California Today: Someone Is Poisoning Trees Near Lake Tahoe

August 6, 2026, 6:32 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

Petra Molina

Someone Is Poisoning Trees Near Lake Tahoe

Eleven trees have been killed over the past several years by a strong-smelling, unidentified substance. Another 16 were just attacked this year.

Google Shakes Up A.I. Leadership

Minutes after four top researchers said they were leaving, Google said that Demis Hassabis, the Nobel-winning scientist who led the company’s A.I. lab, was stepping into a new job.

Four Top Google A.I. Researchers Form New Start-Up

Jeff Dean, who for years was one of Google’s most important executives, is leading the new artificial intelligence company with the backing of Google.

Why So Many C.E.O.s Are Getting a Chief of Staff

The position as a trusted sounding board is in high demand as business gets more complex — and everyone wants to get in on the latest bureaucratic fad.

Moderate Democrats Prepare for ‘War’ Against an Ascendant Left

One moderate group says the progressive wins are “deeply troubling” and is planning a $15 million effort against democratic socialism.

‘The Last Picture Shows’ Review: Celebrating Old-School Movie Houses

The stand-alone cinema is facing extinction. A new documentary chronicles its fight for survival in the United States.

John Carpenter Found a New Way to Give You Nightmares

The director of slasher films that defined horror from the 1970s through the ’90s realizes his latest work, “Cathedral,” as both a graphic novel and a hard-rock album.

These 4 Salads Capture the Essence of California Cuisine Right Now

Pluots topped with pistachio suya, heirloom tomatoes dressed with a fish sauce vinaigrette: The state’s chefs are taking a freer yet more curated approach to global flavors.