Feds Pause $867M in California Medicaid

The Trump administration paused roughly $867 million in Medicaid payments to California on Tuesday, part of a funding hold topping $1 billion that also includes Minnesota.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said officials used artificial intelligence and other tools to flag suspected fraud and undocumented claims. Most of the paused funding was tied to California’s In-Home Supportive Services program, which aids seniors and people with disabilities.

Oz said California’s in-home spending jumped 24% over the past two years, about double the national rate, and said about $221 million was associated with claims involving beneficiaries with what federal officials described as “unsatisfactory immigration status.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office pushed back, calling the action politically motivated and saying the in-home program saves money by keeping seniors and people with disabilities out of costlier nursing homes. The administration says the funds are paused, not cut, and California can recover them by documenting the claims.

CSU Pays $12M in Gender Bias Cases

The California State University system paid $12 million to resolve claims by two former female administrators at Cal State San Bernardino who alleged they were harassed and forced out because of their gender.

A jury awarded former Palm Desert associate dean Anissa Rogers $6 million in October, and former vice provost Clare Weber later settled her claims for $6 million. Their 2023 lawsuit named campus President Tomás Morales and former dean Jake Zhu.

Weber said she was fired after flagging that female vice provosts were paid less than their male peers, and Rogers said she was pushed out after confronting Zhu over the treatment of women. The university denied wrongdoing and said it was disappointed by the verdict.

Trustees meet today to decide whether Morales, who resigned this year, can move into a paid faculty transition role. His campus faculty union has urged them to reject it.

Fugitive Used Alias at LA Biotech

A Rhode Island fugitive who spent two decades on the run was living in Los Angeles under the alias Richard Graydon and working as chief medical officer at a biotech company, law enforcement sources said.

Dr. Ronald Fischer, a 70-year-old former anesthesiologist, was convicted in absentia of first-degree sexual assault after fleeing his 2005 trial over a 2003 attack on a woman aboard his boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard caught him last week on a 56-foot sailboat off the New York-New Jersey coast, registered under the alias. The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI and Rhode Island State Police tracked him down after pursuing new leads.

Using the alias, Fischer was hired in March as chief medical officer of Los Angeles-based Immix Biopharma. The company told regulators it dismissed him Friday for reasons unrelated to his work.

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➤ Humboldt County: The Coast Guard rescued a 51-year-old woman from a cruise ship about 45 miles off Humboldt Bay after she reportedly showed stroke symptoms. A helicopter crew hoisted her from the ship in 10-foot waves and 40-mph winds and flew her to Mendocino Coast Hospital. (More)

➤ Pittsburg: About 80 residents protested Monday before the city council meeting over a data center approved last year, citing concerns about power and water use. The mayor scheduled an Aug. 3 meeting on data centers. (More)

➤ Placer County: The sheriff’s office says a phone scam targeting the families of jail inmates is on the rise, with callers posing as sheriff’s staff and offering fake services like rehab programs or charge expungement for a fee. Victims are told to pay through Zelle, Venmo, or prepaid gift cards. (More)

➤ Sacramento: A firefighter was hospitalized in stable condition after a power line fell on him while crews battled an outbuilding fire. The fire spread to nearby power lines, which melted and fell, causing a possible electrical shock. (More)

➤ San Francisco: More than 33,000 runners are expected for the San Francisco Marathon and related races this weekend, with the full marathon and first half marathon sold out. Drivers should expect widespread street closures Sunday, including along the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Golden Gate Park. (See Details)

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➤ Clovis: California Health Sciences University welcomed its Class of 2030 on Monday, with 162 new medical students selected from about 3,700 applicants. More than a third are from the Central Valley, reflecting the school’s mission to train and retain local physicians in the region. (More)

➤ Avila Beach: PG&E is installing about 7,200 feet of underground power lines along San Luis Bay Drive, replacing overhead lines to improve reliability and reduce wildfire risk as the area grows. Construction is expected to continue until December. (More)

➤ Capitola: A woman in her 60s was fatally stabbed outside the Capitola Mall on Monday afternoon, prompting a lockdown as police investigated. Officers detained an adult male suspect, and authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public. (More)

➤ Reedley: Farmer Cesar Mora, who went viral for giving away 180,000 pounds of nectarines rather than let them rot, went to trial Monday in his long-running dispute with Los Angeles produce supplier Giumarra Brothers. Mora alleges the company engaged in unfair business practices. (More)

➤ Clovis: A 90-year-old Air Force veteran and retired Fresno police lieutenant is asking for help finding a custom maple cane he accidentally left in a shopping cart at a Costco. The cane, decorated with pins honoring his military and law enforcement service, holds deep sentimental value. (Read Story)

