California Today: California Raises Minimum Payout for Wildfire Victims’ Items

October 13, 2025, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

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

Today’s Top Story

Mark Abramson for The New York Times

California Raises Minimum Payout for Wildfire Victims’ Items

After years of fires that left families tallying every burned toothbrush, a new law is requiring insurers to ease a grueling burden.

In L.A., a Former Ally of Mayor Bass Is Expected to Run Against Her

The former supporter, Austin Beutner, who once led the city’s public schools as superintendent, is expected to challenge Ms. Bass’s re-election bid in next year’s mayoral race.

The Destructive Legacy of California’s Zombie Fires

Blazes that firefighters thought had died but then later came roaring back to life have become increasingly common, heightening scrutiny of how first-responders put out wildfires.

San Francisco Wants to Destroy a 96-Year-Old’s Defining Artwork

The maligned sculpture — “weird,” “odd,” “bizarre” — is no longer a working fountain or a skateboarding mecca. But its supporters consider it an important city symbol.

Katie Porter Videos Give California Rivals a New Opening

Viral videos showing caustic behavior have blunted her momentum in the California governor’s race. Other campaigns are scrambling to take advantage.

Manga Is a Pop Culture Phenomenon. It’s Also a Singular Art Form.

A first-of-its-kind exhibition in San Francisco shows the artistry and history of the Japanese comics that have fueled hits across TV and film.

What Courts Have Said in Challenges to Trump’s National Guard Deployments

Federal courts across the country have heard legal challenges to the mobilization of troops in Los Angeles, Washington, Portland, Ore., and Chicago. Here’s how some judges have ruled.