SACRAMENTO — National union leaders, including the head of one of California’s largest labor organizations, on Wednesday urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to protect workers as artificial intelligence threatens to replace or surveil employees — and warned that a failure to do so could hurt his presidential ambitions.

“This is a priority for the entire nation,” Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, said at a news conference near the state Capitol. “He cannot spend his time waiting to be done in California and think he’s not going to get questions about the true issues surrounding AI, Big Tech and the Big Tech billionaires that are trying to buy our government.”

Gonzalez, a former state lawmaker from San Diego, said the federation is sponsoring a package of new bills aimed at reining in the use of AI and protecting the rights of workers, including safeguards against spying in the workplace and restrictions on layoffs.

The package of bills supported by labor organizations includes:

• Senate Bill 947 by Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton), which would require human oversight if an algorithm is used to justify the discipline or termination of an employee.
• Senate Bill 951, introduced by Sen. Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Colton), which would require employers to provide a 90-day advance notice to workers and local and state governments before AI-related layoffs. It would apply to cases affecting 25 or more workers or 25% of the workforce, whichever is less. Recent layoffs, including at Amazon, Expedia and Pinterest, have been tied to AI, although some economists argue it’s challenging to determine whether that was the primary factor.
• Assembly Bill 1331, dubbed “No bosses in the bathroom,” would grant workers the right to remove workplace surveillance tools when entering public bathrooms or certain employee-only areas. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), would subject employers to a $500 civil penalty for violations.

Gonzalez said labor organizations are often told to “work it out” with businesses but argued this was a dead end.

“We are not going to be able to achieve guardrails by working with bosses who want no guardrails,” she said. “It is time that the governor engages with workers in the workplace. Every AI convening he does, everybody he’s pulled together is [representing] AI and Big Tech lobbyists.”

Gonzalez was joined Wednesday by Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, and other labor leaders from Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina and Nevada.

“This is the most urgent issue that we [as workers] are facing,” Shuler said. “This is a crisis and no one is prepared.”

In a joint letter addressed to Newsom, they implored the governor to act quickly to establish meaningful safeguards around the technology.

“This fight extends beyond devastating job losses and new forms of union busting,” a copy of the letter states. “There is dignity in human work that is the foundation of a healthy, productive democracy. The future of our economy and our society cannot be left to the unchecked whims of profit driven technology corporations and billionaires.”

In an email to The Times, Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said the governor had a strong record of fighting for workers’ rights, including raising the minimum wage and expanding sick leave and other worker protections.

“No Governor has done more than Governor Gavin Newsom to regulate AI in a way that protects workers without killing jobs or innovation,” she wrote. “Under his leadership, California has taken the most comprehensive, worker-centered approach to AI in the country.”

Adults in the United States are growing increasingly concerned about the ramifications of AI, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center. Fifty percent of those surveyed last year said they are “more concerned than excited” about the increased use of AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021.

Thanks to high amounts of winter rainfall, California may be lucky enough to enjoy another superbloom in 2026. Normally, the state only experiences superblooms — rare events in which countless dormant wildflowers bloom simultaneously — once every decade or so. However, there was a superbloom as recently as 2023, and those bright orange blooms might return this year.

Those unusually heavy winter rains may have created ideal conditions for the natural phenomenon in certain Southern California desert areas, according to CBS 8 San Diego. Some of these regions received about 3.5 inches of rain over the two months leading up to January 2026. Typically, the area gets about 5 inches of rain, so it has already received roughly 70% of its annual average.

Where to see the California superbloom

When in bloom, the wildflowers blanket desert landscapes and hillsides in color between March and April. One of the top places to witness these carpets of vibrant flowers will be Death Valley. Toward the end of 2025, the National Weather Service reported that Death Valley had experienced record-breaking rainfall — a good superbloom sign. Some people have already noticed early blooms popping up in the area, which indicates that the ground is ready to produce more expansive wildflower fields.

Blooms have also been spotted in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near San Diego. Other popular viewing spots in Southern California include Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve, Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve. The 2026 wildflower season is expected to peak from March through April in low-elevation deserts and possibly extend into May and June in places with higher elevations.

The best national parks in California

While superbloom forecasts look the strongest in Southern California, there are still plenty of popular spots for spring wildflower viewing in central and Northern California. Some destinations include Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo County, North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in Butte County and Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County. Desert areas of neighboring states Nevada and Arizona may also see robust wildflower seasons in spring 2026, depending on the weather.

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

What to know when planning your superbloom trip

The outlook may be promising, but keep in mind that hot, dry weather can deter a full superbloom. Temperatures have been higher than average in Southern California over the past month or so, and if things continue this way, it could ruin the expected blooms. Scientists and park officials are monitoring conditions closely to predict blooms.

If the superbloom does occur, visitors and locals alike are sure to flock to the hillsides to see the orange flowers. However, it’s important to visit in a way that respects and sustains the environment so that these flowers can continue blooming far into the future. So, stick to trails, avoid picking flowers and only enter authorized areas.

