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Topline:
The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to quickly weigh in on whether it can temporarily prevent California from counting the ballots of up to 20,000 people it alleges are likely noncitizens after a lower court judge forcefully rejected the request. The Justice Department said in a late Wednesday filing that it’s essential the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issue a ruling as soon as possible due to “irreversible ballot processing occurring on an ongoing basis.”
Why it matters: Carter’s decision was the latest legal setback for President Donald Trump in his efforts to expand federal control over state-run elections in the midterms that will decide control of Congress for the rest of his term. The Justice Department has made similar demands in other states including Washington. Noncitizen voting has been a central focus of Trump’s political messaging for years, although available data indicates it is exceedingly rare.
Why now: The appeal came just hours after U.S. District Judge David O. Carter issued a blistering order against the department’s last-minute effort to compel California to segregate the ballots from its vote count. The department says it believes those ballots were sent to people who are registered to vote even though they are not U.S. citizens. Early voting has been underway in the state for weeks and millions of people have already cast ballots.
The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to quickly weigh in on whether it can temporarily prevent California from counting the ballots of up to 20,000 people it alleges are likely noncitizens after a lower court judge forcefully rejected the request.
The Justice Department said in a late Wednesday filing that it’s essential the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issue a ruling as soon as possible due to “irreversible ballot processing occurring on an ongoing basis.”
The appeal came just hours after U.S. District Judge David O. Carter issued a blistering order against the department’s last-minute effort to compel California to segregate the ballots from its vote count.
The department says it believes those ballots were sent to people who are registered to vote even though they are not U.S. citizens. Early voting has been underway in the state for weeks and millions of people have already cast ballots.
Carter’s decision was the latest legal setback for President Donald Trump in his efforts to expand federal control over state-run elections in the midterms that will decide control of Congress for the rest of his term. The Justice Department has made similar demands in other states including Washington. Noncitizen voting has been a central focus of Trump’s political messaging for years, although available data indicates it is exceedingly rare.
Trump blasted Carter’s decision on Thursday morning before heading to a campaign rally in South Carolina.
“California is very corrupt. The elections are extremely corrupt. The judge should not have done that but we’ll appeal that, of course,” he told reporters. Trump added without evidence that there are “hundreds of thousands” and then amended it to “millions, in my opinion” of “bad ballots” in California.
Carter, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, argued that the Justice Department’s demands were a clear violation of the National Voting Rights Act, which prohibits changes to voter rolls or election procedure within 90 days of an election.
Carter also questioned the reliability of the department’s list of names, since both sides agree that an unspecified number of citizens were inadvertently included. He argued that separating the ballots at this point would risk disenfranchising citizens and “wreak havoc” on the election certification process.
Over 500,000 votes have already been processed in Los Angeles County alone, according to court filings. The system also protects voter privacy: Once a vote is processed, it cannot be traced back to the person who cast it.
Carter still has to rule on the federal government’s renewed request for a preliminary injunction, which would bar the state from counting the ballots until the litigation is resolved.
He said Wednesday that if the federal government suspected noncitizens were voting, it could continue to prosecute those cases criminally. Federal authorities have charged over two dozen foreign nationals in California as part of a statewide sweep targeting people officials say have illegally registered or voted in U.S. elections.
The Justice Department has argued that it is in the government’s interest to prevent fraudulent voting before it happens. Federal prosecutors also have said voters won’t be disenfranchised by delaying the tabulation of their ballots while their citizenship is checked — an assertion disputed by county election officials.
The appeal will be the second time that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will consider the case.
The first time was just last week when the Justice Department argued before an appeals court panel that a fast ruling on its request was needed to stop any counting of the ballots.
Although the panel ruled it was premature for an appeals court to get involved before a lower-court ruling, two of the three judges wrote separate concurrences making it clear they wouldn’t support setting aside ballots at this late date. They questioned the accuracy of the federal government’s list of alleged noncitizen voters and argued that to set aside votes risks disenfranchising citizens.
One judge dissented, arguing that federal law bars noncitizens from voting and compels California to vet the potentially illegal ballots before they are counted. The failure to do so, he wrote, would cause irreparable harm to the election.
It’s not clear whether the case will appear before a new panel of judges or the same three that reviewed the case last time.
Topline:
Long Beach announced Wednesday that Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan will retire after more than 33 years with the department. His last day will be Dec. 11.
The backstory: Buchanan’s tenure ushered in two new fire stations: Station 20 at the Port of Long Beach and Station 9 in the Los Cerritos neighborhood. Last year, the department also added an around-the-clock ambulance unit, the first addition of that kind of unit in the past four decades. But a few months ago, the department also saw cuts that eliminated dozens of full-time positions and shut down Engine 14 near the Colorado Lagoon — a move that trimmed about $3.88 million from the department’s $200 million annual operating budget.
What's next: The city manager will conduct a nationwide search for well-qualified candidates both internally and externally, with the new fire chief expected to be in place by early next year.
Read on... for more on Buchanan's tenure.
This story first appeared on Long Beach Post.
Long Beach announced Wednesday that Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan will retire after more than 33 years with the department. His last day will be Dec. 11.
Buchanan spent more than three years at the helm after taking over for former Fire Chief Xavier Espino in February 2023.
In doing so, Buchanan became the department’s first Black-and-Latino chief.
“His legacy will be felt for years to come, and we are deeply grateful for his service,” City Manager Tom Modica said in a statement.
Buchanan’s tenure ushered in two new fire stations: Station 20 at the Port of Long Beach and Station 9 in the Los Cerritos neighborhood.
Last year, the department also added an around-the-clock ambulance unit, the first addition of that kind of unit in the past four decades.
But a few months ago, the department also saw cuts that eliminated dozens of full-time positions and shut down Engine 14 near the Colorado Lagoon — a move that trimmed about $3.88 million from the department’s $200 million annual operating budget. The reductions prompted some fierce pushback from the community and firefighters who warned it would increase response times. Under his tenure, the department also had to navigate increased demand on paramedics.
Buchanan, a Southern California native, joined LBFD in 1993 after pursuing a professional soccer career that led him to play in Mexico, Brazil and Holland.
He was promoted to fire captain in 2002, then to battalion chief and assistant chief in 2019.
“His rise through the ranks reflected dedication, perseverance and a commitment to opening doors for others,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.
The city manager will conduct a nationwide search for well-qualified candidates both internally and externally, with the new fire chief expected to be in place by early next year.
Buchanan’s departure is the latest in a string of leadership changes among public safety institutions. Last week, Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish announced he would also retire in December. Earlier this month, Reginald Harris, director of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, also announced his retirement.
In a phone call, Lamont Nguyen, president of the city firefighters union, wished Buchanan and his family well in retirement.
Nguyen welcomed the opportunity to work with a new chief, who he said he hopes will “challenge the status quo.”
Topline:
The busiest year on record so far for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could run aground if bargaining between a small security workers union and shipping companies isn’t resolved.
Why now: International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Local 26, which represents about 250 watchmen who provide security at individual shipping terminals, has authorized a strike that could start at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Why it matters: The union represents about 2% of ILWU’s workforce, but their work is spread across six terminals — split between Long Beach and Los Angeles — that handle more than half of the complex’s cargo, including 85% at the Long Beach seaport. If the strike is carried out, officials say thousands of other unionized dockworkers — the longshoremen, marine clerks and foremen — could honor the picket lines and not go to work.
Read on... for more on the potential strike.
The busiest year on record so far for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could run aground if bargaining between a small security workers union and shipping companies isn’t resolved.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Local 26, which represents about 250 watchmen who provide security at individual shipping terminals, has authorized a strike that could start at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The union represents about 2% of ILWU’s workforce, but their work is spread across six terminals — split between Long Beach and Los Angeles — that handle more than half of the complex’s cargo, including 85% at the Long Beach seaport.
