TV stars Nick and Vanessa Lachey have cut the asking price of their California home by $500,000, to $7.6 million. The couple first listed the property in September for $8.1 million. A source told Realtor.com that they are leaving California. The five-bedroom Tarzana estate was bought back last year from tennis star Naomi Osaka, whom they had sold it to in 2022. The Lacheys previously called the home their dream home. Prices are shown in US dollars with Australian dollar equivalents.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to keep living in Silicon Valley for eight years, according to a company filing. He had told board members he was considering leaving California because of Proposition 40, a ballot measure proposing a one-time 5 percent tax on billionaires' assets. Under a Founder Alignment Agreement, he can sell 20 percent of new nonvoting shares to pay taxes, with the rest sold over eight years while he remains in California. Meta says the arrangement helps keep him leading the company near its AI research unit. Recent polling suggests the measure may fail.
Severe waves and high tides in early September forced repeated closures of the rail line running along San Clemente's coast in California. Experts warn that the coming El Niño season could bring more severe erosion. A local activist has put a 1% sales tax measure to voters in November to fund beach sand replenishment. Officials say federal funding can take a decade or more to arrive, and armouring the shore with walls and rocks carries long-term costs. Some residents are sceptical that the government can protect their homes from the coming storms.
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Actor Zachary Levi says he has moved from California to a ranch in Texas, citing a better fit with his values and the freedom to pursue his plans. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he said he no longer pays state income tax there. Levi has settled outside Austin in Bastrop County, where he is developing Wyldwood Studios, a film and lifestyle campus he describes as an alternative to Hollywood. The project is planned to combine soundstages, housing and wellness spaces, with the first two soundstages scheduled to open in 2027.
Flooding along the California coast last week has prompted warnings that a tumultuous winter may follow as a strong El Niño continues to build in the Pacific Ocean. Forecasters say there is a more than 90 per cent chance the event will be very strong. Storms, landslides and high tides could hit at the same time, and burn scars from recent wildfires face higher risks of debris flows. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on 21 September.
California faces a potentially historic El Niño event, with experts warning of extreme weather impacts including landslides, flash floods, and rising sea levels. The climate phenomenon, already underway, is expected to intensify through autumn and winter, posing significant risks to the state's infrastructure and communities. Authorities are preparing for compounded hazards, with Governor Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency to mobilise resources. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable, with efforts underway to reinforce seawalls and protect against erosion. Residents are being urged to prepare for a range of potential hazards, from heavy rainfall to high temperatures and wildfire risks.
