California Sues Trump over Offshore Wind

California sued the Trump administration Tuesday to block a deal that would pay a developer to abandon an offshore wind project planned off the state’s coast.

Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Energy Commission say the June deal illegally reallocates more than $111 million in federal funds to pay Invenergy to drop its Morro Bay lease. The deal requires Invenergy’s corporate affiliates to invest an equal sum in fossil fuel or geothermal projects instead.

Bonta called the buyout unlawful, saying it misuses taxpayer money and undercuts the state’s clean energy goals. Trump, who has made clear he opposes new wind projects, has pushed to redirect federal energy policy toward fossil fuels.

This is California’s second suit over the buybacks, part of a nationwide push worth billions. New York’s attorney general leads a parallel suit joined by seven other states.

Lawsuits Blame X2 for Brain Injuries

Three new lawsuits claim Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 roller coaster caused catastrophic brain injuries, and the riders’ attorneys say they represent more than 100 additional people alleging brain injuries.

The X2, billed as the world’s first “fourth-dimensional” coaster with seats that rotate riders 360 degrees, has been shut down since July 12. Six Flags has stayed tight-lipped about the ride’s future.

Attorneys with Dordick Law allege the ride’s design makes it inherently dangerous, pointing to its extreme design, variables, and forces. One plaintiff, Pamela Guillen, says she woke in a hospital weeks after riding, having undergone emergency brain surgery.

Six Flags declined to comment on the litigation but confirmed the coaster remains closed. The park recently settled a wrongful-death suit over a 2022 rider’s death, and court filings note more than a dozen earlier lawsuits involving alleged catastrophic brain injuries.

Santa Monica Pier Sign Comes Down

The neon sign that marks the Santa Monica Pier entrance will be dismantled by the end of September and trucked to Las Vegas for restoration.

The removal is part of a $35 million replacement of the aging Pier Bridge, which links the pier to Ocean Avenue and will be rebuilt to modern seismic standards. The city expects the work to finish in late 2027.

The 20-foot blue arch has greeted visitors since 1941 and still carries its original message: “Santa Monica Yacht Harbor – Sport Fishing – Boating – Cafes.” California named it a state historic landmark in 1996.

City officials stress the sign is not going away for good. It will be refurbished and returned to its perch atop the rebuilt bridge, with a half-scale replica on the pier during construction.

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➤ San Francisco: City Attorney David Chiu sued Trump Media, alleging Truth Social’s paid early access to Trump’s posts facilitates insider trading. Trump Media says it’s a standard subscription service. (See Details)

➤ Also San Francisco: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will close its Fisherman’s Wharf attraction before year’s end, ending a nearly 60-year run. The company plans to sell San Francisco-themed exhibit pieces, including a toothpick Golden Gate Bridge and replica cable car. (More)

➤ Bay Area: A new study from a regional policy group warns rush-hour delays could double on the Bay Bridge if two November transit measures fail, as BART, Muni, and Caltrain face budget shortfalls. Critics say the group, which backs both measures, is using scare tactics. (See Report)

➤ Suisun City: City Hall reopened all departments Tuesday, more than a month after an Aug. 7 malware attack knocked out public-safety systems, including 911 routing and police and fire dispatch. The Solano County city says no resident data appears to have been stolen; the FBI is investigating. (More)

➤ Vallejo: Amanda Williams, a single mom and DoorDash driver, is one of 16 people in the U.S. and Canada to receive the Carnegie Medal for heroism. She jumped from her car last year to wrestle two knives from a man attacking a stranger, helping save his life. (Read Story)

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➤ Central Coast: The House passed a bipartisan water-infrastructure bill, 415-9, that includes more than $66 million for Central Coast projects secured by Rep. Salud Carbajal. The bill would support a Los Olivos sewer conversion, Ojai stormwater-pipe replacement, Lompoc water-treatment and flood-control upgrades, and Morro Bay seawall and harbor improvements. (More)

➤ Goleta: Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton drew a line of cars to a gas station Tuesday, offering $3-a-gallon gas to 150 drivers while pointing to California taxes and policies as factors in high pump prices. (More)

➤ Merced: California Rural Legal Assistance sent the High-Speed Rail Authority a cease-and-desist letter, arguing it illegally rerouted the train and moved the planned Merced station without legislative approval. The changes appear in the authority’s 2026 business plan. (More)

➤ Fresno County: Officials unveiled a new county logo and the tagline “farms to forest we serve” to mark Fresno County’s 170th anniversary. The redesign is meant to reflect the county’s agricultural roots, Sierra forests, and more than 1 million residents. (More)

➤ Yosemite: With the Dome Fire now topping 3,600 acres, park officials are asking anyone who saw a campfire along the Chilnualna Falls Trail between Sept. 9 and 15 to call the National Park Service. The blaze started while fire restrictions were in effect, and investigators are working to determine its cause. (More)

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➤ La Verne: A lithium battery storage unit caught fire Tuesday at a Metropolitan Water District facility, prompting nearby evacuations and school closures. The fire is out, but crews are monitoring an adjacent battery unit that began smoking and heating up after exposure to the blaze. (More)

