SACRAMENTO:- Governor Gavin Newsom today announced California is deploying a new wave of swiftwater rescue vehicles, boats, and specialized equipment to 13 local fire departments across the state, strengthening California’s ability to rapidly respond to flooding and water rescues ahead of a potentially significant El Niño-driven storm season.

The new equipment will modernize California’s fleet of specialized Swiftwater Rescue Teams, which can be deployed through the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System to support communities facing flash flooding, flooded roadways, fast-moving rivers, and other dangerous water emergencies.

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “While Donald Trump moves to cut disaster preparedness, we’re putting new rescue vehicles, boats, and lifesaving equipment into the hands of highly trained local first responders now, so when floodwaters rise, California is ready to move quickly to protect communities and save lives.”

That statewide system allows communities to call on additional personnel and equipment when an emergency exceeds local capacity, bringing critical resources from elsewhere in California to where they are needed.

California’s swift water fleet upgrades build on the Governor’s announcement this week of new disaster intelligence satellite capabilities and the opening of California’s modernized State Operations Center — connecting better information and statewide coordination with lifesaving equipment in the hands of local firefighters.

Building California’s flood response capacity before storms arrive

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is replacing and modernizing equipment assigned to all 13 teams under California’s Swiftwater Rescue Program. These teams are staffed by highly trained local government firefighters who can respond to water emergencies in their communities and deploy elsewhere in California when additional resources are needed.

The upgrades strengthen and protect the communities where the teams are based and provide critical support for other communities during major storms and flooding.

“Our goal is simple. Make sure California’s firefighters have the necessary equipment available before communities need them,” said Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacob. “We are preparing now for the potential impacts of an El Niño-driven storm season, working directly with our local partners and strengthening the statewide mutual aid system so these highly trained teams can respond where they are needed.”

Each upgraded Type 1 Swiftwater Rescue Team will receive equipment designed to support complex rescue operations, including:

New heavy-duty, four-wheel-drive tow vehicles capable of transporting rescue trailers and specialized equipment during hazardous weather.

New rescue trailers designed to rapidly move equipment to flood and water rescue incidents.

Two motorized inflatable rescue boats for each team.

Updated personal protective equipment for firefighters operating in dangerous water environments.

Specialized rescue tools and equipment required for swiftwater operations.

Modern technology and equipment designed to help rescuers operate more safely and effectively during increasingly complex emergencies.

Together, these upgrades equip firefighters to transport boats and rescue gear, reach water emergencies, and operate in dangerous conditions while helping protect the rescuers themselves.

Connecting disaster intelligence with lifesaving response

California’s investment in swiftwater rescue capabilities is part of the state’s broader effort to prepare early for the potential impacts of an El Niño-driven storm season.

Governor Newsom recently opened the modernized State Operations Center and announced new disaster intelligence satellites to deliver near-real-time information on flood impacts and other hazards statewide.

Together, the new capabilities strengthen California’s ability to identify disaster impacts, coordinate resources, and support communities before, during, and after emergencies. The investments are part of Governor Newsom and the Legislature’s commitment to protect lives, communities, businesses, and critical infrastructure as climate change drives increasingly complex and destructive disasters.

Through an agreement with ICEYE, a satellite-imaging company that helps governments assess disaster damage from space, Cal OES is expanding its ability to receive near-real-time information on floods, wildfires, and other disasters, even through clouds, smoke, or darkness. The technology can help emergency managers identify where flooding is occurring, estimate water depths, and assess potential damage to homes, roads, and critical infrastructure, including during periods of heavy cloud cover or severe weather.

The information will be integrated into California’s statewide emergency operations and shared with state agencies and local emergency managers to help establish a common operating picture during significant storms. These capabilities can help officials more rapidly identify impacted communities, prioritize response resources, and begin assessing damage and recovery needs. The technology is one component of California’s broader preparations for the upcoming storm season.

California steps up

California is expanding preparedness while President Trump proposes deep cuts that would shift greater costs and responsibilities to states and local governments. Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposes cutting FEMA by $1.3 billion — reducing state and local preparedness grants and eliminating the Next Generation Warning System Grant Program, which supports emergency alerts and warnings, including in rural communities.

California is moving in the opposite direction: strengthening statewide coordination, expanding local partnerships and investing in the personnel and infrastructure needed to protect communities from increasingly severe disasters. The state has also demonstrated enough capacity to assist others without weakening readiness at home, deploying 3,482 personnel and 271 pieces of equipment since June to support wildfire, flood, and earthquake response across 13 states and two countries.

A growing threat in the Pacific

This fall and winter could be dangerous, and Californians should take forecasted extreme weather seriously. Federal forecasters say El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event this fall and winter and a 75% chance it could reach historic strength. In plain terms, the Pacific is unusually warm, and that warmth can shift storm tracks and load the atmosphere with more energy over the months ahead.

For California, that can mean repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves, and coastal flooding, especially when storms hit during very high tides. For families, that can mean roads closed by flooding or rockslides, power outages, neighborhoods cut off, damage to homes and businesses, and fast-changing conditions that leave little time to react.

