California Today: Biden’s Health Secretary Joins the Governor’s Race in California

April 2, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time

Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California.

Today’s Top Story

Pete Marovich for The New York Times

Biden’s Health Secretary Joins the Governor’s Race in California

Xavier Becerra, the former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, may face Kamala Harris in a potential Democratic showdown in their home state.

Inside Meghan’s Real Kitchen, Away From the Cameras

Cooking with the Duchess of Sussex as she navigates her rebrand from recovering royal to domestic goddess.

Kathan Brown, Acclaimed Fine Art Printmaker, Dies at 89

She helped revive the centuries-old tradition of intaglio printing in the U.S., producing fine-art etchings with artists like Chuck Close and Sol LeWitt.

$2,500 Rentals in Los Angeles

Condos in Sherman Oaks, Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles

White House Takes Highly Unusual Step of Directly Firing Line Prosecutors

Two prosecutors were dismissed out of the blue, notified by a terse one-sentence email stating no reason for the move other than that it was on behalf of the president himself.

What’s So Hard About Building Trains?

In Florida, Brightline has proved that it can operate reliable, well-designed passenger trains that people want to ride. Can the public sector do the same?

The Slow Journey to High-Speed Rail in America

True high-speed rail has not yet made it to the U.S., but that will change soon. Here are the projects currently being developed.

It’s Spring, but the Sierra Are Getting Slammed by Another Round of Snow

The mountain range straddling California and Nevada is the target of a storm that may offer a late-season boost to the West Coast’s water supply.

Jim Jarmusch, New York Fixture, Showed His Art in Los Angeles. His Fans Showed Up.

Angelenos flocked to meet the artist and filmmaker, who came to the West Coast for the opening of his solo exhibition “Some More Collages.”

Local Conditions

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Today's Recipe

Kerri Brewer for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.

Garlicky Alfredo Beans

By Carolina Gelen

1,027

20 minutes

Makes 4 servings

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