A bill that would impose a fee on tech platforms like Facebook for scraping and disseminating news stories passed in the California state assembly on June 1 2023 — despite an industry threat. Assembly Bill 886 (AB 886), a.k.a. the California Jour
Publication: california
Truth or Fiction?→ State Farm No Longer Insuring California Homes, Insurance Industry in Climate Crisis
On May 30 2023, The Recount tweeted about a purported decision by insurer State Farm, which would evidently no longer be accepting new applications from California homeowners: State Farm is no longer accepting new applications for homeowner insurance
Logically→ No, the Great Replacement isn’t real and data from California does not support the conspiracy theory
Logically→ California State Senator Scott Wiener did not pose with a book titled ‘How to Legally Kidnap Children’
Logically→ Video shows cages in California intended to be used for humans in 15-minute cities.
Logically→ The 2022 wildfires in California are not proof of climate change.
Climate change has affected the severity and length of the wildfire season in California, including temperature changes, precipitation, and drought.
Snopes→ Police Uncertain if Girl Killed in Shootout Was Abducted
Anthony John Graziano and his daughter, Savannah Graziano, were killed in a shootout with law enforcement on a highway in the high desert east of Los Angeles.
Snopes→ California Woman Charged with Killing Man over Cat Dispute
A California woman has been charged with killing a man by ramming her car into him after accusing him of trying to run over a cat in the street.
Truth or Fiction?→ California Attorney General Seizes Control of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Investigation of Local Officials
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken control of an investigation originally carried out by Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, which quickly stirred accusations that the sheriff was attempting to intimidate local officials with overs
Snopes→ California Bill To Make Vasectomies Cheaper Goes to Governor
Months after making abortions cheaper for women, California lawmakers have now voted to make vasectomies cheaper for men.
Snopes→ California Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling 1,700 Animals
A California man who smuggled more than 1,700 wild animals into the United States, including 60 reptiles hidden in his clothing, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges.
Snopes→ California Poised to Phase out Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars
California is poised to set a 2035 deadline for all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to be powered by electricity or hydrogen.
Snopes→ Southwest Attendant Suffers Broken Back in Hard Landing
A Southwest Airlines flight attendant suffered a compression fracture to a vertebra in her upper back during a hard landing last month in California.
Snopes→ California Governor Declares Monkeypox State of Emergency
California's governor declared a state of emergency to speed efforts to combat the monkeypox outbreak, becoming the second state in three days to take the step.
Snopes→ Visitors to World’s Tallest Tree Could Face $5K Fine, Jail
Park officials declared the remote area off-limits because of damage done by trampling visitors to the tree and surrounding forest.
Snopes→ Is the ‘Humpback Whale Swallows Two Girls in California’ Video Real?
Two women who were enjoying a day of kayaking received the surprise of their lives when they had a close encounter with a humpback whale.
Snopes→ Western Flames Spread, California Sees Its Largest 2022 Fire
The McKinney Fire was burning out of control in Northern California’s Klamath National Forest, with expected thunderstorms a big concern just south of the Oregon state line.
Snopes→ Western Flames Spread, California Sees Its Largest 2022 Fire
The McKinney Fire was burning out of control in Northern California’s Klamath National Forest, with expected thunderstorms a big concern just south of the Oregon state line.
Snopes→ Crews Protect Homes As California Fire Burns Near Yosemite
Some 2,000 firefighters battled the Oak Fire, along with aircraft and bulldozers, facing tough conditions.
Snopes→ New California Gun Control Law Mimics Texas Abortion Measure
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he will sign a controversial, first-in-the-nation gun control law patterned after a Texas anti-abortion law.
Snopes→ California Forest Fire Temporarily Strands July 4th Revelers
A Fourth of July wildfire that authorities say may have been sparked by fireworks or a barbecue temporarily trapped holiday revelers as it chewed through a mountainous California region.
