California Today: California Mountain Towns Are Too Risky for Insurers, but Residents Want to Stay

Today's top stories from California.

September 18, 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 Kyle Grillot for The New York Times California Mountain Towns Are Too Risky for Insurers, but Residents Want to Stay In the San Bernardino Mountains, another wildfire has forced residents to flee, the latest reminder that they must accept the risks of climate change if they want to remain. Read more More California News California Passes Election 'Deepfake' Laws, Forcing Social Media Companies to Take Action The state joins dozens of others in regulating the A.I. fakery in ways that could impact this year's presidential race. In Senate, Democrats Hope 2024 Will Be a Record Year for Black Women With Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket and Senate seats open, Democrats could for the first time send two Black women to the chamber. The Mortal American Dream of Alberto Castañeda Aco He spent years stitching together shirts, trousers and relationships with the children he had once left behind. It all unraveled on a busy street in Los Angeles. Nevada's Struggling Economy Is a Wild Card in the Presidential Race The state is among a handful that will decide the presidential contest, and workers have felt increased prices at the grocery store and gas station. Missing Yosemite National Park Backpacker Is Found Dead Kirk S. Thomas Olsen, 61, was found dead after park rangers learned that he was overdue to return from backpacking in the Ostrander Lake area of the park. Nicolas Cage Buys $10.5 Million Malibu Beach House The "Leaving Las Vegas" actor bought an ocean-facing home with a secluded beach. This Airbnb Offers Unbeatable Views of Kamala Harris's Past A Silicon Valley software engineer bought a modest one-bedroom condo in San Francisco once owned by the vice president. He rents it out. Dr. George Berci, Whose Innovations Changed Surgery, Dies at 103 He conceived many of the techniques and tools that have revolutionized minimally invasive operations and procedures. 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 Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cauliflower Shawarma With Spicy Tahini By Melissa Clark 45 minutes Makes 2 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