California
'Tis the Season for Science at California Academy of Sciences
Young reindeer having a snack at the California Academy of Sciences in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park. (California Academy of Sciences via Bay City News)
SAN FRANCISCO – Two young reindeer lounging in their pen the Saturday before Thanksgiving — the day of their big holiday season premiere at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco — were taking a break after eating lunch.
They were lying around, but children outside the pen were fascinated, pointing, calling out to the deer and doubtlessly wondering why they weren’t training. After all, the reindeer’s biggest day of the year was only about a month away.
The academy employee supervising the scene said they were saving their energy, being from Northern Europe, which is very cold.
Uh-huh. That’s why they save their energy.
Everyone knows why a reindeer needs a lot of extra juice. They’re really saving it for the long trip on Dec. 24.
The academy just opened its annual “‘Tis the Season for Science” program. Besides the young reindeer jolly old Saint Nick lent the academy, there’s festive decor, public programs about visiting animals, music, dance and magic performances, cookie decorating and seasonal photo ops.
There’s also snow periodically falling inside the big presentation space in the center of the museum. The snowflakes were a big hit Saturday, if running, screaming, dancing children trying to catch snow on their tongues were a good indicator.
There are also lots of spots for photo ops and more practical winter wonderland information, like how animals adapt to climate change.
Of course, the best thing about going to the Academy of Sciences during the holidays is having an excuse to do something really cool and tell oneself it’s educational for the kids. It is, but it’s also a lot of fun.
The four-legged holiday visitors are just outside the academy’s eastern end. Baby camels are scheduled to make an appearance Dec. 6, followed by baby yaks on Dec. 20.
They all have a place in holiday lore, but the academy makes sure visitors get some scientific facts as well.
Signs outside the pen explain these two reindeer are only seven months old and recently weaned from mom. They’re tiny but tough, one sign says, and are built for the cold. From birth, reindeer, camels and yaks are adapted to withstand the elements.
Reindeer quickly develop insulation for arctic (North Pole?) life, camels grow thick fur to protect them from chilly desert nights, and yak calves’ sport shaggy coats for high Himalayan mountains.
“As climate change alters and reduces habitats, these species — and many others — face new challenges. Humans can help these resilient young animals thrive by protecting and regenerating ecosystems,” a sign said.
Then there’s of course, the year-round penguin exhibit, which is a favorite, judging by the crowds gathered around the viewing window. Unlike the other animals brought in to celebrate the holidays, penguins are typically from the planet’s (very) deep south, where it’s very cold.
“Every year the academy catches the holiday bug with ‘Tis the Season for Science,’ more than a month of wintry festivities with a special academy science twist,” academy executive director Scott Sampson said in an email. “This year we are stepping up the action with visits by pairs of live baby reindeer, camels, and yaks for two weeks each to explore winter survival adaptations and other unique features of these adorable creatures.
“The museum also is buzzing with other fun and educational activities, including falling snow inside our piazza; seasonal science experiments (think dry ice); and music, dance, and magic performances from over a dozen diverse troupes,” Sampson said.
And, of course, there’s the old favorites, including the world-class Steinhart Aquarium starring Claude the albino alligator, who was very active this day.
The lush, four-story Osher Rainforest dome was full of more than 1,600 butterflies, birds, fish, plants (and tropical humidity – wear layers) and the Morrison Planetarium was mind-boggling, as usual. (Tom Hanks narrating a trip through the universe in “Passport to the Universe” is worth waiting in line for 20-30 minutes).
The California Academy of Sciences is at 55 Music Concourse Drive in San Francisco.
Public hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Thursday NightLife is from 6 to 10 p.m. The museum is closed Dec. 4 for a private event.
For more information, go to www.calacademy.org.
California
Republican governor candidate Chad Bianco says he’s the ‘antithesis to California state government’
We are counting down to the California governor’s race. Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, is one of the two biggest names running on the Republican ticket.
In a one-on-one interview with Eyewitness News political reporter Josh Haskell, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said, “I am the antithesis to California state government because I am going to take a nuclear bomb into that building and absolutely destroy everything that they do to us behind closed doors.”
Although he’s been elected by the voters twice, Bianco says he’s not a politician — which is why he believes his campaign for California governor is resonating, as reflected in the polls.
“President Trump, in one year, from 2025 when he took over, until now, did absolutely nothing to harm California. What’s harming California is 30 years of Democrat one-party rule that have created an environment here that no one can live in anymore. They’ve only been successful here in California because we vote D no matter what. You vote D or die. I mean, that’s it. Charles Manson would be elected in California if he was the only Democrat on the ballot,” Bianco said.
