California Today: Newsom Clears Homeless Camps in L.A. County, Where He Wants More ‘Urgency’

Today's top stories from California.

August 9, 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 Mark Abramson for The New York Times Newsom Clears Homeless Camps in L.A. County, Where He Wants More 'Urgency' Gov. Gavin Newsom, frustrated by county leaders who spurned his executive order cracking down on encampments, visited their turf to clear homeless sites. Read more More California News That Time Trump Nearly Died in a Helicopter Crash? Didn't Happen. In a news conference, the former president recounted a brush with death alongside Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor. A few aspects of the story don't hold up to scrutiny. What to Know About the Park Fire, the 4th Largest in California History The rapidly spreading fire has consumed over 427,000 acres since it started burning in late July. Tourists Accused of Defacing Joshua Tree National Park With Paintballs Three tourists from Germany shot paintballs at signs, bathrooms and dumpsters, officials for the park said, violating rules against defacing federal property. Los Angeles Actor Is Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges, Police Say Gabriel Olds, who played the Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson in the 2021 movie "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," has been accused of sexually assaulting three women. Is a Disney Theme Park Vacation Still Worth the Price? As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves if they should rethink their vacations. Man Is Found Guilty in Killing of Rapper PnB Rock Prosecutors said that the man, Freddie Lee Trone, sent his teenage son into a restaurant armed with a handgun to rob the rapper. Billy Bean Dies at 60; Led Baseball on Diversity After Coming Out as Gay As an outfielder, he hid his sexual identity from his teammates for nearly a decade before retiring and becoming a force for inclusion in the organization. Kennedy's Wife and Birds Live in California. He Says It's Not Home. The presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified in Albany in an attempt to stay on New York's ballot. If he is kicked off, other states could follow. Today's Recipe Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Spice Cake With Tamarind Recipe from Isaiah Screetch Adapted by Korsha Wilson 1 hour 10 minutes, plus cooling and 2 hours' chilling Makes 1 (8-inch) cake (8 to 10 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