Bottom line

Hopeful visitors, cross your fingers for rain and cooler temperatures over the next few months. No matter which spot you choose, the California superbloom promises an unforgettable experience for anyone seeking vibrant spring wildflowers.

Related reading:

Federal and local authorities are investigating a suspected biological laboratory found inside a Las Vegas residence that they said is owned by a person connected to a 2023 illegal biolaboratory probe in Central California.

A SWAT team with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation with serving a search warrant at a residence in northeast Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to police. During the search, police said investigators discovered “evidence of possible biological material to include refrigerators with vials containing unknown liquids.”

The search ended early on Monday, Feb. 2, and authorities said investigators recovered over 1,000 pieces of evidence from the residence.

“(Las Vegas police) utilized several technology platforms to safely enter and assess the location before investigators entered the home,” police said in a statement. “Some of that evidence included biological material and liquids that were meticulously collected and sent to FBI labs for testing.”

Further investigation revealed that the residence’s owner was tied to a 2023 illegal biolaboratory investigation in rural California, according to police. The owner, Jia Bei Zhu, has been in federal custody on charges related to the California investigation.

Another suspect, Ori Solomon, 55, was arrested in connection with the Las Vegas investigation and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center for disposing of and discharging hazardous waste, police said. Solomon was the property manager for the Las Vegas residence and a nearby home that was also searched, according to police.

What is the Nipah virus? What to know about deadly illness in India

Laboratory-type equipment, containers with unknown substances discovered inside garage

In an update on Monday, Feb. 2, police said they received information over a week ago that laboratory equipment and potentially hazardous materials may have been stored inside a residence in northeast Las Vegas.

“As investigators looked deeper, they learned the property owner was connected to a 2023 illegal biological laboratory investigation in Reedley, California,” police said in a statement. “In that California case, investigators reportedly discovered materials possibly associated with infectious diseases, including hepatitis, COVID-19, HIV, malaria, and other potentially dangerous pathogens.”

Though it was unknown at the time whether similar materials were present at the Las Vegas residence, police said they launched a joint investigation with the FBI, local fire departments, and other state agencies.

Shortly before 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 31, police said a SWAT team served a search warrant at the residence and removed three people who were renting rooms inside the home but were not involved in the investigation. Investigators then searched a locked garage at the home they believed contained the potentially hazardous materials.

During the search, police said they deployed drones and a tactical robot to clear the area and conduct air sampling before personnel wearing protective equipment entered the garage.

At a news conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said investigators immediately observed numerous items, including laboratory-type equipment and containers with an unknown liquid substance, that were “consistent in appearance to the items found and described” in the 2023 California investigation.

“Initial search of the garage… identified a bio-safety hood, a bio-safety sticker, a centrifuge, multiple refrigerators, red-brown unknown liquids in gallon-sized containers and refrigerated vials with unknown liquids,” Christopher Delzotto, FBI Special Agent in Charge at the Las Vegas office, said during the news conference.

Police noted that due to the “unknown nature of the materials,” the operation required multiple controlled entries and decontamination procedures. Evidence collection continued through Sunday, Feb. 1, and the materials were later transferred to an FBI laboratory for testing.

Remediation of the residence was completed at about 2:30 a.m. local time on Monday, Feb. 2, and final site checks were conducted before the scene was cleared and confirmed safe, according to McMahill.

‘Fairly shocking’: Secret medical lab in California stored bioengineered mice laden with COVID

2023 California biolab investigation

A monthslong investigation into a rural California warehouse uncovered an illegal laboratory filled with samples of infectious agents, medical waste, and mice bioengineered “to catch and carry the COVID-19 virus,” local authorities said in July 2023.

At the time, authorities said a Chinese medical company registered in Nevada was operating the unlicensed facility in Reedley, California, a small city southeast of Fresno, California. Health officials launched an investigation into the facility in December 2022 after a code enforcement officer noticed a garden hose attached to a building that was presumed to be vacant and had no active business license.

Further inspection revealed that the facility housed various chemicals, suspected biological materials, bodily fluids, and hundreds of lab mice, among other lab supplies, according to court documents.

In October 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced that Zhu, who also used various other aliases, had been arrested for manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices and for making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration.

From December 2020 to March 2023, prosecutors said Zhu and other co-conspirators manufactured, imported, sold, and distributed hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits in the United States and China. They also manufactured and distributed test kits for HIV, pregnancy, clinical urinalysis, and other medical conditions.

Prosecutors accused Zhu and his co-conspirators of operating through the companies, Universal Meditech Incorporated (UMI) and Prestige Biotech Incorporated (PBI), which were based in Fresno and Reedley. The companies had no authorization to manufacture and distribute the test kits.

“When questioned by FDA officials, Zhu made false statements about his identity, his ownership and control of UMI and PBI, and the activities of UMI and PBI,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Zhu was indicted in November 2023, according to prosecutors. In August 2024, prosecutors said Zhu faced additional charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.