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News, deep dives, and analysis — every California story, newest first.

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Sep 21
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Super Bowl LX: FAA Grounds Drones Hard
FAA

Super Bowl LX: FAA Grounds Drones Hard

Super Bowl Sunday is famous for wings, commercials, and at least one friend explaining formations like they invented football. Super Bowl LX, happening February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, adds one more tradition to the list: aggressively restricted airspace. The FAA has released its official flight advisory at the request of the…

Blake Resnick, founder of Brinc Drones, unveiled a groundbreaking product designed to revolutionize emergency response during Episode 78 of the PIXL Drone Show. The new drone, called the Responder, is set to transform how police and fire departments handle 911 calls by providing rapid, autonomous aerial support.
DJI

Police Drone Programs Hit 6,000 Nationwide As Legal Challenges Mount

I’ve been tracking police drone expansion all year, and the Wall Street Journal just confirmed what we’ve been reporting: this technology is spreading faster than anyone anticipated. But buried in their coverage is a detail most outlets are missing. The same aggressive enforcement model that generated nearly $1 million in California fines is already facing…

Cal Fire’s Drone Team Rises As A New Force In Emergency Response
Drone as First Responder

Cal Fire’s Drone Team Rises As A New Force In Emergency Response

Cal Fire’s San Benito Monterey Unit did not plan to become a state leader in drone operations, but a simple act of generosity changed everything, as a local photographer donated two drones back in 2021, and those small aircraft pushed the agency toward a future no one expected. Battalion Chief Josh Silveira still laughs about…

Pyka Fires Up Hybrid Power on New DropShip Drone
VTOL

Pyka Fires Up Hybrid Power on New DropShip Drone

Pyka has hit a key milestone in the development of its new heavy cargo drone. The California company released video showing its first DropShip airframe running its hybrid propulsion system for the first time. The test took place earlier this month and marked the moment the full power system came together on the aircraft. It…

FBI Seeks AI-Powered Surveillance Drones With Facial Recognition As Police Departments Rapidly Expand Warrantless Aerial Monitoring
Skydio

FBI Seeks AI-Powered Surveillance Drones With Facial Recognition As Police Departments Rapidly Expand Warrantless Aerial Monitoring

The FBI is actively seeking to equip surveillance drones with artificial intelligence capabilities including facial recognition, license plate readers, and weapon detection systems, according to federal procurement documents published by The Intercept Thursday. The move comes as approximately 1,500 US law enforcement agencies already operate drone programs with minimal oversight. FBI Issues Reques

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