California Weekly Roundup: Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Los Angeles Times: Suspects Charged San Diego Islamic Center Wearing Armor, Firing On Multiple People, Witnesses Say

The two gunmen who opened fire at a San Diego mosque and killed three people inside Monday were “fully armored” and rushed toward the entrance with handguns and rifles before a security guard shot at and struck one of them, a witness and member of the mosque said. But in the chaotic exchange of gunfire Monday morning, the gunman who was shot by the security guard appeared unfazed, and continued to charge toward the mosque. (Winton, Fry, Hernandez and Harter, 5/18)

The Washington Post: Mother’s Call To Police Sparked Urgent Search Before San Diego Mosque Shooting

The police department received a call Monday morning about a runaway juvenile from the mother of one of the suspects, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. She reported that she believed her son was suicidal, and that he had taken three of her weapons and departed in her car with a companion, both of them clad in camouflage clothing. (Alfaro and Brulliard, 5/19)

AP: San Diego Mosque Shooters Met Online, FBI Says

Authorities say the two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque had been radicalized online where they first met. (Watson, biesecker and Seewer, 5/19)

Los Angeles Times: San Diego Mosque Attack: Security Guard's 'Heroic' Actions Saved Others, Officials Say

On Tuesday, he was identified as Amin Abdullah. The mosque honored him in a Facebook post, calling him “a courageous man who put himself on the line of the safety of others, who even in his last moments did not stop protecting our community.” (Fry and Garcia, 5/19)

The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat: Three Victims Killed In San Diego Islamic Center Attack Identified

The men were identified Tuesday as Mansour Kaziha, Nader Awad and Amin Abdullah by the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. Kaziha was a grandfather “lovingly known as Abu Ezz,” and he had managed the mosque store for nearly 40 years, CAIR officials said. Awad, they said, “turned away community members from the bullets and saved lives.” Abdullah was a security guard who the leadership said “risked his own life” to alert people in the center, including an attached primary school. (Figueroa, 5/19)

The Jewish News of Northern California: Jewish Groups Say San Diego Mosque Shooting Proves Need For Security Funding

Jewish groups say the incident, which follows attacks on synagogues, underscores a need for more federal funding for security at houses of worship. (Hajdenberg, 5/19)

CalMatters: Moving To California With A Gun? You Might Have To Take A Four-Hour Course

Californians would have to take a four-hour course with live-fire training to buy a gun if a bill advancing through the Legislature gets signed into law. (Sabalow, 5/19)

The Orange County Register: Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra Continue To Lead In New California Gubernatorial Candidate Poll

Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. health secretary, continue to lead as the top two candidates for California governor, according to the latest poll released by the California Democratic Party. The results were released Tuesday, May 19. (Tat, 5/19)

Los Angeles Times: Homeless People On Skid Row Were Paid To Register To Vote, Feds Charge

A longtime signature gatherer will plead guilty to paying homeless people on Skid Row to help get initiatives on the ballot, federal prosecutors said Monday, part of an effort to crack down on what they claim is widespread voter fraud across the state. (Ellis, 5/18)

CalMatters: California Lawmakers Rush $25 Million To Hospitals Without Knowing Who Qualifies

A $25 million grant to cash-strapped hospitals became law less than a week after it was introduced — so fast that it caught some hospitals, their advocates, and even some lawmakers, off guard. (Yu and Ibarra, 5/15)

Berkeleyside: Trump Administration Again Suspends UC Berkeley Research Grants

The National Science Foundation froze at least 18 grants to the university, an attorney for UC researchers said. (Mello, 5/8)

Los Angeles Times: Vance Says $1.3 Billion In Medicaid Payments To California Will Be Deferred Over Fraud Concerns

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the Trump administration is deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to California over concerns the state is allowing "fraudsters" to drive up costs to taxpayers by pushing unnecessary medications on unsuspecting patients. (Rector, 5/13)