If the strike is carried out, officials say thousands of other unionized dockworkers — the longshoremen, marine clerks and foremen — could honor the picket lines and not go to work.
That would halt much of the work at the ports — which handle more than 31% of the nation’s containerized cargo — just as the heavy shipping season for holiday merchandise begins to gather steam.
Negotiations have carried on since July 2025, after the contract expired between the union and Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the operators of all 12 terminals at the port complex.
PMA said in a statement it has “put a strong economic package on the table,” that includes wage increases and pension improvements. But no deal has been struck and “significant differences remain.”
“A timely agreement matters not only to the parties at the table, but to the entire Southern California supply chain and to the local, state and national economies that depend on it,” the statement read. “We urge Local 26 to work with us to reach an agreement that avoids a disruption at the nation’s two busiest ports.”
A spokesperson for the union did not immediately respond to requests for comment or say when members voted to authorize the strike.
In the meantime, the ports’ administrators said Wednesday they are closely watching negotiations and remain hopeful some resolution will come about ahead of the weekend.
“Although the Port of Long Beach is not a party to the negotiations, we want to assure our customers that we remain committed to moving cargo through our port safely and reliably,” said Long Beach Port CEO Noel Hacegaba.
Agreements for other unionized dockworkers expire in 2028.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are by far the nation’s largest container port complex, moving more than 20 million containers in 2025. That trade carried a value of more than $1.6 trillion last year.
In Long Beach last month, the seaport saw a record 997,177 containers — 25% more than last September — in a jump that included 509,390, more than 31% higher than the same month last year.
Hacegaba said that, “While the affected watchmen provide security within individual terminals, port-wide security provided by the Harbor Patrol and the Long Beach Police Department continues uninterrupted during negotiations.”
Topline:
The CEO of California’s high-speed rail authority resigned late Wednesday, saying he needs to focus on “important personal and family priorities,” according to a copy of the emailed resignation obtained by CalMatters.
Why now: The abrupt announcement comes in the midst of a two-day meeting of the board that oversees the project, which continues Thursday. It follows Choudri’s tumultuous two-year tenure, which has been troubled by budget woes, project delays, transparency concerns and various scandals including the misuse of nearly $600,000 in taxpayer money for questionable trips by rail authority consultants.
More details: Under Choudri, the authority also lost $4 billion in federal funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, after the agency repeatedly missed deadlines required by the funding agreement to buy trains. The state initially sued Trump for the funding but abruptly dropped the lawsuit in December 2025, blaming Trump as “not a reliable partner” and turning to private investors instead.
Read on... for more on Choudri.
The CEO of California’s high-speed rail authority resigned late Wednesday, saying he needs to focus on “important personal and family priorities,” according to a copy of the emailed resignation obtained by CalMatters.
“This has not been an easy decision, as leading the Authority has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of my professional life,” wrote Chief Executive Ian Choudri.
The abrupt announcement comes in the midst of a two-day meeting of the board that oversees the project, which continues Thursday. It follows Choudri’s tumultuous two-year tenure, which has been troubled by budget woes, project delays, transparency concerns and various scandals including the misuse of nearly $600,000 in taxpayer money for questionable trips by rail authority consultants.
Under Choudri, the authority also lost $4 billion in federal funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, after the agency repeatedly missed deadlines required by the funding agreement to buy trains. The state initially sued Trump for the funding but abruptly dropped the lawsuit in December 2025, blaming Trump as “not a reliable partner” and turning to private investors instead.
Choudri did not respond to an email or text from CalMatters requesting comment Wednesday night. It is unclear when his last day will be.
State investigators last month found the rail agency’s consultants flew first class, hailed premium rides and traveled to a nightclub, cigar lounge and restaurants on taxpayers’ dime, sometimes at Choudri’s request. Many of the trips involved traveling to Folsom, the Sacramento suburb where Choudri has a home, sometimes after hours.
The board voted earlier this month to limit Choudri’s contracting authority following the probe, requiring the in-house legal counsel to sign off first on contracts under $25 million.
