Thursday, May 7, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1977, Hotel California by Los Angeles band the Eagles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group's fourth chart-topper. It later won the Grammy for record of the year.

California’s oldest fair kicks off today in Dixon, celebrating its 149th year with carnival rides, demolition derbies, livestock shows, and classic fair food. Some traditions really do get better with age, and we’ve got the details below in Et Cetera.

Is AI harming your brain? We break down the top five ways to protect yourself from the influence of AI. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, Cytonics, is opening the door for everyday investors to access early-stage biotech opportunities as the company advances toward potential FDA approval for a groundbreaking osteoarthritis treatment.

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.

Governor Hopefuls Clash in Heated Debates

Seven candidates running to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom traded sharp attacks Tuesday night during a two-hour CNN-hosted televised debate in Monterey Park. The same seven candidates met again last night in a second televised debate hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo ahead of the June 2 primary.

During Tuesday night’s debate, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra absorbed the most fire after surging in polls when Eric Swalwell exited. Rivals pressed him over a federal fraud case involving his former chief of staff and shifting positions on single-payer health care.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco called himself "proud" of his past Oath Keepers ties and defended his seizure of ballots during a recent special election investigation. Pressed on her temperament, former Rep. Katie Porter said the bickering on stage answered the question.

Republicans Bianco and Steve Hilton blamed years of Democratic rule for California’s high costs and homelessness. Democrats, including Becerra, Tom Steyer, Matt Mahan, and Antonio Villaraigosa, argued Trump-era policies and Washington dysfunction have added to the state’s economic pressures.

Hormuz Crisis Hikes California Gas

A South San Francisco Shell station hit $7.89 a gallon for regular Tuesday amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and California's average topping $6.

The state's average reached $6.11, up 16 cents from last week, while the national average sat near $4.46. About 30% of California's foreign crude oil supply passes through the Strait.

President Trump launched "Project Freedom" Sunday, deploying U.S. Navy destroyers and 15,000 service members to escort trapped commercial ships through the chokepoint. Two American-flagged vessels safely transited Monday.

The destroyers USS Truxtun and USS Mason reportedly came under fire from Iranian small boats, missiles, and drones during the transit. U.S. forces destroyed six Iranian boats and intercepted incoming threats; neither destroyer was hit.

Iran also launched missile and drone attacks tied to the Strait conflict, including strikes reported by the United Arab Emirates. The flare-up has further pinched California pump prices, with gubernatorial candidates split on whether to suspend the state's gas tax.

USDA Approves $9M for Peach Growers

The USDA has approved up to $9 million to help Central Valley clingstone peach growers stranded after Del Monte Foods shuttered its Modesto cannery, leaving many farmers without a buyer for their crop.

The bipartisan Schiff-Thompson-Valadao package will fund the removal of roughly 420,000 trees across 3,000 acres before the 2026 harvest. USDA estimates tree removal could avoid roughly $30 million in losses by removing about 50,000 tons of peaches from production.

Industry estimates place potential losses tied to the closure at more than $550 million for growers in the Central Valley, Yuba, and Sutter counties.

Del Monte filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025 and later voided long-term grower contracts when it permanently closed the Modesto plant. "This investment will give producers the time they need to adjust and plan for the future," said Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford.

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Everyday Investors Are No Longer Locked Out

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➤ Siskiyou County: Two wildfires sparked along State Route 96 Tuesday afternoon, prompting California Highway Patrol traffic controls and intermittent road closures. The River Fire near Lumgrey Road grew to about 20 acres, while the Dutch Fire near Klamath Dutch Road reached 24 acres as crews established hose lines around both fires. (More)

➤ Sacramento and Napa Counties: A Secret Service-led operation last week visited 510 businesses, inspected more than 3,000 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps, and ATMs, and removed five illegal skimming devices—preventing an estimated $5.2 million in fraud losses. (See Details)

➤ Bay Area: Hayward native and former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios is leading America 250 celebrations as the nation prepares for its 250th birthday, with Bay Area events focused on civic pride, innovation, and unity. (More)

➤ Butte County: Patricia Stock, fired as Chico State’s College of Agriculture dean, is suing the university president and Board of Trustees, alleging discrimination and retaliation. Her attorneys claim she faced pressure and donation threats tied to her selection of Ricardo Orellana as farm director. (See Details)

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➤ Patterson: Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, pleaded not guilty Monday in Sacramento federal court to two counts of assaulting a federal officer and one count of destruction of government property after ICE agents shot him seven times during an April 7 traffic stop near I-5 in Patterson. His next hearing is scheduled for July 27. (See Details)

