California Today: Before Urban Raids, Border Patrol Tested Tactics in California Farm Country

January 19, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

Before Urban Raids, Border Patrol Tested Tactics in California Farm Country

Just before President Trump took office, Border Patrol agents led by Gregory Bovino arrested immigrants in Kern County using the same playbook later seen in places like Chicago and Minneapolis. Then a federal judge ordered them to stop.

What to Know About M.L.K. Day

Since 1986, a federal holiday on the third Monday of January has celebrated the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

California Will Waive State Park Entry Fees on M.L.K. Day

Gov. Gavin Newsom framed the move as a rebuke to President Trump, who recently cut the holiday from the list of free-entry days at U.S. national parks.

Audio | The Sunday Daily: Hollywood’s A.I. Moment

Artificial intelligence meets the entertainment industry: What could possibly go wrong?

39 MIN LISTEN

Did Hunter S. Thompson Really Kill Himself?

At the request of Thompson’s widow, the Colorado authorities are re-examining his death. “The whole Hunter world is buzzing,” a lawyer said.

See You Later, Claude: San Francisco Mourns Its Beloved Alligator

The 30-year-old albino resident of the California Academy of Sciences died last month. On Sunday, thousands paid tribute.

Matthew Stafford Leads Game-Winning OT Drive as Rams Top Bears, Advance to NFC Title Game

The Rams will travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks for a third time this season with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

‘Roofman,’ ‘While We’re Young’ and More Streaming Gems

This month’s guide to the under-the-radar movies of your subscription services includes unconventional romantic comedies and vibrant indie dramas.

$1.5 Million Homes in California

A ranch house in South Lake Tahoe, a Queen Anne Revival in San Jose and a bungalow in Los Angeles

Times Opinion in L.A.

On Jan. 20, join New York Times Opinion columnists Jamelle Bouie and Ross Douthat in Los Angeles at the Aratani Theatre for a conversation about the first year of President Trump’s second term, hosted by Kathleen Kingsbury, the editor of Times Opinion. You can buy tickets here.