosi was charged with an infraction of making an unlawful turn, Napa County prosecutors said Friday.

No attorney for Paul Pelosi was listed in court records. Nancy Pelosi’s press office did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Paul Pelosi’s court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 14.

Pelosi pleaded guilty in 2022 to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence in Napa County and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation. He served two days in jail and received good conduct credit for two other days, leaving just one day to serve in a work program at the courthouse.

As part of his probation, Pelosi was required to pay thousands in fines and victim restitution, attend a three-month drinking driver class and install an ignition interlock device, which forces drivers to provide a breath sample to prove sobriety before the engine will start.

That same year he was attacked and severely beaten with a hammer at the couple’s San Francisco home.

The 49-foot cabin cruiser named Volare was found by the San Francisco Police Department’s Marine Unit in the vicinity of where the boat sank Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

The Marine Unit had been utilizing boat-mounted sonar to locate the vessel since it sank, police said. Crews have since turned to using a remotely operated vehicle to assess the wreckage.

Police will work with partner agencies to evaluate recovery options and determine if it’s safe and feasible to recover the wreckage, police said.

The boat sank with 20 people aboard after being hit by a wave and capsizing, officials said. The group was on the boat to scatter the ashes of a loved one.

One man, Clifford Boisa, died immediately after being retrieved from the chilly water, and three people were listed as missing. On Thursday, police recovered the body of one of the missing people, identified as Tondra Madruga, 58, also known as Tondra Miller.

Ralph Boisa said his extended family and some close friends were on the boat Tuesday to celebrate the life of his daughter, who died over a decade ago. Madruga was a friend.

The two people who remain missing are Ralph Boisa’s sister, Carol, and Clifford Boisa’s wife, Jackie, he said.

A family memorial became a desperate fight for survival as nearby captains dropped everything and raced toward the sinking boat off Alcatraz Island.

“Our guys, being there, being ready, helping out. It’s what we do out there. We take care of the Bay,” said Erik Ostrander. “Everyone went there and started providing help.”

Among them, Captain Aaron Anfinson and crewmember Jeff DeJung. They were in the middle of a private cruise with 32 passengers on board when they turned their boat toward the emergency.

San Francisco Jul 15

Coast Guard suspends search for 3 people after boat sinks in San Francisco Bay

“I had my crewmember Jeff grab the fire hose and told my passengers to get inside,” Aaron Anfinson said. “As we were going there, I called the Coast Guard, told them about it. They had people there pretty quickly after we showed up.”

Before rescue crews could reach everyone, Anfinson and his crew started getting life-saving equipment into the water.

“I didn’t see a life raft anywhere, didn’t see many people with life jackets, so I told Jeff to get life jackets for people on board,” Anfinson said.

One woman was struggling to stay above the water.

“I threw the life ring to her. She was able to grab onto it and we pulled her in and right over there, on the side of the boat, we can open up that railing there, and we used the swim ladder and we used all sorts of things, not normally emergency-related, and she was able to climb up the ladder, and we got her onto the boat,” DeJung said.

“She was bleeding quite a bit. So, we brought her on board, used the ladder to get her on the side of the boat,” Anfinson said.

Despite the quick actions of nearby boaters and first responders, one person died and three others remain missing.

It’s something Anfinson says is still difficult to accept.

“It’s very sad. We did what we could, but it’s very unfortunate,” Anfinson said.

For everyone who answered the call, the rescue may have ended on the water, but what they witnessed followed them home Tuesday night.

“I gave my mom a big hug when I got home,” DeJung said.

The Coast Guard says crews will continue searching through this evening for the three people still missing, using boats, helicopters and aircraft across San Francisco Bay.

They also thanked the nearby captains and crews who rushed in to help—saying their quick actions played an important role in rescuing so many people.

Last month, the DMV sent letters to some 11,000 drivers saying that their written test results showed “irregularities.” The department did not provide specifics about what problems were found with the tests.

Those receiving the letters were instructed to return to a DMV office and retake their knowledge test within 30 days. Individuals who do not complete and pass the retest will have their driver’s license cancelled, the DMV said.

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The DMV indicated that some individuals may have attempted to cheat during the testing process.

“The California DMV has identified irregularities in certain driver knowledge test results that may indicate instances of cheating,” a department spokesperson said.

Through “routine internal monitoring,” the department identified patterns in driver knowledge test results indicating that “some individuals may have attempted to circumvent the testing process using various cheating methods,” the representative said.

The DMV emphasized that although certain test results have been identified as “potentially problematic,” receipt of a notice alone does not indicate a final determination that cheating occurred in that instance.

“Nonetheless, these irregularities are test taker related and not the result of an internal DMV technical issue, or involvement of artificial intelligence,” the spokesperson said. “Ensuring the integrity of the knowledge testing process is essential to public safety and to confirm that drivers understand California’s rules of the road.”

Several cases have been referred to county district attorneys for prosecution, according to the DMV.

“DMV is not sharing additional information at this time, so as not to reveal investigative methods and protect the integrity of the investigative process,” the department said Tuesday.

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Jared S. Toczko said rescuers have cumulatively scoured 950 square nautical miles (3,260 square kilometers) and the search continued until sundown on Wednesday.

Toczko would not dismiss the possibility that those missing could still be alive, though he also said some could have been trapped inside the three-deck, 49-foot (15-meter) cabin cruiser.

“We do know individuals were in the main deck and potentially below deck,” he said.

But now that the search has been suspended, the U.S. Coast Guard says recovering the boat is the next step in the investigation. Because of the depth of the water, that process could take time and may require an underwater drone before investigators can determine exactly what caused the boat to capsize.

After the search was suspended, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie released the following statement:

“The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search and rescue mission for the three missing people following yesterday’s boat accident in the San Francisco Bay. My heart goes out to their loved ones. This accident is heartbreaking, and we grieve alongside those affected.

I want to recognize SFFD, SFPD, the U.S. Coast Guard, and our partners from Oakland, Marin, and across the region. Our first responders have conducted an intensive operation over more than 24 hours using all manner of resources and technology, even with support from private citizens, to try to find all individuals involved. Because of their dedicated work, 16 people were saved after the boat capsized. I want to again extend my gratitude to the San Francisco Human Services Agency and the American Red Cross for supporting the survivors.”

One person was pulled from the water but later died, and 16 others were rescued Tuesday afternoon after the boat took on water, listed heavily to one side and then rolled over before sinking, Toczko said.

The passengers on board were all close friends and family members, he said. A dog also died.

Crews have identified the location the boat sank but have yet to determine how deep it sank, Toczko said.

Once the boat is located, officials will send either divers or an underwater drone to determine if it’s feasible to salvage it, said San Francisco Police Commander Brien Hoo. If the boat is under 120 feet (37 meters) of water, it would be difficult for divers to get to it, he said.

Witnesses reported “rough seas,” San Francisco Fire Department Chief Dean Crispen said, and rescuers said swells reached up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). Marine weather conditions, however, didn’t warrant a small craft advisory from the National Weather Service.

Sudden immersion in water under 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) can lead to cold water shock, a condition where people lose dexterity in minutes. That can be dangerous or deadly when trying to escape a sinking watercraft.

Man who died after boat capsized in San Francisco Bay identified

The person who died was identified as Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, from rural Sutter County in the Sacramento Valley, the San Francisco medical examiner said.

The Boisa family provided the following statement Wednesday to NBC Bay Area:

“We and many families have suffered a horrific loss. We deeply appreciate the outpouring of condolences and prayers. At this incredibly difficult time, we ask that you respect our privacy so that we can process and grieve.”

Clifford Boisa was a budget analyst for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and retired in 2001, according to Calpers. He also served as a Sutter County reserve deputy sheriff from 1987 until 2011.

Clifford is the older brother of the man who owned the boat, John Boisa, who provided the following statement to NBC Bay Area:

“I loved Clifford with all of my heart. In addition to being a brother, he was a mentor and role model to me growing up. I cherished him, and much of the person I am was formed by his example. The loss of him is a crushing anguish.”

