Over 100 Charged in Fraud Crackdowns

Federal and state prosecutors announced separate healthcare fraud crackdowns Thursday, charging more than 100 people across California.

The federal case charged 15 people in alleged schemes involving roughly $2 billion in allegedly fraudulent claims, from sham addiction treatment to unneeded surgeries and bogus hospice billing.

Agents scaled a hillside to raid a Tarzana mansion before dawn, arresting chiropractor Hany Malek, 61, who, along with surgeon Dr. Harold Tabaie, 78, is accused of a $135 million Medicare fraud scheme involving unnecessary artery procedures.

A father and son were charged in a $1.6 billion scheme that allegedly funneled homeless people into sham rehab, while the state separately charged 103 people with Medi-Cal fraud. Those facing charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

North Fork Casino Opens near Madera

After more than 25 years in the making, the North Fork Mono Casino opens Oct. 28 along Highway 99 near Madera, a milestone for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.

The casino sits on federal trust land away from the tribe’s reservation, and California voters rejected its gaming compact in a 2014 vote. Opposition from a rival tribe and anti-gaming groups fueled years of legal battles before construction began in 2024.

Inside, the resort will offer 2,400 slot machines, 40 table games, and eight dining options. It opens with about 1,500 employees under Las Vegas-based Station Casinos, and officials are pitching it as a major new employer for the Central Valley.

One obstacle lingers. A California appeals court ruling left the casino unauthorized under state law, but the tribe maintains that federal approvals allow it to proceed and plans to open on schedule.

Livermore Named Top U.S. Wine Region

Wine Enthusiast has named California’s Livermore Valley its 2026 American Wine Region of the Year, putting one of the state’s oldest and lesser-known wine areas in the national spotlight.

The East Bay region, home to about 50 wineries, earned the nod for its multigenerational family wineries and smaller operations experimenting with lesser-known grapes. Over the past few years, its wineries have leaned harder into hospitality and marketing.

Its roots run deep. Livermore won the Grand Prize at the 1889 Paris Exposition and is credited with the Wente Clone, a Chardonnay selection now used worldwide. Longtime wineries like Wente and Concannon still anchor the valley alongside smaller producers experimenting with Torrontés and Timorasso.

The honor follows years of quality-focused work by the region’s wineries. “We’ve raised the bar for what’s in the glass without changing the experience that brings people here,” said Brandi Lombardi, who leads the Livermore Valley Wine Community.

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➤ Sacramento: A federal grand jury indicted Lo Saetern, 35, on charges stemming from online threats to bomb an Elk Grove church, kill children there, and carry out a mass shooting targeting Muslims. (See Details)

➤ Bay Area: PG&E warned 25,000 prospective customers of power connection delays of up to six months as it postpones $2 billion in spending over wildfire liability concerns. PG&E says the move could limit rate hikes, while critics accuse it of pressuring lawmakers. (More)

➤ Sierra County: A father and son pleaded no contest to illegal gold mining charges after damaging property and polluting a creek. Each received 30 days in jail, an $8,135 fine, and three years of probation. Both must restore the damaged land by August 2027. (More)

➤ North Bay: Highway 37 will close in both directions between Mare Island and Sears Point from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for emergency repairs to the flood-prone roadway. Drivers face a roughly 40-mile detour. (See Details)

➤ Yosemite: The National Park Service warned of lithium-ion battery fire risks following incidents at Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and other parks. Officials urge visitors to use certified chargers, avoid overcharging, and charge e-bikes outdoors. (Read Story)

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➤ Bakersfield: News anchor Aaron Perlman obtained a temporary restraining order against a woman accused of twice shooting at his TV station. Perlman says he was the target. Thomashana Renee Zeigler, 46, pleaded not guilty and remains jailed without bail. No one was injured. (More)

➤ Fresno: Gabby Petito’s mother and stepfather urged greater domestic violence awareness at the Marjaree Mason Center’s annual awards event Wednesday. Nearly 1,500 attended the gathering supporting the nonprofit’s work with survivors. (More)

➤ Corcoran: A new 100-inmate honor dorm opened at Corcoran State Prison, offering education, job training, and rehabilitation to prepare inmates for release. The program is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s effort to reduce repeat offenses. (More)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: PG&E paid the county more than $8.3 million, the first of two payments under an agreement reached in August. The shareholder-funded money supports county services, schools, and other local agencies. (See Details)

➤ Santa Barbara: A new study ranks Santa Barbara as California’s seventh-most dangerous city for cyclists, with 131 injured or killed in 2023. The city had the highest cyclist casualty rate per resident, though the study did not account for potential differences in cycling activity. (See Report)

