- August 16, 2026
Newsom Faces Backlash Over Wildfire Liability Relief Plan for Utilities
California’s governor is facing criticism over a plan that would limit wildfire victims’ and insurers’ ability to sue utilities.
U.S. Heart Surgeon Says He Never Drinks Alcohol, Warns of Hidden Risks
A U.S. heart surgeon says alcohol is one thing he would never touch, warning that unhealthy habits can lead to surgery.
Federal Judge Signals Limits on Warrantless Immigration Arrests in Los Angeles
A Los Angeles federal judge signaled she may block warrantless immigration arrests unless agents make individualized flight-risk findings.
BTS Boycott Puts Grammy’s New Asian Pop Category Under Review
The Recording Academy says it is rethinking its new Asian pop category after BTS declined to submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards.
AOC’s egg-freezing decision sparks debate over marriage, family choices
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to freeze her eggs has ignited debate over women’s life choices and the politics of marriage and family.
Tesla Plans $10.1 Billion Solar Factory in Texas
Tesla has filed plans for a $10.1 billion solar cell plant in Texas, with 9,712 jobs expected if the project moves forward.
Hurricane Lala Leaves One Dead, Triggers Outages and Flooding on Hawaii’s Big Island
Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii’s Big Island, killing one person, knocking out power to over 124,000 homes and flooding roads and homes.
Victor Cha Sees Possible Trump-Kim Summit After November Midterms
Victor Cha says a Trump-Kim summit could follow November’s midterm elections if North Korea seeks leverage and recognition.
LA Sirens Sound Around the Clock as City Struggles With Safety, EMS Strain
In Los Angeles, nonstop sirens reflect a strained safety net, with emergency crews repeatedly tied up by overdoses and overtime costs.
Trump Says AOC May Be Eyeing 2028 Run as He Attacks Sanctuary Cities
Trump said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may be preparing a 2028 presidential bid while accusing Democrats of backing away from crime and immigration stances.
U.S. shifts carrier to Middle East, raising Pacific security concerns
The U.S. is moving the USS George Washington to the Middle East, leaving the Western Pacific without a carrier for now.
LA Officials Press for Local Olympics Contracts as LA28 Pushes Back
Los Angeles leaders want more 2028 Olympic contracts reserved for city businesses, but LA28 says a city-only guarantee is not feasible.
Lawrence Mayor Arrested in Federal COVID Loan Fraud Case
The Lawrence, Massachusetts, mayor is accused of using more than $1.5 million in pandemic loans for personal and campaign expenses.
U.S. Revokes Visa of Former Mexican President’s Son, Deepening Tensions
Mexico says the visa revocation is political interference as Washington intensifies pressure on ruling-party figures.
USS Abraham Lincoln Sailor Incidents Raise Questions Over Long Deployment
Two overboard incidents tied to the USS Abraham Lincoln have renewed scrutiny of crew welfare during the carrier’s extended deployment.
Pittsburg Data Center Fight Turns Ugly as Union Alleges Racist Abuse
A Bay Area data center dispute in Pittsburg has escalated after a carpenters union said its members faced racist slurs and threats at a city hearing.
AAPI ICE Arrests in California Jump More Than Tenfold in 2025
A USC analysis says ICE arrests of AAPI Californians rose 1,109% in 2025, with 56% of those arrested having no criminal record.
New U.S. Student Visa Rules Trigger Alarm Among International Students
New Trump administration visa rules cap student stays at four years and tighten transfer and degree changes, prompting warnings from the Los Angeles consulate.
Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing Case
Luigi Mangione admitted guilt in federal court in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, facing the possibility of life in prison.
Emergency Declared at LAX in Early-Morning Aircraft Incident
An aircraft emergency was declared at Los Angeles International Airport early Friday morning, and officials are still investigating the cause.
Political Anxiety Fuels Golden Visa Rush Among California’s Superrich
Wealthy Californians are scrambling for overseas residency and citizenship options as U.S. political uncertainty drives a surge in golden visa demand.
OpenAI Report Raises Fresh Questions About AI’s Business Value
A new OpenAI enterprise ChatGPT report shows fast adoption, but no clear link between heavier AI use and higher revenue.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s LA Homeless Funding Freeze
A federal judge said HUD acted arbitrarily in cutting LAHSA off from homeless aid, restoring its ability to seek about $240 million in grants.
LA Homeless Aid Future Rests With Federal Court in $240 Million Fight
A federal judge is weighing whether LAHSA can keep seeking $240 million in homeless aid as the Trump administration moves to cut off funding.
