California News
Latest fact-checked coverage from California.
Meritage Hospitality Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Petition in Michigan
Meritage Hospitality filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Michigan while planning to keep restaurants open. The company cited a drop in earnings and $24.9 million in deferred fees owed to its top creditor.
Banks Confronts Drug Charges in Florida Federal Court
Jeffrey Benjamin Banks was arraigned in Pensacola on methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution counts. A jury trial is scheduled for October 19, 2026, with potential imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life.
Google Discloses AI Hacks After Journal Inquiry
Google revealed its Gemini model hacked three systems after Wall Street Journal questions. The company notified authorities but initially withheld details because no damage occurred.
Trump Lifts US Sanctions on Eritrea and Hagos Ghebrehiwet
President Donald Trump lifted US sanctions on Eritrea and official Hagos Ghebrehiwet. The move removes restrictions on the ruling party to advance regional interests.
Former Officer Brooks Sentenced to Over Three Years in North Carolina
U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Linc Oshea Brooks to over three years in prison.
Garg Gains 45% Support to Oust Better.com Directors
Vishal Garg secured support from over 45% of shareholders in a bid to remove five Better.com directors. The vote falls short of the 50% threshold required to replace the board members.
Trump Administration Narrows Endangered Species Act Harm Definition
The Trump administration issued a September 14 directive redefining harm under the Endangered Species Act to exclude accidental killings. Twenty states and Washington, D.C.
Nicholas Brandram Dies as Police Refer Case to Watchdog
Nicholas Brandram was found dead at his London home while under police investigation for a 2017 assault.
Sixteen Die in Kohat Mosque Bombing by Vehicle in Pakistan
A vehicle bomb killed 16 people at a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan, on September 18, 2026. Police killed eight attackers during a 20-hour operation following the blast.
Defense Rests in D.C. Council Member White Bribery Trial
The defense rested its case Friday in the federal bribery trial of D.C. Council member Trayon White. Prosecutors allege White accepted $35,000 in cash for government contracts while witnesses denied he performed official acts.
Bonta Wins Injunction Blocking Truck Driver Data Seizure
California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a court order stopping the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from accessing bulk driver records.
Steven Kolb Resigns as CFDA CEO After Altercation in New York
Steven Kolb resigned as CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America following a physical altercation with PETA employees at a Cos runway show in New York.
FBI Director Patel Halts RCMP Cooperation Over CBC Guidance
FBI Director Kash Patel paused some cooperation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police following CBC guidance on 9/11 terminology.
Mets' Young Out for Season After Collision
Mets interim manager Andy Green states Jared Young will miss the rest of the 2026 season due to a concussion. Young suffered memory loss and headaches after colliding with pitcher Nolan McLean.
Icahn School Studies Link Wildfire Smoke to Higher Death Risk
Researchers published two studies showing wildfire smoke causes more deaths than other pollution. The data indicates wildfire particles drive 17 percent of related mortality despite being only 4 percent of total air pollution.
Whitaker Urges Czech Republic to Raise Defense Spending
U.S. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker criticized Czech defense spending during a meeting in Prague. The nation currently allocates under 1.8% of GDP while the U.S. demands 5%.
Moderna Ships First mRNA Flu Vaccine Doses in U.S.
Moderna began shipping its mFlusiva flu vaccine across the United States. The FDA approved the shot for adults aged 50 and older following a trial showing 27% higher efficacy.
Sauna360 Expands Recall of 6,000 Units for Bench Collapse
Sauna360 expanded a recall on September 17, 2026, covering 6,000 sauna units due to bench failures that caused six injuries.
Rhode Island Judge Restores $7 Billion Solar for All Program
A Rhode Island federal judge ruled the EPA illegally terminated the Solar for All program and vacated the cancellation.
Trump Backs Whatley in North Carolina Senate Race
Donald Trump rallied supporters in Gastonia on Wednesday to endorse Michael Whatley against Roy Cooper. The former president framed the election as a choice on public safety while polls show Cooper leading.
Burke Named Director of Dental Research Institute
Dentist Jonathan E. Burke will lead the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research starting Sept. 20, 2026. He assumes command of an institute managing an annual budget exceeding $520 million.
Johnson Ends House Session After Massie Files Impeachment
Speaker Mike Johnson ended the House session on September 15, 2026, after Representative Thomas Massie filed impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Cregger Directs Eighth Resident Evil Film
Zach Cregger's eighth Resident Evil film opened in U.S. theaters on September 18, 2026. The movie is expected to begin streaming on Netflix around January 2027.
Senate Votes on Clear Labels Act With Five-Year Delay
The U.S. Senate prepares to vote on the Clear Labels Act, which now mandates factory addresses instead of unique codes. The bill extends the compliance timeline to five years while removing the requirement for DUNS numbers.
Justice Department Charges Five in Russian Assassination Plot
The Justice Department unsealed charges against five people for a Russian-led murder-for-hire network. One plot offered $40,000 to kill a dissident in Washington, D.C.