KQED: After The One Big Beautiful Bill, Free Clinics Are Stepping Up

After the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, many Californians no longer have access to healthcare because of higher premiums or their immigration status. Free clinics are rushing to fill the gaps in coverage. (Cabrera-Lomeli and Hernandez, 5/5)

Mother Jones: Newsom’s Budget Shows He’s Not The Resistance Leader You Think He Is

Disabled people on Medicaid-funded home care are often “conditioned to accept crumbs.” (Metraux, 5/15)

The Sacramento Bee: Ballot Measure Caps Hospital Executive Pay At $450K In California

A ballot measure that would cap hospital executives’ compensation has qualified to appear on voters’ ballots in November, according to Secretary of State Shirley Weber. The proposal would limit executives and administrators at hospitals and physician groups to no more than $450,000 in total annual compensation, including bonuses, stock options and company vehicles. That amount would increase up to 3.5% annually based on inflation. Public hospitals would be exempt from the rule. (Paviour, 5/15)

Los Angeles Times: California, Other States Sue Over New Trump Limits On Loans For Nurses, PAs, Therapists

California and a coalition of other Democratic-led states are suing the Trump administration over new limits on federal borrowing by aspiring nurses, physician’s assistants, therapists, social workers, mental health practitioners and other healthcare workers, arguing the changes will further reduce a struggling but vital workforce. (Rector, 5/19)

Mission Local: ‘We Can No Longer Pretend:’ Patients Suffer At Understaffed UCSF ER, Providers Say

Providers at UCSF's Parnassus ER say understaffing has reached a crisis point. One described seeing patients dead on a gurney. (Agnew, 5/12)

San Francisco Chronicle: Major Strike Averted At UC Hospitals And Campuses As Deal Reached

The union representing thousands of UC medical and service workers reached a tentative agreement with UC that narrowly averted an open-ended strike. (Asimov, 5/14)

VC Star: Ventura County Nursing Leader Named CEO Of VCMC, Santa Paula Hospital

Nursing leader Danielle Gabele started her new duties as CEO of two-county run hospitals on May 10. (Kisken, 5/18)

North Bay Business Journal Staff: Providence Sonoma County Names New Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Sean Townsend has been appointed chief medical officer at Providence Sonoma County, which includes Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Healdsburg Hospital and Petaluma Valley Hospital. (5/11)

KQED: Bay Area’s First Medical School In Over 100 Years Could Open In 2030

The Bay Area is slated to get its first new medical school in more than 100 years, thanks to a partnership between two longstanding institutions and the largesse of a Silicon Valley couple. (Geha, 5/19)

The San Diego Union-Tribune: Palomar Health Won’t Be Building A 120-Bed Mental Health Hospital. What’s Next?

The state awarded the Escondido hospital district $50M to create 50 inpatient beds but a UCSD proposal would see largest inpatient bed increase in San Diego. (Sisson, 5/10)

The Desert Sun: Ranch Recovery Centers Opens New Medical Services Building

Over the past eight years, The Ranch has grown from three providers to 13, making the addition of a larger medical space critical. (Van Dijk, 5/15)

The Fresno Bee: 4 California Hospitals Got D Grades For Patient Safety. See Which Ones

Four California hospitals received D grades in a new national report measuring patient safety and quality of care. (Rodriguez, 5/12)

Santa Monica Daily Press: Santa Monica Optometrist Expands Eye Health Education Through Book And Nonprofit

Optometrist Irina Yakubin is working to make eye health education more accessible, approachable, and community centered in Santa Monica. (Edgar, 5/15)

The San Diego Union-Tribune: State Budget Cuts Target ‘Crown Jewel’ Of Mental Health Care

The governor's spending plan for the next fiscal year would eliminate funding for San Diego County's Mobile Crisis Response Teams. (Sisson, 5/18)

CalMatters: Why California May Change Rules For Jail Mental Health Diversion

Californians accused of crimes can receive mental health treatment rather than prison time. Lawmakers are revamping the rules following reports of violent offenses. (Singh, 5/13)

