"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land."

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials, in a social media warning aimed at drivers trying to cheat carpool lane rules with fake passengers. The message came alongside a recent enforcement example in Southern California, where a driver used a jacket arranged in the passenger seat to mimic a person. CHP noted that such tactics — from mannequins to makeshift decoys — are a recurring issue, and violations can result in tickets exceeding $400 as part of ongoing HOV lane crackdowns. (Los Angeles Times)

Steve Davis, chief scientist at the Everglades Foundation, describing unusually severe drought conditions in Florida’s Everglades National Park. Davis made the remark while surveying the wetlands from above, noting water levels are more than a foot lower than two years ago. Experts say the region is experiencing its driest conditions in decades, forcing airboat operators to reroute tours and leaving large stretches of marsh parched far earlier than normal. (Miami Herald)

West Virginia Del. Shawn Fluharty, criticizing fellow lawmakers after the West Virginia House of Delegates failed to pass Raylee’s Law before the session deadline. The bill, named for Raylee Browning, an 8-year-old who died in 2018 after abuse allegations led her guardians to withdraw her from school and begin homeschooling, would have paused homeschooling requests while a child abuse or neglect investigation is active. Fluharty accused lawmakers of letting the measure sit for most of the day before debating it just minutes before the midnight end of the legislative session, leaving no time for the Senate to take up the bill. As the clock expired, emotions flared on the House floor, with supporters arguing the delay prevented lawmakers from approving a measure intended to protect vulnerable children. (West Virginia Watch)

California Rep. Kevin Kiley while announcing he will register as an independent in the U.S. House of Representatives, citing frustration with rising partisanship and what he called a nationwide “gerrymandering epidemic.” Kiley said he will still caucus with Republicans for administrative purposes but plans to approach the remainder of his term independently, arguing the political climate in Washington is more polarized than many Americans realize. The move comes days after he filed for reelection as a “No Party Preference” candidate and will make him one of only three independents in Congress. The other two serve in the Senate. (Sacramento Bee)