Monday, March 23, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1868, Gov. Henry Haight signed the Organic Act, establishing the University of California on the Oakland site of the debt-strapped College of California, which dissolved and turned over its land and buildings to launch the new public university.

One of the world’s largest freestanding structures is back after decades of toxic contamination. Google has restored the 1930s-era Hangar One; learn more in Northern California.

Today’s sponsor, DigestSync, is gaining attention for a simple daily method designed to support healthier digestion and help relieve common issues like bloating, gas, and constipation.

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.

LAUSD Sets April Strike Deadline

The two largest unions representing Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) employees announced an April 14 strike that could shut down schools across the district.

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99, representing more than 68,000 teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and support staff, rallied at Grand Park last week after members voted overwhelmingly to authorize the walkout. UTLA is pushing for a 17% raise over two years; the district has countered with 8% plus a one-time bonus, citing a projected $191 million deficit.

More than 80% of LAUSD students live at or below the poverty line and rely on schools for daily meals. Parents are already scrambling for childcare options as the deadline approaches.

Acting Superintendent Andrés Chait, who replaced Alberto Carvalho after he was placed on administrative leave following an FBI raid, said keeping schools open with all three unions out would be “nearly impossible.”

Record Heat Melts Sierra Season

Sierra-at-Tahoe closed for the season Sunday after a near-record March heat wave left the mountain with little snow to ski on.

The resort joins Homewood, Dodge Ridge, and Mt. Shasta Ski Park in ending the season weeks early as temperatures surged well above normal across the state. California’s snowpack sits at just 37% of the April 1 average, a level state climatologist Michael Anderson says mirrors 1976, one of the state’s worst drought years.

The heat wasn’t limited to the mountains. The Bay Area issued its first-ever March heat advisories, Redwood City hit 90 degrees, and more than 10 Southern California cities set their warmest March days on record.

Forecasters say temperatures will cool slightly this week but remain above average, and the rapid snowmelt is raising concerns about summer water supply.

Iran War Squeezes Valley Farmers

Central Valley farmers heading into spring planting are running into a problem halfway around the world as their fertilizer is stuck in the Persian Gulf.

Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent fertilizer prices soaring, with urea up 30% in the past month, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, and some U.S. farmers who haven’t pre-ordered are facing the prospect of not getting any at all. Warm weather pushed California planting about a month ahead of schedule, compressing the window.

The Port of Stockton, which port officials say handles about 95% of fertilizer used in the Central Valley, says shipments that typically take about 30 days from the Gulf are being disrupted. The Farm Bureau has asked President Trump to deploy the Navy to escort cargo through the strait.

The White House has not committed to doing so, though the administration said it is exploring alternative sources, including Venezuela and Morocco.

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➤ Mountain View: Google restored Hangar One at Moffett Field, a 1930s airship hangar and one of the world’s largest freestanding structures. The site sat as a stripped steel shell for years before Google led cleanup and rebuilding under a 60-year NASA lease. (See Photos)

➤ San Francisco: A federal jury found Elon Musk liable Friday for misleading Twitter shareholders by driving down the stock price ahead of his $44 billion acquisition in 2022. Damages are estimated at about $2.1 billion and could reach as high as $2.6 billion. (More)

➤ San Jose: A judge resentenced Erik Chatman, convicted of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Rosellina LoBue at a photo shop in 1987, to 25 years to life—making him eligible for parole after more than 35 years in prison. The victim’s brother suffered a medical emergency in court after the ruling. (More)

➤ Ceres: A youth baseball contract dispute turned physical when a meeting between league leaders and a city employee escalated into a shoving match caught on video. The nonprofit, which has operated George Costa Field for over 50 years, opposes proposed changes ahead of a closed-session meeting scheduled for today. (See Video)

➤ Fresno: The Fresno Irrigation District began water deliveries two weeks early after record March heat raised concerns about water supply. Officials say March could see zero rainfall for the first time in 102 years, and supplies may run dry as early as July. (More)

