Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer in a Los Altos garage. The company turns 50 today.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The California Flyover! From traffic on the 5 to fog on the Golden Gate, from surf at Malibu to the Sierra peaks, and from In-N-Out runs to IPO rumors, we cover it all.

We’d love to hear from you. Please hit reply and tell us a little about yourself and what you’d like to see us cover in The California Flyover. Any feedback is welcome, even if you just want to say “Hi!”

Today’s sponsor, Incogni, helps protect you from scams by removing your personal data from hundreds of broker sites, making it harder for bad actors to find and target you online.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Newsom Signs AI Safeguard Order

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Monday requiring companies that want California state contracts to demonstrate safeguards against AI misuse.

The order targets three areas: generation of illegal content, models that display bias or lack controls to prevent it, and violations of civil rights. The order also calls for watermarking AI-generated images and video used by the state.

The move comes after the Pentagon designated AI lab Anthropic a supply chain risk, though a federal judge later temporarily blocked enforcement of that decision. California's order allows the state to conduct its own risk assessments rather than automatically deferring to federal designations.

The state's Department of General Services has 120 days to submit new vendor certification recommendations.

Governor Forum Heads to Fresno

Six candidates for governor will debate at Fresno State today in a major Central Valley forum.

Republicans Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton will share the stage with Democrats Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and Antonio Villaraigosa. The 90-minute forum, co-hosted by Western Growers and the Maddy Institute, focuses on affordability and rural California.

Rep. Eric Swalwell and billionaire Tom Steyer declined invitations, citing scheduling conflicts. Former Assemblymember Kristin Olsen-Cate and Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes will moderate.

California's top-two primary on June 2 sends the two highest vote-getters to November regardless of party, raising the possibility of a same-party general election.

Apple Turns 50 Today

Apple is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a grand finale at its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, capping a month of events across four continents.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said a special guest will perform and hinted it could be Paul McCartney, noting the performer "was part of the British Invasion and [Steve] Jobs would've been ecstatic." McCartney played two shows in Los Angeles over the weekend.

The company was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in the Jobs family garage in Los Altos. Wayne sold his 10% stake back for $800.

Apple Park's Visitor Center closed early Tuesday. The celebration is expected to be limited to employees and invited guests.

Flying together with our sponsor

They can’t scam you if they can’t find you

Your personal info powers every scam. Whether it’s fake IRS calls, phishing texts, or insurance scams, they usually start by buying your data from shady broker sites.

Incogni makes you invisible to these scammers by deleting your personal data wherever it’s exposed online. Their service covers 420+ data broker sites and routinely removes your information as soon as it’s exposed.

Alternatively, you can get their Unlimited plan to send links straight to their team and have your data removed from additional websites not covered in their automated removals.

Less exposure, less risk, more peace of mind.

Remove your personal data now—get 58% off with code FLYOVER. Catch this deal before it takes off!

➤ Auburn: Caltrans completed a $13.1 million roundabout project on State Route 49, the third major improvement along the corridor in the Auburn area. The project realigned two curves and replaced a signalized intersection to improve safety and traffic flow. (See Details)

➤ Walnut Creek: Contra Costa prosecutors filed new murder charges linking a Walnut Creek man already jailed for killing his wife and mother-in-law to a 2024 shooting in San Gabriel. A second suspect is also charged in the killing. (More)

➤ East Sacramento: A karate school is asking the public for help after a thief stole a centuries-old Japanese sword, a family heirloom, during a break-in. (More)

➤ Fresno: High-speed rail utility work is causing intermittent lane closures along G, H, and El Dorado streets in downtown Fresno through April 24. Work runs weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with flaggers directing traffic. (See Details)

➤ San Luis Obispo County: A deadly avian flu strain first detected in the Bay Area has spread to a sea lion in San Luis Obispo County, as officials monitor an expanding outbreak affecting marine mammals along the California coast. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: March was on track to match 1934 as the driest on record with no measurable rainfall, though a weak system on the final day of the month offered a slim chance to break the streak, with a warm-up into the 80s expected by Easter weekend. (More)

➤ Los Angeles County saw the largest population decline of any U.S. county in 2025, losing about 54,000 residents from 2024 to 2025, according to U.S. Census data. (More)

➤ Santa Monica: The city released preliminary plans for a large public park with trails, bike paths, and fitness areas to replace Santa Monica Airport when it closes in 2028. Residents can provide feedback through April 26. (See Details)

➤ Coronado: Avenida Lunar beach reopened Monday after water quality samples met state standards, but sewage-related closures remain in effect at Imperial Beach, Silver Strand, and other nearby beaches. (More)

➤ Former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, the winningest coach in Golden Bears football history, will join the College Football Playoff selection committee this spring for a three-year term as part of a group of new additions. (More)

➤ LA Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed the team explored trading wide receiver Davante Adams, but ultimately decided keeping the NFL’s leader in receiving touchdowns was in the team’s best interest. (More)

➤ San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini hit 100 points on the season Monday night, becoming just the sixth teenager in NHL history to reach the mark. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Hormone Shift Most Men Ignore? Feeling more tired, weaker, or not quite like yourself lately? Low testosterone could be playing a bigger role than you think. Discover how TRT works, with no doctor’s visit required and surprisingly affordable options that can help restore your energy, strength, and confidence. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Gas prices topped $6 a gallon in parts of California, including LA and Marin counties, as the war involving Iran disrupts global oil supply. The statewide average hit $5.88 per AAA, roughly $1.85 above the national average of about $4. (See Details)

➤ Small business loans from the Small Business Administration are now limited to U.S. citizens under a March rule change the agency says is meant to prioritize Americans for limited funding. Green-card holders, who make up an estimated 220,000 California small business owners, no longer qualify. (See Details)

➤ IRS refunds averaging $680 are on the line for 143,000 Californians who haven't filed 2022 returns. The agency says the money is permanently forfeited if they don't act by April 15. About $1.2 billion in unclaimed refunds is at stake nationwide. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Did you know some credit cards can help you get out of debt faster? With a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, you can pay down debt without interest. FinanceBuzz reviewed top options—see their picks and learn how to avoid interest on transfers until 2026.

Flying together with our sponsor

Scammers don’t need to hack you—they just buy your info.

Your name, phone number, and address are currently on dozens of public websites, making you an easy target for phishing, fake calls, and financial fraud.

Incogni automatically scrubs your personal data from those sites so scammers can’t find you. Or get their Unlimited plan and send their privacy experts links to websites that aren’t covered by their automatic removals.

No data, no scam.

Protect yourself today—get 58% off with code FLYOVER. Catch this deal before it takes off!

➤ Halibut season opens today. California’s 2026 recreational Pacific halibut fishery runs through Nov. 15 north of Point Arena and Dec. 31 to the south, with a statewide quota of 40,040 pounds. (See Details)

➤ Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s music director, was named the first recipient of a new $1 million honor from the Herb Alpert Foundation for expanding access to music education. (More)

➤ Sugar the Surfing Dog, a five-time world champion and the first animal inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame, has died at 16 after a cancer battle. The dog became a beloved fixture of the SoCal surf community. (Read Story)

➤ Southern California residents selected through the LA28 Olympic ticket lottery begin receiving email notifications this week, with locals-only presale windows opening April 2. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Get a brighter, more confident smile from the comfort of home with Purely White Deluxe Teeth Whitening. This easy-to-use system helps lift years of stains from coffee, wine, and everyday foods—without expensive dental visits.