1. In 1869, the state of California passed a law allowing Chinese Americans to testify in court, regardless of their race or ethnicity. This was a significant step forward for civil rights in California, where anti-Chinese sentiment and discrimination were rampant at the time.

2. On August 2, 1914, the Panama Canal officially opened, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and providing an important shortcut for shipping between California and the East Coast.

3. Barbara Eden, best known for her role as Jeannie in the TV show "I Dream of Jeannie," was born on August 2, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona. However, she spent much of her childhood and early career in California.

4. In 1990, California's Proposition 128, also known as the "Big Green" initiative, was defeated by voters. The measure would have mandated a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and taken other steps to address environmental concerns, but it faced stiff opposition from business interests and other groups.

5. On August 2, 2016, Apple became the first publicly traded company to reach a market value of $1 trillion. Based in Cupertino, California, the company has long been a major player in the state's tech industry, which has helped drive much of California's economic growth over the past few decades.