Daily Business Report: Thursday, January 8
Big deficits loom for California — will the state raise revenue, cut programs or both?
By Yue Stella Yu | CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom opened this year with a rosy forecast: Buoyed by $17 billion more in revenue than previously planned, California would have a modest surplus of $363 million for fiscal year 2025-26, he told reporters in January.
But life turns on a dime.
The January wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles forced the state to spend billions in disaster aid and delay tax filings for LA residents. The cost of Medi-Cal, the state-run health insurance program for low-income residents, ballooned to $6 billion more than anticipated.
Mission Bay Polar Plunge to raise funds for Make-A-Wish San Diego
By Staff and Wire Reports | Times of San Diego
Make-A-Wish San Diego is diving into 2026 with its inaugural Polar Plunge on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Catamaran Resort Hotel in Mission Bay.
This family-friendly event invites participants to be “Freezin’ for a Reason” and to help grant life-changing wishes for local children battling critical illnesses.
“Every splash brings hope to a child dealing with illness,” said Suzanne Husby, chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish San Diego. “It’s a great way to start the year — surrounded by community and supporting wishes for local kids facing unimaginable challenges.”
San Diego accuses DHS, Marines of trespassing to build razor wire fence
By City News Service | Times of San Diego
San Diego has filed a lawsuit against the federal government that alleges construction of a razor wire fence near the border constitutes trespassing on city property and has caused environmental harm to the land.
The complaint filed Monday in San Diego federal court states that razor wire fencing being constructed by Marines in the Marron Valley area has harmed protected plant and wildlife habitats and that the presence of federal personnel there represents unpermitted trespassing.
The lawsuit, which names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Defense among its defendants, says that city officials first discovered the presence of Marines and federal employees in the area in December.