That is why Governor Newsom is acting early, and why residents and homeowners should act now too: know their flood risk, clear drains and gutters, sign up for alerts, and make a plan before severe weather arrives.

What is El Niño?

El Niño refers to the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Usually, the tropical western Pacific is warmer than the tropical eastern Pacific; in El Niño, however, this pattern reverses, and the eastern Pacific warms significantly. This changes circulation and precipitation patterns around the world. Although specific, localized impacts are unpredictable, El Niño often produces more frequent and intense storms over California. These storms can produce dangerous flooding, landslides, debris flows, erosion, and other dangerous impacts. This year, California has already experienced coastal flooding attributed to El Niño—as “Kelvin waves” raise sea levels and offshore Pacific hurricanes (fueled by warm water in the eastern Pacific) drive strong waves battering the California coast.

How Californians can prepare

El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter or any particular storm, but it heightens the risk of strong storms in California. Californians should prepare now for the possibility of heavy rain, snow, and flooding:

Sign up for alerts. Get local emergency alerts here and follow trusted sources.

Know your flood risk. Find out whether your home or workplace is in a flood-prone area or downslope of an area recently affected by wildfire, where heavy rain can increase the risk of flooding, debris flows, and mudslides.

Stay informed. Pay attention to weather forecasts and sign up for emergency alerts from your city or county. Conditions can change quickly during major storms, so follow instructions from local emergency officials.

Have an evacuation plan. Know where you would go and how you would get there if you need to leave quickly. Keep an emergency kit ready, including plans, medications, and supplies for pets and other animals.

Never drive through floodwater. Water on flooded roads can be deeper and faster-moving than it appears, and roadways may be damaged or washed out beneath the water. Turn around and find another route.

SACRAMENTO:-  Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation to strengthen local journalism and support the reporters who hold those in power accountable, establishing a new funding mechanism to help qualifying local news organizations hire and retain journalists working in California.

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “While President Trump continues to attack the free press, California is supporting independent journalism. By signing this bill, we are signaling the profound role journalists play to cover essential issues like local schools, city halls, courts, public safety agencies, businesses, and neighborhoods. A free press isn’t supposed to make government comfortable. It’s supposed to make government accountable.”

Assembly Bill 2222 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) creates refundable tax credits beginning in 2027 for qualifying local news organizations based on their employment of qualifying journalists. The credit is designed to support both existing newsroom jobs and new journalism positions.

Governor Newsom signed the legislation in his office surrounded by members of the Capitol Press Corps — and then took questions from the reporters who cover his administration.

Strong local journalism strengthens democracy

Local journalists are often the public’s eyes and ears inside city halls, school boards, courtrooms and state capitols. Their reporting helps Californians understand decisions being made in their name, scrutinize the people making them and participate more fully in their communities. Under the new law, qualifying local news organizations may receive refundable credits tied to the employment of California journalists, including:

Supporting full-time and part-time journalism jobs at qualifying local news organizations.

Providing additional support for new journalism positions, encouraging newsrooms to add reporting capacity.

Applying the credit across local digital, broadcast and print news organizations that meet certain requirements.

Requiring qualifying organizations to maintain editorial standards, including publicly displaying an error-correction and clarification policy.

Excluding organizations controlled by political organizations or social-welfare entities from eligibility.

The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032.

A free press requires access to those in power

The signing comes as media access at the White House has become restricted. President Trump recently barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House after criticizing their coverage. A federal judge subsequently ordered the administration to temporarily restore their credentials, and the news organizations are continuing to challenge the ban in federal court.

California will continue standing up for a free and independent press and the public’s right to know.

SACRAMENTO:- As Donald Trump enriches himself at the American people’s expense, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation to combat corruption by public officials, protect consumers, and hold crypto fraudsters accountable. 

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “While the scam that is Donald Trump continues to hurt American families, California is fighting to make our economy work for people, not the powerful. No official should profit off their office — and we’re putting stronger protections in place to ensure it doesn’t happen in our state.”

Preventing any California public officials from issuing meme coins, along with preventing companies from listing any meme coin that uses the likeness or image of a public official. A meme coin is a type of cryptocurrency built around an internet joke, celebrity, or trend. Its price is usually driven by hype and speculation rather than an underlying business or practical use. President Trump launched his own meme coin in 2025. Recent reporting shows that the nearly 1 million people who bought Trump’s meme coin have lost more than $3 billion, while the sitting President walked away with a profit of roughly $636 million.

Targeting crypto fraud and money laundering. Helps people get their money back if they were a victim of a crypto crime — establishes clear guidelines to ensure restitution for victims of crypto scams and frauds.

Establishing a clear legal process for seizing crypto assets from transnational criminal networks. Protects Californians who use cryptocurrency by supporting enforcement against bad actors and putting guardrails in place to keep people’s money in their pockets.

Requiring full refunds for canceled, postponed, or rescheduled events and banning speculative tickets sales. Protects Californians from predatory price markups of tickets, updates regulations on bot sales, and places restrictions on deceptive websites and advertising practices.