➤ Madera County: The owner of Central Valley Mega Pit, a venue for car enthusiasts to do burnouts and drifts, was arrested after deputies found more than 600 marijuana plants at a property next door. The business had already been shut down in January over permit violations. (More)

➤ Los Angeles County: Sheriff’s investigators arrested nine people and seized $7 million in stolen cargo and $1 million in cash after serving warrants across L.A., Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. The thefts hit 36 companies, including Amazon, Costco, Sony, and Disney. (More)

➤ Lake Hughes: LA County seized hundreds of dogs and cats Friday from a property in what officials said may be the largest animal rescue of its kind in U.S. history. Estimates ranged from 300 to 700 animals. More than 70 staff triaged animals on-site, with county shelters opening rare Sunday hours to make room. (See Video)

➤ Riverside County: Sheriff Chad Bianco said Friday he seized election materials, citing a 45,000-vote gap, while officials say it was a minor error, and Attorney General Rob Bonta raised concerns as the count proceeds under court supervision. (See Details)

➤ Fallbrook: A 70-year-old man was charged with murder after fatally shooting landscaper Martin Lucas and wounding his coworker with a shotgun. Video shows the suspect threatening the men before firing into their truck. He pleaded not guilty Thursday. (See Details)

➤ UCLA men’s basketball faced No. 2 UConn Sunday in the NCAA Tournament second round with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. The No. 7 Bruins advanced Friday with a 75-71 win over UCF. (See Scores)

➤ No. 1 UCLA women routed Cal Baptist 96-43 Saturday to open their NCAA Tournament run. Lauren Betts led with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Bruins cruised into the second round. (More)

➤ Cal men’s basketball hosted Saint Joseph’s in the NIT second round at Haas Pavilion. The Bears rode Chris Bell’s career-high 31 points past UIC in the first round—Cal’s first postseason win since 2014. (See Scores)

➤ FIFA drew criticism from 68 members of Congress over high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, including matches coming to the Bay Area. Group-stage seats now average over $200, while the cheapest finals tickets top $4,000. (More)

➤ LAX’s automated people mover was spotted in test runs Friday night, with the driverless electric train seen in motion. The system, part of LAX’s $30 billion modernization, will run on a 2.25-mile elevated guideway, connect terminals to Metro rail, and is expected to carry 30 million passengers a year. (See Video)

➤ California homeowners insurance could jump 16% by the end of 2026 as insurers look to recoup roughly $41 billion in losses from the 2025 L.A. wildfires, according to a new Insurify report. Since 2023, home insurance costs in the state have risen by about 16%. (See Report)

➤ Grocery Outlet plans to open new stores in Oakland and Moraga even as it closes 36 underperforming locations nationwide, most in the eastern U.S. The Emeryville-based retailer said the shuttered stores lack a path to sustained profitability. (More)

➤ Manteca launched the Culinary Launch Pad, a food truck incubator program offering equipment, permitting help and mentorship to aspiring restaurateurs. The effort aims to help small businesses test concepts and grow Manteca’s dining scene. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Flying together with our sponsor

Scientists at Washington University discovered that doing this simple couch-yoga pose fixes constipation, bloating, and embarrassing gassy moments.

At the same time, they were shocked to see that something SO simple can empty your bowels faster than any laxative or fiber-rich diet can.

Read all about this revolutionary trick here:

This couch-yoga pose clears your gut fast.

➤ The California Hall of Fame inducted a new class last week at the California Museum in Sacramento. Honorees included Jamie Lee Curtis, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olympic great Carl Lewis, chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles, the nation’s first all-women mariachi ensemble. (See List)

➤ Family, friends, and fellow airmen gathered in San Mateo Saturday to honor Col. Robert Stirm, a Vietnam prisoner of war captured in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Burst of Joy photo as his family ran to embrace him at Travis Air Force Base in 1973. Stirm died in November at 92. A missing-man flyover capped the service. (Read Story)

➤ A groundbreaking UC Davis fetal surgery helped a Northern California boy walk after combining spina bifida repair with stem cells. Early trial results show no safety concerns among six babies treated. (Read Story)

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