Monday, June 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1952, Judy Garland wed Sidney Luft in Hollister, one of Hollywood’s most storied romances.

Army drills rattled SoCal while SoFi Stadium workers approve strike just days before the venue is set to host its first FIFA World Cup match. Both stories in Top Stories.

Today’s sponsor, Blood Sugar Rising, highlights emerging research on how certain everyday foods may affect blood sugar health and energy levels—and reveals one common item that experts say could be contributing to early warning signs associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Army Drills Rattle SoCal Cities

The U.S. Army staged late-night urban warfare drills at vacant buildings across the Los Angeles metro last week, with troops rappelling from Black Hawk helicopters and deploying flash grenades and simulated gunfire in Pasadena, Long Beach, and the City of Industry.

Long Beach city officials were not notified until the night of the exercises, after social media posts about the earlier Pasadena drills surfaced online. Pasadena said it had little advance notice and no authority to stop the operations, drawing complaints from a city council member about transparency.

Police briefly closed Pacific Coast Highway in both directions during one overnight drill as residents called 911 and reported car alarms triggered by rotor wash. The Army offered no public explanation; similar 2019 drills in the region were described as urban readiness training for overseas deployments.

California Leads Nation in Jobs

California added more jobs than any other state in the first quarter of 2026.

A new Public Policy Institute of California report finds California’s economy continues to lead the nation, with a GDP of $4.3 trillion in 2025, representing 14% of the entire U.S. economy. The state has added nearly 3 million jobs since 2005, with business growth outpacing population growth over the same period.

The strongest gains came in health care, state and local government, and education—sectors less exposed to the trade war turbulence hitting manufacturing and tech. California accounts for roughly 14% of U.S. GDP but added a disproportionate share of Q1 net new jobs nationwide.

Economists caution that the second quarter picture may look different as DOGE-driven federal budget cuts and deportation-related farm labor shortages ripple through the economy.

SoFi Stadium Workers Authorize Strike

About 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium voted 96% in favor of authorizing a strike just days before the venue is set to host its first FIFA World Cup match, putting the U.S. men’s team’s June 12 opener against Paraguay at risk of a walkout.

Contract negotiations between UNITE HERE Local 11 and stadium food service provider Legends Global have stalled over demands including living wages, limits on AI and subcontracting, and protections allowing workers to leave if federal immigration enforcement enters the stadium. Union member Yolanda Fierro said a strike remains possible unless a deal is reached before the opening match.

Immigration concerns have added tension to the standoff. The ACLU of Southern California filed a formal complaint with state agencies requesting an investigation into FIFA’s accreditation process over worries that workers’ sensitive personal information could be shared with federal authorities. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said this week that federal agents would be present at matches for security purposes only, not civil immigration enforcement.

Flying together with our sponsor

Do you always feel tired… What if 1 common food in your diet is quietly contributing to low energy and blood sugar problems?

Researchers have linked it to pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, an early warning sign associated with Type 2 diabetes. Do you know which food it is? [View Full List]

➤ San Francisco: Fisherman’s Wharf is undergoing a food and entertainment revival, with Saigon Sandwich, a karaoke lounge, Oakland barbecue, and several national chains among the businesses set to open at the newly renamed Anchor’s Landing shopping center as foot traffic tops one million monthly visitors for the first time since the pandemic. (More)

➤ Sacramento: Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley continues to lead the competitive primary for California’s redrawn 6th Congressional District, with Democrat Richard Pan holding second place over Republican Michael Stansfield as ballot counting continues, the top two finishers will advance to November’s general election. (More)

➤ Chico: Police arrested a man and woman, both on active probation for similar offenses, after investigators linked them to multiple storage unit burglaries involving thousands of dollars in stolen vintage memorabilia, vinyl records, and sports collectibles, recovering the property during a search of their residence. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: Four police negotiators remained face-to-face with Anthony Scott Searles-Harris throughout a 15-hour standoff at a Chase Bank after convicted sex offender entered with a suspected bomb and took 10 hostages, tying himself to one, and demanded his child sex abuse court file and a visit with his daughter before the FBI Hostage Rescue Team shot and killed him at 4:20 a.m., ending the standoff. (More)

➤ Tehachapi: The 2026 Tehachapi Farmers Market opened Thursday on South Green Street, running every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. through Aug. 13 with locally grown produce, baked goods, fresh flowers, artisan vendors, and live DJ music. (See Photos)