Prohibiting unauthorized third parties from selling restaurant and tee time reservations for a profit. Protects consumers from exploitation of online reservation systems and ensures a fair, transparent reservation process for all.

Strengthens consumer control of their online data and personal information. Expands consumers’ right to delete their personal information, prohibits operating systems or apps from undoing a user’s configuration of a privacy setting without their consent, and establishes new rules for how insurers and related companies collect, process, retain, and share personal information.

LOS ANGELES:- Governor Gavin Newsom today signed bills that strengthen protections for people accessing places of worship and expand security resources available to nonprofit organizations across California. 

Together, the Governor’s signature on Assembly Bill 1836 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Assembly Bill 2664 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) helps ensure people can safely access places where they worship, gather, and find community. The bill also provides support to the organizations that provide those spaces and ensures they have the resources to protect them.

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Every Californian should be able to walk into a synagogue, church, mosque, or other house of worship without fear. California is continuing to protect these organizations and the people they serve, and we’re strengthening that work from the front door to expanding security resources to community events statewide.”

These bills are priorities of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and build on the state’s ongoing work to protect faith-based and community organizations from hate and violence through the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

The bills were signed at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, which in 2025 was vandalized by protestors who then entered the building to disrupt a peaceful gathering by shouting antisemetic insults and damaging the interior of the temple.

“California has built the most robust state-level Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the nation, providing critical security funding to more than 1,600 houses of worship, LGBTQ+ community centers, reproductive health clinics, and other nonprofits at risk of hate-motivated violence. This year, a diverse interfaith coalition came together to secure $80 million in ongoing annual funding to permanently sustain this lifesaving program,” said Assemblymember Gabriel, Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. “AB 1836 builds on that historic milestone by ensuring that security funding is also available for offsite events like Pride celebrations, marches, and cultural and religious festivals. It sends a clear message that Californians of all faiths and backgrounds should be able to gather, worship, and celebrate without fear. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California has been at the forefront of the fight against hate, and we are deeply grateful to him for signing this important new law.”

“For too long, too many people have been asked to accept fear as part of practicing their faith. As a Jewish woman and a mother, I know this is not abstract — one in four Jewish Americans now says they do not feel safe attending Jewish institutions,” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “Thank you, Governor Newsom, for signing AB 2664, which says we cannot accept that as normal, and it should never become the norm. This bill creates a safe bubble zone around houses of worship so people of all faiths can worship with the dignity, peace, and security they deserve.”

“Less than a year after a protest turned violent right here at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Governor Newsom came back to this same sanctuary to sign two laws that protect every Californian’s ability to safely engage with their faith community,” said CEO of Jewish California David Bocarsly. “This Governor has shown up for the Jewish community again and again – from the first-in-the-nation Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism, to $395 million directed toward protecting at-risk nonprofits, including this year’s generational commitment of $80 million in permanent, annual funding, Today’s signing is the latest chapter in a partnership that is making California safer for everyone.”

Building on California’s leadership

The program was established to provide security funding to nonprofit organizations at high risk of violent attacks and hate crimes because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission. California’s approach is about more than physical security – it is about making sure Californians can continue to access the places and organizations that serve their communities.

LOS ANGELES:- City Councilmember Nithya Raman has posed a strong challenge to Mayor Karen Bass in a poll conducted for the upcoming Los Angeles mayoral election in November.

In a new survey conducted by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley—co-sponsored by the *Los Angeles Times*—City Councilmember Nithya Raman holds a lead over Mayor Karen Bass among likely voters, with 39% support compared to 28%.

However, a survey of 2,150 likely voters conducted between September 15 and 20 shows that 33% remain undecided.

Survey director Mark DiCamillo told the *Los Angeles Times* that Raman holds a “clear lead,” but the large number of undecided voters is making the contest and its outcome uncertain.

Raman, who finished second behind Bass in the non-partisan primary election held in June, had previously trailed Bass in earlier polls.

However, a recent survey shows Raman overtaking Bass in nearly every part of the city. In the San Fernando Valley, Raman garnered 34% support compared to Bass’s 26%, with 40% of voters undecided; on the Westside, Raman holds a lead over Bass, 35% to 34%.

The survey also reveals a significant gap between the candidates based on age. Among voters aged 18 to 29, Raman secured 66% support compared to Bass’s 4%, while in the 30 to 39 age group, she garnered 64% support against Bass’s 12%.

In the latest survey, Raman received 50% support among voters aged 40 to 49, whereas Bass received 18%. However, the contest was much tighter among voters aged 50 to 64, with Raman at 35% and Bass at 33%.

In the survey, 63% expressed disagreement with Baas’s performance, while 28% expressed agreement and 9% had no opinion. There was a 40% positive view regarding Raman, whereas 39% held a negative view and 21% had no opinion.

Raman spent the period leading up to July criticizing Bass’s record, including the city’s handling of homelessness and its response to major fires. She has also garnered support from labor groups, including UNITE HERE Local 11 and the Democratic Socialists of America.

