Newsom Orders AI ‘Kill Switch’ Review

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Friday directing state officials to examine whether developers should be required to build emergency shutoffs into advanced AI models. The order does not establish a kill switch; experts must submit recommendations on its feasibility and effectiveness by Nov. 16.

The order also accelerates the implementation of new oversight laws governing independent AI auditors and verification organizations. Officials will consider requiring on-site evaluators, independent confirmation of company safety reports, and broader reporting of incidents involving lost control of AI systems.

The move revisits an approach Newsom rejected when he vetoed a 2024 bill containing a kill-switch requirement, arguing that its standards were too broad. Any new mandate would require changes to existing state law.

Orange County Declares Coastal Emergency

Orange County declared a local emergency Thursday after severe erosion and high surf damaged homes and public infrastructure. Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and Dana Point issued their own emergency declarations earlier in the week.

Swells from Hurricane Marie battered Capistrano Beach, where 10 homes were red-tagged and seven received yellow tags. Another oceanfront house was lost after it began sinking toward the water.

The county declaration supports requests for additional state and federal resources while damage assessments continue. Supervisor Katrina Foley also called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue a state emergency declaration and accelerate sand replenishment and shoreline-protection work before the winter storm season.

Filings Reveal 390 Bay Area Job Cuts

New California employment filings show Uber plans to eliminate 390 positions across four Bay Area offices, including 253 at its San Francisco headquarters and 137 in Sunnyvale. The permanent layoffs are scheduled to take effect Nov. 2.

The reductions are the newly disclosed local portion of approximately 3,300 global cuts announced earlier this month, representing about 10% of Uber’s workforce. The cuts affect salaried employees, not independent-contractor drivers.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the companywide restructuring is intended to reduce management layers, simplify operations, and redirect savings toward growth and innovation. Uber is also limiting fully remote positions to about 1% of its workforce while maintaining its three-day in-office policy.

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➤ Bay Area: One man died, and two others were seriously injured Thursday after their 25-foot fishing boat struck rocks near the Golden Gate Bridge’s north tower and began to capsize. All three boaters were wearing life jackets, and the cause remained under investigation. (More)

➤ Sacramento: Sacramento City Unified School District trustees approved budget revisions intended to address the district’s $158 million deficit and avoid a state takeover or emergency loan. The district has been working to reduce spending and restore its financial reserves. (More)

➤ San Francisco: The San Francisco Opera and its orchestra musicians reached a tentative four-year contract, ending a nearly weeklong strike that canceled the season opener and several performances. The agreement still requires ratification, and the season is scheduled to begin Tuesday. (More)

➤ Fresno County: The Planning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval of Friant Ranch, a proposed $1.1 billion retirement community on 1,000 acres near Millerton Dam. The project, designed for roughly 7,000 residents, faces an Oct. 20 vote by the Board of Supervisors amid concerns about its environmental review, traffic, water, and wastewater. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: California artist Diego Monterrubio works across painting, sculpture, poetry, writing, and storytelling. A new profile explores his multidisciplinary creative path and his plans to bring his work to Mexico City. (More)

➤ Moss Landing: A new fire broke out Friday morning inside the Vistra battery-storage building damaged in January 2025, prompting a shelter-in-place order within one-third of a mile. Officials said all workers were accounted for and no injuries were reported. The fire involved previously damaged batteries that had not yet been removed, and the site was still smoldering Friday afternoon. (More)

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➤ Oceanside: Emergency crews rescued three men Thursday after their 39-foot boat sank about six nautical miles northwest of Oceanside Harbor. The men were found floating in life jackets with exhaustion and mild hypothermia but declined further medical care; rescuers were unable to locate their dog or the sunken vessel. (More)

➤ Imperial Beach: San Diego County and CDC teams are conducting a second door-to-door health survey to measure the physical and mental-health effects of the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Randomly selected South Bay households will be surveyed through today, building on an initial study conducted in 2024. (See Details)

➤ Poway: The City Council unanimously advanced an ordinance that would ban standalone data centers, with supporters citing the facilities’ limited employment benefits and the city’s scarce developable land. A final vote is scheduled for Oct. 6. (More)

➤ Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter is being sued by customers who say his insurance companies hid how much of their money went to his other businesses. (More) 

➤ Two California tribes won a federal appeals court ruling against the prediction market Kalshi, with judges finding its sports contracts likely amount to illegal gambling when placed on tribal land. Sports betting is otherwise banned statewide. (More)

➤ The San Jose Sharks signed head coach Ryan Warsofsky to a multiyear extension as training camp opened. The NHL’s youngest head coach won 19 more games last season than the year before and narrowly missed the playoffs. (More)

➤ California’s college football slate features No. 12 USC traveling across the country to play Rutgers, and SDSU hosting James Madison in a late-night kickoff. (See Full Schedule) 

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | WNBA | Golf | Soccer

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Hotels Ditch Blackout Curtains for Beautiful Canyons

Guests are trading early-morning housekeeping wakeups for breathtaking views. And industry giants clearly think it’s no fad.

Marriott just launched the “Outdoor Collection,” opening properties in destinations like Jackson Hole. Hyatt partnered with a brand specializing in off-grid, safari-style tents.

Meanwhile, Hilton Hotels formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with outdoor-lodging leader AutoCamp. That makes AutoCamp the only outdoor lodging bookable for 200M+ Honors members at Hilton.com. And their boutique approach doesn’t compromise comfort for beauty.

They’ve been building toward this moment since 2013. 1M+ happy campers across 9 locations. An exclusive Airstream partnership no competitor can replicate. Now, AutoCamp’s inviting everyday people like you to invest for the first time.

The giants are validating the category. Claim your piece as an AutoCamp investor as they work to expand to 100+ locations.

➤ La Vie Bohème will bring Met Gala-style glamour to downtown Bakersfield today with a Moulin Rouge-inspired evening of fashion, art, music, and performances. The fundraiser at the historic Woolworth building will benefit Art Heist’s work supporting local creators and the downtown community. (See Details)

➤ The Aquarium of the Pacific has now raised and released 1,032 endangered southern mountain yellow-legged frogs into the wild. Its latest group included 394 aquarium-raised frogs among 653 released into the San Gabriel Mountains, part of an effort to rebuild a population estimated at about 188 in 2020. (See Details)

➤ The Lodi Grape Festival continues through Sunday with carnival rides, food, exhibits, and entertainment celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage. This year’s festivities come as San Joaquin County grape growers contend with declining production and changes across the industry. (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. 

➤ Newly released Pentagon UFO files reveal a secret military program studying warp drives and unexplained injuries. (Listen Now)

➤ The lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial is disputing fellow jurors’ accounts of what happened behind closed doors. (Hear Details)

➤ Top tech executives are reportedly joining Trump’s state dinner for China’s leader, and AI is on the table. (Podcast Available)

Should zoos and aquariums raise endangered animals for release into the wild?

1. Yes, it’s vital
2. Only as a last resort
3. Focus on habitat protection
4. No, avoid intervention
5. I’m not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

In-N-Out managers now make about $200,000 a year. Would you take the job?

1. I’ll stick to eating there: 27%
2. Not for me: 25%
3. I’d consider it: 23%
4. In a heartbeat: 19%
5. Other (reply to let us know): 6%

In 1964, researchers at the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California, built the first prototype of which now-ubiquitous computer input device?

Show me the answer