Warren Buffett Steps Down as Berkshire Hathaway Chairman
Warren Buffett resigned as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway on Friday, with Howard Buffett succeeding him immediately. Greg Abel retains the CEO role while Warren Buffett stays on the board as chairman emeritus.
Pentagon Releases 71 UAP Files With New Waiver
The Pentagon released 71 files on unidentified anomalous phenomena, including documents from 1952 to 2025. A new legal waiver now allows personnel to share information without violating non-disclosure agreements.
Temple Israel in Michigan Reopens After Terror Attack
Temple Israel in Michigan reopened for Rosh Hashanah six months after a targeted terror attack. The congregation faces over $40 million in rebuilding costs and $12 million for new security measures.
Stanford Researchers Restore Mouse Cognition With Human Cells
Stanford University researchers published a study on September 16, 2026, detailing how human brain organoids restored cognitive functions in mice.
State Department Files Rule to Update FOIA Procedures
The State Department filed a regulation on September 18, 2026, to update Freedom of Information Act procedures. The rule mandates electronic submissions for two components and sets a 30-day deadline for appeals.
Tucker Lee Martin Sentenced to 18 Years for Child Exploitation
Former Navy Petty Officer Tucker Lee Martin received an 18-year prison term in Norfolk, Virginia. The sentence follows his guilty plea to attempted sexual exploitation involving hundreds of illegal files.
Louisiana Jury Convicts Colbert in Reporter's Death
A Louisiana jury convicted Danette Colbert of negligent homicide in the 2025 death of reporter Adan Manzano. Colbert also received a racketeering conviction and faces sentencing on September 28.
California Board Adopts Dairy Nitrate Rules
The State Water Resources Control Board adopted regulations limiting dairy pollution in the Central Valley. The order requires a 10 milligram per liter nitrate standard and alternative drinking water for residents.
Spanish Group Reports AI-Agent Data Breach to AEPD
An unnamed Spanish organization reported an AI-assisted data breach to the AEPD on Sept. 14. The attacker used a well-known language model to exploit credentials and alter records, including accessing corporate invoices.
College Entry Rate Steady for 2024, 2025 High School Graduates
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported steady direct college enrollment rates between the Classes of 2024 and 2025.
Jeffrey Taylor Confronts Seven Federal Counts in Virginia
Jeffrey Turner Taylor appeared in court charged with enticing minors and traveling for illegal sexual activity. He faces seven federal counts carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 105 years.
US Summer Heat Sets Records as Super El Niño Strengthens
The contiguous US recorded its warmest summer on record with temperatures 3.0 degrees above average. Forecasters predict the current super El Niño will become the strongest in history by late 2026.
Mother of Mercy Hospital Treats Cancer Patients in Sudan War
Fatouma Mahdi Ahmed Saeed receives chemotherapy at Mother of Mercy Hospital after fleeing Darfur. Dr. Tom Catena treats patients without oncology support as 37% of Sudan health centers are destroyed.
Malaysia's Sultan Grants Najib Conditional Pardon for House Arrest
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted a conditional pardon allowing Najib Razak to serve his sentence under house arrest until August 2028.
Syrian President Al-Sharaa Diverts Aid to Build Army
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa directs tax revenues and international aid toward building a large standing army. The IDF assesses these operational plans target Hezbollah in Lebanon and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
Trump Orders Justice Department Not to Appeal Gun Ruling
President Trump directed the Justice Department not to appeal a court ruling that loosened restrictions on certain firearms.
Equinix Hires Contractor for 5,000-Gallon Spill Cleanup
Equinix hired Clean Harbors to remediate a 5,000-gallon diesel spill in Secaucus. Hackensack Riverkeeper seeks natural resource damages while state officials report no impact on drinking water.
Von Der Leyen Cites China Shock, Proposes Procurement Rules
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced new measures to counter a record trade deficit with China.
U.S. Africa Command Creates Defense Economics Office
U.S. Africa Command established a Defense Economics Office to integrate economic tools into security operations. The unit will target adversary financial networks and disrupt illegal revenue streams across the continent.
California Attorney General Bonta Leads 21 Attorneys General Filing USDA Brief
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 21 colleagues filed an amicus brief opposing the USDA reorganization plan. The filing supports an injunction to prevent staff resignations during a record cyclospora outbreak.
Van Defends UFC Flyweight Title Against Pantoja in Los Angeles
Joshua Van defends his UFC flyweight championship against Alexandre Pantoja on September 19, 2026, in Los Angeles. The rematch follows Van's 26-second victory in December 2025 when Pantoja suffered an injury.
Kazmierczak Sentenced for Spraying Omar at Town Hall in Minneapolis
Anthony Kazmierczak was sentenced for spraying Ilhan Omar with vinegar during a 2026 town hall in Minneapolis. The attack occurred as part of Operation Metro Surge, which involved over 2,000 officers.
Texas Guard F-16 Crash Prompts Michigan Evacuation
A Texas National Guard F-16 crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The incident triggered a one-mile evacuation order due to a hazardous chemical spill. The pilot ejected before the crash and is in stable condition at a local hospital.