“We aren’t taking anything for granted—not a single vote,” Raman said in response to the poll. “So, my question to every Angeleno who is still making up their mind is simple: take a look at our campaign and give me the chance to earn your vote.”

Mail-in ballots for the November 3 election will start arriving in voters’ mailboxes on October 1.

SACRAMENTO – While Donald Trump remains unplugged, Governor Gavin Newsom continues to advance strong AI policies to protect Americans. Building on his executive order issued just days ago to accelerate independent oversight and advance the creation of “kill switches” as part of California’s strong AI safety framework, Governor Newsom today announced the group of leading experts to help guide this nation-leading work. The group of experts at the intersection of technology, policy, and governance will help California advance its AI safety and security governance in light of rapidly advancing AI capabilities. The group will apply its expertise and engage with leading technical researchers working on AI safety. Proposals under consideration include requiring independent third parties to be embedded in frontier AI companies to verify safety frameworks and independently assess safety evaluations, as well as requiring companies to develop an emergency shutoff, or “kill switch,” for frontier models.

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “While the President is once again focused on superficial solutions to vast, complex problems, and ignoring his responsibility to protect Americans, California is taking action — bringing together experts from across disciplines to build on our nation-leading framework, and addressing the very real concerns that impact all of our futures. We’re not waiting around. California will continue bringing new ideas, serious expertise, and practical solutions to the table as we shape the future of AI and frontier technology.”

California’s leadership guides the nation 

The Governor is announcing today the following experts to help advise California’s work:

Jason Goldman — board member of the Center for Shared AI Prosperity, an early product leader at Google and Twitter, and the first White House Chief Digital Officer.

Gillian Hadfield — professor at Johns Hopkins University with a focus on AI alignment and innovative design for legal, regulatory, and technical systems for AI, and faculty member of the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

Alondra Nelson —  professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and director of the Science, Technology, and Social Values Lab, and former acting director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy.

Rob Reich —  professor at Stanford University with a focus on the governance of frontier science and technology, and former senior advisor to the United States AI Safety Institute.

“Governor Newsom’s executive order addresses the hardest questions in AI safety governance, including who verifies a frontier lab’s safety claims and whether a model can be reliably shut down. California continues to show how democratic oversight can apply to one of the world’s most consequential industries.”  – Jason Goldman, board member of the Center for Shared AI Prosperity, an early product leader at Google and Twitter, and the first White House Chief Digital Officer

“The need for effective, accountable, and independent oversight of increasingly powerful and autonomous AI is urgent and I’m very glad to join this great team to quickly help ensure we steer in the right direction.”  Gillian Hadfield, professor at Johns Hopkins University with a focus on AI alignment and innovative design for legal, regulatory, and technical systems for AI, and faculty member of the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence

“California has long led on technology governance, and this executive action asks exactly the right questions: not whether to govern AI, but how. Independent verification, AI auditing, and mandatory transparency are the kinds of durable institutional mechanisms that can govern rapid technological change and hold powerful actors accountable, so their tools serve humanity instead of endangering it. I look forward to bringing the perspective of independent research to these consequential recommendations to Governor Newsom.” Alondra Nelson, professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and director of the Science, Technology, and Social Values Lab, and former acting director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy.

“Innovation and safety go hand in hand in any responsible marketplace, and AI is no different. In order to gain the enormous potential benefits from AI, we need governance practices that establish trust in the technology. I am honored to join the effort in California to accelerate the scientific practice of AI testing and evaluation and establish robust frameworks of independent assessment and oversight of AI systems.” – Rob Reich, professor at Stanford University with a focus on the governance of frontier science and technology, and former senior advisor to the United States AI Safety Institute. Rob Reich, professor at Stanford University with a focus on the governance of frontier science and technology, and former senior advisor to the United States AI Safety Institute.

Decisive action to strengthen AI oversight 

California provides a model for national standards around AI safety. Recently, Governor Newsom signed legislation creating first-in-the-nation safeguards and accountability measures to strengthen California’s nation-leading framework. The Governor signed into law Senate Bill 813 (McNerney),  establishing a framework for independent verification organizations that can assess AI systems and models for safety and risk. Governor Newsom also signed AB 1405 (Bauer-Kahan), creating a state registry for AI auditors that assess AI systems and models for compliance with state law and establishing standards for their independence, transparency, and integrity.

Governor Newsom’s executive order takes these actions even further. Through the order, the Governor is directing the Government Operations Agency to accelerate the implementation timelines for SB 813 and AB 1405, and, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to convene national experts to develop recommendations for potential changes to further strengthen state law to:

Require frontier AI companies to embed a designated independent verification organization onsite in their labs to conduct regular audits and evaluations.

Require that the AI safety frameworks, transparency reports, and risk assessments that frontier AI companies are required to file under state law are verified pursuant to standards deemed adequate by an independent verification organization.

