Six Candidates Debate for Governor Tonight

Six candidates qualified for California’s first major governor debate, airing tonight at 7 p.m. on Nexstar’s statewide TV stations.

Republicans Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco lead the field, recent polling shows them at about 16% and 14%, respectively.

Former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) left the race amid sexual misconduct allegations he has denied. Since his exit, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has surged from 4% to 13%, tying billionaire activist Tom Steyer. Former Rep. Katie Porter holds 10%, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan holds 5%.

Steyer has spent more than $115 million on broadcast, cable, and radio ads, nearly 30 times his nearest Democratic rival’s spending, though the race remains tightly contested.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) endorsed Becerra on Tuesday. Former state Controller Betty Yee (D) dropped out Monday, citing a lack of voter traction.

Bonta: Amazon Pressured Prices Higher

Amazon pressured vendors and retailers like Walmart and Target to raise prices on their websites so it wouldn’t be undercut, Attorney General Rob Bonta alleged in filings unsealed Monday.

In one example laid out in the filings, Amazon flagged Walmart’s $25.47–$26.99 price on Levi’s khaki pants. Levi’s got Walmart to move the price to $29.99, and Amazon matched.

Bonta said the alleged coordination extended to Chewy, Best Buy, Home Depot, and others, with threats of promotion restrictions or product removals for vendors that didn’t comply.

Amazon called the filing “a transparent attempt to distract from the weakness of its case” and said it is consistently cited as America’s lowest-priced online retailer. A hearing is set for July 23, and the trial is set for January 2027.

California Schools Lose 75,000 Students

California public schools lost 74,961 students this year, about seven times what state officials predicted and the largest decline since the 2021-22 school year.

The Department of Finance had projected a decrease of roughly 10,000 students. The California Department of Education reported the full decline last week.

State officials point to two main causes: lower birth rates and a drop in overall immigration, which fell from 312,761 to 109,278 between 2024 and 2025, according to Census data.

Los Angeles County accounted for 43% of the loss, and its largest district, Los Angeles Unified, issued 3,200 layoff notices in February. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has cited a “climate of fear and instability” tied to immigration enforcement.

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➤ East Oakland: Residents pressed Mayor Barbara Lee on illegal dumping at a community forum Monday, where she outlined a $1 million enforcement plan with fines up to $5,000, a six-month aerial surveillance pilot, and 36 license-plate cameras. (More)

➤ Redwood Forests: A new $3.65 million research project is studying a roughly 33% decline in fog over California’s redwoods over the past century, deploying fog collectors at 15 coastal sites. The mist supplies up to 40% of the forests’ summer water supply. (Read Story)

➤ San Jose: The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office arrested four suspects and recovered more than $83,000 in stolen merchandise from a retail theft crew linked to over 100 incidents across Northern California and Nevada. Targeted stores included Home Depot, TJ Maxx, and Burlington. (More)

➤ Fresno County: Parts of southern Fresno County rose about 1.2 inches over the past year due to groundwater efforts, according to a local water district, even as nearby areas continue sinking from overpumping and drought. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: Fairfax School District agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging a former vice principal sexually abused an 11-year-old student in 2006 after earlier complaints were ignored. He was later convicted. (More)

➤ Clovis: The 112th Clovis Rodeo opens tonight and runs through Sunday, drawing an estimated 50,000 fans over five days for bull riding, PRCA events, weeknight country concerts, and Saturday’s downtown parade. (See Schedule)

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➤ San Diego: Mayor Todd Gloria proposed cutting arts funding from $13.8 million to $2 million, more than an 85% reduction, to help close a $118 million budget deficit. Dozens of residents and arts leaders spoke out against the cuts at a public hearing Monday. (More)

➤ Indio: Vintage costumes Madonna pulled from her personal archive, including a corset, jacket, and dress, went missing after her surprise Coachella performance. Police say bags containing the items were last seen on a golf cart and likely fell off during transport. (More)

➤ Monrovia: Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) introduced legislation to establish a nearly $50 million statewide wildlife coexistence program, weeks after a Monrovia mother bear was euthanized for swiping at a woman near her two cubs. The bill cleared a Senate committee 5-1. (More)

➤ The Dodgers placed closer Edwin Diaz on the injured list Monday with loose bodies in his right elbow. He’s scheduled for surgery and is expected to miss about three months, with a possible return in the second half of the season. (More)

➤ Warriors forward Draymond Green said on his podcast that it “feels like” Steve Kerr won’t return as Golden State’s head coach next season. (More)

➤ The Anaheim Ducks look to even their first-round series against Edmonton tonight after a late Game 1 loss. The puck drops at 7 p.m. (More)

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

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➤ Menlo Park-based Meta plans to cut about 8,000 jobs starting May 20, with more layoffs possible, as it trims costs and shifts resources toward expensive artificial intelligence investments. (More)

➤ Tomato prices surged 23% year over year to $2.26 per pound in March, squeezing San Diego restaurants as weather-hit crops in Florida and Mexico, along with a 17% tariff, drive costs higher. (See Details)

➤ Bay Area craft brewery 21st Amendment will return this summer, with four popular beers revived by Philadelphia-based Evil Genius after the company shut down operations last year amid declining sales. (See Details)

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➤ Good Samaritans in Pacoima rushed to lift a crashed plane and free a trapped pilot Monday, pulling him from the wreckage. The 70-year-old remains in critical condition. (See Photos)

➤ The Mariposa Butterfly Festival returns May 2-3 to the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, featuring butterfly releases, live music, and hands-on activities celebrating the spring season. (See Details)

➤ A new Prime Video documentary, Jerry West: The Logo, recently premiered, exploring the life and legacy of LA Lakers legend Jerry West, whose silhouette became the NBA logo. It traces his rise from a troubled childhood to a Hall of Fame player and executive. (More)

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Have you ever been to a rodeo?

1. Yes, many times
2. Yes, once or twice
3. Not yet, but I’d like to
4. No, not my thing

Yesterday’s Results:

California swept four spots on this year’s top 10 best small coastal towns. Which is your favorite?

1. Carmel-by-the-Sea: 25%
2. Pismo Beach: 20%
3. Morro Bay: 19%
4. Other: 19%
5. Avalon: 17%

After American settlers raised the Bear Flag over Sonoma in June 1846 and declared the independent Republic of California, how many days did the new republic last before the U.S. flag replaced it?

Show me the answer