California Weighs Under-16 Social Media Ban

California lawmakers are considering a potential first-in-the-nation ban that would block anyone under 16 from creating a social media account.

AB 1709 by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, is one of three bills backed by Common Sense Media founder Jim Steyer. The proposals would allow fines of up to $1 million and bar AI chatbots from producing or displaying self-harm content.

Juliana Arnold testified that her daughter died of a fentanyl overdose after meeting a man online who provided her with drugs, saying parental controls “did not suffice.”

Tech companies are pushing back. Through the Computer and Communications Industry Association, the industry warned the penalties would push platforms to over-restrict content and could weaken privacy protections.

Lawmakers have until the end of the week to send the changes to the governor. If approved and signed, the new rules would take effect Jan. 1.

California Advances Last Chance Grade Tunnel

California approved about $180 million to design a tunnel that would carry U.S. 101 around Last Chance Grade, the landslide-prone stretch of highway south of Crescent City.

The 6,000-foot tunnel would swing east of the existing highway and would rank as the longest in Caltrans history, about 1,800 feet longer than each of the Bay Area’s Tom Lantos Tunnels.

The grade has been plagued by landslides for decades. When it closes, drivers face a detour of up to eight hours, and the road returned to two-way traffic in 2023 after roughly nine years of one-way control.

Del Norte County Supervisor Chris Howard said the California Transportation Commission questioned the unusually large sum for a design phase, but North Coast leaders argued the corridor needs a permanent fix.

Construction is expected to run between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, remains unfunded, and is targeted to be shovel-ready by 2031.

California Weighs Federal Fire Changes

The Trump administration has consolidated wildland firefighters from four Interior Department agencies into a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service.

The new service and the U.S. Forest Service are pursuing “full suppression,” aiming to aggressively suppress every new fire. The Interior Department says the move will streamline decision-making and strengthen response.

California has a direct stake. The service is led by Brian Fennessy, former chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, and the CAL FIRE Aviation Program, which operates the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet.

Critics warn that aggressively suppressing every fire could allow dry fuels to build up and fuel worse blazes later. State Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot told federal officials the changes “could impact our state’s wildfire readiness.”

Federal officials counter that aggressive suppression protects firefighters and communities during an abnormally hot, dry summer. A proposal to move the Forest Service’s firefighting program into the new agency remains under consideration.

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➤ Sonoma County: A vegetation blaze dubbed the Petaluma Fire burned into a solar facility near Highway 101 and San Antonio Road on Sunday, growing to about four acres, Cal Fire said. (See Details)

➤ Auburn: Ian Roberts, a 24-year-old Roseville man, remains missing after deputies said they believe he hiked from Overlook Park into the American River Canyon on Friday, and crews resumed searching Monday. His vehicle was found in Auburn. (More)

➤ Marysville: Jerome Woody, 44, escaped from a room at Adventist Health Rideout Hospital before 4 a.m. Sunday, and the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office is searching for him. He was held on nonviolent charges and is not believed to be armed or dangerous. (More)

➤ San Jose: Residents of the San Jose Mobile Home and RV Park say they have faced retaliatory violation notices after forming a tenant association, a claim the park’s owner, Monte Cristo Communities, denies. (See Details)

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➤ Visalia: A fight involving roughly 100 people erupted at a 559 Fights mixed martial arts event inside the Visalia Convention Center on Saturday night, leading to 15 arrests. Three police officers suffered minor injuries. (More)

➤ San Luis Obispo: Cal Poly’s roughly 23,000 students are heading back for fall term, giving downtown businesses a sales boost while year-round residents brace for busier roads and restaurants. Students generate about $2.6 billion a year locally. (Read Story)

➤ Kern County: The sheriff’s office is combining its water and aerial rescue capabilities to reach Kern River emergencies faster, after recording eight rescues and five recovered persons since the day after Memorial Day. Crews trained together for two days near Lake Ming. (More)

➤ Pacific Grove: The Museum of Natural History has named marine biologist Samantha Weiss as its new director of development and engagement, succeeding retiring longtime director Susan Wolfe. Weiss spent nearly a decade researching marine life, including great white sharks. (More)

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➤ Los Angeles: Archer Aviation and AEG are unveiling an electric air taxi Monday at L.A. Live, where they plan to build a downtown vertiport ahead of the 2028 Olympics. The companies say the aircraft could make trips across Los Angeles in 10 to 20 minutes, with planned stops including SoFi Stadium, USC, and Hollywood Burbank Airport. (See Video)

