Eight Candidates Clash in Pomona Debate

All eight candidates for California governor squared off Tuesday night at Pomona College, five weeks before the June 2 primary.

A new poll of likely primary voters has Republican Steve Hilton leading at 16%, Democrat Tom Steyer at 15%, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at 13%, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 10%, with 26% of voters undecided.

Hilton, who carries President Trump’s endorsement, leaned into California’s high cost of living and economic struggles: “We’ve had the same people in charge for 16 years now.” He criticized Democrats for blaming President Trump for state failures.

Becerra opened by aiming at Hilton: “We need someone who’s going to fight Donald Trump, not agree with him.” Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter clashed over taxes, with Porter charging that Steyer’s billions came from fossil-fuel investments.

California’s top-two primary sends the top two finishers, regardless of party, to the November ballot.

High-Speed Rail Cost Hits $231 Billion

California’s high-speed rail price tag is now estimated at $231 billion in the authority’s draft 2026 business plan, nearly seven times the $33 billion voters approved in 2008.

The Central Valley segment, the main stretch under construction, is now pegged at roughly $35 billion, with revenue service projected to begin around 2033.

State Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, said the cost escalation has eroded public trust in the project. “What’s been promised is almost like a three-card monte,” he said, questioning the Authority’s pivot to private investment after years of overruns.

High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri has framed the new numbers as evidence of a credible long-term vision, pitching private investors on the full Los Angeles to San Francisco buildout while construction continues in the Central Valley.

The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office has flagged the funding assumptions as uncertain, citing the project’s track record of cost overruns and delays.

Coastal Commission Apologizes to SpaceX, Musk

The California Coastal Commission apologized to SpaceX in a federal court settlement filed Tuesday, ending a lawsuit that accused the agency of political bias against CEO Elon Musk.

SpaceX sued in 2024 after the commission voted against allowing the company to expand its Falcon 9 launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The commission acknowledged that members made “improper” statements about Musk’s political beliefs at an October 2024 hearing and agreed not to consider “perceived political beliefs, political speech or labor practices” of SpaceX or its officers in future regulatory action.

The commission stood by its environmental concerns about the expanded launches, citing impacts on public coastal access, sensitive species, and the frequency of sonic booms.

The commission agreed not to require a coastal permit for SpaceX’s Vandenberg launch program, and SpaceX agreed to share sonic-boom monitoring data. Both parties said the deal is not an admission of liability.

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➤ Oakland: San Francisco and the Port of Oakland settled a yearslong trademark dispute over the airport’s name. The airport will be called “Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport,” resolving a lawsuit after Oakland’s earlier rebrand drew objections. (See Details)

➤ Sacramento: Authorities arrested John Vea Uasike, 31, near Sacramento as the first suspect charged with murder in the Jan. 7 shooting outside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse that killed two and wounded six. He faces two murder counts and awaits extradition to Utah. (See Details)

➤ Cloverdale: Another tech-backed utopian community is being proposed in Sonoma County. “Esmeralda,” a walkable village planned within Cloverdale’s city limits, is distinct from the California Forever project in neighboring Solano County. (Read Story)

➤ Placer County: Authorities arrested James Lawhead Jr., 64, in Bullhead City, Ariz., for the 1991 kidnapping and murder of Granite Bay’s Cindy Wanner. Advanced DNA testing identified him, while facial recognition helped track his alias, cracking the 34-year cold case. His sister was also arrested in South Carolina on an accessory charge. (See Details)

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➤ Central Valley: A new study finds that 60% to 70% of Central Valley wells could miss California’s 2040 groundwater sustainability targets if pumping increases, with up to 70% falling short by 2070 due to ongoing declines. (See Report)

➤ Tulare County: Loved ones, colleagues, and community members gathered at a church Tuesday to lay Tulare County Sheriff’s Detective Randy Hoppert to rest. The Navy veteran was killed on April 9 responding to a Porterville call for backup, where a suspect opened fire. He leaves a pregnant wife. (See Details)

➤ Paso Robles’ downtown ranked fifth on a USA Today list of best Main Streets, with the outlet highlighting the historic district’s wine tasting, shopping, restaurants, and the Paso Robles Inn. (More)

