West
LA Times editor implores ex-Californians to stop insulting the state on their way out
Los Angeles Times’ letters editor Paul Thornton implored Californians leaving the state to stop criticizing it on the way out.
“To the people leaving California: May the road rise to meet you as you seek better lives in new places. Now, can you please extend some goodwill to those of us who remain?” Thornton asked in a Saturday piece headlined, “Commentary: If you want to leave, fine. But don’t insult California on the way out.”
He went on to describe how staggering numbers of Californians are fleeing to other states.
“More than 800,000 Californians moved away in 2022, and many thousands more left last year. Often, the departees, cash in hand from the sale of their $1-million bungalows, feel the need to express disdain for their home state, and even some anger too,” he wrote.
Americans have been leaving the state of California in droves. ((Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA FACES ‘SEVERE REVENUE DECLINE,’ RECORD $68 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT AS MASS EXODUS CONTINUES
Thornton went on to describe a relative of his who told him about having relocated to a small town in another state far away, but being warned against bringing “those weird California ways” to his new neighborhood.
“And which ways would those be?” Thornton asked rhetorically. “Perhaps it’s our embrace of LGBTQ+ Californians. Or it’s our liberal politics, with the state Republican Party shrunk to irrelevance after its vicious attempt in 1994 to marginalize immigrants with Proposition 187.”
Proposition 187, which passed by almost 60% but blocked by the courts from ever going into effect, proposed denying state social services to illegal immigrants. Since then, California has expanded access to government benefits and services to illegal immigrants.
The Golden State started the new year by granting illegal immigrants free healthcare, despite the state’s looming $68 billion deficit. This new healthcare policy will cover sex change surgeries for California residents without regard for their citizenship status.
The California State Capitol in Sacramento. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
WEALTHY CALIFORNIANS ARE FLEEING THE STATE, PUTTING TAX REVENUE AT RISK
“Perhaps I’m sensitive because California — and especially Los Angeles — used to be the place people would come,” Thornton wrote. “And plenty still move here, especially immigrants. I come from an immigrant family blessed by the working-class riches our state once offered.”
He touted California again as a place where putting “progressive ideals” in political practice remains a key goal.
“California is big, powerful and therefore tempting to disparage. We have 39 million people, Hollywood and Shohei Ohtani. This state is a haven for reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, but income disparity and the housing crunch are critical problems we have to fix for progressive ideals to match the reality on the ground,” he said.
“If you must leave California for Texas, Arizona, New England or anywhere else, don’t be a person who trash-talks the home of 39 million people,” he pleaded.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, California lost a net of 75,423 people in 2023.
Read the full article from Here
Montana
French Montana Shares Rare Insight into Khloe Kardashian Relationship
Where Khloe Kardashian Stands With Ex French Montana More Than 10 Years After Breakup
French Montana is done keeping up with reality TV.
In fact, he only agreed to appear on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Khloé Take the Hamptons over a decade ago as a favor to then-girlfriend Khloe Kardashian.
“She said to get on the show,” he exclusively told E! News at the BET Awards on June 28. “And I got on the show. Shout out to Khloe.”
The “Ever Since U Left Me” rapper, who split with Kardashian in December 2014 after eight months of dating, said the experience was “fun” because her family kept it real.
“They filmed their real life,” he continued. “And we were part of something together that one time. So it felt great. It didn’t feel like work because they film what they do everyday.”
As for his future in reality TV, the 41-year-old said those days are over, shutting down any prospective offers with a simple, “Negative.”
Although the “Unforgettable” artist—whose real name is Karim Kharbouch—may not be returning to television anytime soon, he has no problem hanging out with his ex-girlfriend these days.
Nevada
Court OK’s counting late-arriving mail ballots in Nevada, 29 other states
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada’s laws allowing the counting of mail-in ballots that arrive up to four days after Election Day — so long as they are postmarked by that date — is constitutional under a Monday ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a 5-4 ruling, justices upheld a challenge to a Mississippi law that’s similar to Nevada’s statute. Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the court’s three liberal members, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Katanji Brown Jackson, to uphold the law.
Conservatives Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
The ruling affects 30 states, all of which allow some ballots received after Election Day to be counted. That includes Nevada, which allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received and counted up to four days later, and ballots without a postmark to be received and counted up to three days later.
