DOJ Demands Counties Hold Ballots

The Justice Department has demanded that California county registrars set aside mail-in ballots from voters it suspects are noncitizens.

Letters sent Friday to at least 18 counties gave officials 48 hours to turn over Social Security numbers, ID details, and registration paperwork tied to a federal list of roughly 20,000 suspected noncitizen voters. Earlier in the week, 28 people from that list were charged with illegally registering to vote.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli warned that officials who knowingly process a noncitizen’s ballot are “opening themselves to legal jeopardy.” State attorneys counter that the federal data is unreliable and that the demands risk disenfranchising citizens.

Napa County Registrar John Tuteur said his office will keep counting: “We’re proceeding with the election.” A 9th Circuit panel was set to hear the DOJ’s emergency appeal Sunday, with a district court hearing scheduled Tuesday.

Court Rules Guard Deployment Unlawful

A federal appeals court ruled 2-1 Friday that President Trump acted unlawfully when he federalized 4,000 California National Guard members for deployment to the Los Angeles area last year.

Judge Jennifer Sung, a Biden appointee, wrote that the administration hadn’t met the legal requirements to federalize the Guard. Trump-nominated Judge Eric Miller joined her, while fellow Trump nominee Mark Bennett dissented.

The administration argued that violent protests against the immigration crackdown justified taking control of the Guard from Gov. Gavin Newsom, but the panel found conditions in Los Angeles didn’t meet the legal threshold for federalizing the troops. The ruling builds on a Supreme Court decision against a similar deployment in Illinois.

Newsom called it “a crucial day for the rule of law.” The Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Newsom Grants Clemency to 57 People

Gov. Gavin Newsom granted 27 pardons and 30 sentence commutations Thursday.

Four of the commutations involved Sacramento County cases, including Ro Vo, who shot and killed a rival gang member in 1998. His life-without-parole sentence is now 28 years to life.

A commutation doesn’t guarantee release; it typically lets a person go before the Board of Parole Hearings sooner, where crime victims and prosecutors can weigh in. A pardon can restore civic rights and remove barriers to employment.

The governor’s office said recipients were recommended by elected officials, correctional staff, and faith leaders. Newsom has now granted 303 pardons and 199 commutations since taking office.

Flying together with our sponsor

18 Costco Shopping Secrets That Could Save You Serious Money

Think you know all the tricks to saving money at Costco? Think again! Even longtime members may be missing out on hidden discounts, special pricing codes, and little-known perks that could make their membership even more valuable.

From spotting clearance deals to understanding what those mysterious numbers on price tags really mean, these clever shopping hacks can help you stretch your dollars further. FinanceBuzz has uncovered 18 Costco secrets every shopper should know before their next warehouse visit.

Discover These 18 Costco Money-Saving Secrets Here >>

➤ San Francisco: Voters will decide Prop. G, which would reopen the Great Highway to cars on weekdays. Supporters cite traffic congestion in nearby neighborhoods, while opponents say the measure would dismantle Sunset Dunes park. (See Details)

➤ Sacramento County: District 1 supervisor candidate Flojaune Cofer posted an Instagram video questioning rival Eric Guerra’s record on cooperation with ICE. Guerra, a Sacramento City Council member, called it “mudslinging,” while Latino community leaders gathered Friday to support him. (More)

➤ Alameda: Canada geese collected Oct. 8 and 12 at Crown Memorial State Beach tested positive for highly pathogenic bird flu. Officials urge visitors to keep children and dogs away from wild birds and stay at least 50 feet from dead birds. (More)

➤ Daly City: The state is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the 1987 killing of 13-year-old Michele Matteucci, who was found strangled near her bus stop. The reward is part of $300,000 Gov. Gavin Newsom announced for six unsolved homicides. (More)

➤ Los Altos: Stacy Savides, Google’s 50th employee, has funded the Sweet Shop, a neighborhood candy store and cafe, since it opened in 2009. The shop serves frozen yogurt, candy, and sandwiches, with all proceeds going to local schools. (Read Story)

