California

SpaceX carried out a launch from California on behalf of the US Space Force, with details of the payload kept secret as part of a classified military mission. The liftoff drew attention for its national security implications and for SpaceX's growing role in military space operations, with photos and video of the launch circulating widely.

SpaceX carried out a launch for the U.S. Space Force from California, with details of the mission's payload and purpose kept largely under wraps. The classified nature of the assignment has drawn attention, with coverage focusing on the growing role of commercial launch providers in national security space operations and speculation about what the mysterious mission involves.

SpaceX launched a classified US Space Force mission from California, then successfully landed the Falcon 9 booster at sea. The payloads and mission details remain undisclosed, in keeping with standard practice for national security launches. The flight adds to SpaceX's growing cadence of military missions and demonstrates the company's continued reusable-rocket operations from the West Coast.

California has declared a state of emergency across the entire state ahead of a forecast strong El Niño, which is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and severe storms. Officials are urging residents to prepare for possible evacuations and property damage, and the move is drawing widespread attention as communities brace for potentially dangerous winter weather.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch a U.S. Space Force mission early Saturday from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California's central coast. Local outlets including the Santa Maria Times and Santa Ynez Valley News report on the planned liftoff, which adds to the company's growing slate of national security launches from the West Coast pad.

SpaceX carried out a launch from California carrying a classified payload, keeping details of the cargo undisclosed. The mission lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, with the rocket and its confidential payload delivered successfully. Classified launches are routine for SpaceX, but each one draws attention because the cargo's purpose and customer remain officially unknown.

A group of Nobel Prize-winning economists has signed a public letter voicing support for the proposed tax on billionaires' wealth in California. The letter, hosted by economist Gabriel Zucman, a leading advocate of wealth taxation, argues the levy is economically sound. Supporters say endorsements from such prominent economists strengthen the measure's credibility against critics who claim it would drive the wealthy out of the state.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Kern County as a powerful El Niño-driven storm approaches the region. The move allows state resources to be mobilized quickly to support local response efforts. Residents in Bakersfield and surrounding communities are being urged to prepare for heavy rain, flooding and dangerous conditions.

Southern California is preparing for the effects of Hurricane Polo, with forecasters warning of potential rain, flooding and coastal impacts across the region. Emergency officials are urging residents to stay updated on alerts as the storm moves along the Pacific coast, though the exact track and severity remain uncertain.

The University of Southern California has reportedly ended its practice of selling dead bodies to the US Navy for use by the Israeli military. The arrangement, described in reports by The New Arab, drew scrutiny over the ethical implications of supplying human remains for foreign military training purposes. The university's decision marks a reversal of a programme that had previously gone largely unreported.

Marine biologists are relocating sea turtle eggs from beaches in California, moving clutches to safer locations to protect them from threats such as erosion, predators, or unsuitable nesting conditions. The operation reflects ongoing efforts by researchers to safeguard vulnerable sea turtle populations along the Pacific coast, though further details on the scale and motivation of the relocation were not provided.

A California man has been charged with the murder of his ex-wife, Jill Maiorca, roughly twenty years after she disappeared. Prosecutors have brought the charge long after her vanishing, reviving a cold case that had gone unsolved for two decades. The development is drawing attention as an example of how advances in investigations can lead to arrests years later.

SpaceX carried out a classified rocket launch from the California coast, with few details released about the payload or mission objectives. The secrecy surrounding the flight has drawn public attention, as observers speculate about what the rocket was carrying and which government or military agency was behind the mission.

Biologists in Orange County, California, have carried out an unprecedented relocation of sea turtle eggs, moving them to safer ground to protect the nest from waves driven by an approaching hurricane. Relocating sea turtle nests is rare in the region, and the operation reflects growing efforts by wildlife experts to shield vulnerable marine species as storms intensify along the Pacific coast.

SpaceX launched a secretive mission for the US Space Force from California. Details about the payload and purpose have not been disclosed, consistent with classified military spaceflight. Photos released from the launch show the rocket lifting off from the West Coast, and the mission is drawing attention for the lack of public information about what was carried into orbit.

Data analytics company Databricks has agreed to pay $22.8 million for naming rights to the University of California, Berkeley's football field. The deal is being framed as more than a college sports sponsorship: Databricks was founded by Berkeley alumni, and the agreement signals how tech companies are deepening ties with university programs amid intense competition for AI talent and brand visibility.

With arts educators in short supply across California, general classroom teachers are increasingly integrating visual arts, music and drama into core academic subjects like math, reading and science. The approach aims to keep arts education alive for students despite staffing gaps, with teachers taking on creative instruction outside their formal training. The trend highlights broader concerns about sustaining well-rounded education amid persistent teacher shortages statewide.

A recent court decision could open the door to new protections for rare species in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. The ruling, reported by The Plumas Sun, may affect how threatened plants and animals in the region are managed and conserved going forward.

A California man has been charged with the murder of his ex-wife, roughly twenty years after she disappeared. Prosecutors have now filed charges in the long-unsolved case, reviving attention to a disappearance that went unanswered for two decades. Details of the evidence that led to the charges have not yet been widely reported, and readers are following the case as it moves through the courts.

A wildlife crossing in California has prompted questions about whether the state can still complete major infrastructure projects. Commentators point to the crossing as a symbol of California's broader struggles with high costs, lengthy delays and regulatory hurdles on large construction efforts, and the debate has drawn attention to how the project compares with faster building elsewhere.

California's 2026 attorney general contest is shaping up as a repeat of the primary matchup, with incumbent Democrat Rob Bonta heavily favored to win. The race is drawing early attention as part of the state's broader 2026 election lineup, with observers watching whether the general election produces a different outcome than the primary.