The Latest Breaking News from California

California island fire linked to sailor’s distress flare scorches 10,000 acres

Fire on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands national park becomes state’s largest this year and threatens rare plants

The Guardian - US · May 18

California Leads the Charge as Privacy Fines Soar

State privacy fines keep climbing and many businesses are unprepared. Artificial intelligence laws are accelerating the trend.

Kiplinger · May 18

Three people killed in shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque, police say

Two teenage suspects also died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, according to officials

The Guardian - US · May 18

The Gas Appliance Ban Is Coming: How Much Will Replacing Your Stove Really Cost?

Gas stoves suddenly sit at the center of one of America’s loudest home debates, and the conversation keeps getting hotter every month. Cities and states across the country now push aggressive electrification plans that limit or ban natural gas hookups in many new homes and apartment buildings. California sparked the…

Everybody Loves Your Money · May 18

Samurai vs. Squatters: On the Street With the Hired Swords Reclaiming California Property Owners' Stolen Homes

California has failed to protect private property from squatters. Desperate owners are turning to katana-wielding enforcers to reclaim their homes.

Reason · May 18

Musk v. OpenAI Jury Begins Deliberating; Standing Hurdle Could End Case Before Altman Removal Hearings

A nine-person jury in Oakland began deliberating Monday in the most consequential corporate governance trial in the history of American artificial intelligence, weighing whether OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman violated charitable-trust law when they converted a nonprofit AI research lab into an $852 billion public benefit corporation.

International Business Times · May 18

Britney Spears' Inner Circle 'Terrified' as Star's Bizarre Restaurant Behavior Sparks Mass Crisis: Report

Britney Spears' inner circle is reportedly in crisis mode after her erratic behaviour at a California restaurant, raising concerns following her recent short-lived rehab stay.

International Business Times UK · May 18

Tribe review – compelling, unsettling search for a lost sect in the California mountains

Dan Asma’s impressive debut feature follows a retired professor, played by the director himself, whose research leads him to Lovecraftian terrors

The Guardian - UK · May 18

A California mayor pleaded guilty to acting as an agent for China. Foreign policy experts aren’t surprised

Eileen Wang, 58, worked with China to promote Beijing’s interests and could face up to 10 years in federal prison

The Guardian - US · May 18

India's cooking fuel shortage is driving up California's gas prices

India's cooking gas shortage, driven by the Strait of Hormuz closure, forces refiners to cut alkylate production. This directly impacts California's gasoline supply, as alkylates are crucial for its unique blend, leading to higher prices for motorists already facing a global fuel crisis.

The Economic Times · May 18