What we know about the boat that capsized in the San Francisco Bay

Fire department spokesperson Lt. Mariano Elias said the 50-foot vessel, named Volare, was registered out of Stockton, which sits at the eastern edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Tockzo said there were life jackets onboard the boat and that some people were rescued wearing them, though witnesses said several people were in the water without them.

“The wind was coming underneath the Golden Gate and blowing toward Alcatraz,” Lt. Joseph England of the Richmond Police Department, who responded to the scene, said Wednesday. “If you have a smaller vessel and you don’t know what you’re doing and you’re hitting those swells sideways, it can lead to disaster.”

England said no one was aboard the boat by the time his department’s marine unit got there. The crew found the vessel nearly submerged, with cushions, chairs and other debris floating nearby.

Like a ‘Titanic’ scene, rescuer says

Two rescuers who jumped into action while fishing for halibut said the boat that sank was more than capable of being out in the bay. Justin Marceline and Michael Montoya said they saw what they thought was smoke and arrived to find the vessel halfway submerged.

“We just started yanking people out,” Marceline said. At least two people bobbed in the water without life jackets, while others clung to a windsurfer’s board.

Marceline could see people trapped inside the rapidly sinking boat through its windows. He threw lead fishing weights to survivors in the water, hoping they could smash the glass, but they were too weak.

“It was like Titanic in real life,” he said. “There was stuff everywhere. People were banging on the glass.”

Montoya estimated they pulled eight or nine people aboard, including the captain, before first responders arrived.

High-tech tools used in search

The U.S. Coast Guard was leading the search effort with a cutter named the Barracuda, other vessels and a fixed-wing aircraft, Petty Officer Kenneth Wiese said Wednesday.

The Coast Guard said it would suspend active search operations at sunset Wednesday.

“We want to consider every single option,” Wiese said.

Search teams were using thermal imaging, tide prediction and modeling to guide their efforts, the fire department said Wednesday. By Tuesday evening, authorities had been searching the open ocean west of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Where was the boat coming from?

A marine tracking site shows the Volare left the Village West Marina in Stockton on Saturday on its way to the Bay. It was not known how many people were onboard during that portion of the trip.

The boat was also in McCovey Cove for at least part of the San Francisco Giants game on Sunday, according to a boat tracking website and a post on social media. The vessel also showed up in an image of the stadium during the broadcast.

The boat days later departed near the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, passed under the Golden Gate Bridge twice and visited Angel Island State Park in the bay before the apparent return trip, according to the ship-tracking website VesselFinder. Angel Island, the largest natural island in the bay, is known for sweeping views of the city.

“Our hearts go out to the friends and family of those on board the boat that sunk off the waters off Alcatraz Island,” the St. Francis Yacht Club said in a statement to NBC Bay Area. “While the boat did not embark from St. Francis Yacht Club, nor were there members on board, we share this Bay and therefore, understand the weight of this tragedy.”

San Francisco Jul 14

1 dead, 3 missing after boat sinks near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco

Dispatch audio of initial response to sinking boat near Alcatraz Island

Initial callers reported what appeared to be smoke coming from the boat, but San Francisco police officers who first reached the vessel determined it was steam.

San Francisco fire officials confirmed Wednesday that the boat that capsized on the Bay was equipped with life vests – although dispatchers quoted witnesses as indicating some people in the water may have been holding onto them instead of wearing them at the time they were spotted.

Elias said dispatch records indicate that about 10 minutes after the initial call, a dispatch note indicates that a witness saw “a cluster” of four people in the water holding onto a sail board.

The dispatch notation suggests that they were not using life vests for floatation, according to Elias.

“We did hear that people were holding onto vests, instead of wearing them,” Elias said.

The boat sank about 128 feet down, because it was in a shipping channel, Elias said. He noted that dive teams are typically only allowed to go down about 60 feet into the water, leaving the wreckage of the boat unsearched at this time.

He said salvage crews will ultimately bring up the boat as part of the investigation.

The maximum-security federal prison at Alcatraz Island, which closed more than 60 years ago, was infamously inescapable due to the chilly waters and strong currents that surround “The Rock.” Designed to hold the nation’s intractable criminals, including Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, it is now a popular tourist attraction. The island is about a mile off San Francisco.

Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Ed White in Detroit; Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles; and photographer Noah Berger in San Francisco contributed to this story.

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The passengers, believed to be mostly family members visiting from outside the Bay Area, had chartered the Volare cabin cruiser to hold a memorial service for a loved one.

Emergency crews and good Samaritans pulled 16 survivors from the water, bringing them to shore at Gashouse Cove Marina near the Fort Mason Center. Three of the rescued passengers were taken to a local hospital in stable condition with injuries sustained from falling into the water. They were expected to be released Tuesday evening.

The victim who died was alive when rescue crews plucked him from the water but later succumbed. A dog onboard also died in the wreck. Authorities initially reported 19 people were onboard with two missing but updated the passenger total to 20 during an evening briefing.

San Francisco Fire Lt. Mariano Elias said the emergency call came in just after 3:30 p.m. reporting a vessel in distress about 600 yards from Alcatraz. The boating mishap was initially reported as a fire, but San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said there was no evidence of that, and no burn injuries were reported.

First responders arrived to find the vessel mostly submerged, with the motor still running and leaking fuel. Crispen said the boat is believed to have launched near the St. Francis Yacht Club, though the club had no immediate information on the incident.

The ensuing search and rescue operation included divers, helicopters, 11 boats, jet skis and several private boaters.

“Right now we are in full rescue mode,” Crispen said Tuesday night. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie called the massive, multi-agency response an “all-hands-on-deck search and hopefully rescue.”

Mike Montoya and Justin Marceline of the East Bay were on a nearby charter boat and jumped into action as the boat went down. They described a chaotic scene, with only the top deck visible above the water and passengers trapped inside a lower deck.

“There was even people banging at the windows as they were like filing out, and as soon as people were hitting the water, we were just trying to pick them up as fast as we can,” they said. “Some people didn’t even have life vests on and they were drowning.”

James Smith of Berkeley, captain of the charter fishing boat California Dawn, spotted the overturned vessel shortly after passing under the Golden Gate Bridge and arrived just as Coast Guard rescuers got to the scene.

“I’ve been a charter operator for 35-plus years, and it’s pretty horrific anytime you see an accident like this,” Smith said.

Live video from the scene showed a man and a woman wrapped in blankets, sitting on a curb before walking to a nearby ambulance. Survivors were reunited with their families with assistance from the American Red Cross. Crispen noted that families were incredibly upset as they awaited news on the missing.

Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, Oakland police, and the Richmond Police Department’s marine unit, assisted in the response.

“The Richmond Police Department remains committed to supporting our partner agencies whenever called upon,” the department said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragic incident.”

“This is obviously a tragic situation,” San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill said. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

Statement from the American Red Cross:

“Our hearts go out to those impacted by the tragic boat incident near Alcatraz in San Francisco. The American Red Cross is working closely with emergency management, local officials and community partners to help ensure those involved receive the care and support they need. The Red Cross supported with immediate needs such as providing dry clothing, food, blankets, and comfort kits. Our Disaster Mental Health and Spiritual Care teams remain available to offer support and care to those affected. We remain committed to working alongside our partners to help meet evolving needs as recovery efforts continue.”

Authorities are expected to provide additional details Wednesday morning as the search mission continues.

What caused the 50-foot cabin cruiser to sink near Alcatraz?

Boating experts are questioning what caused a three-level, 50-foot cabin cruiser carrying 20 people to sink near Alcatraz as first responders continue their search and rescue efforts.

While the exact cause of the incident remains unknown, local boat operators have offered conflicting views on the water conditions in San Francisco Bay when the vessel overturned.

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said witnesses described rough seas right before the boat capsized.

“The reports we have from witnesses are that there were rough seas and apparently a vessel began to take on water and was turned over in the bay,” Crispen said.

Charles Jennings, owner of the tour company Bay Voyager, noted that the bay’s waters are unforgiving and said the size of the vessel stood out to him.

