Friday, April 17, 2026

Lancaster FBI Raids, Grand Prix of Long Beach, and K-Pop Tryouts

Friday, April 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder in the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles the previous June after winning California’s Democratic presidential primary.

Two new bald eaglets in Big Bear need names, and the public is invited to help pick them, as we report below in Et Cetera. What would you call them if it were up to you? Reply to this email and give us your best eaglet name.

If you're planning a trip this summer, you need to hear this: Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since February, and airlines are passing every penny along to you, through higher fares, fewer flights, and hidden fees. On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown explains how the war in Iran is affecting travel costs across the board. Plus insight on what airlines aren't telling you and what experts say you should do now to protect your summer plans. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, American PowerGen, is stepping up to meet the massive energy demands of the AI boom with ambitious power projects designed to keep the grid, and innovation, running.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

FBI Raids Lancaster City Hall

FBI agents served search warrants Wednesday at Lancaster City Hall and the homes reportedly tied to former Vice Mayor Marvin Crist and Council Member Raj Malhi, according to the mayor and reports, as part of a sealed federal investigation.

The warrants also reportedly targeted a property in Bel Air. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the searches but declined to comment on the nature of the probe, saying the affidavits remain sealed by the court.

Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris told NBC4 the investigation has been active for three years. "The city-hired lawyers are going through everything and got a clean bill of health," he said.

Parris said he has served with both officials for more than 18 years and called them "honorable." A U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson confirmed the operation was conducted under a judicially approved warrant.

Eastman Disbarred in California

The California Supreme Court formally disbarred John Eastman on Wednesday, concluding a disciplinary case against the former Chapman University law school dean.

Eastman advised then-Vice President Mike Pence that he had the authority to block certification of the 2020 election results and spoke at the White House rally on Jan. 6. A state bar court judge recommended disbarment in March 2024 after finding that Eastman's conduct violated professional ethics rules.

His attorney told NBC News that Eastman plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Eastman has maintained his legal advice was constitutionally sound.

Eastman was also indicted in Fulton County, Georgia, alongside President Trump and others over efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, though those charges were later dropped.

SoFi Gets World Cup Ready

Crews at SoFi Stadium removed the final section of demountable seating Wednesday, clearing the way for construction of a natural grass soccer pitch ahead of eight FIFA World Cup matches in June and July.

The Inglewood venue, home to the Rams and Chargers, will be rebranded "Los Angeles Stadium" for the tournament. The field must expand from the NFL's standard 54-yard width to FIFA's roughly 74-yard requirement, with hundreds of lower-bowl seats removed to make room.

Because SoFi's canopy blocks direct sunlight, grow lights will be used to keep the grass healthy. A specialized system for drainage and ventilation will support the natural grass surface.

The venue's first U.S. men's national team match is scheduled for June 12 against Paraguay.

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The AI Bottleneck is No Longer Chips, It’s Electricity

The biggest names in tech are converging on Texas, as Oracle, Google, Amazon, and Meta all build massive AI data centers.

They’re not alone either. In 2026, 140 will break ground in Texas alone. But this need for massive amounts of always-on power creates major strain on the grid.

American PowerGen is ready. Led by a team with $5 billion+ worth of previous power project acquisitions, they specialize in getting these difficult projects off the ground, fast.

This year, they’ll break ground on a project set to supply enough energy to power 3 million homes. By 2028, they plan to scale capacity 3X+.

They’ve already turned down multiple acquisition offers. Don’t wait to join. Share in American PowerGen’s growth as an early-stage investor today to unlock guaranteed bonus stock.

➤ San Francisco: Caltrans will shut down eastbound I-80 on the Bayshore Freeway along a 1.6-mile stretch between 17th and 4th streets from Friday at 11 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m., including key U.S. 101 connector ramps, as part of a two-year rehabilitation project. (See Details)

➤ El Dorado County: A former Cal Fire captain was sentenced to multiple life terms for the August 2025 murders of his fiancée, Marissa Divodi-Lessa Herzog, and her 7-year-old son. Darin McFarlin, 47, received two consecutive life sentences without parole, plus additional life terms and decades in prison. (More)

➤ Berkeley: Officials are weighing layoffs of 138 workers, service cuts, and a possible tax hike to close a nearly $30M deficit, with a final budget decision expected by late June. (More)

