Category: County Watch
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Los Angeles Mayor’s Race 2026: Crowded Field Emerges as Bass Seeks Second Term
Los Angeles is gearing up for a competitive mayoral race in 2026, with incumbent Karen Bass facing numerous challengers amid rising voter dissatisfaction over issues like homelessness and public safety. A diverse field of candidates, including Austin Beutner and celebrity Spencer Pratt, highlights the election’s volatility and critical focus on city governance.
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Grammy-Nominated Artist Tish Hyman Enters 2026 Los Angeles Mayoral Race as Outsider Challenger
Tish Hyman, a Grammy-nominated artist, officially announced her candidacy for Los Angeles mayor on January 15, 2026, using the slogan “UNITE IN TRUTH.” Known for her activism and critique of current leadership, she aims to address public safety and homelessness while challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a crowded race.
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Reality TV Star Spencer Pratt Enters Los Angeles Mayor’s Race as Populist Outsider
Reality TV star Spencer Pratt has entered the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race, positioning himself as a populist outsider fueled by wildfire anger, government failures, and frustration with City Hall’s response to disaster recovery.
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California’s Fraud Problem Is Real — But Politics Is Obscuring the Truth
California has a real fraud problem, but partisan posturing from Washington and Sacramento is obscuring the facts. With billions in federal funds frozen and few public details released, taxpayers deserve transparency—not political theater.
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Law and Order vs. One-Party Rule: Chad Bianco’s Hardline Pitch to California Voters
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is running for California governor on a blunt law-and-order platform, framing the 2026 race as a referendum on Democratic rule in Sacramento and pledging to restore public safety, cut government waste, and rein in what he calls failed progressive policies.
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California DMV Fixes Old Real ID Glitch — Here’s What It Really Means
California’s DMV revealed that approximately 325,000 Real ID holders must update their cards due to an outdated software error from 2006. This issue affects non-U.S. citizens’ ID expiration dates, not their eligibility. The DMV will expedite replacements at no charge, emphasizing that the state remains compliant with federal Real ID requirements.
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San Francisco’s Reparations Fund: An Empty Account, a Loaded Debate, and a City Near a $1 Billion Deficit
San Francisco’s Mayor Daniel Lurie approved an ordinance establishing a Reparations Fund amid a budget deficit. This fund, intended for private donations, does not authorize reparations payments. The discussion is influenced by the controversial $5 million proposal from the 2023 reparations report, raising legal and fiscal concerns. Symbolically, it keeps the reparations idea alive.
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Plants, Power, and Accountability: What the Palisades Fire Really Exposed
The catastrophic Palisades Fire was not just the result of wind, drought, or climate change. Newly surfaced documents and litigation records raise troubling questions about California’s wildfire policies, empty reservoirs, and environmental rules that may have delayed aggressive suppression—turning a small, contained blaze into one of the most destructive urban fires in state history.
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Tiny Vernon Becomes an AI Powerhouse—And Shows What California Gets Right When It Gets Out of the Way
A tiny industrial city with just 200 residents has quietly become Southern California’s most important AI data-center hub. Vernon’s cheap power, minimal red tape, and lack of political resistance reveal what happens when California lets infrastructure—not ideology—lead economic growth.
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California Family Courts Under Scrutiny: Minors’ Counsel, Taxpayer Costs, and a System Resisting Oversight
An investigative report by The Davis Vanguard highlights issues in California family courts regarding the appointment of minors’ counsel and parenting coordinators, raising concerns about costs, conflicts of interest, and oversight. Critics argue for reform to enhance transparency and accountability, emphasizing that unchecked systems undermine the original intent to protect children’s best interests.
California Bay News 