One of the world’s largest trains will pass through a number of states this summer and fall, making stops along the way to allow viewers an up-close look at the massive, 1.1-million-pound engine.

According to the Union Pacific Railroad, the train known as Big Boy No. 4010 is the world's largest operating steam locomotive.

On its website, the railroad company reflects on the history of Big Boys, which started as 25 trains that were 132 feet long and originally weighed 1.2 million pounds. Today, all are out of service, and some are on display – except for one.

Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941 and retired just 20 years later after traveling over a million miles. Thanks to a multi-year restoration process, the railroad company said the train hit the tracks again in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion.

Now, the train is up and running and heading through the United States, first on its summer "Westward Bound Tour" from Wyoming (June 30-July 4 and July 23-26) through Utah (July 4-6 and July 19-22), Nevada (July 6-9), California (July 9-14) and Idaho (July 22-23).

You can find out where and when Big Boy is stopping along the way on the Union Pacific website.

After the trip west, Big Boy will embark on an eight-week "Heartland of America Tour," which starts in Wyoming in late August. The train will pass through Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Rail buffs can see Big Boy during the following scheduled stops:

• Sunday, Sept. 8: Rochelle, Illinois (Chicago metro area)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Houston, Texas
• Thursday/Friday, Oct. 10-11: Fort Worth, Texas

The railroad company said the train plans to only make quick stops, or "whistle stops," in other states.

In all, Big Boy will have traveled through 14 states in 2024.

They will announce additional stops and approximate times closer to the tour.

The underwater photographs, shot by Eric Mailander this June, look like something you'd see with the "Baby Shark" song playing in the background. More than 20 juvenile great whites were swimming near New Brighton State Beach.

"We have all seen the aerial views of the dark shark shadows close to shore," Mailander said in reference to drone images. The underwater photographs show how "cute" great white sharks are up close, he said.

"It looks like they are smiling. I wanted to show what they look like under the water," Mailander told KRON4.

An area of water near New Brighton is nicknamed "Shark Park," where young great white sharks appear annually. Mailander helps scientists with the Monterey Bay Aquarium track populations off the coast of the Central California.

Last week he launched his small boat and lowered a long pole with a GoPro camera attached into the water to document the sharks' dorsal fin identification numbers. Curious juvenile sharks swam straight toward the GoPro to investigate the strange object, the photographer said.

The largest migrating sharks -- some up to 16-feet-long-- migrate into the Monterey Bay in October, also known as "Sharktober." When chilly ocean water temperatures rise in June, 7-foot-long juvenile sharks swim into the bay to warm up.

"When the water temperatures dip below 60 degrees, you don't see any sharks. When it spikes, like right now, the juvenile white sharks (appear)," Mailander said.

Fortunately for boogie-boarders, swimmers, and surfers, there have not been any reported incidents in recent years of the juveniles behaving aggressively toward people around Shark Park. "They are not bothering anybody," Mailander said.

The photographer and other longtime shark observers counted up to 40 sharks near New Brighton State Beach in a single day. "This year has been phenomenal, best year since 2015," the photographer said. "Shark Park is a great area to learn because it's a natural habitat."

Mailander and Monterey Bay Aquarium scientists published some of their population research findings in a 2021 study, "North Pacific warming shifts the juvenile range of a marine apex predator." The study found a dramatic increase in white sharks in the Monterey Bay, overwhelmingly comprised of juveniles, from 2014 to 2019.

The study states, "Even though white sharks are endothermic, greater surface-to-volume ratios in these juveniles may challenge their thermal inertia and ability to thermoregulate especially at the cold limit of their thermal habitat. As a result, the thermal range of juvenile white sharks is likely a major driver of the habitats they occupy, and this appears to be sensitive to climatic shifts."

Hacienda Grill's license to sell alcohol has since been revoked, the ABC said.

Officials said after leaving the restaurant, the teenager drove "under the influence of alcohol on the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into another vehicle." The crash killed the driver that the minor drove into and injured three others, the ABC said.

The ABC said the TRACE (Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies) investigation was "immediately" conducted after the driver died in the crash, later revealing the server that served the minor was Diego Resendez, a Hacienda Grill employee.

The ABC sought "disciplinary action" against Hacienda Grill for "furnishing alcohol to a minor...causing great bodily injury or death."

In response, the Salinas restaurant signed a settlement agreement, under which its liquor license will be revoked for one year "to allow for the license to be transferred," the ABC said.

"Preventing underage drinking is a public safety priority,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “We want to remind licensees and employees to check IDs carefully and help keep Californians safe.”

The settlement with Snapchat Inc., which owns the popular disappearing-message app by the same name, covers women who worked for the company in California between 2014 and 2024, the California Civil Rights Department announced Wednesday. The settlement is subject to court approval.

The agreement resolves a more than three-year investigation over claims that the Santa Monica, California-based company discriminated against female employees when it came to pay and promotions, the department said in a statement.

The bulk of the settlement money will go to employees who faced discrimination at Snapchat Inc., California officials said.

“In California, we’re proud of the work of our state’s innovators who are a driving force of our nation’s economy,” said Kevin Kish, director of California's civil rights agency. “This settlement with Snapchat demonstrates a shared commitment to a California where all workers have a fair chance at the American Dream. Women are entitled to equality in every job, in every workplace, and in every industry.”

Snapchat Inc. said it disagrees with the agency's claims but that it decided to settle to avoid costly and lengthy litigation.

“We care deeply about our commitment to maintain a fair and inclusive environment at Snap, and do not believe we have any ongoing systemic pay equity, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation issues against women," the company said in a statement.

Snapchat Inc. grew from 250 employees in 2015 to over 5,000 in 2022. But the growth didn't translate to advancement for female employees who “were told to wait their turn, were actively discouraged from applying for promotions, or lost promotion opportunities to less qualified male colleagues,” California officials said.

In particular, women in engineering roles, which account for about 70% of Snap’s workforce, found barriers when trying to advance from entry-level positions, according to the complaint.

California’s civil rights agency also said in its lawsuit that women were sexually harassed and that when they spoke up, they faced retaliation that included negative performance reviews and termination. Male managers routinely promoted male employees over more qualified women, the agency said.

“Women were told, both implicitly and explicitly, that they were second-class citizens at Snap,” the agency said in its lawsuit.

The settlement will require the company to hire an independent consultant to evaluate its compensation and promotion policies and retain an outside auditor of its sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination compliance. The company will also have to train its staff on preventing discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment in the workplace, officials said.

Snapchat Inc. also agreed to provide information to all employees about their right to report harassment or discrimination without fear of retaliation.

The home, located on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu near El Pescador State Beach, was purchased for an eyewatering $210 million, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

That is $10 million more than the previous record holder, another Malibu home that was purchased by Jay-Z and Beyoncé last year. 

Jannard, who founded the eyewear and apparel giant Oakley, Inc. in 1975, made a fair amount of money on the 9.5-acre property that features 300 feet of ocean frontage; he bought the compound in 2012 from billionaire investor Howard Marks for $75 million, the L.A. Times said. 

Before Marks, Herbalife co-founder Mark Hughes resided there, the Times added. 

