Kim Declares Victory, Allen Concedes

Former San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim declared victory in California’s race for insurance commissioner after fellow Democrat Ben Allen conceded Friday.

Kim led by about 53% to 47% with 65% of ballots counted as of midday Friday and is expected to succeed termed-out commissioner Ricardo Lara, whose tenure has been marked by rising home-insurance premiums and insurers retreating from wildfire-prone areas.

Kim campaigned on a first-in-the-nation, state-run disaster fund that would pull wildfire coverage out of private homeowners policies and into a nonprofit pool funded by a portion of existing homeowners’ premiums. “We are going to make insurance work for us again,” she told supporters, vowing to take on what she called a $3 trillion industry.

Kim has acknowledged that standing up a public disaster-insurance program is a tough, long-term goal that will require support from state lawmakers and the governor.

NVIDIA Probes CEO Over Espionage Reports

Santa Clara-based NVIDIA said Sunday its board is opening an independent investigation into co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang after reports he had been the target of a Chinese intelligence effort.

The New York Times and Financial Times reported that Huang had a relationship with Alice Huang (no relation), a businesswoman whom the outlets reported U.S. intelligence had identified as a Chinese intelligence recruit.

In a note to employees, Huang apologized for being unfaithful to his wife, while NVIDIA said he remains committed to leading the company without interruption.

NVIDIA said it has “no reason to believe” national security or company secrets were compromised, and China dismissed the allegations as “baseless.” House Republicans on the Select Committee on China have asked Huang to appear for a closed-door briefing Nov. 18.

Great America to Close in 2027

California’s Great America, the Santa Clara amusement park that opened in 1976, will close for good after its 2027 season.

Operator Six Flags said the final day will be Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2027. The closure follows the park property’s sale in 2022 and a decision not to extend its land lease, which expires in June 2028. The farewell season opens in March.

Six Flags said Great America ranked among the least profitable of its theme parks. Park manager Dave Vosejpka said the Santa Clara park had “served as the backdrop for unforgettable memories” for Bay Area families.

Over the decades, the park welcomed tens of millions of guests and became a longtime Bay Area destination.

Flying together with our sponsor

You Checked Your Car Insurance. What About Your Home?

Your homeowners insurance renews. You pay the bill. Another year goes by.

But when was the last time you checked what other insurers would charge?

If you’ve used Insurify for auto insurance, you already know the idea: compare your options and see whether there’s a better fit for your budget. Now you can do the same for your home.

Insurify lets you compare home insurance quotes from multiple companies, giving you a way to explore potential savings without visiting each insurer’s website individually.

It’s free to compare, and you can weigh the price, coverage, and deductible against your current policy. Whether you’ve tried Insurify before or you’re starting fresh, here’s another household bill worth a second look.

See what you could save on home insurance.

➤ San Francisco: Macy’s is ending its 30-plus-year tradition of paying for the Union Square Christmas tree. The city will instead fund a real tree, expected to be lit by Black Friday, a year after Macy’s stopped funding the square’s Santa display. (More)

➤ Also San Francisco: Diana Peng, 42, was arrested Friday amid an investigation into alleged fraud involving a $4.4 million Sea Cliff home. A city lawsuit accuses her and another person of using forged deeds to transfer the property eight times before trying to sell it. (More)

➤ Sacramento: Francisca Hunter, 16, has been missing from Kirkland, Washington, since Oct. 26 and may be headed to Sacramento. Her family says she may be using the name “Angelina Dylan” and claiming to be 18. Anyone with information is urged to contact law enforcement. (More)

➤ Oakland: Police are seeking approval to launch drones from three rooftop sites to emergency calls, providing live video before officers arrive. The chief calls the technology a “game changer” amid staffing shortages, while critics raise privacy and oversight concerns. (More)

➤ Humboldt: California health officials are warning foragers after four deaths in a statewide mushroom poisoning outbreak. One Humboldt County resident was hospitalized after mistaking a poisonous western destroying angel mushroom for a puffball. (More)