Advance the creation of a “kill switch” for frontier models, with the efficacy of the switch verified on an ongoing basis by an independent verification organization.
Update definitions of critical safety incidents to include loss-of-control incidents such as the Hugging Face attack.

The need for state action

Governor Newsom’s executive order comes after recent alarming incidents that have prompted many Americans, including leaders in the AI industry, to call on the industry to pace the development of AI systems and models and push for more stringent government regulations to address security and safety risks. In response, the federal government has done nothing and Trump’s answer is to only rename artificial intelligence to “super intelligence.”

No federal law requires AI companies to report dangerous incidents when they happen, and President Trump has rejected calls for new regulations that would increase security and protect the health, safety, and well-being of the American people.

An AI safety model for the nation

Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California is already far ahead of every other state in regulating AI, creating a guidebook for the nation. Currently California has laws addressing nearly every major area of AI policy: frontier-model safety, independent oversight, children and companion chatbots, privacy, deepfakes, fraud, cybersecurity, workers and government deployment.

The Governor is calling on Congress and President Trump to review and adopt the state’s framework, or use its nation-leading regulation as a floor, not a ceiling, for the benefit and safety of all Americans.

California’s nation-leading framework 

Beginning with his first-in-nation 2023 executive order on generative AI, Governor Newsom has pursued executive action, legislation passed in partnership with the Legislature, regulation, procurement, and public-private partnerships to address nearly every major area of AI policy:

Frontier AI safety: In 2025, Governor Newsom signed SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, the nation’s first AI safety law. It requires frontier AI developers to publicly disclose safety frameworks, report specified critical safety incidents to the state, and protect whistleblowers who report serious risks.

Independent AI oversight: In 2026, Governor Newsom signed SB 813, making California the first state in the nation to establish a framework for certifying independent verification organizations with sufficient expertise and demonstrated independence from AI companies to objectively assess AI systems and models for safety and risk. He also signed AB 1405, establishing a state registry for AI auditors and standards for their independence, transparency and integrity.

Child safety standards for AI companions: This year, Governor Newsom signed the bipartisan Adam’s Law, requiring safeguards around companion chatbots used by children, including suicide and self-harm crisis protocols, parental controls and notifications when safety settings are disabled. It is the first law in the country requiring independent child-safety audits and comprehensive risk assessments prior to release. California also enacted laws to ban toys containing AI companion chatbots for five years; prohibit use of student personal information to train AI models; and expand protections against AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

Social media and children: Governor Newsom signed the strongest-in-nation legislation prohibiting social-media companies from providing users under 16 with addictive features including autoplay and algorithmic feeds based on user history and profiles. California has enacted nation-leading requirements for responsible AI and social media use for children, including warning labels for young users, required age verification signals, guidance to protect kids from after-school cyberbullying, and prohibiting online platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without parental consent.

Deep fakes and synthetic content: In nation-leading action, California banned and cracked down on sexually explicit deepfakes, required AI watermarking, addressed deceptive AI-generated election content and required transparency around AI training data.

Protecting privacy and civil liberties: Governor Newsom signed the Delete Act, a first-in-the-nation privacy law allowing Californians to direct registered data brokers to delete their personal information. California subsequently launched DROP, which enables people to submit a single deletion request to registered data brokers. In March 2026, Governor Newsom also issued an executive order strengthening privacy and civil-liberties protections for state AI procurement. CalPrivacy has separately adopted protections involving automated decision-making technology.

Workers and AI disruption: Governor Newsom signed a first-in-the-nation executive order addressing AI’s economic and labor impacts, including expanded tracking of AI’s economic effects and work to adapt job-training and public-benefit programs. California has also launched an AI Unemployment Tracker, and solicited statewide public input on AI’s economic impacts through Engaged California.

Cybersecurity: Governor Newsom launched a first-in-the-nation AI Cyber Defense Program to use AI to identify vulnerabilities, harden networks and support incident response. California is also establishing an AI Cybersecurity Officer in each agency and working with frontier AI companies and critical-infrastructure partners on response protocols and tabletop exercises.

AI-enabled fraud: Governor Newsom launched a Tech Fraud Task Force to combat AI-enabled fraud. California has also acted against AI-generated robocall scams and addressed algorithmic pricing through state antitrust law.

SACRAMENTO:- As a historic El Niño storm season develops, Governor Newsom is proclaiming a state of emergency today, mobilizing state resources ahead of potential winter storms and other impacts. The emerging El Niño event is already breaking records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history. Today’s emergency proclamation streamlines measures to help California prepare for this historic event.

The Governor’s action puts California in a stronger position before winter weather intensifies. It directs state agencies to begin protecting vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stage emergency supplies, and help local partners reduce flood, landslide, and coastal risks.

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “California is strongest when we look out for one another. That is what this action is about. Giving communities the support they need, giving first responders the tools to do their jobs, and giving families the confidence that their state is ready.

“We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes.”

