Evening Briefing: May 29 2026

Good evening! We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

Say goodbye to winter weather and hello to weather more typical of late May.

Temperatures will come back to seasonal averages on Saturday, with above-average temperatures on Sunday.

A shrinking marine layer will lead to more morning sunshine for a majority of SoCal.

Tomorrow’s Highs

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Today’s Big Stories

1. Devastating wildfire and homelessness loom over Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ bid for second term

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is running for reelection after a tough first term. Bass says even though she hasn’t been perfect she is the right person to continue to lead the city. Street homelessness is down. Homicides have dipped.

And homes destroyed in 2025 in the most destructive wildfire in LA history are being rebuilt. But critics say construction is moving too slowly. Bass is in a tight race for another four-year term with reality TV personality Spencer Pratt and progressive city council member Nithya Raman.

There are 14 candidates overall.

The primary election concludes June 2.

2. 524 more vote centers to open in LA County Saturday

In-person voting for next week’s statewide primary election will dramatically expand Saturday, with 524 more vote centers set to open in Los Angeles County.

The new centers are in addition to 122 that opened on May 23.

The Los Angeles County vote centers will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for in-person voting, voter registration and vote-by-mail ballot returns. On Election Day, June 2, the centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Eligible voters who have not registered can visit any vote center, complete a conditional voter registration and cast a ballot. Once the registration is validated through the statewide database, the ballot will be processed like all others, officials said.

County election officials encouraged voters to review their ballots carefully and vote early, noting the ballot includes a large number of contests and candidates.

3. ‘This cuts my commute cost in half’: New train connects Ventura, Santa Barbara counties

A new daily AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner train is now connecting Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo early every morning, giving commuters an additional option, especially those traveling from Ventura to Santa Barbara Counties for work.

Among those taking advantage of the new service is Eric Topp, who said he’s been riding since it launched in early May and enjoys it.

“Not having to sit in 101 traffic, consistent, predictable timing and a much lower stress commute,” said Topp, who commutes from Camarillo to Goleta for work.

Topp explaind that the train allows him to get work done on the way to work, plus it has a financial benefit.

“This cuts my commute cost in half on a daily basis,” he said.

The new service is a one-year pilot project done in partnership with Ventura County Transportation Commission, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and LOSSAN, the agency that manages the Pacific Surfliner.