High-Speed Rail Missed Train Deadlines

California’s High-Speed Rail Authority twice missed its own deadlines to execute a trainset contract, the milestone federal officials cited when they pulled $4 billion in funding a year ago.

Grant documents required a trainset contract by Dec. 31, 2024. California missed it, later promised a federal judge it would execute one by Dec. 1, 2025, and missed that deadline too.

Weeks later, the authority quietly dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration, without publicly explaining why. It still cannot say when it will award the contract.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said federal dollars “are not a blank check,” while Gov. Gavin Newsom called the withdrawal a “political stunt to punish California.”

The authority is now asking Washington for a separate $396 million federal grant to extend the line from Madera to Merced.

Smuggling Boat Stopped, One Man Dies

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a boat carrying 21 suspected illegal immigrants off the Southern California coast, an operation in which a 56-year-old man aboard later died.

The interdiction happened July 29 about 14 miles west of San Clemente Island after a member of the public reported the suspected smuggling vessel around noon, the Coast Guard announced Friday. Responders found the man unresponsive and began CPR.

A Coast Guard helicopter flew him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where hospital staff briefly restored his pulse before he was pronounced dead. The other 20 people were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.

The suspected boat operator could face federal charges. The Coast Guard said the case highlights the dangers of maritime smuggling and the criminal networks that put “profits over human life.”

Second Day of Power Outages Hits SeaWorld

Power outages continued at SeaWorld San Diego for a second straight day Saturday, delaying the park’s opening and forcing the cancellation of a Jordin Sparks concert at the Bayside Amphitheater.

The disruptions followed an outage Friday that forced the marine park to close for the rest of the day after power was lost around noon.

San Diego firefighters responded to smoke from a building west of the park and found an electrical issue but no active fire. SDG&E said the issues involved SeaWorld equipment, and the cause remained under investigation.

Spokesperson Tracy Spahr said the outage affected only part of the park and that all animal care and life support systems stayed fully operational. Guests affected by the Friday closure were offered a refund or a return-day ticket.

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➤ Mendocino County: The Feliz Fire near Hopland forced evacuations and temporarily closed U.S. Highway 101 as it grew to 841 acres Saturday. It was 5% contained Sunday. (See Details)

➤ Siskiyou County: A federal grand jury indicted a father and son in the armed kidnapping of two U.S. Forest Service biologists who were held hostage for 15 hours near Gumboot Lake. The father also faces additional assault and firearm charges. (More)

➤ Eel River: California is offering $5,000 in prizes through Aug. 31 to anglers who catch invasive Sacramento pikeminnow, predators of native salmon, in the third annual Eel River Pikeminnow Fishing Derby. (See Details)

➤ Auburn: The Highway Patrol is distributing more than $41 million in Proposition 64 cannabis-tax grants to 183 agencies statewide for impaired-driving enforcement, including the Auburn Police Department. (More)

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➤ Monterey County: The Sheriff’s Office is investigating two separate Saturday cases after a deceased infant was found near Moss Landing and human remains were discovered near Salinas. Officials say the cases are not believed to be related. (More)

➤ Fresno: The city council placed a half-cent general sales tax on the November ballot to help replace funding from the expiring Measure C and address a projected $54 million shortfall for roads and public transit. (See Details)

➤ Also Fresno: A man found dead on the roof of a Fresno High School building was identified as 30-year-old Daniel Ramirez. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office says the death is not considered suspicious. (More)

➤ Kern County: Remains found buried in an Arvin vineyard in 1978 were identified through forensic genealogy as 15-year-old Michelle Louise Collier of Fresno, 48 years after her killing. (See Details)

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➤ San Diego County: An F-35B fighter jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and the pilot ejected with non-life-threatening injuries in what the Marines called a Class A mishap. (More)

➤ Coronado: The county closed the ocean at Avenida Lunar to water contact after Tijuana River sewage contamination, with several other San Diego County beaches remaining closed or under health advisories. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles County: Authorities searched actress Linda Blair’s property while investigating a reported kennel operation with more than 100 dogs, but Blair said the animals were fine and the issue was limited to paperwork. (More)

➤ Norco: The Highway Patrol recovered about 50 stolen vehicles and parts worth $1.8 million and arrested two residents after uncovering an active chop shop. (More)

➤ Coto de Caza: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is investigating antisemitic flyers found around the community and is asking residents for tips. (More)

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➤ The Dodgers bolstered their rotation by acquiring two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers. Los Angeles sent top prospect Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit in the blockbuster deal. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury late Saturday for Monique Akoa Makani and two draft picks ahead of Sunday’s WNBA trade deadline. (More)

➤ USC opened its new 160,000-square-foot Bloom Football Performance Center ahead of the 2026 season. Coach Lincoln Riley said the facility will transform the program’s daily operations as the Trojans prepare for the upcoming season. (More)

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

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➤ Ghirardelli workers ended a three-day strike at the company’s flagship San Francisco shop, accusing it of withholding details about revenue from a 6% healthcare surcharge. Ghirardelli says contract talks are ongoing. (More)

➤ Medical tourism can cut San Diego pet owners’ vet bills in half or more, as companies like MexiVet Express ferry animals to Tijuana clinics for routine care. (Read Story)

➤ Rising costs are pushing Northern California food entrepreneurs into home kitchens and shared commercial spaces, with Placer County cottage food permits up nearly 50% in two years. (More)

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➤ Plumas National Forest, a 1.1-million-acre expanse in the Lost Sierra about an hour north of Lake Tahoe, is drawing national attention as an alternative to the lake’s crowds. (Read Story)

➤ A 30-pound catfish caught at Hesperia Lake Park in San Bernardino County was so large it broke the scale, but park officials say an even bigger 50-pound fish nicknamed “Catzilla” is still swimming in the lake. (Read Story)

➤ A sheepdog guided a herd of goats out of the way so an emergency helicopter could land near Laguna Beach, drawing praise from police. (See Video)

➤ Rose Creek Cottage, a historic Pacific Beach landmark that was once part of the Scripps family’s Braemar Estate, was saved from demolition and moved beside Rose Creek in 1986. (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:

➤ A gunman killed two people and wounded seven others at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, before taking his own life. (Hear More)

➤ Washington’s worst fire season in three decades has destroyed 600 structures around Spokane and pushed thousands of families from their homes. (Listen Now)

➤ A crime network tied to Iran is recruiting European teenagers as hitmen over social media, then abandoning them when they’re caught. (Tune In)

Would you ever consider medical tourism for cheaper care?

1. Yes, for the savings
2. Only if it were reputable
3. No, I’ll stay stateside
4. I already have

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever taken a road trip on Route 66?

1. Yes, many times: 28%
2. Not yet, but I’d like to: 26%
3. Yes, once: 25%
4. No interest: 21%

How did Domingo Ghirardelli’s famous San Francisco chocolate empire get its start?

Show me the answer