Bay Area News Group: Homelessness Falls In Alameda County As Bay Area Sees Fragile Signs Of Progress

Homelessness is falling in parts of the Bay Area after years of major public investment, with Alameda County the latest to report a significant decline, even as officials warn that progress could be fragile. (Stringer and Varian, 5/19)

San Francisco Chronicle: Lurie Touts Big Drop In S.F. Homelessness. But Change To The Count Complicates The Picture

Despite the different methodology, the mayor argued the latest figures were a sign that his administration’s policies around homelessness were having an impact. (Morris and Cassidy, 5/12)

The Santa Barbara Independent: Proposed Family Village For Homeless Secures $11 Million In State Funds

Governor Gavin Newsom announced he’s set aside $11 million for the creation of a 30-unit “tiny home” village for homeless families on the County of Santa Barbara’s sprawling Calle Real campus. (Welsh, 5/19)

San Luis Obispo Tribune: Coastal Commission Approves Nearly 1,700-Bed Housing Project At UC Santa Barbara

The California Coastal Commission has approved UC Santa Barbara’s latest housing plans. The 412-bed Santa Rosa residential Hall will be torn down and replaced with four new buildings to accommodate 1,688 beds as part of the East Campus Housing Project. (Caraway, 5/19)

The San Diego Union-Tribune: What Happens After A Homeless Encampment Sweep? Data Shows The Limits Of What San Diego’s Strategy Accomplishes

Encampments often reappear days — sometimes hours — after they’re cleared. The sweeps cost taxpayers more than $7 million each year. (Davis and Taketa, 5/10)

Times of San Diego: A Lifeline Or ‘Dystopian’? San Diego Schools Open Parking Lots For Homeless Students, Families

As the number of unhoused families continues to climb, some school districts are using their parking lots to shelter homeless students and their families. (Morton, 5/12)

KTLA: Fifth Californian Possibly Exposed To Hantavirus Connected To Cruise Outbreak

California Public Health officials said they have identified a fifth person from the Golden State who may have been exposed to hantavirus following an outbreak on a luxury cruise ship. None of the five California residents have tested positive for the hantavirus. (Fiset, 5/14)

The San Diego Union-Tribune: With Mpox Cases Increasing, At-Risk Residents Urged To Get Second Vaccine Dose

According to the California Department of Public Health, seven cases of a new version of the virus have been detected in California since late 2024. (Sisson, 5/15)

USA Today: Fungal Storms Are Getting Worse In California — What They Are And Why

Fungi are taking the U.S. by storm — and California is emerging as one of the nation’s most active hotspots. (Addison, 5/14)

San Francisco Examiner: SF Commission Delays Vote On Outdoor Bar Patio Smoking Ban

San Francisco lawmakers punted on advancing an ordinance by Supervisor Myrna Melgar that would prohibit smoking on the outdoor patios of local bars and taverns. The Land Use and Transportation Committee on Monday delayed voting on Melgar’s new health law, which would extend a ban that already applies to parks, bus stations, restaurants and other gathering spaces. (Salazar, 5/19)

Sacramento Bee: Which Sacramento-Area Casinos Are Smoke-Free? What To Know

As Red Hawk Resort and Casino near Placerville announces plans to go almost entirely smoke-free, how do other Sacramento-area gambling establishments handle smoking? Red Hawk Resort and Casino plans to add a new gambling pavilion for smokers, while the existing casino will go smoke-free, The Sacramento Bee reported. (Sweeney, 5/19)

VC Star: Kratom War Brings Retail Store Ban, Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A growing drug war has erupted over kratom sales. The family of a Thousand Oaks man who died after using it is suing a product manufacturer.

