Thursday, April 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1966, the California Angels opened Anaheim Stadium with an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants, giving Orange County its first major league ballpark. The stadium still stands 60 years later.

A Sacramento homeowner got quite the surprise when a live mortar turned up in their yard, prompting a bomb squad response and help from the U.S. Air Force. We have the details in Northern California.

What is going on between Tucker Carlson and President Trump? Just 21 months ago, he told the Republican National Convention that Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt amounted to “divine intervention.” Now, he’s publicly questioning the president’s direction and even his faith. Tune into today’s Flyover Podcast as CEO of The Flyover, Cole Strehlow, breaks down the recent developments. We’d love to hear what you think. Tune in here!

Later today, keep an eye out for a message from our partner, Frontieras, exploring how new technology is reshaping domestic energy by transforming coal into high-value fuels, an approach that’s gaining traction quickly.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is highlighting the Citi Double Cash Card and other incredible offers, featuring insane cards charging 0% interest into 2027 and welcome bonuses of up to $200.

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.

Court Halts Sheriff’s Ballot Seizure

The California Supreme Court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to pause his investigation into the November 2025 special election and preserve more than half a million seized ballots while the justices review the case.

Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, seized roughly 1,000 boxes of election materials after a local citizens group claimed a discrepancy of about 45,800 votes in the Proposition 50 redistricting election. The county registrar told supervisors the complaint was based on incomplete data and that the actual discrepancy was about 100 ballots.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed the emergency petition, called Bianco a “rogue sheriff.” Bianco has maintained the probe is lawful and unrelated to his campaign, noting a county judge approved his search warrants. A voting rights group has filed a separate challenge.

The court’s order requires the ballots to be preserved but bars any further examination while litigation proceeds.

LAUSD Strike Looms Next Week

Three unions representing tens of thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District employees (LAUSD) are set to walk out next Tuesday unless emergency bargaining sessions produce a deal this week.

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), SEIU Local 99, and the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles have set April 14 as their strike date. District officials have warned that if even one union strikes, all campuses will likely close.

UTLA, representing about 30,000 teachers, is seeking a roughly 17% pay increase, citing inflation and the high cost of living. The district has offered smaller, phased increases along with a one-time bonus.

LAUSD says it faces a projected deficit in the coming years, but the unions point to a roughly $5 billion reserve. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has approved a strike sanction backing the unions.

AI Boom Breaks San Francisco Record

San Francisco’s median house price hit a record $2.15 million in March, up 18% from a year ago.

Data from brokerage Compass shows artificial intelligence (AI) startup wealth is driving the surge, with homes selling for an average of 23% above asking price. Median condo prices jumped 27% to $1.36 million.

The new record surpasses the previous peak of $2 million set in April 2022. Compass analyst Patrick Carlisle said geopolitical and economic turbulence have not slowed the city’s market because demand is fueled by AI employment and startup equity.

The surge underscores intense demand and limited housing supply in San Francisco, as high-income buyers compete for scarce listings.

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➤ Patterson: Federal authorities are investigating after ICE agents shot a man during a targeted vehicle stop near Interstate 5. The suspect, identified by ICE as an alleged 18th Street gang member wanted in El Salvador, was reported in critical condition. Officials say agents opened fire after he allegedly tried to strike an officer with his vehicle. The FBI is leading the investigation. (More)

➤ Sacramento: A neighborhood was evacuated after a live 81mm mortar was discovered in a homeowner’s yard. The sheriff’s bomb squad, with help from the U.S. Air Force, safely removed the ordnance. No injuries reported. (See Details)

➤ Happy Camp: Siskiyou County deputies say a man stole the Frontier Saloon’s well-known taxidermied salmon, a longtime display piece at the bar. The suspect was later found trying to sell the fish, which has since been recovered. (More)

➤ Fresno: A suspect turned himself in after a hit-and-run crash sent an SUV carrying a mother and her young son into the Dry Creek Canal, killing both. Police say the driver ran a red light and fled before surrendering nearly a day later. (More)

➤ Oakhurst: The man accused of secretly filming guests at a rental property has been released on $75,000 bail. Investigators say Christian Parmalee Edwards, 44, recorded 10 to 15 women and at least one child. Deputies seized 30 devices containing thousands of files. (See Details)

➤ Santa Barbara: The City Council voted 4-3 to direct staff to draft a rent stabilization ordinance that could cap annual increases at 60% of the Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower, a day after landlords filed suit over the city’s temporary rent freeze. (More)

➤ Orange County: A 66-year-old man pleaded guilty to submitting nearly $270 million in bogus Medi-Cal claims between 2022 and 2023, billing for unnecessary or undelivered drugs, federal officials said. (KTLA)

➤ Los Angeles: A woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” was sentenced to 15 years for supplying ketamine, including the dose that killed Matthew Perry in 2023, federal prosecutors said. (More)

➤ Hollywood: A fire broke out in the attic of the Magic Castle, the famed private magicians’ clubhouse on Franklin Avenue, prompting evacuations. Officials say the blaze likely started near roof work. More than 30 people were evacuated safely, and no one was injured. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles County: Flea-borne typhus is surging across LA County, with 220 cases reported in 2025 and about 90% requiring hospitalization. Health officials say infections are rising countywide and may be undercounted. (More)

➤ Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler charged the mound and exchanged punches with Braves pitcher Reynaldo López on Tuesday night after a high, inside pitch near his head in the fifth inning. Both players were ejected following the benches-clearing brawl. (See Fight)

➤ Davey Lopes, Dodgers All-Star and 1981 World Series champion, died Wednesday at 80. The standout second baseman stole 557 bases and spent decades coaching across Major League Baseball. (More)

➤ A study ranked Los Angeles the second-best college basketball town in America, driven largely by UCLA’s sustained success and recent women’s national championship. (More)

➤ Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry will auction off his “Sneaker Free Agency” collection through Sotheby’s, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting children in Oakland. (More)

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➤ Fresno City Council is studying the impact of corporate landlords on the Central Valley housing market, including one investor that owns nearly 3,000 single-family homes, as affordability concerns grow in one of California’s last relatively affordable regions. (More)

➤ New plans for OCVIBE, the $5 billion mixed-use entertainment district being built near the Honda Center, reveal parks, plazas, and a new mid-size concert hall coming to Anaheim. Phase one opens in early 2027. (See Renderings)

➤ Amtrak will add a new daily Pacific Surfliner round trip between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo starting May 4, expanding Central Coast service to three daily trips and improving options for regional commuters. (See Details)

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➤ The California Lottery accidentally shared a winner’s home address with about 800 media outlets, raising privacy concerns and prompting a review of how the agency handles winner data. (See Details)

➤ Route 66’s 100th anniversary is spotlighted in an AP photo essay highlighting the highway’s enduring pull, including its iconic California desert communities and western endpoint at the Santa Monica Pier. (See Photos)

➤ Barkchella is offering free or low-cost pet adoptions through April 19 in Riverside County as shelters near capacity, with nearly 1,100 dogs and cats available. (More)

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