Becerra Wins California Governor’s Race

Democrat Xavier Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton in California’s governor’s race Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, and will succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Becerra led Hilton about 64% to 36% at deadline time, with millions of ballots still to be counted. He will become California’s first Latino governor in modern history.

Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. health secretary, campaigned on his government experience and pledged to lower living costs, protect health care, and challenge President Trump’s policies.

Hilton, a former Fox News host and adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, blamed Democratic leadership for California’s high cost of living and promised to cut taxes, lower gas prices, and reduce regulations.

Billionaire Tax Trails Early

California’s Proposition 40, the one-time tax on billionaires’ wealth, was failing in early returns, trailing about 57% to 43% at The California Flyover’s deadline. Proposition 39, which would require identification to vote, was also behind.

Two rival measures aimed at the tax were faring differently: Proposition 42 was leading with about 55% support and could void Prop. 40 if approved with more votes than Prop. 40, while Proposition 41 ran narrowly behind.

The tax, a 5% levy on residents worth more than $1 billion to fund health care and other programs, drew hundreds of millions of dollars in opposition spending from some of the state’s wealthiest people. Gov. Gavin Newsom also opposed it.

Teen Arrested in Fairfield Shooting

Fairfield police arrested a 17-year-old boy Monday in the Oct. 30 shooting at a Spirit Halloween store that killed a pregnant woman and wounded six others.

A school resource officer identified the suspect within hours after recognizing him in surveillance footage, and officers arrested him at his Suisun City home. Police said they believe he acted alone.

Police said the shooting may have followed a disagreement, and the teen had earlier served time in juvenile hall over a 2025 shooting at a local high school.

The woman killed, 31-year-old Constance Hages, was pregnant, and prosecutors are considering a second murder charge in connection with her unborn child. 

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➤ San Francisco: State Sen. Scott Wiener led city Supervisor Connie Chan about 57% to 43% at deadline time in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a contest between two Democrats. The race is not yet called. (More)

➤ San Jose: Antolin Garcia-Torres’ retrial in the 2012 killing of teenager Sierra LaMar began Monday after his conviction was overturned. Prosecutors opened with the original 911 call reporting her missing. (More)

➤ Shasta County: The federal agency overseeing Shasta Dam may withdraw from California’s revised Delta water deal, putting $740 million in habitat funding at risk amid disputes over water rules and salmon protections. (More)

➤ El Dorado Hills: A woman pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $18 million from her employer, using his bank account to pay for luxury purchases, private jet travel, and a $2 million home, prosecutors said. (More)

➤ Rancho Cordova: City officials approved a downtown complex with a 7,500-seat arena, hotels, shops, and up to 1,000 homes. The mostly privately funded project includes a city incentive package worth up to $185 million. (More)

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➤ Central Valley: Democratic Rep. Adam Gray led Republican Kevin Lincoln about 61% to 39% at deadline time in California’s 13th Congressional District. The race is not yet called. (More)

➤ Kern County: Democrat Randy Villegas led Republican Rep. David Valadao about 65% to 35% at deadline time in California’s 22nd Congressional District. Villegas held a nearly 18,500-vote lead with about 43% of the expected vote counted. The race is not yet called. (More)

➤ Monterey County: Two Salinas boys, ages 13 and 15, were identified as the victims of Monday’s shooting near Moss Landing State Beach. Two others were injured, and authorities have not identified a suspect or motive. (More)

➤ Fresno: City council candidate Naindeep Singh is seeking an independent investigation after police apologized for his unfounded DUI arrest. Toxicology tests came back clean, and body camera footage is expected within a week. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: The seventh of eight connections in the $1.5 billion Centennial Corridor freeway project is nearly complete. Construction on the final segment begins in 2027, with completion expected in 2030. (More)

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➤ Los Angeles: Mayor Karen Bass narrowly led City Councilmember Nithya Raman 50.8% to 49.2% at deadline time in her bid for re-election. Bass held a lead of about 9,000 votes, with nearly half the expected ballots counted. The race is not yet called. (More)

➤ Southern California: An atmospheric river could bring heavy rain Nov. 10-16, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters put the chance of the storm reaching the region at 20% to 40%. (See Details)