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➤ Boyle Heights: Air regulators are demanding Lineage Logistics do more to curb the stench from its fire-damaged warehouse after receiving more than 900 odor complaints in a week. Regulators have issued seven violations and ordered a stronger odor-control plan. (More)

➤ Compton: A family has sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, alleging Deputy Max Fernandez held their two children at gunpoint and threatened them at their Compton home in 2024 after a car alarm sounded. The department said it takes misconduct allegations seriously but has not yet been served. (More)

➤ Santa Clarita: A 3-year-old girl is recovering after a rattlesnake hiding under an Amazon package bit her as she picked it up outside her home. She spent two days in intensive care receiving antivenom, and her family is sharing her story to raise awareness. (Read Story)

➤ Ramona: Cal Fire has reopened its upgraded Ramona Air Attack Base after a $20 million renovation, adding a new C-130H air tanker and other firefighting resources. Officials say the improvements will strengthen wildfire response in San Diego County and across California. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: A preliminary hearing has begun for singer D4vd, who is charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in 2025. Prosecutors are presenting evidence to determine whether the case will proceed to trial, while D4vd has pleaded not guilty. (More)

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➤ The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired reliever Seth Halvorsen from the Colorado Rockies for minor leaguers Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek. Halvorsen, 26, is on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation after posting a 4.74 ERA in 21 appearances this season. (More)

➤ USA TODAY published a photo showing a bite mark on the shoulder of a woman suing Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua for assault and battery stemming from an alleged New Year’s Eve incident. Nacua’s attorney has denied the allegations and previously described the alleged bite as “horseplay.” (See Picture) 

➤ The Lakers signed defensive stalwart Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.3 million deal this week, adding another proven perimeter defender to their roster. (More)

➤ Jackie Robinson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Katie Ledecky headline USA TODAY’s list of the 10 greatest college athletes from California, part of a state-by-state series celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. (More) 

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB

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➤ New Fresno State research found that the 2019 relocation of a Clovis Costco was associated with higher home values near its former site. Homes within two miles of the old warehouse gained 8% to 9%, likely due to reduced traffic and noise, while prices near the new location remained essentially unchanged. (See Report)

➤ In-N-Out Burger plans six new locations across California, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho, but CEO Lynsi Snyder says the chain won’t expand to the East Coast in her lifetime because it won’t compromise on freshness. (More)

➤ Zipline is flying thousands of test missions over a cattle ranch near Esparto in Yolo County, where the Bay Area company has spent about a decade refining drones used to deliver food, groceries, and medicine by air. The family-owned ranch has raised cattle for 50 years. (More)

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➤ A warmup jacket Wilt Chamberlain wore during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 1972 NBA Finals, found in an Oregon Goodwill bin for $3.07 by 19-year-old reseller Quinn Brown, sold at Sotheby’s for $89,600. The auction house had estimated it would fetch $150,000 to $250,000. (More)

➤ Drone footage off the Southern California coast shows a roughly 10-foot juvenile great white shark approaching a group of young swimmers who were unaware of its presence, then turning back toward deeper water. Experts say juvenile white sharks have been unusually common in the shallows this summer. (Watch)

➤ A Marin County sculptor, Susan Bahary of Novato, has designed a bronze monument to America’s service animals that she hopes will stand on the National Mall. A bipartisan bill from two members of Congress would set aside a site for it. Bahary’s animal tributes already stand from France to Guam. (More)

➤ A 1970s time capsule beneath Fresno’s Fashion Fair mall has been safely removed and secured ahead of demolition, officials said. The capsule, originally buried beneath the former Gottschalks and later Forever 21 building, will be placed in a new above-ground display next year but won’t be opened until 2070. (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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Forecasters warn a record-strength El Niño could decide whether your state floods or dries out. (Hear Details)

➤ Mass shootings swept through eight states last weekend, leaving dozens of victims as investigators continue to search for suspects. (Hear Episode)

➤ The Secret Service officer who took a bullet stopping a gunman at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being honored. (Listen Now)

How far out of your way would you go for an In-N-Out?

1. I would plan a trip around it
2. A few extra miles, sure
3. Only if it is on my way
4. I can take it or leave it
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

How often do you make it out to the movies these days?

1. I wait for streaming: 30%
2. A few times a year: 25%
3. Only for the big ones: 24%
4. Every chance I get: 21%

Wilt Chamberlain holds the NBA record for the most points scored in a single game. How many did he score?

Show me the answer