“I would be concerned to see a boat of that size out there with that many people in that wind out there,” Jennings said. “If I were to see a boat out there, I’d expect it to be a very hearty vessel or perhaps a good sailboat.”

However, John McNamara, an operator with the Red and White Fleet who was on the bay Tuesday afternoon, said the conditions did not seem extreme and do not entirely explain what happened.

“From spending as much time as I have in the San Francisco Bay, today was not a bad day to be boating,” McNamara said.

McNamara was nearby when the cabin cruiser went down and immediately prepared his crew to assist.

“I directed my crew to put on the man overboard gear in case there were people I needed to pull out,” McNamara said. “As I got closer, I can see people on the water and stuck on the vessel.”

A Coast Guard lieutenant stated that more information about the boat will be released as the situation evolves, but the current focus remains strictly on the search and rescue of the missing passengers.

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California is one of a dozen states that are part of a lawsuit filed Monday challenging the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. by Paramount Skydance Corporation.

The lawsuit filed in Northern California aims to block the $110 billion proposed merger of two storied studios whose Hollywood history spans more than a century.

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Warner Bros. Discovery became a takeover target in a battle between Netflix and Skydance-owned Paramount. Paramount was victorious in the end, and is edging closer to closing the buyout of Warner’s entire company.

The lawsuit cites antitrust concerns over combining the two film studios and their streaming platforms. The merger would bring TV Paramount’s broadcast network CBS and pay TV channels like MTV and BET with WBD’s CNN, TNT and others under one roof.

The lawsuit claims the proposed merger violates part of the Clayton Act, which deals with mergers that may substantially lessen competition and create a monopoly.

In a statement, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the merger would “lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.”

The state attorney general, who is running for re-election in November, made the announcement at a location in the Hollywood area with a view of the Hollywood sign and Mount Lee in the background.

In a statement, Skydance-owned Paramount said the 12-state lawsuit “distorts settled antitrust law and is based on a misrepresentation of competition in the entertainment industry today.”

The company said the merger would create a “stronger competitor against dominant streaming and technology platforms who have harmed the market for theatrical exhibition and jobs in the entertainment industry.”

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, has said the merger would honor the legacy of both companies while creating a next-generation media and entertainment business. Ellison is the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Warner Bros. shareholders approved the proposed merger in April. In June, the U.S. Justice Department signed off on the merger and said the transaction is “not likely” to result in harm to competition or consumers.”

The proposal has faced criticism from some industry professionals, including  actors, directors and writers, and elected officials in California and Los Angeles. More than 1,000 industry professionals signed an open letter in opposition to the merger.

Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington are part of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit comes as the proposed transaction remains under review in the European Union and United Kingdom. China, Canada and Australia are among countries that already granted some regulatory clearances, according to Paramount.

The two companies have said they hoped to close the deal in the third quarter of this year.

NBC4 Investigates first reported in May that most of the money in the $2.5 billion fund had been untouched as the June 30 sunset of the fund drew near, and much of the $605 million in allocations that had been approved as of early 2026 had gone to reimburse state agencies for their roles in responding to the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Now, the California Department of Finance’s June disclosure says another $308 million has been released from the fund, and almost all of it is headed to Southern California.

The City of LA stands to receive more than $110 million, including an additional $31,736,000 to reimburse the costs of the initial firefighting and disaster response, $56,249,000 towards debris removal, infrastructure restoration, and to support reconstruction, and $22,200,000 for a home hardening retrofit program, for which details were unavailable.

Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades, said Tuesday she continues to seek out every available funding source to aid in recovery and reconstruction projects, and asked the governor’s office to extend the funding deadline as new needs developed.

“The City submitted multiple eligible projects, I urged the Governor to fund them, and the State has now established the mechanism to review those requests,” she said.

“The remaining question isn’t whether we advocated for these projects – it’s whether the State will follow through by funding them.”

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The California Department of Finance said in a separate letter July 3 it had approved an additional $9,263,000 for the City — beyond the items included in the June summary — including $343,000 earmarked for repair or improvement of the LADWP’s Santa Ynez reservoir (mistakenly described as the ‘Anta Ynez’ in the letter).

LA County is receiving an additional $191 million, as first reported last week, with the largest share for ‘hazard mitigation,’ the $142 million project to move utility lines underground in parts of both burn areas. The County is also receiving funding to repair and restore public parks in the Altadena area.

Newsom initially described the emergency fund as ‘no strings attached’ — and money that would immediately aid the communities devastated by the fires.

His office later clarified that the fund was much more restrictive, and only available for government projects that were eligible for eventual reimbursement by FEMA.

“While the federal government has abandoned survivors by refusing to pass desperately needed disaster supplemental funding, Gov. Newsom has refused to wait,” said spokesperson Anthony Martinez.

Newsom’s office said last week the state has submitted more than $1.5 billion in reimbursement claims to FEMA for state and local spending related to the 2025 fires.

Yes, wolves are back in California.

More than a century ago, wolf populations were extirpated largely through the state government’s campaign to kill or trap them to protect livestock. But in 2011, a collared gray wolf became the first confirmed wild wolf to return to California after it crossed the state line from Oregon.

Since then, it’s estimated that 100 wolves in 12 different packs are living in the state, mostly in Northern California. There was at least one lone wolf spotted in Southern California.

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The return of gray wolves may be beneficial for the restoration of the native species, but they are bringing back the same problems from a century ago: they are attacking farm animals.

During the first three months of 2026, wolves killed at least 26 livestock animals, including cattle, according to the California Farm Bureau, a statewide organization representing California farmers and ranchers. In 2025, California recorded 196 confirmed wolf attacks on livestock, the highest annual total since wolves returned to the state.

“For ranchers, the impact extends beyond the loss of an individual animal. Wolf depredation can disrupt herd reproduction, lower weight gain, and increase stress on the animal and the rancher who is fighting to protect their livestock,” the California Farm Bureau said.

But unlike a century ago, ranchers and livestock producers are left with few choices when wolf attacks occur, according to Steven Fenaroli with the nonprofit organization.

“A wolf may be 50 feet away, but farmers can’t do anything,” Fenaroli said, explaining wolves are protected under the California Endangered Species Act, prohibiting the killing or injuring of a wolf. “It’s terrible for the ranchers. They have to see their livestock being eaten alive.”

Fenaroli said there are no deterrents for the wolves looking to prey on the livestock, California ranchers’ livelihood. Livestock producers may use pepper balls, loud music or flagged ropes to scare wolves away, but the animals quickly figure out the methods are not life-threatening.

“Wolves are smart,” Fenaroli said. “They are doing what they were bred to do, looking for food.”

It’s not just the animals that were killed by wolves. The stress of the hostile environment could negatively impact herd reproduction and cause weight loss.

As a band-aid measure to help the affected ranchers, the state government has assigned the California Farm Bureau to distribute $1.1 million as compensation.

“While not a solution to the conflict, the Wolf Livestock Compensation Program is one avenue that helps ranchers deal with loss. Until we have more options to deter wolves, we will keep seeing more attacks on livestock,” Shannon Douglass, President of California Farm Bureau. said.

See here for eligibility and additional information on the wolf attack compensation program.

According to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 2:30 p.m. Friday to the 6700 block of Yount Street after a witness reported a hit-and-run crash.

The witness told deputies a brown convertible traveling north on Yount Street crashed into an unoccupied, legally parked vehicle, causing major rear damage. The witness said the driver briefly stopped before driving away and provided deputies with the direction the vehicle was traveling.

A short time later, deputies found a California Highway Patrol vehicle parked behind a disabled brown convertible that was partially blocking Yountville Cross Road.

Deputies identified the driver as Paul Pelosi, 86, through his California driver’s license. The sheriff’s office said the vehicle had significant damage to the front right side that was consistent with the earlier crash on Yount Street.

According to investigators, Pelosi admitted he hit something but said he did not know what he had struck and continued driving until his vehicle became disabled and could no longer be driven.

Deputies determined Pelosi was the driver involved in the collision. The sheriff’s office said a preliminary alcohol screening test showed a blood alcohol level of 0.00, ruling out driving under the influence.

