California Sues Five Cities over Housing

California filed lawsuits Thursday against five cities that state officials say have repeatedly failed to adopt compliant housing plans required under state law.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office named Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest, and Turlock, accusing each of violating the state’s Housing Element Law, which requires cities and counties to update their housing plans on a regular cycle to meet state housing requirements.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement the cities had every chance to comply. “They chose not to, so now they’ll answer for it in court,” he said.

Turlock pushed back, saying state regulators found its revised housing plan met statutory requirements, leaving only required zoning updates before it can be found in substantial compliance. Officials pointed to Huntington Beach, which was ordered to pay $160,000 in penalties in May after refusing to adopt a compliant housing plan.

Storm Elida Churns Up Dangerous Surf

Tropical Storm Elida is sending big, dangerous swells toward Southern California beaches, even as the storm itself stays hundreds of miles offshore.

The National Weather Service has a High Surf Advisory in effect through 11 p.m. Tuesday, with waves of 4 to 7 feet and sets reaching 8 feet on south-facing beaches.

Fueled by a strengthening El Niño, Elida will send swells into southern Orange County and San Diego County, where forecasters warn of life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Elida itself was weakening over cooler Pacific waters this weekend and is expected to dissipate later this week while remaining well offshore.

Water Main Breaks Raise Infrastructure Concerns

Two more pipe failures in Venice on Saturday extended a run of breaks that has focused new attention on the city’s aging water mains.

The breaks follow Thursday’s rupture in West Hollywood, where a sinkhole on Sunset Boulevard and a buckled road left closures that could last days as crews replace the pipe.

In Venice, the flooding damaged underground garages and cut service to more than 60 customers, days after an earlier break released an estimated 17 million gallons of water. One contractor said crews took 2 1/2 hours to respond, calling the utility reactive rather than proactive.

Mayor Karen Bass said the breaks reflect the strain of infrastructure more than a century old. The Department of Water and Power says about 30% of the city’s water mains are over 80 years old.

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➤ Siskiyou County: Newly released audio captured the demands of a man who allegedly zip-tied two U.S. Forest Service workers and held them at gunpoint near Gumboot Lake. A roughly 12-hour standoff ended with both hostages freed, and authorities later arrested Joseph Henrichsen, 49, and his adult son. (More)

➤ San Francisco: PG&E restored power Saturday after a nearly six-hour outage left about 9,400 customers in the Richmond and Golden Gate Park neighborhoods without electricity. (See Details)

➤ Shasta County: Evacuation orders were issued Saturday as the Brook Fire grew to more than 366 acres north of Bella Vista, threatening structures and prompting road closures. Firefighters, aided by aircraft, battled the fast-moving blaze. (More)

➤ Solano County: Defense company Saronic Technologies chose Brownsville, Texas, over a Collinsville site for its $3.2 billion Port Alpha shipyard, a project expected to employ 10,000 workers. The decision sparked finger-pointing among local officials over why the project was lost. (See Details)

➤ Yountville: Paul Pelosi, the 86-year-old husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run after authorities said his brown convertible struck a parked car on July 3, and he drove away. No one was hurt, and prosecutors said alcohol was not involved. (More)

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➤ Fresno: Two dead bats found on the grounds of Fresno Chaffee Zoo this month tested positive for rabies, zoo officials said. The bats were wild animals, not part of the zoo’s collection, and were discovered about a week apart during routine inspections. No zoo animals or employees were infected. (See Details)

➤ Santa Barbara: Camp Canine, a dog daycare and boarding facility on the city’s Eastside, suspended daycare operations after a 1-year-old English bulldog drowned in its care. Police are investigating, and the business apologized and said it is reviewing its safety and emergency protocols. (See Details)

➤ Fresno County: Record-breaking March heat pushed many crops to ripen 10 to 20 days early this year, growers say. The early harvest is affecting grapes, peaches, almonds, and other crops, though officials expect an especially light pistachio crop. (See Details)

➤ San Luis Obispo: The Octagon Barn, an eight-sided dairy barn built in 1906, marked its 120th anniversary Saturday with an ice cream social on National Ice Cream Day. Restored by the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, it now serves as a community venue. (Read Story)

➤ Santa Barbara: Wine lovers raised souvenir glasses Saturday at the 23rd California Wine Festival’s signature beachside tasting at Chase Palm Park. The event featured local wines, cheese, chocolate, and a tri-tip competition. (Read Story)