El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific, which can shift weather patterns and bring wetter, more intense winters to California. Climate change can supercharge this natural climate pattern. A study published in the journal Science last month found El Niño events are now more than 36% stronger than before the industrial era, with this trend accelerating over the last 40 years as the planet warms.Today’s emergency proclamation mobilizes state resources and streamlines procurement to prepare for El Niño’s anticipated impacts, like strong storms and coastal flooding. Among the actions ordered, the emergency proclamation directs state agencies to lead the state’s flood-risk-reduction efforts, stage flood-fighting supplies such as sandbags and pumps, and pre-position other critical equipment. Caltrans will stage traffic-control, road-closure, and snow-removal equipment along the highways most at risk. The proclamation also prepares the California National Guard to support flood response, search-and-rescue, engineering, and logistics missions when needed. State environmental and natural resources agencies will support local efforts to prepare for flooding, landslides, and debris flows, by fast-tracking permitting and identifying other ways to cut red tape.

“We are not waiting for this season’s storms to be on our doorstep,” said Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs. “Cal OES is leading California’s statewide efforts by bringing state and local partners together, conducting advance planning efforts, and identifying potential needs before impacts occur. By planning early and coordinating resources ahead of El Niño, we are working to ensure communities and first responders have the personnel, equipment, and support they need to prepare for severe weather, respond quickly when conditions change, and protect lives and property across California.”

“California is already taking steps now to protect communities from a potentially historic El Niño because we know how serious these weather extremes driven by climate change can be,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Through the Governor’s state of emergency, we’re cutting red tape and fast‑tracking the flood‑protection and broader preparedness work communities need now. We’re mobilizing with our partners to safeguard people, infrastructure, and natural resources before the worst storms arrive.”

The proclamation also directs the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with relevant state agencies, to expand accessible, multilingual public preparedness communications related to severe weather, flooding, emergency alerts, evacuation readiness, power outages, and more.

A Growing Threat

This fall and winter could be dangerous, and Californians should take it seriously. Federal forecasters say El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event this fall and winter and a 75% chance it could reach historic strength. In plain terms, the Pacific is unusually warm, and that warmth can shift storm tracks and load the atmosphere with more energy over the months ahead.

For California, that can mean repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves, and coastal flooding, especially when storms hit during very high tides. For families, that can mean roads closed by flooding or rockslides, power outages, neighborhoods cut off, damage to homes and businesses, and fast-changing conditions that leave little time to react.

That is why Governor Newsom is acting early, and why residents and homeowners should act now too: know their flood risk, clear drains and gutters, sign up for alerts, and make a plan before severe weather arrives.

Additional Emergency Actions

In addition, Governor Newsom today proclaimed states of emergency to support recovery efforts for three severe weather events that previously caused significant damage in Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Mendocino, and Santa Barbara Counties, and a major sewage spill that caused significant damage in Lake County.

Further, after consultation with the affected counties, Governor Newsom also signed a proclamation terminating 34 open states of emergency for various fires, storms, and other events in 2023 and 2024 for which a proclaimed state of emergency is no longer necessary to facilitate response and recovery efforts.

What is El Niño?

El Niño refers to the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Usually, the tropical western Pacific is warmer than the tropical eastern Pacific; in El Niño, however, this pattern reverses, and the eastern Pacific warms significantly. This changes circulation and precipitation patterns around the world. Although specific, localized impacts are unpredictable, El Niño often produces more frequent and intense storms over California. These storms can produce dangerous flooding, landslides, debris flows, erosion, and other dangerous impacts. This year, California has already experienced coastal flooding attributed to El Niño—as “Kelvin waves” raise sea levels and offshore Pacific hurricanes (fueled by warm water in the eastern Pacific) drive strong waves battering the California coast.

How California can prepare

El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter or any particular storm, but it heightens the risk of strong storms in California. Californians should prepare now for the possibility of heavy rain, snow, and flooding:

Sign up for alerts. Get local emergency alerts here and follow trusted sources.

Know your flood risk. Find out whether your home or workplace is in a flood-prone area or downslope of an area recently affected by wildfire, where heavy rain can increase the risk of flooding, debris flows, and mudslides.

Stay informed. Pay attention to weather forecasts and sign up for emergency alerts from your city or county. Conditions can change quickly during major storms, so follow instructions from local emergency officials.

Have an evacuation plan. Know where you would go and how you would get there if you need to leave quickly. Keep an emergency kit ready, including plans, medications, and supplies for pets and other animals.

Never drive through floodwater. Water on flooded roads can be deeper and faster-moving than it appears, and roadways may be damaged or washed out beneath the water. Turn around and find another route.

SACRAMENTO:- Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the nomination of five judges to the Court of Appeal.

Those appointed on Friday include Brian Goldman (First District Court of Appeal, Division 2), Adam Hoffman (First District Court of Appeal, Division 4), Judge Alexander Giza (Second District Court of Appeal, Division 3), Judge Cindy Panuco (Second District Court of Appeal, Division 3), and Judge Maria Daglian Hernandez (Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 3).

The Governor announced the appointment of two Superior Court judges—one for Orange County and the other for Santa Clara County.

Brian Goldman of Alameda County has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice in Division 2 of the First District Court of Appeal.