➤ Boyle Heights: Los Angeles fire investigators closed their probe into June’s Lineage Logistics cold-storage fire, ruling the cause undetermined but tracing its origin to the roof near solar panels, where an electrical event occurred. Lineage, which is suing the solar array’s owner and contractor, called it a solar fire. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: A new UC Berkeley poll shows City Councilmember Nithya Raman leading Mayor Karen Bass 39% to 28% in the Nov. 3 mayor’s race, with 33% of likely voters still undecided. Bass drew a 63% unfavorable rating. The pollster said the large share of undecided voters leaves the race wide open. (See Report)

➤ San Diego: A 16-inch water main ruptured Tuesday afternoon outside Seaport Village, sending brown water across downtown streets, the boardwalk, and into San Diego Bay. Eddie V’s, Puesto, and The Cheesecake Factory closed for lack of water, though officials said no homes or hotels lost service. (More)

➤ Mission Valley: Crews began construction this week on the $53 million Fenton Parkway Bridge, which will carry cars, cyclists, and pedestrians over the San Diego River and improve access to the SDSU Mission Valley campus and nearby trolley stations. The span is expected to open in fall 2027. (More)

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➤ Apple TV shot part of last Friday’s Los Angeles Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants with the new iPhone 18 Pro Max, which went on sale that morning. Phones made up nearly half the broadcast’s cameras. (More)

➤ The San Francisco 49ers agreed to add veteran Brandin Cooks to their practice squad after injuries to three of their wide receivers. He’s one of only two players ever with 1,000-yard receiving seasons for four teams. (More)

➤ San Francisco Giants pitcher Blade Tidwell has a high-grade elbow ligament sprain and has been recommended for surgery, potentially Tommy John surgery, which could wipe out his 2027 season. Three other Giants pitchers have undergone Tommy John surgery this year. (More)

➤ Former Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard agreed to a two-year, $115 million extension with the Toronto Raptors. The trade was on hold until the NBA finished investigating whether the Clippers broke salary cap rules to pay him. (More)

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

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➤ California businesses are grappling with rising labor, insurance, utility, and other operating costs, while some major companies have moved their headquarters out of state. POM Wonderful says it remains committed to growing in California by cutting waste and improving efficiency. (More)

➤ Intel is cutting 52 jobs across four Santa Clara locations, including 22 at its headquarters, with the permanent layoffs taking effect Sept. 30. The cuts follow recent Bay Area layoffs at Uber, Oracle, and PayPal. (More)

➤ Chapman Estate in Pismo Beach is passing from city hands to its nonprofit foundation after 13 years. Officials say repairs will cost millions, while the foundation plans accessibility upgrades and expanded public access. (More)

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Can Your Gut Brew Alcohol? Surgeon Warns YES!

In a stunning new video that’s beginning to go viral…

Prominent gut expert and former surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry sheds light on a strange phenomenon known among industry experts as “Drunken Gut.”

Believe it or not, it’s when poor gut health conditions can lead to your body “brewing” its own alcohol.

If you struggle with severe bloating, fatigue, weight gain, or even find it hard to concentrate, Dr. Gundry says these are warning signs that something is dangerously wrong.

Which is why he’s urging everyone to check for these signs immediately

➤ Scientists identified the world’s most heat-tolerant known complex organism in a Lassen Volcanic National Park hot spring, a shape-shifting amoeba that grows at temperatures up to 145 degrees. The Syracuse University team, writing in the journal Cell, named it Incendiamoeba cascadensis, or “fire amoeba from the Cascades.” (See Details)

➤ Pumpkin season in California is really an agritourism story, with patches offering hayrides, corn mazes, and family experiences alongside the pumpkins. A UC Davis expert says agritourism has become a growing part of the state’s farm economy, drawing families and their dollars each fall. (Watch)

➤ Guy Fieri and his foundation’s volunteers rolled into the Lucas Fire base camp in Lake County last week to serve hot meals to firefighters and law enforcement crews. The Sonoma County chef’s foundation has served more than 200,000 meals during Northern California disasters over the years. (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. 

➤ Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants stormed one Spanish city, which still hasn’t recovered. (Hear Details)

➤ Dolly Parton’s estate has accused her nephew of escalating threats, asking a court to keep him away from its operations. (Listen Now)

➤ Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to prison again in New York, capping a six-year legal saga over his overturned conviction. (Hear Story)

Were you a fan of The Love Boat?

1. Never missed an episode
2. Caught it now and then
3. Not my show

Yesterday’s Results:

Have sideshows or street racing been an issue where you live?

1. Not where I live: 49%
2. Yes, in my city/town: 20%
3. Yes, in my neighborhood: 16%
4. Other: 15%

Morro Rock stands guard at the mouth of Morro Bay’s harbor as the last in a line of nine extinct volcanic peaks running inland toward San Luis Obispo. What is this chain of peaks nicknamed?

Show me the answer