Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1926, lightning struck oil reservoirs outside San Luis Obispo, sparking a five-day fire so intense it produced hundreds of “firenadoes,” with flames leaping nearly 1,000 feet into the air.

California might soon get license plates that double as rolling tributes to its iconic car culture. Lawmakers are weighing a lowrider plate idea, as we report below in Et Cetera. California already offers a range of specialty plates—have you ever had one, or a personalized plate? Reply and let us know.

If you’re one of roughly 50 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D, these changes could affect your costs more than you realize. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown shares details on the updated spending cap, what counts toward it, and the long-awaited end of the donut hole. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping Americans protect their retirement savings from rising inflation and economic uncertainty with the timeless stability of physical gold.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Trump Endorses Hilton for Governor

President Trump endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton for California governor late Sunday, backing him over Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in the crowded race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Hilton, a British-born political strategist who became a U.S. citizen in 2021, has campaigned on lowering gas prices, reducing taxes, and cutting housing costs.

The endorsement could reshape the June 2 primary. Under California’s top-two system, the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party, and recent polls show Hilton and Bianco leading a fragmented field of eight major Democrats.

Political analyst Rob Pyers said the move could reduce the chances of an all-Republican runoff by consolidating GOP voters behind Hilton. California hasn’t elected a Republican governor in nearly two decades.

Wolves Close In on Siskiyou Homes

Two adult gray wolves were spotted roughly 80 feet from a Butte Valley home in broad daylight in a recent incident, stalking the homeowner’s dogs and not immediately fleeing from people.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office calls the encounter part of a growing pattern—16 confirmed depredations have been documented since February, and wolf sightings near residences are increasing. Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue is meeting with Sacramento legislators to push for expanded deterrence and tracking tools.

The conflict feeds a widening national debate. The U.S. House passed a bill in December to strip gray wolves of federal Endangered Species Act protections, while conservation groups like the Center for Biological Diversity argue wolves still occupy just 15 percent of their historic range.

Siskiyou ranchers have absorbed more than $2 million in state compensation, but local officials say actual losses run far higher. Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick is urging the CDFW to advance California’s Wolf Plan to Phase 3, which would trigger a status review and potential state-level delisting.

Padres Sale Could Shatter Record

The San Diego Padres are expected to sell for roughly $3.5 billion, which would shatter the MLB franchise record by more than $1 billion.

The Seidler family has narrowed the bidding to four groups led by Warriors owner Joe Lacob, Pistons owner Tom Gores, Clearlake Capital co-founder José E. Feliciano, and Friedkin Group CEO Dan Friedkin. A winning bidder could be chosen by mid-April.

The price reflects a transformed franchise. An ownership group that included the late Peter Seidler bought the team for $800 million in 2012 and invested heavily in star talent, pushing the Padres to four playoff appearances in six years and a franchise-record 3.4 million fans at Petco Park last season.

If completed at or above $3.5 billion, the deal would top the $2.4 billion Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020. MLB owners must approve the sale by a 75% vote.

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➤ Dublin: Alameda County supervisors will vote today on a symbolic resolution opposing any use of the closed Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin as an ICE detention center or other correctional facility. (More)

➤ Stockton: San Joaquin County is seeking $2 million in federal funds to replace aging water pipes serving Lincoln Village, where decades-old infrastructure has caused leaks and service disruptions. (More)

➤ San Francisco: Residents filed a state complaint alleging a “hyper-concentration of poverty” in the South of Market neighborhood due to clustered homeless services and housing, arguing it violates housing and civil rights laws. (More)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: Federal regulators approved a 20-year license renewal for Diablo Canyon, California’s last nuclear plant. The move allows operation through 2045, but state approval is still required beyond 2030. (More)

➤ Monterey County: New state regulations targeting blackjack-style games at California cardrooms are taking effect, and Salinas-area operators warn the changes could hit a major share of revenue. Cardroom groups are mounting a legal challenge as the industry’s future remains uncertain. (See Details)

➤ Bakersfield: Developer Sage Equities plans to redevelop the former Greyhound bus terminal at 18th and F streets into Greyhound Flats, an upscale apartment complex, as part of a broader downtown housing push. (More)

➤ Ventura County: A suspect was arrested after an over 150-mile Easter Sunday chase to Barstow. Authorities said he was wanted in connection with an attempted murder investigation. (More)

➤ Long Beach: Possible human remains were found during an Easter egg hunt Sunday at DeForest Park. Police are investigating, and the medical examiner was called to the scene. (More)

➤ San Diego County: The county filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against major fire truck manufacturers, alleging they consolidated the market, eliminated competition, and drove up prices, leaving the county waiting longer and paying more to replace its aging fleet. (See Details)

➤ A California bill dubbed the “Home Run for Anaheim Act” would require the Angels to include “Anaheim” in their name as part of a proposed stadium land deal with the city. The team dropped the city from its name in 2016 after previously being known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. (More)

➤ LA Lakers star Luka Dončić will fly to Europe to seek specialized treatment on his hamstring strain in hopes of returning for the playoffs. (More)

➤ Angels right fielder Jo Adell robbed three home runs in Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Mariners, believed to be the first time in modern MLB history a player has done so in a single game. (Watch Video)

➤ San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello received his first MLB ejection Sunday after arguing a base-path call in the team’s loss to the Mets. San Francisco has lost three straight. (More)

➤ No. 1 UCLA baseball swept No. 12 USC over the weekend, extending its winning streak to 23 games and staying unbeaten in Big Ten play. Payton Brennan led a comeback as UCLA dominated the rivalry series. (More)

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➤ Imperial County supervisors face a key vote today on a proposed massive AI data center near residential neighborhoods outside the city of Imperial, as residents gather signatures for a ballot measure that would ban such facilities countywide. (More)

➤ Diesel prices in California hit a record $7.56 per gallon last week, eclipsing the prior high as the Iran war drives up global fuel costs and squeezes truckers and supply chains statewide. (More)

➤ Oracle laid off 158 workers in Pleasanton, including software and application developers and product staff, part of broader cuts that also hit Seattle, as the company ramps up AI spending. The facility will remain open. (More)

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➤ Big Bear Lake bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow welcomed two eaglets over Easter weekend—a rebound after ravens destroyed their first clutch of eggs in January. (More)

➤ Coachella returns April 10-12 and 17-19 in Indio with headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G. Fans face high resale prices and should prepare for heat, crowds, and livestream options. (See Details)

➤ California lawmakers are weighing a bill to create specialty lowrider license plates that would honor the state’s car culture while funding cultural events and preservation programs. (More)

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