MARCH 11, 2025

Visit California has released drafts of its Regional Strategic Tourism Plans, which are now open for comment through March 31. The grant does not provide funding or staff for any implementation work, but the plans identify resources available at the state and regional levels that organizations can leverage.

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MARCH 10, 2025

According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadian-resident return trips by car from the U.S. has plunged 23% from a year ago in February, marking the second straight month with a year-over-year decline and the first annual drops since March 2021. The U.S. is the most popular destination for international trips among Canadians.

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MARCH 6, 2025

President Trump has signed an executive order to establish a White House task force for the World Cup, which will be held across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in July 2026.  The executive order comes after U.S. Travel issued a report detailing the need for major reforms prior to the mega events set to be hosted in the United States, such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

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MARCH 6, 2025

The Trump administration’s tariff and immigration policies create uncertainty about California’s economy that’s “very much elevated,” according to a new UCLA Anderson forecast. Immigration policy could also have big effects on California’s economy—one being the loss of undocumented workers from the labor force. According to the forecast’s author, “Deportations and reductions in federal support for health care will disproportionately affect health care and social services, retail, and leisure and hospitality.”

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MARCH 5, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the state’s forests, allowing his administration to bypass more coastal and permitting regulations and expedite wildfire prevention projects as California recovers from the Los Angeles wildfires. The suspension of CEQA and the Coastal Act also reflects a shared belief among some California Democrats and Republicans that environmental laws are exacerbating the state housing crisis by hindering development.

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MARCH 3, 2025

One year into California’s landmark effort to regulate conditions for more than a half-million fast food workers, the state council appointed to oversee the industry has barely settled on how to conduct meetings. Council Chair Nick Hardeman said the pace so far is to be expected, likening the work to starting a new department from scratch.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2025

A rollout of $17 million for parks and open space will add 623 acres of green space to 13 neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County. Some of the money will go to restoring burned out preserves that are now a barren, blackened landscape where trees, flowers, and wildlife once thrived.

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FEBRUARY 23, 2025

On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new digital democracy initiative that will attempt to connect residents directly with government officials in times of disaster and allow them to express their concerns about matters affecting their day-to-day lives. Engaged California was designed to be more accessible for residents than traditional avenues for influencing government, such as testifying before city councils, writing letters, or emailing legislators.

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FEBRUARY 21, 2025

According to Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Predictions, more travelers are seeking out the feeling of awe from the night sky, with 60% of travelers saying they're considering visiting a low-light pollution destination. Many dark sky destinations focus on reducing light pollution and infrastructure to reset the area back to its natural nighttime state.

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FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom is asking Congress to approve an additional $39.7 billion in aid to help Los Angeles recover from the damage of last month’s firestorm, warning that it could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Newsom’s funding request includes $16.8 billion to rebuild property and infrastructure, $9.9 billion for grants to fire victims, $5.29 billion for homeowner and business loans, $4.32 billion in recovery grants for local governments, and $2 billion in low-income housing tax credits.

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FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Last week, federal transportation officials announced an investigation and possible withdrawal of about $4 billion in federal funding for California’s high-speed rail project. The rail authority's most recent business plan counts on receiving up to $8 billion in federal money to help close a funding gap, and losing that money would be a major blow to the project.

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FEBRUARY 21, 2025

A new report released this week by the U.S. Travel Association says the United States air travel system is not ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing slow visa processing times and outdated security technology, among other reasons.

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FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Over the next several years, Los Angeles is committed to radically reducing its homeless population, rebuilding one of the city’s wealthiest enclaves, and preparing to host the Olympics. Los Angeles will have its own fire-related costs, but the size of the bill will depend on how much aid is kicked in by others. The city’s major challenges—homelessness services, fire recovery, and Olympic planning—will all rely on some level of federal assistance

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FEBRUARY 18, 2025

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has denied a request from State Farm to green light “emergency” rate increases for insurance policy holders. When he rejected the request, Lara cited that he needed more information before approving an increase, such as what the insurer is doing to improve its finances other than raising rates and whether its parent company could provide assistance.

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FEBRUARY 18, 2025

California’s small businesses—employers to more than half the state’s workforce—are facing what some say could be immense negative consequences from President Trump’s slew of executive orders. After states including California filed suit, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order putting the freeze on hold, but uncertainty about the freeze may already be doing damage.

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FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Employers are facing a ramp up in immigration enforcement, including raids and I-9 audits. Raids are typically triggered by the presence of non-citizens with criminal convictions, and ICE agents may arrive with a civil administrative warrant to arrest the targeted individual.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2025

The TSA is reminding the public that starting May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or another acceptable form of ID to board a commercial aircraft. Signs are currently posted at airports nationwide reminding the public that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of identification will be mandatory for commercial air travel beginning on May 7, 2025.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Earlier this month, President Trump called for Congress to upgrade the U.S. air traffic control system following a midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement: “We are encouraged by the focus and leadership of President Trump and Secretary Duffy on addressing longstanding challenges in America’s air traffic control system. The travel industry has repeatedly called for greater investments in technology and manpower to build a world-class aviation experience.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Palm Springs International Airport is launching a $2.2 billion expansion, now that the Palm Springs City Council has approved a master plan for the project. The airport master plan includes a slew of projects to accommodate the increased air traffic.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Displaced Los Angeles residents are eager to rebuild their homes and move back into their neighborhoods. Once the EPA finishes removing toxic waste, crews contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can return to haul away ash, burned trees, damaged foundations, and other debris.

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