california

An 82-year-old California tea importer spent 53 years on a 2-acre compound with 36+ structures; after decades of permit disputes and a 2024 National Register listing, a court ordered him to leave

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An 82-year-old California tea importer spent 53 years on a 2-acre compound with 36+ structures; after decades of permit disputes and a 2024 National Register listing, a court ordered him to leave

Hoffman has acknowledged that the buildings lacked proper permits but has maintained that they were not unsafe. Enforcement actions and fines did little to prevent continued activity at the property. For more than half a century, two acres in the hills of Lagunitas became the home, workplace and personal vision of California tea importer David … Read more

In 2017, a California farming family began fighting a rule tying a second home on 267 acres to future commercial farming; nine years later, the US Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal

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In 2017, a California farming family began fighting a rule tying a second home on 267 acres to future commercial farming; nine years later, the US Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal

Representative Image (AI-generated) A California family’s attempt to build a second home on its 267-acre coastal property has ended at the nation’s highest court, after the US Supreme Court declined to hear the family’s appeal in June 2026. The dispute began in 2017, when Willie Benedetti filed a lawsuit challenging Marin County’s land-use restrictions; the … Read more

California kept 2,060 coastal acres closed to the public as a buffer around Diablo Canyon nuclear plant; after plans for luxury homes, a $42 million deal will turn the land into trails, campsites and protected coastline

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California kept 2,060 coastal acres closed to the public as a buffer around Diablo Canyon nuclear plant; after plans for luxury homes, a $42 million deal will turn the land into trails, campsites and protected coastline

The conservation plan comes as the future of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant remains under discussion For decades, 2,060 acres of California’s Central Coast remained closed to the public as a buffer around the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Now, the land above Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County is set to become a … Read more

73-year-old Indian-origin California ‘healer’ accused of sexually assaulting 4 clients; attorney says he’s an acupressure practitioner

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73-year-old Indian-origin California 'healer' accused of sexually assaulting 4 clients; attorney says he's an acupressure practitioner

Indian-origin healer in California accused of sexual assault. A 73-year-old California man who had built a reputation as a “healer” in the local Sikh community has been accused of sexually assaulting four clients during treatment sessions at his Selma home, according to police and court records.Pal Singh was arrested by the Selma Police Department on … Read more

Yellow-bellied venomous sea snake returns to California beach after 8 years; rare reappearance after 2018 gives scientists clues about the species’ changing Pacific range

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Yellow-bellied venomous sea snake returns to California beach after 8 years; rare reappearance after 2018 gives scientists clues about the species’ changing Pacific range

Yellow-bellied sea snake Representative image by Canva A yellow-bellied sea snake has washed ashore on an Orange County beach, marking the first reported appearance of the venomous species in California since 2018. The rare sighting took place at Crystal Cove, according to video footage cited by the Los Angeles Times. The snake’s return has drawn … Read more

In 1973, a California homeowner paid $5,000 for a city-permitted backyard pool; 53 years later, a sanitation district says it must go as the 29-property easement dispute heads to trial

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In 1973, a California homeowner paid $5,000 for a city-permitted backyard pool; 53 years later, a sanitation district says it must go as the 29-property easement dispute heads to trial

Clarke, who has lived at his home since the early 1970s, installed his swimming pool a few years after buying the property (Representational AI image) In 1973, California homeowner Frank Clarke paid $5,000 for a backyard swimming pool after getting the required city permits. More than five decades later, the pool is part of a … Read more

California turns 67 acres of former farmland into wetlands and grasslands; restored Carr Lake landscape opens September 20

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California turns 67 acres of former farmland into wetlands and grasslands; restored Carr Lake landscape opens September 20

The project is designed to recreate a historic wetland landscape that existed in the area more than a century ago California is turning 67 acres of land once used for agriculture into a restored floodplain with wetlands, grasslands and public trails. The restoration area at Ensen Community Park in Salinas is being developed by Big … Read more

In 2013, California began removing millions of purple urchins from barren reefs; seven years later, more than 55 acres of kelp forest had returned

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In 2013, California began removing millions of purple urchins from barren reefs; seven years later, more than 55 acres of kelp forest had returned

Kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems in the ocean. They provide habitat for fish and invertebrates while supporting marine mammals and other wildlife. [Photo credit: Enric Sala, National Geographic] Beneath the waves off Southern California, a once-lush underwater forest had been reduced to something resembling a desert. Kelp that had provided shelter and … Read more

Murders planned before: Indian-origin California woman Anila Baby, charged with killing two of her best friends in separate attacks, appears in court

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Murders planned before: Indian-origin California woman Anila Baby, charged with killing two of her best friends in separate attacks, appears in court

Anila Baby (left) appeared in court in connection with charges of murdering her friends, Ann Matthew (middle) and Anjana Hari. 33-year-old Anila Baby, an Indian woman residing in Milpitas, California, appeared in Santa Clara County court for the first time Thursday after she was charged with two murders. Both the murdered women were believed to … Read more

California officers found 194 abandoned Dungeness crab traps off two rivers; violations wasted hundreds of crabs and brought four-year permit suspensions

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California officers found 194 abandoned Dungeness crab traps off two rivers; violations wasted hundreds of crabs and brought four-year permit suspensions

Two commercial fishermen have had their licences suspended and vessel permits revoked for four years after wildlife officers recovered 194 abandoned Dungeness crab traps from waters off the Del Norte County coast. The enforcement action, finalised during an August meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission, involved 66-year-old Darryl Donovan of Gilroy and 60-year-old … Read more