House Bill Would End SNAP Restaurant Program

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, introduced H.R. 10268 Thursday to eliminate SNAP’s Restaurant Meals Program, which lets qualifying recipients buy prepared food from approved restaurants.

From June 2023 through May 2025, figures cited by lawmakers put restaurant redemptions across nine states at more than $524 million. California accounted for approximately $475 million, followed by Arizona at $41.4 million and New York at $3.6 million.

California expanded the program statewide in 2021, although eligibility is limited to people 60 or older, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and spouses of qualifying older or disabled recipients. Gill said SNAP benefits should be reserved for groceries, while state officials say the program assists people who may struggle to store or prepare food. The bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.

Unions Press Newsom on Workplace AI Bills

California labor groups gathered in San Francisco Friday to press Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign nine bills addressing artificial intelligence in the workplace.

Senate Bill 947 would prevent employers from allowing automated tools to act alone when firing or disciplining workers. It also requires human review when AI contributes to those decisions.

Labor leaders cited concerns about job displacement and workplace surveillance. Michael Bernick, a former director of California’s Employment Development Department, said recent data do not show AI significantly affecting statewide job creation or losses and encouraged workers to develop new skills. Newsom’s May executive order directed agencies to monitor workforce changes and recommend responses. He has until Sept. 30 to act on the bills.

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ramona Farm

Genetic testing has connected a salmonella outbreak to bacteria found at Happy Hens poultry farm in Ramona. The outbreak sickened 23 people and hospitalized seven.

FDA samples collected Aug. 17 detected salmonella in two of the farm’s seven henhouses. The bacteria matched strains found in San Diego County patients.

State health officials recommended a voluntary recall, but the farm had not issued one as of Friday, and test results on the eggs remained pending. Consumers were advised to cook eggs thoroughly, discard cracked or dirty eggs, wash their hands, and clean food-preparation surfaces after handling raw eggs.

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➤ Stockton: Police arrested Joseph Gogna, 33, a former licensed firearms dealer, after investigators said he accepted guns on consignment but failed to pay their owners after the firearms were sold. Police said a search of Gogna’s home yielded about 440 firearms, including approximately 20 emi-automatic guns and two machine guns. (More)

➤ Sacramento: Police arrested Darrell Buckner, 46, after investigators linked him to at least five of nine recent business burglaries. Police said he could be responsible for additional break-ins. (More)

➤ San Francisco: All northbound lanes of U.S. 101 through Hospital Curve are scheduled to remain closed until 6 a.m. Monday for pavement repairs. Southbound lanes remain open, and Caltrans advised northbound drivers to use Interstate 280 or public transportation. (See Detour)

➤ Bakersfield: The Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County ceased operations Sept. 3 after more than 40 years, and its board voted to pursue dissolution. The board said it could not sustain a different service model after closing its adult day program in April and being advised that proceeds from a potential building sale must remain dedicated to adult day services. (See Statement)

➤ Dinuba: Dinuba High School began using an AI-powered weapons-detection system during Friday night’s football game after testing the technology last season. District officials said the system screens attendees for concealed weapons and other prohibited items and supplements the school’s existing security measures. (More)

➤ Pismo Beach: Construction on the $85 million Five Cities Project could slow traffic through Monday, particularly along Price Street and at the Spyglass Drive, Mattie Road, and Wadsworth Avenue undercrossings. The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments advised drivers to allow extra travel time or choose alternate routes. (See Details)

➤ Palm Springs: Palm Springs Unified and College of the Desert are developing a middle college high school program that could allow students to earn college credits and, in some cases, an associate degree while completing high school. The program is expected to begin in the 2027-28 school year, with students dividing their time between Desert Learning Academy and College of the Desert’s new Palm Springs campus. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles: Police are searching for a man and woman suspected of attacking an 18-year-old woman and her friends inside a Hollywood 7-Eleven and stealing the woman’s gold chain. The woman said she lost consciousness after being struck in the head; no arrests had been announced as of Saturday. (More)

➤ Santa Monica: Warmer waters associated with El Niño and a marine heat wave are drawing unusually large yellowtail, bonito, and dorado to waters near Santa Monica and Marina del Rey. Local captains reported water temperatures around 76 degrees and rare sightings of hammerhead sharks, while state scientists cautioned that prolonged warming can damage marine ecosystems. (More)

➤ California and UCLA renewed their rivalry Saturday, opening new eras under first-year head coaches Tosh Lupoi and Bob Chesney, respectively. (See Result)

➤ USC quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-0 rout of Fresno State. (More)

➤ Stanford failed to find the end zone in a 45-6 loss to No. 7 Miami as Darian Mensah threw five touchdown passes and Malachi Toney set a Hurricanes single-game record with 234 receiving yards. (More)

➤ Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will travel to Australia after coming out of a two-year retirement, though his availability for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers remains uncertain. (More)

➤ Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was out of the starting lineup for a second straight game Friday with lingering arm and neck issues, and manager Dave Roberts said a stint on the injured list remains possible. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | Tennis

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Top Doctor: “Oats are one of the best ways to fatten us up”

➤ The Garin Apple Festival returns to Hayward from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, offering historic orchard tours, cider pressing, apple tasting, live bluegrass music, crafts, and lawn games at Garin Regional Park. (See Details)

➤ Bakersfield City School District is using voter-approved Proposition 28 funding to expand arts and music classes. District officials said students enrolled in middle and junior high school music programs have higher attendance rates than those not enrolled in music, and they hope to see similar results at the elementary level. (More)

➤ A new Grateful Dead exhibition is open in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, featuring Ken Kesey’s psychedelic “Furthur” bus and Jerry Garcia’s BMW, which is on public display for the first time. The exhibition runs through Oct. 25 and also includes concert photographs, a liquid light show, and a screen-printing station. (See Exhibit)

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

➤ The jobs of tomorrow may involve caring for people or powering machines. (Hear More)

➤ The NFL’s nicest and nastiest fan bases are finally revealed. (Listen Now)

➤  America’s tastiest small town is just a train ride from two major cities. (Podcast Available)

Should qualifying SNAP recipients be allowed to buy prepared meals from approved restaurants?

1. Yes, keep the program
2. Yes, with tighter rules
3. No, groceries only
4. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s the main event on your Labor Day weekend agenda?

1. A road trip or getaway: 34%
2. A barbecue or gathering: 24%
3. Relaxing at home: 15%
4. The beach, lake, or park:13%
5. Working: 9%
6. Something else—reply to tell us: 5%

In 1975, a Northern California advertising man turned a bar-room joke into a fortune by selling ordinary stones as low-maintenance “pets,” boxed with air holes and a straight-faced training manual. What was this runaway fad called?

Show me the answer