Monday, April 13, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1860, the Pony Express completed its first westbound run, arriving in Sacramento after a 10-day, 1,800-mile relay from St. Joseph, Missouri.

A sea turtle weighing more than 200 pounds named Meatloaf made her public debut after a tough rescue and a fight to save her injured flipper. We’ve got the details below in Et Cetera.

If you’re a Flyover Podcast listener who wrote in to say you missed Ayla Brown last week, be sure to tune in today. She’s back after a lovely family vacation in the Caribbean and sounds refreshed.

Mother’s Day is coming up fast, so we pulled together our 2026 Mother’s Day Gift Guide to help you find something she’ll actually love. From thoughtful to practical to a little indulgent, there’s something for every kind of mom. And yes, a few picks are perfect for treating yourself, too. Don’t wait until the last minute; take a look now, and get ahead of it.

Today’s sponsor, Qnetic, is tackling the looming AI energy crisis with breakthrough storage technology that delivers reliable, degradation-free power for decades.

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.

Swalwell Suspends Governor's Race

Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor Sunday after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a former staffer alleged Swalwell assaulted her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent, in 2019 and again in 2024 in New York. Additional women made misconduct allegations, including unsolicited explicit messages.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office opened an investigation into the 2024 incident Saturday. More than 50 former staffers signed a letter calling the allegations "serious" and urging him to resign from Congress.

Service Employees International Union California, the California Teachers Association, and the California Federation of Labor all rescinded their endorsements. Pelosi, Schiff, and other prominent Democrats called on him to exit.

Swalwell denied the allegations, calling them "flat false," but acknowledged "mistakes in judgment." Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said she would file a motion to expel him from Congress when the House returns.

LAUSD Reaches Deal with Teachers

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) reached a tentative two-year contract with its teachers' union Sunday, but a Tuesday strike by two other unions could still shut down the nation's second-largest school district.

The deal with United Teachers Los Angeles includes an 11.65% salary increase and raises the starting teacher salary to $77,000 a year.

Mediation continues between the district and SEIU Local 99, which represents about 30,000 custodians, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers. The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, representing principals and management, is also threatening to walk.

The three unions had been poised to strike together Tuesday for the first time in district history, affecting about 400,000 students. Schools could close if agreements aren’t reached before the Tuesday strike deadline.

La Brea Tar Pits Museum Closing for Overhaul

The La Brea Tar Pits museum will close July 6 for a roughly two-year, $240 million project, marking its first major overhaul since it opened in 1977.

The project, led by New York firm WEISS/MANFREDI, will add visible research laboratories, an immersive theater, a roof terrace, and the new Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research. The museum houses more than 2 million specimens.

The outdoor park and its active excavation sites will stay open during construction. The campus is set to reopen before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Visitors hoping for one last look can attend a free KCRW Summer Nights event June 12 or the Last Dance at La Brea Tar Pits disco party on June 27.

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➤ Sacramento: A former Natomas High School student was shot and killed on campus Friday afternoon after school hours. Police say the suspect, a current student, fled and remains at large. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted and an isolated incident. (See Details)

➤ San Francisco: A man was arrested after throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's San Francisco home, then threatening to burn down OpenAI headquarters an hour later. No one was injured. (See Details)

➤ Yolo County: Seven people were arrested in connection with a fireworks warehouse explosion near Esparto that killed seven last July, including a sheriff’s lieutenant and his wife. Some suspects face murder charges. (See Details)

➤ Porterville: Tulare County detective Randy Hoppert was shot and killed Thursday after responding to assist deputies serving an eviction notice when a suspect opened fire. The suspect, David Morales, 59, barricaded himself for seven hours before being fatally struck by a SWAT vehicle. Hoppert leaves behind a pregnant wife. (See Details)

➤ Fresno: A former Fresno Arts Council employee agreed to plead guilty to embezzling more than $1.8 million earmarked for local artists. Prosecutors say Suliana Caldwell spent the money at casinos and on vacations. She faces up to 20 years in prison. (See Details)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: A federal court ordered off-roading at Oceano Dunes restricted starting tomorrow after ruling California State Parks violated the Endangered Species Act by allowing vehicle use that harms threatened snowy plovers. (See Details)

➤ San Diego: The USS John P. Murtha returned to Naval Base San Diego Saturday carrying the Orion capsule after recovering the Artemis II crew from a Pacific splashdown Friday, with one report saying the ship played Elton John’s Rocket Man as it entered port. (See Details)

➤ Ontario: Ontario Mills mall was shut down Friday after a man set fires across multiple stores. The suspected arsonist was arrested. The incident is not connected to the Ontario warehouse fire earlier in the week. (See Details)

➤ Catalina Island: Two men were killed when a small plane crashed into a ravine Thursday on Catalina Island. The victims have been identified as Daniel Sarner, 51, and Robert Cox, 54. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. (See Details)

➤ The Sharks fell to the Canucks 4-3 in a shootout Saturday in what’s likely their final home game of the season. Macklin Celebrini recorded two assists to reach 110 points, while San Jose remains on the fringe of playoff contention with three games left. (More)

➤ Kelsey Plum is returning to the Los Angeles Sparks on a one-year, $999,999 deal, taking less than the $1.4 million maximum salary to give the team roster flexibility, per ESPN. (More)

➤ Fernando Tatis Jr. made his first career start at second base Saturday, playing the position in the Padres’ 9-5 win over the Rockies. (More)

➤ Luis Arraez exited in the fifth inning Saturday with a right wrist contusion after a collision as the Giants lost 6-2 to the Orioles. X-rays were negative and he’s day to day. (More)

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➤ Hydrogen fuel stations statewide are going offline, forcing fuel-cell drivers to wait hours or travel miles to refuel as supply disruptions persist. (See Details)

➤ Waymo and Waze launched a pilot program using autonomous vehicle sensors to detect potholes and share the data through the Waze for Cities platform with city and state DOTs across five metro areas, including LA and the Bay Area. (See Details)

➤ Pacoima business owners say RV encampments, trash, and human waste along Montague Street are driving customers away and raising safety concerns. (See Details)

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➤ Palm-sized Joro spiders, an invasive species from East Asia that balloon through the air on silk threads, have been spotted in Southern California. (See Details)

➤ Meatloaf, a green sea turtle weighing more than 200 pounds, made her debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach after being rescued from the San Gabriel River with severe fishing line injuries. Veterinarians are fighting to save a damaged flipper. (See Photos)

➤ Lindsay's 94th Annual Orange Blossom Festival returns Saturday to the Tulare County town’s City Park with a parade, carnival, and community festivities. This year’s theme is Citrus Dreamin’. (See Details)

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