California Today: The Mortal American Dream of Alberto Castañeda Aco

Today's top stories from California.

September 16, 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 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. Read more More California News Missing Yosemite National Park Backpacker 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. 'Nothing Left': As California Fires Burn, Some Residents Begin to Mourn Lost Homes Firefighters are making progress against the Bridge, Line and Airport fires to prevent more destruction, but for some, the damage is done. California Drug Clinic Operator Convicted in $3 Million Kickback Scheme Casey Mahoney, 48, of Los Angeles, illegally paid "body brokers" to lure clients, a federal jury found. Trump Threatens to Cut Wildfire Aid if California Doesn't Deliver More Water Gov. Gavin Newsom said all Americans should be alarmed that the former president wants to "block emergency disaster funds to settle political vendettas." 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. How to Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke Monitor air quality, prepare to stay inside and pay close attention to people with chronic conditions. 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. Parmesan-Crusted Chicken  By Lidey Heuck 45 minutes 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