California Today: California Will Ban Certain Ultraprocessed Foods in Schools

October 9, 2025, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California.

Today’s Top Story

Max Whittaker for The New York Times

California Will Ban Certain Ultraprocessed Foods in Schools

A new state law creates the first legal definition of the foods, and may prompt changes in other states.

Appeals Court to Weigh Legality of Deploying Troops to Portland

Judge Karin Immergut blocked President Trump from sending National Guardsmen to defend against a “rebellion.” Now three judges will hear the government’s appeal.

Man Fascinated With Fire Imagery Is Arrested in Palisades Blaze, Officials Say

Officials said that Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, of Melbourne, Fla., had intentionally set a fire that rekindled a week later into a devastating blaze that killed 12 people.

What We Know About the Palisades Fire Arrest

Federal officials arrested a man they said started a small blaze in January that later rekindled and grew into the fire that devastated Pacific Palisades.

Katie Porter Goes Viral for ‘Unhappy’ TV Interview in California Governor’s Race

The former Democratic congresswoman, known for her own grilling of executives on Capitol Hill, threatened to abandon an interview after she was asked several follow-up questions.

California Renters Won’t Have to Buy Their Own Fridge Under New Law

Many tenants have been annoyed that their rental units did not include refrigerators. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring apartments to have fridges and stoves, starting next year.

A Stolen 50-Pound Dinosaur Named Claire Is Returned After Outrage

The theft of the beloved dinosaur statue upset residents of a California community that was damaged by wildfires earlier this year. Then she was returned with an apology.

A Taylor Swift Mystery: Which Musso and Frank’s Booth Is ‘Best’?

The pop star name dropped the storied Hollywood restaurant on her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” and the restaurant confirmed she is a customer. But which booth does she prefer?