Shasta Dam Fight Resurfaces

The Trump administration committed $40 million Tuesday toward planning work for raising Shasta Dam, reviving a long-running dispute over California water policy.

The 602-foot dam north of Redding forms the state’s largest reservoir, storing over 40% of the water used by the federal system to irrigate Central Valley farmland. Westlands Water District, the nation’s largest agricultural water supplier, called the funding “long-overdue.“

Opponents say the project could violate state law and would harm the McCloud River’s wild trout fishery and doom endangered Chinook salmon restoration. The Winnemem Wintu Tribe says the original 1940s construction swallowed 90% of its sacred sites, and an expansion would take the rest.

The full project could cost nearly $2 billion at today’s prices. The tribe’s government liaison, Gary Mulcahy, was skeptical: “Throw $40 million away. They do not have the personnel, one way or the other, to even complete a planning process.”

Chávez Fallout Spreads

Cities across California are reconsidering César Chávez’s name on streets, parks, and plazas after sexual assault allegations against the late labor leader prompted the United Farm Workers (UFW) to cancel Chávez Day events.

A New York Times investigation published this week detailed allegations from multiple accusers, including UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta, 95, who said Chávez sexually assaulted her in the 1960s. The UFW called the accusations “deeply troubling” and canceled Chávez Day events.

Fresno State covered and plans to remove a campus statue installed in 1996. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass signed a proclamation renaming the holiday “Farm Workers Day.” Other cities and institutions, including San Francisco and San Diego, are reviewing public sites or renaming events tied to Chávez, according to local reports.

Gov. Newsom said he is open to reconsidering the March 31 state holiday, adding California needs time to process the revelations before deciding next steps.

Claims of Fraud Grow in CA Care Programs

A YouTuber’s investigation alleging $170 million in fraud tied to California daycare and hospice providers is escalating a federal-state clash over billions in taxpayer-funded social services.

Nick Shirley posted a 40-minute video this week documenting what he described as “ghost” daycare centers registered to empty lots and strip malls in Los Angeles and San Diego. At one licensed facility, state records showed 39 children enrolled but his crew counted roughly five.

The video follows CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz’s recent investigation and a separate CBS News analysis that found over 700 of roughly 1,800 LA County hospice agencies showed multiple indicators of fraud—including 89 registered in a single three-story building.

California has revoked over 280 hospice licenses since a 2022 moratorium took effect. Gov. Newsom’s office has dismissed the investigations as “political cosplay,” while Shirley has pointed to a reported 1,000% surge in LA County hospice spending despite flat population growth.

Once upon a time, we had to make lists and physically go to stores when we needed things. Sometimes we’d have to go to several stores or even shopping malls for what we needed. Then one day, out of the heavens, came Amazon.

For many of us, free shipping and access to exclusive shows and movies are enough reasons to fork over the $14.99 per month to get Prime. But if those reasons haven’t been enough to entice you to join Prime, maybe some of these lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up.

Here are nine of those perks.

➤ Mendocino County: A 39-year-old surfer suffered leg injuries in a possible shark bite off Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park on Wednesday evening. Three off-duty lifeguards nearby assisted before crews arrived. Beaches are closed for 48 hours as officials investigate. (More)

➤ Alameda County: Two candidates for district attorney, including recalled former District Attorney Pamela Price, squared off at Cal State East Bay Wednesday, while interim District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson skipped the debate. Price is seeking to regain the office after being recalled by voters in 2024. (See Details)

➤ Rohnert Park: Longtime Sonoma State soccer coach Marcus Ziemer died at 63 after a scooter accident in Germany. The crash occurred Saturday, and he was taken off life support Monday evening. Ziemer led the Seawolves to a Division II national championship in 2002 and coached the program for 35 years. (Read Story)

➤ Yuba-Sutter: Peach growers are ripping out orchards after Del Monte’s Modesto cannery shut down. The April 7 closure leaves farmers without a key buyer and forces costly transitions to new crops, with broader impacts on jobs and the regional farm economy. (See Details)

➤ Orange Cove: The Fresno County city has launched a commercial truck driving academy to address a regional driver shortage, offering residents a direct path into transportation jobs. (More)

➤ Natomas: Teachers returned to classrooms yesterday after a seven-day strike—the Sacramento-area district’s first ever—ended with a tentative deal. Terms were not released, but both sides called the agreement a step forward. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles County: Health officials warned beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean water at several beaches from Malibu to Marina del Rey after testing found bacteria levels exceeding state standards amid an unusually warm March heat wave. (More)

➤ Long Beach: The Coast Guard set a safety zone around the cargo ship OOCL Sunflower Thursday at the Port of Long Beach after 32 containers were lost overboard during rough seas in the Pacific and dozens more were left crushed and dangling. Crews were working to safely offload the remaining cargo. (More)

➤ San Diego: Health officials warned Wednesday that a visitor from outside California who tested positive for measles was at Sharp Memorial Hospital’s emergency room on March 11 during the infectious period. Anyone present during a roughly five-hour window is urged to contact the county. (More)

➤ A federal court dismissed former Stanford football coach Troy Taylor’s defamation lawsuit against ESPN, ruling the outlet’s reporting on his treatment of female staffers was substantially accurate. (More)

➤ Santa Clara, UCLA, and Cal Baptist all tip off in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament today. (See Schedule)

➤ Meanwhile, No. 14 seed UC San Diego plays No. 3 TCU this morning in Round One of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Game time is set for 9 a.m. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf | Tennis

➤ Uber will invest up to $1.25 billion in Irvine-based Rivian to deploy a large fleet of autonomous R2 robotaxis, expanding to 25 cities by 2031. The initial commitment is $300 million. (See Details)

➤ Costco confirmed its first-ever standalone gas station will open by late June in Mission Viejo—a 40-pump, members-only facility. (More)

➤ State regulators quietly delayed California’s gas profit-cap rules for five years, even as pump prices top $5.30 a gallon and the Benicia refinery prepares to close. The rules were intended to curb price gouging during spikes. (More)

➤ Valley Children’s Hospital acquired the 277-acre Gunner Ranch adjacent to its Madera County campus for long-term expansion. (See Details)

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Maximize your Amazon Prime benefits beyond free shipping. Explore lesser-known perks such as early access to lightning deals, exclusive deals across various categories, free access to podcasts and music, and RXPass for generic medications. Here are all nine perks you should be using!

➤ Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires List shows California has more billionaires than any other state, with Silicon Valley and Southern California leading the pack. Worldwide, a record 3,428 people made the list. (See List)

➤ Mission San Juan Capistrano marked St. Joseph’s Day on Thursday with the annual Return of the Swallows celebration, honoring the birds’ seasonal migration. The 66th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire caps the festivities Saturday. (See Details)

➤ A dancing robot at Haidilao Hot Pot in Cupertino went viral after an employee accidentally triggered its high-energy routine, sending it knocking items off a table as staff scrambled to restrain it. The robot has since returned to its usual act of waving and giving high-fives. (See Video)

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Now that spring is here, what are you most looking forward to?

1. Longer days
2. Spring blooms
3. Baseball season
4. Spring cleaning
5. Getting outside
6. Travel
7. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Which grocery store are you most loyal to?

1. Safeway/Vons/Albertsons: 20%
2. Costco: 18%
3. Ralphs: 16%
4. Trader Joe’s: 14%
5. Whole Foods: 12%
6. Grocery Outlet: 10%
7. Other: 10%

Mission San Juan Capistrano is known for the return of swallows each spring, but from what South American country are they traditionally said to migrate?

Show me the answer