OC Families Demand Rare Cancer Answers

About 400 people packed a Ladera Ranch community meeting Tuesday, calling for an investigation into whether pesticides or other environmental factors are linked to a string of rare childhood cancer cases.

Multiple children from Ladera Ranch and nearby Orange County communities have been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and soft-tissue cancer that affects about 200 to 240 children and teens nationwide each year, according to the American Cancer Society. One of the children, 17-year-old Brody Matteson, died after battling the disease.

County and state health officials are reviewing local cancer data, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate possible environmental causes. The Ladera Ranch homeowners association also paused the routine use of certain landscape pesticides for 60 days.

Scientists have not established that pesticides cause Ewing sarcoma, and Orange County health officials say an initial review found no clear pattern in the cancer data. “Families deserve answers,” said Brian Dalton, whose daughter Lily died of Ewing sarcoma.

Records Call Diaper Deal Non-Competitive

According to California’s official contract database, the $6.2 million Baby2Baby diaper deal is labeled “non-competitively bid,” even though Gov. Gavin Newsom said it went through a competitive bidding process.

The program gives 400 free diapers per newborn at participating hospitals. California generally requires competitive bids, but a 2025 budget provision waived that requirement, along with Department of General Services oversight and public advertising of bids.

Instead of a bid, the state used a request for information that drew 15 responses. CBS California Investigates found the same carve-out on more than two dozen contracts worth over $1 billion, about two-thirds of them with no expiration date.

After a 66-day delay, the state released the contract July 17. A government-ethics group is now asking the state auditor to investigate the deal.

Newsom’s office says the governor meant the process was “competitive in nature,” which it calls accurate. Baby2Baby, whose co-CEO serves on the board of a nonprofit founded by the governor’s wife, did not respond to CBS’s request for comment before publication.

Orange Juice Can Now Add Mandarins

The Food and Drug Administration updated the federal standard to allow pasteurized orange juice to contain up to 15% juice from mandarins and mandarin hybrids, up from 10%, and still be labeled orange juice.

The final rule also trimmed the minimum sugar threshold, known as the Brix level, to reflect current growing conditions. The petitions that prompted the rule were led by Florida’s citrus industry, whose growers have faced production challenges from disease and severe weather.

California growers stand to gain. Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual says the higher blending allowance gives Central Valley farmers who grow mandarins and mandarin hybrids a stronger outlet for fruit that never reaches the fresh market.

“This decision supports domestic juice production, reduces reliance on imports, and ensures consumers continue receiving the quality and flavor they expect,” said Jacob Villagomez, the group’s director of governmental affairs. The rule takes effect Aug. 19.

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➤ Pleasanton: The Little Fire burned 1,007 acres near Sunol, south of Pleasanton, after breaking out Tuesday afternoon and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. By Wednesday morning, crews had the fire 40% contained and had stopped its forward spread. (More)

➤ Sausalito: City Manager Elaine Forbes, 53, faces charges of prowling, petty theft, and unauthorized lodging after Marin County prosecutors said she boarded two docked yachts without permission. Her family, citing a mental health crisis, said she believed she was on a boat she owned and apologized for the incident. (More)

➤ Sacramento: A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday after jurors deadlocked in the case of two men charged in the 2022 K Street mass shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in Sacramento’s history, which killed six people and injured 12. Prosecutors said they may retry Dandrae Martin and Mtula Payton. (More)

➤ Yolo County: Supervisors declared a local emergency over invasive golden mussels, joining Sacramento and San Joaquin counties and the City of Stockton. The mussels have reached West Sacramento and threaten water infrastructure and supplies. (More)

➤ Red Bluff: Sean Bagley, 57, was sentenced to 270 days in jail and two years of probation for first-degree burglary after a man came home in April to find him asleep in his bed. Prosecutors said Bagley had eaten the victim’s food, showered, and changed into the victim’s clothes. (More)

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➤ Stockton: A campaign consultant for two city council candidates was stabbed while waiting at a downtown bus stop after a man accused him of being “nosey” and stabbed him, police said. The 54-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was arrested. (More)

➤ Tulare: The county fair board tabled a proposal Tuesday for a Global Stack “emergency-resilience system” at the fairgrounds after residents packed the meeting to oppose it, describing the project as a data center. The company says the closed-loop system would keep first responders connected without using local water. (More)

➤ Fresno County: Students at West Park Elementary started class Tuesday, an unusually early July return the tiny agricultural district southwest of Fresno has kept for decades. The pre-K through 8th grade school, founded in 1885, enrolls just 239 students. (Read Story)

➤ San Luis Obispo: Two signalized intersections on Highway 227, at Buckley and Los Ranchos roads, will be converted to roundabouts to ease congestion and slow drivers on a stretch carrying about 15,000 vehicles a day. The plan also adds a bike and pedestrian trail toward Pismo Beach. (More)

