![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/012426-LA-ICE-Protest-TS-CM-01.jpg\")
Demonstrators, gathering in support of Minneapolis residents following recent ICE actions, hold a vigil and rally in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2026. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters<\/p>\nDemonstrators, gathering in support of Minneapolis residents following recent ICE actions, hold a vigil and rally in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2026. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters<\/p>\n
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday called for<\/a> U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to resign and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino<\/a> to be fired a day after federal immigration enforcement officers shot at another U.S. citizen in Minneapolis multiple times, killing him.<\/p>\n Weeks after the death of Renee Good<\/a>, Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti on Friday, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. During an altercation in which Pretti was observing and documenting federal agents beforehand, multiple officers tackled Pretti to the ground. Pretti reportedly had a gun, for which he had a lawful permit to carry<\/a>. After one agent took away the gun while Pretti was pinned<\/a> on the ground, officers appear to have fired at him<\/a> at least 10 times.<\/p>\n Immediately after the shooting, members of the Trump administration called Pretti a domestic terrorist. First Assistant U.S. Attorney and former California Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli defended the agents, arguing that there \u201cis a high likelihood\u201d law enforcement officers \u201cwill be legally justified in shooting you\u201d if you approach them with a gun \u2014 an assertion that the National Rifle Association called \u201cdangerous and wrong<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n On Sunday President Donald Trump also blamed Democrats and sanctuary laws<\/a>, such as those in California, for the two deaths in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n In response, Newsom called for Border Patrol officers to return to the border, ending the militarization of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and investigations into \u201cevery single federal agent who is breaking the law.\u201d His office also posted a know-your-rights guide<\/a> for dealing with local police and immigration enforcement officers.<\/p>\n But the governor\u2019s statements are part of a political calculus that is playing out as he makes a likely bid for the presidency. After Good\u2019s death, Newsom\u2019s team responded that ICE is \u201cstate sponsored terrorism<\/a>.\u201d Newsom eventually walked back this description during an interview<\/a> with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, as Congress weighs a spending deal that would include billions of dollars more for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security<\/a>, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan<\/a> of Culver City called for a general strike<\/a> to oppose ICE, similar to the large-scale walkout organized in Minneapolis<\/a>.<\/p>\n California Attorney General Rob Bonta also filed a brief supporting Minnesota\u2019s lawsuit<\/a> opposing the federal government\u2019s immigration campaign in the state. Along with 19 other attorneys general, the brief argued that the \u201cgovernment\u2019s unlawful conduct \u2026 infringes upon (Minnesota\u2019s) constitutionally-guaranteed state sovereignty,\u201d and that without legal intervention the government \u201cwill no doubt threaten other States and local communities across the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n CalMatters events: Mi Escuelita, a San Diego preschool, is transforming how young children recover from trauma. Join our event on Feb. 5, in person in Chula Vista or virtually, to hear from California leaders in trauma-informed care about what works, what it takes to sustain it and how policymakers can expand these programs. Register today<\/a>.<\/p>\n What should justice look like in California today? Join us in Los Angeles or virtually on Feb. 25th for a conversation with L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, former CDCR Director Dave Lewis and Heidi Rummel of the Post-Conviction Justice Project, on prosecution, incarceration and whether reform or tougher policies will define the state\u2019s future. Register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other Stories You Should Know<\/p>\n Fewer homicides in CA for second year in a row<\/p>\n Homicide rates in California have dropped for the second year in a row<\/a>, consistent with a nationwide trend after a crime surge during the pandemic, reports CalMatters\u2019 Nigel Duara.<\/p>\n In the city of Los Angeles, homicides dropped by more than 18% to 230 in 2025, and San Francisco had its lowest rates since 1954. Besides major cities, homicides have also been down in cities including Oakland, Fresno, Richmond and Lodi, though Kern County\u2019s remains the state\u2019s highest.<\/p>\n The declines mark a milestone after California experienced a rise in homicides during the pandemic, though crime in 2020-21 nationally and in California was still notably lower than the highs seen in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n Many factors could be at play for the falling numbers, crime researchers say. Magnus Lofstrom, policy director of criminal justice at the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, said the pandemic-era homicide spike may have been the result of various social disruptions such as school shutdowns, unemployment and the pausing of public services.<\/p>\n Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Feds withdraw demand for patient records for now<\/p>\n The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to drop its demand for medical records<\/a> of more than 3,000 young transgender patients at the Children\u2019s Hospital Los Angeles, writes CalMatters\u2019 Ana B. Ibarra.