➤ Morro Bay: The Marine Mammal Center has taken in 13 sea lions showing signs of domoic acid poisoning since late March. The neurotoxin, produced by algae blooms and passed through fish consumed by sea lions, can cause seizures, disorientation, and lethargy. Warmer water in the coming weeks could bring more cases. (More)

➤ Reedley: A federal jury found Jia Bei Zhu, also known as David He, guilty on all 12 counts tied to the illegal biolab discovered in Reedley in 2022. Investigators uncovered thousands of vials containing biological material, including potential pathogens such as HIV, malaria, and COVID-19, after a code violation exposed the operation. (More)

➤ Arroyo Grande: San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant Wednesday at a property on East Branch Street connected to the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart. Authorities released few details but said the investigation remains active nearly 30 years after Smart’s disappearance. (More)

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➤ Los Angeles: The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Los Angeles Unified School District over allegations the district reassigned—rather than removed—teachers accused of sexual misconduct, potentially violating Title IX protections. (More)

➤ Los Angeles: Mayoral and California gubernatorial candidates squared off last night during NBC4 and Telemundo 52 debates centered on wildfires, homelessness, immigration, crime, and quality-of-life issues ahead of California’s June 2 primary. In the mayoral debate, Mayor Karen Bass faced challengers Councilmember Nithya Raman and reality TV star Spencer Pratt. (See Details)

➤ Glendale: Officials are pushing to regulate food delivery robots after hundreds of autonomous machines from companies like Serve Robotics and Coco appeared on city sidewalks, raising concerns about safety, accessibility, and quality of life. (More)

➤ Torrance: L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn is calling for an investigation into Turner’s Outdoorsman after the alleged White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman reportedly bought his shotgun at the chain’s Torrance store. (More)

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➤ The San Jose Sharks moved up to the No. 2 pick in the NHL draft lottery, giving them back-to-back years with a top-two selection. (More)

➤ Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt suffered a gruesome pinkie injury trying to block a dunk against the Thunder, putting his status in doubt for Game 2 in Oklahoma City. (More)

➤ Warriors point guard Steph Curry said NBA players are underpaid relative to the revenue they generate, pointing to the league’s massive growth and arguing players should share in team equity. (More)

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➤ Cento Fine Foods faces a California lawsuit alleging it falsely marketed “Certified San Marzano” tomatoes. The company denies wrongdoing and notes a similar New York case was dismissed in 2020. (More)

➤ California-based Apple agreed to a $250 million settlement over claims it falsely advertised delayed Siri AI features tied to iPhone 16 models. Eligible customers could receive up to $95 per device. (See Details)

➤ N8iv Beauty was named one of Time magazine’s most influential beauty companies of 2026. The San Diego-based Indigenous skincare brand plans expansion into Nordstrom stores and Ritz-Carlton spas. (More)

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Pro Athletes Invested Millions Into This Medical Breakthrough

As a third-generation Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and former WWE champion, few people understand joint health like Rener and Eve Gracie.

They’ve dedicated their lives to keeping the body in peak shape. So when they made a seven-figure investment into Cytonics, the medical and investment world noticed.

Cytonics potentially developed the first and only treatment to reverse the effects of osteoarthritis, the world’s most common cause of joint pain. This therapy attacks the root cause of the disease, a solution Big Pharma has chased for years.

With the osteoarthritis market worth $560 billion, and current treatments only masking pain, it’s easy to see why the Gracies got involved. Now, you can join them as an early-stage Cytonics investor.

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This is a paid advertisement for Cytonics Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://cytonics.com/ Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee of performance. Past performance does not predict future results. All investments involve risk, including loss of principal.

➤ The Dixon May Fair, California’s oldest fair, is celebrating its 149th year today through Sunday with carnival rides, bull riding, demolition derby, live music, livestock shows, and fair food. (See Details)

➤ Disneyland-themed license plates could soon be available in California under a proposed state program raising money for children’s hospitals, pending 7,500 preorders. (More)

➤ The San Francisco Chronicle won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting for “Burned,” a series examining how insurers undervalued California wildfire losses, denied claims, and left homeowners underinsured (More)

➤ Visitors to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park will need advance reservations Fridays through Sundays and holidays from May 15 through Sept. 27 as California State Parks tries to reduce overcrowding and environmental damage. (More)

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Overplayed or timeless: where do you land on the Eagles?

Yesterday's Results:

What’s the scariest critter to run into on a California trail?

Mountain lion: 28%
Rattlesnake: 23%
Black bear: 21%
Skunk: 14%
Other: 14%

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is home to a 129-foot waterfall fed by underground springs that pump out 100 million gallons a day. Which U.S. president famously called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World"?

Show me the answer

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