Warehouse Fire Strains California Hospitals

A fire that destroyed Medline’s million-square-foot distribution warehouse in Tracy, which officials described as one of the largest warehouse fires in U.S. history, has disrupted medical-supply deliveries to hospitals across California and the western U.S.

Facilities from Visalia’s Kaweah Health to Bay Area systems are conserving inventory and guarding against hoarding while Medline reroutes shipments from other facilities. Kaweah’s chief operating officer said the hospital has a week or two of supplies and no immediate shortage.

Investigators are still trying to determine why the sprinkler system, which passed inspection in January, failed to activate. Crews were forced to rely on the city water supply after the facility’s hydrants produced little to no flow while flames engulfed the building within about 40 minutes.

No injuries were reported, and Medline has stood up a contingency command center to keep supplies moving. The warehouse held hundreds of lithium-ion-powered robots, raising hazardous-material concerns.

By Saturday, with the fire in its third day, air quality on Tracy’s south side reached the “unhealthy” range, and officials urged smoke-sensitive residents to stay indoors.

Historic Swell Kills Two, Erodes Beaches

One of the largest south swells California has seen in years has killed two people and triggered more than 100 lifeguard rescues along the coast.

In Laguna Beach, a 5-year-old girl was swept out by powerful surf and later found dead, while bystanders pulled her mother and sibling to safety. Waves peaked above 20 feet earlier in the week at Newport Beach’s Wedge.

A woman drowned in Santa Cruz County, where another was left in critical condition after both were swept out by the surf. It was the second fatality linked to the swell.

The waves also caused dramatic beach erosion from Newport Beach to Crystal Cove, toppling a lifeguard tower and exposing buried infrastructure. A beach-hazard statement warning of rip currents and elevated surf runs through this evening.

Valedictorian Helps Shape Law, Heads to Harvard

Ishmeet Singh, this year’s valedictorian at Bakersfield’s Stockdale High, is headed to Harvard after helping turn an idea he conceived as a freshman into California law.

As a freshman, Singh noticed classmates struggling with addiction and mental health and found that many students never connected with the help that existed. His fix was simple: a QR code on student ID cards linking directly to local mental-health resources.

He took the proposal to state Sen. Shannon Grove, whose Senate Bill 1063 passed both chambers unanimously before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law. Singh, then 15, traveled to Sacramento to defend the bill himself.

Mental-health advocacy is only part of his story: Singh also built AI models to help spot brain tumors, work that earned him third place at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. At Harvard, he plans to study computational neuroscience and public policy.

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➤ San Francisco: Firefighters completed a seven-hour rescue of a man stranded overnight on a cliff at Lands End after dense fog grounded a Coast Guard helicopter. Rescuers used a controlled descent to bring him to the shoreline, where he was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. (More)

➤ Berkeley: U Min Zin, a Myanmar scholar identified as a UC Berkeley doctoral student, has been detained in China on accusations of espionage and endangering national security. The U.S. citizen was arrested June 3 at an airport in Kunming, and the State Department says it is providing consular assistance. (See Details)

➤ Redding: The city’s entertainment zone, billed as California’s largest, has hit six months of operation, boosting business and drawing larger crowds downtown. The district allows adults to carry drinks between participating venues, and police report few issues as other cities consider similar zones. (See Details)

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➤ Fresno: The city held its first-ever flag retirement ceremony Saturday at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, retiring a 25-year-old flag at exactly 2:50 p.m. to symbolize the nation’s 250 years. The event was held ahead of Flag Day and as part of Fresno’s America 250 celebrations. (Read Story)

➤ Yosemite: The National Park Service has opened public comment on its Mist Trail Corridor Rehabilitation plan, aimed at easing congestion and improving safety along the heavily visited Mist Trail route to Half Dome. Comments run through July 13. (See Details)

➤ Bakersfield: The Bakersfield-Delano metro ranked third among U.S. metro areas for pedestrian fatality rates, according to Smart Growth America’s latest report. Researchers recorded 229 pedestrian deaths in the area from 2020 to 2024, while Fresno ranked seventh among U.S. metro areas. (More)