Bianco isn’t the only conservative Republican running for governor, and according to polling, he’s neck-and-neck with former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
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Leading in some polls in the wide-open California Governor’s race as the June primary creeps closer is Republican and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
“Steve has no chance of winning in November. The Democrats know that I’m going to win in November, and so they have to do everything they can to keep me out of that,” Bianco said.
When asked about the affordability crisis in the state, Bianco said, “Almost the entire issue of affordability in California is because of regulation, excessive regulation imposed by government. Every single regulation can be signed away with the governor’s signature.”
“It is a drug and alcohol addiction problem that, and a mental health problem,” he said about the homelessness crisis. “Every single bit of money that is going to these nonprofits that say ‘homeless,’ zero money. You’re getting absolutely nothing. I can’t tell you that we would end what we see in the homeless situation within a year, but I guarantee you we would never see it again after two years.”
When challenged on that prediction, pointing to how the state doesn’t have the facilities to treat the number of people living on our streets, Bianco responded, “We have been conditioned to believe that buildings take five years to build. It takes 90 days or less to build a house, but in California, it takes three to five years because the government won’t allow it. The regulations that are destroying this state are going to be removed with me as the governor.”
Bianco also said California jails shouldn’t have to play the role of treatment facilities.
Although he says he supports the Trump administration and wants the president’s endorsement, Bianco has been traveling the state — meeting not just with Republicans, but Democrats and independents as well. He says all of our state government officials have failed.
The primary election is June 2.
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A new poll shows there’s still no clear front-runner in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
California
PlayOn Sports fined $1.1 million by California watchdog over student data violations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX26) — California’s privacy watchdog has ordered PlayOn Sports to pay a $1.10 million fine and change how it handles consumer data after finding the company’s practices violated state law in ways that affected students and schools in the state.
The California Privacy Protection Agency Board issued the decision following a settlement reached by CalPrivacy’s Enforcement Division.
The decision is the first by the board to address privacy violations involving students and California schools.
Schools across the country use PlayOn Sports’ GoFan platform to sell digital tickets to high school sporting events, theater performances, and homecoming and prom dances, with attendees presenting tickets at the door on their mobile phones.
Schools also use PlayOn Sports’ platforms for other sports-related activities, including attending games, streaming them online, and looking up statistics about teams and players.
In California, about 1,400 schools contract with PlayOn Sports for these services.
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GoFan is also the official ticketing platform for the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports.
According to the board’s decision, PlayOn Sports used tracking technologies to collect personal information and deliver targeted advertisements to ticketholders and others using its services.
The company allegedly required Californians to click “agree” to tracking technologies before they could use their tickets or view PlayOn Sports websites, without providing a sufficient opt-out option.
“Students trying to go to prom or a high school football game shouldn’t have to leave their privacy rights at the door,” said Michael Macko, CalPrivacy’s head of enforcement. “You couldn’t attend these events without showing your ticket, and you couldn’t show your ticket without being tracked for advertising. California’s privacy law does not work that way. Businesses must ensure they offer lawful ways for Californians to opt-out, particularly with captive audiences.”
The decision also describes students as a uniquely vulnerable population and warns that targeted advertising systems can subject students to profiling that can follow them for years, expose them to manipulative or harmful content, and develop sensitive inferences about their lives.
Instead of providing its own opt-out method, PlayOn Sports directed students and other users to opt out through the Network Advertising Initiative and the Digital Advertising Alliance, which the decision said violated the company’s responsibility to provide its own way for consumers to opt out. The company also allegedly failed to recognize opt-out preference signals and did not provide Californians with sufficient notice of its privacy practices.
“We are committed to making it as easy as possible for all Californians — from high school students to older adults, and everyone in between — to make the choice of whether they want to be tracked or not,” said Tom Kemp, CalPrivacy’s executive director. “Californians can opt-out with covered businesses, and they can sign up for the newly launched DROP system to request that data brokers delete their personal information.”
Beyond the $1.10 million fine, the board’s order requires PlayOn Sports to conduct risk assessments, provide disclosures that are easy to read and understand, and implement proper opt-out methods.
The order also requires the company to comply with California’s privacy law prohibiting the selling or sharing of personal information of consumers between 13 and 16 without their affirmative opt-in consent.
California
California bill to bar police from taking second job with ICE advances in state Assembly
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 4:43AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) — A bill that would prevent police officers from moonlighting with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is advancing through the California State Assembly.
AB 1537 passed the State Assembly’s committee on public safety on Tuesday.
The bill also requires that officers report any offers for secondary employment related to immigration enforcement to their place of work.
Those failing to comply could face decertification as a peace officer in California.
The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, whose district includes Mar Vista, Ladera Heights, Mid-Wilshire and parts of South Los Angeles.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
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