News Helicopter Crash Kills Three

A news helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Chatsworth Tuesday evening, killing three people and hospitalizing a fourth. At least one of those killed was on the ground.

Multiple outlets reported that KNBC-TV lost contact with its helicopter crew while it was covering a nearby deadly bus crash.

The helicopter went down around 7 p.m. less than a quarter-mile from the bus crash scene, triggering an explosion that damaged several vehicles and spread flames to nearby parked vehicles.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. The hospitalized victim’s condition was unknown as of late Tuesday.

Newsom Won’t Challenge Harris in 2028

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he won’t run for president in 2028 if former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race.

Newsom, a Democrat whose term ends in January, made the remark to CNN’s Jake Tapper during a fly-fishing trip in Montana. He called a primary between the two Californians “mutual assured destruction” that would only hand an advantage to their rivals.

He pointed to the heavy overlap between his supporters and Harris’, who ran for president in 2020 and 2024. She hasn’t said whether she’ll try again, saying in July that she’s focused on the midterms.

Newsom has been considering a possible run, recently traveling to South Carolina, which holds the Democrats’ first 2028 presidential primary. He previously said he’d decide after the November midterms.

California Children’s Hospitals Earn Top Rankings

Several California children’s hospitals ranked among the nation’s best in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2026-27 rankings, led by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on the national Honor Roll.

CHLA was one of just 11 hospitals to make the Honor Roll, tying for No. 1 in the Pacific region and placing No. 4 nationally in pediatric cancer.

In the Bay Area, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals tied for best in Northern California and ranked among the nation’s top programs in all 11 pediatric specialties, tying for No. 2 in the state.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto shared those regional and state rankings, also ranking nationally in all 11 specialties, with No. 4 finishes in neonatology and nephrology.

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➤ San Francisco: Police arrested four people in connection with the city’s first overdose death linked to cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid about 10 times stronger than fentanyl. Officers also seized more than 20,000 suspected counterfeit pills. (See Details)

➤ Sacramento: Sentencing for Dana Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, is being delayed after she underwent surgery. Williamson pleaded guilty in May to three federal felonies, including fraud tied to the diversion of $225,000 from a campaign account. (See Details)

➤ Mount Shasta: A San Jose climber who reached the summit lost control on the descent and slid about 500 feet, badly cutting his feet. After his phone died, he pulled off his swollen boots and crawled through the night to a cabin, where a hiker found him before rescuers airlifted him out. (See Details)

➤ Lake Tahoe: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s free boating app now pushes severe-weather alerts and live water conditions to boaters’ phones, on a lake where calm mornings can turn to whitecaps within an hour. It’s available for iOS and Android. (More)

➤ Marin County: David Lee Hoffman, an 82-year-old tea importer, must leave the Lagunitas compound he spent 53 years building, a maze of handmade temples and caves he calls “The Last Resort.” After a long permit fight, a court-appointed receiver will sell the property. (See Details)

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➤ Fresno: Fresno Pacific University announced a $60 million gift from an anonymous alum, the largest in its history. President Andre Stephens called it transformational. The money will support nursing, track and field, and a new physician associate program set to launch in 2029. (See Details)

➤ Pismo Beach: A defense attorney raised doubt about the mental competency of Cortlan Jarrod Soles, 30, accused of setting the Brava Fire that burned nearly 10 acres in August. Soles pleaded not guilty to arson and is due back in court Oct. 5 for a doctor’s report on his competency. (See Details)

➤ Goleta: The city council was set to decide Tuesday on a temporary ban on new gun and ammunition stores after Goodland Guns opened near a daycare. Owner Dan Ashton called it a “thinly veiled ban” as the city develops firearm-specific zoning rules. (See Details)

➤ Santa Maria: Nathaniel James McGuire, 22, pleaded guilty to federal charges for detonating a bomb at the courthouse in 2024, injuring three people. Prosecutors say he intended to kill deputies after law enforcement seized his firearms. He faces up to life in prison. (See Details)

➤ Montecito: Firefighters clearing a fallen tree discovered more than 30,000 bees and over 100 pounds of honey inside the trunk. Crews worked with a local bee specialist to safely relocate the colony, and no injuries were reported. (See Details)

