Monday, April 20, 2026

$2B Budget Issue, Operation Bear Claw, and Snoop’s Ice Cream

Monday, April 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1958, the Key System’s last train crossed the Bay Bridge between Oakland and San Francisco in the early Sunday morning hours, ending transbay rail service. Crews soon dismantled the tracks.

A peaceful Temecula morning took a surprising turn when a hot air balloon made an unexpected backyard landing Saturday, drawing a crowd of neighbors. More in Top Stories.

Today’s sponsor, Share-Ify, is using AI to help food companies improve safety, streamline operations, and respond faster to potential risks across the supply chain.

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.

California’s $2B Pension Issue

A roughly $2 billion accounting issue tied to California's public employee pension system was not publicly disclosed for weeks.

The issue stems from a $1.6 billion double-count of retirement contribution rates and a separate miscalculation of about $450 million in future estimates. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office flagged it in February.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's January spending plan projected a $2.9 billion deficit for next fiscal year. Both his administration and legislative leaders were aware of the discrepancy in February but did not publicly disclose it until KCRA 3 reported it Friday.

Newsom's Department of Finance disputes that framing. "This isn't a calculation error. It's a revision to better estimate how these payments are made," spokesman H.D. Palmer said.

Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the Assembly Budget Committee's vice chair, has called for a full timeline of when the administration learned of the issue. Newsom's revised budget is expected in May.

High-Speed Rail Closes Fresno Street

Fresno Street closes today for about a year as crews build a high-speed rail underpass through downtown Fresno.

The project is part of California's broader high-speed rail construction, with traffic detoured through the downtown area.

The closure will limit direct access to Libelula Restaurant and the Crest Theatre. Owners Kim and Ian Cookson say the state acquired the parking lot across the street in February, and revenue has dropped about 50%.

"The High-Speed Rail construction on Fresno Street is quite literally walling us off," the restaurant said. Libelula has been voted downtown Fresno's best for four straight years.

The California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Authority says it and its contractor are working to mitigate impacts, including adding signage for detours.

A second HSR project starts Thursday: the northbound Highway 99 off-ramp at Herndon Avenue closes, launching underpass work expected to last through winter 2027.

Balloon Makes Emergency Landing in Temecula

A hot air balloon carrying 13 people made an emergency landing in a Temecula couple's backyard Saturday morning.

The pilot brought the balloon down after winds died and fuel ran low. No one was injured, and the property wasn't damaged.

Homeowners Hunter and Jenna Perrin were watching TV and doing yoga when a neighbor knocked to say a balloon had landed on their lawn. The basket narrowly missed fences and trees, and neighbors gathered to watch.

"It was from Pixar's 'Up'—that's what it looked like," Jenna Perrin said.

Crews brought additional fuel tanks and moved the balloon out to a transport truck. The two-hour operation ended with neighbors cheering.

Hot air balloon rides are common over Temecula's wine country, and a neighbor told the Perrins their home sits directly in the flight path.

Flying together with our sponsor

48 Million Americans Get Sick From Food Every Year. Share-Ify's AI-Based Solution is Fixing That

Share-Ify is the world's first AI-based platform helping food companies keep food safe and act fast when it matters. Every inspection, supplier record, allergen alert, and traceability log stays connected, automated, and updated in real time.

There are more than 5 million food companies worldwide, most of which are still running on spreadsheets and phone calls. Share-Ify has already modernized 35,000+, including Denny's, Outback Steakhouse, and McLane, yet has captured less than 1% of the market.

Invest before Share-Ify scales from $4 million in annual revenue to a targeted $160 million by 2030.