➤ Also Los Angeles: Shelley Fabares, the Santa Monica-born actor who played Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show and Christine Armstrong on Coach and topped the charts with the 1962 hit Johnny Angel, died Saturday in Los Angeles at 82. (Read Story)

➤ Death Valley: Pierre Michel Formosa, a 68-year-old French tourist, died last week after his vehicle got stuck in mud on a remote park road and he set out on foot across the salt flats in 116-degree heat. His companion reached help and survived. (See Details)

➤ Santa Clarita: A fire that began at an auto body shop early Monday spread to several neighboring businesses, including the Newhall Refinery restaurant and The MAIN community theater. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation. (See Video)

➤ Boyle Heights: Two break-ins hit during separate street takeovers less than two miles apart Sunday night. Burglars sawed into a Boyle Heights pharmacy as a crowd of about 100 gathered, and minutes later others struck a Jack in the Box in East Los Angeles. No arrests were made. (More)

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➤ San Francisco 49ers principal owner and CEO Jed York was arrested in his native Ohio in an operation involving a human trafficking task force. York pleaded no contest Monday to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools after the original prostitution charge was amended. (More) 

➤ Meanwhile, the 49ers acquired veteran linebacker Deion Jones from the Saints in exchange for running back Zamir White. Jones played under current 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in Atlanta. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Chargers placed center Tyler Biadasz on season-ending injured reserve after he suffered ACL damage in a joint practice with the 49ers. Biadasz signed a three-year, $30 million deal in March and never played a regular-season snap for Los Angeles. (More)

➤ UCLA football landed Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Trent Hendrick after a court ruling allowed the James Madison linebacker a fifth year of eligibility. Hendrick had 106 tackles last season and could play in the Sept. 5 opener at Cal. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | U.S. Open | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ Coffee vs Hot Cacao vs Green Tea:  Which of these hot drinks was proven in a study boost stem cells by 220% in 30 days?  Billionaires drop 6 figures on stem cell therapy, but this hot drink costs 50 cents a day and boosts anti-aging stem cells improving heart health, blood pressure, and longevity.

➤ San Francisco’s retail scene is shifting unevenly, with the downtown San Francisco Centre still boarded up even as Union Square and Stonestown draw shoppers back with new streetwear brands and extended mall hours. (Read Story)

➤ California Attorney General Rob Bonta canceled a Monday settlement meeting with Paramount over its proposed Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, accusing the company of leaking and misrepresenting talks. Bonta leads a 12-state suit to block the merger, with trial set for March. (Read Story)

➤ Stone Brewing will close its longtime Escondido headquarters and cut more than 200 jobs, beginning with 58 layoffs Oct. 19. The shutdown follows Sapporo USA’s April sale of the Stone brand to Firestone Walker, which plans to shift production to Paso Robles and Kansas City. (See Details)

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➤ UC Merced has permanently acquired Four Seasons of Yosemite, four monumental stained-glass murals by Arnold artist William Poulson that have been displayed in the campus library since 2016. It’s the largest art acquisition in the university’s history. (Read Story)

➤ The Pacific Wheel at Santa Monica Pier lit up purple and gold Monday for Kobe Bryant Day, displaying his Nos. 8 and 24 across the Ferris wheel. The observance honored the two jersey numbers Bryant wore during his 20-season career with the Lakers. (Read Story)

➤ Jerry Miley, a young Montecito actor, made his film debut in the 1926 silent film Broken Hearts of Hollywood, earning praise from the Santa Barbara Morning Press before the arrival of talkies dimmed his budding career. (Read Story)

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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. 

➤ Passengers feared for their lives when an engine failure over the Atlantic sent their flight into chaos. (Watch Story)

➤ The Washington Post has been ordered to reinstate an opinion writer who was fired over critical Charlie Kirk posts. (Hear Episode)

➤ Google’s AI was caught giving racist safety warnings about being alone with certain nationalities. (Listen Now)

Would you hop in one of Archer’s air taxis to skip LA traffic?

1. Sign me up
2. Only if it’s proven safe
3. Maybe someday
4. No thanks, I’ll drive

Yesterday’s Results:

Be honest: could you name a Pokémon if you had to?

1. Not a single one: 32%
2. Just Pikachu: 20%
3. My kids/grandkids could: 18%
4. More than I’d admit: 16%
5. Other: 14%

The Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier is the only Ferris wheel of its kind in the world. What makes it one of a kind?

Show me the answer