California
California lawmaker moves to stop contractor ‘money grab'
For months now, NBC Bay Area has responded to viewers’ heartbreaking complaints. They say they lost tens of thousands of dollars each when an ADU builder imploded and went bust. Now, a local lawmaker is proposing statewide change to prevent what he called a money grab. “It was your investigative reporting that flagged this for us,” said California Assemblyman Marc Berman, who represents the peninsula and part of San Jose.
Backstory of the bust
The controversy hits home for Lara Zanzucchi in Martinez.
“It’s devastating, because you don’t know if you can finish your project,” she said. The backyard ADU for her mom is finally taking shape — albeit two years later than expected and about $40-thousand over budget. She points broadly as she stands inside the unfinished ADU. “Everything here is from the contractor that took me on when Anchored took my money and ran.”
‘Anchored’ is Anchored Tiny Homes, the business that many Bay Area homeowners tell us took big money up front, but then failed to deliver. Girija in Cupertino says Anchored took almost $32,000; Maria in Walnut Creek says she’s out $40,000; in Oakland, Alan says he’s out $80,000. The largest case we’ve seen is Steve Sonza in Rohnert Park. His family has nothing to show in their backyard for the $315,700 of their money that Anchored Tiny Homes got. “It’s clear the law was broken,” Sonza said.
We started investigating. Anchored tiny homes quickly closed its office and went belly up. The state contractor board recently revoked its license. “This is accountability,” said Katherine White with the CA Contractors State License Board. “This is the biggest step that CSLB can take.”
$100M Business?
Anchored Tiny Homes’ former CEO boasted online that the builder was booming. “I can tell you right now, a $100 million dollar business,” said Colton Paulhus on his now defunct podcast.
But now, Paulhus and his co-founder brother, Austin, have filed for bankruptcy. They’ve told the court their customers’ money is gone. Colton Paulhus told NBC Bay Area that Anchored was just a “failed, mismanaged growing business.” Their attorneys have declined to comment.
Customers are frustrated. “It’s a sense of absolute violation,” Zanzucchi said. And recently, another ADU builder near L.A. also imploded.
Asm. Berman saw the stories and is taking action. “I learned about it from your stories, and I really appreciate you doing that investigative reporting,” he said. “Sometimes, that’s how we find out about things.”
Calls for change, answered
He says California law needs new teeth. So, he’s proposing a stiff new penalty for contractors who take too much money up front or collect progress payments without actually making progress. “Up to $10-thousand dollars per case,” he explained. “We want it to be a really severe penalty if people violate this. That’s righteous. we should have that.”
Berman just filed a bill to add that new penalty to state law. He believes it should scare off bad guys and protect families like yours. “We don’t want to create any incentive for fly-by-night bad actors to say, ‘oh, here’s an opportunity for a massive money grab… we can just disappear or go bankrupt.’”
The proposed reform to California law is too late for Anchored Tiny Homes’ customers, like Lara. “I recognize I won’t get my $40 thousand. it’s probably to the wind.” She’s encouraging Berman’s colleagues in the legislature to vote yes and for Governor Newsom to sign the contractor bill into law asap .
“Without the law changing, they have free rein,” she said.
Zanzucchi says she hopes the legislature also dramatically increases the bond contractors are required to carry – to protect consumers like you. Many anchored customers tell us they lost thousands, but will only get a few dollars from the bond… because it’s divided up over so many customers.
A tip to our team launched our investigation. If you have a tip or a consumer complaint, snap the qr code on screen to fill out our consumer complaint form online.
California
CA state senator physically, verbally harassed at pride parade for Israel stance | The Jerusalem Post
California State Senator Scott Wiener was harassed for his stance on Gaza during the San Francisco Trans March on Friday, to the point where it was no longer safe for him to remain, Wiener said.
A group of people were so “physically and verbally aggressive that it was impossible for me to safely remain in the park,” Wiener stated, adding that this was the first time he did not participate in the march.
Wiener was surrounded by people who made statements about his “Israeli handlers, among many other inaccurate, extreme, and vile statements,” Wiener said.
“We f***ing hate you. You stopped being queer the moment you started supporting Israel,” one person yelled in a video later shared on social media.
Wiener stated that while he has no objection to anyone disagreeing, opposing, or protesting him, the “harassment, including cornering me, touching me, or trying to physically bully me out of a public event, that crosses a line.”
“In San Francisco, we’re better than that,” he added.
Mayor Daniel Lurie made a statement on X/Twitter condemning the harassment, calling the language used “targeted, hateful, and antisemitic.”
In San Francisco, we welcome disagreement and respectful dialogue around issues many of us feel passionately about – but we cannot allow harassment and threats of violence,” Lurie wrote.
The California State Senate Democratic Caucus also released a statement on X, condemning the hate Wiener received.
“The harassment and violence shown from yesterday’s march in San Francisco towards Senator Scott Wiener is unacceptable and must be called out,” the statement read.
The caucus also pointed to Wiener’s work on legislation “advancing the rights and protections for Transgender, Gender Expansive and Intersex people.”
