Friday, August 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1935, Benny Goodman and his band let loose with new arrangements at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, sending the crowd into a frenzy and helping launch swing as a cultural phenomenon.

California drivers apparently have their own interpretation of the speed limit, with more than half believing keeping pace with traffic is safer than following the signs. We have the surprising numbers below.

Speaking of driving habits, which one bothers you most? Vote in today’s poll below, or reply to this email and let us know what drives you nuts behind the wheel.

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Bass, Raman Clash in Runoff Debate

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman clashed over homelessness and public safety Wednesday night in Sherman Oaks, their first debate since advancing to the November runoff.

Raman called Bass’ signature Inside Safe program too expensive and criticized its oversight, while the mayor defended the program and said it helped reduce homelessness in Raman’s district.

On policing, Bass faulted Raman for a 2020 social media post supporting “defunding the police” and for voting against efforts to increase Los Angeles Police Department staffing. Raman countered that she had voted for budgets that maintained or expanded the police force but opposed a contract she said bankrupted the city.

Bass, seeking a second term, led June’s crowded primary, with Raman finishing second and reality-TV figure Spencer Pratt third. The two Democrats now advance to the Nov. 3 runoff.

California Opens Free Pre-K

California’s 4-year-olds can now attend a free year of public school, with transitional kindergarten available to every child in the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the milestone at a Hayward school on Wednesday, calling it a historic investment in the state’s youngest learners. California says universal TK saves families nearly $14,000 a year per child and has cost $12.5 billion since 2019.

Transitional kindergarten began in 2012 for a small group of older 4-year-olds, with the state beginning a four-year expansion in 2022-23 to reach all 4-year-olds. The state enrolled 213,313 TK children in 2024-25 and now runs the nation’s largest public pre-K system.

The rollout posed staffing challenges for some districts, which pulled teachers from other grades and out of retirement to meet a required average 10-to-1 student-to-adult ratio. Only about 50% to 60% of eligible children enrolled last year.

California Drivers Shrug Off Speed Limits

A new AAA study found that 54% of California drivers think keeping pace with traffic is safer than obeying the posted speed limit.

That is higher than the 49% of drivers nationwide who said the same. Some 35% of Californians call themselves “sometimes” speeders, and one in three admit they ignore limits because they figure no one else follows them.

Speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of U.S. traffic deaths in 2024, according to federal data. Many drivers consider going 10 mph over the limit routine.

Even so, most drivers backed enforcement and other measures that preserve driver choice over technology that physically restricts speed. In California, 85% supported more police in areas with a history or high potential for speed-related crashes and 74% favored automated speed cameras in high-risk zones, while just 22% supported technology that restricts speed without a driver override.

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➤ San Francisco: FBI agents seized electronic devices from former Rep. Eric Swalwell at SFO and searched his Washington, D.C., home the next day as part of a federal investigation tied to sexual assault allegations, sources told CNN. Swalwell resigned from Congress in April after reports detailing sexual misconduct allegations. (More)

➤ Also San Francisco: Graffiti spanning nearly four floors appeared near the top of a 12-story tower on Vallejo Street, reading in part, “We own ur city now.” Police are reviewing security video, and the markings are associated with a Taipei-based tagging group. (More)

➤ Placer County: A stabbing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Lincoln left at least five people hurt Wednesday evening. Deputies took a suspect into custody and said the suspect knew all five victims, whose injuries were not life-threatening. (More)

➤ San Leandro: The school district placed Superintendent Mike McLaughlin, who has held the post for 13 years, on paid leave after employees alleged he made unwanted advances toward a female manager at a work retreat. McLaughlin, who has not responded, is the subject of an independent investigation. (More)

➤ South Lake Tahoe: Bear-related calls have jumped nearly 80% this year, with police logging 174 so far, compared with 97 during the same period last year. In one July 10 encounter, a bear charged a homeowner, who fended it off with bear spray and walked away unhurt. (More)

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➤ Stockton: City council candidate Desiree Lynch was arrested Wednesday on five felony charges, including three perjury charges, a voter-registration violation, and falsely filing a declaration of candidacy. Jail records listed her bail at $100,000, with a court appearance set for Sept. 2. (More)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: A new economic study found the county’s agriculture and livestock sectors generated $3.4 billion in total economic activity in 2024, or about $9.3 million a day. Agricultural production and processing accounted for 6.1% of the local economy, while the industry supported more than 19,000 jobs. (More)

➤ Vandenberg: Base security officers held five invited reporters and two service members at gunpoint Monday after mistaking them for gate crashers. The base ordered a review after the reporters were detained for more than 30 minutes. (More)

