Top 21 California Stories Of 2021

CALIFORNIA — The year has almost come to a close, so we are taking a look back at some of the top stories from across California over the past year.

As we pause to reflect on 2021, we remember the lives lost and honor the frontline heroes of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. We also reflect on how the state reopened and continues to recover from the pandemic, from vaccine rollouts, lotteries and mandates, to breakthrough COVID-19 cases and variants.

We take a look back on the civil unrest that erupted into violence after the U.S. presidential election, as well as Gov. Gavin Newsom's landslide victory in the California recall election.

We also recall stories that brought smiles to our faces and filled us with pride, from the reopening of "The Happiest Place On Earth" to the freeing of the "Princess of Pop."

Take a look back at some of our top stories of 2021 from California Patch sites. They are listed in no particular order.

1. 1 Year With Coronavirus In CA: 'A Moment In Time' Becomes An Eon

A year ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered America's most populous state to stay home. Since then, COVID-19 has warped the fabric of daily life.

Also see:

• CA Nurse, 37, Dies Of Coronavirus After Giving Birth
• 4-Year-Old Child Dies From COVID In Riverside County
• CA's Amanda Gorman Honors Pandemic 'Warriors' Before Super Bowl

2. CA To Fully Reopen June 15; 16 Counties Move Tiers

Expect to see an end to the four-tier, color-coded system that has guided economic reopening to date — but masks will remain.

Also see:

• CA Lifts Regional Stay-At-Home Order As Critics Say It Hid Data
• CA Mask Mandate Officially Ending June 15
• CA Social Distancing Mandate, Capacity Limits End June 15
• Disneyland Reopens On Monumental Day For City Of Anaheim

3. 10 Californians Win $1.5 Million In Vaccine Lottery

The first state to shut down 15 months ago reopened with a theatrical display. To mark the milestone, 10 Californians became millionaires.

Also see:

• Newsom Touts 50K Six Flags Tickets In New Vaccine Incentive

4. All Californians 16+ Will Be Eligible For Vaccine April 15

"The light at the end of the tunnel continues to get brighter," Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

Also see:

• Dodger Stadium Reopens As Nation's Largest Vaccination Center
  
• CA To Vaccinate Kids Aged 5 To 11 Amid CDC's OK
• All California Adults Now Allowed To Get COVID-19 Booster Shots
• 'Don't Buy, Make Or Alter Vaccine Cards': CA Issues Stern Warning
• CA Father And Son Arrested With Fake Vaccine Cards In Hawaii
• Fully Vaccinated Napa County Woman Dies From COVID-19
• NorCal Man Dies After Coronavirus Diagnosis And Receiving Vaccine

5. CA To Require Vaccines Or Testing For Health Care, State Workers

A "sobering" increase in hospitalizations is possible as the state urges inoculation amid the "pandemic of the unvaccinated," Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

Also see:

• CA To Require Vaccines For All Health Care Workers
• In-N-Out Burger: 'We Refuse To Become The Vaccination Police'

6. CA Requiring Vaccinations For Teachers, First In Nation

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that all school staff must become vaccinated or get tested weekly as the coronavirus delta variant spreads.

Also see:

• COVID Vaccine To Be Mandatory For CA Students: Newsom
• Culver City Requires Student COVID-19 Vaccines — First In CA
• CA Walkout Against Vaccines: What Parents, Teachers Are Saying
• CA City Declares Itself 'Sanctuary City' Against COVID Mandates

7. 1st U.S. Omicron Variant Case Detected In California

A person in San Francisco who just returned from South Africa tested positive for the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Also see:

• Delta Variant Now Dominant In CA, New Data Shows
• CA Detects First Cases Of South African Coronavirus Variant
• Outbreak At CA Hospital Possibly Caused By Inflatable Costume
• Should Californians Worry About Breakthrough Coronavirus?

8. Newsom Crushes Recall, But Where Does California Go From Here?

Gov. Gavin Newsom can claim a landslide victory, and the recall serves as a warning and a blueprint for upcoming elections.

Also see:

• Elder Concedes And Pauses Fraud Claims To Look Ahead
• Larry Elder Egged As Hostile Crowd Chases Him From Venice Stop

9. CA Protesters Take To Streets Amid Election Chaos

Demonstrators converged at various locations across the state as a much larger protest exploded in Washington, D.C.

Also see:

• 'A Threat To National Security': Ted Lieu Calls For Trump's Oust
• Rep. Huffman Locks Down At US Capitol Amid 'Violent Coup Attempt'
• 'We Barricaded For 6 Hours' Rep. Katie Porter On Capitol Attack
• San Diego Woman ID'd In Deadly Capitol Chaos
• Los Angeles Deputy Investigated For Role In Capitol Riot
• Peninsula Business Owner Who Attended Trump Rally Faces Backlash
• Actor Arrested In Capitol Riot Faces 4 Charges
  

10. Newsom Signs Bill To Make Universal Voting By Mail Permanent

California will continue to mail ballots to every registered and active voter in the state for upcoming elections, according to a new law.

11. 4 CA Service Members Killed In Kabul Airport Attack

The remains of nine Marines and one sailor based at CA's Camp Pendleton were draped in American flags Sunday at Dover Air Force Base.

12. CA Oil Spill: Oiled Birds Die, SHIP Act, Fallout In Spill's Wake

Half of all oiled waterfowl have died in the days after the Huntington Beach oil spill wreaked havoc on Orange County beaches and the ocean.

Also see:

• CA Oil Spill Is 'Worst-Case' Scenario: Latest

13. Worst CA Drought In As Much As 1,200 Years As Seen By Satellite

NASA recently released satellite images of the extreme drought that has sparked a state of emergency in California.

Also see:

• Newsom Expands Drought Emergency To Most Of California

14. Housing Prices Surge In The Golden State

The state's median home price rose above the $800,000 benchmark for the first time in state history, according to a report.

15. Zodiac Killer ID'd By Cold Case Team; FBI Memo ID's 6th Victim

The "Zodiac Killer" taunted police as he killed five people in the Bay Area in the 1960s. The case fascinated amateur sleuths for decades.

Also see:

• California Synagogue Shooter Sentenced To Life In Prison
• Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Prompts SoCal Protests

16. CA Couple Charged In Deadly Fire Ignited By Gender-Reveal Party

The pair was charged with involuntary manslaughter after their gender-reveal smoke bomb sparked the fatal El Dorado blaze, officials said.

17. CA Teacher Under Fire After Telling Class To Pledge To Pride Flag

An Orange County teacher was "no longer in the classroom" after she said she encouraged students to pledge allegiance to the Pride flag.

18. Parents Who Had 'Wrong Baby' Sue CA Fertility Clinic

A fertility clinic implanted two mothers with swapped embryos, letting them give birth to and nurture each other's babies, suit alleges.

19. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins Dies After Prop Gun Fires On Set

Halyna Hutchins, a Los Angeles-based cinematographer, died on set of "Rust" when a prop gun fired a bullet.

20. Harvey Weinstein Faces 11 Sexual Assault Charges Involving 5 Women

The convicted rapist and former media mogul arrived in Los Angeles and could face a judge this week.

Also see:

• Weinstein' Bid To Evade Local Rape Charges Denied

21. Freed: Britney Spears Conservatorship At An End, Fans Celebrate

Supporters of the socially active #FreeBritney movement celebrated the end of the control that Jamie Spears had over his daughter's life.

Also see:

• Britney Spears Demands End To 13-Year Conservatorship
• Britney Spears' Father Agrees To Step Down Eventually