CALIFORNIA DREAMING TURNS NIGHTMARISH: BLUE STATE REALITY BITES

The shimmering lure of beachy California, long a symbol of idealism's dream, is beginning to bitter reality. What was once lauded for its tolerant values has become a cautionary example. From soaring living costs to widespread homelessness, the state is grappling with persistent problems that threaten its core values. Residents, once ecstatic, are