California officials resist federal demand to set aside 20,000 ballots
The Justice Department is asking California to withhold ballots from about 20,000 voters it suspects may be noncitizens, but Santa Clara County officials say federal officials lack authority to direct local election administration. The dispute is part of a federal lawsuit accusing California officials of failing to review flagged voter records; the administration also asked courts to halt counting while voters’ citizenship is checked. A 9th Circuit panel declined to intervene before a scheduled district court hearing, with judges questioning the federal government’s authority and the reliability of its list. The case is unfolding as nearly 3 million Californians have already voted in the Nov. 3 midterms.
Only Kevin Kiley says he signed pledge to accept midterm results
Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley, who represents Sacramento’s eastern suburbs, is the only member of California’s Republican congressional delegation to say he signed a bipartisan pledge to accept the midterm results and oppose efforts to block certified members-elect from taking their seats. The pledge was organized by Republican Rep. Don Bacon and Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer amid concern about a repeat of efforts to obstruct the 2020 election certification. Rep. Young Kim’s spokesperson said she would seat new members, while other California Republicans did not confirm signing or did not respond. Kiley said that after the election, Congress should certify the results and get to work.
Newsom may revisit utilities’ wildfire liability before leaving office
Gov. Gavin Newsom could make another attempt to limit the financial exposure of California’s investor-owned utilities to wildfire damages before he leaves office in January. His proposed overhaul failed to win enough legislative support during the regular session; a narrower bill, SB 492, instead limits fees for attorneys representing insurers, restricts trading on insurance claims and seeks to speed payments to fire victims. PG&E CEO Patty Poppe has said recent legislative hearings and an expected Public Utilities Commission report could bolster Newsom’s case. Consumer Watchdog opposes the proposed shift of costs toward victims and insurers, and criticized PG&E’s announcement that it would delay new power hookups while the issue remains unresolved.
California’s new K-12 education structure will depend on the next governor
A law passed overwhelmingly in July will place a governor-appointed education commissioner over the California Department of Education, shifting authority in a system long divided among state officials, lawmakers and local school boards. The change, proposed by Newsom in Assembly Bill 181, also strips most responsibilities from the elected state superintendent. Researchers say consolidating authority will not by itself improve student outcomes: the new commissioner will need to set clear goals, oversee districts more closely and provide direct help to struggling schools. One proposal is to allow intervention when schools repeatedly post low test scores, potentially including replacing a superintendent if other remedies fail.
California police drone expansion draws privacy pushback
Police departments in San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Ana and Stockton are seeking to expand drones beyond emergency response into activities including investigations and routine patrols. In San Francisco, a proposed policy would allow drones for public-safety response, active investigations, training and community outreach, while barring random general surveillance and retaining footage for 30 days unless linked to an open investigation. Residents and privacy advocates warn that drones could combine with automated license-plate readers and other camera networks to create far-reaching surveillance. Public hearings on police use of military equipment are required under a 2021 state law.
Childcare costs are pushing California families into debt
Childcare takes nearly 20% of the median household income in Los Angeles County, and families interviewed by LAist described using credit cards or savings to cover costs. An Irvine family pays $2,020 a month for full-time Montessori care—more than its rent—and accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt after medical expenses and other bills crowded out childcare payments. State and national figures point to broader cost pressure: the median expense for parents paying for at least 20 hours of care weekly rose from $1,100 in 2023 to $1,517 in 2025, a 38% increase. A summer voter poll found three-quarters of respondents considered childcare costs a crisis or major problem.
San Diego weighs data-center pause as Navy-land proposal advances
San Diego’s City Council is considering a temporary pause on pending data-center applications while the city develops zoning rules for the facilities. The proposal would initially halt applications for 45 days, with the council able to renew the moratorium for up to 20 months. It would not, however, stop a proposed 400-megawatt data center on federal Navy land near the Midway District, where Manchester Financial Group is negotiating a redevelopment deal that also involves a new Navy command center. President Donald Trump has directed the Defense Department to identify military sites for data centers, while federal policy has accelerated permitting for large facilities and narrowed environmental review.
Oakland corruption trial traces investigation to two 911 calls
Testimony in the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three co-defendants has traced a key turn in the investigation to two 911 calls in May 2024. Businessman and political operative Mario Juarez reported being assaulted at the offices of California Waste Solutions, the city’s recycling contractor, and alleged the incident involved the company’s owners and possibly police officers. FBI Special Agent Katherine Barclay testified that police brought Juarez’s allegations to federal investigators, who then interviewed him and worried evidence might be destroyed if the information reached the company. Thao, her partner Andre Jones and recycling-company executives David and Andy Duong face bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges; all have pleaded not guilty.
