Judge: LA’s Top Prosecutor Serving Unlawfully

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Bill Essayli, the Trump-appointed top federal prosecutor for California’s Central District, is unlawfully serving as a “de facto” U.S. attorney.

Judge Michael Seabright disqualified Essayli from supervising two pending prosecutions but paused the order, giving the Justice Department five business days to seek a stay pending appeal. He declined to dismiss the indictments.

Essayli was named interim U.S. attorney in April 2025, but just before his 120-day term expired, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi made him first assistant, allowing him to effectively continue leading the office. Seabright found that setup matched one an appeals court had already rejected in a Nevada case.

Essayli said he respectfully disagreed and would keep serving, arguing the president and attorney general “have every right to select supervisors within the Justice Department.” He said he expects the Supreme Court to settle the question.

Newsom Orders Highway 1 Storm Prep

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Tuesday directing state agencies to protect Highway 1 and the coastal communities that depend on it ahead of this winter’s El Niño storms.

He signed it at Crystal Cove State Park, where a large crack in a coastal bluff recently forced an emergency closure of Highway 1 between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Emergency work on the Big Sur stretch alone has cost about $312 million since 2020.

Pounding surf and high tides have been eroding the coastline near the highway, and repeated closures disrupt routes for workers, goods, and first responders. The order tells agencies to prioritize preventive work now rather than wait for storms to hit.

A new Highway 1 Task Force, led by the state’s transportation and natural resources agencies, will identify vulnerable stretches, recommend funding, and speed preventive work. Newsom declared a statewide El Niño emergency in September.

Elvis Rights Owners Sue Anthropic

Rights holders for Elvis Presley’s music have sued San Francisco AI company Anthropic, alleging it trained its Claude chatbot on 274 copyrighted songs without permission.

The federal lawsuit, filed by Authentic Brands Group and other rights holders, seeks $41.1 million, up to $150,000 per song. It claims Anthropic “built its entire business model on infringing copyrights” and says Claude still reworks the songs on request despite added guardrails.

Anthropic said it disagrees with the claims and intends to defend the case fully. It agreed last year to a $1.5 billion settlement with book authors over pirated training material, the largest settlement in U.S. copyright history, and faces similar suits from major music publishers.

The songs include classics like Can’t Help Falling in Love and Don’t Be Cruel. Beyond damages, the rights holders want a court order barring further infringement and requiring Anthropic to destroy unauthorized copies.

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➤ Marin County: El Niño-driven high tides flooded low-lying areas of Marin again this week, with officials warning that more coastal flooding is likely as even higher tides approach. (More)

➤ Humboldt County: Rep. James Gallagher introduced “Dunkin’s Law” after 117 dead dogs were found at a Fortuna rescue. The bill would recognize pets as sentient beings and let owners sue negligent pet care businesses. (More)

➤ Rancho Cordova: City leaders advanced plans for a $1.2 billion sports arena complex with hotels, restaurants, and housing. The city would contribute $185 million, with a financing vote set for Nov. 2 amid concerns over traffic and costs. (More)

➤ Lake Tahoe: Sugar Bowl Resort is undergoing a $100 million overhaul, including a new eight-person gondola, renovated lodges, and upgraded facilities. The historic ski resort aims to finish major improvements before its Nov. 27 opening. (Read Story)

➤ Yosemite National Park recorded 61 accidental deaths from 2014 to 2022, the most of any U.S. national park, according to an analysis of federal data. Falls were the leading cause, accounting for roughly 36% of accidental deaths across all national parks. (See List)

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➤ San Joaquin Valley: Dolores Huerta, civil rights icon and United Farm Workers co-founder, died Wednesday at 96. Raised in the Central Valley, she spent decades championing farmworkers, women’s rights, and racial equality, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (More)

➤ Fresno: A toxicology report found no drugs in city council candidate Naindeep Singh’s system following a DUI arrest, prompting an apology from Police Chief Mindy Casto. Casto continued to defend the officer’s investigation despite the negative results. (More)

➤ Kern County: Election officials said a viral image of discarded cases labeled “County of Kern Elections Division” does not show vote-by-mail ballots. The cases contain outdated voting booths that haven’t been used in more than 20 years. (More)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: Health officials confirmed five E. coli cases possibly linked to Brookshire Farms. Three children were hospitalized with kidney complications, and the pumpkin patch voluntarily closed during the investigation. (See Details)

