Energy Storage Manufacturing: Peak Energy selected Sacramento for America’s first grid-scale sodium-ion battery manufacturing plant, a $71M, 183,000-square-foot facility slated to assemble containerized storage starting early 2027. Public Safety & Crashes: A Merced County single-car crash killed one and sent two to the hospital after a modified Jeep rolled on an unpaved hill. Home Power Rules: California’s smart-inverter push is raising fears that backup options for solar-plus-storage households could get sidelined during blackouts. AI Biosecurity Debate: A new study says AI helped design working viruses in a lab, reigniting questions about how fast safety rules can keep up. Local Governance & Housing: Coastal Commission staff are expected to clear Capitola changes that would make ADUs and higher-density coastal housing easier. Environment & Water: A court backed the idea that counties must protect rivers from groundwater pumping under CEQA and public trust duties. Health Care Costs: California’s uninsured rate is projected to rise, with knock-on effects for ER wait times, premiums, and hospital finances. Community & Crime: An Oakland crash involving a car driven by two young children left a beauty queen fighting for her life; in Martinez, a man was arrested after a fatal yard stabbing. Wildlife: A red panda at the Santa Barbara Zoo died weeks after her newborn cubs died, with vets pointing to Addison’s disease.