L.A. mayoral contest puts police chief’s future at the center
Councilmember Nithya Raman is calling for the removal of LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, arguing that the department lost public trust through its cooperation with federal immigration agents during protests last year. Mayor Karen Bass, who appointed McDonnell in 2024, has defended him and says removing a chief so close to the 2028 Olympics could disrupt the department; she also points to falling crime. A mayor cannot directly fire the chief, but appoints the five-member Police Commission, which has the authority to do so. The current dispute revives a long-running struggle over police leadership in Los Angeles, reshaped after the Rodney King beating and subsequent reforms in the 1990s.
L.A. homicide totals fall, but Black residents remain disproportionately affected
Homicides in Los Angeles have fallen to levels not seen since the 1960s, but more than a third of people killed in the city this year have been Black, according to the Los Angeles Times. Gang-intervention workers have been credited with helping reduce shootings in some of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods. Some of those workers have also become victims of violence, underscoring the risks facing community-based efforts. The figures point to a sharp overall decline alongside persistent disparities in who is killed.
L.A. County prepares residents near wildfire burn scars for mudflows
Los Angeles County public works engineers are offering property-specific assessments to residents facing possible flooding and mudflows near burned hillsides. The teams analyze terrain, soil, historic rainfall and water-flow patterns before advising homeowners on risks and preparations. This season they have visited more than 700 homes and completed walk-through assessments at 233 properties. For one home near the Eaton Fire burn area, an engineer judged that a mud river—not large boulders—was the principal concern and advised placing plywood and sandbags strategically.
Marin County lowers Lake Phoenix to create room for winter runoff
Marin Municipal Water District plans to pump 60 to 160 acre-feet of water from Lake Phoenix over four to six weeks to make space for runoff ahead of winter storms. The reservoir supplies drinking water to more than 191,000 people, and officials say lower levels after the 2021 drought helped capture runoff that might otherwise have flowed into Ross and Corte Madera creeks. The measure is an experiment, and its effectiveness will depend on storm timing and intensity and the lake’s level when rain arrives. The county approved an additional $3 million for winter-storm preparation after flooding caused outages and property damage in January.
L.A. speed cameras begin issuing warnings ahead of fines
Los Angeles has activated the first 26 of 125 planned automated speed cameras, beginning a 60-day warning period before fines take effect. Penalties will start at $50 for drivers going 11 mph over the limit and rise to $500 for speeds above 100 mph. The cameras are part of a state-authorized pilot program intended to deter speeding, with locations selected in areas including school zones and streets with serious-crash histories. The city says revenue will support street-safety and transportation programs, and that camera data will not be shared with law enforcement except as required by state law.
Anthropic files for what could be a record-setting IPO
San Francisco-based AI company Anthropic filed public registration paperwork for an initial public offering under the proposed Nasdaq ticker ANT. The company’s filing did not specify how many shares it will sell or at what price, but reports have put a potential valuation between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion. Founded five years ago by former OpenAI researchers, Anthropic has become a major competitor in commercial AI with its Claude models. The potential offering comes amid volatile AI-related stocks and investor concerns about whether the enormous spending on the technology will generate sustainable profits.
California governor’s race heads into final week with Becerra leading
Former Attorney General Xavier Becerra holds a substantial lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the final stretch of the race to succeed Newsom, according to polling cited by CalMatters. An Emerson College survey conducted Oct. 17–19 put Becerra ahead by 27 points, with 60% support to Hilton’s 33%. Hilton has campaigned with a mix of proposals—including tax cuts, lower gasoline prices and building new cities—but some of his messaging has drawn criticism from conservatives and Latino voters. Becerra has taken a more cautious approach, offering few detailed policy commitments.
Los Angeles homelessness agencies compete for control of federal duties
Los Angeles city and county officials have been competing to take over federal homelessness responsibilities now held by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which HUD suspended from those roles in June over financial mismanagement concerns. The responsibilities cover roughly $239 million in federal funds and include conducting the homeless count, managing funding applications, maintaining a database of people receiving services and operating a system that matches people to housing and shelter. The city and county reached a tentative agreement over two of the roles, while a regional Continuum of Care group was set to vote on the remaining responsibilities. The dispute could reshape how the region coordinates services and distributes federal homelessness resources.
Measure A would require arbitration in some L.A. County labor disputes
A proposed Los Angeles County ballot measure would require binding arbitration when labor negotiations between county supervisors and public-safety unions reach an impasse. The affected unions are barred from striking, and the measure could give arbitrators a decisive role in setting employment terms when negotiations fail. The Los Angeles Times reported that the proposal could significantly change how the county conducts labor negotiations, despite limited public debate. Its effects would depend on how often bargaining reaches impasse and how arbitration decisions influence county costs and service operations.
Davis selects longtime resident Matt Davis as police chief
Davis has named Matt Davis, currently the Yolo County undersheriff-coroner, as its next police chief. He is scheduled to take over on Nov. 9, replacing Todd Henry. Davis is a longtime Davis resident, and his appointment moves a county law-enforcement official into leadership of the city’s police department.