California
At This California Dude Ranch, A Horse Girl’s Dream Comes True
With a stable of over 100 horses and more than 50 miles of trails on 10,000-plus acres, Alisal Ranch … [+]
If you’ve never sat on a horse, that first moment in the saddle can feel a little awkward, even intimidating. But for one young wannabe cowpoke, it was more like a dream come true. My college-age son’s girlfriend, Lana, has loved horses forever. But she never had the opportunity to ride one. Over winter break this year, she unlocked that new level at Alisal Ranch.
Tucked away in the sun-kissed hills of California’s Santa Ynez Valley near Solvang, the 10,500-acre family-owned property is an old-fashioned place to stargaze, fish and canoe on a 100-acre lake, and shoot arrows at decoy elk and boar. It’s also home to a stable with over a hundred magnificent horses.
Jack is a sweet, chestnut-colored stallion with a touch of grey between his gentle eyes. When Lana first swung her leg over and carefully set her feet into the stirrups, Jack looked back with a kindly, “You’re doing just fine, girl” kind of nod. Alisal has more than 50 miles of trails for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders age seven and up, and the ranch gets even first-timers out on two-hour starter rides. That might sound like daunting for a newbie, but Ben, the genial wrangler, made it a manageable introduction, and definitely one to remember. Out on the trails, you get to see wild turkeys, coyotes, eagles, foxes and more than a few adorable cows, which makes even a greenhorn feel like an extra in an old Western.
The network of trails at Alisal lets riders take in sweeping views of the Santa Ynez Mountains (and … [+]
If Lana was anxious, it was hard to tell. The giant smile on her face told a different story as Jack clip-clopped up a golden slope past ancient sycamores to take in the epic view (you can spot the Reagan Ranch — once known as The Western White House — on a hilltop across from the property.).
Alisal meets riders wherever they are in their ability. Kids as young as four can take 30-minute riding lessons in the controlled environment of the corral. There’s a one-hour starter ride for those who aren’t quite ready to commit to a longer outing, a three-hour picnic ride with lunch carried in your saddlebags, and a new three-hour distance ride, for those craving higher views or to see more wildlife. Horsemanship 101, for any level of rider, pairs you with senior wranglers to improve your individual riding skills in an arena setting (there’s even an obstacle course if you’re willing).
One of the most popular offerings is the morning breakfast ride, 45-minute to one-hour horseback ride each way with breakfast in the middle. Think of it as flapjacks on horseback, an outing that lasts approximately three hours, and is open to non-riders, too, who can take a hay wagon ride to brekkie instead of a horse.
Family owned and family friendly, Alisal Ranch has been around longer than California’s been … [+]
Alisal’s been around longer than California’s been California, but opened as a luxury working ranch in 1946 and owned by the Jackson family ever since. Today, it’s a stylish dude ranch with benefits: 18-hole golf, tennis and pickle ball courts, axe throwing, mountain biking and a spa. The accommodations are too rarefied to call “glamping”—especially the more recently remodeled estate houses lining the front driveway. For example, the 1,620-foot wood and stone Turner House, with Ralph Lauren fabrics and Pendleton accessories, sleeps ten and has claw-footed bathtubs and wood-burning fireplaces.
The Turner House is one of the more recently renovated estate homes on property. With Ralph Lauren … [+]
Meanwhile, up on the trails, Lana found herself bonding with Jack while also gaining confidence in herself after tackling an adventure she’d put off for too long. It’s one thing to read about horses or to play with those adorable little Schleich collectibles. It’s quite another to be on the trail in a place like Alisal Ranch and let out a great big ‘yee-haw!”
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.
SEE ALSO: CA governor candidate Steve Hilton says ‘everybody supports’ Trump’s immigration policies
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.
No clear front-runner in race for California governor, new poll shows
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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