California Tightens Rules on Data Centers

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven bills Monday requiring data center operators to help pay for grid upgrades and to disclose their water use.

Three laws shift electric infrastructure costs from households to operators, three require water and resource disclosures, and one ends blanket environmental review exemptions. The package follows months of local pushback, with cities like Monterey Park and Pittsburg banning or walking back projects.

Newsom said the rules keep operators from shifting costs onto residents. “We are ensuring that Californians remain in the driver’s seat—and that those profiting from data centers aren’t doing so at our expense,” he said in a statement.

Industry groups including the Data Center Coalition, whose members include Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, warn further regulation could push data center development out of California, noting the sector contributed $14.1 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in California in 2024.

California Toughens Penalties for Sideshows

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law over the weekend that lets authorities impound vehicles following sideshow-related convictions and makes causing serious bodily injury while driving in a sideshow potentially eligible for felony charges.

The measure, Assembly Bill 1588, was authored by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco) and championed by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. It also brings motorcycles and unlicensed dirt bikes under the sideshow framework.

The new law comes as communities continue to grapple with sideshows and reckless driving. Salinas police spokesperson Rosemerry Dere said the city has seen an increase in both, calling it “an ongoing problem for far too long.”

Salinas police and the California Highway Patrol recently stepped up enforcement, with a weekend detail producing 89 traffic stops, 59 citations, and five DUI arrests. Police said the operation resulted in zero sideshows.

Rare Turtle Nests in Orange County

For the first time on record, a sea turtle has nested on the West Coast, digging clutches on two Orange County beaches.

The olive ridley, the smallest sea turtle found in the Pacific, normally nests in Mexico and Central America. A female was filmed near Seal Beach on Sept. 16, and a turtle believed to be the same female was seen days later near the Huntington Beach Pier.

Officials found two nests, each holding an estimated 50 to 100 eggs, with hatchlings up to two months away if they emerge at all. “This is a highly endangered and protected species,” said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official Justin Viezbicke.

Experts say unusually warm water from a strong El Niño may have helped draw the turtle north of its usual Mexican nesting grounds. NOAA and state wildlife crews have fenced the nests and asked beachgoers to keep their distance.

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➤ Richmond: A Bay Area Air District report estimates emissions from the Chevron refinery carry a lifetime cancer risk of 37 in a million, triple the district’s threshold, with the highest levels near Point Richmond. Chevron disputes the findings. Public comment runs through Nov. 23. (See Report)

➤ Santa Clara County: Former undersheriff Rick Sung pleaded guilty in a concealed-carry-permit bribery scandal, admitting he traded hard-to-get gun permits for perks including hundreds of Apple iPads and access to a luxury suite at San Jose Sharks games. (More)

➤ Angel Island: California State Parks, Cal Fire, and Marin County firefighters plan to resume a prescribed burn on Angel Island starting today, with burning possible through Thursday. Smoke may be visible across the Bay Area from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some trail and road closures possible. (More)

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➤ Yosemite: Firefighting pilots Greg King and Ryan Cutter were identified as the two men killed when their helicopter crashed Sunday while making water drops on the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. Federal investigators are examining the crash. (More)

➤ Arroyo Grande: A jury found former mayoral candidate Gaea Powell guilty on all nine election fraud counts tied to allegations she misrepresented where she lived when registering, running for office, and voting. Powell, who represented herself and denies any intent to deceive, vowed to appeal. Sentencing is set for Oct. 19. (More)

➤ Madera: The community college has rolled out an agave-farming training program, planting 20 varieties across five acres and offering courses to teach growers and students the basics of cultivation. The research aims to determine which varieties are best suited for Central Valley growing conditions. (Read Story)

➤ Fresno County: Deputies arrested a Sanger man accused of stealing 10 citrus trees worth about $3,500 from a farm near North and Temperance avenues. Detectives recovered the trees at a Sanger home, and the suspect was booked on a felony grand theft charge before posting bond. (More)

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➤ Southern California: Category 5 Hurricane Polo could bring hazardous rip currents, high surf, and large swells to local beaches by early next week. The storm is expected to stay offshore while bringing heavy rain to parts of southwestern Mexico. (See Details)