Adam Hofmann of Sacramento County has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice in Division Four of the First District Court of Appeal.

Alexander Giza of Los Angeles County has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice in Division Three of the Second District Court of Appeal.

Los Angeles County’s Cindy Panuco has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice in Division 3 of the Second District Court of Appeal.

Orange County’s Maria Daghliyan Hernandez has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice in Division 3 of the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Thomas Nocella of Orange County has been appointed as a judge of the Orange County Superior Court.

Chhaya Malik of Alameda County has been appointed as a judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO:- Just days after signing nation-leading smoke remediation bills and extending mortgage protections for survivors, Governor Gavin Newsom launched a new state program to help close the gap between insurance payouts and the cost of rebuilding. The program, first announced during the Governor’s State of the State earlier this year, was developed in response to feedback from survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires. The $100 million program was funded as part of the state budget. 

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “California will not leave survivors to navigate recovery alone. With the launch of this recovery fund, we’re turbo-charging efforts to help families get back home and communities rebuild faster. I’m proud of the work we’ve done with the Legislature to make this fund possible, and I look forward to seeing its impact across California.”

The Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program offers key financing tools to help reduce the cost of rebuilding, connect homeowners with trusted lenders, and improve loan options for low- to moderate-income households. The program offers interest rate buydowns, which use upfront assistance to reduce borrower interest costs, and loan-loss guarantees, which increase borrower access to funds by allowing lenders to lend more expansively with lower risk.

“For victims of wildfire and other natural disasters, the process of rebuilding their homes can be both daunting and expensive,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of the California Housing and Homelessness Agency. “California has stepped up to support victims of the Los Angeles wildfires by streamlining permitting to allow for faster rebuilding and providing much-needed mortgage relief. Through the Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program, we are continuing to make key investments to help Californians with the financial assistance they need to rebuild and recover.”

“Many families are still navigating the challenges and trauma that follow the loss of a home,” said CalHFA Executive Director Tony Sertich. “The state is here to support their recovery and help them rebuild their homes and communities.

Homeowners interested in exploring eligibility and learning more should visit the program’s webpage, and should meet with a participating construction lender to understand the steps they’ll need to take.

Speeding recovery

This program was built from the state’s collaborative efforts with survivors’ groups and lending partners following the Los Angeles area firestorms. Today’s announcement adds to the 28 executive orders issued by the Governor, as well as other state financial programs, including the CalAssist Mortgage Fund, which provides up to $100,000 of mortgage payments over a period of one year that do not have to be repaid. The CalAssist program has awarded $54 million in mortgage relief to 1,575 households as of Sept 14, 2026, and 76% of the funds went to homes in the Eaton Fire.

Today’s announcement also builds on California’s ongoing recovery efforts in Los Angeles, where the state has worked with survivors, local governments, and community partners to accelerate debris removal, permitting and rebuilding while providing mortgage relief and other assistance.

More time, more flexibility on mortgages

The fund launches days after the Governor signed bills to permanently extend mortgage forbearance protections for disaster-affected homeowners.  For survivors still paying a mortgage on a home they can’t live in, Assembly Bills 1842 and 1847 (Harabedian) provide families a path away from foreclosure and help them keep their homes.

The legislation makes permanent the kind of mortgage forbearance protections the Governor secured directly from loan servicers after the LA fires — automatic protections and processes in law following a disaster to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. This landmark legislation also doubles the mortgage forbearance window available by law for LA fire survivors, from 12 months to 24 months, and requires servicers to offer borrowers the option to defer repayment of missed payments until the end of the loan, unless prohibited by investor contract terms or servicing guidelines.

California continues to stand alongside survivors

These unprecedented new laws build on relief California has already delivered to help Los Angeles fire survivors stay in their homes and rebuild.

Crushing red tape with unprecedented action: Since the 2025 Los Angeles fires, California has worked to cut red tape, speed rebuilding, and support survivors through every stage of recovery.

The Governor has issued 28 executive orders to expedite recovery, including streamlining or suspending barriers under the California Environmental Quality Act and the Coastal Act, accelerating debris removal and rebuilding, expanding temporary housing options, extending regulatory relief, protecting tenants, and strengthening safeguards against price gouging and predatory real estate speculation.

While the state does not issue local building permits, the Governor’s actions are directly enabling historic local results, including 8,450 permits issued by local building departments as of this week.

Investing directly in faster permitting: The state has moved aggressively to empower local governments by providing millions of dollars in direct grants to expand permitting staffing, modernize systems, and accelerate plan review and permitting.

The state helped deploy Archistar, a cutting-edge AI-driven plan-check tool that allows homeowners to identify design and code issues before submitting applications — reducing costs, eliminating weeks or months of back-and-forth, and dramatically speeding approvals.

Relief for homeowners: Last year, Governor Newsom signed AB 238 to provide eligible homeowners with up to one year of mortgage forbearance, launched a state mortgage relief fund covering up to $100,000 per homeowner, and worked directly with lenders to extend forbearance windows.

