California Pushes New Taxes

California Democrats are pushing at least two bills to raise taxes on corporations and a separate ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth to help fund Medi-Cal and related programs.

Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes any wealth tax, warning it could drive high earners out of the state. Critics say it could encourage wealthy residents to leave before the ballot measure’s Jan. 1 eligibility cutoff.

The proposals come as the state faces a structural deficit that could reach $30 billion in coming years, with nonpartisan analysts projecting even larger gaps beyond that. Former state finance director Keely Martin Bosler said new spending to replace lost federal Medi-Cal funding would add to that gap, not shrink it.

Senate tax committee chair Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said he does not expect meaningful revenue increases this year.

Attempted Murder in Altman Attack

A 20-year-old Texas man faces attempted murder charges after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home and then attempting to target the company’s headquarters.

Daniel Moreno-Gama allegedly threw the incendiary device at Altman’s Russian Hill residence around 4 a.m. Friday, setting an exterior gate on fire. Less than an hour later, he went to OpenAI’s offices and struck the glass doors with a chair and allegedly said he wanted to burn the building down.

Police found Moreno-Gama carrying kerosene, a lighter, and a document expressing anti-AI views and listing the names and addresses of other AI company executives. The FBI raided his home in Spring, Texas, on Monday.

San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins called the attack premeditated and said Moreno-Gama faces 19 years to life. In a separate incident Sunday, two people were arrested after gunfire was reported at Altman’s home. Police say they have not determined whether the two events are connected.

Nevada Quake Shakes Northern California

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake centered near Silver Springs, Nevada, sent shaking across Northern California Monday evening.

The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 12 miles southeast of Silver Springs. The quake struck at 6:29 p.m. and triggered ShakeAlert early-warning notifications across parts of California.

Residents from Grass Valley to Modesto reported brief but noticeable rolling motion. A Safeway and Walgreens in Fallon, Nevada, reported items shaken from shelves, but no injuries or structural damage have been confirmed on either side of the state line.

Dozens of aftershocks followed, ranging from magnitude 2.5 to 3.7. The quake occurred within the Walker Lane seismic zone, an active fault system along the eastern Sierra Nevada known for frequent seismic activity.

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➤ Dublin: A woman accused Rep. Eric Swalwell of drugging and raping her in 2018. Authorities are investigating. Swalwell denies the allegations and plans to resign from Congress amid other misconduct claims and an ethics probe. (More)

➤ Fremont: Gov. Gavin Newsom has discretion over whether to call a special election for California’s 14th congressional district after Eric Swalwell’s resignation, as the filing deadline for the June primary has already passed. (See Details)

➤ Fairfield: Jason Nichols, 30, faces multiple felony charges—including first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats—after a viral home break-in in which the homeowner’s husband fought him off with a shovel. A second incident involving a child has since emerged. (More)

➤ Mammoth Lakes: An April snowstorm dumped more than 3.5 feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada, briefly closing Interstate 80 and prompting Mammoth Mountain to extend its ski season well into late April. (More)

➤ Central Valley: AB 2276, a bill targeting repeat speeders, would require them to install speed-limiting devices in a pilot program across seven counties, including Fresno and Kern. (More)

➤ Tulare County: Fertilizer prices have surged up to 25%, topping $570 per ton, as Middle East tensions threaten key shipping routes. Farmers are turning to compost at about $10 per ton, as California processes 8 million tons of organic waste annually. (More)

➤ Fresno: Mayor Jerry Dyer texted Fresno Unified trustees urging them not to oppose his Southeast Development Area plan, warning it could strain city-district relations. Trustees later voted to table a resolution opposing the project. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles: Councilman Curren Price, 75, pleaded not guilty to 12 felony counts—including grand theft by embezzlement, conflict of interest and perjury—in a corruption case involving about $33,800 in allegedly misused city funds for medical benefits tied to his wife. A pretrial hearing is set for June 5. (More)

➤ Jurupa Valley: A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was seen in aerial footage scrolling what appeared to be a dating app during an active standoff with an armed suspect. The sheriff’s office opened an internal investigation, saying the behavior does not reflect department standards. (See Video)

➤ Los Angeles: Four men linked to the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested in Lancaster and Hesperia on 29 felony charges, as authorities highlighted a $10 million reward for fugitive leader Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar. (More)

➤ UCLA set a WNBA Draft record with five first-round picks, led by No. 4 overall selection Lauren Betts to the Washington Mystics. (More)

➤ UC Santa Barbara accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference as its 12th member, shifting its athletics program beginning in 2027. (More)

➤ The restraining order request against Rams receiver Puka Nacua was withdrawn ahead of a scheduled hearing, with the accuser’s attorney citing his voluntary rehab stay in March. A civil lawsuit tied to the allegations remains pending. (More)

➤ Former LA Clipper Chris Paul will join the coaching staff at Campbell Hall in California, where his son, Class of 2028 guard Chris Paul II, plays. (More)

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

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➤ Wildfire-related costs add about $41 per month to average PG&E residential bills, roughly 19%, while SCE and SDG&E customers face 17% and 14% charges, respectively, according to a state report. The costs reflect utilities passing along wildfire liabilities and prevention expenses to ratepayers. (See Details)

➤ Taco Bell will open its sixth Live Más Café in Orange County Saturday, continuing the chain’s coffee-style concept expansion in Southern California. The location will feature specialty drinks and host promotions and giveaways during its grand opening. (More)

➤ The Port of Los Angeles processed 752,520 standard shipping container units in March, down 3% from last year, when volumes were boosted by tariff-driven front-loading. The port handled about 2.39 million units in the first quarter, in line with its five-year average. (More)

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➤ A 432-square-foot cabin in Laguna Beach with zero bedrooms is listed for $18.8 million, or about $43,519 per square foot. (Read Story)

➤ About 20 juvenile sharks were caught and released by fishermen off the Hermosa Beach Pier over the weekend. Marine biologists say a strong El Niño could bring higher shark activity to Southern California waters this summer. (More)

➤ Exeter, a small San Joaquin Valley town between Fresno and Bakersfield known for murals, citrus farms, and a walkable downtown, is featured as a quiet gateway to Sequoia National Park. (Read Story)

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Do you like Taco Bell?

1. Love it
2. It’s fine
3. Not for me
4. Never had it

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you tried Dubai chocolate?

1. Never heard of it: 33%
2. No, but I want to: 24%
3. Yes, but not for me: 22%
4. Yes, loved it: 21%

A major earthquake struck during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series at Candlestick Park. Which two California teams were playing?

Show me the answer