California

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Massive Fire Erupts at California Refinery

It's not yet clear what caused blaze at Chevron refinery

(Newser) - Fire crews were battling massive flames at a Chevron refinery just outside of Los Angeles on Thursday night, the AP reports. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office confirmed on the social platform X that the large fire had erupted at the company's refinery in El Segundo. The company did...

Altadena Went Up in Flames Hours Before the Eaton Fire

NPR highlights early issues with electric distribution lines

(Newser) - Months after the deadly Eaton fire swept through Altadena, California, claiming 19 lives and razing over 9,000 properties, questions continue to swirl over the true cause of the destruction. Lawsuits have pinned the fire on high-voltage transmission lines owned by Southern California Edison, which concedes its equipment may...

ICE Plans Super Bowl Presence for Bad Bunny Halftime Show

DHS' Corey Lewandowski warns that agents will target undocumented immigrants at event

(Newser) - Federal immigration officers plan to be present at the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, where Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny is slated to headline the halftime show, according to Corey Lewandowski, an adviser at the Department of Homeland Security. Speaking Wednesday on The Benny Show , Lewandowski warned,...

Uber Prevails in Landmark Driver Assault Trial

Case is first of hundreds challenging company's handling of sexual assaults

(Newser) - A California jury has found Uber not liable in the first US trial over driver sexual assault claims, setting a precedent for hundreds of similar lawsuits and putting the company's safety practices under renewed scrutiny. The plaintiff, identified in court as Jessica C., alleged that her 2016 ride...

Ritzy California Backyards Tumble Toward Ocean

Coastal bluff erosion continues in wealthy Rancho Palos Verdes

(Newser) - The wealthy California coastal community of Rancho Palos Verdes watched more of its cherished land slip toward the ocean over the weekend. Aerial images captured pieces of several ocean-facing backyards peeling away from upscale homes, but officials say there was no structural harm or injuries reported this time, per...

Cops Couldn't Ticket Waymo That Made Illegal U-Turn

'No driver, no hands, no clue'

(Newser) - California police officers found themselves in an unusual spot last week when they tried to pull over a car for a traffic violation and discovered there was no driver to ticket. During a DUI enforcement operation in San Bruno, officers stopped a Waymo autonomous vehicle after it made an...

Calif. County Settles for $17M Over Violent Traffic Stop

Deputies in Solano County were accused of excessive force during roadside incident in 2020

(Newser) - California's Solano County has agreed to a $17 million payout to a woman and her father, concluding a lawsuit over a violent 2020 roadside encounter with sheriff's deputies. The settlement, described by the family's attorney as among the largest in California for this type of case,...

Heeeeeere's Johnny's House Up for Sale

Carson's 4-acre estate, with sweeping ocean views and an indoor arboretum, is on the market for $110M

(Newser) - One of California's most storied celebrity properties, formerly home to the "King of Late Night" Johnny Carson, is now on the market for a staggering $110 million, offering a rare glimpse into Hollywood history and coastal luxury. Carson bought the estate in the Point Dume area of...

Louisiana Indicts California Doctor in Abortion Fight

Dr. Remy Coeytaux, protected by shield laws, is also named in a Texas man's lawsuit

(Newser) - Louisiana is pursuing a criminal case against another out-of-state doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to a patient in the state, court documents filed this month reveal, per the AP . Louisiana said in a court case filed Sept. 19 that it had issued a warrant for a California-based doctor who...

'Cult-Like' California Group Faces Scrutiny Over Boy's Death

With disappearances of two men, there's renewed police attention to His Way Spirit Led Assemblies

(Newser) - A small California religious group known as His Way Spirit Led Assemblies finds itself under intense scrutiny after the death of a young boy and the disappearance of two members. As the Los Angeles Times reports, the group—led by Darryl Muzic Martin and his wife, Shelly Bailey "...

An Iconic California Bridge Is About to Disappear

Locals are furious about the planned demolition of a landmark

(Newser) - California's Highway 1 is famous for its views, but right now the most dramatic thing about it isn't the coastline—it's a fight over a bridge. As SFGate reports, the California Department of Transportation plans to demolish the historic Albion River Bridge, the last wooden highway span...

Brady Bunch House Lets Fans Inside for 3 Groovy Days

Guided tours in November will offer fans a look inside every room of residence in Studio City, Calif.

(Newser) - Fans of The Brady Bunch might want to dust off their polyester: The famous split-level residence from the TV classic is opening its doors to the public, for a very brief cameo. For three days in November, super fans can roam the halls of the instantly recognizable Studio City...

'Very Mean Squirrel' Is on the Warpath

At least 2 people in San Rafael, Calif., have ended up in ER after creature 'comes out of nowhere'

(Newser) - Residents of a San Francisco Bay Area city are on the lookout for an aggressive squirrel that has sent at least two people to the emergency room for medical treatment, per the AP . Joan Heblack tells ABC affiliate KGO-TV that she was walking in the Lucas Valley neighborhood of San...

Big Win for Man Who Claims Cops Framed Him for Murder

Maurice Hastings awarded largest wrongful conviction settlement in California history

(Newser) - An innocent man who spent 38 years behind bars in California was awarded $25 million in what his lawyers called the largest wrongful conviction settlement in state history. The settlement was reached in August, according to court documents made public on Monday, per the AP . Maurice Hastings, 72, was convicted...

Errol Musk Accused of Abusing 5 of His Kids, Stepkids

Allegations against Elon Musk's father span decades, involve multiple family members, per NYT

(Newser) - Elon Musk's high profile has often included his personal life on display, but one area he has rarely discussed is his fractured relationship with his father, Errol Musk. According to a New York Times investigation, a central reason for this estrangement is a series of child sexual abuse...

DA: TV Station Shooting Appears to Be Political

He says Sacramento suspect had anti-Trump note

(Newser) - A man suspected of firing a gun into the ABC affiliate's office in California's capital had written notes in his car that were critical of President Trump's administration and a calendar reminder on his fridge to "do the next scary thing," prosecutors said Monday.
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Mountain Climber Reached the Summit, Then Fell 2K Feet

Argentine tech entrepreneur dies after falling more than 2K feet on Mount Shasta

(Newser) - An Argentine hiker managed to reach the peak of California's Mount Shasta, but slid more than 2,000 feet to his death on the way back down. Matias Augusto Travizano, a tech entrepreneur, set out to scale the mountain on Sept. 12, per People . He was descending the 14,...

Newsom Signs Law Prohibiting Agents From Wearing Masks

HHS attacks California law, a national first

(Newser) - California will be the first state to prohibit most law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday. The ban is California's direct response to a recent series of immigration raids in Los Angeles...

Cops: Celebrity Chef Knocks Over 3 Banks in a Day
Cops: Celebrity Chef
Knocks Over
3 Banks in a Day
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Sep 20, 2025 1:00 PM CDT

Cops: Celebrity Chef Knocks Over 3 Banks in a Day

Bay Area's Valentino Luchin was also arrested in 2018 for similar crime

(Newser) - A well-known chef from the San Francisco Bay Area is in trouble with the law, seven years after being arrested in connection with a bank robbery. This time, he's accused of robbing three banks, all in one day. Per the Los Angeles Times , 62-year-old Valentino Luchin was taken into...

Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii Form Vaccine Alliance

The states just issued their own vaccine recommendations

(Newser) - Four Democratic-led Western states announced joint recommendations Wednesday about who should be vaccinated for seasonal respiratory viruses, including the flu and COVID-19, saying the Trump administration has jeopardized public health by politicizing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the AP reports. California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii earlier this...

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