FBI Raids Lancaster City Hall

FBI agents served search warrants Wednesday at Lancaster City Hall and the homes reportedly tied to former Vice Mayor Marvin Crist and Council Member Raj Malhi, according to the mayor and reports, as part of a sealed federal investigation.

The warrants also reportedly targeted a property in Bel Air. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the searches but declined to comment on the nature of the probe, saying the affidavits remain sealed by the court.

Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris told NBC4 the investigation has been active for three years. “The city-hired lawyers are going through everything and got a clean bill of health,” he said.

Parris said he has served with both officials for more than 18 years and called them “honorable.” A U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson confirmed the operation was conducted under a judicially approved warrant.

Eastman Disbarred in California

The California Supreme Court formally disbarred John Eastman on Wednesday, concluding a disciplinary case against the former Chapman University law school dean.

Eastman advised then-Vice President Mike Pence that he had the authority to block certification of the 2020 election results and spoke at the White House rally on Jan. 6. A state bar court judge recommended disbarment in March 2024 after finding that Eastman’s conduct violated professional ethics rules.

His attorney told NBC News that Eastman plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Eastman has maintained his legal advice was constitutionally sound.

Eastman was also indicted in Fulton County, Georgia, alongside President Trump and others over efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, though those charges were later dropped.

SoFi Gets World Cup Ready

Crews at SoFi Stadium removed the final section of demountable seating Wednesday, clearing the way for construction of a natural grass soccer pitch ahead of eight FIFA World Cup matches in June and July.

The Inglewood venue, home to the Rams and Chargers, will be rebranded “Los Angeles Stadium” for the tournament. The field must expand from the NFL’s standard 54-yard width to FIFA’s roughly 74-yard requirement, with hundreds of lower-bowl seats removed to make room.

Because SoFi’s canopy blocks direct sunlight, grow lights will be used to keep the grass healthy. A specialized system for drainage and ventilation will support the natural grass surface.

The venue’s first U.S. men’s national team match is scheduled for June 12 against Paraguay.

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➤ San Francisco: Caltrans will shut down eastbound I-80 on the Bayshore Freeway along a 1.6-mile stretch between 17th and 4th streets from Friday at 11 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m., including key U.S. 101 connector ramps, as part of a two-year rehabilitation project. (See Details)

➤ El Dorado County: A former Cal Fire captain was sentenced to multiple life terms for the August 2025 murders of his fiancée, Marissa Divodi-Lessa Herzog, and her 7-year-old son. Darin McFarlin, 47, received two consecutive life sentences without parole, plus additional life terms and decades in prison. (More)

➤ Knights Ferry: A 35-year-old Coulterville woman, Twyla Capurro, was killed and another worker injured Tuesday after a tunnel collapse near Knights Ferry. Capurro worked for an engineering firm on the project. Work has been suspended. (More)

➤ Soledad: Three inmates were stabbed Tuesday in two separate incidents at Salinas Valley State Prison. All were taken to hospitals, and suspects were placed in restricted housing. (More)

➤ Stockton: Indian criminal gangs tied to the Bishnoi network are extorting Central Valley Sikh community members with threats and large cash demands, according to a CalMatters investigation. The FBI is investigating, and at least two related homicides have occurred in California. (Read Story)

➤ San Diego: Mayor Todd Gloria released a $6.4 billion draft budget that cuts library and recreation center hours, pauses arts funding, and reduces the city workforce to close a $118 million deficit. Police and fire spending were largely spared. (See Details)

➤ Jurupa Valley: A 34-acre Jurupa Valley brush fire Wednesday forced evacuations, injured three, and was 70% contained by late night. Evacuation orders were lifted as crews remained on scene. (More)

➤ Los Angeles County: A UCLA survey found residents’ quality of life hit a record low in 2026, with several key areas—including education, transportation, and cost of living—posting their worst marks in over a decade amid rising costs, wildfire impacts, and immigration fears. (See Report)

➤ The Golden State Warriors rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in a play-in game. The loss ends the Clippers’ season, while the Warriors face the Phoenix Suns tonight for the No. 8 seed. (More)

➤ The 2026 Grand Prix of Long Beach runs today through Sunday, featuring six racing series, including IndyCar and IMSA, with main events scheduled Saturday and Sunday on the city’s street course. (See Details)

➤ Unranked UC Santa Barbara baseball shut out No. 1 UCLA 4-0 earlier this week, ending the Bruins’ 27-game win streak. (More)

➤ The Anaheim Ducks gave San Diego Gulls head coach Matt McIlvane a multi-year contract extension after he led the AHL club to its first playoff berth since 2022. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Rams unveiled a refreshed uniform design with a simplified LA logo and bolder Ram head. The team called it a modern update shaped by fan feedback, with more alternates coming. (See Uniforms)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf

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➤ Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as an illegal monopoly that overcharged concertgoers $1.72 per ticket at major venues, a federal jury in New York found Wednesday after a weeks-long trial brought by dozens of states. Live Nation, headquartered in Beverly Hills, says it will challenge the ruling. (See Details)

➤ Santa Monica-based Snap, parent of Snapchat, is cutting about 1,000 jobs, or 16% of its workforce, and will leave roughly 300 open roles unfilled as it restructures to streamline operations. (More)

➤ Allbirds, the once-trendy Silicon Valley shoe brand, is pivoting to AI infrastructure and rebranding as “NewBird AI” as it shifts its business focus after recent struggles. (More)

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Is Houston the New Silicon Valley?

Big Tech was once fueled by Silicon Valley’s innovation. The next phase? It’ll run on infrastructure, with Houston as its new capital.
Apple. Google. OpenAI. Amazon. Meta. They’re all building massive AI operations in Texas, part of 440+ new data centers planned for the state.

But getting new electricity online to power them takes years. Enter American PowerGen. Led by experienced energy developers with $5 billion worth of project acquisitions to buyers like Blackstone, they’re experts.

In fact, they’ve already received multiple acquisition offers from institutional buyers for their current project, which will supply enough energy to power 3 million homes. 

But American PowerGen isn’t interested in making institutional investors richer. They’re inviting you to become a shareholder and own a piece of this infrastructure boom today.

➤ An Orange County mom and her newborn son reunited with the paramedic who delivered him in the back of a moving ambulance on the 22 Freeway after her labor suddenly accelerated. (Read Story)

➤ Friends of Big Bear Valley launched a naming contest for Jackie and Shadow’s two new bald eaglets, with fans submitting ideas through the nonprofit’s website in exchange for donations. Finalists will be randomly selected, with winning names chosen by local third graders. (More)

➤ Retopia Salon, a venture tied to former BTS-linked executives, is holding auditions in Orange County and Los Angeles to recruit members for a new K-pop group. (More)

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What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a concert or event ticket?

1. Under $50
2. $50–$150
3. $150–$500
4. I don’t want to talk about it
5. Not my thing

Previous Day’s Results:

Could you be talked into adopting a duck? 

1. Prefer cats and dogs: 26%
2. No animals for me: 21%
3. Maybe just one: 18%
4. My HOA would lose it: 18%
5. Already on my way: 17%

What is the oldest continuously operating courthouse in California, built in 1854 and still standing in a Gold Country town within a county that once covered nearly one-fifth of the state?

Show me the answer