➤ Paso Robles: A sinkhole discovered Friday morning at the intersection of Niblick and Creston roads forced a full closure of the intersection after crews determined a damaged water line beneath the road could take up to 12 hours to repair. (More)

➤ San Bernardino County: Fire Engineer Robert “BJ” Myers, a beloved San Bernardino County firefighter, passed away last week surrounded by family, friends, and his service dog, a farewell that drew an outpouring of gratitude from colleagues and the community. (More)

➤ Malibu: A new Hulu docuseries examines the case of an alleged serial squatter who moved into a Malibu man’s spare bedroom, stopped paying rent, and refused to leave for months, exploiting California laws that can make evictions a six-month, $15,000 process, while separately being accused of harassing a man with stage IV cancer and an elderly widow. (More)

➤ Palm Springs: The day after National Donut Day, regulars at Swiss Donuts in the Coachella Valley say the morning ritual of sharing pastries with neighbors, golf course crews, and local workers reflects a broader tradition of community connection—with the shop moving about 20 dozen donuts on a typical weekday and significantly more on Fridays and holidays. (See Video)

➤ The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday as he continues to recover from a back injury. The right-hander has not yet resumed throwing and is not eligible to return until early July. (More)

➤ NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that he wants the league’s investigation into allegations involving Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer wrapped up soon. Investigators have interviewed Leonard, Ballmer, and others, while the Clippers and Leonard have denied the allegations. (More)

➤ The Kings are expected to receive trade interest in center Domantas Sabonis this offseason as Sacramento explores ways to reduce payroll, according to a report Saturday. Sabonis has two years remaining on his contract and said in April that he is happy in Sacramento. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The $100 Billion IPO Everyone Is Watching. Elon Musk’s Starlink project could become one of the biggest IPOs in history, and investor James Altucher says there may still be a way for regular investors to position early for less than $100. He’s even revealing the free ticker behind his top pick. (More)

➤ In the days following the deadly 15-hour hostage standoff at the Chase building downtown, local restaurants including Locale Farm to Table, Prime Time BBQ, and Bentley Bowl have served hundreds of free meals to first responders and Kern County Superintendent of Schools employees, with Locale owner Heather Laganelli saying she was moved to tears when one of the hostages stopped in to thank her. (More)

➤ The runaway success of Backrooms, a low-budget psychological horror film directed by 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons that crossed $100 million domestically, has Hollywood rethinking its reliance on sequels and franchises, with producer Peter Chernin warning that studios rushing to sign YouTube creators are repeating the same mistake. (More)

➤ Fresno food creator Mike Martin, who built a following of more than 1 million social media followers through cooking videos, makes his national television debut Sunday on Food Network’s new competition series 100 Cooks, hosted by Terry Crews with a $250,000 prize on the line. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Your minimum payment won’t get you out of debt. A $20,000 credit card balance at 24% APR can take nearly 30 years to pay off—and cost you three times what you borrowed—just by making minimum payments. That’s by design, but there is a process that focuses on reducing the balance itself. It’s called debt relief. See if you qualify for debt relief >>>>

Flying together with our sponsor

Many people are shocked to discover that this everyday food may be one of the biggest contributors to early diabetes warning signs. Research suggests you avoid this at all costs… Learn which food to avoid here.

➤ The official FIFA Fan Festival opens at the LA Memorial Coliseum this week alongside 10 fan zones stretching from Venice Beach to Union Station—giving fans without tickets a way to watch matches on big screens and soak in the tournament vibe. (More)

➤ The IEHP Foundation was honored as a 2026 California Nonprofit of the Year for its community health work across Riverside and San Bernardino counties—one of 15 Inland Empire nonprofits recognized in the statewide program. (More)

➤ The Scary Movie franchise proved its staying power this weekend with a $55 million domestic opening—led by returning stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall and the Wayans brothers—while Masters of the Universe debuted at $29.3 million, and low-budget horror films Backrooms and Obsession held strong at third and fourth place. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The guys keeping their hair aren’t lucky – they just started Keeps sooner. Grow thicker, healthier hair with Chew+ by Keeps – formulated with Dutasteride + Minoxidil and other powerful ingredients. That’s why we’re the Forbes Health Top Pick of 2026. Learn More