DHS Moves to End 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B, L-1 Visa Holders
DHS is weighing a rule that would eliminate the 60-day grace period many visa holders get after losing a job.
Iger, Kushner to Buy Lakers in Record $12.5 Billion Deal
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Josh Kushner have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion, a record for a pro sports team.
California FAIR Plan Rates Jump Nearly 30% in October
California’s insurer of last resort will raise rates nearly 30% in October, with some wildfire-prone homeowners facing much bigger increases.
USCIS Makes DNA Tests Mandatory in Some Family Immigration Cases
USCIS is requiring officers to offer DNA testing when documents proving family ties are missing or unreliable.
Illinois Ticket Wins $1.04 Billion Powerball Jackpot
A single Powerball ticket sold in Illinois hit all six numbers Wednesday night, producing the biggest U.S. lottery prize of the year.
State Department Forms Task Force to Cancel Visas Over Birth Tourism
The State Department says it has created a task force to target birth tourism and has already revoked more than 600 foreign visas.
ICE Plans Electric Shock Gloves for Front-Line Officers
The Trump administration is weighing electric shock gloves for ICE agents, drawing criticism from immigrant rights advocates.
U.S. Armor Unit Rout in Germany Exposes Drone Warfare Gap
A German war game showed how quickly drones can overwhelm even a top U.S. armored brigade, underscoring Pentagon concerns.
Santee High Student Arrested With Gun on LAUSD’s First Day of School
A student was arrested at Santee High School after police found a gun during an administrative search, triggering a brief lockdown.
Korean Air and Asiana Finalize Merger, Set Dec. 17 Launch
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have finalized their merger, aiming to launch a single carrier on Dec. 17.
Trump Administration Halts Federal Homeless Aid to LA Agency
Federal officials say LAHSA must show transparency and accountability before funding can resume.
Moderate David Crowley Upsets Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Democratic Primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong in a surprise Wisconsin Democratic primary win.
Musk Says Memory Is the Biggest Bottleneck in AI Infrastructure
Elon Musk says memory supply, not compute, is now the main constraint on AI growth as demand surges far faster than production.
FBI Says North Korean IT Worker Infiltrated U.S. Federal Agency
The FBI says a North Korean remote IT worker was caught working for a U.S. federal agency, a first public confirmation of such infiltration.
Seattle-area Korean Spa Takes Transgender Access Fight to Supreme Court
Olympus Spa, a women-only Korean spa near Seattle, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its challenge to a state discrimination ruling.
Nvidia Joins Wall Street Giants to Build $500 Billion AI Financing Platform
Nvidia says it is partnering with major Wall Street firms to raise more than $500 billion for AI data centers and infrastructure.
Nvidia Secures $500B AI Financing Plan With Wall Street Backing
Nvidia has lined up more than $500 billion for AI infrastructure, fueling hopes for growth and warnings of a possible bubble.
LA Olympics Security Zones Could Push Out Hundreds of Homeless Residents
Security perimeters planned for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could force hundreds of unhoused people near venues to move, with no relocation plan in place.
Jinro Mascot to Throw Ceremonial First Pitch at Dodgers’ Korean Heritage Night
HiteJinro will boost its U.S. marketing at Dodgers Stadium’s Korean Heritage Night, with tastings, giveaways and a first pitch by Jinro’s mascot.
U.S. National Debt Nears $40 Trillion as Deficit Warnings Grow
U.S. debt has surged to about $39.6 trillion, fueling warnings from Elon Musk, Ray Dalio and Jamie Dimon.
Minnesota Democrats Split Over Welfare Fraud Scandal in Senate Primary
A Minnesota Democratic Senate primary is being shaped by a sprawling welfare fraud scandal that has become a liability for the party.
GOP Lawmakers Target California Port Emissions Rule Over Costs
Republican lawmakers say California’s ship-at-berth emissions rule is raising costs nationwide and want Congress to roll it back.
Trump Seeks Exit Strategy in Iran Conflict, Narrowing Goals to Strait Reopening
Reports say Trump is weighing a way out of the Iran conflict centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with nuclear disarmament pushed aside.
San Andreas Fault Stress Hits 1,000-Year High, Raising Big One Fears
A new study says stress on Southern California’s San Andreas Fault has reached its highest level in 1,000 years, heightening concerns about a major quake.
Trump Orders Changes to Childhood Vaccine Schedule, Sparking Backlash
Trump signed an order urging separate MMR shots and a narrower vaccine schedule, while doctors warned it could disrupt public health.
U.S. Revokes More Than 175,000 Foreign Visas, Including “Birth Tourism” Cases
The State Department says most revocations were tied to crimes, while more than 100 cases involved so-called birth tourism.