➤ East Bay: A surge in underground water leaks may be tied to a recent earthquake swarm near San Ramon, with experts reporting increased pipe breaks and costly hidden damage for homeowners. (More)

➤ Knights Ferry: A 35-year-old Coulterville woman, Twyla Capurro, was killed and another worker injured Tuesday after a tunnel collapse near Knights Ferry. Capurro worked for an engineering firm on the project. Work has been suspended. (More)

➤ Soledad: Three inmates were stabbed Tuesday in two separate incidents at Salinas Valley State Prison. All were taken to hospitals, and suspects were placed in restricted housing. (More)

➤ Stockton: Indian criminal gangs tied to the Bishnoi network are extorting Central Valley Sikh community members with threats and large cash demands, according to a CalMatters investigation. The FBI is investigating, and at least two related homicides have occurred in California. (Read Story)

➤ San Diego: Mayor Todd Gloria released a $6.4 billion draft budget that cuts library and recreation center hours, pauses arts funding, and reduces the city workforce to close a $118 million deficit. Police and fire spending were largely spared. (See Details)

➤ Jurupa Valley: A 34-acre Jurupa Valley brush fire Wednesday forced evacuations, injured three, and was 70% contained by late night. Evacuation orders were lifted as crews remained on scene. (More)

➤ Los Angeles County: A UCLA survey found residents’ quality of life hit a record low in 2026, with several key areas—including education, transportation, and cost of living—posting their worst marks in over a decade amid rising costs, wildfire impacts, and immigration fears. (See Report)

➤ The Golden State Warriors rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in a play-in game. The loss ends the Clippers’ season, while the Warriors face the Phoenix Suns tonight for the No. 8 seed. (More)

➤ The 2026 Grand Prix of Long Beach runs today through Sunday, featuring six racing series, including IndyCar and IMSA, with main events scheduled Saturday and Sunday on the city’s street course. (See Details)

➤ Unranked UC Santa Barbara baseball shut out No. 1 UCLA 4-0 earlier this week, ending the Bruins' 27-game win streak. (More)

➤ The Anaheim Ducks gave San Diego Gulls head coach Matt McIlvane a multi-year contract extension after he led the AHL club to its first playoff berth since 2022. (More)

➤ The Los Angeles Rams unveiled a refreshed uniform design with a simplified LA logo and bolder Ram head. The team called it a modern update shaped by fan feedback, with more alternates coming. (See Uniforms)

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➤ Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as an illegal monopoly that overcharged concertgoers $1.72 per ticket at major venues, a federal jury in New York found Wednesday after a weeks-long trial brought by dozens of states. Live Nation, headquartered in Beverly Hills, says it will challenge the ruling. (See Details)

➤ Santa Monica-based Snap, parent of Snapchat, is cutting about 1,000 jobs, or 16% of its workforce, and will leave roughly 300 open roles unfilled as it restructures to streamline operations. (More)

➤ Allbirds, the once-trendy Silicon Valley shoe brand, is pivoting to AI infrastructure and rebranding as “NewBird AI” as it shifts its business focus after recent struggles. (More)

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Is Houston the New Silicon Valley?

Big Tech was once fueled by Silicon Valley’s innovation. The next phase? It’ll run on infrastructure, with Houston as its new capital.
Apple. Google. OpenAI. Amazon. Meta. They’re all building massive AI operations in Texas, part of 440+ new data centers planned for the state.

But getting new electricity online to power them takes years. Enter American PowerGen. Led by experienced energy developers with $5 billion worth of project acquisitions to buyers like Blackstone, they’re experts.

In fact, they’ve already received multiple acquisition offers from institutional buyers for their current project, which will supply enough energy to power 3 million homes.

But American PowerGen isn’t interested in making institutional investors richer. They’re inviting you to become a shareholder and own a piece of this infrastructure boom today.

➤ An Orange County mom and her newborn son reunited with the paramedic who delivered him in the back of a moving ambulance on the 22 Freeway after her labor suddenly accelerated. (Read Story)

➤ Friends of Big Bear Valley launched a naming contest for Jackie and Shadow’s two new bald eaglets, with fans submitting ideas through the nonprofit’s website in exchange for donations. Finalists will be randomly selected, with winning names chosen by local third graders. (More)

➤ Retopia Salon, a venture tied to former BTS-linked executives, is holding auditions in Orange County and Los Angeles to recruit members for a new K-pop group. (More)

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What's the most you've ever paid for a concert or event ticket?

