Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, an outnumbered Mexican army defeated French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The victory inspired the holiday of Cinco de Mayo, which was first celebrated by Mexican Americans in California.

The World Dog Surfing Championships Exhibition Tour made its Pismo Beach debut, and crowds loved it. Get the full scoop in Et Cetera.

Would your dog be a wave-riding pro like these pups, or more of a “stay on the sand” type? Reply to this email and let us know!

The stock market has been on a tear as of late. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed at fresh all-time highs last Friday, and the Dow is climbing back toward 50,000. Yesterday was down a bit, but the market has been rallying. What's actually driving it? Is it Big Tech earnings? The AI buildout? Hopes that the war in Iran ends soon? On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down the three forces behind Wall Street's record run and what investors are watching next. Tune in!

Today’s sponsor is Cozy Earth, and if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your sleep or finding a Mother’s Day gift that actually gets used, this is worth a look. Their bamboo sheets have quickly become a standout with The Flyover readers and have been one of the most talked-about home upgrades we’ve featured.

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.

Wildfire Preparedness Week Underway

Cal Fire launched Wildfire Preparedness Week on Monday, urging Californians to ready their homes for peak fire season.

Agencies are holding events across the state through Saturday. State and local crews demonstrated firefighting aircraft and ground resources Monday at Calabasas's King Gillette Ranch, highlighting coordination and response capabilities.

The campaign emphasizes a three-step plan: defensible space, fire-resistant landscaping, and home hardening to protect against embers, radiant heat and wind-driven flames. Cal Fire's strictest zone calls for clearing combustible materials within five feet of structures to reduce ignition risk.

California Lost 54,000 Residents Last Year

California shed 54,000 residents in 2025, its first population decline since the pandemic.

The state Department of Finance reported the drop at 0.14%, leaving California's population at 39,593,000, as reduced international migration tied to federal policy changes drove the decline. Los Angeles County alone lost 64,000 residents—the largest drop of any county—even as smaller gains elsewhere offset losses statewide.

Among the state's 10 largest cities, Los Angeles fell 0.9%, Long Beach dropped 0.2%, and Anaheim slipped 0.1%. Sacramento bucked the trend with 1.3% growth, the largest gain of the group.

Reduced migration was a key factor in the decline, though affordability remains a factor, with Californians paying more than the national average for groceries, gas, and utilities.

California has the most expensive gas in the country, averaging $6.08 a gallon on Saturday, according to AAA.

Isla Vista Lands $15.3M Microgrid Grant

Santa Barbara County will receive $15.3 million from Southern California Edison to build a solar microgrid in Isla Vista.

The grid will keep power flowing to the neighborhood clinic, community center, and Isla Vista Sheriff’s Office during outages, as well as 170 nearby homes and businesses, with at least 24 hours of backup planned.

The Goleta area sits at the end of Southern California Edison (SCE) and PG&E transmission lines, with power running through fire- and mudslide-prone canyons. Sustainability Division manager Garrett Wong said microgrids are "a hyperlocal response to that challenge."

The funding comes from a state program targeting outage-prone, low-income communities. Of the total, $4.5 million will go to design and construction, $6.7 million to equipment, and up to $4 million to SCE infrastructure upgrades.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Mountain View: A boil-water notice for 23 homes on Drucilla Drive and Carla Court continues for another week after cement slurry contaminated the water main on April 24. Tests show low coliform bacteria levels, but no E. coli. The notice is expected to end by May 9-10. (More)

➤ Nevada County: Eastbound Highway 20 is closed at the I-80 junction this week, with two more closures scheduled through May 22 as Caltrans demolishes part of a bridge for the Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Project. (See Details)

➤ Tehama County: A drug-detection dog named Silas led deputies to 90 pounds of marijuana and $100,000 in cash during a traffic stop, the Tehama County Sheriff's Office announced. The department also shared that Silas earned extra treats and belly rubs for his work. (More)

➤ San Francisco: Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap Inc., passed away at 94. She helped grow the brand into a $15 billion global company, with a legacy in fashion, philanthropy, and San Francisco's art scene. (More)

