Prosecutors Revise Palisades Fire Arson Case

Federal prosecutors have dropped one of three arson counts against the man accused of igniting the blaze that became the deadly Palisades Fire, ahead of a second trial.

The superseding indictment filed Thursday charges Jonathan Rinderknecht with setting the Jan. 1 Lachman Fire and with causing the destruction of the Jan. 7 Palisades Fire, which prosecutors say was the same fire rekindled by Santa Ana winds.

His first trial ended in June when jurors deadlocked 10 to 2 in favor of acquittal, and a judge declared a mistrial.

The Palisades Fire was the most destructive in Los Angeles history, killing 12 people, burning 23,448 acres, and destroying about 6,800 structures in Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas.

Prosecutors have vowed to win a conviction at the retrial, expected this fall. Defense attorney Steven Haney says the evidence is insufficient and expects his client to be acquitted.

Trump Targets General Atomics Catapults

President Trump has ordered the Navy to remove the electromagnetic catapults built by San Diego’s General Atomics and go back to steam power on future Ford-class aircraft carriers.

An Aug. 13 presidential memo gives the Navy 60 days to plan the switch from the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System to steam and hydraulic gear, starting with the future USS Doris Miller.

General Atomics, which had the Doris Miller work about half done, said the reversal “warrants careful reconsideration” over cost, schedule, and integration risks.

The change spares three carriers already committed to the system, including the USS Gerald R. Ford. Trump has faulted the launchers since his first term, arguing they cost more and underperform.

Lawmakers Scrap Grizzly Bear Return Plan

California lawmakers killed a bill that would have studied whether the grizzly bear, gone from the state for a century, could ever be brought back.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee spiked Senate Bill 1305 on Thursday without debate or public testimony. It would have directed the Department of Fish and Wildlife to weigh whether and how reintroduction might work.

Committee chair Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, said the state must first learn to manage conflicts with predatory wildlife, citing cattle killed since gray wolves returned. Sen. Laura Richardson, D-Inglewood, wrote the bill.

Two Native American tribes and environmental groups backed the bill to right an ecological wrong. Ranchers, hunters, and rural residents opposed it, arguing California is too crowded for another apex predator.

Grizzlies once numbered as many as 10,000 before the Gold Rush and still adorn the state flag. Settlers wiped them out in California by the 1920s.

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➤ Redding: The city hosted its first-ever Ironman 70.3 over the weekend, drawing more than 1,600 triathletes for a 1.2 mile swim in Whiskeytown Lake, a 56-mile bike ride through Shasta County and a half-marathon along the Sacramento River. Organizers projected roughly $10 million in economic impact. (Read Story)

➤ Bay Area: Airlines canceled multiple flights from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaii as Hurricane Lala approached the islands, disrupting weekend travel. Honolulu Harbor was expected to reopen Sunday afternoon or evening. (More)

➤ Tahoe National Forest: Crews reached 75% containment on the Talbot Fire near French Meadows Reservoir by Sunday, and evacuation warnings were lifted. Roads, trails, and recreation areas in the fire zone remained closed. (See Map)

➤ Campbell: A 5-foot-long silver ant sculpture that became a quirky landmark along Highway 17 was found destroyed near the Camden Avenue exit. Police said it remains unclear who created, installed, or destroyed it. (More)

➤ San Francisco Bay: Four conservation and fishing groups sued the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, saying it missed a January deadline to review the white sturgeon, the state’s largest freshwater fish. The population in the Bay and its tributaries has fallen more than 80% in 30 years. (See Details)

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➤ Fresno County: Caltrans broke ground Friday on a $77.2 million project to widen six miles of Highway 41 to four lanes after nearly 20 years of safety advocacy. Completion is expected in fall 2028. (More)

➤ Pismo Beach: Locals report more frequent shark sightings along the Central Coast, with drone video recently capturing an estimated 18-foot great white near the Oceano dunes. An aquarium expert points to abundant prey and warmer El Niño waters as factors, with juveniles often staying closer to shore. (See Video)

➤ Vandenberg: SpaceX was set to launch the classified USSF-366 mission for the U.S. Space Force aboard a Falcon 9 on Saturday. The payload was undisclosed, while residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties were warned of possible sonic booms. (More)