Spanning more than 15,000 square feet, the main house features eight bedrooms, 14 bathrooms and interior decoration by Michael S. Smith, who handled the remodeling of the Oval Office in the White House. There are two guesthouses on the property in addition to a large courtyard, manicured lawn and pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

While the buyer's identity was not immediately known, records obtained by the L.A. Times indicated it was a Delaware-based limited liability company.

According to the Times, Jannard also recently listed another one of his homes -- a “stone monolith of sorts” in Beverly Hills -- for $68 million. 

Malibu is now the site of the three most expensive homes in all of California: Jannard's recently sold mansion, Jay-Z and Beyoncé's property and an estate in the ritzy seaside community's Paradise Cove neighborhood bought by billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen for $177 million in 2021.

The wildfire ignited at 1:39 p.m. Monday in the area of Sites Lodoga Road and Stone Corral Avenue. Winds blowing between 10-20 mph and low relative humidity fueled the fire, Cal Fire officials said. A Red Flag Warning is in effect.

A dark plume and thick blanket of wildfire smoke could be seen on ALERT Wildfire's live camera at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Air quality officials said drift smoke from the Sites Fire and Sonoma County's Point Fire was reported around the northern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. "Smoke mainly from the Sites Fire is expected to continue to impact portions of Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties through (Wednesday)," the Bay Area Air Quality Management District wrote.

Fire officials have not yet determined what sparked the Sites Fire.

Evacuation orders are in effect for the following locations:

• Leesville Lodoga Road South to Leesville Road

• Leesville to Huffmaster Road

• Huffmaster Road to Maxwell Sites Road

• Leesville Road to Antelope Valley Ranch and North from Antelope Valley Ranch

• Sites Lodoga Road at Sites

The wildfire, dubbed the "Post Fire," erupted near Gorman, just south of Lebec, shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday.

The blaze had charred at least 14,625 acres and was just 8% contained as of early Monday morning, Cal Fire posted on its website.

The flames engulfed the back of a McDonald's parking lot off the 5 Freeway over the weekend, where a charred vehicle remained Monday morning. Several cars were also damaged when the flames spread to a nearby auto body shop.

“More than anything, the firefighters are challenged with the strong winds,” said Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Kenichi Haskett.

Wind gusts reached in excess of 50 miles per hour over the weekend, spreading embers more than a mile away, Haskett said.  

Gusty winds and hot afternoon temperatures on Monday are expected to continue pushing the fire, which reached Ventura County Sunday evening.

Fire officials say one commercial property has been destroyed, and ten other structures are threatened. Fifty homes are also threatened, and evacuation orders and warnings are in place.

Evacuations are in place near Pyramid Lake, Gorman Post Road, the Hungry Valley SVRA recreation area and surrounding communities in the Grapevine area. Officials said over 1,200 people were evacuated.

Residents in the Castaic area were urged to be prepared with a "go bag," Haskett said.

According to the National Weather Service, wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation and other materials. The weather service said the smoke can potentially travel hundreds of miles and even cause health concerns. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says wildfire may lead to coughing, wheezing and trouble breathing. Stinging eyes, rapid heartbeat, chest pain and asthma attacks are the more severe symptoms. 

To mitigate health risks, here are recommendations from the NWS and the American Red Cross: 

• Stay indoors and keep windows closed
• Keep pets indoors as well
• When using air conditioning, keep the outdoor air intake closed and clean the filter to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside
• If you are outside, consider wearing a respirator (N95 or 9100 masks) to avoid exertion 
• Use a portable air cleaner
• Avoid lighting candles, fireplaces or gas stoves

The CDC provides an Air Quality Index chart.

Residents can monitor the air quality by entering their zip code at airnow.gov.

According to the Chapman University-led report, San Jose was the least affordable major US housing market in 2023 and the fifth least affordable housing market worldwide. Not only does the South Bay city top the nation, but San Francisco also ranks as the third least affordable nationwide after Los Angeles in second place.

Top 10 ‘impossibly unaffordable' cities worldwide:

1. Hong Kong
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Vancouver, Canada
4. San Jose, California
5. Los Angeles, California
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Melbourne, Australia
8. San Francisco, California
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. San Diego, California

In the U.S. alone, San Jose is five times less affordable than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the country's most affordable city for housing. San Jose aside, four of the five least affordable markets nationwide were in California, the study stated. The only non-California city in the top five nationwide was Honolulu, Hawaii.

Other "severely unaffordable" markets in California include Sacramento and Fresno, according to the study.

Researchers believe much of the recent surge in unaffordability is closely linked to the pandemic. According to the study, the rates of remote workers in the United States have nearly quadrupled since 2019, claiming that "nearly two-thirds of the US house price increase in the demand shock could be attributed to the shift to remote work."

This has led many city residents to move to more calm, suburban areas. "The result was a demand shock that drove house prices up substantially, as households moved to obtain more space, within houses and in yards or gardens," the study states.

The study states that the increase in remote work has also led to an "unprecedented decline" in car ownership compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The authors of the report, "2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being," found that over half of California's 3- and 4-year-olds are not in school, less than one-fourth of its eighth graders are proficient in math, and a greater number children and teens per 100,000 died than in previous years.

"One way to think about it is where we see the most progress are the states who are investing in their children -- heavily in their children," said Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, who oversaw the compilation of the report.

Now in its 35th year and published by the foundation, a private philanthropy and research organization, the annual report measures children's well-being across 16 indicators within the categories of education, economic well-being, health, and family and community.

Out of all states, California ranked 43rd in economic well-being, 35th in education, 10th in health, and 37th in family and community.

California's children fared better than most other states only in the health indicator. Even so, the number of babies with low birth-weight slightly increased from 7.1% in 2019 to 7.4% in 2022, as did the number of child and teen deaths, rising from 18 per 100,000 in 2019 to 22 per 100,000 in 2022.

"The movement in indicators generally follows investments, and it depends on the particular state of how they're investing in their children," Boissiere said.

This year's report largely focused on comparisons between 2019 and 2022 data to provide a pre-pandemic and post-pandemic view of how children are faring, Boissiere said. Sources for the data included the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Impact of low well-being on chronic absenteeism

The authors noted that the report's findings provide context to the conversation on chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year.

The percentage of chronically absent students in California skyrocketed from the pre-pandemic rate of 12.1% in the 2018-19 school year to 30% in 2021-22. The reasons for such high absenteeism vary from district to district and even from student to student, but experts agree that the issue is exacerbated when children's basic needs are not being met.

"What we know is that it's critically important that all children arrive in the classroom ready to learn and, in order for them to be ready to learn, their basic needs have to be met," Boissiere said.

National data included in the report highlighted the relationship between absences and academic performance. The more students miss school, the lower their reading proficiency.

In 2022, the percentage of fourth-grade students nationwide scoring proficient at reading was 40% for students with zero absences in the month before they took the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP.

Reading proficiency lowered to 34% with one to two absent days in that month; to 28% with three to four absences; 25% with five to 10 absences, and down to 14% for students who had more than 10 absences in the same one-month time frame prior to taking the NAEP.

The authors also found that racial inequities play a critical role in nearly all the index measures in the report.

"As a result of generations-long inequities and discriminatory policies and practices that persist, children of color face high hurdles to success on many indicators," the authors wrote.

For example, the authors found "alarming increases" in the rate of child and teen death rates among Black children nationally, and that American Indian or Alaska Native children "were more than twice as likely to lack health insurance."

