California Declares El Niño Emergency

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency Monday to ready California for a historic El Niño season that could bring powerful winter storms.

The proclamation mobilizes state agencies and streamlines storm preparations before the rainy season. It directs crews to prepare roads and critical infrastructure and to stage emergency supplies.

Federal forecasters give it a greater than 90% chance of becoming a very strong event and a 75% chance of reaching historic strength, possibly becoming the strongest on record.

Officials are urging residents to prepare for flooding, landslides, and coastal impacts, and to have emergency kits and evacuation plans ready.

Two Killed in Dome Fire Helicopter Crash

Two FlyPrecision team members were killed when a helicopter supporting firefighting operations crashed while working the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Eurocopter AS332 went down in Mariposa County on Sunday afternoon. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the crash investigation. FlyPrecision, the firefighting contractor, said it was grieving “two beloved members of our team.”

The Dome Fire broke out Sept. 15 near Wawona Dome and had burned more than 3,000 acres with 15% containment as of Sunday night. Fire officials said nearly 500 personnel have responded to the blaze.

Rugged terrain, heavy smoke, and hazardous conditions are complicating firefighting efforts. Yosemite remains open, though trails and areas near the fire are temporarily closed.

California Establishes Dolly Parton Day

California will mark Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day every year, honoring the country music legend and literacy champion.

Newsom signed the bipartisan bill, SB 931, from Sens. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, and John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, who picked 9-2-5 as a nod to Parton’s hit 9 to 5.

State lawmakers moved quickly to approve the measure after Parton died Aug. 25, months after it was first introduced.

Best known as the “Queen of Country,” Parton sold more than 100 million records and, through her Imagination Library, distributed more than 300 million books to children worldwide, including in California.

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➤ Marin County: Spot fires near Chileno Valley Road burned about 340 acres Sunday afternoon, Marin County Fire said. Crews stopped the spread of the last two fires by about 7 p.m. (More)

➤ Berkeley: Gov. Gavin Newsom fast-tracked review of a new Berkeley pier and ferry terminal, advancing plans for zero-emission ferry service between Berkeley and San Francisco. (More)

➤ Tehama County: Ranchers may soon be able to use nonlethal paintball projectiles to haze wolves away from livestock, with county officials planning local training as wolves expand their range in California. (See Details)

➤ Kern County: New University of California research links Valley fever risk to local land use, including which crops farmers plant and new oil development. (See Report)

➤ Fresno: The county’s consideration of privatizing its 116-year-old library system faces long odds, lacking the four-vote supermajority it would need. An informational presentation to supervisors could come Oct. 20. (See Details)

➤ Moss Landing: A second fire at the Moss Landing battery plant in Monterey County is renewing Central Valley safety concerns, as officials warn lithium-ion fires can reignite and strain local resources. Kings County is reviewing safeguards at its battery storage facilities. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: Diesel prices have topped $8 a gallon, up more than 60% from a year ago, squeezing trucking and farm businesses and pushing up delivery costs. Local operators warn those increases are likely to show up in grocery prices. (More)

➤ Solvang: Most city employees in the Danish-themed tourist town remained on strike over the weekend after officials imposed their final contract offer, with the walkout continuing through the annual Danish Days festival. (More)

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➤ Long Beach: A man went overboard from the Carnival Panorama as it returned to Long Beach from Puerto Vallarta on the cruise’s final day, prompting an hourlong lockdown. U.S. and Mexican coast guards were notified, and his family has been informed. (More)

➤ Chatsworth: The arraignment of Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was delayed again after a judge found her medically unfit to appear. She faces two second-degree murder charges, along with DUI and reckless driving charges, in the Sept. 15 Metro bus crash that killed two people and injured six. (More)

➤ Also Chatsworth: Guatemalan national Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, was killed on the ground when a KNBC news helicopter crashed Sept. 15. His family said he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and is raising money to return his body to Guatemala. (More)

