Category: County Watch
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Top 5 Scandals and News Stories That Rocked California in 2025
In 2025, California faced significant challenges including a major corruption scandal involving former officials, unprecedented wildfires, devastating floods, the controversial redistricting initiative, and rampant fraud in county fairs. These incidents highlighted systemic failures in governance and public trust, prompting concerns about the state’s leadership and its capability to address these crises effectively.
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California Didn’t Become Unaffordable by Accident
California’s affordability crisis didn’t happen overnight—and it didn’t happen by accident. It is the cumulative result of decades of well-intentioned policies layered without regard for real-world impact, quietly squeezing out working families, young parents, and retirees. California doesn’t push people out loudly. It exhausts them.
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California Judge Strikes Down Statewide ‘Parental Exclusion’ Policies in Landmark Ruling
U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez ruled California’s “parental exclusion” policies unconstitutional, blocking state mandates that required schools to conceal children’s gender identity changes from parents. The decision reinforces parental authority in education, impacting 300,000 teachers and over six million students while emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in children’s well-being.
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Steve Hilton Puts Spotlight on Child Sex Trafficking as 2026 Governor’s Race Heats Up
In California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, Republican candidate Steve Hilton highlights child sex trafficking, focusing on Los Angeles’ Figueroa Street. He critiques Democratic leadership for lax policies, particularly Senate Bill 357, and proposes aggressive reforms. Hilton’s campaign aims to raise awareness and challenge current leaders on child protection effectiveness, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
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When Courts Release the Manual but Not the Map
The article discusses the implications of California Rule 10.500 for public access to court records, particularly in the case of People v. Smiel. It highlights how the Los Angeles Superior Court’s transparency efforts, while disclosing training materials, still restrict structural access. This raises questions about the necessary level of transparency in digital justice systems.
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CARE Court’s Broken Promise: Why California Families Feel Let Down by Newsom’s Mental Health Reform
California’s CARE Court, launched in 2022 to aid those with severe mental illnesses, has become a source of frustration for families. With participation being voluntary, many individuals disengage from treatment, leading to homelessness and incarceration. Despite some successes, it fails to reach the most critical cases, prompting calls for stronger intervention.
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When Allegations Outlive the Case
The article explores the complexities of unresolved criminal allegations within California’s court system, particularly in the context of the ongoing case against Giselle Smiel, who faces felony charges. It highlights the challenges of dismissals and protective orders that, while indicating institutional concern, lack definitive adjudicated findings, raising questions about fairness and transparency in legal processes.
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Bizarre Plane Theft Attempt Ends With Cessna Crashing Into Hangar at Van Nuys Airport
A bizarre early-morning security breach at Van Nuys Airport ended with a stolen training plane slamming into a hangar wall — without ever taking off. While national headlines used dramatic language, local authorities say the incident was a ground-level theft attempt that raises new questions about security at one of the nation’s busiest general aviation…
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LA District Attorney Records Show Investigators Authorized to Wear “POLICE” Uniforms — With No Training or Oversight on Public Confusion
Public records show Los Angeles County District Attorney investigators are authorized to wear uniforms labeled “POLICE,” even as the agency confirms it has no written training, audits, or oversight addressing whether such attire could mislead the public. The disclosures raise new questions about transparency, authority, and due process in sensitive child-related investigations.
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FBI Foils Alleged New Year’s Eve Bomb Plot in Southern California, Exposing Far-Left Extremism Threat
Federal authorities say a coordinated New Year’s Eve bombing plot targeting Southern California was stopped just weeks before it could be carried out. Four Los Angeles–area suspects with alleged far-left extremist ties were arrested while assembling explosive devices in the desert, according to the FBI and Justice Department. Officials say the case highlights an often-overlooked…
California Bay News 