➤ Fresno: A Fresno State analysis found Central California’s alcohol-related DUI death rate hit roughly six per 100,000 in 2023, more than double California’s statewide rate of about three per 100,000. Fresno County alone logged more than 1,700 deadly crashes caused by drunk drivers from 2010 to 2023. (See Report)

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➤ Los Angeles: Los Angeles fell out of the top 10 most expensive U.S. rental markets for the first time, according to a new report. One-bedroom rents dropped 3.5% to $2,210 and two-bedroom rents dropped 2.6% to $3,030, with researchers crediting more than 12,000 new apartments scheduled this year. (See Report)

➤ Pacific Palisades: A 90-second recording of a Jan. 4, 2025, call between Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and businessman John Alle is resurfacing weeks before the primary election. Alle says he warned Bass about wind and fire risk three days before the Palisades fire. Her campaign says the call concerned law enforcement in MacArthur Park. (See Details)

➤ Orange County: Federal agents carried out drug enforcement raids at multiple locations across Orange County early Wednesday, including neighborhoods in Irvine and Tustin. Authorities say there’s no public threat, no immigration link, and no arrests confirmed as the investigation continues. (More)

➤ San Diego: A United flight from San Francisco reported a possible drone strike before landing. The plane landed safely with 54 people aboard. An inspection found no damage, and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed no additional sightings. (More)

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➤ The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Rockets 99-93 last night despite a 25-point performance from LeBron James. The series shifts back to Houston tomorrow night for Game 6. (More)

➤ Top-ranked UCLA baseball routed UC Santa Barbara 15-3 this week, improving to 40-4 on the season. UCSB had beaten the Bruins 4-0 earlier this month to snap their 27-game winning streak. (More)

➤ Luka Dončić is pushing back a child custody hearing that was originally set for mid-May, a move that could hint at his availability for the Lakers later in the playoffs. (More)

➤ The LA Dodgers acquired infielder Tyler Fitzgerald from the Blue Jays this week for cash considerations. He spent the past three seasons with the San Francisco Giants after breaking into the majors in 2023. (More)

➤ The Anaheim Ducks return home for Game 6 against Edmonton tonight. If they win, it’ll be their first time advancing to the second round of the playoffs since 2017. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ The California Academy of Sciences will lay off 53 employees and reassign or cut hours for 32 more, citing a $7.3 million cash deficit last year and an $8 million-plus projected shortfall. The Golden Gate Park institution pointed to high operating costs, lower tourism and lost federal funding. (Read Story)

➤ Investment banker Storm Duncan listed his 13-acre Strawberry-neighborhood compound on LinkedIn, offering to swap it for Anthropic shares. Duncan pitched the deal to AI employees with concentrated stock holdings as a way to balance assets. He reports several conversations but no signed deal. (More)

➤ San Diego International Airport announced seven new nonstop routes, nine returning domestic seasonal routes, and seven expanded international routes for spring and summer. Total nonstop destinations now stand at 87, the airport’s highest ever, with overall service up more than 10% over last year. (See Details)

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➤ Bright-blue Velella velella, known as “by-the-wind sailors,” washed up by the thousands at Baker Beach and along the Northern California coast as seasonal winds pushed them ashore. The jellyfish cousins are harmless to humans, but pet owners are warned dogs can get sick if they ingest them. (Watch Video)

➤ Humboldt County’s “Immortal Tree” along the Avenue of the Giants near Redcrest still stands at 248 feet after nearly 1,000 years. The redwood has survived lightning strikes that sheared off its top, a 1908 logging attempt, the devastating 1964 flood, and early logging crews who never finished cutting it down. (Read Story)

➤ Selma’s 46th Raisin Festival runs today through Sunday at Lincoln Park in Selma. The annual event celebrates the region’s raisin industry with food, live entertainment, and family activities. (See Details)

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Today is National Raisin Day. How do you take your raisins?

1. Oatmeal raisin cookies
2. In trail mix
3. Raisin bran
4. Straight from the box
5. I pick them out
6. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite Michelle Pfeiffer movie?

1. None: 22%
2. Scarface: 17%
3. Something else: 16%
4. Batman Returns: 16%
5. The Fabulous Baker Boys: 15%
6. Dangerous Minds: 14%

Humboldt County’s Avenue of the Giants is a scenic drive winding through the world’s largest remaining stand of old-growth redwoods. About how long is the famous route?

Show me the answer