All articles tagged with #california
A California federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from imposing anti-DEI conditions on federal grants to 11 California and Oregon cities and counties, saying the policy exceeds Congress’s spending powers and contradicts grant purposes; other courts have issued similar blocks in related cases.
RHOC star Jennifer Pedranti said her son was involved in a brush fire in Ladera Ranch, Orange County. Firefighters contained the ~7-acre fire with help from OCFA and CAL FIRE; there were no injuries or property damage. Pedranti apologized on Instagram, noting consequences at home and that her son will take a fire-safety course. She also referenced a prior incident involving her teenage son, Greyson.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 181, a budget trailer bill that shifts day-to-day control of California’s education system from the elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction to a governor-appointed Education Commissioner, a move critics call an undemocratic power grab while supporters say it modernizes governance; the change drew backlash from educators and SPI hopeful Sonja Shaw, who vows to challenge the measure in court.
California's new $135 million EV incentive with a $50,000 cap and a state-manufacturer exemption tilts eligibility toward Rivian and Lucid, sidelining Tesla; SpaceX completes the absorption of xAI, rebranding as SpaceXAI to pursue orbital AI compute centers; Tesla counters with the JUNI x Tesla Battery Cell Giga Challenge in Europe, inviting startups to bring working battery-prototyping solutions to Gigafactory Berlin, backed by a $250 million investment to scale 4680-cell production to 18 GWh and create about 1,500 jobs.
A California Bay Club daycare is facing a lawsuit after a staff member allegedly swung a 23‑month‑old 6 feet into the air and failed to catch him, causing a concussion and ongoing symptoms. The complaint accuses negligence and other claims, cites video evidence disputing the club’s account, and questions the center’s licensing status and safety practices.
In San Jose, a 749-square-foot backyard ADU sold for about $530,000, making it the state’s first ADU condominium under Assembly Bill 1033 and pitched by officials as a new route to affordable homeownership in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets.
West Nile‑carrying mosquitoes are spreading rapidly through Los Angeles and Orange counties, with LA County reporting 27 positive samples and Orange County detecting West Nile in 38 mosquito pools. Nationally, human cases are at a mid-year high not seen since 2004, though California has only one reported human case so far this year. There is no specific treatment; most infections are mild or asymptomatic, but about 1% can progress to neuroinvasive disease, which can be severe and sometimes fatal. Prevention focuses on reducing breeding sites and avoiding bites: use EPA‑recommended repellents (DEET, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or Picaridin), wear long sleeves/pants at dawn/dusk, remove standing water, maintain screens, and report dead birds or large breeding sites to local vector control.
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, led by Harmeet Dhillon, is pursuing an unprecedented, coordinated push to broaden Second Amendment rights by filing lawsuits against state gun restrictions, including California and Virginia, signaling a shift toward using civil-rights litigation to set lasting legal precedent after recent Supreme Court rulings; the strategy aims to shape the law for the long term rather than challenge every restriction.
The FCC has cleared AT&T to phase out traditional landline service for more than 184,000 California households starting June 1, 2027, with notices urging customers to switch to newer technologies; AT&T says just 3% of California households still use landlines and plans a phased upgrade funded by $19 billion through 2030 as it moves away from aging copper networks. California regulators, led by the CPUC, have blocked AT&T’s efforts to shed its Carrier of Last Resort obligation and filed a lawsuit to preserve that basic-service requirement, while AT&T faces pending applications with the FCC and ongoing opposition from state regulators.
USA TODAY reports that In-N-Out Burger plans six new restaurants in five states—California, Tennessee, Arizona, Utah and Idaho—with openings set for Commerce (CA), Madison (TN), San Tan Valley (AZ), St. George (UT), Stockton (CA) and Twin Falls (ID). The expansion comes as the chain continues to grow beyond California; CEO Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson has said the company won’t compromise on quality to grow and has previously dismissed East Coast expansion (and online ordering) in her lifetime.
In-N-Out Burger plans to open six new restaurants across California, Arizona, Idaho, Tennessee, and Utah, with opening dates not yet announced. The privately held chain, which operates over 430 locations in 10 states, does not franchise and emphasizes fresh ingredients and in-person service, a model that keeps openings closer to its beef facilities. The new sites include locations in California, Arizona, Idaho, Tennessee, and Utah as it continues expanding beyond the West.
A chaotic Fourth of July weekend in Newport Beach led to more than 400 arrests after crowds looted a Pavilions store on West Balboa Boulevard. The aftermath showed a cleaned-out storefront by 6:30 a.m. as authorities held firm with tripled fines in safety zones and a zero-tolerance stance on public intoxication and fireworks. Most detainees were minors or out-of-town visitors, and one officer was hurt by a firework. Officials cited viral social-media trends and a claimed “TikTok takeover” as a factor, while the city’s mayor and a police association defended the response and noted social media has amplified the problems during holiday crowds.
A 62-year-old LA hot dog vendor, Arabelia Martinez, was assaulted in downtown Los Angeles. A 19-year-old suspect faces charges including assault likely to produce great bodily injury with a possible hate-crime enhancement. Martinez and her family spoke at a City Hall news conference, calling for an end to violence and discrimination against street vendors, as a viral video sparked public outcry. Authorities are weighing hate-crime allegations; advocates say violence against street vendors is underreported and worsened by immigration-enforcement tensions. Police credited investigators and urged others to report attacks.
California transfers 136 acres of Blues Beach from Caltrans to Kai Poma, a nonprofit formed by the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, marking California’s first state land conveyance to tribal governments since a 2021 law change. Kai Poma will own and manage the site, protect cultural and natural resources, and keep public access from sunrise to sunset while prohibiting commercial activity, with cultural, archaeological and environmental surveys and a long-term resource-management plan to follow.
California voters will decide 14 statewide propositions on the November ballot, including a billionaire wealth tax and its anti‑tax “poison pills,” a major $11.25 billion affordable housing bond, public campaign financing, a voter-ID requirement, and a suite of tax/financing and governance reforms (including a permanent high‑income tax for schools and healthcare, a homeownership down‑payment program, and CEQA reforms). Campaigns have already raised well over $100 million, and the wealth-tax proposal faces opposition from Gov. Newsom and others who warn it could drive out residents or hinder budgeting.