Newsom’s RTO Order Faces Growing Resistance

More than 100,000 California state workers are pushing back against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate requiring them to return to the office four days a week, with a deadline of July 1 rapidly approaching.

Dozens of state employees packed a Senate hearing Wednesday to support a bill that would give agencies more flexibility to set their own telework policies, arguing that remote work saves money, reduces pollution and improves productivity. The Senate labor committee advanced the measure 4-1, though it would not block the governor’s mandate outright.

Newsom has argued the policy will increase government accountability, improve services and help revitalize downtown Sacramento.

SF Arts Patrons Found Dead in Car on I-5

3 California Universities Make Global Rankings

Three California universities have landed near the top of U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Global Universities rankings, which evaluates more than 2,250 schools across more than 100 countries.

Stanford University came in at No. 3 globally, behind only Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while the University of California, Berkeley placed at No. 7. The University of California, Los Angeles followed close behind at No. 11.

The rankings are based on academic research performance and global reputation, factoring in publications, citations and international collaboration.

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➤ Santa Cruz County: Two Bay Area college students, a UC Berkeley student and a San Jose State student, both swept into the ocean near Panther Beach on June 10, have died, authorities confirmed, amid a stretch of hazardous coastal conditions that has prompted warnings of dangerous rip currents and sneaker waves across California. (More)

➤ Sacramento: A California lawmaker is pushing legislation that transparency advocates warn would make public records harder and costlier to obtain, potentially making California the most secretive state in the country. (More)

➤ Stockton: Two stores were burglarized within hours of each other early Wednesday, with thieves smashing display cases and making off with thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon trading cards, part of a growing wave of similar thefts across the country. (More)

➤ Lost Hills: A fast-moving wildfire southwest of Lost Hills has exploded to 7,800 acres with only 5% containment, prompting evacuation orders and warnings across several zones in Kern County.(More)

➤ Bakersfield: A judge has denied a mental health diversion request for caregiver Julie Rothgeb, whose elder abuse case drew more than 43 million TikTok views, keeping the case on track for a jury trial scheduled for June 29. (More)

➤ Pacific Grove: An unplanned PG&E outage knocked out power to nearly 4,000 customers on the Monterey Peninsula Wednesday afternoon, with crews working to identify and repair the cause. (More)

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➤ Pomona: A man suspected of being armed and dangerous was taken into custody Thursday night after an hours-long CHP pursuit through Southern California that ended when officers used spike strips and a PIT maneuver to disable his vehicle. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: A shooting and street takeovers marred World Cup celebrations in Koreatown on Thursday night after Mexico’s 1-0 victory over South Korea drew hundreds of fans to the streets near Seoul International Park. (More)

➤ Cathedral City: A fire caused moderate damage to Hamachi Sushi restaurant near Ramon Road and Date Palm Drive late Thursday night, though no injuries were reported and neighboring businesses were spared. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Angels placed center fielder Mike Trout on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain he suffered while running to first base during Wednesday’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. (More)

➤ The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Major League Baseball over alleged violations of players’ religious rights after the league warned San Francisco Giants pitchers Landon Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker for writing Bible verses on their LGBTQ Pride Night caps. (More)

➤ Heavy traffic is expected around San Diego this weekend as NASCAR holds race events at Naval Base Coronado, where guests must show a valid government ID upon entry. (Details)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA | Golf

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Exxon Has an Unlikely New Competitor

Energy giants like Exxon have been buying up land in America’s lithium hotspot. Now they’ve got a new neighbor. 

EnergyX has acquired the rights to nearly 50K lithium-rich acres right next door. It’s not just the acres turning heads, either. 

Their tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. They just brought America’s largest lithium facility of its kind online. Now, with backing from the DoE, General Motors, and POSCO, they’re advancing America’s next major lithium supply. 

50K people have already invested. Join them as an EnergyX shareholder by the July 16 investment deadline.

➤ A Bakersfield filmmaker is documenting the people, businesses, and places of Kern County through a self-funded cinematic series he calls a “living archive” of life in the 661. (More)

➤ A new outdoor event venue in Redding called The Peak has opened, offering space for up to 100 guests for birthday parties, baby showers, corporate gatherings and other celebrations. (More)

➤ Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk revealed he was once set to star in a shelved skateboarding-themed Space Jam sequel, saying he’s still open to the project, while partnering with Visit Anaheim to promote nostalgia-driven travel to the city where he spent formative years skating. (More)

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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:

➤ Student behavior is getting worse, and teachers are pointing the finger at parents, a new survey says. (Hear Details)

➤ Cuba’s power grid collapsed for the third time this month, leaving millions in the dark again. (Hear Episode)

➤  Gen Z is ditching the bar for the gym, and the numbers are striking. (Listen Now)

Should state employees have the right to work from home?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

California’s free Historian Passport opens 30-plus state historic parks through year’s end. Which would you visit first?

1. None: 25%
2. Somewhere else on the list: 24%
3. Marshall Gold Discovery: 19%
4. Colonel Allensworth: 16%
5. Weaverville Joss House: 16%

In 1965, California became the first U.S. state to designate an official state rock, a shiny green-and-blue rock found throughout the state. What is it?

Show me the answer