California Today: The Zuckerbergs Founded Two Bay Area Schools. Now They’re Closing.

April 25, 2025, 9:32 a.m. Eastern time

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

Today’s Top Story

Mike Chen for The New York Times

The Zuckerbergs Founded Two Bay Area Schools. Now They’re Closing.

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, opened the schools to help communities of color. Some families wonder if the shutting of the schools is related to his D.E.I. retrenchment.

Bringing a California Community to Life Through Airbrushing and Burlap

For some, works from the rising artist Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa are reminiscent of those by renowned predecessors like Francisco Goya.

Getaways to Nurture Your Artistic Side, Even if You’re Not an Artist

Yaddo may not be in the cards, but from a chateau near Paris to a California desert cabin, here are programs that foster writing, music and artistic talent and can be booked for days or weeks.

Patrick Adiarte, Actor Seen in Musicals and on ‘MAS*H,’ Dies at 82

As a young immigrant from the Philippines, he had roles on Broadway in “The King and I” and “Flower Drum Song.” He was later a familiar face on TV.

Protein Is in Everything These Days. Even Popcorn.

Social media has fueled a “proteinification” of snacks, and Khloé Kardashian is hopping on board with a line of enhanced popcorn.

California Judge Is Convicted of Fatally Shooting His Wife

Judge Jeffrey Ferguson of Orange County Superior Court faces 40 years to life for murdering his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, in August 2023, prosecutors said.

In L.A., a Young Family Wanted a House to Grow Into. Would $800,000 Be Enough?

Seeking more space for their growing children (and maybe a pool), a couple combed the San Fernando Valley for a single-family home they could afford. Here’s what they found.

3 Books About Tech, Politics and Big Business

Experts tell the stories of entrepreneurs and executives who have inched closer and closer to their governments.

In California Jails, a Rash of Homicide and Negligence

The jails of Riverside County are plagued with unusually high murder rates and recurring security failures by an inexperienced staff.

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.

Chicken Teriyaki

Recipe from Sujan Shrestha

Adapted by John T. Edge

4,862

30 minutes, plus marinating

Makes 8 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

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 Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: