Thursday, October 8, 2026 · Laguna Woods today: sunny and hot, high near 96. Tonight clear, low around 70. Friday patchy morning fog, then sunny, high near 89. Saturday mostly sunny, near 83.
Notice: Extreme Heat Warning until 8 p.m. tonight. High near 96 today. Stay in air conditioning, drink water, check on a neighbor.
★ Five things to know today
❤ Health
1Last day of the Extreme Heat Warning: high near 96 today, relief starts Friday
The National Weather Service's Extreme Heat Warning for inland Orange County ends at 8 p.m. tonight. The forecast for our area is sunny with a high near 96 today, then 89 on Friday and 83 on Saturday.
Why it matters: After several hot days and warm nights the body is tired, so one more hot afternoon still carries real risk.
What to do: Stay in air conditioning this afternoon, drink water before you feel thirsty, and check on a neighbor who lives alone. Never leave a person or a pet in a parked car. Call 911 for confusion, dizziness, vomiting or very high body temperature.
2Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15, one week from today
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026, and changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027; the plan must receive your request by Dec. 7. During this time you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change your Medicare Advantage plan, or join, switch or drop a Part D drug plan. Even if you are happy with your plan, take a few minutes to review your options and what changes next year.
What to do: You do not have to decide alone. Medicare.gov says your State Health Insurance Assistance Program gives free, personal counseling and is not connected to any insurance company or health plan. You can also call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
3Gate 4 traffic limits: today is the second and last day
El Toro Water District finishes digging test holes on Avenida Sevilla near Gate 4 today. The work locates underground utilities for a new water main that is meant to fix low water pressure in the area. Gate 4 stays open, but access is restricted while crews work, and the road fully reopens at the end of the workday.
What to do: If you leave through Gate 4 today, follow the posted detours and traffic control, or use another gate.
4$90 Medicare payment: check your bank account, deposits are expected around today
CMS says most eligible people in Original Medicare Part B should see a one-time $90 direct deposit around today, Oct. 8; others get a paper check from the U.S. Treasury later in October. The payment is labeled "Medicare Improvement Fund Payment; $90 Payment to Offset October Premium." People in Medicare Advantage plans, people who get Medicaid help with their premium, and people who pay the higher income-related premium are not eligible.
Why it matters: The money comes on its own by direct deposit or check. Be suspicious of any caller who asks for bank details to release it.
What to do: Eligibility questions: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Payment status: Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, starting Oct. 15.
5United Mutual town hall is tomorrow at 2 p.m.: 2027 budget and water
United Laguna Woods Mutual holds its town hall tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. in Room 2 of the Performing Arts Center, Clubhouse 3, at 23822 Avenida Sevilla. The topics are United's 2027 budget and water issues. It is a time for United residents to discuss and ask questions; no board business will be conducted.
What to do: Questions: Laguna Woods Village, 949-597-4600.
Third Mutual lawn work starts Monday near Gates 7 and 9; clear your items this weekend
Landscape crews begin removing thatch from lawns in the Gate 7 and Gate 9 areas of Third Mutual on Monday, Oct. 12. The project takes about six months and prepares the grass for spring. Blue flags will mark sprinkler heads and green flags will mark areas treated for grubs.
Why it matters: Items left on the grass can be damaged or lost.
What to do: This weekend, remove solar lights, statues, holiday decorations and other personal items from lawn areas.
City opens a new coyote safety page with videos and tips
Coyotes are part of the local environment and may be seen throughout the Village. The City of Laguna Woods has a new web page with videos, tips for removing things that attract coyotes, guidance for protecting people and pets, and a way to report sightings. Awareness materials can be downloaded in several languages.
What to do: Visit lagunawoods.gov/coyotes. If you walk a small dog, keep it on a short leash, especially early and late in the day.
Orange County takes over two mental health campuses, ending a dispute with a nonprofit
Orange County and the nonprofit Mind OC signed a settlement on Oct. 5 that ends a lawsuit filed in 2024, Voice of OC reports. The county Health Care Agency will run the mental health campus in Orange and a finished campus in Irvine that never opened. The handover should take about 90 days; no opening date was given for Irvine.
Doctors and insurers sue California over a tax they say will raise health premiums
The California Medical Association and the California Association of Health Plans have asked the state Supreme Court to block a tax on health plans that lawmakers passed in June, CalMatters reports. Insurers estimate it could add about $100 per person per year to private plan premiums. The state says the tax helps pay for health care after federal Medi-Cal cuts and expects to win in court.
Aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln due home in San Diego today after a record deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln is due in San Diego today after a record deployment in the war with Iran, PBS NewsHour reported. The carrier spent more than 250 uninterrupted days at sea, a modern record. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded the carrier group the Presidential Unit Citation.
Hurricane Isaias, the first of the season, heads for the Gulf Coast
Isaias became the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 late Wednesday, with winds of 80 miles an hour, and is expected to strengthen. Landfall is forecast late Friday or early Saturday, threatening Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency, and 3 to 7 inches of rain is expected, with up to 10 in places.
Why it matters: It is the latest first hurricane of an Atlantic season in 121 years.
