Palm Springs Chief Retires After 49 Years

Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills is retiring after nearly 50 years in law enforcement, including five years leading the city’s police department. Friends, colleagues, and community members honored him Thursday at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Mills became chief in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. His tenure included addressing homelessness and leading the department through the 2025 fertility clinic bombing, which the FBI classified as terrorism.

Mills also prioritized community engagement through charity events and other activities. In his farewell message, he urged residents to “continue to take care of one another.”

Tax Changes Projected to Raise Billions

California tax changes are projected to generate billions in revenue from gasoline, digital software, and managed-care health plans.

The gasoline excise tax rose 2.2 cents on July 1 to 63.4 cents per gallon under an automatic annual adjustment. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, sales taxes on digital prewritten software are projected to generate approximately $1 billion in combined state and local revenue during the first six months and $2 billion annually afterward. Custom software and several other digital products remain exempt.

Subject to federal approval, a separate tax would charge managed-care plans $8.85 per enrollee each month from 2027 through 2029 to support Medi-Cal. It remains unclear how much insurers would pass on to customers, though premiums could rise approximately 1.5% if they pass along the full cost.

Cal, UCLA Renew Rivalry

UCLA and California hit the gridiron tonight in Berkeley, renewing their rivalry for the 95th time and for the first time since the longtime conference opponents split after the 2023 season.

UCLA begins the Bob Chesney era with 46 incoming transfers, the most in the Big Ten, while quarterback Nico Iamaleava returns for his second season with the Bruins. Chesney led James Madison to a College Football Playoff berth last year.

Cal starts the Tosh Lupoi era behind star sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who threw for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns as a freshman.

UCLA leads the series 57-36-1, but Cal won the most recent meeting 33-7 in 2023. Tonight’s game airs on ESPN.

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➤ Bodega Bay: Warmer waters associated with El Niño are reshaping marine life off the Northern California coast. Charter crews have caught as many as eight bluefin tuna in a single day, crabbers have hauled unusually large numbers of octopuses from their pots, and dense schools of anchovies have gathered as researchers monitor the changing conditions. (More)

➤ Bay Area: Passengers at San Francisco International Airport continue to face delays as runway repaving and FAA restrictions prevent simultaneous landings on parallel runways. (See Details)

➤ Northern and Central California: After lawmakers failed to pass wildfire-liability reforms, PG&E said it would defer approximately $2 billion in planned 2027 investments. (More)

➤ Shafter: The City Council approved an ordinance, effective Oct. 1, banning sleeping or camping in public spaces. The city’s latest count identified five people experiencing homelessness. (More)

➤ Fresno: The City Council directed staff to draft a municipal-code amendment banning new data centers for 10 years; the prohibition would then become permanent unless a future council changes it. (More)

➤ Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Unified School District sued the companies behind Facebook and Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, alleging their platforms were designed to be addictive and have harmed students’ mental health. (See Details)

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➤ Newport Beach: Jeweler Nelson Andres Holdo, 66, was sentenced to five years in state prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $1.7 million from 32 customers by collecting upfront payments for luxury Rolex watches and jewelry he never delivered. (More)

➤ San Diego County: Health officials are investigating four cryptosporidiosis cases among people who visited the Gaylord Pacific Resort’s waterpark pools in Chula Vista. Officials said people who swam there between July 24 and Aug. 15 may have been exposed. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles: A woman was killed, and three pedestrians and the 91-year-old driver were injured when a car crashed outside a Trader Joe’s in the Fairfax District. (More)

➤ No. 14 USC hosted Fresno State last night at the Coliseum, looking to improve to 2-0 after opening the season with a Week 0 win over San Jose State. (See Result)

➤ Stanford welcomed No. 7 Miami last night, with the Cardinal looking to improve to 2-0 by upsetting the reigning national runner-up Hurricanes. (See Result)

➤ Ben Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, returning to the NBA after missing the 2025-26 season with lingering injuries. (More)

➤ Former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez filed a motion to plead guilty to charges stemming from an October 2025 altercation outside an Indianapolis hotel, during which he was stabbed. (More)

➤ A former Cal softball player sued former coach Chelsea Spencer and the university, alleging Spencer coerced her into a sexual relationship and retaliated after it ended. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer

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➤ A 9-year-old Sacramento track star broke the national record for 9-year-old girls in the 1,500 meters. Zora Grant credited her confidence and training with helping her reach the milestone. (More)

➤ The Smithsonian selected Fresno to host the Great Valley Gathering, a free three-day festival celebrating the Central Valley’s cultural traditions. The downtown event is scheduled for Oct. 2-4. (See Details)

➤ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is partnering with the Dr. Seuss Foundation to mail one free book each month to enrolled San Diego County children from birth to age 5. (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, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ A simple blood test is rewriting how early Alzheimer’s can be caught and treated. (Listen Now)

➤ Social Security overpaid a retiree $35,000 and gave her just 30 days to pay it back. (Hear Details)

➤ AAA predicts drivers will face the highest Labor Day gas prices on record this holiday weekend. (Podcast Available)

What’s the main event on your Labor Day weekend agenda?

1. A road trip or getaway
2. The beach, lake, or park
3. A barbecue or gathering
4. Relaxing at home
5. Working
6. Something else—reply to tell us

Yesterday’s Results:

College football is back. Stanford, USC, and Fresno State all take the field tonight. Will you be watching this season?

1. Not for me: 40%
2. Every week: 19%
3. Prefer the NFL: 15%
4. Just my favorite team: 14%
5. Just the big games: 12%

In 1948, the tiny farm town of Castroville, the self-proclaimed “Artichoke Capital of the World,” crowned its first Artichoke Queen, a young starlet who would become one of Hollywood’s biggest icons. Who was she?

Show me the answer