You’re not alone. Flags have been lowered on flagpoles at state and federal buildings across California. This is why: In each state, the governor is responsible for issuing flag directives.

A member of the public holds up a sign advocating for restricting the city of Carlsbad to only fly the American flag and the flag of California at a contentious city council meeting on June 11, 2023 ...

“The grizzly was ecologically and culturally significant to California, and today, 100 years since its disappearance, it remains an important icon for the state, evident by its place on our state flag ...