Wildfire health info gap: A Kaiser Permanente Northern California study found many COPD patients don’t get trusted, actionable guidance during wildfire smoke events—often relying on smartphone apps instead of talking with clinicians about mitigation like air filtration and vehicle recirculation. Air quality alerts: Pasadena stayed under a particle pollution advisory as smoke from a Boyle Heights cold-storage fire continued to affect PM2.5 levels, with public health urging indoor precautions and medical care for severe symptoms. New Huntington’s trial: UCI Health launched the world’s first in-human embryonic stem cell-derived clinical trial for Huntington’s disease, with early patients receiving neural stem cells delivered to the brain via a targeted MRI-guided system. VA security scrutiny: A federal watchdog says VA medical facilities still haven’t fully implemented long-standing security recommendations after violent incidents, including attacks at VA sites in California. Billionaire tax and health funding: California’s proposed one-time billionaire tax measure qualified for the November ballot, with backers saying 90% would go to healthcare—while opponents, including major donors, are already spending heavily to stop it. Local recovery access: Compass Recovery in Orange County rolled out a free, confidential Family Concern Assessment to help families decide when to seek addiction and co-occurring mental health support. Mental health, more holistic: A new psychiatry practice in South Lake Tahoe, “Where Soul Meets Body,” is positioning itself around holistic integration and expanded local access.