$400 Million Expiring April 30

Nearly one million Californians never activated the Middle Class Tax Refund debit cards the state mailed starting in 2022.

The cards were part of a $9.2 billion Middle Class Tax Refund that sent payments of $200 to $1,050 to households, with income caps of up to $250,000 for single filers and $500,000 for joint filers. About $400 million remains on roughly 960,000 unactivated cards.

All cards expire April 30, and any remaining funds revert to the state. Another 4.5 million cardholders still carry a combined $260 million in unused balances. The Franchise Tax Board says many recipients mistook the cards for junk mail or simply forgot about them. Others found their cards deactivated by the issuing bank as a fraud precaution.

Cardholders can call Money Network at 1-800-240-0223 to reactivate their cards. The FTB has activation instructions and details on its website.

Palisades Suspect’s Defense Blames LAFD

The man charged in connection with the Palisades Fire is arguing that firefighters’ negligence, not his actions, caused the disaster.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, faces three federal arson charges tied to the Jan. 1, 2025, Lachman Fire, which prosecutors say smoldered underground for about a week before high winds reignited it into the Palisades Fire. His defense team argues that Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and California State Parks left the burn area while it was still visibly smoking, despite dangerous fire weather concerns.

Federal prosecutors have not publicly detailed a response to that argument beyond saying they will see Rinderknecht in court.

The defense has pointed to sworn depositions from LAFD firefighters in related civil litigation who said they were ordered to leave the scene Jan. 2 despite active burning. Trial is now scheduled for June 2026.

Superman Flying Into Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and DC Studios are launching an interactive Superman attraction on the Burbank studio lot on April 18.

Superman Experience: Defenders Unite opens at Stage 5 on the Warner Bros. Studios lot, combining walkthrough sets, audio-animatronic characters, and 3D technology that lets guests simulate flying alongside Superman. The opening falls on “Superman Day,” the anniversary of the character’s 1938 debut in Action Comics.

The attraction features an original storyline tied to the 2025 Superman film. Guests receive Kryptonian abilities inside the Fortress of Solitude, train on the Kent Farm with Krypto the Superdog, and battle Darkseid to save Metropolis.

The experience includes a themed lounge, a Daily Planet retail store, and an exclusive comic book. Tickets are sold separately from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.

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➤ Sacramento: Gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell denied accusations of inappropriate behavior with female staffers at a town hall Tuesday, calling the claims “false” and saying no NDAs or settlements exist. The allegations reportedly originated on social media without supporting evidence. (See Details)

➤ Bay Area: A multi-day storm is expected to bring periods of rain today through Sunday, with thunderstorms possible Friday and Saturday. Snow is expected at lower elevations in the Sierra, where heavy accumulations are possible. (More)

➤ Dublin: Alameda County supervisors unanimously voted to oppose reopening the shuttered FCI Dublin prison for any correctional use, including immigrant detention. The women’s prison closed in 2024 amid widespread misconduct, abuse scandals, and oversight failures. (See Details)

➤ Madera County: Supervisors unanimously approved widening a congested stretch of Highway 41 from two lanes to four, including an overpass at Avenue 11. Construction begins next month on the county’s largest-ever public works project. (See Details)

➤ Santa Cruz: The Santa Cruz Wharf will reopen April 29 after $1.3 million in repairs following a 2024 storm that collapsed a 150-foot section that included a restaurant and restroom. (See Details)

➤ Mojave: Kern County deputies stopped two suspicious box trucks and found $1 million in stolen Lego products inside. Three men were arrested after investigators linked the haul to freight trailers stolen while en route from Texas to Southern California. (See Details)

➤ San Diego: The Artemis II crew is set to splash down off the Southern California coast just after 5 p.m. Friday, ending a 695,000-mile mission that sent astronauts farther from Earth than any humans before. Recovery teams aboard the USS John P. Murtha will meet the four astronauts. (See Details)

➤ Ontario: Investigators are reviewing video that appears to show someone setting toilet paper on fire inside the Kimberly-Clark warehouse that burned Tuesday. A 29-year-old contract employee was arrested on felony arson charges, though authorities have not confirmed he is the person in the video. The more than one-million-square-foot facility was destroyed. (See Video)

➤ Coachella Valley: Two Perris men were arrested in a diesel theft operation targeting multiple businesses. Investigators say the pair used modified vehicles to steal more than 9,000 gallons of fuel, including a $63,000 heist in Coachella. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles: The Getty Center in Brentwood will close for a year starting March 2027 for major renovations ahead of the 2028 Olympics. The hilltop museum, which opened in 1997 and draws more than 1 million visitors annually, is set to reopen in spring 2028. (More)

➤ The NBA is investigating a late-game sequence Tuesday between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors after a coach-ordered foul raised concerns about possible tanking. (More)

➤ California tribal nations are targeting a 2028 ballot initiative that would legalize sports betting in the state. (More)

➤ Angels slugger Jorge Soler received a seven-game suspension after brawling with Braves pitcher Reynaldo López Tuesday night in Anaheim. Soler is appealing. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: Masters | NBA | MLB | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson says the burger chain has no plans for mobile ordering or pickup, telling a Pepperdine University audience that in-person service and freshness are what make the experience special. (More)

➤ The Port of Los Angeles secured about $70 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for harbor maintenance, seismic upgrades, and navigation safety projects, reflecting a larger share of federal cargo tax funds after reforms aimed at helping long-shortchanged donor ports. (More)

➤ Six Flags cut Magic Mountain’s value by $533 million after weaker revenue and attendance. The $1.5 billion write-down is an accounting adjustment, not closures, reflecting lower future profit expectations. (See Details)

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➤ A 100-year-old World War II combat medic who fought at Iwo Jima and witnessed the flag raising on Mount Suribachi was honored during Disneyland’s daily Flag Retreat ceremony. Charles Cram Jr. earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. (Read Story)

➤ 2028 Los Angeles Olympics tickets went on sale this week in the first global purchase window, running through April 19. Fans report sold-out events, steep prices, and access issues, while officials warn that any resale tickets before 2027 are unverified. (More)

➤ Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey returns to Fresno for the first time in a decade with five shows July 2–5 at the Save Mart Center. Tickets go on sale April 14, with opening night tickets 50% off and kids tickets starting at $15. (See Details)

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If you could have one Kryptonian ability, which would you pick?

1. Flight
2. Super strength
3. X-ray vision
4. Invincibility
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your take on taxidermy? 

1. Interesting, but not for me: 28%
2. Absolutely not: 25%
3. Not really, a bit creepy: 24%
4. Love it, it’s fascinating: 23%

In what California city was the first In-N-Out Burger founded?

Show me the answer