The sheriff’s office said it will submit a California DMV re-evaluation referral, which it described as common for elderly drivers.

Pelosi was not arrested, which the sheriff’s office said is common for this type of offense under California misdemeanor arrest laws. The case will be referred to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution.

Now, Californians in 250 years will be able to enjoy the words of California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick.

Herrick’s poem, titled “My California,” was selected by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office as part of the state’s contribution to the official America250 time capsule.

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The capsule, which features contributions from all 50 states, is scheduled to be opened in 250 years — in the year 2276.

“I’m happy and deeply honored to be part of it,” Herrick said. “Never could have imagined it, but happy to be part of it.”

America250, the nationwide initiative organized to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, asked all 50 states to contribute to the time capsule.

Among California’s contributions to the capsule is Herrick’s poem, which captures the state’s present and promise, a state where immigrants are intertwined and where people enjoy the cities and the coasts, the central valley and wine country.

“In my California, it’s a place of immigrants, parents, refugees, hard-working families,” Herrick said. “We’re almost 40 million people. And one out of every four is born outside of the United States. I happen to be one of them.”

Herrick’s perspective is deeply rooted in his upbringing in Fresno.

Adopted at 10 months old from South Korea by a white American family, Herrick said he often felt like an outsider growing up.

He wrote the poem when he was 37.

“When I wrote the poem, it was a turning point for me,” Herrick said. “I started to think, this is my state, too. You know, I’ve lived here all my life since I was adopted, and I have a lot of love for it. And I also have a lot of hope for it.”

By its final stanzas, the poem transitions into a map of what the state could become — a vision of California led by freedom for all people.

“It’s probably nearly impossible to guess what the country will be like in 2276 when they open this thing, the time capsule,” he said. “But I love that the arts and poetry are part of it.”

Ultimately, Herrick hopes his inclusion in the historical project will inspire others to find their own voices.

“Poetry is there for you,” Herrick explained, “and I like to think that there are a lot more poets out there, or that there is really poetry in everyone.”

“My California” by Lee Herrick

Here, an olive votive keeps the sunset lit,
the Korean twenty-somethings talk about hyphens,

graduate school and good pot. A group of four at a window
table in Carpinteria discuss the quality of wines in Napa Valley versus Lodi.

Here, in my California, the streets remember the Chicano
poet whose songs still bank off Fresno’s beer soaked gutters

and almond trees in partial blossom. Here, in my California
we fish out long noodles from the pho with such accuracy

you’d know we’d done this before. In Fresno, the bullets
tire of themselves and begin to pray five times a day.

In Fresno, we hope for less of the police state and more of a state of grace.
In my California, you can watch the sun go down

like in your California, on the ledge of the pregnant
twenty-second century, the one with a bounty of peaches and grapes,

red onions and the good salsa, wine and chapchae.
Here, in my California, paperbacks are free,

farmer’s markets are twenty four hours a day and
always packed, the trees and water have no nails in them,

the priests eat well, the homeless eat well.
Here, in my California, everywhere is Chinatown,

everywhere is K-Town, everywhere is Armeniatown,
everywhere a Little Italy. Less confederacy.

No internment in the Valley.
Better history texts for the juniors.

In my California, free sounds and free touch.
Free questions, free answers.
Free songs from parents and poets, those hopeful bodies of light.

There were 1,955 reported hate crime events, which are traditional offenses like murder, arson or vandalism with an added element of bias, in 2025, according a new report released by Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office. That’s a 3.4% decrease from 2024’s 2,023 hate crime events.

LA County recorded the highest number of hate crime events than other parts of the state with 795 hate crime incidents, with the large majority of them coming from the city of LA.

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Police investigating possible hate crime at Islamic Society of Simi Valley building

Among the overall hate crime incidents, there was a 6.2% increase in events involving racial and ethic bias. Particularly, the number of bias events, which typically involve verbal harassment, slurs or intimidation, against Hispanics surged by 30%. Also anti-citizenship bias incidents went up 150%, going from 16 events in 2024 to 40 in 2025.

“While the overall number of reported hate crime events decreased in 2025, the data makes clear that too many Californians continue to be targeted because of who they are, where they come from, how they worship, who they love, or how they identify, ” Bonta said.

Bonta credited the state’s continued partnership and collaborations with local law enforcement agencies for the reduction in hate crime.

“Policing has gotten smarter. It’s gotten organized and more coordinated,” the state attorney general said.

But he blamed the Trump administration and the Republican party for the “spike” in hate crimes, particularly those related to race, citizenship and gender, including attacks against transgender people.

“When our president, his administration and members of his party continue to spout racist, xenophobic and transphobic rhetoric, when the people leading our country attack our diverse communities, spread misinformation and fan the flames of division, we can’t be all too surprised to see the numbers,” Bonta said.

Given hate crimes are typically under-reported, authorities urged victims to notify local law enforcement and consider taking the following steps:

• Reach out to community organizations in your area that deal with hate crimes or incidents.
• If you are in immediate danger, call 911 and, if needed, seek medical attention.
• Write down the exact words that were used and take note of any other relevant facts.
• If safe to do so, save all evidence and take photos.
• Get contact information for other victims and witnesses.

The 5-4 ruling on an issue that has been a persistent target of President Trump rejected an attack on laws in more than half the states that allow mail-in ballots that arrive Election Day and still be counted, as long as they’re postmarked by Election Day. At stake were election rules for the upcoming mid-term contests in California and about two dozen other states that offer more forgiving voting deadlines.

Supreme Court Jun 29

Supreme Court rules Trump can't fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook

Supreme Court Jun 29

Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots

California law allows ballots to be received within seven days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked on time.

“Today’s decision affirms what Los Angeles County voters deserve: the assurance that a ballot cast by election day will be counted if received within the legal timeframe established in state law,” Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said in a statement. “The decision supports California voters’ preference for voting options that increase access and participation. Our office will continue to provide voter education, multilingual outreach, and leverage available resources to ensure voting access for our 5.8 million registered voters heading into November and in every election that follows. We remain firmly committed to transparency, accuracy, and compliance with all applicable election laws.”

In a statewide election, between 700,000 and 1 million vote-by-mail ballots are returned on or around Election Day in Los Angeles County, according to the county elections office. There are more than 5.8 million registered voters in Los Angeles County, the largest voting jurisdiction in the country.

The ruling requires no changes to state election laws. In California, all of the state’s 23 million registered voters are sent vote-by-mail ballots ahead of elections, a practice that began during the Covid-19 pandemic to expand voting options.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber called the court’s ruling a win for voters, the rule of law and democracy.

“By rejecting efforts to shorten the vote-by-mail return window, the court protected an important safeguard that helps ensure service members, overseas voters, Californians with disabilities, and rural communities are not silenced by mail delays beyond their control,” Weber said in a statement. “This ruling makes one thing clear: our elections belong to the people, not to partisan agendas. As secretary of state, I will keep working to ensure every eligible Californian has the opportunity to be heard, because our democracy is strongest when every voice and vote count.”

Trump called the court’s decision a “tremendous loss” for voter rights, and again called on Congress to pass the Save America Act, which would ban most mail-in voting except for specific circumstances, while requiring all voters to produce a photo ID and proof of citizenship to cast a ballot. Save America Act legislation would, among other things, limit who is able to receive a mail ballot and impose a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement for registering to vote.

“If we want fair and secure elections, Election Day should mean exactly what it says, which is why this decision makes it even more imperative that Congress pass the SAVE America Act,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the court’s majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices. Justice Barrett wrote that federal laws “leave open” votes must be received.

Congress could change the law, she said.

“If varied deadlines for ballot receipt similarly call for a national solution, the American people must choose it through their elected representatives,” Barrett wrote.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote the dissent for four justices.

“Not only is today’s decision inconsistent with statutory text, legal context, historical practice, and precedent; it also threatens to produce lamentable consequences,” Alito wrote. “The majority’s holding spawns a slurry of troubling election-law questions and risks further undermining Americans’ confidence in election integrity.”

