Sunday, June 14, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1959, the Disneyland-ALWEG Monorail System opened in Anaheim, becoming the first daily-operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere. Vice President Richard Nixon attended the ceremony, and his daughters, Julie and Tricia, helped cut the ribbon.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown broke down the clearest guidance yet on alcohol consumption and health. Scientists have debated for years whether a daily drink helps or harms you, and a major new study offered fresh answers. Ayla explained what the latest research found and what it could mean for your long-term health. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor is Insurify, a simple tool that helps drivers compare auto insurance quotes from multiple companies in minutes. With insurance costs continuing to rise across the country, more people are looking for ways to lower monthly expenses without sacrificing coverage. That’s why we’re highlighting Insurify today.

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.

NorCal Faces Dangerous Fire Season

California fire officials warned yesterday that Northern California faces a dangerous wildfire season, driven by record heat pushing temperatures past triple digits and vegetation far drier than normal.

CAL FIRE is already responding. Starting Monday, the agency will suspend burn permits across eight Northstate counties, including Shasta, Butte, and Humboldt, citing hot, dry conditions and critically low humidity.

Southern California should see a more typical season. A wet winter grew out vegetation that has not yet fully dried, and SoCal officials say while the risk is lower, wildfires are inevitable.

Across the state, fire agencies are urging residents to clear defensible space, know their evacuation routes, and check air quality alerts as the season picks up.

Schools Fight for $3.9B

California’s public school districts are heading into a high-stakes showdown with Gov. Newsom as the state’s June 15 budget deadline arrives, demanding the release of $3.9 billion they say is legally required under Proposition 98.

Newsom’s office says holding the money back is a prudent precaution in case projected federal revenue falls short. School districts and unions say the law is clear and the money is owed now.

Teachers rallied from Monterey to Gilroy this week, with Monterey County educators joining the call alongside colleagues statewide.

The outcome will directly shape staffing levels and classroom programs across every California school district heading into the new school year.

California Was Its Own Country Today

Today marks the 180th anniversary of the morning a group of American settlers stormed into Sonoma at dawn, took Gen. Mariano Vallejo prisoner at his own breakfast table, and declared California an independent republic.

The Bear Flag Republic lasted exactly 25 days. U.S. forces arrived in July 1846, hauled down the handmade bear flag in Sonoma, and raised the Stars and Stripes in its place.

June 14 is also Flag Day nationally, making today a doubly fitting date that most Californians walk right past without knowing their state once spent almost a month as its own country.

That grizzly bear still flies on the California state flag today, one of the few state flags in America that doubles as a memorial to a government that no longer exists.

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➤ Sacramento: An extreme heat warning runs Sunday through Tuesday across NorCal, with triple-digit temps expected and elevated fire weather conditions. (More)

➤ Shasta County: California’s Attorney General sued Shasta County on Friday over Measure B, a voter ID initiative requiring in-person voting and hand-counted ballots that state officials say violates election law. (More)

➤ Mendocino County: A driver escaped with minor injuries Friday when Covelo’s century-old Green Bridge collapsed under their car, dropping the vehicle into Mill Creek. The aging truss had been slated for replacement since 2012, and the cause of the failure is under investigation. (More)

➤ San Joaquin Valley: State funds for contaminated drinking water fixes in rural farmworker communities are shrinking under budget pressure, slowing relief for California’s most vulnerable residents. (More)

➤ And again in San Joaquin Valley: California’s table grape season is launching two weeks ahead of schedule with a strong outlook, as Valley growers step in to fill the summer market. (More)

➤ Santa Barbara: The NLRB ordered former News-Press publisher Wendy McCaw to pay $3.6 million personally to ex-employees, piercing the corporate veil to reach past the paper’s bankruptcy. (More)

➤ Garden Grove: The FBI served a search warrant at GKN Aerospace after a 7,000-gallon chemical tank overheated and forced 50,000 residents to evacuate. More than 30 lawsuits have been filed. (More)

➤ San Bernardino County: County supervisors approved a $10.9 billion budget for 2026-27, a slight decrease from last year, as the Inland Empire region wrestles with inflation running at 3.4%. (More)

➤ Southern California: New simulations show tectonic stress on the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems has hit its highest level in 1,000 years, raising the odds of a multi-fault rupture. (More)

➤ Folarin Balogun scored twice during a first-half American barrage of three goals, powering the U.S. to a 4-1 victory Friday over Paraguay in its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium. (Highlights)

➤ Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup Saturday after exiting Thursday’s game with inflammation in his left knee, and he launched a leadoff home run on the second pitch he saw. (Watch Video)

➤ San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp explained why he wrote a Bible verse—Genesis 9:12-16—on his cap during the team’s LGBTQ Pride Night on Friday, telling reporters that for Christians the rainbow signifies God’s covenant. “It’s just what I stand for and what I stand in,” Roupp said. (More)

➤ Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi equalized in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. The Swiss had led for most of the match after Breel Embolo converted a penalty kick in the 17th minute. (Watch Video)

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➤ Deep-fried mac-and-cheese bites competed against birria hot dogs and 16 other wild creations at the San Diego County Fair’s food contest this week in Del Mar. (See the Food)

➤ A Galt pig farmer shared his secret weapon at the Solano County Fair in Vallejo: eight ounces of vanilla soft serve mixed with Oreos, fed to the show pig. (More)

➤ David Hockney, the British artist whose shimmering Los Angeles swimming pool paintings made California iconic worldwide, died Thursday at 88. (More)

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➤ Hearing persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears? While many people blame hearing damage, experts say hidden factors may be making tinnitus worse. By identifying these underlying triggers, some people are finding ways to reduce the noise and enjoy greater peace and quiet. Learn more about what may be causing your tinnitus.

Bay Area swimmer Catherine Breed aims to become the first person to swim California’s entire 900-mile coastline, tackling sharks, cold water and rough seas on a months-long ocean expedition.