➤ Ripon High will keep its century-old “Indians” mascot after the California Valley Miwok Tribe endorsed the name, satisfying a new state law restricting Native American mascots without consent from a federally recognized tribe. The tribe said it does not find the name offensive as long as it is used respectfully. (More)

➤ Montecito: Prince Harry and Meghan are planning to leave their Santa Barbara County home and move back to Britain, where their children have reportedly been enrolled in school for September. The family plans to live privately and will not return to royal duties. (More)

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➤ Westlake: Another water main break sent water rushing through a Los Angeles intersection early Thursday, flooding Beverly Boulevard at North Occidental and swirling around cars. The 8-inch cast iron line was reported ruptured around 3:30 a.m. Repairs were expected by the afternoon. (More)

➤ Pasadena: Residents are outraged after video appeared to show a mail carrier throwing a rock at Sugar, a white peacock and neighborhood fixture, then striking the bird with a stick on Mohawk Street. Pasadena Humane is investigating the incident and evaluating the peacock for injuries. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: A dirt bike rider led police on an hourlong chase Wednesday that began near Dodger Stadium and wound through South LA, cutting through two parks and stopping at a gas station to refuel. The rider was arrested after running out of gas, ditching the stolen bike and hiding in a recycling bin. (More)

➤ Imperial Beach: Reshae Cuevas, 39, the Imperial Beach Little League’s longtime treasurer, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 16 felony counts of grand theft and embezzlement over roughly $97,000 missing from the league’s accounts. Prosecutors say she stole from children’s baseball. She returns to court in late September. (More)

➤ Victor Heights: Residents of this hilltop neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles say the skyline view at Figueroa Terrace and Centennial Street, long a filming spot, now draws social media crowds day and night. They complain of traffic and late-night noise beside homes. (More)

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➤ The LA Clippers acquired Max Strus from Cleveland as part of a five-team NBA trade that also sent former UCLA player Peyton Watson from Denver to the Cavaliers. Watson, 23, averaged a career-high 14.6 points last season while shooting 41.1% from three. (More)

➤ Former UCLA running back T.J. Harden plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after a court ruling opened the door for some players to return for a fifth college season. Harden, who finished his college career at SMU, was waived by the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week. (More)

➤ San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey hasn’t practiced since Aug. 10 due to what the team calls “tightness,” while former NFL quarterback Chris Simms reported that McCaffrey asked the team for a raise last season but didn’t get one. The situation has fueled speculation that his absence could also be contract related. (More)

➤ USC is among 13 college football programs that will feature Progressive Insurance branding on the field this season as part of a new sponsorship deal. (More)

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➤ Waymo has begun sending its new Ojai robotaxi, a boxy electric minivan built from the ground up for driverless rides, to all Los Angeles riders after months of testing. The company plans to offer the roomier vehicle to select riders in San Diego, Denver, and Las Vegas later this year. (More)

➤ Four Central Coast winemakers have teamed up to open Edna, a collaborative tasting room and market on the 60-acre property that once housed the Edna Valley Vineyard tasting room, about 10 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo. A restaurant and distillery are still to come. (More)

➤ California’s prison towns are scrambling to replace lost jobs as the state winds down facilities that anchored their economies. Gov. Gavin Newsom has closed five prisons since 2019, with remote Susanville facing particularly deep trouble as its population has fallen since its prison closure was announced, while better-positioned Tracy has weathered its closure. (More)

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➤ A century ago, Piggly Wiggly brought a novel idea to San Diego shoppers: grab your own groceries off the shelves. The oddly named markets spread across San Diego County, from La Jolla to Chula Vista, with local locations operating into the 1950s. (More)

➤ A runaway piglet who dashed through West Hollywood has landed a happy ending: songwriter Diane Warren adopted “Wilbur” after seeing news clips of his escape. He’s headed to a sanctuary with acreage, animal friends and daily gourmet salads. (More)

➤ Ski season is already on the calendar at Lake Tahoe. Several resorts have set tentative 2026-27 opening dates, with Heavenly, Northstar, and Mt. Rose targeting Nov. 20, Palisades Tahoe Nov. 25, and Kirkwood Dec. 4, all weather permitting. (More)

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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:

➤ Two fishermen were found off the coast of Mexico after a shipwreck left them clinging to a large cooler for five days. (Hear Details)

➤ Is intermittent fasting overhyped, or does it really work? (Hear Episode)

➤ In sorority basements across the country, hidden teams are digging up dirt that can tank a recruit’s chances. (Full Story)