What to do: If you have family or travel plans on the Gulf Coast this weekend, check in with them today.
Trump order lets any driver buy tax-free red diesel; experts expect limited relief
President Trump signed an order allowing anyone to buy red-dyed diesel, which is normally limited to farm and construction equipment and is exempt from the federal tax of 24.4 cents a gallon. The tax is deferred for the rest of 2026, not eliminated, and many states still ban the fuel on roads. Diesel averaged $6.32 a gallon on Tuesday, compared with $3.76 before the Iran war, and analysts quoted by CBS News said the savings for most drivers would be small.
Federal election watchdog cannot enforce campaign money rules before the midterms
The Federal Election Commission has only two of its six members, short of the four needed to act, CBS News reports. Since May 2025 it has not resolved any enforcement case or approved a fine, and its backlog has doubled to 307 cases. President Trump nominated two members in February, but the Senate has not held a hearing. About $11.6 billion in political advertising is projected for this election.
Judge weighs today whether CNN, MS NOW and Politico keep White House access
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly holds a hearing today on whether to extend an order that restored White House access for reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico. His temporary order expires today. The news outlets say the ban punishes their reporting; the Justice Department says access to the White House is a privilege, not a right.
Oil jumps above $105 on a report that the White House is weighing new strikes on Iran
Brent crude rose above $105 a barrel this morning, up from about $99 on Wednesday, after The Atlantic reported that the White House asked the Pentagon for options to strike Iran again, CBS News reports. Stocks fell on inflation worries. President Trump has said the war will end "very soon." Russian President Vladimir Putin is to meet Iran's president on Friday in Turkmenistan.
Why it matters: Oil prices feed into what we pay for gasoline.
Russian bomb hits buses in Kramatorsk; dozens of Ukrainian civilians killed in two days
A Russian glide bomb struck a bus stop in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk this morning. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first reported 12 dead, and the Kyiv Independent later put the toll at 33 or more. Wednesday's missile and drone attack killed at least 28 people across Ukraine, including 20 in the town of Pryluky, five of them children.
Houthi attacks on Saudi airports kill three; diplomats in Riyadh told to shelter
Yemen's Houthis claimed a ballistic missile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport today, their third claimed attack on it this week. Saudi authorities said three people were killed in attacks on two airports on Tuesday and Wednesday, two in Abha and one in Riyadh. Diplomats in Riyadh were told to shelter in place.
What to do: If you or your family are flying through the Middle East, check with the airline before leaving for the airport.
Rubio: no prospect of a negotiated end to the Ukraine war right now
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Greek newspaper, "At this point, there appears to be no prospect of a negotiated settlement." He blamed Russia's demand for all of Ukraine's Donetsk region without a fight. Russia's deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that Moscow has no plans for talks mediated by the United States.
U.S. and world health officials press Russia about a possible plague case
The Trump administration and international health authorities are asking Russia for more information about the death of a laboratory worker in Siberia last week, an unconfirmed case of plague, PBS NewsHour reported. The head of the World Health Organization called for timely, complete and open sharing of information. Russia says there is no risk of an epidemic.
Korea recalls its ambassador to Ukraine in dispute over North Korean prisoners
South Korea said Thursday it will recall Ambassador Park Ki-chang from Ukraine. Seoul objects that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed in a United Nations speech on Sept. 23 that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea; President Lee Jae Myung called that a breach of a confidentiality agreement, which Ukraine denies existed. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart fell short.
Korean banks hit by AI-assisted hacking; about 25,000 Shinhan customers affected
Hackers using artificial intelligence attacked at least five Korean lenders last week, including Shinhan, KB Kookmin, Hana and BNK Busan banks. At Shinhan, names, phone numbers, annual income and loan limits of about 25,000 customers were exposed. Police are tracing 28 internet addresses linked to the attacks, and bank chiefs will be questioned at a parliamentary audit on Oct. 19.
Why it matters: Stolen names and phone numbers are often used later for scam calls and texts.
What to do: If you keep an account at a bank in Korea, be careful with calls or texts that claim to be from the bank, and contact the bank directly with questions.
Samsung reports a record quarterly profit, but its shares and the KOSPI fall
Samsung Electronics estimated its third-quarter operating profit at 107.4 trillion won, a fourth straight quarterly record. Even so, its shares fell 2.42 percent to 262,000 won on Thursday and are about 30 percent below their June peak, as investors question how long the memory chip boom will last. The KOSPI index fell 2.62 percent to 6,625.93.
Korean American candidates face tests on Nov. 3; Young Kim is in a tight race
Korea Daily reports that redistricting put two Republican members of Congress, Young Kim and Ken Calvert, in the same 40th District; Calvert led the June primary by about 14 points, while a poll last month had Kim ahead 43 to 34 percent. Dave Min is favored in the 47th District, and Jane Kim, who finished first in the primary, is running for state insurance commissioner. In Irvine, former mayor Sukhee Kang is running for City Council in District 1.
