California Today: California Declares an Emergency Over Bird Flu in Cattle

Today's top stories from California.

December 19, 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 David Swanson/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images California Declares an Emergency Over Bird Flu in Cattle Officials have discovered the virus in 645 dairy herds, more than in any other state so far. Read more More California News F.B.I. Searches Home of L.A. Deputy Mayor Suspected of Bomb Threat Against City Hall The official, Brian Williams, was appointed by the mayor last year to oversee public safety. He was immediately placed on administrative leave, the mayor's office said. As China Seeks Influence, It Has a Cuddly Way Into City Hall: Pandas Records and interviews show that Beijing has used pandas as leverage to shape policy on Taiwan and to cultivate relationships with local U.S. politicians. Maxed Out on L.A., He Chased His Hollywood Dream to Albuquerque Would life in the Southwest be easier for someone doing gig work in the television and film industry? Traveling for Christmas? Here's Where Weather May Snarl Your Plans. Here's a day-by-day look at the snow, cold and rain that may make driving or flying home for the holidays more difficult. An Election Draw Decided by a Straw In an era of invective and distrust, two California candidates turned a tie over to chance. Back-to-Back-to-Back Atmospheric Rivers Are Expected to Soak the West Coast A run of storms is moving through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California over the next week. E.P.A. Allows California to Ban Sales of New Gas-Powered Cars by 2035 The Trump administration is expected to revoke the program, setting up a legal clash between the state and federal government. Tech Entrepreneur Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Death of Cash App Founder Nima Momeni, 40, was convicted by a San Francisco jury in the fatal stabbing of Bob Lee, a well-known tech executive. 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 Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. White Chicken Chili  By Lidey Heuck 50 minutes Makes 4 to 6 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