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

➤ Yosemite: Federal investigators say a firefighting helicopter’s crew had problems with its 800-gallon water bucket before crashing Sept. 20 while battling the Dome Fire. Pilots Ryan Cutter and Greg King were killed after completing more than 25 water drops. (See Details)

➤ Fresno County: At least 15,000 voters have received a second ballot ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Registrar James Kus says new ballots are issued when voters update their registration, and only the most recent one will count. More than 50,000 ballots had been returned by Friday. (More)

➤ Monterey County: Federal Medi-Cal changes could leave 44,000 residents without coverage by December 2028 and cut Natividad Medical Center’s funding by $11.7 million over three years. County supervisors have formed a committee to assess the impact. (More)

➤ Santa Cruz: The inaugural Santa Cruz Marathon took place Sunday, with runners following a coastal route from the Beach Boardwalk through Capitola toward Wilder Ranch State Park. The race sold out, with a waitlist already open for 2027. (More)

➤ Paso Robles: World War II veteran Burton Irwin Davis was laid to rest with military honors nearly 40 years after his death, after a caretaker found his ashes, uniform, and dog tags in a hope chest. Schoolchildren waved flags along the procession route. (Read Story)

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

➤ San Bernardino County: A federal jury awarded $51.8 million to the family of Antonio Garza Jr., who was killed by sheriff’s deputies in 2023. The family’s attorneys call it California’s largest police-shooting award, and relatives are seeking criminal charges against the deputies. (See Details)

➤ Southern California: Coastal flood alerts run through Thursday as Hunter’s Moon tides of 7.5 to 8 feet roll in, possibly topping San Pedro’s 7.93-foot record from 2005. Long Beach, Malibu, and Newport Beach have already seen home damage from high surf in recent weeks. (More)

➤ Anaheim: A powerful thunderstorm flooded Disneyland on Friday night, leaving guests wading through ankle-deep water and forcing outdoor rides to close. The 15-minute storm also canceled the fireworks show, but the park resumed normal operations Saturday. (See Video)

➤ Simi Valley: Prosecutors charged Ricardo Jimenez-Garcia, 39, in a 2017 attack in which several men wearing Scream masks and armed with a knife assaulted a woman walking to work. He was arrested Sept. 9, and investigators are seeking the other attackers. (More)

➤ San Clemente: Rescuers freed a young, 29-foot humpback whale tangled in about 100 feet of fishing line offshore, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center said. It was the first successful disentanglement off the Southern California coast this year. (See Video)

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

➤ The Los Angeles Rams improved to 3-4 with a 35-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes and became the franchise’s career leader with 155. (More)

➤ The San Francisco 49ers suffered their first loss of the season Sunday, falling 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons. Brock Purdy threw for 288 yards but was intercepted twice. (More)

➤ UCLA climbed two spots to No. 7 in the latest AP Top 25 after improving to 7-0, while USC dropped out of the rankings. (See Full Rankings)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Golf | NASCAR | F1

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Tired of your hands making you look older than you are? Most hand creams only moisturize and ignore this problem. And they’re not made for men. Particle Hand Cream is designed to help reduce the appearance of dark spots by supporting skin renewal and even tone where discoloration begins. Made with science-backed ingredients, it also hydrates and smooths without a greasy feel. Just effective daily care for younger-looking hands. Get an exclusive 20% off now with the code FLYOVER20.

➤ Scammers stole $20 billion from Americans last year, and the people they fooled were sure it could never happen to them. Odds are you’ve already encountered one of their tricks. (Tune In Here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down the 10 most common scams putting you and your loved ones in danger right now. These deceptions are convincing enough to fool even the most careful people, and knowing how they work is your best protection. We count them all down, including one that threatens to drain your entire retirement account. How many would you have spotted?