The court heard arguments in March in a case from Mississippi pitting the state against Trump’s Republican administration and the Republican and Libertarian parties. At issue was whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials.

The federal appeals court in New Orleans struck down a Mississippi law allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election and are postmarked by Election Day.

The outcome is a “sigh of relief” for a lot of election administrators, said Stephen Richer, a Republican and the former top election administrator in Arizona’s Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix.

A ruling in favor of the Republican National Committee “would have created a whole host of administrative challenges for the affected states,” said Richer, who is now a legal fellow at the Cato Institute.

RNC officials did not immediately respond Monday to email and telephone requests for comment.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also hailed the decision.

“California, like many states, utilizes vote-by-mail to increase participation in our democracy and today’s ruling helps ensure mail-in-ballots get counted and people’s voices are heard through the democratic process,” Newsom said. “Despite ongoing attacks from the Trump Administration, we will continue our work throughout the Golden State to ensure every eligible Californian participates — because democracy is strongest when we all take part.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A search and rescue operation was first initiated at 1:21 a.m. on Thursday by The Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group. This involved a response from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Air Force, which “spanned approximately 2,400 square miles over the course of 43 hours using three surface ships and 12 aircraft,” the Navy’s Deputy Public Affairs Officer said.

“The Marine was serving abroad amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD-23) during integrated training between the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group,” they said.

The USS Anchorage (LPD-23) is homeported in San Diego. The 13th MEU is also based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

The operation then transitioned to a search and recovery mission as of 9:00 p.m. Friday, the Navy said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who are affected during this difficult time.”

They said in accordance with U.S. Navy policy, the Marine’s name will be withheld until after 24 hours have passed from the next-of-kin notification.

A San Clemente couple on vacation in Puerto Vallarta witnessed a man get attacked and killed by a crocodile near their hotel Friday night.

The incident happened at Marina Vallarta Beach near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa at around 6:30 p.m., according to Jalisco state police. The victim was identified only as a 28-year-old from Mexico who was in Puerto Vallarta for work.

Jamie Yetter, her fiancé Chris Bury and her teenage daughter were staying at the hotel. The three were at the hotel pool when they heard screams coming from the beach.

“We thought we saw a guy stuck in a rip current, so Chris took off down to the water, and I ran right after him,” Yetter told NBC Los Angeles.

Bury said he got into a kayak, paddleless, in a fast attempt to get to the man and help him.

“There were no oars. There was really nothing at the beach at all to help. We were just scrambling, trying to do what we could,” Bury said. “I was on the kayak right when he got pulled under.”

The victim was located in the water more than 12 hours later and was recovered early Saturday morning, Jalisco state police confirmed to NBCLA.

By Saturday morning, less than one day after the attack, people were swimming in the same ocean area with their families.

Yetter shared that there is signage leading to the beach from the hotel property advising of jellyfish, stingrays and crocodiles in the water but said her family believed the image of a crocodile was that of an iguana.

NBCLA reached out to the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa, who did not comment on the attack but is awaiting a response from its corporate office about the incident.

Friday’s attack was near the same beach where two Colorado men were attacked by a crocodile in July 2022.

More than 100 intact dogs in various stages of decomposition were found at buildings and grounds associated with Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in Fortuna, California, the Humboldt Sheriff’s Office said on Friday.

The sheriff’s office said they obtained a search warrant to search the grounds and buildings associated with Miranda’s Rescue and Shannon Miranda, for evidence related to fraud and animal cruelty on Thursday. The warrant allowed the sheriff’s office to excavate open fields for evidence of deceased dogs believed to be buried in mass graves, according to officials.

Sheriff’s officials reported investigators found 117 intact canine remains from two dig sites. Near that site, authorities said 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones, and six loose microchips were also found.

According to authorities, the 117 intact dogs were in various stages of decomposition. Officials added most of the dogs were microchipped.

The USDA and forensic veterinarians examined 70 of those dogs, determining the cause of death for most of them was gunshot wounds, authorities said. They added the other 47 dogs were not examined due to time constraints.

The sheriff’s office said they also found more dead canines in advance stage of decomposition. Investigators tried to remove the animals from the location, but due to their advance stage of decomposition, authorities said it was determined that the evidentiary value of removing the animals from the ground was not justified.

Officials said they also found a barn believed to be where the dogs were likely killed. There, the sheriff’s office reported investigators also found 600 dog collars.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office noted that, due to the complexity of the investigation, the evidence review process might take a while. After all evidence is reviewed, they said if there is sufficient evidence to support violations of animal cruelty, fraud or other applicable laws, the case will be submitted to the persecution team for review.

Trump had issued the executive order in March to require voters to show proof of citizenship at polling stations before casting their ballots. The presidential directive also sought to stop states from counting ballots if they do not arrive by Election Day.

The Trump administration initially threatened states, saying it would withhold certain federal funding for noncompliant states.

Housing Jun 24

Trump says he won't sign bipartisan housing bill until voter ID measure passes

Decision 2026 Apr 24

Californians to be asked to approve new voter ID, verification requirements

A few days after the executive order was issued, Bonta and 19 attorneys generals filed the suit, arguing that the president and the federal Election Assistant Commission do not have the authority to force states to comply with the election directives.

After a federal judge rejected the Trump’s administration’s effort to get the lawsuit thrown out, the legal proceedings continued with both sides arguing their cases before the “major victory,” according to the California attorney general.

“We sued President Trump over his attempt to unilaterally impose voting restrictions across the country — and we won,” Bonta said in a statement after the ruling was issued Wednesday.

“Today, a federal district court ruled that every provision we challenged in the Executive Order is unlawful and reaffirmed that the power to regulate elections is reserved to the States and Congress,” the attorney general added. “While we are proud of this result, we are clear-eyed that President Trump’s attacks on voting rights and our elections show no signs of slowing down. So let me be clear: we will keep fighting back every step of the way.” 

There are local initiatives that still seek to overhaul the voter ID requirement and ballot counting process in California. Among them is the California Voter Identification, Citizenship Verification, and Registered Voter List Administration Initiative, which qualified for the November ballot in California, aiming to require voters to present a government-issued ID for in-person voting or registration.

The state is also awaiting a court’s decision on another voting-related presidential executive order: the president has also released a directive to create federal requirements on who would be eligible to vote in federal elections and to restrict mail voting.

California and 23 other states also sued the Trump administration, similarly arguing that running elections is a state’s responsibility, not a president’s. The court has yet to rule on the case.

It was no problem for Heim, whose No. 67 Toyota inexplicably kept getting faster on the way to his first career Cup Series victory in only his 13th start.

The 23-year-old part-time driver from Marietta, Georgia, took a deep breath before the second half of the race and reminded himself that he had as much experience as the veterans on the 16-turn, 3.4-mile street course on Coronado Island, just south of downtown San Diego.

“I’m speechless,” Heim said. “Maybe I knocked some good into the car. I have no idea. I had high expectations coming into this race. I just reset and went after it.”

Heim, the 2024 truck series champion who will move full time into Cup next season with 23XI Racing, led the final three laps after snatching first from teammate Tyler Reddick.

“I was able to stick with him, and five to go came, and it was time to put some pressure on him and see if I could get him to make a mistake,” Heim said. “Sure enough, he did.”

Bubba Wallace finished second to deliver a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA great Michael Jordan.

Reddick suffered a flat tire in the closing laps and fell to 25th, cutting his lead in the standings to eight points over Hamlin.

“To even have a shot at it at the end was really nice,” said Reddick, who started from the rear after unapproved adjustments to his No. 45 Toyota. “First and foremost, congratulations to Corey. I thought I was going to be able to hold him off there. It definitely stings. Really needed a good points day. Had another really bad one, so we’ll try and scrape together.”

It’s the second time in three years that an inaugural street race has produced a first-time winner in NASCAR’s premier series. Shane van Gisbergen won his Cup debut in the 2023 Chicago Street Race.

