Multiple Parents Face Charges in E-Moto Crashes

Prosecutors in Orange County say they have charged 12 parents this year for allegedly allowing their children to ride electric motorcycles illegally. The latest filings include cases involving an 11-year-old injured in a collision with a pickup truck and a 9-year-old who was also hit by a truck, according to the district attorney’s office.

The charges range from child endangerment to contributing to a minor’s delinquency and allowing an unlicensed minor to drive. 

The cases focus on a legal distinction: e-motos differ from e-bikes because they lack pedals and are treated as motorcycles, with age and licensing restrictions. Prosecutors say they want to prevent further injuries; the charges are allegations until proven in court.

Death Valley Rebuilds Water System

Death Valley National Park has begun a three-year, $69.5 million project to modernize aging water and wastewater systems. Park officials broke ground Oct. 21 on the Furnace Creek Water Systems Rehabilitation Project, funded through the Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration Fund.

Crews will replace the water-treatment plant building at Cow Creek, rehabilitate the plant at Furnace Creek, and upgrade their shared wastewater facility. The work also includes replacing more than 30 miles of water and sewer lines, drilling new wells, and upgrading sewage lift stations and wastewater ponds.

Many parts of the system date to the 1960s, and past failures have led to outages, boil-water advisories, sewage spills, and temporary campground closures. Construction will be phased to limit disruptions, though short local outages and temporary parking reductions may occur.

PCH Makes NatGeo’s 2027 List

National Geographic named California’s Pacific Coast Highway as one of the top 25 destinations in the world for 2027, as KTVU reported. It’s the only California destination on the main list; Catalina Island was named the Readers’ Choice winner.

The publication highlighted the road’s legacy of inspiring artists and the coastal arts communities along its 656-mile route, which runs from Leggett in Mendocino County to Dana Point in Orange County.

The recognition follows the Big Sur stretch’s reopening in January after nearly three years of landslide-related closures. National Geographic recommends spring or autumn for a drive along the coast.

Flying together with our sponsor

You Checked Your Car Insurance. What About Your Home?

Your homeowners insurance renews. You pay the bill. Another year goes by.

But when was the last time you checked what other insurers would charge?

If you’ve used Insurify for auto insurance, you already know the idea: compare your options and see whether there’s a better fit for your budget. Now you can do the same for your home.

Insurify lets you compare home insurance quotes from multiple companies, giving you a way to explore potential savings without visiting each insurer’s website individually.

It’s free to compare, and you can weigh the price, coverage, and deductible against your current policy. Whether you’ve tried Insurify before or you’re starting fresh, here’s another household bill worth a second look.

See what you could save on home insurance.

➤ Emeryville: A 49-year-old man was arrested after police found suspected explosive materials while searching a home linked to reports of gunfire; he faces charges including discharging a firearm in a school zone, and possessing a destructive device. (More)

➤ Sacramento: Police arrested two people in connection with the theft of a bronze statue honoring Ben Ali, the 1886 Kentucky Derby winner with ties to North Sacramento, but the statue remains missing. (More)

➤ San Francisco: Westbound I-80 between Fifth and 15th streets has been closed since 11 p.m. Friday and is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, sending drivers onto detours and affecting access to U.S. 101.  (More)

➤ Bakersfield: Juan Carlos Toscano, Javier Ontiveros, and Garret Cole were sentenced to life without parole for killing Long Beach man Taylor Poulin in Bakersfield and burying his body in Arizona. (More)

➤ Eastern Sierra: An early-season storm brought more than 6 inches of snow to Mammoth Mountain’s summit ahead of the ski resort’s scheduled Nov. 13 opening. (More)

➤ Pacific Grove: Lovers Point Beach remains open, but police are advising against water activities after a cruise operator reported seeing four juvenile sharks and an adult female estimated to be more than 14 feet long nearby. (More)

Enjoy reading The California Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Culver City: The City Council approved a 2027 downtown business improvement plan 4-0, including efforts to improve lighting and décor and coordinate regular maintenance walk-throughs. (More)

➤ Palm Springs: Marilyn Monroe’s former vacation home sold for $2.8 million to Violet Moran, the self-described “Palm Springs Flipping Queen,” who plans to restore its original character and preserve its Hollywood history. (More)

➤ Oceanside: Metrolink will suspend Orange County Line service between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside Oct. 26 to 30 because of forecast high tides along the South Orange County coast. (More)

➤ The Golden State Valkyries visit the Atlanta Dream today for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Golden State has averaged just 68 points in the Finals. (More)

➤ Stanford hosted NC State last night, entering the game at 3-4 under first-year coach Tavita Pritchard. The Cardinal were 7.5-point underdogs. (See Details)

➤ No. 9 UCLA welcomes Michigan State to the Rose Bowl today as a 14.5-point favorite, while No. 16 USC visits Wisconsin as a three-point favorite. (See Schedule)

➤ Puka Nacua left practice Thursday with a calf injury, the latest blow to a Los Angeles Rams receiving corps already missing Davante Adams for six to 10 weeks. (More)

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

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Could you handle an unexpected vet bill? Pet insurance may help cover eligible treatment costs when your furry companion gets sick or injured. Explore pet insurance options with Money.com, and compare costs, deductibles, and exclusions before choosing. See whether coverage makes sense for your pet and budget.

Flying together with our sponsor

Same Trusted Process. Another Place to Look for Savings.

Already compared your auto insurance through Insurify? Give your homeowners policy the same attention.

You don’t have to be moving or buying a house to explore your options. If you’ve been renewing the same policy year after year, comparing quotes can help you see how it stacks up today.

Your home is a major investment. Its insurance deserves more than an automatic renewal.

Compare home insurance quotes for free.

➤ A giant airship, identified as LTA Research’s A-60 blimp, flew over Glenn County Tuesday and landed at Orland Airfield. (See Photos)

➤ The two-day Haunted Harvest crawl returns to Fresno County this weekend with local wine, beer, spirits, live music, and fall festivities, with one wristband covering multiple stops. (More)

➤ Filipino American History Month festivities brought San Diego college students, staff, and community members together Thursday for poetry, performances, and food at the Educational Cultural Complex. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Could your next grocery trip cost less? When checkout totals squeeze your budget, a few changes to your shopping routine may help. Explore The Penny Hoarder’s grocery savings tips for ideas to try before your next store run. See which tips could work for your household.

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. 

➤ What are the best and worst grocery stores in America? Shoppers just ranked them all. (Hear Ranking)

➤ The Trump administration has canceled some of its toughest tariffs on Canada, less than two weeks before the midterms. (Listen Now)

➤ Mexican prosecutors have filed treason charges over a CIA drug raid that left four people dead, escalating sovereignty tensions. (Hear Story)

Have you ever visited Death Valley?

1. Yes
2. No, but it’s on my list
3. No, and I don’t plan to

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you still have a VCR?

1. Gone for years: 47%
2. Yes, and it still works: 31%
3. Somewhere in a closet: 19%
4. Never had one: 3%

One University of California campus, tucked in the redwoods above Santa Cruz, rallies its sports teams behind a famously slow, bright-yellow creature of the forest floor. What is this unusual mascot?

Show me the answer