In case you missed it, last week’s Flyover Focus counted down 10 small towns that changed American history. (Watch Now)

➤ Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale Friday, drawing lines at stores including Palo Alto. The device unfolds to a 7.6-inch screen and costs $1,999 to $3,199, depending on storage. (See Video)

➤ Tour guides at San Jose’s Winchester Mystery House staged a one-day strike Saturday, saying management hasn’t bargained in good faith for more than a year. The guides, represented by Teamsters Local 856, want better wages and health care, plus caps on tour group sizes. (More)

➤ A buyer has been selected for San Francisco’s shuttered former Westfield mall, with closing expected in early 2027. Reports point to New York-based Seven Equity Group. The former Bloomingdale’s building is excluded. (More)

➤ Lielle, which opened in February, tops the Los Angeles Times‘ 2026 list of the city’s 101 best restaurants, with Kato second for a second straight year. Alta Adams made the biggest leap into the top 10, climbing from No. 44. (See List)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Your Bed Deserves a Fall Upgrade. As temperatures start to drop, there’s nothing better than climbing into a warm, cozy bed. We found a set of 100% organic brushed cotton sheets that look like the perfect upgrade for chilly nights. They’re incredibly soft, have that cozy, lived-in feel, and offer the kind of comfort you’d expect from much more expensive bedding. If your current sheets could use a refresh before winter, these are worth a look. See the sheets we’re eyeing for fall.

Flying together with our sponsor

Costco Shoppers: Don’t Miss These 18 Money-Saving Secrets!

You might love shopping at Costco, but are you getting the most out of your membership? From hidden clearance deals to secret price tag codes, there are clever ways to save that even longtime shoppers overlook.

FinanceBuzz reveals 18 Costco shopping hacks that could help you keep more money in your pocket.

See All 18 Costco Money-Saving Secrets Here >>

➤ Trail cameras set up by photographer Mark Girardeau in the Santa Ana Mountains caught a mountain lion, gray fox, bobcat, and deer checking out pumpkins and other Halloween displays. The footage took two months to get. (See Video)

➤ Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar opens at San Diego’s Beau Hotel on Nov. 19, with pop-ups also planned for cities including Los Angeles, New York, and London. Expect holiday cocktails and wall-to-wall Christmas decor. (More)

➤ Sherman, an 11-year-old, 70-pound sulcata tortoise from Modesto, has become a social media sensation thanks to adventures riding BART and visiting local businesses with owner Wilson Tsai. (See Video)

➤ Glacier Point in Yosemite was named California’s “spiritual home” in a nationwide survey of 3,001 Americans by A Mission for Michael. Respondents cited peace and quiet most often, and only 4% tied their pick to formal religious belief. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Popular Health Food Secretly Leeching Microplastics Into Your Body? Could your favorite healthy snacks be expanding your waistline? According to gut health expert Dr. Steven Gundry, YES. Millions of Americans eat foods they think are healthy but are impacting their gut health. One popular dairy product comes from cows that produce a harmful protein and is packaged in a way that leaches microplastics into your body. These dangers could be behind your weight gain, lack of energy, and brain fog. Watch Dr. Gundry’s presentation here.

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

➤ Eleven people, six of them children, were shot after Florida A&M’s homecoming game, and police say a fight between two or three people set it off. (Hear Details)

➤ Clocks fall back this weekend, and three different plans to stop the twice-a-year switch all stalled in Congress. One would have split the difference by 30 minutes. (Hear Why)

➤ Most of what America streams was released five or more years ago, and a 2015 pop song is one of this year’s biggest hits. (Listen Now)

When is it OK to start playing Christmas music?

1. The minute Halloween ends
2. After Thanksgiving
3. December only
4. Year-round
5. Never

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your go-to Halloween movie?

1. I skip the scary stuff: 52%
2. Ghostbusters: 15%
3. Hocus Pocus: 14%
4. Other: 10%
5. Something truly terrifying: 9%

Sarah Winchester’s San Jose mansion is famous for staircases that run into ceilings and doors that open onto steep drops. Roughly how many rooms does the Winchester Mystery House have?

Show me the answer