Lawmakers Race toward the Session’s End

With the Legislature adjourning Aug. 31, lawmakers are rejecting key parts of a wildfire plan from Gov. Gavin Newsom that would limit what utilities owe when their equipment sparks a fire.

Newsom says the changes would speed payments to victims and help stabilize some of the nation’s highest power bills. Survivors, insurers, and local governments argue the plan would shield utilities from accountability.

Lawmakers are also racing to broker a deal on child sexual abuse lawsuits against schools and counties before the session ends. Counties and school districts want caps on damages to protect strained budgets, while survivor advocates say no dollar limit belongs on abuse.

Both fights are part of a crowded final week, which also includes negotiations over how to spend the state’s main climate fund before Monday’s deadline.

Two Fires Burn Near Big Sur

A new wildfire erupted Wednesday near the coastal community of Plaskett, forcing evacuations in southern Monterey County as crews already fought a much larger blaze nearby.

The Plaskett Fire had burned about 100 acres with no containment, moving through terrain Cal Fire called very difficult to reach. Elite Hotshot crews were working to reach the fire’s edge while eight air tankers were requested to assist with retardant drops.

Officials ordered residents out near Willow Creek Beach and warned the area around Plaskett Creek, affecting about 30 people. The cause has not been determined.

That larger fire, the Timber Fire, had grown to 19,296 acres by Thursday morning after burning since Aug. 8 and was 21% contained. It has forced its own evacuations and threatened hundreds of structures in the Los Padres backcountry.

Crescent City Earns Off-the-Grid Praise

Crescent City has landed on World Atlas‘ new list of the Pacific Coast’s best off-the-grid towns, a collection of remote coastal communities far removed from the nearest cities.

The remote seat of Del Norte County sits on California’s far northern coast. Battery Point Light has guarded the harbor since 1856, reachable on foot only when the tide drops low.

Crescent City is the main gateway to Redwood National and State Parks, home to the tallest trees on Earth. Nearby Trinidad also made the list, one more North Coast hideaway where the crowds thin fast.

Beyond the big trees, the area’s wild coastline offers beaches and opportunities to spot wildlife, the kind of slow days a remote coastal town still makes room for.

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➤ San Francisco: Federal prosecutors charged Daejon Love, 35, and an 18-year-old alleged accomplice in a $1.3 million investment scam in which Love allegedly posed as a 49ers player or wealthy investor to lure women he met on dating apps. Authorities have identified 26 victims. Both were arrested in Idaho. (More)

➤ Also San Francisco: Former Navy contractor Tetra Tech will pay $97 million to settle federal claims it faked soil samples during the radioactive cleanup of the Hunters Point shipyard. Nearly all the money will go toward federal claims and cleanup costs rather than directly to residents. (More)

➤ Calaveras County: A parent was arrested for vandalism Monday after concerns over student behavior on a school bus escalated and required police involvement. Authorities say the parent smashed the bus door glass, while some students exited through open windows during the incident. (More)

➤ Bay Area: A woman’s car began losing power and “hopping” on Interstate 580 days after she filled up at a local gas station. A dealership found water and sediment in her fuel, though state inspectors later tested the station’s gas and found no contamination. BP is investigating. (More)

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➤ Tracy: A safety inspection of the Medline warehouse that burned in June found several violations just 16 days before the fire, including problems with high-piled storage and missing exit signs. Fire officials later said the facility’s fire suppression system did not work during the blaze. (More)

➤ Orcutt: Santa Barbara County sheriff’s investigators thwarted a school threat and recovered two explosive devices from an Orcutt boy’s home. The probe began after the juvenile made concerning statements. A bomb squad removed the devices, and a crisis team helped connect him with intervention services. (More)

➤ Merced County: A fire at American Tire Recycling near Ballico has burned since Monday, sending smoke over nearby farms and raising health and air quality concerns. Officials urged residents to stay indoors or wear an N95 mask outside and said the fire could continue burning for days. (More)

➤ Fresno County: Residents of the Shaver Springs community packed a town hall in Auberry on Wednesday over murky tap water and soaring bills. County officials blamed the discoloration on naturally occurring iron and manganese. Some homeowners say they won’t drink the water and are struggling with bills nearing $500. (More)

