List: New California laws taking effect in 2026

The new laws signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom address issues that continue to impact Californians such as consumer protections, labor and workplace rights, education, and immigration.

YouTube fishing creator Mikey Rijavec found dead days after mayday call off Mexico coast

California fisherman Mikey Rijavec, creator of the SD Fish and Sips YouTube channel, was found dead off Mexico coast days after issuing mayday call during solo fishing trip.

Wisconsin dad's TikTok antics go viral, racking up millions of views

A Whitefish Bay dad's attempt to connect and get under his daughters' skin has gone viral after his TikTok account caught fire among an audience that can't get enough of the antics.

ChatGPT Atlas: OpenAI launches new web browser

ChatGPT's Atlas is the latest tech initiative from OpenAI, following the launch of its online shopping experience and AI video social media app, Sora, last month.

Trump calls out Newsom while threatening 100% tariffs on foreign-made films

In a social media post, President Donald Trump took direct aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom as Hollywood as been particularly hard hit by a drastic decline in film production.

Gen Alpha slang in 2025: The meaning behind words like 'clanker,' '67,' 'crashout'

Times have changed quite a lot since we went over terms like “Alpha Sigma" and “Skibidi Ohio Rizz." The language of "the kids these days" is literally evolving by the day.

Educators fired for 'senseless' social media posts following Charlie Kirk's murder

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, educators across the US are being fired or disciplined for sharing "senseless" posts on social media about his death.

Frank Caprio, judge who went viral for compassion in courtroom, dies at 88

Judge Frank Caprio went viral in 2017 for dismissing traffic tickets after listening to people's circumstances and even allowed children to join him on his bench to pass judgement on their parents.

Sonoma County sues all major social media giants

Saying that some 94,000 minors, in Sonoma County alone, have been ‘uniquely harmed’ by social media, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors have signed on to a major lawsuit with two other California counties against an army of social media giants.

Bipartisan pair of senators demand Instagram shut down new map feature

"This addition is a cause of particular concern for us when it comes to children and teens that are active on Instagram," the senators wrote.

WhatsApp removes millions of scam-linked accounts

WhatsApp has removed 6.8 million accounts tied to global scam networks in the first half of the year.

YouTube to use AI to detect kids lying about their age

YouTube is testing new AI technology to estimate users’ ages and block under-18 viewers from accessing age-restricted content, part of a broader push to improve online safety for kids.