In California: Get ready to matter in the presidential primary – USA TODAY

Posted: January 18, 2020 at 11:19 am

Find out how to seemore than a million snow geese as they feastin NorCal's plentiful rice fields. And our Palm Springs-based political reporterbreaks downall you need to know ahead of the Golden State'sMarch 3 primary.

It's Wednesday's news.

But first, a California mom creates a 3-D, AR app to get your littles using the loo. "Let's get this pottystarted" (VIDEO).

I'm Arlene Martnez and I write In California, a daily roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms and beyond. Signing up is fast, fun and free.

Vote button on star background(Photo: Marilyn Nieves, Getty Images)

Yes, the state's 5.4 million voters who registered "No Party Preference" can cast a ballot in the presidential primary for the Democratic Party, the America Independent Party and the Libertarian Party. Where they won't be able to weigh in are theRepublican Party, the Green Party and the Peace & Freedom Party. That's because each party sets its own rules and decides whether to hold an "open" or "closed" primary (can you imagine if the Libertarians closed theirs? Anyway).

If you're registered with a political party a Republican or Democrat, for example candidates for president will automatically appear on your ballot. But if you're not one of those voters, you have to request what's called acrossover ballotto vote in a party primary. Now you're wondering what a crossover ballot even is.Political reporter Sam Metz not only answers that but these questions as well:

March 3 is an exciting day whendemocracy goes into action. Between now and then, I and the other 100 or so reporters with the USA TODAY Network are here to answer any of your questions. As important as the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.are those people who represent you locally.

SOURCE AP(Photo: USA TODAY)

The flu's contributed to thedeaths of 70 Californiansthis season;five of them were children.

The pilots who dumped fuel atop small children in Los Angeles yesterday before making an emergency landing didn't have FAA clearance, buteveryone survived so...

In time to nail your New Year's resolution, the E. coli threat has passed andSalinas-grown lettuce is safe to eat again, the CDC said.

Arctic-dwelling snow geese migrate as far as 6,000 miles to the Sacramento Valley every winter to feed.(Photo: Mike Peters, Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway)

With their wide, majestic wingspan, white bodies and black wingtips, snow geese make for a captivating show. And every year, a million of them travel upwards of 6,000 miles before arriving at California's wetlands for the winter.

It's a migration dating backmillennia. Their arrival sendsbird enthusiastsand conservationists flocking to the Sacramento Valley to catch the boisterous spectacle. And for the past 20 years, there's been Chico's Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway celebrating the birds' landing.

With festivities only days away, learn more about snow geese and how to get the best kind of show, the kind you can only seein nature.

A truck loaded with cardboard for recycling in San Francisco.(Photo: Elizabeth Weise)

Santa Ana is suing Orange County and the cities ofDana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistranoon claims they shuttle homeless people to its shelter and fail to offer services and housingof their own.

California's Tom Steyer, diversity and other losersin Tuesday's Democratic presidentialdebate.

Recycling has plummeted since China stopped taking our things, but San Francisco's managing to keep 80% of its trash out of landfills. It isn't perfect critics say the no-bid contract drives up the price but supporters see it as anexample of badly needed domestic recycling investment.

A former police officer faces charges for allegedly possessing121 guns (two were assault weapons), military-grade flares, riot-control smoke grenadesand an explosive lotion bottle. The Monterey resident isrelated to Leon Panetta, who headed the CIA.

Mountain lions like to go it alone. I feel them, I feel them. So it'srare to see five of them together, like this pack in Sacramento(VIDEO).

The California Route 66 Museum in Victorville features exhibits of historic artifacts and photography that explore the cultural and economic impacts of Route 66.(Photo: David Kafer)

It's hump day, which means you may be dreaming of a getaway with the weekend so very far, yet so very near. Consider theCalifornia Route 66 Museum.It's got oldroad signage, gas pumps,a 50s diner booth, a psychedelically painted 60s-era VW van andthe original Route 66 kiosk, which oncesat onthe Santa Monica Pier.

And while you're there, don't forget to explore downtown Victorville! Or, drive just three more hours to Vegas.

I'll leave you now, dear reader,with a listening recommendation:

The Bay's newscast from Wednesday, The Anonymous Companies That Buy Up Homes. What role are shell companies playing in California's housing crisis? And what can citiesdo to require companies to acquire property out in the open? Worth the 11-minute listen.

In California is a roundup of news from across the USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: New York Times, Orange CountyRegister, Reveal, KQED, CBS.

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In California: Get ready to matter in the presidential primary - USA TODAY

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