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➤ Chula Vista: Police Chief Roxana Kennedy, who went on medical leave in January, is now suing the city, alleging officials sought to push her out and replace her with a younger Latino chief. City Council members deny the allegation, and the city has launched an investigation into claims of workplace misconduct by Kennedy. (See Details)

➤ Pacific Palisades: Arson investigators are looking into a fire that broke out Thursday evening at the campaign office of Spencer Pratt, a former Los Angeles mayoral candidate. Crews found light smoke in the building and knocked it down in about an hour, and the cause remains undetermined. (See Details)

➤ Camp Pendleton: Two suspects fleeing law enforcement breached a gate at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, ditched their vehicle and ran, triggering a six-hour, multi-agency manhunt. Both were arrested, and investigators seized about 112 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl from the vehicle. (See Details)

➤ San Diego: ER nurse Katie Lowe, serving as a team air medic at Mexico’s Baja 500 off-road race, survived a helicopter crash during a refueling incident. She suffered spinal compression fractures and shoulder tears but is recovering. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. (Read Story)

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➤ Former 49ers All-Pro pass rusher Aldon Smith died Saturday at age 36. The seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith set an NFL record with 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons and helped lead San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII after the 2012 season. (More)

➤ The Padres suffered a pair of injury scares Saturday as shortstop Xander Bogaerts exited after being hit in the helmet by a pitch, while catcher Freddy Fermin is expected to miss time after being struck in the head by a warm-up throw. (More)

➤ Mookie Betts took responsibility for the error that ended Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s perfect-game bid Saturday, calling it a routine play he should have made. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | NHL | MLB | College World Series | WNBA | Golf | NASCAR | F1

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➤ Horn Barbecue, the Central Fresno restaurant founded by award-winning pit master Matt Horn, was served an eviction notice requiring it to vacate by June 17, just months after opening in January. The Fresno location has closed, leaving Oakland as the brand’s only operating restaurant. (See Details)

➤ LiCAP Technologies has secured an $11.3 million California Energy Commission grant to expand manufacturing at its Sacramento facility and accelerate commercialization of its battery electrode technology. Officials said the project will support high-value technical and manufacturing jobs. (See Details)

➤ SoulCycle is reportedly shuttering six U.S. studios, including locations in Manhattan Beach and La Jolla. The boutique cycling brand, which had not publicly announced the closures as of Friday, is trimming its footprint amid a CEO transition. (See Details)

➤ Twisted Coffee, a horror-and-gothic-themed shop that 19-year-old Katelyn Marsh built from a local pop-up beverage business, will open a downtown Bakersfield storefront July 9, billed as the city’s first. Expect specialty coffees, dirty sodas, and horror-themed treats. (See Details)

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➤ Hal Yoak, a 101-year-old World War II veteran in Garden Grove, still spends his days hand-crafting wooden toys for neighborhood children, often giving them away to kids who visit with a parent. His annual toy sales have drawn large crowds, with many visitors stopping by simply to meet the beloved local craftsman. (Read Story)

➤ Chicken Charlie, the fair-food innovator who has spent 30 years dreaming up deep-fried Oreos, pickles, and other unusual creations at the San Diego County Fair, is back for another run. This year’s new bite is a chicken shawarma wrap, a nod to his Damascus roots. (Read Story)

➤ Sandcastle builders of all ages turned out on Pismo State Beach this weekend for a community sandcastle competition, where participants could join the fun or simply watch the creations take shape along the shore. (See Details)

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What’s the one fair food you never skip?

1. Funnel cake
2. Turkey leg
3. Cotton candy
4. Anything deep-fried
5. I’m only there for the rides
6. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Where will you be watching Team USA’s World Cup matches?

1. I’m not following it: 37%
2. Home with family or friends: 20%
3. Catching highlights later: 17%
4. At a stadium or watch party: 13%
5. At a bar or restaurant: 13%

In what year did the Sierra Club first install the steel cables that allow hikers to ascend the final, steep stretch of Yosemite’s Half Dome without rock-climbing equipment?

Show me the answer