Snopes→ California Late Start Law Aims to Make School Less of a Yawn
Beginning this fall, high schools in the nation’s most populous state can’t start before 8:30 a.m. and middle schools can’t start before 8 a.m.
Logically→ Viral images show that powerful lasers caused wildfires in California.
Images from different incidents that occurred in 2018 were falsely shared as those of laser beams causing California wildfires.
Snopes→ Did Reagan Say ‘No Reason’ to Carry Loaded Guns in Public?
Readers emailed us to ask if former U.S. President and California Gov. Ronald Reagan once made a statement about carrying loaded weapons in the streets.
Snopes→ Janitor Corrals Curious Cougar in Empty California Classroom
A quick-thinking custodian safely confined a curious cougar in an empty classroom after it entered a Northern California high school.
Snopes→ 4 People Fall off California Cliff; 1 Dead and 2 Badly Hurt
The fourth person, a man who suffered minor injuries, managed to climb back up from the beach below and alert a passing officer.
Snopes→ Did Keith M. Alber Write, ‘Opinion From a Former Judge’?
Among the purported steps to overturn democracy were "divide the nation philosophically" and "control all media."
Snopes→ About 6M Californians Ordered to Cut Water Use Amid Drought
The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California declared a water shortage emergency.
Logically→ California has introduced a new bill that allows mothers to kill their babies after birth.
The proposed California State Assembly Bill 2223 has been misinterpreted. The bill doesn't legalize killing babies after birth.
Snopes→ Is the ‘California is a Shithole’ Starterpack Accurate?
The "starterpack" picture appeared to be first posted to the Joe Rogan subreddit in February 2022.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Don’t Let Drunk or High Drive’
On January 23 2022, a California-based journalist tweeted an image of a highway sign with rather odd wording: TBH I feel like a drunk or high person created this sign. The message is important, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the wording. Don’t le
Snopes→ California Governor Wants Texas-Like Law to Ban Assault Guns
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday pledged to empower private citizens to enforce a ban on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons in the state.
Snopes→ Food Waste Becomes California’s Newest Climate Change Target
The nation's largest mandatory residential food waste recycling program is set to take effect in January.
Truth or Fiction?→ Gabby Petito Lodi Truck Stop Sighting Rumor
Late on September 16 2021, a Facebook user shared a screenshot which referenced missing woman Gabby Petito at a truck stop in Lodi, California: As of midday on September 17 2021, the post was rapidly spreading and circulating on Facebook. It appeared
Snopes→ California Gov. Newsom Crushes Republican-Led Recall Effort
Despite warnings the race would be close, California Gov. Gavin Newsom decisively defeated efforts to kick him out of office, a win the Democrat cast as an endorsement of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his party's liberal values.
Truth or Fiction?→ Right-Wing Disinformation Surges As California Recall Election Unfolds
As the recall election against California governor Gavin Newsom drew closer to a close, both the leading right-wing candidate and conspiracy theorists continued pushing disinformation painting the process as “rigged” before polls even opene
Truth or Fiction?→ California Officials Attempt to Quell Confusion Around Gubernatorial Recall Election
As mail-in ballots began to go out in advance of the September 2021 gubernatorial recall election in California, a spokesperson for the California Secretary of State’s office attempted to quell disinformation and confusion around the often confus
Snopes→ 76,000 California Inmates Now Eligible for Earlier Releases
California is giving 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons, the opportunity to leave prison earlier as the state aims to further trim the population of what once was the nation’s largest state correctional system.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Since 1980 California Built 22 Prisons, 1 University’
On February 22 2021, an image was shared to both r/pics and Imgur, which contained the claim that the state of California has built 22 prisons, but only one university, since 1980: A sense of priorities from pics On Reddit, th
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘California Inmate Has Now Beaten to Death 2 Child Molesters With a Cane While in Prison, Authorities Say’
In February 2021, a February 1 2020 Facebook post (possibly “revived” by “On This Day” or “Memories”) continued its viral spread. The post consisted of what appeared to be a screenshot of a headline reading “C