Disaggregating racial demographic data also pointed to notable inequities.

For example, authors found that Asian and Pacific Islander children experienced one of the lowest rates of poverty nationally at 11%; the rate of poverty among Burmese children was 29%, 24% for Mongolian children, and 23% for Thai children. The national average for child poverty is 16%, per the report, highlighting the stark poverty rates for many Asian children nationwide.

Looking at distinct racial inequities, the authors found exceptions where children of color were faring better than the national average. For example, Black children were more likely to be in school at ages 3 and 4, to be insured, and to have a head of household with at least a high school diploma. Latino children and teens had lower death rates, and they were also less likely to have low birth-weight.

"Today, kids of color represent a majority of the children in the country, as well as in 14 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands," the authors wrote. "The future success of our nation depends on our ability to ensure all children have the chance to be successful."

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Hans Materne, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, "entered the water nearby to go swimming" on the afternoon of June 5, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn told KRON4.

Materne's wife, Astrid Restrepo, wrote on a GoFundMe page, "Hans decided to jump into the ocean from the top of the cliff next to the beach. I lost my husband, the father of my daughter, and my other half."

Harbor patrol officers pulled the victim's body out of the ocean after witnesses spotted him floating in the water. He was unconscious and not breathing.

Restrepo said Materne had spent the warm day enjoying time off from work by relaxing on the beach.

When Materne jumped from the cliff, there was a high surf advisory in effect for powerful waves and the tide at Moran Beach was approaching high tide.

"This jump would cost him his life. The high current levels in the ocean kept him from emerging safely. Now, he is not able to return home to us," the grieving wife wrote. Emergency responders were unable to revive the victim.

A sheriff's coroner conducted an autopsy and routine toxicology test to determine Materne's official cause of death. Toxicology tests are still pending, Keehn said on Friday. "There is no foul play suspected," she said.

Restrepo said donations raised through the GoFundMe page will be used to honor Hans' life and transport his body back to Atlanta for funeral services.

You could also walk into a coffee shop and expect to pay less than $3 for a cup of coffee. According to a report by GOBankingRates, the average cost of coffee in 2004 was just $2.15. At some places, it was even less than that — Starbucks made headlines for raising their prices in 2004, pushing a tall house blend from $1.40 to $1.50 (that’ll cost you roughly $3 these days).

Now, the national average for a regular cup of coffee is $3.08, according to a new report from Toast, a restaurant point of sale and management system. The company reviewed the restaurants that use its platform and analyzed their prices for regular coffees through the first few months of 2024. 

While the average was just over $3 for a regular coffee, that price varied greatly across the U.S. Restaurants in the West, for example, were most likely to charge closer to $4 for a cup of coffee, Toast determined. 

Nowhere was coffee more expensive than Hawaii, where the average price was nearly $5 between January and March. California had the second-highest average coffee price at $3.88. 

If you’re looking for 2004-priced coffee, you’ll need to head to Nebraska, where the average cost was $2.12, according to Toast’s analysis. 

The interactive map below shows how much a cup of coffee will set you back in each state, based on Toast’s data.

How fancy your coffee is will, of course, impact how much you pay. Let’s say you’re ordering a cold brew coffee. It’ll still be the most expensive in Hawaii, coming in at around $6.29, Toast found. California was close behind, with the average price just 10 cents lower. 

You’ll need to travel well across the country to West Virginia to find the cheapest average cold brew at $4.61. But, if you’re getting coffee in Nebraska, you could travel south to Kansas and pick up a cold brew for roughly the same price at $4.63. 

Maybe you’re more of a latte drinker. Hawaii and Alaska restaurants charged the most for those, Toast determined, coming in at $6.69 and $6.09, respectively. They were the only states with average latte prices above $6. The national average in Toast’s data was $5.46. 

Kansas was, again, on the lower end, with an average latte cost of $5.09.

The company attributes Hawaii’s remoteness, as well as Alaska’s, for the high costs of its beverages. Kansas, meanwhile, has frequently ranked as one of the more affordable places to live.

According to the latest Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, coffee prices (roasted and instant) were down about 2.5% in May over May 2023. But costs at your favorite coffee shop may still feel expensive.

Earlier this month, Starbucks rolled out its own value menu in an attempt to win back budget-conscious consumers. That includes a tall hot or iced coffee or tea with a butter croissant, which starts at $5 — far more than you probably would have paid in 2004.

Spotted lanternflies (SLF) are an invasive planthopper species native to Asia. First discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, the flies feed on the sap of grapevines while leaving behind a sticky honeydew residue on clusters and leaves.

"Their activities stress the plants, decrease vine health, and in some cases, can lead to plant death," said Natalie Collins, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

The egg masses intercepted in March were found on a 30-foot-tall metal art installation. Inspectors found 11 viable egg masses on the art piece and refused the shipment entry into California. The rejected shipment returned to Nevada and officials further inspected the artwork, finding 30 more egg masses.

The art piece was hot power washed with detergent under the supervision of officials. The shipment returned to Truckee station and was released with a Warning Hold Notice to allow further inspection.

On April 4, the owner of the sculpture allowed county staff to open hollow beams and use cranes to move parts of the artwork for further inspection. Three more egg masses were discovered at that time.

If other spotted lanternfly egg masses made it into California undetected, they could produce adult SLFs in the coming weeks, officials said. Peak populations of the pests are expected in late summer or early fall, with the potential to impact the winegrape industry.

The adult SLF is typically visible from July to November. They have the ability to fly, but not very far. At rest, with their wings folded, the flies are a dull tan-gray color with black spots. When they take flight, the adult's wings open to reveal a bright red, black and white pattern.

The Coast Guard received a report of a boat on fire two miles offshore of the Salinas River entrance, in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge area, at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Upon arrival, rescue personnel found a burning 47-foot water vessel. All five occupants of the boat were evacuated by the Coast Guard while Monterey firefighters contained the burning boat which was towed back to Monterey.

The boat blaze was fully extinguished near the Monterey break wall, rescue personnel said.
According to the Coast Guard, they prevented a potential discharge of 600 gallons of diesel fuel to the environment.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Grossman, 60, was found guilty in February of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death in connection with the collision that killed Jacob, 8, and Mark Iskander, 11, on Sept. 29, 2020. 

She was facing 34 years to life in prison.

The co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and wife of prominent plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman wrote a letter to the judge from jail ahead of her sentencing pleading for mercy. 

“I swear to you, I would have driven my car into a tree to avoid hitting two little boys,” Grossman’s letter read in part. “From the very beginning, the facts have been distorted and misrepresented, turning the tragic accident into murder and me into a cold-blooded killer...I am not a murderer, and I ask you to recognize that true fact.”  

“My pain, my recognition of the pain the Iskanders suffer and the pain I watch my family endure are punishments that I already suffer and will for the rest of my life,” the letter continued. “Please consider this suffering when you consider what more punishment to impose on me in this case."

In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued that Grossman deserved the maximum sentence and that she has “not taken a modicum of responsibility” for her actions. 

“The defendant has never shown an ounce of remorse for her choices on September 29, 2020...instead, she has only blamed others,” the memorandum stated. “She has lived a life of privilege and clearly felt that her wealth and notoriety would buy her freedom...this was not a tragic accident as the defense continually states, this was murder.” 