➤ San Marcos: A rideshare driver, Ramon Ochoa Reyes, 50, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old passenger during a ride on State Route 78, the California Highway Patrol said. Investigators are seeking possible additional victims. (See Details)

➤ Fullerton: Delta Chi, the unaffiliated fraternity linked to the death of Cal State Fullerton student Anthony Joseph Blas, 18, lost university recognition in 2021 over hazing allegations. Blas’ death remains under investigation. (More)

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➤ The Los Angeles Lakers’ new ownership group is pitching investors on a plan that projects the franchise could be worth $30 billion within 10 years. The team sold for $12.5 billion earlier this year. (More)

➤ San Francisco Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper announced that he was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and has begun treatment at Stanford Medicine. The 76-year-old broadcaster has been calling Giants games for nearly four decades. (More) 

➤ Los Angeles Sparks legend Lisa Leslie was honored with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena this weekend. The two-time WNBA champion and Hall of Famer spent her entire 12-year career in Los Angeles. (More)

➤ The Golden State Warriors signed undrafted Gonzaga forward Graham Ike to a two-way contract. Ike won West Coast Conference Player of the Year last season and helped Golden State win the Summer League title in July. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | WNBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Paramount reached a settlement Monday with California and other states that had sued to block its $81 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a final hurdle for the Hollywood megadeal. The states had argued the combination would reduce competition, and Paramount called the claims meritless. (More)

➤ Newsom vetoed a bipartisan bill that would let state agencies set their own telework rules, with the governor saying in-person collaboration is essential. It followed his order returning state workers to the office four days a week. Backers said telework saves taxpayers money. (See Details)

➤ California’s FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, has seen growth slow as multiple insurers begin writing policies in wildfire-prone areas under a new state strategy. State data showed a 25% decrease in the monthly average of new FAIR Plan policies from October 2025 through June 2026. (See Details)

➤ Bay Area homebuyers are weighing higher mortgage rates as the region’s market shifts, with the East Bay already showing signs of slowing. (More)

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➤ Joe Cypher, a former Army Airborne Ranger paralyzed in a 1989 crash, became the world’s only paraplegic monster truck driver, using a truck with custom hand controls. He also owns 800 Hot Wheels toys and brings his fire truck-themed monster truck to San Diego’s Pechanga Arena Sept. 26-27. (Read Story)

➤ Claudia Mercier and her husband, Mike, fostered 16 children over two decades in the East Bay. After the demands of foster care nearly pushed them to quit, she founded Contra Costa Foster Friends in Pleasant Hill, a center that gives foster families free clothing, diapers, car seats, and support. (Read Story)

➤ Ivan Coffman, 87, is selling the tiny Sierra Nevada community of Belden, California, for $4.75 million after buying it in 1989 and rebuilding its resort. The 15-person community includes a lodge, restaurant, bar, general store, hotel rooms, and cabins along the Feather River. (Read Story)

➤ Los Angeles officially kicked off the countdown to Super Bowl LXI, with the host committee unveiling five months of events, community programs, and fan experiences leading up to the game. Super Bowl LXI will be played Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium, marking the ninth time the Los Angeles area has hosted the game. (Read Story)

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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. 

➤ Researchers found the timing of your retirement may matter far more than just to your savings account. (Listen Now)

➤ Insiders at major AI companies are openly mocking viral warnings that the technology could wipe out humanity. (Hear Episode)

➤ The New York Times writer behind the 1619 Project now says her decade-long public school experiment may have cheated her own daughter. (Hear Details)

When did you last visit a public library?

1. Within the past week
2. Within the past month
3. Earlier this year
4. More than a year ago
5. Never

Yesterday’s Results:

If your employer offered you a cash buyout to resign, what would you do?

1. Already retired: 39%
2. Depends on the amount: 25%
3. Take the money and go: 16%
4. No thanks, I’d stay put: 10%
5. Other: 10%

Which Southern California toy company introduced its now-iconic Hot Wheels die-cast cars in 1968?

Show me the answer