Officials in California criticized the federal response to a bio lab found in a Fresno County suburb after a similar setup was found at a home in Las Vegas over the weekend. 

The California lab was found in a Reedley home in late 2023. Police said the illegal facility contained “pathogen-labeled containers” with labels that included dengue fever, HIV, and malaria, as well as about 1,000 mice that officials believe were used as test subjects. 

Jia Bei Zhu, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in October 2023 and indicted in November. He was charged with distributing adulterated and misbranded medical items, including coronavirus tests, and remains behind bars. He is set to appear in court in April. 

Authorities raided a home in Las Vegas early Saturday morning and found a similar set-up inside. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sheriff Kevin McMahill said that officials found “multiple refrigerators,  a freezer,  and  other laboratory-type equipment, along with numerous bottles and jugs containing unknown liquid substances” inside a locked garage.

“These items, importantly, were consistent in appearance to the items found and described in the Reedley, California lab investigation,” McMahill  said. 

FBI Special Agent in Charge for Las Vegas Christoper Delzotto said agents found items including a centrifuge, biosafety tools and “unknown liquids in gallon-sized containers and refrigerated vials with unknown liquids.” More than 1,000 samples were collected from the scene and transported to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center in Maryland, Delzotto said. 

McMahill said that the police department “received limited information that laboratory equipment and  potentially hazardous materials” were being stored at the Vegas house before the raid. 

The investigation revealed that Zhu also owned the Vegas residence and “raised significant concern for what” officers might encounter, McMahill said. A robot was used to clear the house before police entered, and hazmat teams helped move items from the home.  

Nicole Zieba, the city manager of Reedley said she was “not surprised about the discovery.” Fresno County supervisor Nathan Magsig said items discovered in the Reedley lab “pointed to the fact that there may be additional laboratories in other parts” of the U.S.  Zieba said that Reedley officials had tried to warn the federal government. 

“I hope they are paying attention because when we tried to raise the flag, we received just such a poor response from the CDC,” Zieba said. “It’s almost as if they didn’t want anything to do with it.” 

Las Vegas authorities also searched a second home, but found no suspicious materials there. McMahill said police had arrested Ori Solomon, a man believed to be the property manager of both Vegas properties, on an initial charge of disposing and discharging hazardous waste. 

Anthony Capozzi, Zhu’s attorney, told the Associated Press that his client “is not involved in any kind of a biolab being conducted in a home in Las Vegas.” Capozzi said Zhu has been in federal custody for three years. 

“What went on in that residence, we are unaware of,” Capozzi said. 

Federal agents were seen entering the Reedley lab again in the past days. McMahill said the Las Vegas police department still has “a lot of work” ahead of them. 

“Vegas is in for a long road,” Zieba said. “If it’s anything like the Reedley case, there was no manual to pull off the shelves.” 

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.

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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.

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