Millions of California Student Records Stolen

Hackers stole personal data belonging to millions of current and former California public school students whose information was held by testing provider Educational Testing Service (ETS). An unauthorized party used a compromised login to copy files between May 22 and Sept. 18.

The stolen information may include names, birth dates, addresses, schools, student identification numbers, race or ethnicity, disability status, testing accommodations, and assessment results. Social Security numbers, financial information, account passwords, and parent or guardian data were not involved.

ETS said it has found no evidence that the information was made public. Affected students are eligible for two years of free identity-protection services, and families are urged to watch for scams and consider freezing the credit of children under 16. 

Zacharia Leaves Post amid California Bar Questions

Katie Zacharia left her post as White House press secretary after five days on the job. President Trump said he did not fire her but urged her to reconsider after what he called harsh media treatment.

Zacharia earned her law degree from Pepperdine University in 2011 but failed California’s bar exam and never retook it. The California resident had repeatedly described herself as a lawyer, while Trump introduced her as an attorney.

The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the State Bar of California, asking it to investigate whether Zacharia violated state law by presenting herself as a lawyer without a license. Zacharia maintained that she never claimed to be an “attorney at law.”

Dog-Voting Case Ends with Billboard Penalty

A Costa Mesa woman who registered her dog to vote and submitted ballots in two elections had her criminal case dismissed after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and paying for anti-voter-fraud billboards featuring the pet.

Laura Lee Yourex, 64, originally faced five felony charges. Prosecutors said a ballot submitted under her dog’s name, Maya Jean, was counted in California’s 2021 gubernatorial recall election, while a ballot submitted in the 2022 primary was rejected.

Under the plea agreement, Yourex paid $1,500 for four billboards along Orange County’s 55 and 22 freeways. The signs feature Maya posing with a ballot and an “I Voted” sticker and will remain up through the Nov. 3 election.

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➤ San Joaquin County: Small businesses with 500 or fewer employees could apply through Oct. 20 for free security cameras and installation through a program aimed at deterring retail theft and helping law enforcement investigate crimes. (More)

➤ UC Davis: A study found that coast redwoods sharply slowed photosynthesis during heat waves, potentially limiting their growth and carbon storage, though researchers do not yet know whether the damage was lasting. (More)

➤ UC Berkeley: Researchers mapped a brain circuit in mice linking deep sleep and growth hormone, finding that sleep triggers hormone release while the hormone sends signals that help regulate wakefulness. (More)

➤ San Jose: Two adults and a child suffered non-life-threatening injuries when a small propeller plane crashed on Capitol Expressway yesterday afternoon; no vehicles were involved, and firefighters absorbed a minor fuel spill. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: More than 100 artists transformed The Marketplace parking lot into a walk-through chalk gallery for the 28th annual Via Arté festival. The free event continues today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with proceeds supporting Bakersfield Museum of Art programs. (More)

➤ Central Coast: The California Fish and Game Commission approved new marine conservation areas off Carpinteria and Point Sal, including one co-led by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians; regulations could take a couple of years to finalize. (More)

➤ Fresno: High temperatures are expected to fall about 20 degrees, from around 90 this weekend to near 70 by Wednesday, as a Gulf of Alaska weather system brings cooler air and a chance of light rain to the Central Valley. (More)

➤ Lancaster: Three men were arrested after authorities dismantled a large-scale methamphetamine lab in Lancaster, seizing nearly 250 pounds of meth, 1,575 pounds of the drug in liquid form, a stolen gun, and thousands of dollars. (More)

➤ San Diego: An Amazon facility in Kearny Mesa remains vacant, with the company saying it was evaluating its delivery network but offering no timeline for opening the site. (More)

➤ Santa Clarita: Surveillance video appeared to show a man leaving a woman who appeared unconscious on a sidewalk near Centurion Park before driving away. Two high school students found her and called for help, and deputies were investigating whether a crime occurred. (See Video)

➤ Los Angeles: California-based Dancing with the Stars suspended pro Val Chmerkovskiy from Tuesday’s episode after he referenced Will Smith’s Oscars slap in a post defending his wife, Jenna Johnson. His celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will dance with Alan Bersten. (More)

➤ The Golden State Valkyries took Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, holding off the Atlanta Dream 68-64 behind Gabby Williams’ 26 points. (More)

➤ UCLA improved to 6-0 with a 17-7 win over Wisconsin as backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach threw for 264 yards in his first UCLA start. Bob Chesney is the first Bruins coach to open his tenure with six straight wins. (More)

➤ Cal was set to host 5-1 Wake Forest in Berkeley last night, seeking a win that would lift the 3-3 Bears to 3-1 in ACC play. Star quarterback Jeron-Keawe Sagapolutele was expected back from a concussion. (See Result)

➤ The 2-3 Los Angeles Rams host the 1-4 Arizona Cardinals as 12.5-point favorites today, while the winless Los Angeles Chargers visit the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. (See Preview)

➤ A $60,000 bet against the Los Angeles Dodgers paid off for a hospitality group running 25 bars, many near Dodger Stadium. The Kalshi trade offset lost playoff business, the platform said. (More)

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

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➤ The Musical Mushroom Train will depart Fort Bragg Nov. 7 for a redwood excursion featuring live bands, a DJ dance party, guided forest bathing, mushroom-inspired food, and drinks. (More)

➤ Ironman California races through Sacramento today, bringing widespread road, freeway-ramp, and transit closures as athletes tackle a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and marathon. Some restrictions will remain through early Monday. (See Closures)

➤ The new survival thriller Whalefall was filmed across Carmel, Pacific Grove, Monterey Bay, and other local sites. The movie follows a young diver swallowed by an 80-foot whale with only an hour of oxygen to escape. (More)

➤ Young California condors Chert and Pumice were caught getting the “zoomies” in their San Simeon release pen, hopping, running in circles, and flapping their wings as they prepared for release into the wild Oct. 24. (See Video)

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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 grandfather built a $2 million business by giving families a reason to get lost in a cornfield. (Hear More)

➤ The NBA has built an AI detective to sniff out suspicious bets. (Listen Now)

➤  Three studies suggest that the cold shoulder sometimes conceals a guilty conscience. (Podcast Available)

Discover hidden L.A. gems for Dodgers fans, from baseball murals and themed eats to stunning views of Dodger Stadium.

Is paying for anti-voter-fraud billboards a fair penalty for voter fraud?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Depends

Yesterday’s Results:

What would you name Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s baby orangutan?

1. Ru: 47%
2. Marigold: 31%
3. Lyra: 22%

This hearty tomato-and-seafood stew is a San Francisco classic, first thrown together on Fisherman’s Wharf by Italian immigrant fishermen who tossed the day’s leftover catch into a communal pot. What is this uniquely Californian dish?

Show me the answer