California

California

Two young girls have been awarded over $30 million in damages after reaching a settlement Friday in a lawsuit over the death of their 11-year-old sister. According to the lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, Arabella McCormack endured starvation and torture at the hands of her adoptive family before her death in 2022. Although the alleged abuse lasted for years, the lawsuit says that time after time, adults did nothing to save the three sisters from their torment.

I'm not sure why my truck got vandalized. It was just sitting there. But it was very disheartening to see.

"During the holidays, Dana Point feels especially magical with harbor lights, festive events, and perfect weather for exploring," Vickie McMurchie, president of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, tells Travel + Leisure. "And no matter the season, our location between Los Angeles and San Diego makes Dana Point an ideal home base. It's one of those rare places where you truly get the best of both worlds-a relaxing, small-town coastal vibe with big opportunities for adventure."

LIVERMORE, Calif. (KGO) -- A fire captain was among those injured in a series of accidents along Vasco Road in Livermore on Friday. The high-traffic roadway has been fogged in all afternoon and all lanes in both directions were closed. As of 4 p.m., all lanes are back open. The Contra Costa County firefighter was hit by a car as he responded to traffic accidents. He is expected to recover.

Caltrain had a 56% increase in ridership in 2025, landing it the title of fastest growing transit agency in the US by American Public Transportation Association's (APTA's) Transit Wrapped 2025 list. Additionally, the agency is rolling out its new electric-powered, one-day-only Holiday Train Saturday tickets sold out in a whopping 45 minutes, but spectators can still watch it roll along its route from SF to Santa Clara with a few notable destinations.

"If you go over here. You can see there is a line right here. This used to be all painted shut, and now it's open. Then, right here is a two-foot crack," said Cathy Rodriguez.

A surfer was hospitalized with minor injuries Friday morning after he was bitten on the hand by a shark at North Salmon Creek Beach in Bodega Bay. According to Karen Hancock, a Sonoma County Fire District spokesperson, responding emergency personnel arrived on scene to find that the surfer had made it to shore on his own and had managed to bandage his own hand. The surfer initially declined medical treatment, Hancock added.

The City of San Jose has launched its Holiday San Jose campaign to highlight the vibrant local retail scene and encourage everyone to support small businesses throughout the holiday period. This initiative features a comprehensive guide to 12 distinctive shopping districts across the city, showcasing more than 300 unique spots for shopping, dining, and gathering with loved ones. From family-owned boutiques to cozy eateries, these areas offer one-of-a-kind experiences that capture the essence of San Jose's diverse communities.

Kermit Lynch has opened a shop in the North Bay. Photo: Clark Z. Terry Heads up: We sometimes link to sites that limit access to non-subscribers. Berkeley wine merchant Kermit Lynch has opened a new store the first expansion in its more than 50-year history at a shopping center in Larkspur. (San Francisco Chronicle) A professor's hidden camera caught a UC Berkeley doctoral candidate sabotaging another student's laptop, according to authorities who have charged the candidate with felony vandalism. (East Bay Times)

A natural gas line leak triggered a dramatic explosion that destroyed a Bay Area home on Thursday, injuring six people and damaging several other properties. At least one person was inside the home before it was leveled in the blast. The individual managed to escape without injury, but six others were hurt, including three who suffered serious injuries, Alameda County Fire Department spokesperson Cheryl Hurd said.

California and a coalition of other states are suing the Trump administration over a policy charging employers $100,000 for each new H-1B visa they request for foreign employees to work in the U.S. - calling it a threat not only to major industry but to public education and healthcare services. "As the world's fourth largest economy, California knows that when skilled talent from around the world joins our workforce, it drives our state forward," said California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, who announced the litigation Friday.

"The younger girl had blood all over the face. She was in complete shock. I think there might have been something with her arm being dislocated because she had kind of like an awkward position. They looked in shock and easily that the explosion took out their ear drum - I assume - because people were trying to talk to them and they were not really hearing it," said Oscar Vazquez, a resident in the area.

New details emerged this week about the massive February fire that erupted at the Martinez Refinery Company and released more than 7,000 gallons of hydrocarbon materials into the air, as officials revealed that oil crews had been using incompatible radio systems that prevented immediate contact with local public safety agencies. While county firefighters arrived on the scene 14 minutes after being notified of a fire at MRC, crews were stalled outside, unable to contact the refinery operators on site - a communication gap that delayed the establishment of a unified command center by nearly two hours.

While the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office continues an independent investigation into the arrest of 72-year-old Yolanda Ramirez, who reportedly went unconscious in the back of a police car and died days later at a hospital, her family is pushing for criminal charges to be filed against those who may have contributed to her death. Ted Asregadoo, a public information officer for the District Attorney's Office, confirmed Thursday that an independent investigation is underway

Construction is near Lake Spaulding, about 25 miles west of Truckee. Caltrans said the work will impact traffic in both directions; crews are slated to begin reducing traffic to a single lane on Sunday at 7 p.m. The agency expects to begin directing motorists headed east onto the new bridge span beginning Tuesday. Work on the westbound bridge is slated for the spring.

The lawsuit alleges that there were no inspections of the event, which violated city permit codes, and that there weren't any lifeguards, sober monitors or safety coordinators at the party. It further alleges "overcrowding in the pool with people, pool items which impeded visibility" and "slippery substances" that made staying in the shallow end "difficult, if not impossible." The family also said there weren't any markings that separated the shallow end of the pool from the deep end.

Velasquez would rent cars from dealerships and list them for sale online, Chang said. When interested buyers would contact her, Velasquez would ask for a down payment or monthly payments, and once they paid it off, she promised to give them the car, Chang said. The cars would end up being repossessed or reported stolen and buyers never got their cars, according to Chang.

A lawsuit alleging systemic failures that led to the starvation death of an 11-year-old girl at the hands of her adoptive family has resolved with settlements tallying $31.5 million dollars including $10 million each from the city and county of San Diego. The neglect lawsuit was brought on behalf of Arabella McCormack's two younger sisters, who were 6 and 7 years old when Arabella died in August 2022.

If you want an individual who has been reaching peak form in the postseason, that would be junior defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade of Santa Margarita High. He has recorded eight of his nine sacks in his last three games after becoming healthy and gaining confidence. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound junior is the son of Santa Margarita offensive coordinator Lenny Vandermade, who played at Mater Dei and USC.