➤ San Francisco: Residents gathered Saturday near Geary and Market streets to mark the 120th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake, featuring a restored 1928 Kleiber Light Wagon fire truck—believed to be the last of its kind—as a tribute to the city’s recovery efforts. (See Details)

➤ Mount Shasta: The U.S. Forest Service planted nearly 280,000 ponderosa pine seedlings across 1,091 acres in 15 days, restoring forest scorched by the 2021 Lava Fire on the mountain’s north and northwest slopes. (See Details)

➤ Davis hosted its annual Picnic Day Saturday, with about 75,000 visitors expected. Police doubled staffing and added restrictions after last year’s shooting at an unpermitted event injured three people. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: The Kern River is expected to flow through the city starting May 1 for at least six weeks, possibly lasting up to five months, officials said. Increased runoff from this year’s snowpack is driving the temporary return after years of dry conditions. (Read Story)

➤ Santa Cruz County: A PG&E equipment issue at a Santa Cruz substation knocked out power to about 18,400 customers Friday afternoon, briefly closing rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and stranding riders on the Sky Glider before crews restored service later in the day. (See Details)

➤ Fresno: Fresno-based Robo Enrichment is putting robotic dogs Ben Ben and Parker to work across the Central Valley, helping people with loneliness and social anxiety connect through play. (Read Story)

➤ Los Angeles: Federal authorities arrested Woodland Hills resident Shamim Mafi, 44, at LAX on Saturday night, alleging she brokered weapons deals on behalf of Iran, including drones, bombs, and millions of rounds of ammunition sold to Sudan. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to make her first court appearance today. (See Details)

➤ Lake Arrowhead: Three Southern California residents were sentenced in “Operation Bear Claw,” an insurance scheme worth about $141,800 in which they staged a fake bear attack on a Rolls-Royce Ghost using a person in a bear suit. Investigators, aided by state wildlife experts, determined the “bear” in their video was actually human. (See Details)

➤ San Diego: A new Ruffin Canyon trail connecting Serra Mesa and Mission Valley opened Friday after more than a decade of planning, featuring a tunnel under Friars Road that provides public daylight access through the Escala community. (See Details)

➤ Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, while LeBron James added 19 points and 13 assists as the Lakers beat the Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday night. Los Angeles played without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, while Houston was missing Kevin Durant. Game 2 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. (More)

➤ No. 1 UCLA rallied past Minnesota 6-4 on Saturday, scoring four runs in the sixth inning to extend its Big Ten winning streak to 20 games. Mulivai Levu delivered the key two-run double as the Bruins improved to 35-3. (More)

➤ A group led by billionaire investor Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones is nearing a deal to buy the Padres for a reported $3.9 billion, according to reports. The sale would set a Major League Baseball record. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scientists at Washington University discovered that doing this simple couch-yoga pose fixes constipation, bloating, and embarrassing gassy moments. At the same time, they were shocked to see that something SO simple can empty your bowels faster than any laxative or fiber-rich diet can. Read all about this revolutionary trick here: This Couch-Yoga Pose Clears Your Gut Fast.

➤ Walmart plans to remodel 56 California stores in 2026, including 21 in the greater Sacramento area, as part of a 650-store national overhaul. The company says it has invested $1.1 billion in its California stores over the past five years. (See Details)

➤ Snoop Dogg’s Dr. Bombay Ice Cream opened its first physical storefront Sunday at 1827 Ocean Front Walk on the Venice Beach boardwalk, with a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony. The shop marks the brand’s first move into a brick-and-mortar location after its national launch. (See Details)

➤ Monrovia-based Trader Joe's agreed to a $7.4 million class action settlement after receipts at some stores displayed the first six and last four digits of customers' card numbers. Shoppers who paid by card between March 5 and July 19, 2019, can claim about $102 by June 9. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Elon Musk is so desperate for electricity…He shipped a power plant across the ocean. He's running dozens of gas turbines around the clock. And by some estimates, he's burning nearly $1 billion a month because he can't turn on the world's largest supercomputer without equipment that takes up to two years to get. One small company can deliver it on his timeline. Wall Street hasn't connected the dots yet. See the one stock Musk can't build without >>

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Meet the Tech Innovator Outback Steakhouse Can't Live Without

Before an Outback Steakhouse ribeye reaches your table, dozens of companies along the supply chain touch it.