Tim Park elected president of the Orange County Korean Chamber of Commerce
Tim Park, who runs the logistics company Binex, was elected the 49th president of the Orange County Korean Chamber of Commerce without opposition, Korea Daily reports. The board confirmed the result on Oct. 6 at the chamber office in Buena Park. He takes office at the chamber's gala on Dec. 9.
Surprise medical bill law still protects patients, but its dispute system is driving up costs
A 2022 law ended most surprise medical bills for patients, and that protection remains. A CBS News investigation found that the law's system for settling payment fights between insurers and providers has produced very large awards: 1.2 million disputes were filed in the first half of 2025, when officials had expected about 17,000 a year, and providers win more than 85 percent of the time. Analysts warn the cost may show up as higher premiums in employer health plans.
Reminder: tax extension deadline is one week from today, Oct. 15
If you did not file your 2025 tax return in April, the extended deadline to file is Oct. 15, 2026. California's extension is automatic and needs no application, but any tax owed was due April 15.
What to do: If you or a family member still has a 2025 return to file, finish it or call your tax preparer this week.
Orange County gas averages $6.34, down about 6 cents in a week
AAA figures dated Oct. 7 put regular gas at an average of $6.336 a gallon in Orange County, down from $6.401 a week ago but up from $5.883 a month ago. The California average is $6.360 and the national average is $4.367.
Why it matters: Oil prices jumped again this morning, so the recent small declines may not last.
Study: household water bills are up 62 percent in ten years
American households pay 62 percent more for water than a decade ago, according to a study by the advocacy group Food and Water Watch reported by CBS News. The average bill at 500 of the largest water systems was $531 in 2025. The highest was San Jose Water in California at $1,416 a year. The reasons given are aging pipes, climate change and less federal support.
Free Medicare 2027 talk a week from tomorrow at Clubhouse 5
Village Social Services and HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, explain Medicare changes for 2027 on Friday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Clubhouse 5. No registration is needed. Free one-on-one counseling follows on Fridays, Oct. 23 and Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment.
Why it matters: HICAP counseling is free and unbiased; it does not sell or endorse insurance.
What to do: For a counseling appointment, call 714-560-0424. Questions: Social Services, 949-597-4267.
The Remotes play TV theme songs Saturday night at the PAC
The Remotes, a 10-piece orchestra, play live versions of classic TV theme songs, from "The Brady Bunch" to "The Big Bang Theory," on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, Clubhouse 3. Tickets start at $15.
What to do: Buy at tickets.lagunawoodsvillage.com or at the PAC box office, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 949-597-4289.
The American Ballroom Dance Club offers a group rumba class every Friday in October from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. at Clubhouse 5. Carlos Negrete teaches, and the cost is $5.
City of Laguna Woods holds its first housing forum Oct. 26
The City's first annual Housing Forum is Monday, Oct. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at City Hall. City staff, People for Housing OC and county representatives will explain how the city carries out state housing law, local housing needs, and homelessness in Orange County. The City Council also meets Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m.
Village resident Curt Abdouch, a biologist and former administrator of the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, talks about wild cats from ancient times to recent discoveries. The Cat Club meets Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 12:30 p.m. at Clubhouse 5. Members are free and guests pay $5.
What to do: Information: Sara Willard, 323-855-8331.
Coming to the PAC: free movie 'Clue' Oct. 19 and a folk music lecture Oct. 27
The Performing Arts Center shows the comedy "Clue" as a Tim Curry tribute on Monday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; it is free and no tickets are needed. A folk music lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. covers Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul and Mary, and costs $6.
What to do: Lecture tickets: PAC box office or tickets.lagunawoodsvillage.com. Information: 949-597-4289.
Dodgers beat the Braves 4-1 and advance; next up are the Brewers on Sunday
The Dodgers won Game 4 in Atlanta 4-1 on Wednesday to take the Division Series three games to one. Andy Pages broke a tie with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning, and Max Muncy added a home run in the ninth. The League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers begins Sunday, Oct. 11, in Milwaukee, on Fox or FS1; the start time has not been announced.
Canadian poet Anne Carson, 76, wins the Nobel Prize in Literature
The Swedish Academy on Thursday honored Anne Carson, a Canadian poet and scholar of ancient Greek and Latin, for bold and inventive writing that gives classical traditions new forms. Her best-known book is "Autobiography of Red," a novel in verse based on a Greek myth. The Nobel Peace Prize is announced Friday in Oslo.
Fred Claire, who built the Dodgers' 1988 champions, dies at 91
Fred Claire, the Dodgers' general manager from 1987 to 1998, died at his home, the team said. He helped assemble the 1988 World Series champions, including signing Kirk Gibson. A former sportswriter who grew up in Torrance, he is credited with coining the phrase "Dodger Blue."
Ducks lose to the Oilers 5-2; next home game is Tuesday
The Anaheim Ducks lost 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center on Wednesday after giving up five goals in the second period. Beckett Sennecke scored both Ducks goals. The Ducks host the Calgary Flames next, on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
A man told his wife, "I finally found a way to beat the heat. I am going to think cool thoughts." She said, "Good. Start by thinking about taking out the trash before it gets warm."
