Orange County Chemical Crisis Escalates

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County on Saturday as evacuations from the Garden Grove chemical tank emergency grew to roughly 50,000 residents.

The tank at GKN Aerospace has been unstable since Thursday and continues to heat up at about 1 degree per hour, reaching 90 degrees Friday night. Officials say the tank could either spill or explode.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer launched an investigation into the cause of the tank’s failure on Saturday and asked whistleblowers to come forward. Two evacuated residents have also filed a class-action lawsuit against GKN.

Several evacuation shelters reached capacity over the weekend, and multiple schools across Garden Grove and surrounding cities will remain closed until further notice.

Crews entered the danger zone Friday night to assess a second tank near the leaking vessel. No explosion has occurred and no injuries have been reported as of Sunday morning.

Fleet Week Caps 10th Year Today

LA Fleet Week wraps up its 10th anniversary run at the Port of Los Angeles today, closing a four-day Memorial Day celebration on the LA Waterfront.

The festival also served this year as Southern California’s official kickoff to America250, the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Programming highlighted themes of freedom, service, innovation, and resilience.

Visitors have toured USS Essex, USCGC Halibut, USCGC Terrell Horne, and the historic Battleship Iowa, alongside more than 90 military and first responder exhibits. Aircraft flyovers and the Festival of Sail filled out the lineup.

Annual highlights included Galley Wars, a culinary cook-off between Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Army teams aboard Battleship Iowa. Dodgeball, Military Has Talent, and military band performances rounded out the slate.

Marine Buried 81 Years After Saipan

A U.S. Marine killed at the Battle of Saipan in 1944 was buried with full military honors at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, 81 years after his death.

Pfc. Helmut Fred Behlert deployed with the Marines as a scout in 1942 and died on the first day of the Saipan invasion at age 27. His remains were identified through DNA analysis last December.

Behlert’s 94-year-old niece, Ruth Green, his closest surviving relative, greeted his remains at San Francisco International Airport on May 14 after growing up hearing her favorite uncle was lost at sea. The identification came through DNA Green’s brother submitted in 2001.

The procession from Duggan’s Serra Mortuary in Daly City was escorted by police motorcycles and the Patriot Guard Riders, briefly closing sections of Interstate 280. Behlert was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon.

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The $10 Billion Tungsten Boom

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➤ San Francisco: The 159th annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony takes place today at the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio. The free event begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes speakers, musical performances, and a 24-gun salute honoring U.S. service members who died in combat. Organizers say it is the Bay Area’s largest Memorial Day observance and draws thousands of attendees. (See Details)

➤ Davis: A UC Davis study published this month in Science found that every $1 spent on forest fuel treatments such as prescribed burns and thinning saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages. Researchers analyzed nearly 300 wildfires in the western U.S. between 2017 and 2023 and estimated the treatments prevented $2.8 billion in losses. (See Report)

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➤ Numbness and tingling may not be caused by circulation problems at all. Researchers say a commonly overlooked vitamin deficiency could be the hidden reason many adults experience these symptoms every day. The good news? Once identified, it may be one of the simplest health issues to address. Thousands are already discovering the difference.

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➤ Bakersfield: The Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club will host its annual Thousand Flags ceremony today at the Park at River Walk, featuring a half-staff flag raising at 9 a.m. and a noon program with parachute drops by the Comrades and Canopies team and a check presentation to local veterans groups. (See Details)

➤ Yosemite National Park has reopened popular trails, climbing areas, and campground spaces ahead of the busy summer season. Tioga Road opened to vehicles earlier this month, and the Half Dome daily permit lottery is now open as park officials urge visitors to buy digital site passes in advance and expect weekend traffic. (More)

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➤ Riverside National Cemetery is observing Memorial Day today with ceremonies and volunteer events honoring veterans and service members. The cemetery opened for burials on Nov. 11, 1978, on land transferred from the former March Air Force Base. (More)

➤ Palm Springs: The city unveiled XOXO Palm Springs, a new 12-day arts and culture festival running June 11-22 featuring live music, performances, screenings, and culinary experiences at theaters, galleries, hotels, and outdoor venues. A free preview event is set for 6 p.m. May 28 at the Plaza Theatre. (More)

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This Metal Jumped 557% and Is Still Climbing

From semiconductors to EVs, aerospace, and more, tungsten is used across $12.33 trillion in markets. And one company is unlocking this critical resource on U.S. soil for the first time in years.

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What’s your preferred way to camp?

1. Tent camping
2. An RV
3. A cabin
4. My idea of camping is a hotel
5. My own bed at home

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you hitting the road for Memorial Day weekend?

1. Staying close to home: 52%
2. Yes, road trip: 17%
3. Yes, flying somewhere: 16%
4. Still figuring it out: 15%

The oldest national cemetery managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is in California. Where is it located?

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