Oil Flows through Contested Pipeline

Oil is flowing through a Santa Barbara County pipeline for the first time since the 2015 Refugio spill after Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. complied with a Trump administration order invoking the Defense Production Act over California’s objections.

Sable began pumping crude from Las Flores Canyon to Kern County on Saturday and expects to start sales by April 1 at 50,000 barrels per day, about a 15% boost to California output.

The same day, State Parks rejected the company’s easement and ordered the removal of four miles of pipeline through Gaviota State Park, where the prior easement expired in 2016.

Sable said Monday it had sued, arguing the federal order overrides the state. Attorney General Rob Bonta responded: “We’ll see you in court.”

The pipeline ruptured in 2015, spilling more than 100,000 gallons of crude near Goleta. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the restart will strengthen U.S. supply and cut reliance on foreign oil, as oil markets tighten amid the Iran conflict.

Historic Heat Wave Grips California

A record-breaking heat dome is driving temperatures 20 to 35 degrees above normal across California this week, with 39 million people under heat alerts across the Southwest. Woodland Hills reached 97 degrees and Burbank 91 degrees Monday.

The National Weather Service has warned of unusually early March heat across parts of California, with Sacramento expected to exceed 90 degrees this week. In the Coachella Valley, Thermal could reach 111 degrees by Thursday, which would break the state’s March record of 107 if realized.

In Southern California, extreme heat warnings are in effect through Friday, with triple-digit highs possible in the San Fernando Valley and low 90s along the coast. 

Forecasters warn the prolonged heat will speed snowmelt in the already below-average Sierra Nevada snowpack, raising concerns about wildfire risk and water supply heading into summer.

Dodger Stadium Gets a Sponsor

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to sell the naming rights to the field at Dodger Stadium for the first time in the ballpark’s 64-year history.

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo will become the stadium’s official field presenting partner, with the playing surface expected to be called Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. The stadium name itself is not changing.

The deal adds to a wave of Japanese sponsorships that have followed Shohei Ohtani’s arrival. This surge in partnerships has already brought in an estimated $70 million in revenue, with brands including All Nippon Airways, Toyo Tires, and Daiso already holding prominent signage.

An official announcement is expected before Opening Day on March 26.

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➤ Oakland: Body camera footage shows former NFL running back Doug Martin, 36, being restrained during a mental health crisis before he died in police custody Oct. 18. (See Details)

➤ Sacramento: The Natomas teachers’ strike entered its second week Monday as students marched in support. Talks remain stalled over health care, with the district citing rising costs and no deal reached. (See Details)

➤ Gilroy: A 3.4 magnitude earthquake shook the city Tuesday morning. No damage or injuries were reported. (See Details)

➤ Modesto: Police disclosed that their license plate reader system was improperly connected to federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and IRS Criminal Investigation, in violation of state law. The connections have been disabled. (See Details)

➤ San Joaquin County: Authorities rearrested Joshua Martinez in the 2019 disappearance of 16-year-old Victoria Marquina and indicted him on murder charges. Her body has never been found. Martinez is being held without bail. (See Details)

➤ Patterson: Students and staff at Apricot Valley Elementary reported discomfort after a grounds employee sprayed herbicide on campus during school hours. The district says the incident may have violated protocols. (See Details)

➤ Rancho Palos Verdes: Land movement in Portuguese Bend is accelerating again after winter rains, with parts of the hillside now shifting about two inches per week. Hundreds of residents have been without gas and electricity for more than a year. (See Details)

➤ Norwalk: A former California highway patrol officer and a suspected drunk driver were both charged with second-degree murder in a July 2025 crash on the 605 Freeway that killed four. Prosecutors say the officer was driving about 130 mph without lights or sirens when he hit the victims’ car, which was then struck by another driver and burst into flames. (See Details)

➤ San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport are on the Federal Aviation Administration’s hotspot list for potential safety concerns. A pilot voiced concerns about Palomar’s short runway, while SAN says it added markings and signage. (More)

➤ March Madness: No. 7 seed UCLA will play No. 10 University of Central Florida in round one of the men’s tournament, while No. 13 Cal Baptist matches up against the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks. (See Men’s Bracket)

➤ Meanwhile, No. 1 UCLA plays No. 16 Cal Baptist in round one of the women’s bracket. No. 9 USC and No. 14 UC San Diego also made the field of 64. (See Women’s Bracket)

➤ Stanford Athletics’ COO Alden Mitchell is leaving her position to become president of TrailRunner Sports, a global sports advisory firm. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | World Baseball Classic | Tennis

➤ Closing arguments concluded Tuesday in a class-action trial accusing Elon Musk of misleading Twitter shareholders by driving down the stock price before completing his $44 billion acquisition in 2022. The case is before a jury in San Francisco. (See Details)

➤ Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Monday at the company’s Graphics Technology Conference in San Jose that it sees about $1 trillion in AI system orders through 2027. Shares rose more than 1% as the broader market rallied. (More)

➤ California gas prices top $5.50 per gallon statewide as global oil disruptions tied to the Iran conflict push costs higher, with Los Angeles County averaging $5.59 after a sharp weekly increase. (More)

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➤ Elk Grove was named the best place to live in California and the sixth best city in the West, earning high marks for parks, public schools, diversity, and quality of life. Clovis was the only other California city to make the top 10 in the West. (See List)

➤ An’s Dry Cleaning, the San Diego gelato shop named best in the nation by USA Today in 2025, is opening its fifth location inside Oceanside’s iconic Top Gun house by summer 2026. The 1887 Victorian served as the beachfront home of Kelly McGillis’ character in the 1986 film. (Read Story)

➤ Two Southern California teenagers are building businesses around e-bike culture while promoting safe riding, community, and responsibility among young riders. Tito Martinez, 14, founded streetwear brand Star Line World, while Damian Moreno runs E-Bikes Plug in Anaheim. (Read Story)

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Did you fill out a March Madness bracket this year?

1. Yes, and I feel good about it
2. Yes, but it’s already doomed
3. No, I just watch the games
4. What’s a bracket?

Which San Diego military base served as the setting for the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School in the movie Top Gun?

Show me the answer