➤ Big Sur: The Timber Fire in Los Padres National Forest grew to nearly 5,000 acres and was 12% contained Saturday, with more than 1,800 firefighters battling the blaze. Evacuations remain in place, and Highway 1 is closed in the area. (See Map)

➤ Modesto: The renovated 4th Street Park reopened Friday after a two-year, $17 million overhaul, anchored by a new aquatic center city leaders call a “mini water park,” with slides, splash features and a zero-depth entry. The park also includes a skate park, basketball courts, and playgrounds. (See Photos)

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➤ Southern California: Forecasters warn temperatures could climb to 105 degrees this week, with the hottest conditions expected Wednesday through Friday and the western San Fernando and Antelope valleys among the hottest areas. Elevated fire-weather conditions are expected across the interior. (See Details)

➤ Long Beach: Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan says the city has directed him to cut $11.1 million from his department to help close a nearly $60 million budget gap. The plan would eliminate 29 sworn positions and 4.5 civilian positions and take Engine 14 out of service. (More)

➤ Mentone: San Bernardino County deputies identified 78-year-old Paul Ronald Selby as the man they fatally shot Friday after he allegedly opened fire on tree trimmers working near his home, then barricaded himself and fired at deputies. No workers or deputies were hurt. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: The family of actor Robert Carradine has sued the University of California, alleging that a UCLA psychiatric unit failed to properly monitor him before his death in February. The suit claims staff missed required checks and falsified records to reflect proper care. (More)

➤ La Jolla: The California Coastal Commission is weighing a partial closure of La Jolla Cove to protect sea lions during pupping season after a viral video showed a man kicking one at nearby Point La Jolla. Fifty-six sea lion births have been recorded in the area since June. (More)

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➤ Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said Aaron Donald has not yet decided whether to return from retirement, despite reports suggesting a comeback is likely. McVay said Donald is evaluating whether his body can handle the demands of another NFL season. (More)

➤ Tommy John, the former Dodgers pitcher and namesake of the groundbreaking elbow surgery, died Saturday at 83. John underwent the procedure in 1974 and returned to pitch 14 more seasons. (More)

➤ San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill earned a $5 million raise after reaching 500 plate appearances this season, increasing the guaranteed value of his contract from $135 million to $140 million. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Golf | IndyCar | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Delta Air Lines will begin daily nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Austin, Texas, on April 12, 2027, flying an Airbus A319 out of Terminal 2. The route is part of a broader Delta expansion out of Austin. (More)

➤ Disneyland will reimagine Tomorrowland with new attractions and more open space, though no opening date was announced. Two new Avengers Campus rides are also set to open in 2028. (More)

➤ Fast Weenies, a Redding hot dog stand that opened 44 years ago in a converted film kiosk, is still serving generations of customers despite nearly closing last year. Owners Trent and Nancy Copland continue dishing up hot dogs, potato salad, and sun tea. (Read Story)

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➤ A 6-year-old rescue pug named Jinny Lu won the 2026 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, earning $5,000 for her owner. She visits elementary schools to promote pet adoption and brings joy to hospice and memory care patients. (See Photos)

➤ Robot fighters are battling in a San Francisco arena in Nob Hill, where full-sized machines compete in robot-on-robot martial arts while being controlled in real time by human pilots wearing virtual reality gear. (See Video)

➤ Mendocino County ranked eighth on a recent list of the best places to retire in the American West, scoring high on health care access and boasting a life expectancy above the national average. Fellow Northern California destination Tuolumne County, home to Yosemite, placed ninth. (Read Story)

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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:

➤ Navy SEAL candidates cover more than 200 miles on roughly four hours of sleep, and most still don’t finish. (Hear Toughest Training)

➤ Two million American raccoons have taken over Germany, and the Nazi commander blamed for it didn’t do it. (Hear Real Culprit)

➤ Your beach read reveals which of four anxieties is quietly driving you. (Hear Your Type)

Time to settle it: is a hot dog a sandwich?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I refuse to take sides

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you take a ride in a fully driverless car?

1. No thanks, keep it human: 35%
2. Absolutely, I’d try it: 25%
3. Maybe, after more testing: 21%
4. Only for a short trip: 19%

The coastal town of Mendocino spent years standing in for what fictional Maine village in the classic mystery series Murder, She Wrote?

Show me the answer