California News Roundup: Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service, ‘Historic’ El Niño Winter Forecast and More

Published Aug 16, 2026 · Community · Red Rock Daily staff

Here’s a roundup of recent California news: Waymo won regulatory approval to expand its driverless robotaxi service across the state, forecasters say California could face a “historic” El Niño winter and Bay Area communities are stepping up flood preparations, and a U.S. Justice Department report found California prisons have failed to stop guards from sexually abusing women in custody. Separately, crews are restoring Big Basin Redwoods State Park trails after the massive fire, the California Coastal Commission approved a renovation of Stinson Beach’s public area, and police are investigating the theft of more than 80 pounds of mail in the Bay Area.

Waymo wins approval to expand robotaxi service across California

Waymo has received approval to expand its driverless robotaxi service across California, including new rides in Sacramento and San Diego and a broader footprint in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. KTVU reported Friday, Aug. 14 that Waymo received approval to expand services across the Bay Area and California, and CBS News and KION reported Saturday, Aug. 15 that the expansion covers Bay Area, Sacramento and Southern California. The Los Angeles Times said Waymo won approval for a “drastic expansion” in Los Angeles and Bay Area regions, and ABC7 Bay Area called it a big California service expansion across the Bay Area, Los Angeles and more. Fox Business reported Sunday, Aug. 16 that Waymo got regulatory approval to scale up across California and enter two new markets. (KTVU, Aug. 14, 2026; CBS News, Aug. 15, 2026; KION Central Coast, Aug. 15, 2026; Los Angeles Times, Aug. 14, 2026; ABC7 Bay Area, Aug. 15, 2026; Fox Business, Aug. 16, 2026)

Forecasters warn of potentially ‘historic’ El Niño winter

Forecasters say California could face a “historic” El Niño winter, with Bay Area communities stepping up flood preparations, ABC7 Bay Area reported Friday, Aug. 14. The Marin Independent Journal cautioned Friday, Aug. 14 that a “super El Niño” is no guarantee of major Bay Area flooding. (ABC7 Bay Area, Aug. 14, 2026; Marin Independent Journal, Aug. 14, 2026)

Justice Department: California prisons fail to stop guard abuse

California prisons have failed to stop guards from sexually abusing women in custody, a U.S. Justice Department investigation found, NBC Bay Area reported Thursday, Aug. 13. (NBC Bay Area, Aug. 13, 2026)

Crews restore Big Basin trails after massive fire

Crews are working to restore trails at Big Basin Redwoods State Park following the massive fire that devastated the park, NBC Bay Area reported Saturday, Aug. 15. (NBC Bay Area, Aug. 15, 2026)

Coastal Commission approves Stinson Beach renovation

The California Coastal Commission has approved a renovation of the Stinson Beach public area, Local News Matters reported Friday, Aug. 14. (Local News Matters, Aug. 14, 2026)

Thieves steal more than 80 pounds of Bay Area mail

Police are investigating allegations that thieves stole more than 80 pounds of mail in the Bay Area, SFGATE reported Sunday, Aug. 16. (SFGATE, Aug. 16, 2026)

Bay Area woman aims to swim the entire California coast

A Bay Area woman is aiming to become the first person to swim the entire California coast, NBC Bay Area reported Saturday, Aug. 15. (NBC Bay Area, Aug. 15, 2026)

For more on the Golden State, see the California guide.