Heim became the third first-time winner in Cup this season, joining Ty Gibbs (Bristol) and Carson Hocevar (Talladega).

“Just crazy,” Heim said. “I hope I don’t wake up from this dream.”

His peers already think Heim’s for real.

“Awesome job by Corey Heim,” two-time Cup champion Kyle Larson said after finishing third. “That’s really cool. He’s a super talented race car driver, and it’s neat to see somebody get their first win, especially at a challenging track like this.”

Zane Smith and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top five.

Hamlin, the driver-owner who had won the past three races for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished 14th.

SVG stunner

Van Gisbergen finished 38th in his bid for an eighth road or street course victory (which will make him the active leader among Cup drivers).

After starting from the pole position, van Gisbergen was caught in a crash that started when Trackhouse Racing teammate Connor Zilisch and Austin Hill collided while battling for the lead on a Lap 32 restart. The nine-car incident caused a nine-minute red flag for wall repairs.

“I felt like I was giving Austin space, and the next thing, I was in the wall,” said Zilisch, who led the first eight laps of his Cup career in the highlight of a miserable rookie season. “Really unfortunate. I hate to end both days for both Shane and I. We had a really fast car today. I had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed just getting to race out front and lead laps.”

Driver swap

During the first caution, Christopher Bell was replaced in the No. 20 Toyota by Brent Crews, but the driver relief stint was short. Crews exited in last place after a gearbox problem on the 28th lap.

Bell is still recovering from a broken wrist in a June 7 crash at Michigan International Speedway and said getting out of the car was precautionary and not because of pain.

One more for Johnson

In his second and last Cup start of the 2026 season, Jimmie Johnson slammed a tire barrier after missing a chicane on the fifth lap and finished 28th.

The seven-time series champion said Saturday that he still plans on the 2027 Daytona 500 as his final start as a Cup driver, but he is open to racing in other series.

Up next

NASCAR will stay in California, heading north to Sonoma Raceway on June 28. Van Gisbergen dominated in winning on the road course last season, leading 97 of 110 laps from the pole position.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

His social media accounts on Sunday afternoon announced the return of his body after the June 14 collision of two helicopters, which killed all six people on board.

“Oliver is now back in California where he can finally rest,” the post said.

According to The Associated Press, police identified the five other people as Gaspar Prim Díaz, a popular Argentine YouTuber known as Gaspi; another Argentine, Lucas Vignale; and Brazilians Lucas Brito, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza.

The cause of the collision was under investigation. The AP reported last week that authorities were investigating the possibility of human error by a pilot or air traffic controllers.

Tree, 32, had been performing in South America as part of a world tour. He had a show scheduled for June 6 in São Paulo, according to a schedule on his Facebook page.

The post Sunday thanked fans and supporters for an outpouring of devotion to the memory of the quirky and uplifting artist.

“The constant love, support and positivity is helping the family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times,” it said.

Tree, whose real name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was from Santa Cruz. His father, Jesse Nickell, said he learned of his son’s death from a producer working on music with him in Brazil.

“Peace be with Oliver,” he said by text last week.

Tree was recognizable for his bright fashion, mullet haircut with prominent bangs, thin mustache and encouraging outlook. A motto on his Instagram account says, “No matter how strange you think you look, no matter how ugly you feel, you are beautiful.”

Music & Musicians Jun 15

Singer Oliver Tree mourned by friends and fans as officials investigate Brazil helicopter crash

Brazil Jun 14

Helicopter with singer Oliver Tree on passenger list collides with another in Brazil

Tree also worked with marquee names in pop and electronic dance music. His biggest tracks were “Life Goes On,” which peaked at 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022, and “Miss You,” with German musician Robin Schulz, which peaked at 84 on the chart the same year.

Tree’s influence spread beyond chart data, however, and tributes poured in far and wide following last week’s news that he was on the passenger list of one of the aircraft.

The post on his social media accounts said he had been working on an endowment that would produce a grant and that the plan would be moving forward.

“‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon,” the post said. “We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish.”

Speaking on the “Zack Sang Show” on YouTube in April, Tree discussed the grant and said his music was likely to be more valued after he died.

“That’s when people appreciate you, when you’re not there anymore,” he said.

The Instagram statement offered some assurance.

“Your legacy will live on forever,” it said.

The Kelce brothers were seen wearing NASCAR San Diego weekend jackets in a post shared to Instagram by NASCAR.

Actor Scott Eastwood also shared on his social media that he was at the event, and even got to ride in one of the race cars.

Former NFL running back and “Euphoria” actor Marshawn Lynch was also spotted at the base.

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Minimum wage

Local jurisdictions, such as Los Angeles County, will update their minimum wage ordinance, with their hourly pay rates exceeding that of the state’s requirement. Currently, Californian’s minimum wage is $16.90 per hour for most economic sectors.

Hotel and hospitality workers as well as those in the health care industry in some cities will see their hourly pay rates go up, starting on July 1.

Here’s are the new minimum hourly rates for general workers:

• LA County: $18.47 
• City of LA: $18.42 
• Santa Monica: $18.47 
• Pasadena: $18.57 
• Malibu: $17.91 

Hotel and hospitality minimum wage per hour:

• City of LA, Santa Monica, Glendale: $25.00 
• Long Beach: $26.50
• West Hollywood: $20.87

New minimum hourly rate for health care workers:

• Large hospitals, facilities with over 10,000 full-time employees: $25
• General: $23.00
• Clinics (ex. Urgent care): $22.00
• Independent rural hospitals: $19.28

Los Angeles Jun 12

‘It's war.' Spencer Pratt pledges to ‘expose' Bass and Raman after losing LA mayor's primary

California Jun 10

Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election

Food and consumers

California gas tax: the gasoline tax will increase by 2.2 cents per gallon to 63.4 center per gallon. Diesel tax will increase by 1.6 cents per gallon to 48.2 cents per gallon. The increase was made automatically after Senate Bill 1 or the Road Repair and Accountability Act went into effect in 2017, requiring the tax to be adjusted per inflation. The revenue should be used for road and bridge maintenance across the state.

Food, beverage labeling: AB 660 seeks to standardize how goods are labeled with more specific phrasing of when the products are expected to expire. The new law will also promote grocery donations while reducing food waste, according to the bill’s authors. 

• Best if used by or best if frozen by: the labeling is supposed to clearly indicate the window of peak product quality, taste or freshness.
• Use by or freeze by: the phrasing notes the hard deadline for high-risk food items.
• Sell-by dates will largely be banned.
• Wine: bottlers can note packaging dates.
• Deli/prepared foods: grocery stores are permitted to use a “packed on” label. 
• Exemptions: infant formula, eggs, beer

Allergen disclosures: With AB 68, California becomes the first state in the nation to mandate large restaurant chains to disclose the most common food allergens to customers and diners — milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, fish, shellfish, sesame. The new law applies to chains with 20 or more locations nationwide, not mom-and-pop shops and small businesses. 

School and students

Cellphone ban: Every school in the state should have a policy in place to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones by students on school campuses. AB 3216, also known as the Phone-Free Schools Act, aims to reduce classroom distractions and protect students’ mental health.

All-gender bathrooms: SB 760 requires all public and charter schools to establish at least one, non-gendered restroom for students. The bathrooms must come with clear signage, notifying they are open to all students with all gender identities.

Crisis hotline: Under AB 727, all middle, high schools as well as colleges and universities must note the Trevor Project’s 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention hotline on their student ID cards (1-866-488-7386). If a school has unissued ID cards that were printed prior to the enactment without the hotline number, it can use up the remaining supply before newly printed badges are used.

Technology

Streaming ads: SB 576 mandates streaming platforms, such as YouTube and Peacock, to regulate the audio volume of commercials and prohibit them from streaming ads at a volume louder than the actual show, movie or video content. The new law prevents sudden jarring volume spikes for viewers to reflect the CALM Act from 2010 in the digital age. 

Driverless cars: as more automotive vehicles and robotaxis operate in the state, AB 1777 allows law enforcement to ticket fleets that do not comply with traffic laws. The vehicles also must have a 24/7, free emergency response hotline for first responders, mandating autonomous car companies to have a human, remote operator in place.