The board has been weighing additional disciplinary action against Choudri for weeks, including possible termination, according to a source with the authority who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.
California voters in 2008 approved a $10 billion bond to build a bullet train connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2020, with a projected cost of $45 billion. But progress stalled amid rising costs, legal fights and funding uncertainties.
The authority’s latest business plan said the project could now cost between $126 billion and $231 billion, with the current 171-mile leg between Merced and Bakersfield under construction, and a full buildout expected by 2040.
The board was supposed to decide at the meeting this week if Choudri qualified for a potential $25,000 bonus based on his performance this year, agency spokesperson Micah Flores told CalMatters last month.
Choudri’s compensation this year is more than $534,000, according to agency spokesperson Annie Parker.
Choudri was hired in August 2024 after spending decades in transportation engineering, with experience building high-speed rail in France and Spain. The board hired him in part due to his “strong understanding of complex transportation projects,” according to then-board chair Tom Richards.
Under Choudri, the agency has continued construction of the Central Valley segment and is on the cusp of getting environmental clearance from the state for all 500 miles of planned railway between San Francisco and Southern California. Newsom, a big supporter of the rail project, has committed $1 billion a year from the state’s climate fund toward the rail project until 2045.
Choudri has also led efforts to cut consultant contract costs, attract private investments and speed up contracting, rail authority chief of staff Mark Tollefson said during a Wednesday presentation touting Choudri’s achievements.
On Wednesday, the board unanimously approved a $772.1 million contract to Germany-based Siemens Mobility, Inc. to design, build and test three seven-car high-speed bullet trains by 2030. The authority will also pay up to $63.7 million in import duties and tariffs, because the trains will be designed and built in Germany.
The vote comes three years after the agency first opened bidding for six trainsets in August 2023 to qualify for more than $3 billion in federal grants, before ultimately losing the funding following missed deadlines.
In his resignation letter, Choudri said he was proud to have transformed the project.
“I took on a project facing significant challenges and serious questions about its prospects for success, and led its turnaround into a successful program,” he wrote.
But the project has continued to face significant cost overruns, schedule delays and lawsuits.
The train agency could run out of cash by December 2027, the office of inspector general warned in July. Meanwhile, the authority failed to make clear in its latest business plan that the Central Valley segment is now expected to be completed by 2034 at a cost likely exceeding $40 billion, the inspector general said.
The authority also based its project schedule on the assumption it would achieve legislative proposals it failed to push through this year.
To save money, the authority proposed shrinking the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment by 9 miles and moving the downtown Merced station to South Merced, in apparent violation of state law. It also requested an exemption from environmental regulations and solicited contractors for the new location, prompting a lawsuit this month from the Central Valley coalition Community Alliance for a Sustainable Economy.
“This challenge follows an unlawful pattern of behavior by the HSRA — proposing to relocate the downtown Merced station, then acting as if that move has been approved when it has not,” the complaint said.
Between 2024 and 2026, employees from four consulting firms working for Choudri's agency billed the state for questionable trips to locations including gyms, a nightclub, an escape room, a tiki bar and a cigar lounge, according to last month’s probe by the inspector general’s office overseeing the rail agency.
Many trips were poorly justified, yet the agency routinely reimbursed them without sufficient vetting, the inspector general said.
One legal consultant traveled between Denver and Sacramento 30 times in a year, charging the state $86,500 in “travel time” payments and an additional $40,800 in reimbursements.
In a testy meeting earlier this month, the board accused them of using the agency as a “piggy bank.”
On Wednesday, authority staff reported that the consulting firms have paid nearly $1.3 million in reimbursements to the agency.
CalMatters filed a public records request last month seeking the questionable travel invoices from the inspector general’s office. The agency provided records only from one firm, Nossaman, arguing that the records for other consultants are related to audits or investigations and therefore are not required to be publicly disclosed under a recent law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The records that were released were heavily redacted by both the inspector general’s office and the rail agency, which argued much of the information is protected by attorney-client privilege.
This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.