Previous Day's Results:

Could you be talked into adopting a duck?

Prefer cats and dogs: 26%
No animals for me: 21%
Maybe just one: 18%
My HOA would lose it: 18%
Already on my way: 17%

What is the oldest continuously operating courthouse in California, built in 1854 and still standing in a Gold Country town within a county that once covered nearly one-fifth of the state?

Show me the answer

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This offering involves promissory notes and is conducted under Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). Investments in this offering are speculative and involve significant risks, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please review the full offering documents, including risk factors, before investing. Investments are subject to the limitations and requirements of Reg CF

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Boyfriend Runs Over Attacker, Manning on the Mend, and Crawfish Ice Cream

Friday, April 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2012, the Texas Rangers baseball team hit six home runs en route to beating the Boston Red Sox 18-3 at Fenway Park.

Fiesta San Antonio is here. Have you ever attended, and do you plan to go this year? Hit reply to let us know!

Today’s sponsor, American PowerGen, is stepping up to meet the massive energy demands of the AI boom with ambitious power projects designed to keep the grid, and innovation, running.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Allen West Resigns as Dallas County GOP Chair

Dallas County GOP chair Allen West resigned Wednesday ahead of a potential vote to remove him over his decision to revert to countywide voting for the May 26 runoff election.

After precinct voting caused widespread confusion during the March 3 primary, West amended the party's election contract to return to countywide voting for the runoff, explaining he wanted to avoid potential litigation alleging "willful and intentional voter disenfranchisement."

The move angered local activists, who criticized West for not consulting the party's executive committee before amending the contract. West initially resisted calls to reverse course and step down, but he scheduled a vote on his fate for next week's executive committee meeting.

West said agreeing to the demands of his detractors would "expose the organization to potential harm" and "violate every leadership principle that I know." In a statement, the party thanked West for his "exemplary leadership, steadfast dedication, and unwavering commitment to election integrity and security."

Boyfriend Runs Over Girlfriend's Attacker

A 19-year-old woman was shot at her east Houston home Tuesday night after returning from church, and her boyfriend used his car to run over her alleged attacker.

Emanuel Marin, 24, was arrested at the scene and transported to a hospital for treatment of a broken leg. The woman is recovering from a gunshot wound to her arm.

Marin previously attended the church where the woman's father is the pastor, but he was asked to stop coming about a month ago due to "unacceptable" behavior. He allegedly confronted the woman after Tuesday night's service and shot her as she tried to get away.

Marin has been charged with burglary of a habitation and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Fiesta San Antonio Kicks Off

Fiesta San Antonio, an annual celebration of Texas heritage and San Antonio culture that dates back to 1891, kicked off yesterday and runs through next Sunday. Over 2.5 million people are expected to attend events affiliated with the festival.

Fiesta's signature attractions include the Battle of Flowers Parade next Friday and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade the following night. This weekend's Oyster Bake features live music from dozens of bands, and next week's Night in Old San Antonio offers a cornucopia of food and entertainment options.

Collecting medals from Fiesta events and sponsoring organizations is a favorite activity for many festival attendees, some of whom wear outfits adorned with medals from previous Fiestas.

Several roads will be closed for the duration of the festival, and parking is limited in the immediate area. Roughly 90 San Antonio police officers will patrol the popular Fiesta de los Reyes at Historic Market Square, where visitors must purchase a ticket and undergo a security screening.

Flying together with our sponsor

The AI Bottleneck is No Longer Chips, It’s Electricity

The biggest names in tech are converging on Texas, as Oracle, Google, Amazon, and Meta all build massive AI data centers.

They’re not alone either. In 2026, 140 will break ground in Texas alone. But this need for massive amounts of always-on power creates major strain on the grid.

American PowerGen is ready. Led by a team with $5B+ worth of previous power project acquisitions, they specialize in getting these difficult projects off the ground, fast.

This year, they’ll break ground on a project set to supply enough energy to power 3M homes. By 2028, they plan to scale capacity 3X+.