Each must know exactly what's in it, where it came from, whether it's been inspected, and that every safety certification is up to date. Multiply that by millions of products and millions of companies, and you start to see the scale of the problem.

It's why Outback parent company Bloomin' Brands is one of 35,000+ companies using Share-ify to stay on top of it all, joining industry standouts like Denny’s. Share-ify’s AI-based digital hub lets companies manage and share all of that information from one place, in real time.

And when Bloomin' joins, their entire supplier network follows. That's how Share-ify has grown 40%+ annually for five years running, almost entirely through word of mouth.

Invest before Share-ify scales toward a $160 million revenue target by 2030.

This is a paid advertisement for Share-ify’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.share-ify.com/

➤ Wildflower season is ramping up in Northern California, with early blooms already spotted across the region. Key viewing spots are highlighted in a recent list of 10 Northern California spots to see wildflower superblooms this spring, from Mount Diablo to North Table Mountain near Oroville. (See Details)

➤ Cerritos eighth grader Aaryan Balani, 14, developed an artificial intelligence-powered visor called EYEVA that alerts people with strabismus, or crossed eyes, when their eyes drift out of alignment. The device won top honors at the Orange County Science & Engineering Fair and is now in the patent process. (See Details)

➤ Humboldt Bay and Eureka Model Railroad Club is marking more than 50 years at its Seventh and A streets clubhouse in Eureka, where members build detailed model railways inspired by history and personal memories. (Read Story)

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➤ I check every single one of my patients for this...Because it can signal a heart attack is right around the corner. Are you at risk? Please check now.

Do you have any hobbies you’ve stuck with for a long time?

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

$50 to $150: 22%
Not my thing: 22%
$150 to $500: 21%
Under $50: 19%
I don't want to talk about it: 16%

Mount Shasta is home to the largest glaciers in California. How many named glaciers does the mountain have?

Show me the answer

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Fast Start, Tough Sell, and Georgia Cities Week

Monday, April 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1979, a swamp rabbit aggressively swam toward President Jimmy Carter's fishing boat on a pond near his hometown of Plains, an incident the press dubbed the "killer rabbit attack."

Have you ever had a strange encounter with a wild animal? Reply to share.

Today's sponsor, Share-Ify, is using AI to help food companies improve safety, streamline operations, and respond faster to potential risks across the supply chain.

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.

Braves Continue Hot Start

The 15-7 Atlanta Braves sit atop the NL East by five games after their weekend sweep over Philadelphia, continuing the team's turnaround after last year's 0-7 start and 76-86 finish.

The Braves currently hold the second-best record in the majors, a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, and also rank No. 2 behind the Dodgers in one analyst's MLB Power Rankings.

New manager Walt Weiss has leaned on unexpected rotation depth, with Bryce Elder lowering his ERA to 0.77 through four starts. On Saturday, Chris Sale struck out seven batters in seven innings, passing Hall of Famer Tom Glavine for No. 29 on MLB's all-time strikeouts list.

The team has also found its stride at the plate, leading or near the top in the majors in RBIs, hits, batting average, runs, and on-base plus slugging.

Drought Intensifies

Drought conditions continued to deepen across the Southeast last week, with Georgia still ranking among the hardest hit states.

Areas of exceptional drought across the Southeast expanded from 7.8% to 8.6% of the land, with the increases all in Georgia.

Rainfall across most of the Southeast is down 8 to 16 inches below normal over the past nine months.

Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina reported their driest September through March periods since the late 1800s.

Spring Break Less of a Crush

College students returned to Tybee Island over the weekend for Crush Reloaded, the rebranded Orange Crush beach party, with attendees describing a quieter gathering than in past years.

The community anticipated about 30,000 visitors for the Friday-through-Sunday festival, now in its second year as a permitted event.

