Explore

AP News AP News
Newsom returns to a defining California fight: Who pays for wildfire damage?

Newsom returns to a defining California fight: Who pays for wildfire damage?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking state lawmakers to shield utilities from financial trouble if their equipment sparks a wildfire by limiting the amount they have to pay victims and attorneys
1Weather 1Weather
California Steps Up as Federal Wildfire Crews Face Resource Strain

California Steps Up as Federal Wildfire Crews Face Resource Strain

California is addressing critical wildfire risks as federal firefighting resources face significant strain due to underinvestment and staffing shortages. Wildfires have devastated millions of acres in the state over the past decade, causing over 220 fatalities and billions in damages. The state has allocated nearly $500 million in grants for wildfire resilience and forest health projects since Governor Gavin Newsom took office. Collaborative efforts between Cal Fire and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, have enabled fuel reduction projects and improved fire response capabilities. However, federal staffing cuts and outdated data systems are hindering progress in wildfire management and prevention. The state continues to invest heavily in fire mitigation, spending approximately $4 billion annually, but faces challenges in maintaining funding for critical resilience projects. [Newsday, 2026]
Rapid Read Rapid Read
California Senate Passes Bill to Fine Influencers for Undisclosed Paid Political Posts

California Senate Passes Bill to Fine Influencers for Undisclosed Paid Political Posts

The California Senate has approved a bill that would impose fines on content creators who fail to disclose paid political posts. This legislation, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman, aims to strengthen existing laws in California and Texas that already require such disclaimers. The bill seeks to enhance enforcement by granting the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) the authority to directly fine influencers and political committees up to $5,000 per violation. This change would allow the FPPC to bypass the lengthy court order process currently required to compel disclosure. The bill now awaits a final vote in the Assembly before potentially reaching Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature or veto by the end of September. Assemblymember Berman emphasized that voters have a right to know if the political messaging they encounter is paid for by campaigns.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Supreme Court Grants Preliminary Win to Trump Administration on Mail-In Ballots Executive Order

Supreme Court Grants Preliminary Win to Trump Administration on Mail-In Ballots Executive Order

The Supreme Court has issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the Trump administration regarding an executive order aimed at limiting who can receive mail-in ballots for the 2026 midterm elections. The 6-3 decision, split along ideological lines, granted an emergency request from the government, lifting a June injunction imposed by a Massachusetts-based judge. This injunction had prevented key provisions of the executive order from taking effect in California and 22 other states that challenged it. The executive order seeks to create a federal list of eligible voters and direct the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to those individuals. While parts of the executive order remain blocked nationwide due to a subsequent ruling by the same judge, the Supreme Court's decision is expected to apply to that ruling as well, potentially allowing the administration to implement aspects of the order in the short term. The court's ruling emphasized that the lower court's injunction was premature, as federal ag...
Variety Variety
Iowa Attorney General Says She’s Taking California to the Supreme Court Over Paramount-Warner Bros. Lawsuit

Iowa Attorney General Says She’s Taking California to the Supreme Court Over Paramount-Warner Bros. Lawsuit

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird wrote in an op-ed for The Daily Wire that she is suing California for leading the charge in the lawsuit against the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. “California is once again trying to be the country’s regulator. And once again California is defying common sense to raise costs around the country,” Bird […]
Palm Springs Desert Sun Palm Springs Desert Sun
Dolly Parton leaves a lasting California legacy after death

Dolly Parton leaves a lasting California legacy after death

Parton's death highlights a legacy that stretched from Hollywood to children's literacy programs across California.
Palm Springs Desert Sun Palm Springs Desert Sun
How Hawk Fire compares to California's biggest fires this season

How Hawk Fire compares to California's biggest fires this season

As the Hawk Fire burns near Reno suburbs, California's largest wildfires this season have largely been confined to rural and remote landscapes.
Reuters Reuters
Explainer-Trump's mail-in ballot order gets Supreme Court boost but legal fights persist

Explainer-Trump's mail-in ballot order gets Supreme Court boost but legal fights persist

By Andrew Chung Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing to implement his executive order restricting the use of mail-in ballots ahead of the November midterm elections, but a federal judge blocked it. On Monday, the U.S.
1Weather 1Weather
Interior Department Adopts Post-2026 Colorado River Operating Framework Amid Drought

Interior Department Adopts Post-2026 Colorado River Operating Framework Amid Drought

The U.S. Department of the Interior has adopted a new decision framework for managing Lake Powell and Lake Mead through 2036, citing ongoing drought and historically low reservoir levels (Interior, Aug. 21, 2026). The framework replaces the 2007 Interim Guidelines and introduces operating principles to protect critical infrastructure, ensure reliable water operations, and respond to changing hydrologic conditions. Operating guidelines for 2027 and 2028 mandate reductions in water usage for Lower Basin States, including Arizona, California, and Nevada, and establish conservation measures to address shortages. The guidelines aim to maintain a minimum elevation of 3,510 feet at Glen Canyon Dam and reduce consumptive use to 6.25 million acre-feet annually for Lake Mead.
Palm Springs Desert Sun Palm Springs Desert Sun
French tourist dies on remote road of California national park

French tourist dies on remote road of California national park

A foreign parkgoer at Death Valley National Park in California died after his car got stuck in mud on a remote road.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
California DUI Reform Bill Gutted, Removing Mandatory Breathalyzers for First-Time Offenders

California DUI Reform Bill Gutted, Removing Mandatory Breathalyzers for First-Time Offenders

A significant DUI reform bill in California, which aimed to mandate in-car breathalyzers for all DUI convictions, has been substantially altered by a State Senate committee. The original bill sought to align California with most other states by requiring ignition interlock devices even for first-time offenders. However, an updated version of the legislation, emerging after amendments approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, has effectively removed this key provision. This change means that mandatory breathalyzers will no longer be required for thousands of first-time DUI offenders, a departure from the bill's initial intent. The amendments were made despite widespread support from other lawmakers and families of drunk driving victims, leading to questions and concerns among advocates.
1Weather 1Weather
Santa Clara County Faces Heightened Wildfire Risk Amid Drought Conditions

Santa Clara County Faces Heightened Wildfire Risk Amid Drought Conditions

Santa Clara County, California, is experiencing drought conditions that have significantly increased the risk of wildfires. According to Drought.gov, dry weather has led to the drying of vegetation such as grasses and trees, making them more flammable. Factors like temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability are interacting to elevate the frequency and spread of large wildfires. The U.S. Drought Monitor uses classifications ranging from Abnormally Dry (D0) to Exceptional Drought (D4) to assess drought intensity across the country. These conditions are monitored collaboratively by the National Drought Mitigation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and NOAA. Source time: Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT.