California

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Neurotoxin Turns Sea Lions 'Almost Demonic'

Acid in California's algae blooms is causing aggressive behavior, risk of death

(Newser) - Longtime surfer Rj LaMendola was riding waves off Oxnard, California, on Friday when he was attacked by a "feral, almost demonic" sea lion. As LaMendola tells the Los Angeles Times , the animal bit him, pulled him off his surfboard, and continued stalking him even once he managed to get...

Murderer Allegedly Kills Wife During Conjugal Visit

David Brinson, however, has not yet been charged with anything

(Newser) - A convicted murderer serving four consecutive life sentences at a California prison now stands accused of killing his wife during a conjugal visit. Stephanie Brinson, 62, was on an overnight visit to northern California's Mule Creek State Prison when, around 2am on Nov. 13, her husband David Brinson, 54,...

In Altadena, a Race to Save Historic Tile From the Ruins

Fireplaces left standing often have tiles made by renowned craftsman Ernest Batchelder

(Newser) - Wildfires devastated the city of Altadena, California, and now an unusual—and painstaking—volunteer effort is underway to salvage a big part of Altadena's history: its craftsman tiles. A story at Dwell.com explains that when the city began growing in earnest in the early 1900s, new homeowners turned...

Burned Lots Selling Fast in California

They're being scooped up fast by developers in cash-only deals

(Newser) - This year's wildfires in Los Angeles County destroyed an estimated 12,000 homes, reports the New York Times . What now? One safe bet based on robust sales of vacant lots is that 12,000 new homes will go right back up, though many with different owners. Both the Los ...

Sad Ending for Firefighter Who Vanished After Boss Died

Remains of Carlos Baltazar found in San Bernardino County, 4 years after he disappeared

(Newser) - For more than four years, firefighter Carlos Baltazar has been missing, after a mysterious disappearance following the death of his fire chief. Now, remains found in October in a remote part of the San Bernardino Mountains have been identified as those of the 35-year-old. Per SFGate , Baltazar had been part...

Cops: Upset Customer Drives Through CarMax Showroom
Man Charged in
CarMax Showroom Crash
UPDATED
Mar 12, 2025 1:55 PM CDT

Man Charged in CarMax Showroom Crash

10 were injured, 2 of them critically, in Los Angeles-area incident

(Newser) - A man who police say drove his car through a California CarMax after an unfavorable appraisal has been charged, reports NBC News . Andrew Arroyo, 25, faces one count of attempted murder and nine of assault with a deadly weapon in the Inglewood incident that injured 10 people, including a CarMax...

Menendez Brothers to Appear Before Parole Board

Risk assessments will factor into their bid for clemency, says Gavin Newsom

(Newser) - The Menendez brothers will appear before the California parole board as Gov. Gavin Newsom considers clemency for the pair convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. Newsom said Tuesday that the board would hold separate hearings for Erik and Lyle Menendez, 54 and 57 respectively, on June 13, then issue...

Officials Seek Vandals Who Destroyed Ancient Petroglyphs

California artifacts have been defaced before

(Newser) - The Bureau of Land Management is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to the vandals who desecrated ancient Native American petroglyphs in California. The protected rock carvings at Volcanic Tableland near Bishop were created by the Paiute-Shoshone tribe before European settlers came to the area, the San Francisco ...

Mistrial Declared in Judge's Murder Case

Prosecutor says 11 of 12 jurors wanted to convict Jeffrey Ferguson of murder

(Newser) - The case of a Southern California judge charged with murder in the fatal shooting his wife ended in a mistrial Monday after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter declared the mistrial in the case against 74-year-old Orange County Superior...

Harris Has a Big Decision to Make
Harris Has a
Big Decision
to Make
Mar 7, 2025 12:52 PM CST

Harris Has a Big Decision to Make

She's reportedly debating between running for California governor, or running for the Oval Office again

(Newser) - Former Vice President Kamala Harris is seriously considering running for governor of California , according to reporting from Politico and CBS News . Harris reportedly told an attendee of a pre-Oscars party last weekend that she would decide whether to run for governor by the end of the summer, Politico reports, noting...