“The CA Senate Democratic Caucus and CA LGBTQ Caucus jointly denounce the verbal harassment and attacks he experienced,” the statement said.
California
At least 117 dead dogs found in search at California animal rescue accused of abuse, officials said
California authorities unearthed at least 117 dogs in “various states of decomposition” on Friday, many of which appeared to have been killed by gunshot, as part of an ongoing investigation into an animal rescue organization.
The bodies were discovered during a search of Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, California, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Officials had been granted a warrant that included excavation of the property for evidence that dogs had been buried in “mass graves.”
The 117 canine remains were those found mostly intact at two sites, the sheriff’s office said. Nearly two dozen skulls, “hundreds” of bones, and 600 dog collars were also recovered on the property.
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal thanked the law enforcement teams and forensic veterinarians who assisted in the recovery. In a statement, he noted that the investigation is “just getting started.”
“The determination all of these professionals showed while working through this horrific scene is something we will not forget,” Honsal said.
NBC News was not able to reach Shannon Miranda, the founder of Miranda’s Rescue, by phone on Sunday. She did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
The sheriff’s office said in a news release last week that it had been contacted in April regarding allegations of fraud, animal abuse and animal cruelty at the rescue, and that the case had been assigned to the Major Crimes Division.
An initial search warrant was executed on May 1, at which time officials seized evidence related to the investigation. Investigators also determined that a “significant number” of animals surrendered to the rescue had not been accounted for.
A second search warrant, executed Thursday, led to the recovery of the canine remains.
Forensic veterinarians were able to examine 71 of the bodies on-site Thursday but did not have time to reach the remaining 46. A preliminary examination — including X-rays of the remains — found that “many of those animals showed evidence of bullet fragments.”
Investigators are working to identify dogs that were microchipped.
Other remains were found “in advanced stages of decomposition” and were deemed too severely deteriorated to be removed from their burial site, the sheriff’s office said.
This investigation is expected to be lengthy, the sheriff’s office cautioned in a statement to the public.
“The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office understands the public’s desire for accountability and justice,” it said. “However, it is our responsibility to conduct a complete, impartial, and legally sound investigation while ensuring that the constitutional and legal rights of everyone involved are protected throughout the process.”
No charges were announced.
Miranda was not available for comment, but posted a statement on June 18 addressing “recent media coverage and online commentary,” on the rescue’s website. The statement described two incidents that had “drawn particular attention” both involving animals that were killed at the facility.
The first involved a dog that killed another animal and attacked a third; the second involved a dog that lunged at a stroller carrying a baby, according to the statement.
“These were not decisions made lightly and were based on my responsibility to protect both the public and the animals in our care,” Miranda wrote.
The statement also described Miranda’s Rescue is a no-kill shelter, meaning animals are not euthanized simply to free up space, but acknowledged euthanasia is sometimes necessary.
“Whenever euthanasia has been necessary, I have notified local authorities in advance, even when told that reporting is not required,” Miranda wrote. “I believe it is important to maintain a clear record of these difficult decisions.”
Long Beach city officials have confirmed California’s first human case of West Nile virus in 2026.
In a news release shared Friday, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services said that the person was hospitalized with “neuroinvasive illness” and has since been recovering at home.
“While there have been WNV positive mosquito detections in California, including in Long Beach, this is the first symptomatic case reported in California for the 2026 season,” the release said.
Health officials said that West Nile virus typically spreads through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. While most people who get infected with WNV have no symptoms, one in 150 may develop more serious illnesses like brain inflammation, paralysis or death. Typical symptoms include fever, rash, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.
They advised anyone exhibiting such symptoms to seek immediate medical care.
“The risk of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases increases during hot weather, typically from June to October,” officials said. “People who are over 55 years old or have chronic health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness.”
Acting Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada urged residents to take several precautions to prevent infection, including:
- using insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites
- wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if spending time outdoors during dawn or dusk
- install or repair window screens
- remove standing water around their homes
- report increased mosquito activity so health officials can take action
People seeking further information or who wish to know more about how to protect themselves from mosquito bites was asked to contact the city’s mosquito hotline at 562-570-4132.
Health officials said the risk of West Nile virus and other mosquito-
borne diseases increases during hot weather, typically from June to October.
WNV spreads through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito.
Symptoms of may include fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and
headaches. Most people infected have no symptoms; approximately one in 150 may
develop more serious disease, such as brain inflammation, paralysis or death.
Those who are over 55 years old or have chronic health conditions are
at higher risk for severe illness. People with these symptoms should seek
immediate medical care.
There is no vaccine or treatment for West Nile virus.
Acting City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada urged residents to take the
following precautions:
— Dump and drain standing water around your home.
— Prevent mosquito bites by applying insect repellent with EPA-
registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or lemon
eucalyptus before going outside.
— Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if spending time outside
during dawn and dusk.
— Install or repair door and window screens.
Additional information about mosquito prevention and West Nile virus
is available at longbeach.gov/mosquitoes.
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