The Colorado River, a lifeline for over 40 million people across the American Southwest, is facing an unprecedented crisis. At the center of this crisis are Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, both hovering at critically low levels as of mid-February 2026. Lake Powell, created by Glen Canyon Dam, is currently at approximately 3,533 feet above sea level—about 167 feet below full pool—and holds only about 24% of its total capacity.

In California, most residents rely on their vehicles for daily commutes. Owning a car comes with substantial ongoing costs. This article focuses on the cost of vehicle registration. It should come as no surprise that California is one of the most expensive states in the USA for registering your vehicle.

Health officials in Shasta County report that the ongoing measles outbreak, first identified on January 30, 2026, has resulted in eight confirmed cases, but remains contained due to effective public health measures and community cooperation. The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Public Health Branch announced on February 10 that seven additional cases were confirmed, bringing the total to eight. Importantly, all new cases involve close contacts of the initial patient, and these individuals followed early isolation guidance before becoming contagious.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pressing California Governor Gavin Newsom to honor ICE detainers. They say sanctuary policies put communities and officers in danger. ICE currently has 33,179 active detainers for criminal illegal aliens in California prisons. Since January 20, 2025, California has released 4,561 of these individuals despite detainers. Their crimes include: 31 homicides 661 assaults 574 burglaries 184 robberies 1,489 drug offenses 379 weapons charges 234 sexual crimes DHS warns that ignoring detainers forces officers to make arrests in public. This increases risks for both officers and the public.