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón later expressed disappointment with the sentence.

"Our office pursued this case with the intent to seek justice for the victims and their loved ones, advocating for a sentence that would reflect the severity of the crime," Gascón said in a statement. "We will continue to support the victims’ family during this difficult time.”

Grossman tried to secure a new trial last month; however, a judge found there was no conflict of interest related to one of her new attorney's other clients - a woman charged with 11 felonies for allegedly misusing confidential law enforcement records.

Among those who made impact statements early Monday were Mark and Jacob's uncle, grandmother and a neighbor whose children became close with the boys during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pedestrian was on the westbound lane in the Mercedes' path and was struck by the vehicle. Authorities are still investigating why a pedestrian was walking on Espinosa Road, CHP said.

The victim died at the scene and was later determined to be a 42-year-old man from Concord. His identity has not been released at this time.

The driver of the Mercedes, a 29-year-old Salinas man, remained on scene after the crash and cooperated with the investigation, authorities said. He was not injured in the crash.

The identity of the victim is being withheld until the next of kin has been notified. CHP did not provide an exact location of the crash.

The NWS offered Bay Area residents recommendations that help in wildfire prevention, including:

Campfire Hazards 

• Maintaining a 10-foot radius around campfires or burning brush
• Keep water stored in campfires, fire pits, grills, smokers, burning brush
• Never leave the campfire unattended
• Always properly extinguish

Smoking

• Never toss a cigarette on the ground 
• Ensure the cigarette is put in ashes in a metal container with a tight lid

Housekeep 

• When using a grill or smoker make sure the cooking device is on gravel or paved surfaces
• Watering the lawn 
• Make sure the grass is cut 
• Cut grass early in the morning when the weather is not windy or excessively dry 

Vehicle Upkeep

• Stay on top of vehicle brakes and tires
• Secure tow chains to avoid dragging
• Avoid driving on dry grass or brush

According to the study, 30% of community college students in California utilize their accessible food stamps, nearly a third more than the 22% of UC students and 29% of UC graduate students who accessed them in 2019.

This means that about 93,000 students used Calfresh that year, while an estimated 235,000 eligible students missed out on benefits that could have paid for their food, the study reports.

The report provides eligibility and participation estimates for each UC campus and the seven California Community College regions, and breakdowns by demographics, financial aid status, and student types.

The study reports that 17% of CCC students are eligible for Calfresh benefits, compared to 31% of UC undergraduate students and 6% of UC graduate students. Researchers said community college students have lower eligibility rates "likely due to more of these students living with their parents – which makes them less likely to qualify."

The study reports that UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis have the highest take-up rates among UCs, and across CCC regions, the Central Valley has the highest, at 38%. The Bay Area has the lowest, at 22%.

“Students shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they can afford their next meal,” explains Genie Kim, Director of Student Mental Health and Well-being at the UC Office of the President. “These estimates show that we have a lot of work to do in order to improve access and connect more eligible students to CalFresh benefits.”

In recent years, California has worked to help more eligible students receive Calfresh, " but these efforts have been hampered by a lack of understanding about how many students are eligible, and of that group, how many participate," the California Police Lab says.

Recently, personal finance outlet FinanceBuzz analyzed data for 125 U.S. cities with populations greater than 200,000 to rank them based on several metrics, including cost of living, median income and debt-to-income ratios. The cities were then ranked based on ease of saving to difficulty — and California owned the top 10 worst cities, with only one being outside of the Golden State.

And they're not just the major cities you might expect.

Coming in at number one in FinanceBuzz’s ranking of the U.S. Cities Where It’s Hardest To Save Money is Oxnard, California. The Ventura County city is the no. 1 "worst" city nationwide when it comes to saving money. FinanceBuzz notes Oxnard's high cost of living, in addition to having one of the five worst mortgage-to-income ratios nationwide and one of the five worst debt-to-income ratios of any city on the list.

Here’s a look at the full bottom 10.

In addition to Oxnard, other California cities rounding out the top five "worsts" are Santa Ana (second), Moreno Valley (third), Riverside (fourth) and San Bernardino (fifth).

FinanceBuzz explains that "many of the same factors" are the reasons for these cities being ranked how they are, as California is generally more expensive than many other states. The outlet explains that though Moreno Valley has a slightly more affordable cost of living, its debt-to-income ratio is among the worst seen from any city on the list.

Nationally, Toledo, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, nabbed the no. 1 and no. 2 spots, respectively. FinanceBuzz found Toledo to have the second-lowest cost of living of all cities, not to mention having low rent and mortgage costs compared to income.

The cubs are the children of Henrietta, who may be better known to people as Hank the Tank.
•Video Above: Troublemaker bear from Tahoe area caught (From Aug. 2023)

In recent years, many break-ins were thought to be the work of Henrietta, who weighed around 500 pounds, hence the nickname.

Wildlife officials eventually determined that the break-ins were caused by multiple bears, yet the blame for all had fallen on the recognizable bear, whose picture made it onto news around the world.

Henrietta was caught in August 2023 and taken to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado.

"Even if we tried to put her in the wild, she wouldn't stay there, she would probably go back into urban areas," said Alexia Ronning, a bear specialist with CDFW. "At least 80% of her diet was human food and that's what she had been doing for the past two plus years, and that's what she was teaching her cubs."

Her three cubs and another young bear, all "yearlings," abandoned by its mother were taken to the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue so that they could lose their habit of seeking food from human-occupied places.

Once wildlife officials determined that the cubs avoided human interaction and were old enough to be on their own, they were outfitted with tracking collars and released into the Sierra Nevada, where they'll — hopefully — stay away from homes.

Practice for the Truckee High School football team was temporarily halted when a bear walked across the field.

“The possibilities at a football practice in Truckee are vast…snow, lightning, storms, hail, coyotes taking out voles or maybe the birds of prey swooping down on the varmints…or a Black Bear making his way through old wetlands of Meadow Lake,” the Instagram post from the team reads.

When asked on Facebook if it's the first time this happened, the football team said animals, such as coyotes, have crossed the field on numerous occasions. 

Wildlife officials have warned about an increase in bear sightings during the summer months. 

According to the Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT), a coalition of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service, summer is the time when mother bears will take their take cubs into the forest and in populated areas.

Whenever a cub is found in a tree or anywhere on its own, officials advise to back away as the mother could be nearby. 

If an encounter with a bear happens, but they don’t see you, the CDFW said to keep a safe distance, back away slowly, don’t make eye contact, don’t run and let the bear leave the area on its own.

If a bear does see you, officials said to use the same steps and make yourself bigger by lifting and waving your arms. 

The home game dates announced include: 

• Sunday, December 15, 2024
• Monday, January 20, 2025
• Saturday, February 1, 2025
• Saturday, February 8, 2025
• Sunday, March 9, 2025
• Saturday, March 29, 2025 (regular-season finale)

All Warriors home games are played at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz. For the first 1,000 fans in attendance, the Warriors will have a giveaway, according to the team. 

According to the Santa Cruz Warriors press release, the schedule for tip-off times and opponents will be revealed at a later date. 

The Warriors recently were awarded the NBA G League Franchise of the Year for the 2023-24 season. The Santa Cruz Warriors President Chris Murphy said the award was "a celebration of our collective effort, dedication and synergy as a team, and we are honored to share this recognition with the entire Santa Cruz community.”

