Wildlife Update: California says it successfully released five orphaned black bear cubs in Northern California in November 2025, letting them survive winter on their own—an approach wildlife officials hadn’t tried before. Consumer Privacy: The FTC, joined by California, sued telehealth company Hims & Hers over alleged sharing of sensitive health data with ad platforms and deceptive subscription billing. Cold Case Closure: Kern County identified a teen found buried in a vineyard grave in 1978 as Michelle Louise Collier, using forensic investigative genetic genealogy; the homicide case remains active. Public Safety/Justice: California is investigating the death of an incarcerated man at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility as a homicide. Economy & Wages: California will raise the minimum wage to $17.40 per hour on Jan. 1, the highest statewide floor in the U.S. Energy & Grid Tech: California is launching a pilot to test whether parked EVs can provide backup power and send electricity back to the grid during outages. Weather & Fire Risk: A fast-growing Northern California wildfire, the Feliz Fire, exploded to 500+ acres and triggered evacuations and Highway 101 closures. Sports: The Dodgers acquired Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in a blockbuster trade; in Sacramento, the Tigers beat the Athletics 8-6.