Enjoy reading The California Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Monterey County: An 18-year-old was arrested on two counts of murder in the Nov. 2 shooting near Moss Landing State Beach that killed two Salinas teens, Nathaniel Flores, 13, and Marco Antonio Perez, 15. His bail was set at $2.035 million. (More)

➤ Avenal: Voters elected four new city council members Tuesday after an April recall ousted three members and the mayor. Francisco Lopez and Jessica Enriquez won two-year terms, while Jose Barrera and Alex Ramirez won four-year terms. (More)

➤ Hollister: Carlos Barajas Ramirez, 19, was rearrested Nov. 1 over an alleged plan to carry out a shooting at Hollister High School. He had been released because delays in processing his case prevented prosecutors from filing charges on time. (More)

➤ Delano: More than a dozen seniors face displacement after the city condemned the Palm Motel over mold, exposed wiring, and other hazards. Officials are helping residents relocate and pursuing legal action against the landlord. (More)

➤ Clovis: The city announced new rules for Candy Cane Lane, including a vendor ban, added signage, and increased police presence after neighbors complained about vendors and crowds. The holiday light display runs Dec. 1-25. (See Details)

Enjoy reading The California Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Boyle Heights: Protesters gathered outside a hospital Saturday after immigration agents brought in a detainee and allegedly blocked ambulance access. Mayor-elect Nithya Raman condemned the incident. Federal officials had yet to comment. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: A man was arrested on suspicion of stalking Friday night at LeBron James’ Brentwood home after police responded to a possible burglary. James was in Cleveland for a 76ers game at the time. (More)

➤ Angeles National Forest: Sheila Nartatez, 47, was arrested Saturday for allegedly starting a brush fire along Little Tujunga Canyon Road during a red flag warning. Firefighters kept the blaze under half an acre. Her bail was set at $35,000. (More)

➤ Newport Beach: Two fishermen rescued a Royal Caribbean pianist who reportedly spent nearly nine hours in the Pacific Ocean after going overboard. He was found about 20 miles offshore, and lifeguards responded to assist. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: Thomas Markle Sr., 82, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, was charged with possessing child sexual abuse material after FBI agents searched his LA-area storage units. He was arrested in Florida and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. (More)

Enjoy reading The California Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ The Los Angeles Rams won their third straight Sunday, beating the Washington Commanders 20-13. Puka Nacua had 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Myles Garrett recorded three sacks. (More)

➤ The San Francisco 49ers improved to 7-1 with a 38-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Brock Purdy accounted for three touchdowns, while San Francisco forced five second-half turnovers. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Chargers lost their eighth straight Sunday, falling 44-22 to the Houston Texans. Justin Herbert was sacked a career-high eight times as Los Angeles remained winless at 0-8. (More)

➤ Stephen Curry scored 41 points in Golden State’s 126-119 overtime win over Orlando on Saturday, making four go-ahead shots without a miss late in regulation and overtime, an NBA tracking-era first. (More)

➤ Folsom swept Rocklin 3-0 on Saturday to win its second straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division I girls volleyball championship. The Bulldogs improved to 34-7 and now advance to the CIF State Championships. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NHL | NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Winter Mornings Feeling Darker and Slower? Short winter days can make it harder to get going. Sunniva Light is a full-spectrum light-therapy lamp for darker winter days, designed to bring daylight-style brightness indoors while you eat breakfast or check email. See how it works. Learn More

➤ What’s the best dog breed in America? We ranked the top 10, and the winner is hard to argue with. (Tune In Here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down the 10 dog breeds that make the best pets. So what separates a great dog from the rest? Is it how smart they are, loyalty, size, or how much hair ends up on your couch?

Everybody thinks their dog’s breed belongs at the top, so where does your four-legged friend actually land on our list? Find out here!