Their First Thought After Falling 800 Feet: Panic

Hikers were stranded for 3 days after fall down snowy cliff in California mountains

(Newser) - Two hikers who were stranded for days after falling down a snowy cliff in California say they had they same thought as they tumbled around 800 feet: "Panic." Veda Lin and Christopher Ng were seriously injured in the fall down Tahquitz Peak in the San Jacinto mountains but...

Newsom Splits With Party on Trans Athletes
Newsom
Splits With
Party on
Trans Athletes
the rundown
Mar 6, 2025 12:42 PM CST

Newsom Splits With Party on Trans Athletes

California governor says allowing them to compete is unfair to other athletes

(Newser) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines in the very first episode of his new podcast , and not merely in his choice of conservative bigwig Charlie Kirk as guest. In what Politico describes as "stunning remarks," the Democrat split with his own party on the issue of allowing trans...

Steve Carell Is Taking 800 LA Kids to the Prom

Actor combines with a charity to pony up tickets for students affected by California wildfires

(Newser) - A 62-year-old man taking any sort of interest in a high school prom might seem a little sketchy, but here we have Steve Carell offering to pony up for prom tickets for some 800 kids affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. As NBC News reports, the actor, working with a...

LA Mayor's Team Blasts 'Extreme' Move to Recall Her

Critics have formed a fundraising committee to support the ouster of Karen Bass

(Newser) - Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is in the hot seat again, almost two months after the deadly Palisades Fire ripped through the City of Angels. Per a city Ethics Commission filing cited by the Los Angeles Times , detractors of Bass, who was slammed for traveling overseas as the wildfire raged...

Gang of Bike-Riding Kids Ram Guy's Car, Beat Him

LAPD says 20 to 30 teens attacked driver, the third such incident in recent months

(Newser) - The LAPD is investigating a brutal beating last weekend of a driver confronted by a gang of bike-riding teens. Per a release from the police department, the attack took place Saturday around 5pm in the Carthay section of Los Angeles, where "after a couple of suspects struck and kicked...

Cops: Years After Killing Hubby, She Killed Wife the Same Way

Yolanda Marodi, accused of stabbing longtime firefighter in California, may be in Mexico

(Newser) - Months before she was due to retire, Rebecca Marodi, a California fire captain who battled last month's Eaton Fire, was found stabbed to death on Feb. 17. Days later, police said the suspected killer was Marodi's wife of two years—a woman convicted of fatally stabbing her first...

Atop El Capitan, a 'Signal of Dire Distress'

Frustrated staffers at Yosemite hang upside-down American flag to protest Trump workforce cuts

(Newser) - An upside-down American flag is meant as "a signal of dire distress" —and that's exactly what visitors found at California's Yosemite National Park over the weekend. It seems staffers upset about the Trump administration taking a hatchet to the federal workforce draped a giant flag from...

Bigfoot Could Get an Official Role in California

Lawmaker wants to make creature the state cryptid

(Newser) - California has dozens of official symbols , including a state fish, a state fabric, and even a state slug. State Assembly member Chris Rogers wants to add Bigfoot to the list. Rogers introduced AB Bill 666 last week to make the creature the official state "cryptid," a term for...

Ex-NFL Player Arrested in MAGA Protest
Ex-NFL Player
Arrested Protesting
MAGA Plaque
VIDEO
Feb 21, 2025 10:53 AM CST

Ex-NFL Player Arrested Protesting MAGA Plaque

Ex-Viking Chris Kluwe went off in speech at City Council meeting in Huntington Beach, California

(Newser) - Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe pushed back against the "Make America Great Again" movement at a meeting of the California city of Huntington Beach City Council, earning an arrest for his efforts. The details:
  • Impetus: According to the New York Times , the 43-year-old showed up at the meeting
...

Republican Sheriff Announces Bid to Replace Gavin Newsom

Chad Bianco is first major GOP candidate to announce run

(Newser) - Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Monday he is running for governor of California in 2026, becoming the first major Republican to announce a bid for an election nearly two years away. Bianco, an outspoken supporter of President Trump and his policies, was first elected sheriff in 2018 and has...

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