CalFresh Work Rules Expand June 1

Roughly 1 million Californians on CalFresh face expanded federal work requirements beginning June 1.

Under H.R. 1, the federal budget bill signed by President Trump, many able-bodied adults ages 18 to 64 without dependents must log 20 hours a week of work, volunteering, or job training to keep food benefits beyond a three-month limit over three years.

State officials estimate about 665,000 recipients won’t meet the requirement or qualify for an exemption. In Los Angeles County alone, roughly 260,000 are at risk of losing benefits, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said.

Supporters say the rules are intended to encourage work and self-sufficiency. Opponents argue the changes will overwhelm county caseworkers and push struggling families to food banks.

Seven counties received waivers: Alpine, Colusa, Imperial, Merced, Monterey, Plumas, and Tulare.

Capitol Annex Costs Up Another $98M

California lawmakers said this month that the State Capitol Annex construction project faces a projected $98 million cost overrun and is expected to open in October 2027, nearly a decade after lawmakers approved it.

The project, approved in 2017, has cost $632 million so far against a total expected price tag of more than $1 billion. Lawmakers do not plan to provide more funding, saying they’ll cut costs by canceling a proposed visitor center and reducing landscaping.

Construction was 55% complete as of April, with the building fully enclosed and roughly 95% of the exterior finished, including the plaza skylight. Interior framing is underway and the transition from temporary power begins July 2026.

The project has faced lawsuits over environmental and cost concerns and criticism over non-disclosure agreements signed by project leaders. Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey, defended the NDAs as “a norm” while pledging continued updates.

Explosion Threat Eliminated in OC

Officials announced Monday morning that the threat of a catastrophic explosion at the compromised GKN Aerospace chemical tank in Garden Grove had been eliminated.

The announcement caps four days of fears that the tank could trigger a catastrophic blast in parts of Orange County. After crews discovered cracks in the tank Saturday night, an all-night mission confirmed the fractures were venting enough pressure to eliminate the worst-case explosion threat.

The tank’s temperature had stabilized at 93 degrees and was continuing to fall, the Orange County Fire Authority said Monday. Evacuation orders remain in place for roughly 50,000 residents across Garden Grove, West Anaheim, Cypress, Buena Park, and Stanton, with no return date announced. Several Red Cross shelters were reported to be at or near capacity.

With California’s primary a little more than a week away, the OC Registrar of Voters will deploy staff to emergency shelters within a day or two to help evacuees who left ballots at home cast their votes.

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Buffett’s ‘Phone’ Rule Could Make This Company Soar

Warren Buffett famously said that “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”

But what if your phone could do it for you? 📲

That’s exactly what Mode Mobile has created: technology that turns idle phone time into passive income. With 490 million+ users in their ecosystem and $1 billion+ in earnings and savings, their EarnPhone is being called the Uber of smartphones.

With 32,481% revenue growth, they were named the fastest-growing software company in 2023 by Deloitte, and with 7 billion smartphones worldwide their market could be significantly larger than Uber’s.

They’ve just secured their Nasdaq stock ticker $MODE, and you have until Friday to invest in their pre-IPO offering at $0.50/share.

🚨 Last chance to invest. Price changes on 5/29.

➤ Sacramento: The Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships return to the West Coast Friday through Sunday at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma. After six years on the East Coast, the regatta brings Division I men’s heavyweight, men’s lightweight, women’s lightweight, and Division III men’s heavyweight crews back to California. (See Details)

➤ San Francisco: California’s tourism economy reached a record $158.9 billion in visitor spending in 2025 and supported about 1.2 million jobs statewide, according to Visit California’s annual Economic Impact of Travel report. The industry generated $13.6 billion in state and local tax revenue last year. (More)

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➤ Paicines: Pinnacles National Park is one of the country’s best places to spot the endangered California condor this spring. The park is the only National Park Service site that runs a captive-bred condor release program for the nine-foot-wingspan birds. (See Details)

➤ Three Rivers: Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park reopened to guided tours May 22 for its 2026 season. Sequoia Parks Conservancy operates the 50-minute tours through Nov. 1 as visitors return to the marble cavern following wildfire and storm recovery work in the area. (More)

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➤ Hollywood: The Hollywood Bowl opens its 2026 summer season this weekend, kicking off the 17,500-seat amphitheater’s 104th year of programming. The LA Phil’s annual Opening Night gala launches another season at the open-air Hollywood Hills venue. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles: Michelin added 11 Southern California restaurants to its California Guide ahead of the organization’s June 24 awards ceremony in San Diego. The new additions span Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Studio City, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara. (See Restaurants)

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The next Uber? One Shark Tank Investor thinks so

Imagine turning down Uber at a valuation of $10 million, only to watch it go public at over $80 billion. That’s exactly what happened to Mark Cuban. 

But fellow Shark Tank investor Kevin Harrington may have learned from Cuban’s mistake, investing early in what investors are calling the Uber of Smartphones.

That company is Mode Mobile, and like Uber did with cars, they’re turning smartphones into income-generating assets. They’ve generated $115 million in revenue and helped users earn and save +$1 billion. And investors have one final opportunity to invest in their pre-IPO offering before their share price changes on Friday.

⚠️ Last chance to invest alongside Kevin Harrington at $0.50/share.

Are you a birdwatcher?

1. Yes, binoculars and a list
2. Casually, I notice and enjoy them
3. I’d like to try it
4. It’s not really my thing

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your preferred way to camp?

1. An RV: 22%
2. My idea of camping is a hotel: 22%
3. A cabin: 20%
4. Tent camping: 18%
5. My own bed at home: 18%

California has more national parks than any other state. How many does it have?

Show me the answer