Mayor Brian West said Georgia State Patrol deployed troopers along I-95 and I-16 to intercept potential troublemakers before they reached the island.

"GSP is out. They're stopping everyone around," said Albany State student Chelsee McClain. Students from Savannah State and Full Sail University also noted heavier-than-usual patrol activity on the roads leading to the island.

Flying together with our sponsor

48M Americans Get Sick From Food Every Year. Share-Ify's AI-Based Solution is Fixing That

There are more than 5 million food companies worldwide, most still running on spreadsheets and phone calls. Share-Ify has already modernized 35,000+, including Denny's, Outback Steakhouse, and McLane, yet has captured less than 1% of the market.

Invest before Share-Ify scales from $4M in annual revenue to a targeted $160M by 2030.

➤ Statewide: Governor candidates gathered at a Kappa Alpha Psi-hosted forum in Atlanta, with the event livestreamed statewide. (Watch)

➤ Northwest Georgia: Newly elected U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller said he got lost navigating the U.S. Capitol on his first full day, but that he was still able to cosponsor five bills. (More)

➤ Hall County: A high school football coach faces an additional charge of possessing child sexual abuse material. (More)

➤ Athens: Mayoral candidates squared off in a WUGA forum, debating housing affordability, homelessness, and public safety. (Listen)

➤ Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport held a job fair Saturday to fill hundreds of openings across airlines, concessions, and airport operations. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks fell to the New York Knicks 113-102 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series in New York. Game 2 is tonight. (More)

➤ Georgia football's G-Day scrimmage ended with the Red team beating the Black squad 27-17 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday. (More)

➤ Atlanta United's Southern Showdown with Nashville SC ended in a 2-0 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scientists at Washington University discovered that doing this simple couch-yoga pose fixes constipation, bloating, and embarrassing gassy moments. At the same time, they were shocked to see that something SO simple can empty your bowels faster than any laxative or fiber-rich diet can. Read all about this revolutionary trick here: This Couch-Yoga Pose Clears Your Gut Fast

➤ A 93-year-old woman who passed away last year refused multiple multimillion-dollar offers from Augusta National Golf Club to sell her family's longtime home near the club. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines unveiled its next-generation Delta One business-class suites, set to debut in 2027. (More)

➤ UPS rolled out radio-frequency identification tracking across its entire U.S. small-package network. The Atlanta-based company says the upgrade delivers real-time package visibility to all customers. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Elon Musk is so desperate for electricity…He shipped a power plant across the ocean. He's running dozens of gas turbines around the clock. And by some estimates, he's burning nearly $1 billion a month — because he can't turn on the world's largest supercomputer without equipment that takes up to 2 years to get. One small company can deliver it on his timeline. Wall Street hasn't connected the dots yet. See the one stock Musk can't build without >>

Flying together with our sponsor

Meet the Tech Innovator Outback Steakhouse Can't Live Without

Before an Outback Steakhouse ribeye reaches your table, dozens of companies along the supply chain touch it.
Each must know exactly what's in it, where it came from, whether it's been inspected, and that every safety certification is up to date. Multiply that by millions of products and millions of companies, and you start to see the scale of the problem.

And when Bloomin' joins, their entire supplier network follows. That's how Share-ify has grown 40%+ annually for five years running, almost entirely through word of mouth.

Invest before Share-ify scales toward a $160M revenue target by 2030.

This is a paid advertisement for Share-ify’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.share-ify.com/

➤ Georgia Cities Week kicks off today, with Rome among the communities statewide celebrating the Love Your City theme with events and contests. (More)

➤ The Fulton County Library System chose The Last One at the Wedding as its 2026 One Book, One Read selection, inviting the community to read and discuss the mystery novel. (More)

➤ Georgia Southern University held its third annual Bangladesh Day at the Williams Center in Statesboro, featuring dances, songs, and food celebrating Bangladeshi culture. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ I check every single one of my patients for this...Because it can signal a heart attack is right around the corner. Are you at risk? Please check now.