California Today: It’s Silicon Valley vs. Silicon Valley as Political Fights Escalate

Today's top stories from California.

July 30, 2024, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time Today's Top Story Anastasiia Sapon for The New York Times; Kenny Holston/The New York Times; Clara Mokri for The New York Times; Kevin Mohatt/Reuters It's Silicon Valley vs. Silicon Valley as Political Fights Escalate Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman and other tech billionaires, many of whom are part of the "PayPal Mafia," are openly brawling with one another over politics as tensions rise. Read more More California News How Did the Park Fire Get So Big, So Fast? The blaze has been fed largely by exceptionally dry vegetation following more than a month of extreme heat in California. Scenes From the California Park Fire The fire, which has been burning since last Wednesday, is already one of the largest in the state's history. Displaced by Park Fire, Some Wonder if They'll Have a Home to Return to Many who fled the fire in California have been anxiously waiting to hear whether their houses are still standing. Others are grappling with news of homes and barns leveled by flames. $4.2 Million Homes in California A three-bedroom home in Carmel, a 1915 house in Altadena and a renovated cottage in Newport Beach. The Lesser-Known Side of Harris's Identity: Asian American Some Asian American leaders are rooting for Kamala Harris to become the first Asian American president. But she is not widely known as Asian American, reflecting the complexity of the identity. Francine Pascal, Creator of 'Sweet Valley High' Book Series, Dies at 92 The series and its many spinoffs have sold more than 200 million copies and revolutionized the world of young adult publishing. Map: 4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern California View the location of the quake's epicenter and shake area. Today's Recipe Bryan Gardner for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Greg Lofts. Eggplant Bolognese  By Kay Chun 1 1/4 hours Makes 4 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