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➤ Riverside County: Hazmat crews responded Saturday to reports of mercury at multiple locations in Wildomar. Crews were assessing whether the incident was isolated, and officials said there was no threat to the community or need for evacuations. (See Details)

➤ Huntington Beach: Prosecutors charged Brandon Scott Soleau, 21, with felony vehicular manslaughter in the death of 20-year-old Kolby Aipa, alleging Soleau drove his truck at more than 50 mph while Aipa “car surfed” on an e-bike holding onto the vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway. Aipa, the grandson of famed surfboard shaper Ben Aipa, died after falling. (See Details)

➤ Manhattan Beach: The city council approved higher parking meter rates and citation fees that take effect Aug. 1, with summer meter rates rising by $0.50 to $1 an hour. Officials said the increases will help manage parking demand and fund critical parking infrastructure. (More)

➤ Julian: The San Diego Humane Society relocated 54 horses from the shuttered Villa Chardonnay sanctuary to an equestrian center in El Cajon, part of one of its largest rescues ever. More than 700 neglected animals were removed from the property in May, and the horses are drawing adoption interest. (Read Story)

➤ Lake Mead: A federal study projects Lake Mead, a key source of Southern California’s Colorado River water, to fall nearly 33 feet by June 2028 to about 1,010 feet. That is the most likely outcome, while the worst-case scenario would drop the reservoir below 1,000 feet. (See Report)

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➤ 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk took another public shot at the team on social media over the weekend. Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list after not filing for reinstatement. (More)

➤ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani’s next pitching start has been delayed because of lingering irritation in his left knee. Ohtani was originally scheduled to start Wednesday against the Phillies. (More)

➤ The Padres reinstated Randy Vásquez from the injured list after he missed 16 days with a bruised right ankle. He initially will be available out of the bullpen. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | The Open | MLB | NASCAR | F1 | WNBA

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➤ Renting beats buying in five California cities that ranked among the nation’s most rent-friendly, a Zumper report found. In San Diego, owning a typical home costs about $6,026 per month versus $2,818 to rent, while Bakersfield was California’s most buyer-friendly market. (See Report)

➤ Disneyland raised prices on hundreds of food and drink items across its two Anaheim theme parks. A churro now costs $6.25, up from $5.75, while popcorn increased to $7. (More)

➤ Delta will launch the first nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Manila on March 28, 2027, becoming the only U.S. carrier flying the route. Service will begin three times a week before expanding to daily flights in June. (More)

➤ San Diego is barring Uber and Lyft pickups along Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter between Market and E streets from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Officials set up 14 nearby pickup spots to reduce late-night traffic and crowding. (See Details)

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➤ The California State Fair opened for its 173rd year at Cal Expo in Sacramento, drawing locals and out-of-towners with classic fair food, thrill rides, and new attractions. This year’s “Wish You Were Here” theme takes visitors on a tour of California without leaving the fairgrounds. The fair runs through Aug. 2. (Read Story)

➤ Thousand Oaks native Caleb Groen became a Jeopardy! super champion, winning 10 consecutive games and more than $300,000. The Harvard Law student, interning in New York for the summer, said he may finally replace his long-broken bike before eyeing a home down payment. (Read Story)

➤ El Cajon is home to one of San Diego County’s strangest roadside landmarks. The Unarius Academy of Science, founded in 1954, is known for its colorful UFO-themed artwork and belief that highly evolved beings from distant planets will one day make peaceful contact with humanity. (Read Story)

➤ Moss Landing was named one of the world’s top 20 birdwatching destinations for 2026, one of only three U.S. spots on the list. The small Central Coast town is the gateway to Elkhorn Slough, a Monterey Bay estuary where more than 300 bird species have been recorded. (Read Story)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Scientists are closing in on regrowing human teeth, and the first breakthroughs could make implants and dentures a thing of the past. (Hear Breakthrough)

➤ Wildfire smoke doesn’t stay outside. A few simple steps can keep the air inside your home clean when the haze rolls in. (Hear How)

➤ Wall Street firms were pitched a $100,000-a-month subscription for one product: faster access to President Trump’s social media posts. (Hear Details)

Somewhere out in the universe, is there intelligent life besides us?

1. Yes, we’re not alone
2. No, it’s just us
3. I’m not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you planning on Chinook salmon fishing this season?

1. Not for me: 48%
2. Hoping to: 27%
3. Already out there: 25%

Fifty years ago this year, a blind tasting in Paris upended the wine world when upstart California wines beat France’s most celebrated bottles. What is that landmark event commonly known as?

Show me the answer