➤ Santa Clara: City officials are seeking a developer to revive the downtown lost in the 1960s. The nearly five-acre project would include at least 300 homes, restaurants, shops, and a theater, with 25% of housing designated as affordable. (Read Story)

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➤ Southern California: Rain could dampen Halloween plans, with showers expected Saturday evening. Forecasters predict up to half an inch of rain, with heavier amounts near foothills. Conditions should improve Sunday morning. (More)

➤ Hollywood: A broken water main caused a reported 20-foot-wide sinkhole near Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue on Wednesday morning. Water flooded nearby streets, disrupting traffic as crews worked to stop the leak. No injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: New video appears to show an electrical explosion during testing of LAX’s delayed People Mover. Four blasts occurred in September. Repairs are complete, but the train won’t open until at least early 2027. (See Video)

➤ San Diego: A woman’s visit prompted a lockdown at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Tuesday. Police said there was no direct threat and detained her Wednesday for a mental health evaluation. She faces no charges. (More)

➤ West Hollywood: Planning officials approved a $400 million-plus, 34-story tower that would become the city’s tallest building. It would include 514 apartments, including 128 affordable units, pending City Council approval. (Read Story)

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➤ Today’s WNBA Finals Game 6 tips off in the morning on the West Coast, prompting Golden State Valkyries players to joke that fans should “call in sick.” Golden State can clinch its first championship against the Atlanta Dream. (More)

➤ The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics unveiled their official slogan, “Stars Align,” with a promotional video featuring local landmarks and athletes set to music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. (More)

➤ The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to reacquire defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft. (More)

➤ USC coach Lincoln Riley reaffirmed his desire to stay with the Trojans amid questions about his future following their second loss of the season. USC faces No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Series | NCAAF | NHL | NBA | Soccer

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➤ On-location filming in Greater Los Angeles fell 4.8% in the third quarter from a year earlier, to 4,171 shoot days, FilmLA reported. But tax-credit-backed projects now make up 40.3% of scripted shoots, nearly double their year-ago share. (See Report)

➤ Waymo expanded its driverless ride-hailing service in San Diego on Tuesday, nearly doubling its coverage to 90 square miles with the addition of La Jolla, University City, and Clairemont. (More)

➤ Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo is drawing “Crackgate” complaints, with some owners of the Cupertino company’s device reporting screen cracking or defects. (More)

➤ 23andMe’s settlements over the 2023 data breach that exposed 6.9 million customers’ personal information now top $70 million, including $46.75 million for victims and a new $6 million deal with California. (See Details)

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➤ Irene Maddox, an Eagle Rock High School student, was crowned the 2027 Rose Queen by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. She’ll ride in the 138th Rose Parade and attend the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1. (Read Story)

➤ Thirteen killer whales swam alongside a whale-watching boat off Southern California, giving passengers a rare close encounter. The nonaggressive behavior, known as “mugging,” comes amid several recent orca sightings along the coast. (See Video)

➤ A rare yellow-browed warbler believed to have flown 5,000 miles from Siberia drew hundreds of birdwatchers to Moss Beach. It was the first confirmed sighting in the Bay Area and only the second in the contiguous U.S. (Read Story)

➤ Contra Costa County’s clerk-recorder will offer Halloween-themed wedding ceremonies with costumed officiants this Friday for couples looking to tie the knot with a spooky twist. (More)

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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. 

➤ Try these seven everyday habits that researchers say may help prevent or delay dementia. (Listen Now)

➤ Brazil’s defeated presidential candidate has fled the country and surfaced in the US, defying a court order to surrender his passports. (Hear Details)

➤ One of basketball’s most familiar voices says heart issues played a role in his decision to make this season his last. (Listen Now)

Have you ever taken an at-home DNA test, or would you?

1. Yes, I’ve taken one
2. No, but I’d consider it
3. No, I don’t trust them with my DNA
4. Not for me

Yesterday’s Results:

Which is your dominant hand?

1. Right-handed: 79%
2. Left-handed: 15%
3. Ambidextrous: 6%

Pasadena’s Rose Parade has marched almost every New Year’s Day since 1890, but one circumstance, by a rule dating to 1893, will always push it to Jan. 2 instead. What is it?

Show me the answer