California Today: Even Without Hurricanes, U.S. Disaster Costs Surpassed $100 Billion Last Year

January 8, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

Philip Cheung for The New York Times

Even Without Hurricanes, U.S. Disaster Costs Surpassed $100 Billion Last Year

A record-setting 21 thunderstorm events each caused at least $1 billion in damages, a sign that more people and property are in harm’s way.

Spencer Pratt, Reality TV Star, Announces Run for Mayor as L.A. Remembers Fires

The star of “The Hills,” whose house burned in the Palisades fire, has used his social media profile to hammer Mayor Karen Bass and other California Democrats over the past year.

Nick Reiner’s Lawyer Removes Himself From Murder Case

Mr. Reiner, who is charged with killing his parents, will now be represented by a public defender. His arraignment has been rescheduled for next month.

University of California Reports Record Enrollment Despite Trump Pressure

Enrollment increased to more than 301,000 as the system prepared for a budget debate in Sacramento.

As Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point Pushes Into High Schools, Dissension Follows

Since Mr. Kirk’s death, chapters of his organization’s affiliate for teenagers have more than doubled in number, aided by politicians who have said they won’t tolerate opposition.

One Year After the L.A. Fires: Hope, Blame and Debt

After wildfires destroyed much of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, Southern California is trying to heal, but also struggling with how to move forward.

Silicon Valley Plots Against Ro Khanna After His Support for a Wealth Tax

It’s hard right now to be a progressive Democrat in the heart of America’s tech industry.

Anthropic Said to Be in Talks to Raise Funding at a $350 Billion Valuation

The artificial intelligence start-up, which competes with OpenAI, is aiming to raise around $10 billion amid talk of a potential initial public offering.