➤ Santa Maria: After 26 years, Lisa Leonard is closing her Waller Park pony rides this weekend, ending a tradition that gave generations of families about 70 rides a day. Leonard is stepping back to focus on her health, and her daughter will carry on the business in Oklahoma. (Read Story)

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➤ Boyle Heights: Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton kicked off his general election campaign in Boyle Heights Wednesday, criticizing Democratic leadership near the site of the recent Lineage Logistics warehouse fire. Hilton will face Democrat Xavier Becerra in November to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. (More)

➤ Downtown LA: Oceanwide Plaza, the graffiti-covered skyscraper complex known as the “graffiti towers,” will be scrubbed within 90 days, Mayor Karen Bass’s office said. The proposed buyer, KPC Development Co., agreed to fund the cleanup of the long-stalled project ahead of the 2028 Olympics. (More)

➤ Big Bear: Jackie, the bald eagle featured on the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam, is in critical condition at an Ojai raptor center after a fight with two other eagles left her anemic with kidney inflammation. Her mate, Shadow, is guarding their two eaglets. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: K9 Maisy sniffed out a suitcase from Thailand at a Los Angeles port of entry holding 16 pounds of Bengal monitor lizard parts, 50 pounds of raw meat, and 33 pounds of mangoes, garlic, bamboo, and banana plants, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. (See Photo)

➤ Downtown San Diego: For Comic-Con’s four-day run starting today, the region’s trolley system is running a dedicated “Magic: The Gathering Event Line” every 15 minutes between Balboa Avenue and 12th & Imperial transit centers, complete with themed wraps, branded maps, and a limited-edition convention pin. (See Details)

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➤ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesn’t see any glaring needs on his roster and even suggested the two-time defending World Series champions are more likely to be sellers than buyers heading into the Aug. 3 trade deadline. (More)

➤ Warriors point guard Steph Curry will become the first active NBA player to have a dedicated exhibit at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame when Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc opens to the public tomorrow in Springfield, Massachusetts. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Warriors first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg was named NBA Summer League MVP after averaging 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds en route to the summer league championship. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | MLS

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➤ OpenAI said its AI system autonomously hacked AI startup Hugging Face during an internal test, calling it an “unprecedented cyber incident.” The San Francisco company said the agent used stolen credentials and a previously unknown software flaw, warning that AI is accelerating cyberattacks. (More)

➤ Eligible PG&E customers will receive two automatic California Climate Credits totaling $72.36 on their August and September bills. State regulators shifted the credits to summer to help offset higher electricity costs. (More)

➤ Twenty-three hospitals in the Los Angeles area were among more than 500 nationwide warned for failing to follow federal price-transparency rules, a watchdog group said. The group said unclear pricing makes it harder for patients to compare costs and avoid surprise medical bills. (More)

➤ The iconic Cinerama Dome will reopen in early 2028, with Alamo Drafthouse operating the restored Hollywood landmark and its adjacent 14-screen theater complex. Sony Pictures said the renovation will preserve the dome’s distinctive exterior. (More)

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➤ Columbia, a Gold Rush town in Tuolumne County, bans cars from Main Street and preserves California’s largest collection of original Gold Rush-era buildings. Visitors can ride a stagecoach and pan for gold at a mine that guarantees everyone leaves with real gold. (Read Story)

➤ The Gilroy Garlic Festival returns to Hecker Pass Friday through Sunday for its second year since its 2025 comeback. Founded in 1979 and recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest garlic festival, the volunteer-run event features garlic-inspired dishes, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, and its famous garlic ice cream. (See Details)

➤ Big Sur was named one of America’s 11 most beautiful places by Architectural Digest, which praised its dramatic cliffs where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific along Highway 1. The list also includes Rocky Mountain and Grand Teton national parks, the Grand Canyon, New York City, and Hawaii’s Nāpali Coast. (See List)

➤ Randy’s Donuts is selling a limited-edition Beauty and the Beast donut through Aug. 13 to celebrate the Disney musical’s return to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. The themed treat is available at select locations while supplies last. (See Details)

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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:

➤ Stolen passwords fuel record identity theft, yet the strongest defense sits unused inside your phone. (Hear Details)

➤ Street protests and a rift inside Ukraine’s leadership have forced a sweeping shakeup of the country’s military command. (Hear Episode)

➤ One winning bid at a sight unseen foreclosure auction turned grim when the new owner found dead bodies inside. (Listen Now)

West Park Elementary students in Fresno County started class this week, an unusually early July return. Is late July too early to go back to school?

1. Way too early
2. A little early, but fine
3. No, perfect timing

Yesterday’s Results:

How far out of your way would you go for an In-N-Out?

1. A few extra miles, sure: 22%
2. Only if it’s on my way: 22%
3. I can take it or leave it: 21%
4. Other: 18%
5. I would plan a trip around it: 17%

The entire California navel orange industry grew from two trees planted in a single Southern California city back in 1873, and one of those original trees still bears fruit there today. Which city is it?

Show me the answer