The state also funded pre-approved, low-cost home designs tailored to the architectural character of affected communities — allowing permits to be issued in a fraction of the time.

As of March 2026, nearly 42,000 insurance claims have been filed, with more than 40,000 at least partially paid, totaling $23.7 billion, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Protecting communities from exploitation: Governor Newsom has enforced and strengthened price-gouging protections, cracked down on illegal and predatory land speculation, and expanded consumer protections to prevent families from being exploited.

Debris removal and community recovery: In partnership with the federal government, California helped deliver the fastest debris removal in state history, clearing the way for rebuilding at record speed. This work began under the Biden Administration. The state has provided assistance to schools, childcare providers, small businesses, and workers impacted by the fires.

LOS ANGELES (AP):- A news helicopter used by NBC and Telemundo crashed in a Los Angeles neighborhood and burst into flames, killing three people while reporters were covering the collision of an SUV and a city bus, officials and the news outlet said.

NBC4 Los Angeles reported that two people aboard the helicopter — Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw — were killed Tuesday when the chopper went down. Another person was killed on the ground, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The helicopter crash happened as news crews were reporting on a collision from earlier in the day when an SUV slammed into the middle of a city bus, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Photos and videos online showed half the SUV lodged in the side of the bus.

There were no immediate details on what may have caused the helicopter to crash. But an alarm can be heard sounding inside the helicopter’s cockpit as it loses altitude in the final video the crew broadcast live before the crash. Just after the beeping noise starts, a woman’s voice says “uh oh.” The helicopter moves quickly away from the bus crash site and goes down. The woman says “You can’t pull up?” before the video stops as the chopper nears the ground.

The helicopter went down near a large storage facility in the neighborhood of Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, officials said. At least four cars and two storage containers on the ground burned after the helicopter caught fire, which was quickly put out, according to officials. NBC4 reporter Robert Kovacik was at the bus scene and saw black smoke and rushed to the helicopter crash site. Dozens of police cars surrounded the scene as ambulances entered.

Two people were brought to a hospital, said Rico A. Gross, a fire department battalion chief. Their conditions were not immediately released.

The station’s website identified the dead aboard the helicopter as Moreno, a familiar voice for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 during the station’s aerial coverage, and Marciniw. Both were employees of Angel City Air, which operated the chopper.

Moreno, born in Orange County, joined the Angel City Air helicopter team in 2010, the same year she earned a broadcast journalism and political science degree from Chapman University. She reported for several Southern California news outlets and began flying with Marciniw in 2023, the NBC4 website said.

Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.

“I think a lot of us are still trying to process what happened, this terrible loss,” NBC4 reporter Lauren Coronado said during a newscast early Wednesday. She was standing near the crash site during the newscast and said a hazmat crew was cleaning up jet fuel.

In a tribute to Moreno and Marciniw, the newscast referred to them as “the team in the sky,” saying Moreno would often post videos from her job and was in awe of the view she had. News anchor Lynette Romero held a colleague’s hand and wiped away tears after hearing Moreno’s voice when one of her posts was played.

In an interview with the station, Esteban Jimenez, a pilot, said he had known Marciniw since the 1990s. He said Marciniw had been his instructor.

“I just talked to him on Sunday. We were talking about the aviation business and retiring,” he said.

Expert talks about what may have caused the crash

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the alarm sounding in the helicopter’s final video sounds like the low rotor RPM warning horn that signals the main rotor is no longer spinning enough to keep the helicopter in the air.“It just has all the earmarks of a potential loss of engine power and a dangerous decrease in the main rotor speed,” said Guzzetti who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and FAA.

Guzzetti said the pilot appeared to be trying to do an emergency maneuver called an autorotation to use the wind to force the rotor to spin again much like a breeze turns a windmill. Doing that can create a bit of lift that could help cushion the impact, but Guzzetti said there would have been little opportunity to do that because the helicopter had been hovering at a low altitude beforehand.

Condolences for the victims and their families

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles said in a statement they “are deeply saddened” and extended “heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”“Losing five Angelenos is very painful,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “And I know this community of Chatsworth, hit hard, will be grieving for some time.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency crews responding to both crashes and said in a post on X that “our hearts are with the victims and families.”

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said personnel will arrive Wednesday to begin an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash.

Other crashes involving news helicopters

The station said this is the second aviation tragedy in its history. In 1977, a KNBC news helicopter crashed when it ran out of fuel while returning to the station after covering a wildfire in Santa Barbara, killing the pilot and camera operator. The pilot, former U.S. Air Force officer Francis Gary Powers, had been in the news years earlier when he was shot down and captured while flying a U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union for the CIA, an ordeal portrayed in the movie “Bridge of Spies.”

There have been at least eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the U.S. since 2000, killing 16 people, according to a review of federal accident records and news accounts. They include a 2023 crash in a New Jersey forest that killed the pilot and a photographer aboard a helicopter used by Philadelphia station WPVI and a 2022 crash beside a Charlotte, North Carolina, interstate that killed a pilot and meteorologist during a training flight for WBTV.