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➤ San Joaquin Valley: The Department of Water Resources released a long-term water plan on May 1, focusing on capturing floodwaters underground, streamlining recharge permits, and addressing land subsidence. A summit at Fresno State on May 20-21 will gather feedback, with public comments open until July 21. (See Report)

➤ Bakersfield: The Tower Fire has burned roughly 2,500 acres east of the city since igniting Sunday afternoon near Edison Highway and Comanche Drive, with Cal Fire reporting 50% containment Monday morning. An evacuation warning for Zone 443 was lifted Monday, and the cause remains under investigation. (More)

➤ Fresno Police cited 69 drivers during a motorcycle safety operation over the weekend, focusing on speeding, DUI, and other violations. The operation was funded by state and national traffic safety grants. (See Details)

➤ Madera: The MadTown Robotics team returned home Sunday with its fourth world championship title, beating out 600 teams in a three-day international competition in Houston. Team 1323 draws students from Madera High, Madera South High, and Matilda Torres High. (More)

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➤ Redondo Beach: A swatting call falsely reporting a hostage situation with explosives forced the evacuation of Redondo Beach Pier Sunday morning. Officers and the FBI cleared the area, and the pier was later reopened. (More)

➤ Costa Mesa: Steven Martinez of Chula Vista set a Hoag OC Marathon course record Sunday with a time just over 2:14, qualifying for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. UC Irvine medical student Brianna Bourne won the women’s race. The marathon drew more than 20,000 runners, including many first-time participants. (More)

➤ Westlake Village: Britney Spears pled guilty to reckless driving on Monday, following her March DUI arrest. She received probation, completed a DUI class, served one day in jail, and entered a treatment facility. (More)

➤ San Diego: Nearly 100 local veterans returned to San Diego International Airport after Honor Flight San Diego's first trip of the year to Washington, D.C. The all-volunteer organization has flown more than 2,200 veterans to the capital across 32 flights since 2010. (More)

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➤ UCLA women's beach volleyball swept top-seeded Stanford 3-0 to win the program's third NCAA championship. (More)

➤ Cal rugby beat Navy 36-22 this weekend to win their second straight national championship. They’ve now won 30 rugby championships in all, 26 of which have come under head coach Jack Clark. (More)

➤ The Lakers open tonight’s second-round series against the Thunder as +950 underdogs, the longest odds for any playoff series in franchise history. (More)

➤ De La Salle High School running back Duece Jones-Drew committed to UCLA on Sunday. His father Maurice Jones-Drew was a unanimous All-American for the Bruins and later an NFL All-Pro with the Jaguars. (More)

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➤ California’s last Middle East oil shipment has docked at Long Beach. With Iran’s war cutting off future resupply, refineries are scrambling for alternatives as the state’s average gas price tops $6 per gallon, hitting $6.11. (More)

➤ Retail vacancy in San Francisco's Union Square has dropped to 15% from a 2025 peak of 22%, with rents down as much as 30% and tenants like Zara, Uniqlo, and Chanel relocating within the area. Office vacancy remains at 28%, and Mayor Daniel Lurie called the recovery “fragile.” (More)

➤ GameStop has made an unsolicited $56 billion bid for San Jose-based eBay, offering $125 per share split between cash and stock, roughly a 20% premium over Friday’s close. CEO Ryan Cohen pitched the combination as a path to compete with Amazon. eBay shares surged more than 7% in premarket trading Monday. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Eight elephants at San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s new Elephant Valley are now visible from anywhere via a live cam, with schools in more than 30 states already getting early access. The habitat is the largest project in the zoo’s 109-year history. (More)

➤ Dog surfing came to Pismo Beach over the weekend as the World Dog Surfing Championships Exhibition Tour expanded beyond its Bay Area base. Top teams competed alongside local heats, drawing crowds at the pier and beach. Organizers say the event will return next year. (More)

➤ A 10-year-old cat named Mama fought off a coyote in broad daylight last week in Pico Rivera, swiping at the predator before climbing a tree to safety. Owner Debbie Beltran said the family lost another cat to a coyote last year, making Mama's stand especially meaningful. (See Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

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