The death occurred in Downieville, a tiny town in the Sierra Nevada, two hours northeast of the state capital, Sacramento TV station KCRA reported Wednesday.

On Nov. 8, Sierra County sheriff's deputies checking on the welfare of a resident who hadn't been seen for a few days found a broken door and bear scat on the porch, Sheriff Mike Fisher told the station. Inside were the remains of Patrice Miller, 71.

“It appeared that the bear had probably been there several days and had been feeding on the remains,” Fisher said.

It was initially believed that Miller died before the arrival of the bear and that it may have been drawn by the scent.

Meanwhile, there were many reports from concerned citizens about a bear repeatedly returning to the house. A state depredation permit was issued and a bear was trapped on the property and euthanized, according to Fisher.

Then came the findings of Miller's autopsy, which were first reported by The Mountain Messenger, a local weekly newspaper.

“Patrice had passed away due to a bear mauling or a swipe and a bite to the neck area,” Fisher said.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that it was the first record of a deadly black bear attack on a human in the state.

“It’s a big deal,” said Steve Gonzalez, a department spokesperson. “That doesn’t happen in California. Normally a bear is going to stay away from you, a bear that hasn’t been normalized to human behavior.”

Investigators learned from Miller's daughter that her mother had a constant problem with bears trying to get into her home, and that she had physically hit one.

Another bear then became a problem in Downieville and was euthanized after trying to break into a school gym, resulting in a significant decrease in bear activity, the sheriff said.

DNA tests confirmed that the first bear euthanized was responsible for killing Miller.

Bears breaking into homes or trash cans in search of food have become a problem in California — from Lake Tahoe in the Sierra down to the foothill suburbs of Los Angeles, where some have been known to raid refrigerators and take dips in backyard pools and hot tubs.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office (SCCSO) deputies responded to Moran Lake County Park on reports of an unresponsive person in the water off the beach, authorities said. Emergency personnel from California State Parks, harbor patrol and fire crews also arrived on scene to begin life-saving efforts.

The person was pronounced deceased at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. An investigation is underway to determine the cause and manner of death.

Authorities said they are working to identify the body and notify the family.

No further details were released.

California Assembly Bill 1013 aims to protect consumers from becoming victims of date-rape drugs and "roofies."

Beginning July 1, businesses with Type 48 licenses — issued to establishments that sell beer, wine and liquor for consumption on business property — will need to offer drug testing kits and prominently display signage informing customers about their availability.

According to the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, the signs will need to read: “Don’t get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details.”

About 2,400 businesses across the state will be required to offer the testing kits, which will need to be made available for purchase at a "reasonable" price or provided free of charge. License holders and businesses will need to obtain the testing kits on their own dime, ABC officials said.

Drug testing devices come in various forms, including test strips, stickers and straws, which are capable of detecting controlled substances in drinks. Controlled substances include known date-rape drugs flunitrazepam (rohypnol), gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and ketamine.

License holders who fail to provide these testing kits could face punishment by the California ABC, including fines and administrative action that could affect their licenses.

Establishments exempt from the new requirement include businesses like bar-restaurants, sports bars and bistros, in which minors are allowed inside and food is required to be sold in addition to beer, wine and spirits.

A downloadable version of the informational sign above is available on the California ABC website.

For more information, click here.

The big bunny was close to traffic winding along Highway 17, so the workers alerted California Highway Patrol officers of the situation. A CHP officer was able to catch the rabbit and named it "Bugs."

The CHP wrote, "Our officers gave Bugs a cozy ride to Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, where he's now receiving the care he needs. A big shoutout to the vigilant workers who spotted Bugs and took quick action to ensure his safety. Kindness and prompt response made all the difference."

According to federal prosecutors, 40-year-old Charles Barrett was sentenced to life in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact that occurred during a weekend in Yosemite.

Court documents and evidence presented at trial state that in August 2016 the unidentified victim went to Yosemite for a weekend of hiking; Barrett, who was living and working for a private business in the park, sexually assaulted her three times.

During the trial, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert says three other women testified that Barrett also sexually assaulted them. These assaults were not charged because they were outside federal jurisdiction but were admitted at trial as relevant to the charged assaults.

According to court documents, in 2017, seven years after he assaulted one of the victims who testified at trial, Barrett purposely climbed at a rock-climbing gym where the victim attended. She then disclosed Barrett’s assault on her to the gym owner in the interest of protecting other women at the gym. Barrett responded by harassing and threatening her for several years. In August 2022, he was convicted for criminal threats he made in January 2022.

While in custody, prosecutors say Barrett made hundreds of phone calls. On these calls, prosecutors say he showed no remorse or regret; he instead threatened to use violence and vindictive lawsuits against the victims, claiming that they designed a conspiracy to ruin his life.

“Barrett’s long history of sexual violence supports the imposition of a life sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the rock-climbing community, and when his victims began to tell, Barrett responded by lashing out publicly with threats and intimidation."

Talbert added that the case is a testament to the courage of the victims who reported the crimes.

To enhance convenience for customers, some simple transactions will now be available for completion online. According to www.dmv.ca.gov, these services include replacing lost or stolen driver's license/identification cards, driver's license renewals that do not need an in-person visit, vehicle registration renewals that are not past-due, requests for copies of driver's license records and requests for copies of vehicle registration records.

"We don't want our customers to have to wait for service, and they don't have to," a spokesperson for DMV said. "Customers accustomed to completing these tasks in person need not fret because the DMV has spent the last few years digitizing services, improving efficiency, and making more than 90% of transactions available on a phone, tablet, laptop, or computer."

The changes are part of the DMV's goals to maximize efficiency just in time for their busiest time of the year. DMV offices tend to see the most in-person visits during the summer since people have more time off of work and school, the department said.

Services such as finalizing a REAL ID application require an in-person visit. By May 7, 2025, REAL IDs will be required to board domestic flights and enter secure federal facilities such as federal courthouses and military bases.

In compliance with digitizing many services, several DMV offices will adjust their opening hours to the public beginning July 1, 2024. However, these modified hours are mostly limited to offices in remote regions of CA and will not affect those in the Bay Area.

During the days that offices are closed to the public, the DMV will use the time for processing transactions virtually, they said. "Going online will save time, and it will save time for the Californians in our offices who need to be there," said the spokesperson.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Since 1950, there have been 213 shark incidents across all species, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — the vast majority being non-fatal. Even with the growth of beach activities, officials note there has not been a proportional increase in shark incidents.

Scientists say most of these interactions between human and shark are not predatory attempts, but rather exploratory bites in the course of investigating unusual objects in their environment. The remainder are believed to be caused by a shark mistaking a person for their usual prey.

While experts say staying out of the ocean is the only guaranteed method of avoiding it, there are things that beachgoers should know about the sharks that reside in San Diego's coastal waters and what to do if they end up interacting with one.

What sharks attack people in California?

According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, white sharks, or "great white sharks," are predominately responsible for shark incidents across California. The species is known for its white underside and dark-gray to brown top, accompanied by a large first dorsal fin.

White sharks primarily reside in cool, coastal waters in the eastern Pacific — from Baja California to the Gulf of Alaska. If they attack humans, researchers with the California Academy of Sciences say it often happens near the surface in water about 10 to 30 feet deep.