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➤ Los Angeles: A DHL cargo plane caught fire while landing at LAX after arriving from Phoenix. The FAA said the brakes locked after landing, blowing four tires and sparking the fire. No injuries were reported, and the runway remained closed Thursday as crews worked to remove the plane. (More)

➤ Rancho Palos Verdes: A judge suspended charges against Marine veteran Jeanine John Taele, 38, arrested at Trump National Golf Club with a loaded gun in his truck. Investigators found writings with schedules for Melania Trump and Secret Service members. Deemed unfit for trial, he was sent to mental health court. (More)

➤ San Diego: Three police officers faced law-enforcement action within three weeks. Two were detained at a Snapdragon Stadium concert for appearing intoxicated, while Lt. Ruben Gutierrez was arrested on a domestic battery charge. A department spokesman said three cases were too many. (More)

➤ Northridge: A driver said an Arco gas pump kept adding to the bill after it stopped dispensing fuel. An attendant offered a refund, and Los Angeles County inspected the station afterward. Officials said the pump is now working properly. (More)

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➤ Cal football’s Sept. 5 opener against UCLA is nearing a sellout, prompting the school to remove the tarps that have covered empty sections of Memorial Stadium for years. (More)

➤ Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to block her five siblings from selling the family’s remaining stake in the franchise and to remove two of them as co-trustees. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Metta Sandiford-Artest, the former NBA forward once known as Ron Artest, said he tried to buy a 1% stake in the Lakers for $100 million after Mark Walter took control of the franchise last year, but his bid was rejected. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Sparks held a topping-out ceremony Wednesday for their new $150 million training facility, marking installation of the final beam. The facility is expected to open before the 2027 season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | U.S. Open | Soccer | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ Apple is laying off 147 employees, most of them software engineers, from its offices in Cupertino and Sunnyvale. The South Bay cuts come as the company prepares to unveil new products at its Cupertino headquarters Sept. 9. (More)

➤ Southern California Edison customers are getting $72 in automatic summer bill credits, split into two $36 payments in August and September. The relief comes as the utility says average rates are down 4.3% from December 2025, with more cuts expected later this year. (More)

➤ Bay Area drivers are facing higher Labor Day travel costs, with California gas averaging $5.63 a gallon, up from $4.57 a year ago. AAA says the Bay Area’s cheapest gas is in Solano County at $5.52, while San Mateo and Sonoma counties average $5.77. (More)

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➤ Disneyland unveiled its 2026 holiday lineup, running Nov. 13 through Jan. 6, 2027. Returning favorites include the Believe… In Holiday Magic fireworks and festive ride overlays, joined by new alpine-inspired outfits for Mickey and Minnie and, for the first time, Santa appearances in Toontown. (See Details)

➤ Thirteen Northern California towns made a World Atlas list of favorite U.S. destinations for 2026, with Dunsmuir highlighted for its railroad history, mountain scenery and nearby waterfalls. (More)

➤ Tee It Up for the Troops returned to Huntington Beach this week, bringing veterans together for a golf tournament that raises money for veterans and their families. For more than 14 years, the nonprofit has partnered with groups like Warrior Canine Connection. (More)

➤ A rattlesnake was spotted slithering across Crystal Cove State Beach in Newport Beach, prompting a reminder for beachgoers to stay alert. California wildlife officials note that rattlesnakes can swim. (See Video)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ A military judge has finally set a trial date for the accused leader of the Sept. 11 attacks after decades of delays and setbacks. (Full Story)

➤ The Army will build nuclear reactors at five major bases to protect its power supply from vulnerable outside grids. (Hear Details)

➤ A Virginia doctor woke up to a bat trying to crawl into her mouth, and now she has an urgent warning. (Hear Warning)

With power bills climbing for many Californians, how are electricity costs affecting your household?

1. Cutting back where we can
2. Exploring alternatives
3. Paying the higher bills
4. It hasn’t affected us much
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Should social media apps be required to set daily time limits for teenage users?

1. Yes: 39%
2. No, that’s up to parents: 28%
3. Not sure: 18%
4. No, teens should manage it: 15%

Memorial Stadium at the University of California, Berkeley, home of the Cal Bears, was built directly astride which active earthquake fault?

Show me the answer