Los Angeles Times: L.A. Quietly Fires Its First Chief Heat Officer

Marta Segura stepped into the new role in 2022 amid a dramatic increase in climate-fueled heat events. (Smith, 5/12)

The San Diego Union-Tribune: South Bay Air Purifier Program Suspends New Applications Amid Wait For New Funding

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) announced Friday it is no longer accepting applications for its air purifier distribution program for residents of the South Bay impacted by the Tijuana River pollution crisis due to a lack of funding. (Armstrong, 5/19)

Los Angeles Times: California Announces Two Air Contaminants Pose Higher Cancer Risks Than Benzene

California health officials have released new scientific findings that suggest the health risks from exposure to two chemicals present in ambient air, acrolein and ethylene oxide, are worse than previously known. (Smith, 5/14)

The Modesto Bee: Pesticide Spraying Near Stanislaus County School Concerns Parents. Why It’s Legal

Although California laws prevent schools and nearby farmers from applying pesticides when students are present, cities are largely an exception. On May 1, Patterson city staff sprayed pesticides at Floragold Park next to Apricot Valley Elementary school while kids were outside. (Bisharyan, 5/18)

Bay Area News Group: Bay Area Air Regulators Split On Whether To Move Forward With Ban On Gas Water Heaters That Will Cost Homeowners $3,500

Bay Area Air District debate shows deep divisions over cost of living, health concerns. (Rogers, 5/13)

The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat: Napa County Public Health Monitoring Senior Housing Complex Where Legionnaires’ Disease Cases Reported

Napa County Public Health is monitoring the situation at a Napa senior housing complex where two cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in the past two months. (Booth, 5/12)

The Jewish News of Northern California: ‘Deeply Connected’: First Local Hospice Earns Certification For Jewish Care

Angel Palliative Care and Hospice, a local agency founded by Jewish women, is now certified by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice. (Loeb, 5/18)

San Francisco Examiner: Tenderloin Seniors Defy Loneliness Epidemic In New Doc

A new PBS documentary on the health consequences of loneliness and isolation features a group of elderly San Francisco men who gather every week at the Curry Senior Center in the Tenderloin to forge connections. Members of the center’s “Lunch Bunch” were in attendance on Wednesday when Curry hosted a pre-screening of the film, which premieres June 1, at the San Francisco Public Library. (Gurevich, 5/15)

The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat: 91-Year-Old Widow Suing Luxury Santa Rosa Senior Living Facility, Alleging Elder Abuse

Varenna at Fountaingrove faces an elder abuse lawsuit filed on behalf of a resident who is the widow of a California appellate court justice. (Murphy and Barber, 5/15)

San Francisco Chronicle: Oakland Could Lose Shelter Beds, Close Fire Stations If Voters Don’T Pass Parcel Tax, Mayor Says

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s first budget proposal delivers a blunt message to voters weighing yet another city tax: Without new money, Oakland can avoid layoffs of city staff, but not deeper deterioration in basic services. (Talerico, 5/19)

San Francisco Examiner: New Proposal Would Expand LGBTQ+ Housing, Employment Protections

Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is proposing amendments to The City’s Fair Chance ordinance to prevent discrimination against people who’ve been arrested or convicted out of state for actions that are legal in California, such as gender-affirming care or abortion. (Gurevich, 5/18)

CalMatters: Six People Died In California ICE Detention Centers As Trump Deportations Soared

State investigators documented crisis-level staffing, poor conditions and deaths at Adelanto, Imperial and Otay Mesa detention centers as detainee populations jumped. (Fry and Olmos, 5/17)

Los Angeles Times: Amid Surging Inflation, L.A. Food Giveaway Draws Thousand--And Runs Out Of Supplies

Angelenos are feeling the pinch of ongoing gas and grocery price spikes amid the U.S. war on Iran. A food distribution event in Baldwin Hills ran out of supplies Wednesday, sending scores of families home empty-handed. (Harter, 5/14)

Los Angeles Times: Disabled Veterans May Be Getting A Big Property Tax Break In California

Severely disabled veterans in California could be getting an expanded tax break. Proposed legislation would exempt from taxation 50% of the residential property owned by a fully disabled veteran, or 100% if their household income does not exceed $40,000. (King, 5/13)

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