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➤ North Hills: Firefighters rescued three people from the rain-swollen Pacoima Wash Thursday morning as a storm swept through Southern California. Crews used a helicopter, ladder truck, and crane to pull the victims from rushing floodwaters. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: Four flight attendants were injured when a United Airlines flight from Hawaii hit severe turbulence approaching LAX Wednesday night. The plane landed safely, but one flight attendant was hospitalized. No passengers were injured. (More)

➤ UCLA: Emmy-winning actor Tom Skerritt, who attended UCLA before launching a six-decade Hollywood career, died Wednesday at age 93. He was best known for roles in Top Gun, Alien, and Picket Fences. (More)

➤ San Gabriel Mountains: Mount Waterman ski resort is back on the market for $3.275 million after plans for an exclusive private club fell through. The sale includes ski lifts and operating rights, but no land. (Read Story)

➤ San Diego: NASA honored local Navy personnel Wednesday for helping recover the Artemis II capsule and its four astronauts earlier this year. More than six military commands took part in the mission. (More)

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➤ The Los Angeles Angels fired manager Kurt Suzuki after his only season ended with the first 100-loss campaign in franchise history. (More)

➤ Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani won’t need surgery on his left knee or right arm, and the team expects him to pitch in 2027. (More)

➤ Former NHL All-Star Ron Duguay died Thursday at age 69 following a battle with cancer. Duguay played alongside Wayne Gretzky with the Los Angeles Kings and later suited up for the San Diego Gulls. (More)

➤ Nevada prosecutors charged two former Fresno State basketball players and a former DraftKings trader with felonies in an alleged scheme to manipulate prop bets on a 2025 game against Colorado State. (See Details)

➤ Stanford hosts NC State tonight in an ACC matchup between teams seeking a much-needed win. The Cardinal are 3-1 at home but have scored seven points or fewer in each of their four losses. (See Preview)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Golf

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➤ San Jose-based eBay confirmed it will lay off about 1,000 employees, or 9% of its workforce, in its second major round of cuts this year. The company declined to say which jobs or locations will be affected. (More)

➤ See’s Candies, the San Francisco-based chocolatier, agreed to pay about $143,000 to settle state allegations that it missed deadlines for required workforce pay-data reports two years in a row. (More)

➤ Meta struck a deal to keep CEO Mark Zuckerberg in California after he considered leaving over the proposed billionaire tax. The company agreed to give him additional shares to help cover the potential tax without losing voting control. Voters will decide the measure in November. (More)

➤ Hard Rock Casino Tejon broke ground Wednesday on a Kern County resort expansion featuring a 400-room hotel, spa, pools, restaurants and entertainment center. Completion is expected by summer 2028. (See Details)

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➤ Thanksgiving weather outlooks from the Old Farmer’s Almanac predict warmer temperatures across much of California and the West, while the Farmers’ Almanac forecasts possible rain in the Southwest. Neither expects a major nationwide storm during the holiday week. (More)

➤ A Sacramento video store is bringing VHS rentals back to Oak Park. Opening Saturday, Very Good Video will offer nearly 5,000 movies on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray, plus player rentals, movie nights, and a 25-seat screening room. (Read Story)

➤ A Fresno toddler nicknamed “King Julian” has reached the quarterfinals of the national Baby of the Year competition. Julian Rodriguez has struggled with poor eyesight since infancy, and his family hopes the $25,000 prize could help cover future vision care. (More)

➤ California’s official Christmas tree was cut Wednesday in Shasta County. The 65-foot white fir will stand at Sacramento’s Capitol Park, decorated with 10,000 LED lights and nearly 200 handcrafted ornaments made by people with developmental disabilities. (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. 

➤ Russia is reportedly using fishing trawlers to spy on the undersea cables that keep Britain connected to the world. (Hear Details)

➤ Scientists in 1940s Maine spent 13 years trying to make a super dog, complete with millions in funding and a facility nicknamed the School for Dogs. (Listen Now)

➤ Amazon, UPS, and Spirit Halloween are racing to fill hundreds of thousands of holiday jobs even as broader hiring slows. (Hear Story)

Do you still have a VCR?

1. Yes, and it still works
2. Somewhere in a closet
3. Gone for years
4. Never had one

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you use a golf cart for short trips around town?

1. In the right community: 39%
2. Absolutely, love them: 23%
3. I’ll keep my car, thanks: 21%
4. Sure, for quick errands: 17%

Livermore, recently named the top U.S. wine region, is also home to the world’s longest-burning light bulb. In roughly what year was it first switched on?

Show me the answer