<\/p>\n In July 2025 the Justice Department said it sent subpoenas to more than 20 medical providers that offered gender-affirming care for minors. Hospitals were directed to provide a wide array of documents, including ones \u201csufficient to identify each patient \u2026 who was prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapy,\u201d court documents show.<\/p>\n The department said it was probing doctors and clinics for potential \u201chealthcare fraud\u201d and \u201cfalse statements.\u201d But the department never provided evidence of fraud, said the director of one of the law firms representing families who sued the department in a class action lawsuit to stop the subpoenas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Under the agreement the Justice Department will rescind its requests through 2029 for documents that identify patients or their families.<\/p>\n Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n And lastly: Carveouts for LA\u2019s \u2018mansion tax\u2019?<\/p>\n L.A.\u2019s city council is expected to vote on a motion Tuesday that would tweak the city\u2019s 2022 policy of taxing high-value real estate sales. In an attempt to encourage more construction, the motion calls for some development projects, such as apartments and condos, to be exempted from the tax. An anti-tax group wants to put a similar statewide measure before voters. Read more<\/a> from CalMatters\u2019 Ben Christopher.<\/p>\n California Voices<\/p>\n California policymakers must continue to fund trauma recovery centers \u2014 where trained staff members help survivors of crime heal from trauma \u2014 now that the passage of Proposition 36 has put funding streams for such programs at risk, writes Kathy Brown-Lowe<\/a>, a crime and trauma survivor who lives in L.A.<\/p>\n Other things worth your time:<\/p>\n Some stories may require a subscription to read.<\/p>\n CA to join WHO health network in rebuke of Trump \/\/ Politico<\/a><\/p>\n CA sues the Trump administration over plans to restart oil pipelines along coast \/\/ AP News<\/a><\/p>\n FEMA cuts payouts to local fire departments responding to wildfires \/\/ San Francisco Chronicle<\/a><\/p>\n Rep. Swalwell says CA should withhold jobs and driver\u2019s licenses from ICE agents \/\/ San Francisco Chronicle<\/a><\/p>\n Wealthy governor candidate Steyer calls to end corporate PAC spending \/\/ The Sacramento Bee<\/a><\/p>\n The hardest part about being a billionaire in CA: Proving you left \/\/ The Wall Street Journal<\/a><\/p>\n GOP rails against Newsom\u2019s late date for special election to fill Rep. LaMalfa\u2019s seat \/\/ Los Angeles Times<\/a><\/p>\n Rural CA is seeing its craziest election in years. Can a progressive win it? \/\/ The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n .wp-block-group__inner-container > :not(h2){margin: 16px 40px !important;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container{display: flex;gap: 12px;align-items: center;}.cm-cta.long-ask figure{max-width: 40px;flex-shrink: 0;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group p{font-size: 18px;font-weight: 700;line-height: 120%;letter-spacing: -0.36px;width: 100%;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-buttons{flex-shrink: 0;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-button__link{padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;}@container long-ask (min-width: 601px){.cm-cta.long-ask *{font-size: 16px;}}@container long-ask (max-width: 600px){.cm-cta.long-ask h2,.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group p{text-align: center;}.cm-cta.long-ask h2{background: linear-gradient(90deg,#FFE094 0%,#FFB500 100%);padding: 12px 20px;font-size: 20px;letter-spacing: -0.4px;}.cm-cta.long-ask .wp-block-group .wp-block-group__inner-container{flex-direction: column;}.cm-cta.long-ask > .wp-block-group__inner-container > :not(h2){margin: 16px 20px !important;}}]]><\/p>\n Nonpartisan, independent California news for all<\/p>\n We\u2019re CalMatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide.<\/p>\n Our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential.<\/p>\n We are independent and nonpartisan. Our trustworthy journalism is free from partisan politics, free from corporate influence and actually free for all Californians.<\/p>\n We are focused on California issues. From the environment to homelessness, economy and more, we publish the unfettered truth to keep you informed.<\/p>\n We hold people in power accountable. We probe and reveal the actions and inactions of powerful people and institutions, and the consequences that follow.<\/p>\n But we can\u2019t keep doing this without support from readers like you.<\/p>\n Please give what you can today. Every gift helps.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California\u2019s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters\u2019 flagship daily newsletter…\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Oakland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769437508_173_010318-Oakland-PD-CM-01.jpg\")
Police officers walk through a crime scene in Oakland on Jan. 3, 2018. Photo by Gabrielle Lurie, San Francisco Chronicle via AP<\/p>\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769437509_762_021325_CHLA-Gender-Affirming-Care-Demo_JWH_CM_06.jpg\")
Protesters gather outside of Children\u2019s Hospital Los Angeles to oppose the hospital\u2019s decision to halt intake of patients under 19 seeking gender-affirming care on Feb. 13, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for CalMatters<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/090821-Beverly-Hills-Mansion-GETTY-CM-01.jpg\")
A view of a pool at a mansion in Beverly Hills on Sept. 8, 2021. Photo by Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Asset-2ii-2.png\")
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