There is not one period of time that sharks are particularly active, with attacks having been record in every month of the year. However, as Cal Academy scientists explain, these incidents have been most common in August and September, as well as during the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

How to avoid a shark attack

While its best to avoid deeper coastal waters to steer clear of risky sharks, it is likely not entirely possible for people who enjoy swimming, kayaking or surfing in the ocean. In that case, there is a few things experts suggest to keep in mind before heading out:

• If you're bleeding, whether from a cut or a menstrual cycle, avoid the water and stay on the beach. Sharks have a nose for even the tiniest amount of blood in the water, with the ability to smell it from over a mile away. Keeping out of the water, or getting out if you sustain a scrape, will help avoid a shark attack.
• In that same vein, experts urge people to steer clear of any dead animals or fishing boats, which can leave a trail of fish remains and blood that is enticing for a shark.
• If you see a large group of dolphins or seabirds, experts say a shark may be close by. These creatures are attracted to similar types of food as sharks — or soon could become prey themselves.
• Refrain from excessive splashing in the water and keep pets out of the water. Erratic activity can attract a shark's attention, experts say. If you are approached by a shark, stay as still and quiet as possible to avoid provoking it.
• Always swim, surf or dive with other people and stay in sight of first responders, such as lifeguard towers. Most shark attacks happen when an individual is alone in the water.

What to do if you're attacked

If you're not able to avoid a shark, there are ways you can defend yourself or prevent life-threatening impacts.

Should you notice an imminent attack before it happens, use whatever weapon you can to fight against it, like a surfboard, dive gear or fishing equipment — try to avoid using hands and feet. If you have to use hands, concentrate attacks on the shark's eyes, nose and gills.

Making sudden movements is also encouraged at this point to try and scare the shark. According to experts, "playing dead" does not work to get the shark to back off.

If you're bitten, try to stop the bleeding and leave the water as efficiently and calmly as possible to prevent a second attack. Once you're out of the water seek immediate medical attention, no matter how small the injury might be.

The facility is located at 4601 Newcastle Drive in Stockton. According to an Amazon representative, the ecommerce giant will offer impacted employees transfers to one of 10 other Amazon facilities in the San Joaquin Valley, including facilities in Stockton, Tracy, or Manteca.

A state filing cited in an earlier version of this story suggested that employees would be losing their jobs. However, none of the employees at the facility are expected to lose their jobs, an Amazon representative clarified to KRON4.

"Affected employees who accept internal transfer opportunities at Amazon prior to their separation date will not be separated as a result of this action," read a letter from Amazon accompanying state filings.

"Employee separations resulting from this action are expected to be permanent," the letter went on to say.

“We’re always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees, customers, partners, and drivers," said Natalie Bank with Amazon. "As part of that effort, we may close older sites, enhance existing facilities, or open new sites, and we weigh a variety of factors when deciding where to develop future sites or maintain a presence. In this case, all employees at our Stockton sort center are being offered opportunities to transfer to other facilities nearby, as well as support if they choose not to stay with Amazon.”

Knowing this, Yelp’s team of analysts have attempted to steer us away from any regrettable crullers, jelly sticks or Boston crème doughnuts by compiling a list of the “best” doughnut shops in every state.

The list, released just ahead of National Doughnut Day on June 7, was also determined using data submitted by Yelp’s “Elite Squad” team — a group which Yelp chose for their passionate, detailed reviews. And don’t worry: These “Elites” can’t be swayed with some of the bells and whistles often seen at flashier doughnut shops, according to Yelp.

“While trendy flavors and toppings are always popular, Yelp Elites know that top donuts are made from well-tested dough recipes, sometimes perfected over generations,” the site says.

Ready to grab a box of fresh, peer-reviewed doughnuts? Have a look at the list below for some of the top-rated treats in each state, as determined by Yelp’s Elites.

• Alabama — Bigfoot’s Little Donuts, in Huntsville
• Alaska — Jason’s Donuts, in Eagle River
• Arizona — Hot N Sweet Coffee and Donut Shop, in Page
• Arkansas — Mark’s DO-Nut Shop, in Little Rock
• California — JD Flannel Donuts and Coffee, in San Juan Capistrano
• Colorado — Nok’s Donuts, in Lafayette
• Connecticut — Brooklyn Baking, in Waterbury
• Delaware — Sandy Pony Donuts, in Bethany Beach
• D.C. — Donut Run, in Washington, D.C.
• Florida — Donnie’s Donuts, in Daytona Beach
• Georgia — Sweet Apple Donut & Coffee, in Alpharetta
• Hawaii — Island Glazed, in Aiea, Oahu
• Idaho — Mojo’s Donuts & Ice Cream, in Boise
• Illinois — Old Fashioned Donuts, in Chicago
• Indiana — Long’s Bakery, in Indianapolis
• Iowa — Ambrosia Donuts, in Ankeny
• Kansas — Hana’s Donuts, in Kansas City
• Kentucky — Nord’s Bakery, in Louisville
• Louisiana — Baker’s Dozen, in Jefferson
• Maine — Congdon’s Doughnuts Family Restaurant & Bakery, in Wells
• Maryland — Carlson’s Donuts, in Severn
• Massachusetts — Ruby Donut, in Ayer
• Michigan — Avon Donuts Inc., in Pontiac
• Minnesota — Heights Bakery, in Columbia Heights
• Mississippi — Fantasy Donuts, in Biloxi
• Missouri — Fresh Donuts, in Kansas City
• Montana — Granny’s Gourmet Donuts, in Bozeman
• Nebraska — Olsen Bake Shop, in Omaha
• Nevada — Yo Mochi Café, in Henderson
• New Hampshire —New Hampshire Donut Co., in Concord
• New Jersey — Uncle Dood’s Donuts, in Toms River
• New Mexico — Yummy Mini Donuts and Ice Cream, in Albuquerque
• New York — Peaceful Provisions, in Beacon
• North Carolina —Superior Bakery, in Fayetteville
• North Dakota — Sandy’s Donuts & Coffee Shop, in West Fargo
• Ohio — Donna’s Delicious Dozen, in Columbus
• Oklahoma —Polar Donuts, in Oklahoma City
• Oregon — Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai, in Portland
• Pennsylvania — Oram’s Donut Shop, in Beaver Falls
• Rhode Island — Glaze’n Daze Donuts, in Johnston
• South Carolina — Sunny’s Donuts, in Gaffney
• South Dakota — Jerry’s Cakes & Donuts, in Rapid City
• Tennessee — McGaugh’s Donuts, in Madison
• Texas — Robin’s Snowflake Donuts & Café, in Spring
• Utah — Fresh Donut & Deli, in Salt Lake City
• Vermont — North Country Donuts, in Morristown
• Virginia — Carol Lee Donuts, in Blacksburg
• Washington — Happy Donuts, in Puyallup
• West Virginia — Jolly Pirate Doughnuts, in Huntington
• Wisconsin — Greenbush Bakery, in Madison
• Wyoming — Cowboy Donuts, in Rock Springs

More information, including links to each shop’s Yelp page and a handy map of all 51 entries, can be found at Yelp.com.

According to the United States Postal Service, Los Angeles leads the nation in dog bites against mail carriers. In 2023, the city had 65 reported dog attacks against postal service workers, taking the top spot over Houston, which had 56. L.A. was second on last year's list.