➤ South Los Angeles: Three employees were shot Monday inside an assisted living facility, with one critically injured and two others in stable condition. Police arrested a male employee in his 60s, but investigators have not released a motive. (More)

➤ Los Angeles County is investigating a flea-borne typhus outbreak in Wilshire Center after seven cases were identified, six requiring hospitalization. All seven have recovered, but officials say cases are rising countywide and urge residents to control fleas on pets and avoid contact with stray animals and wildlife. (More)

➤ Torrey Pines: Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is closing for nearly five months for restroom, accessibility, and road upgrades. The reserve is expected to reopen in March, while the beach remains open. (More)

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➤ Shohei Ohtani is expected back in the Dodgers’ lineup today against San Diego, giving him five regular-season games to find his swing before the playoffs. He won’t pitch again this year because of lingering knee issues. (More)

➤ Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer nominated trial lawyer and longtime season-ticket holder John Gibson to run the franchise as interim governor during his one-year suspension. (More)

➤ San Francisco Giants rookie Bryce Eldridge landed on the injured list with a concussion after hitting his head in an off-field accident at the team hotel. The first baseman, who hit 17 home runs this season, is unlikely to return before the season ends. (More)

➤ California’s tribal gaming association asked commercial sports betting companies for input as it shapes a 2028 ballot measure to legalize online wagering. Tribes spent $250 million to defeat an industry-backed initiative in 2022. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | WNBA

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➤ Electricity-bill credits totaling $886 million are being distributed to millions of California households, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday. Eligible households are receiving about $75 on average in August and September, with no application required. (More)

➤ New drilling is booming in Kern County after a new state law, SB 237, streamlined permitting by allowing the state to rely on the county’s environmental review process for many projects. Industry leaders cite jobs and investment, while environmental and consumer groups warn about the impacts of additional drilling. (More)

➤ Grape growers across California are struggling to sell their fruit as a third straight year of falling wine demand leaves the state awash in oversupply. Some have pulled out vineyards by the tens of thousands of acres or left grapes to rot. Others are switching crops. (More)

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The Pentagon’s Got Its Eye on This Tech

One of the biggest indicators for forward-thinking investors is where the U.S. government puts its money.

First, they bet big on jet engines. Then drones. Now? Flying cars. The U.S. Air Force just signed a $142M deal for a company building five-seater air taxis. But our nation’s most covert operations need smaller, personal aircraft. And Doroni, the company positioned to lead the $100B personal eVTOL category, aims to capture this opportunity.

Their flying car, the H1-X, opens the skies to all military members. Their SOULAI platform is so intuitive that you can pilot their aircraft after 25 hours of training. And its patented ducted fan system is designed to be safer than competitors. 

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➤ Fleet Week returns to San Francisco Oct. 4-12, with the Blue Angels set to headline the Oct. 9-11 air show, part of a weeklong celebration featuring a parade of ships, ship tours, and military band performances. (More)

➤ Santa Cruz will host World Elite Sumo’s California debut Saturday at Kaiser Permanente Arena, featuring a 12-man, open-weight tournament. Four women will also compete in a round-robin tournament, the league’s first women’s event in the state. (More)

➤ José Hernández, who grew up working in California farm fields before becoming a NASA astronaut, has returned to his Central Valley roots as a winemaker, producing wine through Tierra Luna Cellars and sharing his story with students to encourage perseverance and education. (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. 

➤ What are the 10 most popular at-home headache remedies, and do they actually work? (Hear Remedies)

➤ Tesla has reopened reservations for its long-delayed Roadster, nearly nine years after the car was promised. (Listen Now)

➤ Demand for wine is falling, forcing California grape growers to tear out vineyards their families tended for generations. (Hear Story)

In case you missed it, this week on Flyover Focus, we dug into the cost of living and how it affects you. Why does your paycheck buy less, and do Social Security raises keep retirees afloat? Tune in here for all of those answers and more.

Have sideshows or street racing been an issue where you live?

1. Yes, in my neighborhood
2. Yes, in my city/town
3. Not where I live
4. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

When did you last visit a public library?

1. More than a year ago: 61%
2. Earlier this year: 13%
3. Within the past week: 11%
4. Within the past month: 10%
5. Never: 5%

Which sea turtle is California’s official state marine reptile?

Show me the answer