➤ Chula Vista: Larry Millete was sentenced to 27 years to life for murdering his wife, Maya, who vanished in 2021. Her body remains missing, and family members pleaded with him to reveal its location. (More)

➤ Porter Ranch: The first $20 million from the Aliso Canyon gas leak settlement is now available to help affected homeowners replace gas appliances with electric ones. Eligible residents can receive up to $31,800 in incentives. (More)

➤ Ventura: A rare olive ridley sea turtle nest was discovered near Ventura Pier, marking only the third confirmed nest on the West Coast. Experts believe warmer waters linked to El Niño brought the turtles north. (More)

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➤ The Giants removed nine players from their roster Monday, including pitcher Jose Butto, in an offseason shakeup following an injury-plagued season. San Francisco used a record-tying 71 players this season, forcing tough roster decisions. (See Details)

➤ DeForest Buckner revealed that he specifically requested a return to the 49ers, citing his close ties with former teammates and the team’s winning culture. (More)

➤ The Padres offered All-Star reliever Adrian Morejon a one-year, $23.15 million deal Monday. The hard-throwing lefty could command a lucrative multiyear contract in free agency. (See Details)

➤ The Chargers are reckoning with a stunning slide from Super Bowl hopefuls to an 0-7 start. Los Angeles has lost 10 straight games dating to last season, leaving players searching for answers. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | NCAAF | NCAAM | NCAAW | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Los Angeles is extending discounted film permits through April 2027, cutting fees from $931 to $350. The program has saved filmmakers more than $400,000 since April. (More)

➤ Anthropic, the San Francisco AI company, reported $17 billion in quarterly revenue but a $23.3 billion loss ahead of its IPO, with nearly $900 billion committed to AI infrastructure. (More)

➤ Disney is reportedly planning thousands of layoffs in its fourth round of cuts this year, aiming to reduce annual costs by 20% through job cuts and spending reductions. (See Details)

➤ Toast, the restaurant technology company, faces a lawsuit from San Francisco and other regulators over alleged hidden fees, unwanted subscriptions, and costly cancellation penalties. (More)

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The Missing Nutrient Behind Thin Hair

After 50, many women run low on one mineral that helps keep DHT, a hair-thinning hormone, in check.

Biotin won’t fix that. Neither will another bottle of thickening shampoo.

A menopause specialist and an Austin hairstylist found that pairing this mineral with one B vitamin, plus three other targeted nutrients, may help support fuller, stronger-looking hair from the inside out. No serums, no foams. Just two capsules with your morning coffee.

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➤ Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s baby orangutan has been named Marigold. The four-week-old Sumatran orangutan recently made her debut alongside her mother, Negara, in the zoo’s Kingdoms of Asia habitat. (More)

➤ A Southern California family reunited with their dog seven years after he disappeared during a 2019 move. Corduroy, a cocker spaniel, was brought to a Los Angeles shelter last month, where his microchip helped reunite him with his family in San Diego. (Read Story)

➤ “Hay Days of Summer” is the theme for the 2027 California Mid-State Fair, celebrating the Central Coast’s agricultural roots. The fair runs July 14-25 in Paso Robles, featuring livestock, carnival rides, food, and entertainment. (More)

➤ Doo-wop singer “Little Caesar” celebrated his 83rd birthday Saturday in Bakersfield. Carl Barnett, known for his 1961 hit Those Oldies but Goodies, says his focus has shifted from music to faith. (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. 

➤ The warnings about drinking coffee on an empty stomach just ran into some inconvenient science. (Hear Story)

➤ Bomb threats forced diversions and searches on at least four European flights, part of an escalating wave of aviation scares. (Listen Now)

➤ The White House plans to end nearly $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel, upending decades of U.S. policy. (Hear Details)

Be honest: Do you drink your morning coffee on an empty stomach?

1. Always, coffee comes first
2. Sometimes
3. Never, I eat something first
4. I’m a tea person
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you voted in this year’s midterm elections?

1. Yes, I’ve already voted: 75%
2. I’m voting today: 16%
3. I can’t vote/not eligible: 5%
4. I’m not voting this year: 4%

Atmospheric rivers that funnel storms toward the California coast from the direction of Hawaii go by what fruity nickname?

Show me the answer