Others

Housing: This major zoning law will begin to override local regulations to allow multi-family residential developments near public transit hubs. For example, neighborhoods that are at least half a mile from frequently used Metro lines will effectively lose single-family zones. Despite opposition from Los Angeles officials, the new law targets high-density areas, including LA and San Francisco counties. 

Fertility treatment: SB 729 requires large-scale employers (100 workers or more) to expand health insurance to cover the infertility diagnosis and treatments, including IVF. The coverage should include three completed egg (oocyte) retrievals and an unlimited number of embryo transfers.

The 2026 Billionaire Tax Act has already split Democrats: while progressives want to impose a one-time tax on the rich, others, including some prominent Democratic leaders, argue it will further push out wealthy people and businesses out of the state.

What would the billionaire tax do?

Under the initiative, California residents and trusts whose net worth is at least $1 billion would be taxed up to 5% of their assets. The proposal has a Jan. 1, 2026 residency cutoff, which means those who were in California at that time would be taxed whether they still live in the state or not. 

The one-time tax could generate about $100 billion, with the 90% of the revenue going toward health care and 10% to be spent on food assistance or education-related programs. 

Who is backing the billionaire tax?

Labor unions and health care groups say billionaires should contribute more to the state and its public services when many Californians are faced with the affordability crisis.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna and former gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer support the proposal.

Who’s against the billionaire tax?

Governor Gavin Newsom is one of the prominent opponents, arguing the proposal would further drive billionaires out of the state, reducing investment and future tax revenue for the state. He has also argued that the state is already heavily relying on high-income taxpayers.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra as well as Katie Porter, Antonio Villaraigosa, Matt Mahan also said they oppose the billionaire tax.

Planned Parenthood is among the large progressive organizations against the proposal, arguing the initiative does not clearly lay out how the revenue would be spent. 

The California Medical Association also opposes the billionaire tax, saying it “will not provide the sustainable and long-lasting funding that our schools and communities deserve.”

Becerra has the support of 52% of California’s likely voters, compared to Hilton at 31%, according to the poll by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. 17% of the surveyed said they are undecide.

Becerra’s main support base is the state’s registered Democrats, according to the researchers. More than 80% of registered Democrats said they support Becerra in the November runoff.

Similarly, a large majority of Republican voters support Hilton. Eighty-four percent of California’s Republicans said they would vote for the former Fox News host in the upcoming general election.

California Jun 9

Becerra kicks off general election campaign as Hilton calls for CA election system change

California Jun 10

Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election

But the problem for Hilton is that California has more Democrats than Republicans by 20% points, creating a big hurdle for the GOP candidate in a state that hasn’t had a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even if Hilton absorbed the 17% of the undecided voters, based on the current findings, the Republican candidate would have a lesser chance of becoming California’s governor.

Another possible conundrum for Hilton: Pre. Donald Trump’s endorsement. The support of the president helped Hilton during the primary election against his Republican rival Chad Bianco. And it could solidify the GOP bloc’s support for Hilton.

However, Trump’s endorsement would deter independent voters from casting their ballot for Hilton, according to the researchers.

“Trump’s endorsement is unlikely to broaden Hilton’s base of support among the overall electorate in the general election,” the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies said. “This is because large majorities of the state’s electorate have consistently viewed Trump and the job he is doing as president in highly negative terms.”

During a campaign event Thursday, Hilton appeared to share his strategy against Becerra by frustrations felt by Californians.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican or Democrat, I think it’s important to understand if we don’t change direction in California, we really could be heading toward an economic crisis,” Hilton said. “If we continue down this path, we’ll see more, more businesses leaving, more pressure on the budget that means taxes will have to go up.”

An additional factor behind Becerra’s lead is support from more populous counties in California. The survey found Becerra is favored in LA, San Diego counties as well as the Central Coast region. While Hilton is competitive in Orange County, the Inland Empire and Central Valley, other areas that Hilton is likely to carry are sparely populated, according to the latest findings.

When it comes to age groups, gender categories and ethnicity blocs, Becerra maintained a big deal, the poll said. For example, among Black voters, 51% said they support Becerra, compared to 19% for Hilton. While 52% of Latino voters said they would vote for Becerra, 28% expressed their support for Hilton.

The latest survey also may explain why Becerra was able to beat his Democratic rival Tom Steyer. Despite Steyer’s targeted effort to shore up support from progressive voters, the poll found 39% of those who identified as progressive supported Becerra, compared to Steyer’s 29%.

With nearly 94% of the expected vote tabulated, Ma secured first place by receiving 19.1% of the votes, compared to Romero in second place with 18%. There was only a 90,000-vote difference between the two candidates.

Democratic candidate Josh Friday, who finished third with 14.6%, conceded Wednesday after receiving more than 1.2 million votes.

Decision 2026 Jun 10

Luna and Villanueva slated to face off in November for LA County sheriff's race

LA County Jun 10

Measure ER passes, set to increase LA County sales tax for public health care

Who is Fiona Ma?

After serving as California’s state treasurer since 2019, Ma now has her eyes on the lieutenant governor’s office.

She has held various public offices, including the State Board of Equalization, the State Assembly and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The certified public accountant also became the first woman of color to hold the state treasurer’s office.

With her experience, Ma is pledging to support small businesses and create jobs while focusing on affordability issues as lieutenant governor.

However, her career was marred by controversy in recent years.

In 2021, Ma was sued by a former employee for sexual harassment as she was accused of exposing herself and getting into the bed with her during work trips. The lawsuit was settled for $350,000, but Ma has maintained the allegations were false.

Her ties to Pegasus California School, a China-based institution, were also scrutinized after the school faced an audit for potential fraud and improper diploma practices. The audit did not accused Ma of any wrongdoing, but she did receive donations from the school’s founder for her political campaigns.

Who is Gloria Romero?

Until 2024, Romero was a Democrat, who became the first woman to serve as California Senate Majority Leader.

After switching to the Republican party two years ago, Romero is now running for lieutenant governor as Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton’s running mate.

Romero is promising to demand education and government accountability if she becomes the next lieutenant governor. Among some of her campaign pledges, she wants to curb tuition increases at UC and CSU schools and demand accountability in public education.

In the deep-blue state, Romero, who endorsed President Donald Trump in 2024, could be labeled as a MAGA candidate.

The East LA native’s conservative positions on gender identity issues may also be a liability among California voters. When she decided to switch to the GOP, she blamed the Democratic Party’s gender identity issues, especially when it comes to notifying parents about a teen’s gender identity.

As of 6 p.m., the fire was 50% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was reported around 10 a.m. on the military installation neighboring the city of Oceanside. Camp Pendleton officials said the fire was located in the November Training Area near Wire Mountain Housing, but no evacuation orders were issued except for a golf course on base.

By 12:30 p.m., the fire was estimated to have burned 150 acres, according to Cal Fire. It continued to grow through to 560 acres through the afternoon, pushing up against the base’s border with the City of Oceanside.

Evacuation warnings were issued for the nearby Oceanside Municipal Golf Course and some surrounding neighborhoods. An evacuation warning means people should be prepared to leave on a moment’s notice if an order is issued.

Later, the golf course was ordered to evacuate. An evacuation point was established at El Camino High School at 400 Rancho Del Oro. At least 38 people and 16 animals were being cared for there by the American Red Cross.

Within the evacuation warning zone was the San Diego Humane Society’s Oceanside Campus. The facility had to evacuate on Monday when another fire started in the area and burned four acres.

The Oceanside Fire Department said around 3:45 p.m. that crews were making good progress in their firefight and that the blaze was moving away from the city.

A plume of smoke could be seen from miles away on SkyRanger 7 cameras. A smoke advisory was issued for Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Bonsall, and Fallbrook by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.

With 88% of the votes counted, Hilton received 25% of the votes compared to Becerra’s 27.9%.

Billionaire candidate Tom Steyer was stuck in third place with 22% of the votes while Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco was in fourth place with 10%.