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➤ La Habra Heights: The Palos Fire burned 17 acres Monday near the Orange County line, destroying two homes and damaging another. Two people, including a firefighter, were hospitalized before crews stopped the fire’s forward spread. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles: Prosecutors said Tuesday they will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, who is charged with killing his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. Reiner has pleaded not guilty and faces up to life in prison without parole if convicted. (See Details)

➤ Ladera Ranch: Cal State Fullerton researchers began testing soil and water at three parks after at least six cases of a rare childhood cancer, Ewing sarcoma, surfaced in the Orange County community. Early results could come this week. No cause has been confirmed. (See Details)

➤ Port of Los Angeles: Several shipping containers toppled off a cargo ship into the water Monday morning, near Berth 302. No injuries were reported, and the cause wasn’t immediately clear. (See Video)

➤ San Diego: A stolen Tesla fled police and sped onto the crowded Pacific Beach boardwalk Monday, striking a 25-year-old woman and leaving her critically injured. Beachgoers dived out of the way, and bystanders detained the driver until police arrived. (See Details)

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➤ The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive playoff berth with a 4-1 win over the Reds, tying the Braves’ all-time MLB record for the longest postseason streak. (More)

➤ USC basketball is facing a lawsuit from former player Chad Baker-Mazara, who alleges coach Eric Musselman directed a racially charged locker room tirade at him in February, including telling him to go back to the Dominican Republic. (More)

➤ Kawhi Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors was finalized this week after the Clippers’ nearly yearlong salary cap investigation concluded. The trade was agreed to in June but was held up pending the investigation. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer

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➤ Raising Cane’s opens its first San Francisco location on Sept. 21 at Fisherman’s Wharf, bringing the Louisiana chicken-finger chain to one of the city’s most-visited waterfronts. The debut features grand-opening giveaways, including a shot at free Cane’s for a year. (See Details)

➤ Stockdale Capital Partners, with investment from Hamilton Lane, bought the open-air Shoppes at Chino Hills in San Bernardino County for $157 million. The 378,000-square-foot center, anchored by Trader Joe’s and Barnes & Noble, will be renamed and repositioned by its new owners. (See Details)

➤ Keystone, a national independent insurance brokerage, acquired Orange County-based Infinity Assurance Group, marking its first expansion into California. IAG will retain its leadership and team while gaining access to Keystone’s national resources. (See Details)

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➤ Firefighters reunited with Milo, a 6-year-old Sheltie they pulled unconscious from a smoke-filled Pasadena home and revived with oxygen. Sierra Madre firefighter Jessica Johnson found Milo under a table during the Sept. 9 blaze and carried him outside. (See Video)

➤ Larry Page is now California’s wealthiest resident, according to Forbes‘ latest 400 ranking. The Google co-founder takes the state’s top spot after the previous leader, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, moved to Florida. Elon Musk, the world’s richest person at $908 billion, is a Texan. (See Details)

➤ A national study of America’s Most Intellectual Cities ranked Fresno second from the bottom, citing low marks for museums, libraries, bookstores, adult education, and graduate degrees. The Central Valley city fared considerably better for universities per capita, ranking 17th among 50 large metros. (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. 

➤ Doctors say prediabetes can show warning signs years before a diagnosis, and most people miss them completely. (Five Findings)

➤ The Anthropic and Nvidia CEOs took the same stage hours apart and collided over whether AI is moving too fast. (Hear Story)

➤ Prosecutors have shifted course in the case against Rob Reiner’s son, Nick, accused of murdering his parents. (Hear Details)

When the fried chicken craving hits, which chain gets your order?

1. Chick-fil-A
2. Raising Cane’s
3. Popeyes
4. KFC
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Which California NFL team are you rooting for this season?

1. 49ers: 30%
2. Not an NFL fan: 27%
3. Rams: 18%
4. Another team: 13%
5. Chargers: 12%

San Francisco sourdough gets its signature tang from a species of lactic acid bacteria so tied to the city that scientists named the microbe after San Francisco. What is it called?

Show me the answer