Aside from L.A., California cities that were among the top 30 included San Diego (6), Sacramento (16), San Francisco (19) and Long Beach (20).

The list of top 30 cities can be found below:

In the state list, California also came out on top with 727 reported dog bites in 2023. That number puts the state more than 300 above second-ranked Texas.

The list of top 10 states can be found below:

The report comes as the USPS starts a weeklong initiative beginning June 2 to spread awareness about mail carrier safety to dog owners.

“Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager, Employee Safety and Health Awareness. “The U.S. Postal Service consistently encourages responsible pet ownership. The national dog bite campaign is an effort to promote dog bite awareness to keep our customers, their dogs, and letter carriers safe while delivering the mail.”

According to the USPS, mail carriers are trained on what to do when dogs are in the area.

Some of those lessons include making non-threatening noises to alert a dog of their presence, avoiding startling a dog, refraining from petting or feeding a dog and placing a foot against a swinging door to keep a dog from getting out.

The USPS advised dog owners to lock their animals behind a gate or fence when postal workers arrive at the house or to keep them leashed during walks.

“Even though a customer’s dog is friendly to most people, it can always have a bad day,” letter carrier Tara Snyder stated in the report. “I know, from experience, even when a dog is in the house, customers need to make sure their door is secure so their dog can’t push it open and bite the letter carrier.”

As of Thursday morning, the fire is at 14,168 acres and is 100 percent contained.

The cause of the Corral Fire is still unknown. The wildfire ignited on Saturday afternoon in San Joaquin County near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a center for nuclear weapons science and technology.

The wildfire did not threaten the laboratory's facilities because flames spread away from the site, a lab spokesperson said.

Homes were threatened, and thousands of people in the area were ordered to leave immediately. Flames turned brown grassy hillsides dotted with windmills into a black and charred landscape. Dozers established firebreak containment lines.

Nearly 500 firefighters grappled with 45 mph wind gusts while battling the blaze. Two firefighters from Alameda County suffered burn injuries and were treated at a hospital, the Alameda County Fire Department said.

Prison inmate firefighter crews used chainsaws to remove vegetation. "Their duties have included back firing operations, construction of containment lines, and they even helped to save cattle caught in the path of the fire," Cal Fire LNU wrote.

Travis Curtiss’ parents' home in Tracy was destroyed. On Monday he sifted through ashes looking for precious family heirlooms dating back more than 100 years.

"There were a couple things that my mom wanted, and they were able to find them today," Travis Curtiss said as he wiped tears from his face. "I’m just thankful that they are OK. It’s tough, these are memories. But it would be a totally different story if they had been hurt."

Cal Fire officials wrote on Monday, "Weather conditions became more favorable for firefighters, allowing crews to make progress constructing and improving control lines."

Fire crews hoped to establish 100 percent containment during the week as the heat wave loomed. "Dangerously hot conditions" with highs over 100 degrees were forecasted by the National Weather Service for Wednesday in the San Joaquin Valley.

Cal Fire spokesperson Cecile Juliette said on Monday that firefighters were trying to "get this fire wrapped up as quickly as we can. As you know, there is a heat wave coming up and the grass is already very dry all over the Bay Area. They hope today (weather conditions) will be just as good as Sunday, which means full containment could be days away."

Evacuation orders were lifted Sunday evening to allow residents to return home. Evacuation warnings were lifted Monday night, Cal Fire officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The preliminary 3.5-magnitude quake struck four kilometers south-southwest of South Pasadena, the USGS said.

The quake struck at a depth of 11.3 kilometers.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, who was in South Pasadena at the time, posted on X that the quake was "sharp and short."

"The focal mechanism shows east-west thrust faulting, much like the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake," Dr. Jones said. "[Sunday's] quake is west of that event."

According to KTLA Director of Content and Coverage Peter Wilgoren, the temblor felt like someone "took a tuning fork to the entire house."

No injuries or damage were immediately reported.

On May 30, Justen Lipeles filed a class action lawsuit in a Los Angeles court against the singer and it stems from her March 7 show at The Kia Forum in Inglewood.

Lipeles is making claims of negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, and breach of written contract. 

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the complaint alleges the singer subjected attendees "to pornography without warning," including topless women simulating sex acts onstage.

Lipeles' attorneys at Lipeles Law Group said he brought his 11-year-old sister to the show and was "shocked."

"Imagine taking your 11-year-old daughter to a pop concert," the statement obtained to Entertainment Tonight read. "When in the middle of the concert, the women on stage remove their tops and are completely topless. They then begin to act out sexual situations including cunnilingus, and digital penetration amongst other pornographic type situations. This is with absolutely no warning to anyone who is offended by this type of content, and especially those who bring children to the concert." 

The lawsuit claims that the singer and Live Nation "lulled" fans to buy "expensive tickets" to her Celebration Tour and “purposely and deceptively” withheld information when it came to marketing the shows.

The plaintiff claimed that the "Material Girl" turned off the air conditioner and Lipeless became ill in the heat.

"For many hours everyone was forced to sit in what felt like a sauna," the statement continued. "This was no accident, Madonna insisted that the AC stay off and when people in the crowd complained, she said she is not turning the AC on and if they didn't like it, they should take their clothes off.  People were physically in discomfort and sweating like crazy. In other words, people paid thousands of dollars to sit and suffer while watching live porn, including kids, with no warning." 

He also claimed Madonna didn't sing her songs live and they were lip-synced.

Like many other lawsuits against the singer, Lipeles cited Madonna's tardiness. The show was slated to start at 8:30 p.m. but she didn't hit the stage until 10:00 p.m.

Lipeles also named Forum Entertainment, Kia Forum, Acrisure Arena, the Golden 1 Center, Chase Center in the lawsuit.

Other California venues were named in the suit because the plaintiff claimed the singer was late to all of her shows in the Golden State, according to ET.

The plaintiff's lawyers said they are "in the process of slightly amending the complaint."

There's been no response related to this new lawsuit but in the past, the star's legal team has filed a motion to dismiss saying "no reasonable concertgoers would expect the headliner to take the stage at the ticketed event time."

In January, some fans in New York filed a lawsuit against Madonna because her show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center started late.

On Wednesday, Monterey County jurors convicted Gonzalo Echeverria and his cousin, Jose Echeverria, of murdering Chavez and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Jesus Villa.

The double homicide happened near Closter Park on the east side of Salinas on the evening of February 5, 2022.

The young couple got into their car parked on the corner of Towt and Grandhaven streets. The Monterey County District Attorney's Office wrote, "Unbeknownst to them, cousins Gonzalo and Jose Echeverria waited nearby, parked across the street in the dark, for the opportunity to ambush the pair."

"As soon as the couple settled into their car, Jose Echeverria drove to the corner and both Jose and Gonzalo exited their car and opened fire on the victims’ car from behind. The two fired at least 18 shots into the car. Jose used a 9mm handgun, and Gonzalo used a rifle with .223 ammunition," the DA's Office wrote.

Villa's mother, who was inside her apartment nearby, heard the flurry of gunshots that killed her son, according to trial testimony. The cousins mistakenly thought that Villa was another man who lived in the mother's apartment complex.

Several surveillance cameras recorded Jose's vehicle driving from the crime scene to his family's home on Griffin Street.

