California Today: The Deadliest Year Inside One of America’s Deadliest Jail Systems

Today's top stories from California.

November 1, 2024, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California and the region, selected for you by Times editors. Today's Top Story Kristian Thacker for The New York Times The Deadliest Year Inside One of America's Deadliest Jail Systems Riverside County, Calif., reported its highest detainee death count in decades, including multiple suicides that reveal deep institutional problems. Read more More California News Inside a Deadly Southern California Jail System: 5 Takeaways Troubling patterns across the Riverside County jail system put detainees at risk. Breeders' Cup Arrives in California, Where Horse Racing Is Struggling The state looms large in the sport's history, and its tracks are stunning. But horse racing in California is going broke. Oakland Just Lost Its Last Major Sports Team. Its Mayor Could Be the Next to Go. Frustrated voters will decide on Tuesday whether to oust Sheng Thao, the mayor of Oakland, Calif., because of high crime and other problems. The World Series Was Big in Japan. The TV Ratings Prove It. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers' superstar, drove massive interest for the World Series in Japan, where more than 15 million people watched each of the first two games. A Big New Celebrity Endorser for Kamala Harris: LeBron James Mr. James, the N.B.A.'s all-time leading scorer, campaigned for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in previous election cycles. He has made no secret of his low opinion of Donald J. Trump. Mayor Breed's Pitch to Voters: I've Lived San Francisco's Struggles London Breed is pointing to her difficult childhood as a reason she should win another term. Her opponents say her track record tells a different story. In Orange County, a Key House Race Could Come Down to Little Saigon Voters Representative Michelle Steel, a Republican incumbent, and Derek Tran, her Democratic challenger, are trying to identify with a crucial voting bloc of Vietnamese Americans. How a Tiny Vineyard Along an Interstate May Reshape the Wine Industry With eight rows of vines in San Francisco and a vision of inclusivity, Christopher Renfro and Project Two Eighty are training the next generation of winemakers. Local Conditions Look up the heat index in your area using The Times's heat tracker. See active fires using The Times's wildfire tracker. Today's Recipe Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Pasta With Kale Pesto and Roasted Butternut Squash By Melissa Clark 45 minutes Makes 2 to 3 servings Play a Game The Mini Crossword Solve this bite-sized puzzle in just a few minutes. Spelling Bee How many words can you make with 7 letters? Wordle Guess the 5-letter word with 6 chances. See all our games Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it in your inbox Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for California Today from The New York Times. To stop receiving California Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018