The former Fox News host, who was in the lead at the beginning of the vote counting process, managed to beat out Steyer to safeguard his spot, four days after NBC News projected Becerra’s advancement to the primary election.

Hilton released a statement after NBC News’ projection came out, claiming that the state is on the wrong track despite California being “the greatest state in the greatest nation on earth.”

“In the weeks ahead, we will lay out my plan in detail to make our state Califordable – particularly for workers and small businesses,” the Republican candidate said while calling his Democratic rival the ultimate career politician. “We will draw a powerful contrast with Xavier Becerra, who represents more of the same cost, incompetence, and corruption.”

Shortly after Hilton declared victory, Steyer conceded in a statement, admitting that he does not have “the votes necessary to advance to the general election in November.”

“For the rest of my life, I will be proud of the ways we fought for and with working people, earning endorsements from unions representing nurses, educators, carpenters, home care workers, hotel and restaurant workers, and the votes of almost 2 million Californians who dared to demand more for each other and the state they love,” Steyer said in a statement.

He encouraged Californians to stand behind Becerra while still taking a jab at his rival for taking donations from big corporations.

“It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not,” the billionaire candidate said. “And I’m proud of the enemies we made. We forced Chevron, PG&E, Meta, and so many others out of hiding.”

.@XavierBecerra has the experience and grit California needs.

He will stand up to Donald Trump, defend our families, and keep our state moving forward.

It’s time to get to work and help him win this November. pic.twitter.com/kQbzdjlXHP

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 10, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom broke his silence Friday evening, issuing a full-throated endorsement of Becerra, his former attorney general.

“The son of immigrations, Xavier has spent his career fighting for California families and underserved communities. He has the experience and grit California needs,” Newsom said in a statement.

Debate over immigration

Hilton, who was a close advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, has boasted about being an immigrant to the U.S. and California. Sounding triumphant before his supporters on election night, he suggested he could follow former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a possible immigrant-turned-governor.

The British-born Republican, born to Hungarian refugees, told NBC Los Angeles’ Political Chief Correspondent Conan Nolan that he is “100% in favor of legal immigration.” But he makes an argument made by other conservative voices: cheap foreign workers are taking jobs away from Californians.

“(A construction worker in Sacramento) said he’s been laid off because the employers are now hiring illegal immigrant workers that they don’t have to pay health care, they don’t have to pay all these costs, don’t have to pay proper taxes,” Hilton said on NBCLA’s NewsConference on March 22. “That’s not fair to regular Californians.”

When asked who will be replacing undocumented workers in the farming industry and “pick crops,” Hilton predicted that most of the farm work will be automated in five years.

The debate over immigration will likely heat up leading up to the November runoff as Hilton’s proposals on immigration would be countered by Becerra, who, throughout his political career, has discussed his upbringing as the son of Mexican immigrants with blue-collar jobs.

“I defend immigrants with a passion because I saw immigrants every day of my life. And I know how hard they work. I never saw a day where my dad didn’t work,” Becerra said in 2020 when he was California’s attorney general.

Becerra has said as governor, he would defend California’s sanctuary-state policies and resist federal efforts to weaken protections for undocumented immigrants.

The former Health and Human Services secretary has also pledged to provide health care coverage to undocumented immigrants after he criticized Gov. Newsom’s decision to roll back the program that used to provide health insurance to undocumented immigrants.

Tom Steyer’s $200M campaign

The billionaire Democrat, who was consistently accused of trying to buy the governor’s office by his competitors, has now spent half a billion dollars, trying to get into politics.

After pouring some $250 million into the 2020 presidential campaign, Steyer ended up dropping out after the South Carolina primary without picking up a single delegate.

For the gubernatorial campaign, Steyer spent more than $200 million, surpassing the amount Meg Whitman spent for her unsuccessful bid for governor.

Steyer’s campaign efforts may have paid off in some counties: in San Francisco, Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo and Alpine counties, the environmental activist has maintained a solid lead against Hilton and Becerra.

Steyer himself has admitted that it would not be possible for any candidate to buy a public office, telling PBS that he would never “apologize for succeeding in business.”

Bianco leads in 2 counties

Despite Hilton’s plea to voters that Republicans need to consolidate their support behind him, Bianco stayed steadfast in his commitment to continuing on with his gubernatorial campaign. Even when Pres. Trump endorsed Hilton for California’s governor, Bianco stayed firm.

But his polling numbers stayed steady, not going beyond Riverside County and unable to take away support from his Republican rival.

Two of the conservative leading counties appeared to favor Bianco over others, though: Riverside and Lassen counties.

In Riverside County where Bianco is the top law enforcement official, he was in first place at 27%, closely followed by Becerra at 26%.

More than 44% of Lassen County voters cast their ballots for the sheriff, leading Hilton by more than 11 points.

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Becerra rapidly caught up to Republican frontrunner Steve Hilton Friday, trailing the GOP rival by about 8,700 votes, according to the latest vote count by the NBC News Decision Desk.

Among over 63% of the expected ballots across the state, Hilton, former Fox News Host, received 26.6% of the votes, compared to Becerra, former Health and Human Services secretary, at 26.5%. The difference between the two candidates was just over 8,770 votes as of 2:45 p.m. Friday.

Because Democratic and left-leaning voters turned in their ballots later for this primary election, the votes counted later the in week are more likely to be for Becerra.

Becerra’s campaign released a statement, calling his advancement to the runoff “a landmark moment in California history.”

“The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” Xavier Becerra said as he said his campaign was galvanized by working families, including labor unions, nurses and firefighters.

In an apparent jab at his Democratic rival and billionaire candidate Tom Steyer, who spent more than $200 million on his gubernatorial campaign and went after his rivals mercilessly, Becerra said California voters “will not be bought.”

“We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. November, here we come,” Becerra said.

California has spoken. Thank you for standing with us. To every volunteer who made a call, sent a text, knocked a door, or showed up when it mattered most — this victory belongs to you.

We're just getting started. On to November. pic.twitter.com/fTZ1HFKzNf

— Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) June 6, 2026

Becerra’s gubernatorial campaign could be one for the history books. Just four months ago, the former congressman and state attorney general was among the candidates who were urged to leave the race by the California Democratic Party, which feared two Republicans could end up in the ruoff.

But as his supporters called it, “the Becerra bounce” helped him go from polling at 3% in March to becoming the first gubernatorial candidate to advance to the general election.

Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer in third place gained about 107,000 votes in the past 24 hours, the latest tabulation showed.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco remained at fourth place with 11.2%.

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The latest project came as First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced Friday his office has “multiple” probes underway into alleged voting fraud — one day after President Donald Trump alleged, without providing any examples or evidence, that Democrats were cheating this week’s California primary election.

Essayli, a Trump appointee, wrote on social media Friday morning that “protecting the integrity of California’s elections is a top priority for my office.”

“California’s election system has serious structural vulnerabilities,” he wrote. “Universal vote-by-mail with no voter ID requirements creates conditions where fraud can go undetected and unpunished, eroding public confidence. Without commenting on any specific investigation, my office has multiple election fraud investigations underway in coordination with (the FBI). We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and prosecute any violations of federal election law to the fullest extent.”

Although he declined to provide any specifics, he pointed to a case announced last month charging a Marina del Rey woman with allegedly paying people — including the homeless living on Skid Row — to register to vote.

“Yes, there is evidence of election fraud in California,” he said.

Essayli also said his office is working with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon in an effort to audit the state’s voter roll.

The comments came one day after Trump — without evidence — publicly accused Democrats of engaging in election fraud in California, pointing to the legally established mail-in voting process.

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “The Dumocrats are at it again! They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. Here we go with the very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom responded on X, writing, “Trump is lying about California again — time to take the phone away from grandpa and put him to sleep.”

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber said Thursday that residents should expect continued updates in vote totals from Tuesday’s election as outstanding ballots are counted. She noted that California law allows county election officials up to 30 days to complete the official canvass and process eligible ballots that remain outstanding.

“Accuracy comes before speed,” Weber said in a statement.

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