They’ve already turned down multiple acquisition offers. Don’t wait to join. Share in American PowerGen’s growth as an early-stage investor today to unlock guaranteed bonus stock.

➤ Bacliff: The home of "Texas Killing Fields" suspect James Dolph Elmore Jr. was searched by law enforcement yesterday after he told investigators that there were possibly bodies buried underneath the rubble on his property, according to an affidavit. Elmore is awaiting trial on manslaughter and evidence tampering charges. (More)

➤ Austin: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas visited the University of Texas on Wednesday following an invitation to provide remarks in commemoration of the nation's 250th birthday. "I think if we don't stand up and take ownership of our country and take responsibility for it, we are slowly letting others control how we think and what we think," he said. (More)

➤ Bexar County: The sheriff's office is equipping deputies with AI-enabled body cameras to help them communicate with the public when faced with a language barrier. (Watch Video)

➤ Houston: The National Rifle Association is holding its annual convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center this weekend. Gov. Greg Abbott and several members of the Trump administration are expected to address attendees. (More)

➤ Travis County: Following three days of testimony, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble affirmed her ruling from March barring Camp Mystic from altering the cabins where 27 campers and counselors died during last summer's flash floods. She also said the camp's lack of a written evacuation plan "supports a finding of negligence per se." (More)

➤ Arlington: Dr. Robert Cluck, the former mayor who led the effort to bring the Dallas Cowboys to the city through the construction of AT&T Stadium, died Tuesday at the age of 87. "Dr. Robert Cluck didn't just lead our city; he reimagined what it could be," said Mayor Jim Ross. (More)

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➤ NRG Stadium in Houston will revert to its original name of Reliant Stadium in August, coinciding with the Texans' 25th anniversary season. (More)

➤ Four-star wide receiver Jaden Upshaw committed to Texas A&M over Alabama, Florida, and Miami. He's the fifth-ranked receiver in the 2027 recruiting class. (More)

➤ Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning said he feels 100% healthy after offseason foot surgery and expects to be back at full speed by June. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Real Reason You Can't Lose Weight After 50. Cutting calories, but the scale won't budge? Harvard research shows it's likely low levels of your "weight loss hormone," GLP-1. One natural botanical activates your body's GLP-1 production in seconds daily—without expensive injections, prescriptions, or dangerous side effects. Learn More

➤ Plano-based developer Main Square Development received unanimous approval from the Terrell City Council for the first phase of its 3,600-home Terra Nova development. The $3 billion development will eventually span 1,500 acres and include 1,200 apartment homes and 145 acres of parks and trails. (More)

➤ Walmart plans to remodel 72 of its stores in Texas this year. The retail giant has invested $2.5 billion over the past five years to upgrade its sites in Texas. (More)

➤ Houston-based Energy Substantiation is launching a cryptocurrency tied to the value of West Texas Intermediate oil. Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian is a member of the company's board of directors. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Flying together with our sponsor

Is Houston the New Silicon Valley?

Big Tech was once fueled by Silicon Valley’s innovation. The next phase? It’ll run on infrastructure, with Houston its new capital.
Apple. Google. OpenAI. Amazon. Meta. They’re all building massive AI operations in Texas, part of 440+ new data centers planned for the state.

But getting new electricity online to power them takes years. Enter American PowerGen. Led by experienced energy developers with $5B worth of project acquisitions to buyers like Blackstone, they’re experts.

In fact, they’ve already received multiple acquisition offers from institutional buyers for their current project, which will supply enough energy to power 3M homes.

But American PowerGen isn’t interested in making institutional investors richer. They’re inviting you to become a shareholder and own a piece of this infrastructure boom today.

➤ Tesla owner Joshua Brown narrowly avoided a collision with a DART train in Plano when his car went through a railroad crossing with the crossing arms down while in full self-driving mode. "I would like to say I wasn't rattled, but it rattled me just a wee little bit, you know," he said. (Watch Video)

➤ Red Circle Ice Cream in Houston has been selling crawfish-flavored ice cream since 2019. "Don’t kiss anybody after I give you the sample," said owner Nickey Ngo. (See Details)

➤ Staff at the Humane Society of North Texas used nearly two gallons of canola oil to clean a 6-week-old kitten found in a bucket of industrial adhesive. The kitten, named Elmer, will soon be ready for adoption. (See Photos)

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