Covered California Rates Expected to Rise

Covered California premiums will rise an average of 9.9% in 2027, following a 10.3% increase this year, the steepest two-year climb in nearly a decade.

Officials attributed most of the increase to higher medical and prescription costs, while expired federal subsidies have pushed healthier customers out of the insurance pool.

Covered California will notify customers of their rates in October. Officials said many subsidized enrollees can limit increases by comparing plans during open enrollment.

Sacramento Rises Again

LinkedIn ranked Sacramento No. 19 on its 2026 Cities on the Rise list, which tracks hiring, job creation, and worker migration.

Healthcare, higher education, and technology drove the ranking, with UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Sutter Health named among the region’s leading employers.

Sacramento, which ranked No. 16 last year, was also recognized for agriculture and Aggie Square’s growing biotechnology and agri-food industries.

West Hollywood Water Main Breaks Again

A 105-year-old water main broke Thursday near Santa Monica Boulevard and Laurel Avenue, flooding streets and forcing four businesses to close temporarily.

The rupture disrupted water service for 10 customers and prompted street closures while crews repaired the 6-inch cast-iron pipe, installed in 1921.

The break occurred about two miles from last week’s rupture, which released 17 million gallons and opened a massive sinkhole. Officials said the incidents were unrelated.

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➤ Mendocino County: A magnitude 5.6 earthquake caused several injuries but no deaths, knocked items from shelves, and cut power to 10,000 customers. (More)

➤ Santa Rosa: A movie scene featuring actors portraying immigration agents was filmed downtown Thursday evening, prompting advance public notice and temporary road closures. (More)

➤ Fort Bragg: Endurance swimmer Catherine Breed will discuss Northern California’s declining kelp forests and restoration efforts Sunday during her journey along the California coast. (More)

➤ San Luis Obispo: Police seized 85 pairs of python-skin boots from a downtown western wear store, where selling the material is illegal under California law. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: Caltrans will begin the Taft Highway Pumpkin Center Rehab project Aug. 3, bringing one-way traffic and nightly Highway 99 ramp closures for about two months. (More)

➤ Santa Barbara: City wastewater crews are cleaning sewer lines and preparing emergency access plans ahead of Fiesta, when problems could prompt temporary traffic controls. (More)

➤ Buttonwillow: A brush fire burned 90.8 acres near the California Aqueduct and closed part of Elk Hills Road for several hours Wednesday. (More)

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➤ Rialto: Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 63-year-old father found unclothed in a park with facial injuries and belongings discarded nearby. (More)

➤ Newport Beach: Southern California’s first wine and pickleball charity tournament will pair 80 players with winery teams Aug. 1, followed by a grand tasting. (More)

➤ Malibu: A volunteer fire brigade brought in goats to clear 14 acres of flammable brush ahead of a hotter, drier fire season. (More)

➤ The LA Angels fired scout Justin Prinstein, who called himself “The Baseball Spy,” after he was caught filming Rockies coaches with his phone at Coors Field. MLB prohibits using personal technology to steal or decode signs. (More)

➤ Athletics rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer underwent emergency surgery this week after fouling a ball into his groin during the team’s game in Arizona. He finished his at-bat with a single and played another half-inning of defense before leaving the game. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Dodgers visited the White House Thursday to celebrate their second straight World Series title. Shohei Ohtani attended, while Mookie Betts skipped the trip to spend the team’s day off with family. (More) 

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Golf

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➤ Sacramento’s Railyards redevelopment is taking shape with a Kaiser Permanente hospital, a Sacramento Republic FC stadium, housing, retail, and entertainment projects underway. (More)

➤ Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and his wife donated $75 million to help launch Vanderbilt University’s new San Francisco arts college, opening in 2027. (More)

➤ Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital was named one of California’s seven high-cost hospitals based on pricing and spending patterns, not quality of care. (More)

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➤ A black bear pushed open a water district office door in Crestline, wandered inside, sniffed around, and let itself back out. (See Video)

➤ Leslie Rodriguez became the first woman chosen to lead a College of the Desert Fire Academy class and now serves as a Riverside County reserve firefighter. (More)

➤ California unveiled 13-foot welcome monuments featuring bears, elk, salmon, and poppies along Highways 101 and 199 near the Oregon border. (See Photos)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Medicare covers a lot, but a new estimate shows retirees still face a soaring healthcare bill that keeps climbing every year. (Hear Details)

➤ Homicide numbers in major American cities are approaching territory the nation has not seen in more than a century. (Hear Episode)

➤ Ford reportedly fired a nine-year assembly worker accused of stealing snacks he insists he paid for. (Listen Now)

Have you toured the USS Hornet at the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

West Park Elementary students in Fresno County started class this week, an unusually early July return. Is late July too early to go back to school?

1. Way too early: 44%
2. A little early, but fine: 29%
3. No, perfect timing: 27%

On a freezing night in 1905, an 11-year-old in the San Francisco Bay Area left a cup of soda with a stir stick outside, and by morning it had frozen solid. What summertime treat did he accidentally invent?

Show me the answer