Plaintiffs in the case — including the Republican National Committee and the Mississippi Republican Party — had contended that federal laws referring to “elections” mean both the casting and counting of ballots, which they said must occur on Election Day.
“The federal election-day statutes do not preempt Mississippi’s law because the defining element of an ‘election’ has always been the electorate’s choice of candidate,” the case summary reads. “And a related federal statute — the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act — confirms that while federal law dictates when ballots must be cast, state law governs when they must be received.”
In Nevada, critics have contended that late-arriving ballots erode confidence in elections, because they delay learning final election results for days and, in some close races, can change the outcome.
Gov. Joe Lombardo has called the weeklong wait for final, unofficial results “a national embarrassment.”
Plaintiffs in the case made similar arguments, but were turned away by the court: “Finally, plaintiffs policy arguments about election integrity and voter confidence are properly addressed to legislatures, not courts,” the case summary reads.
Several attempts to require ballots to be received by Election Day have been introduced in Nevada’s Legislature, but none have been successful in the Democratically controlled body.
Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar has argued that the overwhelming majority of ballots are in and counted by Election Day, and only the closest races may be changed by late-arriving ballots. He’s advocated for more resources for county clerks and voter registrars to be able to count mail ballots more quickly.
Under the ruling, nothing will change for Nevada voters going to the polls in four months to vote in the November election. But officials still encourage voters to send in their mail ballots early, or to put them in drop boxes at voting centers during early voting or on Election Day.
Supreme Court upholds late-arriving mail ballots in Mississippi
New Mexico
Containment Lines Held on the McCauley Springs Fire Despite Red Flag Warning
McCauley Springs Fire Daily Update: June 29, 2026
Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3– MATT RAU – INCIDENT COMMANDER
Acres: 716
Containment: 33%
Start Date: June 24, 2026
Location: Jemez Ranger District, east of Battleship Rock
Cause: Undetermined
Fuels: Timber, grass & understory, hardwood litter
Personnel: 398
Highlights: Containment lines were tested during challenging weather conditions throughout the weekend. No critical threats to the line were discovered and firefighters continued to reinforce, secure, and mop up, keeping the fire contained to its current footprint. Smoke is expected to be visible in the area due to the rapid drying of fuels and continued warm weather.
For the safety of the public and firefighters; we ask that you respect the closure around the fire area to allow resources to complete important fire operations. Warm weather conditions continue to dry out fuels and resources are responding to hotspots as they arise.
Operations: Containment increased on the east side of the fire where significant mop-up depth was achieved. Firefighter’s attention was turned to the areas of smoke and heat that emerged. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are being utilized to assess heat in the area and help provide a rapid response to any new starts. Dry conditions and low relative humidity are expected for the next few days and firefighters are considering the larger landscape and topography as they make contingency plans.
Power has been restored to the community of Sierra de los Pinos, and water is currently being restored. Community members should pay attention to information channels in the next few days when they can return to their homes.
Weather: Today will continue to be sunny, with a high near 87°F. Breezy, with 10-20 mph winds and gusts up to 30 mph.
Smoke: Smoke is expected to increase due to the drying of fuels and may be visible from Albuquerque, U.S. 550, Jemez Springs, and surrounding communities. View an interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Closures: Highway 4 remains closed between mile marker 27 and 40. The Santa Fe National Forest has a temporary closure order for the area of the McCauley Springs Fire. The full closure can be viewed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/santafe/alerts. Battleship Rock Campground, Jemez Falls Campground, Redondo Campground, and Trail #137 remain closed.
Evacuations: Coordinating with Sandoval County, evacuations are in place: Go status (evacuate) – Sierra de los Pinos, and Jemez Falls Campground. An evacuation center for residents is located at Jemez Mountain Baptist Church in La Cueva. Ready status – Los Alamos County.
Safety: No drones or aircraft are allowed to fly in the area. If you fly, they can’t.
Phone Number: 505-273-6432 (7 a.m.-7 p.m.)
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-mccauley-springs-fire
Email: 2026.mccauleysprings@firenet.gov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McCauleySpringsFire/




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