NOVEMBER 24, 2025
AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between November 25 and December 1, setting a new record for domestic Thanksgiving travel. The FAA says this will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years. Roads will be even busier. Nearly 90% of travelers, or at least 73 million, are expected to hit the road—an increase of about 1.3 million drivers compared to last year.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 20, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Travel Association have launched a multi-year global partnership designed to leverage the 49ers brand and fanbase to drive visitors to San Francisco. The deal calls for joint international marketing efforts that will focus on Mexico and the U.K., including joint campaigns, co-branded activations, official 49ers events, international sweepstakes, and prominent visibility at Levi’s Stadium.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 20, 2025
California’s landmark 2024 reforms to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) are already showing positive results for employers and employees, according to a new report released by four of the leading employment law firms in California. Eighteen months after implementation, firms report faster settlements, narrower lawsuits, and greater collaboration between employers and employees.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 20, 2025
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) CEO Rosanna Maietta is urging Congress to address policy issues affecting the hotel industry—emphasizing that hotels must overcome significant challenges to accommodate the influx of international visitors expected for the World Cup, USA’s 250th anniversary, and the Olympics. U.S. hotels' operating expenses have been increasing due to rising insurance premiums, interest rates, labor costs, and healthcare expenses.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 19, 2025
Earlier this year, California’s Democratic leaders scrambled to plug a $12 billion budget hole in fiscal year 2025-26. The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office now says California will face a nearly $18 billion budget deficit in the new fiscal year due to higher-than-expected spending. To make things worse, the $17.7 billion shortfall could balloon to an annual $35 billion by fiscal year 2027-28, as spending continues to grow and debts come due.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 18, 2025
Last week, Los Angeles officials announced a new campaign—“LA is Open”—which aims to promote the tourism industry and support small businesses impacted by the January fires. “LA is Open” is intended to send a clear message that Los Angeles is open for business, resilient, and ready to welcome visitors from around the world. The initiative is an overarching campaign linking and showcasing other programs with the same goal, such as Shop LA, Dine LA, and Discover LA.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 17, 2025
The Trump administration has announced a new initiative for foreigners traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup next year. FIFA Pass will allow those who have purchased World Cup tickets to get expedited visa appointments. Under the new system, those who have bought tickets through FIFA will be allowed to go through a “FIFA portal” that will help get their visa application and interview prioritized at the State Department.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 14, 2025
In a push to address the state’s gripping housing crisis, the California Coastal Commission has approved a rule change to make it easier to build affordable housing in Monterey and elsewhere along the hundreds of miles of the Pacific coast. It was the latest effort by the powerful state agency to combat its poor reputation among housing advocates and Democratic leaders who see it as an obstacle to drastic housing reform in California’s coveted coastal regions.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 11, 2025
A splinter group of eight senators has voted with Republicans to end the government shutdown, which has lasted the past 41 days. The House is set to take up the measure as soon as tomorrow, though it will take some time to gather its members who have been on recess. If the legislation passes, it can be signed by President Trump, bringing the federal government back to life—at least until the spending agreement ends in January.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 9, 2025
On the heels of announcing its first roller coaster in 20 years, Legoland has revealed an entirely new land, called Lego Galaxy. The land is part of a $90 million investment that Merlin Entertainments, Legoland’s parent company, is making in its California and Florida theme parks. New attractions will be space-themed, including food and beverage outlets, retail, and new rides. The expansion is expected to fully open early next year after a three-year development.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 7, 2025
The Department of Transportation and FAA have directed a 10% reduction in flights at 40 of America’s busiest airports to offset air traffic controller shortages. The phased approach began last Friday with a 4% cut to flights and will step up to 10%. Analysts warn that Thanksgiving travel plans could be ruined or at least shifted, depending on how long the cuts continue. Even if the government reopens, recovery will still take time.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 5, 2025
According to a new survey by IATA, more travelers than ever are using their mobile devices and biometric technology during their air travel journey. The survey shows that 78% of passengers want to use a smartphone to book and pay for flights, as well as to navigate airport checkpoints. Biometric technology is also rapidly expanding at airports worldwide, and passenger use has risen by nearly 20 percentage points since 2022.
Read MoreNOVEMBER 5, 2025
California voters have passed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Prop. 50, which will tilt the state’s congressional districts toward Democrats in the 2026 election. Incumbents and challengers on both sides of the aisle are now scrambling to mark their turf. Opponents also haven’t given up. Just hours after polls closed, California Republicans announced a lawsuit challenging Prop. 50 on the grounds that it violates the 14th and 15th Amendments.
Read MoreOCTOBER 28, 2025
A proposal to ask Anaheim voters if the city should collect an entertainment tax has died with the City Council. The original proposal was to ask voters to consider ballot measures creating a 3% city tax on admission tickets to theme parks and sports and entertainment venues with a “capacity exceeding 20,000 people” and a parking tax of 10% on facilities with more than 1,500 spaces. But councilmembers were united in a clear stance against levying more taxes on tourists.
Read MoreOCTOBER 27, 2025
Under a proposed ballot initiative, California lawmakers who voted in favor of Proposition 50 could be barred from running for public office for up to 10 years after their current terms. Under the proposal, lawmakers would be prohibited from holding elective office for 10 years and from serving in appointive positions, as legislative staff, or in other specified state offices for five years. It will need 874,641 signatures to qualify for the November 2026 statewide ballot.
Read MoreOCTOBER 27, 2025
Last week, the Emerson College Poll asked likely California voters whether they’d vote for Prop. 50, which re-draws California’s congressional maps in favor of Democrats to offset changes favoring Republicans in Texas. 57% of voters said they’d support it—up from 51% in September. Meanwhile, 37% of voters said they would vote no, and another 6% were undecided. California residents until Nov. 4 to cast their ballots for Prop. 50.
Read MoreOCTOBER 27, 2025
This week, temperatures across much of the Los Angeles Basin and into the Santa Clarita Valley will be in the upper 80s and low 90s—10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening. No red flag warnings have been issued yet, but both the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valley foothills will have elevated fire risks once the Santa Ana winds arrive.
Read MoreOCTOBER 26, 2025
In an interview with CBS News, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would be “lying” if he denied plans to consider a presidential bid. Newsom has become a leading voice in the opposition to President Donald Trump, slamming the administration’s handling of issues such as National Guard deployments and immigration raids. He has also butted heads with Republicans over redistricting.
Read MoreOCTOBER 26, 2025
According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, there were more than 8,000 U.S. flight delays on Sunday, an increase from about 5,300 on Saturday. Due to staffing shortages, many air traffic controllers had been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown. Those same workers are now working without pay, and they’re scheduled to miss their first full paycheck this week.
Read MoreOCTOBER 24, 2025
Bay Area officials and residents remain on alert after Trump called off his plans for an aggressive immigration crackdown in San Francisco. The move came a day after the president sent about 100 federal agents to the area, prompting state and city leaders to denounce the potential deployment of federal troops in San Francisco. Trump cited discussions with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech leaders as reasons why he canceled the show-of-force.
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