Prosecutors wrote, "Gonzalo subsequently confessed to his role in the crime and gave statements to undercover agents that implicated his cousin, Jose, as the second shooter. Gonzalo also revealed that their intent was to murder a different male who lived in the same apartment complex. They killed Jesus Villa and Karina Chavez by mistake."

CSU Monterey Bay held a moment of silence at its 2022 Latinx graduation ceremony for Chavez. Her GoFundMe page states, "She was smart, beautiful, outgoing, caring, and she had her whole life ahead of her."

Villa's family wrote on GoFundMe, "Jesus was a hard working young man and caregiver to elderly patients. He loved his job and helping others. He was motivated, disciplined, and had many goals. He enjoyed all things health related including sports, going to gym, and boxing."

This week, a jury convicted the cousins on all counts after a week-and-a-half long trial.

Jose will face life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on June 26 by Judge Pamela Butler. His cousin will face the same sentence when he is sentenced in July.

The shrinkage was small, granted, with only a 0.2% drop in population between July 2022 and July 2023. But some of the largest cities and towns in the Golden State saw more dramatic drops. Anaheim and Long Beach, for example, both lost nearly 1% of their populations in a single year.

Chula Vista, San Jose and Stockton also saw populations drop, between 0.2% and 0.4%.

The Census data didn't specify exactly where folks leaving those California cities were heading, but they could be moving to smaller California towns, more affordable parts of the state, or out of state. Texas is the No. 1 out-of-state target for people leaving California, but that trend has been diminishing in the past couple years.

Meanwhile, several of California's larger cities were found to be growing last year. Bakersfield, Fresno, Irvine, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco all saw moderate gains.

Nationwide, the fastest-growing communities are found in the Sun Belt, and in the outskirts of larger metro areas.

California wasn't the fastest-shrinking state in the nation. According to the Census, that title goes to New York, which lost 0.5% of its population in just one year. Almost every large city in New York saw a population drop in 2023, but the effect was most dramatic in New York City, which lost an estimated 78,000 residents.

Three large Southern California cities – Los Angeles, Riverside and Santa Ana – had population changes so small they essentially amounted to zero.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Over the holiday weekend, CHP conducted a “maximum enforcement period” that began at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 24 and ran until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 27.  

Officials said 1,350 arrests were made, with 1,106 of them being DUI-related, an average of one DUI arrest every four minutes over the 78-hour enforcement period.  

“Sadly, 42 people were killed in crashes on California’s roads during the MEP,” CHP said in a news release. “Among the 17 vehicle occupants who were killed in a crash within CHP jurisdiction, eight were not wearing a seatbelt.”  

Nearly 32,000 traffic citations were issued during the same period for violations that included: 

• 19,000 citations issued for excessive speed 
• 800 citations issued for drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour 
• Some 1,850 citations for seatbelt violations 
• More than 2,000 distracted driving citations 

According to the highway safety agency, Memorial Day to Labor Day are the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers and passengers.  

“Even when it’s not a Maximum Enforcement Period, let’s continue to work together to make responsible choices: drive sober, avoid distractions, follow speed limits, and always buckle up,” the release stated.  

The goal is to find homes for 2,024 shelter pets.

"California shelters are facing enormous pressures due to overcrowding conditions, as the number of animals entering shelters is outpacing those leaving," said CalAnimals CEO Jill Tucker.

"By increasing adoption demand and encouraging pet-ready families to visit their local shelter first, we can make a change." According to organizers, recent years have seen a national increase in the number of shelter animals partly due to a shortage of veterinarians, inflation and a lack of pet-friendly housing options.

California Adopt-a-Pet Day locations can be found here.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Around 1:53 a.m., inmate Daniel Lopez Zavala jumped over a barbed-wire fence to escape the facility and succeeded. 

Zavala was last seen wearing a brown jail shirt, orange jail pants and black shoes. He is 6 foot 1 inch tall and around 190 pounds. Zavala has short black hair and brown eyes. His chest tattoos say,  “San Benito County” and “Hollis.” The inmate also has tattoos of skulls and women on both arms. On Zavala’s upper back,  he has a tattoo that says “ESN.” He has the names “Alexia” and “Amaya” on his abdomen. 

According to the sheriff’s office, Zavala associates with the "Northern Gang" members.

Zavala was charged with resisting/obstructing peace officer, felony supervised release, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, felony gun charges, child abuse charges and other misdemeanor charges.

The San Benito County Sheriff's Office asks residents who encounter Zavala to contact 911.

According to the governor’s office, the seizure of drugs was from January through April 2024. In just April alone, the task force confiscated 2.3 million fentanyl pills. 

“Illegal fentanyl has no place in our neighborhoods,” said Newsom. “California is tackling this problem head-on by holding drug traffickers accountable and increasing seizures, while at the same time expanding access to substance abuse treatment options and providing life-saving, affordable reversal medicine to Californians statewide.”

Newsom launched opioids.ca.gov, which is a website with prevention and treatment information regarding opioids and how the state plans to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for the distribution of lethal drugs. 

According to the website, the state had more than 7,000 deaths due to opioid overdose in 2022. 

The individual in question arrived at Gate 156 at Tom Bradley International Terminal on May 19 at 3:04 p.m. aboard Lufthansa flight LH452, which according to online flight tracking service FlightAware, is the airline’s Munich, Germany to Los Angeles route. 

After a five-hour layover, the traveler connected to Lufthansa flight LH7852 out of Terminal 7, Gate 82 around 8 p.m., the health department said. 

Flight LH7852 goes from LAX to Fresno; according to FlightAware, the route is operated by SkyWest Airlines as flight SKW5591. 

There are no other locations where possible exposures to this traveler may have occurred, public health department officials confirmed.

“Individuals who were at LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal from approximately 3:04 p.m. to 9 p.m. may be at risk of developing measles due to exposure to this traveler,” L.A. County Public Health officials said. 

Local health departments, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, are notifying passengers assigned to specific seats that may have been exposed on LH452 on May 18-19 and LH7852 (SKW5591) on May 19. 

“Exposed individuals should confirm if they have been vaccinated against measles...if they have not had measles in the past and have not yet obtained the measles vaccine, they are at risk of contracting measles if they have been exposed,” L.A. County health officials said. “Unimmunized persons or those with unknown immunization status who were at this location during the date and time are at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after being exposed.” 

If potentially exposed victims do not show symptoms by 21 days after exposure – which would be June 9 – they are no longer at risk, the health department added. 

“Measles is spread by air and by direct contact even before you know you have it and can lead to severe disease,” Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer, said. “Measles is highly contagious for those who are not immune to it...it can result in serious complications for young children and vulnerable adults.” 

According to public health officials, common measles symptoms include:

• High fever (higher than 101 degrees) 
• Cough 
• Runny nose 
• Red and watery eyes 
• Tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin 
• Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness; typically starts at the face and then spreads to the rest of the body 

Individuals who develop symptoms are urged to stay at home and avoid school, work and any large gatherings. Notify a healthcare provider immediately but do not enter any healthcare facility before calling them and making them aware of individuals’ exposure and symptoms, the health department said. 

Most health insurances cover the cost of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR); uninsured or underinsured children and adults can access free or low-cost vaccines at clinics enrolled in the Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults programs. More information can be found here. 

To view the L.A. County Health Department’s measles information page, click here.