California
Are there northern lights tonight in California? Some lucky states may see the aurora Monday
Watch: Stunning aurora erupts above observers
Beautiful northern lights burst with colors above stargazers in Alaska.
Some lucky states in the United States have a chance at seeing the northern lights, or the aurora borealis, at night on Monday, June 2.
The Space Weather Prediction Center published on Monday its aurora forecast for North America, showing its prediction of the intensity and location of the northern lights over the continent. The forecast also includes the southern-most locations that an aurora may be seen on the northern horizon tonight.
That view line spans states such as Idaho, South Dakota, Wisconsin, New York and more.
Unfortunately, California isn’t one of them, at least not as of the forecast retrieved before 10 a.m. by the Desert Sun.
A strong geomagnetic storm was observed this weekend, and the stronger the storm, the more that people in central and southern reaches of the nation have a chance at seeing the aurora, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.
States as far south as Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska may have a chance to see the lights, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
But the following states have the highest likelihood of seeing the light show in the sky on Monday:
- Alaska
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
Have the northern lights been seen in California before?
The northern lights have been seen from California before, and as recently as this past weekend. That’s according to a report from KRON, which published the work from a photographer who captured the northern lights from Windsor. Last October, Californians across the state witnessed the northern lights, including as far south as San Diego County, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
What’s the best time to see the aurora?
Go see the aurora at its best within an hour or two of midnight, or between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., said the Space Weather Prediction Center. So, plan to stay up late (or wake up extra early) and be sure to get away from city nights if the aurora is forecasted to be spotted from California.
USA TODAY reporter Julia Gomez contributed to this story.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
California
Amber Alert issued for 3-year-old out of California City in Kern County
CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KABC) — An Amber Alert was issued Friday by the California Highway Patrol for a 3-year-old child out of California City believed to be in imminent danger.
Emaria Peel, 3, was last seen Friday at about 7:17 p.m. in the area of Redwood Boulevard and 83rd Street in California City, according to police.
Authorities believe 31-year-old Charnay Mclin took Emaria. Investigators have not yet said what relationship, if any, Mclin has to the child.
The suspect was described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
The child was described as being 1 foot 6 inches, 20 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Police believe they’re traveling in a gold-colored 2021 Kia Sorento with the California license plate: 36095DV
Mclin is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities wants anyone who sees them to call 911.
No further details were immediately known.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
California
Northern California high school graduation shooting suspect arrested in Texas
A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested in Texas in connection with the deadly shooting after a high school graduation ceremony in Fairfield, California last month, police said.
Fairfield police said U.S. Marshals, accompanied by department detectives, served search and arrest warrants Friday morning at a home in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The teen was taken into custody without incident on suspicion of murder and related offenses.
Investigators said the suspect fled California and traveled to Texas within days of the June 3 shooting. He will remain in custody while awaiting extradition to Solano County.
The shooting happened after Sem Yeto Continuation High School’s graduation ceremony, which was held on the Fairfield High School campus.
Police said 18-year-old graduate Jamario Baker died at the scene. Three others – an 11-year-old child and two adults, ages 20 and 25 – were wounded.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s name because he is a minor.
Although an arrest has been made, police said the investigation remains active and detectives continue to pursue additional leads.
“While today’s announcement may provide a measure of relief to some, it does not lessen the pain felt by our community,” the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said in a statement.
Police plan to hold a news conference Monday at 4 p.m. to discuss the case and arrest.
Fairfield is a Northern California city about 40 miles northwest of San Francisco.
California
California bill would let insurers monitor driving data for discounts
A California bill would let insurers monitor customers’ driving data in exchange for discounted premiums.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the author of AB 311, said the digital monitoring, known as telematics, rewards good driving and would improve safety. In real time, telematics technology would track data such as speed, location and how a vehicle is being driven.
“We have to slow people down,” McKinnor said. “That is the whole purpose for this bill, is driver safety.”
A voter-approved law from 1988, Prop 103, required insurance rates to be based mainly on driving record, miles driven and experience. It made California the only state in the country to prohibit telematics.
McKinnor believes the law is outdated. She argued that her bill would also help good drivers who pay higher rates because of where they live.
“Where I live definitely brings my insurance up,” McKinnor said. “If we both drive the same way, we’ll get charged the same way, instead of by our ZIP code.”
California’s Department of Insurance and consumer groups oppose the bill, citing privacy concerns.
“We can’t look behind the algorithm and see what weight it’s giving to different criteria, which is a big problem,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “Auto insurance, otherwise, is transparent. This is why the Department of Insurance is opposed, because of the lack of transparency in the algorithm.”
The proposed savings in exchange for good driving might not be guaranteed. Telematics data from the Maryland Insurance Administration showed that 31% of drivers who opted into the program saw a drop in rates, 24% saw an increase and 45% saw no change to their premiums.
“This collects an awful lot of data about people, more than they know, and it’s like having Big Brother in your back seat,” Court said.
McKinnor insisted that drivers will not be forced to enroll in the program.
“It’s still opt-in in the other 49 states,” she said. “We’re not going to make this mandatory. It’ll be a per-volunteer situation.”
McKinnor’s bill passed through the legislature’s insurance committee. It’s expected to be presented to the full Senate in August.
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