In case you missed it, last week’s Flyover Focus dug into the strange but important history of Daylight Saving Time. (Watch Here)

➤ Chevron has resumed oil drilling in Kern County, working on roughly the 41st of 138 approved wells. State Sen. Shannon Grove touted the potential job boost, while Chevron said future drilling depends on permitting and investment conditions. (More)

➤ Gallery House, a 5,500-square-foot San Francisco home designed around its owners’ art collection, sold for a record $11.5 million, nearly tripling South Beach’s previous single-family home record. The property sold before hitting the public market. (More)

➤ Hicksville Trailer Palace, a quirky vintage-trailer motel in the Joshua Tree area, will close for good at the end of June 2027 after 16 years. The desert getaway, billed as California’s first trailer motel, hosted weddings, reunions, and countless desert escapes. (Read Story)

➤ Costco opened its new 152,000-square-foot Vallejo warehouse Friday, drawing lines of shoppers. The store features a 32-pump gas station, food court, and Mac Dre-themed IPA honoring the late local rapper. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Looking for a retirement stock to research? Whitney Tilson highlights a lesser-known company with assets tied to artificial intelligence and another major American industry. Explore his case, its dividend potential, and the company’s name and ticker in a free presentation. No email address or credit card required.

Flying together with our sponsor

Same Trusted Process. Another Place to Look for Savings.

Already compared your auto insurance through Insurify? Give your homeowners policy the same attention.

You don’t have to be moving or buying a house to explore your options. If you’ve been renewing the same policy year after year, comparing quotes can help you see how it stacks up today.

Your home is a major investment. Its insurance deserves more than an automatic renewal.

Compare home insurance quotes for free.

➤ San Jose kicked off its year-long 250th anniversary celebration Saturday, unveiling a new logo and plans to plant 250,000 daffodils. Founded in 1777, it is California’s oldest civilian settlement. (Read Story)

➤ Office cats Muffin and Butter are helping lure workers back to San Francisco startup Mochi Health, alongside free meals and poker games. A survey suggests pet-friendly workplaces help attract employees. (Read Story)

➤ San Diego shipwrights have completed the frames of Pilgrim III, a replica of an 1825 tall ship. Donation-funded and designed as a floating classroom, the vessel is slated for christening in 2028. (Read Story)

➤ Volunteers removed about 5,000 pounds of trash from the San Diego River on Saturday ahead of El Niño rains. The San Diego River Park Foundation identified 124,000 pounds of debris it hopes to clear before winter storms. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Steak You Can Store for 25 Years (Most Preppers Don’t Know It Exists) Most freeze-dried meat comes diced or crumbled, so most people assume that’s the only option. It isn’t. Whole, uncooked USDA Prime Black Angus strip steaks can keep 97% of their nutrients and 99% of their taste for 25+ years. So why is it still stocked mostly by the ultra-wealthy, in their bunkers? Few people know it exists, and fewer still know how to prepare it. See what it is (and how it’s prepared)

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ An impaired driver plowed into a pack of weekend cyclists outside Raleigh, and the man now facing 18 charges is 76 years old. (Hear More)

➤ Melania Trump showed up at the LSU-Alabama game with a $7.2 million gift, and it had nothing to do with football. (Listen Now)

➤ Two-thirds of kids have had an imaginary friend by age 7, and researchers say the invisible milk cartons and ballerinas are doing more than keeping them company. (Hear Details)

Would you want a pet where you work?

1. Yes, I’d love it!
2. Maybe, depending on the pet
3. No, too distracting
4. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Bakersfield just had its big art crawl. What’s your favorite way to make the rounds?

1. Holiday lights tour: 33%
2. Art walk: 15%
3. Brewery crawl: 15%
4. Christmas caroling: 14%
5. Taco crawl: 12%
6. Other: 11%

California’s Great America first opened in 1976. What company, far better known for hotels and restaurants, originally built it?

Show me the answer

If you’re a fan of our Trivia section, you’ll love our new book, The Flyover Book of Trivia 2027, an illustrated collection of 100 of our favorite questions and answers. (Buy It Now)