Monday, May 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1992, Los Angeles lifted its citywide curfew, marking the end of five days of unrest sparked by the Rodney King verdict. Schools, banks, and businesses reopened, with calm prevailing.

Big Bear’s internet-famous eaglets finally have names, and there’s a sweet story behind them. Meet Sandy and Luna and see how local 3rd-grade students helped name them, as we report below in Et Cetera.

As a Christian, you shouldn't be getting most of your news from social media. It’s designed to trigger your emotions, not inform your faith.

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California Begins Mailing Primary Ballots

Mail-in ballots for California's June 2 primary begin landing in mailboxes today, kicking off the 30-day countdown to Election Day.

The marquee race is for governor, with Gavin Newsom term-limited. Multiple candidates from both parties are on the ballot under California's Top Two system, which sends the two highest finishers to the November general election regardless of party.

Polling has been fragmented, with Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco leading the GOP field in a wide field of Democrats. Among them are former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter.

Voters will also weigh in on every statewide constitutional office, all 80 Assembly seats, half the state Senate, and all 52 of California's U.S. House seats.

Ballots can be returned by mail, dropped at official drop boxes, or delivered to a vote center. The voter registration deadline is May 18.

San Francisco Immigration Court Closes Early

The U.S. Department of Justice shuttered one of San Francisco's immigration courts May 1, eight months ahead of schedule, leaving thousands of cases in transition.

The 100 Montgomery Street court was one of two San Francisco immigration courts. Its cases are being reassigned to the Concord Immigration Court, about 28 miles east, or to the smaller Sansome Street facility that remains open.

The Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review said the relocation to Concord would be "more cost effective" than maintaining the Montgomery Street offices.

"They wanted to get rid of immigration judges that were fair when it came to asylum cases," said Bill Hing, a University of San Francisco law professor.

At least 20 of the court's 22 immigration judges were fired ahead of the closure. The Concord court already has roughly 60,000 pending cases and, according to advocates, isn't expected to start new hearings until December.

SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Studio Deal

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a tentative four-year contract Saturday, less than three years after the 2023 walkout.

The deal covers movies, scripted TV, streaming content, and new media, and includes new artificial intelligence protections, a key issue in negotiations.

Negotiations began Feb. 9 and recessed March 15 to make way for the Writers Guild of America, which ratified its own four-year contract last month. Talks resumed April 27 and concluded May 2.

SAG-AFTRA represents about 160,000 performers, voiceover artists, and broadcasters. The deal needs approval from the union's National Board before going to members for ratification.

The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike lasted 118 days, the longest in the union's history, and overlapped with the Writers Guild walkout in the first simultaneous Hollywood writers-and-actors strike since 1960.

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➤ San Francisco: Supervisors Connie Chan and Rafael Mandelman and state Sen. Josh Becker were among protesters cited and released Friday after blocking the departures roadway at SFO’s International Terminal during a May Day rally supporting airport worker wages. (See Details)

➤ Oakland: A driver veered onto a sidewalk near 18th Street and Telegraph Avenue early Saturday, injuring seven people, including a juvenile, before fleeing on foot. Police said officers were responding to reports of a fight nearby and are pursuing leads. (See Details)

➤ Shasta County: Measure B on the June ballot would require most voters to cast in-person ballots on a single day and mandate hand-counting, changes that conflict with California election law. The measure would also sharply limit mail-in voting and is already facing legal challenges. (See Details)

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➤ Visalia: Amanahy Becerra Zepeda, 24, was arrested last week after police said she performed unlicensed C-sections, spaying, and ear-clipping procedures without proper anesthesia, causing severe animal suffering. Authorities say one death is tied to the case. She is out on bond and denies responsibility. (See Details)

➤ Madera County: Officials broke ground Friday on the $130 million Highway 41 widening project. The expansion will widen a nearly five-mile stretch between Avenue 10 and Avenue 15 from two lanes into a four-lane expressway, with completion expected in 2028. (See Details)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: A kayaker drowned Saturday at Montaña de Oro State Park after waves overturned his kayak, and his life vest slipped off. Responders performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released. (More)

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➤ Fallbrook: Cal Fire crews responded to more than a dozen brush fires before noon Saturday near Highway 76 and I-15, burning about 19 acres. Most were small, but the largest reached just over five acres. Cal Fire and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are assisting in the investigation into the cause. (See Details)

➤ Pacific Palisades: A federal trial memorandum says Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, was distraught over a past relationship and fixated on accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione before allegedly starting the Jan. 1 fire that led to the deadly Palisades firestorm. He remains jailed without bond, with trial set for June 8. (See Details)

➤ Lake Forest: Tommi Jo Mejer, a 50-year-old mom, faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after 81-year-old Vietnam veteran and substitute teacher Ed Ashman died from injuries sustained when her 14-year-old son struck him with an illegal e-motorcycle on April 16. Deputies had warned her last year about letting him ride it. (See Details)

➤ Julian: The San Diego Humane Society served a search warrant Friday at the Villa Chardonnay sanctuary, launching one of its largest rescues ever with more than 300 animals, including about 165 horses, over 150 cats, 30 dogs, and dozens of farm animals. Officials are urging the public to adopt or foster as the operation continues. (See Details)

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➤ The Padres are set to transition to new ownership after reaching a deal that values the team at about $3.9 billion, potentially an MLB record, pending league approval. (More)

➤ Briar Bauman won the Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico, leading a Harley-Davidson podium sweep in American Flat Track. Tom Drane pulled away late to beat Chase Saathoff for his second AFT Singles win. (More)

➤ Mira Costa defeated JSerra 5-0 on Saturday at Long Beach City College to win the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section girls beach volleyball title. The Mustangs improved to 24-1 and captured their third championship since the sport’s debut. (More)

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➤ Spirit Airlines shut down overnight May 2 after more than three decades, stranding passengers at LAX and airports nationwide. Other airlines are offering limited fare relief for affected travelers. The airline says customers who booked directly will receive refunds, though some report additional losses. (See Details)

➤ Oakland marks Small Business Week May 3-9 with the theme “This Is Town Business.” The East Bay Small Business Development Center is hosting seven free virtual workshops on topics including AI readiness, funding and restaurant marketing, plus a multi-ethnic chambers mixer Wednesday. (See Details)

➤ 16 Handles, the New York-based self-serve frozen yogurt chain, announced its first California expansion. The brand plans eight new franchise locations across the Los Angeles area, San Fernando Valley, Bay Area, and North San Diego. (See Details)

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➤ Big Bear's beloved eaglets now have names: Sandy and Luna, chosen Friday by local third-graders from more than 63,000 entries. Sandy honors the late Sandy Steers, former executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, who died in February. (See Details)

➤ Firefighters battling the Trinity Fire near Phelan on Friday captured video of an “ash devil,” a rare rotating column of hot ash and embers formed by intense heat and shifting winds. The fire burned about 19 acres and was 50% contained by Saturday, with no reports of structure damage. (See Details)

➤ A 70-pound humanoid robot named Bebop put on a brief show before a Southwest flight at Oakland International was delayed Thursday, when its oversized lithium battery was confiscated over safety concerns. The issue pushed the San Diego-bound flight back more than an hour. (See Details)

➤ Laguna Beach’s Aliso Creek produced a rare river wave, drawing pro skimboarder Blair Conklin and locals to ride the short-lived break. The wave formed when the creek breached its sand berm, a long-running point of tension, after a local surfer was previously cited for digging into the berm. (See Details)

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