California Today: What a Year of Free Money Meant: Softer Diapers, Clean Laundry, a Visit to Six Flags

October 12, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

What a Year of Free Money Meant: Softer Diapers, Clean Laundry, a Visit to Six Flags

For more than a year, The New York Times followed recipients of universal basic income programs, which Elon Musk and other tech leaders have promoted as a solution to A.I.-fueled job losses.

Waves From Powerful Storm Pound Beach Homes in Southern California

Waves from Post-Tropical Storm Rachel crashed into beachfront homes in Long Beach, Calif. over the weekend, prompting evacuations.

In Unlikely Turn, Law and Order Heats Up L.A. Mayor’s Race

Two Democratic candidates choose opposite tacks on public safety and policing, seeking to corral undecided voters.

Off-Duty ICE Agent Is Shot and Arrested After Sleeping on Lawn in California

A woman found the agent asleep on her lawn early Friday, and her 72-year-old father shot the agent after he assaulted her, the police said.

3 Men Are Found Guilty in Murders of Tourists on Surfing Trip to Mexico

The 2024 killings of two Australian brothers and their American friend drew international attention.

2 Storms Bring Flood Risks to Mexico and the Southwest

Hurricane Simon was hugging the west coast of Mexico on Sunday, while the remnants of Post-Tropical Storm Rachel churned inland, bringing heavy rain and high winds.

San Francisco Isn’t Giving Up on Turning More of Its Offices Into Homes

The city has not completed a single office-to-housing conversion, despite hopes to meet housing demand and inject life into empty downtowns.

5 Horror Movie Locations to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Here’s one fan’s guide to visiting some of the genre’s fabled filming locations, from “The Shining” to “Friday the 13th.”

Dodgers’ Offense Searching After Quiet Game 1 Against Misioroski, Brewers’ Pen

If the Los Angeles Dodgers’ strategy was to knock Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misioroski out of the game as soon as possible, they succeeded.

Today’s Extreme Weather

CITY

RISK TYPES

Los Angeles

Excessive rain

San Diego

Excessive rain

Risk

Some

High

View detailed forecast

Get separate alerts for your own places

Today's Recipe

Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

Cauliflower Cheese Pasta

By Hetty Lui McKinnon

35 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Take a break, play a game

Wordle →

Connections →

Strands →

Spelling Bee →

Crossword →

Mini →

Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose.

Get it in your inbox.

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

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.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: