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Headlines From The Times
Headlines From The Times
Author: LA Times Studios
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Get essential Los Angeles Times news highlights from the L.A. Times Studios in “Headlines From The Times.” Each episode brings you a bite-sized breakdown of the day’s top news stories and biggest headlines from California and beyond. From politics and climate to entertainment and food, you’ll get the basics behind the trending topics and key news stories that matter most.
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Forty years ago today, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after taking off at Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center; New Hampshire Public Radio spoke to people who knew Christa McAuliffe, who was going to be the first teacher in space. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve voted to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, despite heavy pressure from the White House to lower borrowing costs. Also, new data shows median rent in LA dropped to about $2,100 in December, the lowest in four years. And for the first time since the pandemic, California's population has stalled. In business, California Covered enrollees may see higher premiums now that pandemic-era health insurance subsidies have expired, and Amazon says it will layoff 16,000 workers and shut down its brick-and-mortar stores. Read more at LATimes.com.
TikTok agreed to settle a landmark social media addiction case on Tuesday, just before a jury trial against three of the world's biggest tech companies kicked off. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis as early as today, according to the Associated Press. Also, survivors and many others observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Meanwhile, Highway One through Big Sur is fully open for the first time in more than three years, but experts fear climate change could threaten more closures. And, Noma's superstar chef René Redzepi is bringing his food to LA—a tasting menu in Silver Lake that'll go on from March 11th until June 26th—at the cool price of $1,500 for a reservation. In business, Chinese boba giant Mixue opened its first U.S. location in Hollywood. Soon after the opening, it launched more locations in various New York neighborhoods. Read more at LATimes.com.
Hundreds of businesses across Minnesota are expected to close on Friday as part of a general strike against the tactics and actions of ICE. New York Times columnist Lydia Polgreen described what she saw in Minneapolis as a "civil war." And after decades of debate, Metro's board unanimously approved plans for a multibillion-dollar underground rail line through the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, more than 175 million Americans are facing winter weather warnings with a massive storm barreling across the country. And before Ernest Hemingway was discharged in 1961 from St. Marys Hospital in Minnesota, he gave Sister Immaculata his novella "The Old Man and the Sea," inscribing a personal note in it; that book is now in the hands of the Nobel Prize Museum in Sweden for the world to see. In business, an L.A. startup is using SpaceX rocket-engine technology to cool data centers, and the historic Radford Studio Center defaults on its mortgage due to Hollywood's production slowdown. Read more at LATimes.com.
President Trump signs his Board of Peace charter at Davos on Thursday. Also, two updates about ongoing ICE operations. First, ICE is targeting immigrants in what DHS officials are calling "Operation Catch of the Day" in Maine, though state officials there are pushing back on this plan. Meanwhile, California senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff toured, for a second time, California's most recent ICE facility on the books. The detention center is a former prison, and immigrants in a federal class action lawsuit accused DHS of sewage water in showers and foul drinking water. In business, Kim Kardashian's brand Skims pays $200,000 dollars to settle fraud allegations in New Jersey, and Speedo moves its headquarters from Orange County to Long Beach ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Read more at LATimes.com
President Trump spoke at Davos on Wednesday morning, reaffirming his desire to take over Greenland, which has been an autonomous territory of Denmark for more than 300 years; world leaders, though, are pushing back on Trump's plan. Meanwhile, one of the biggest stories in Hollywood just took another turn. Netflix is amending its $72 billion bid of Warner Brothers Discovery to pay the full amount in cash rather than a mix of cash and stock. And for months, people living in Hancock Park in the Wilshire area of Los Angeles say their neighborhood has been left in the dark after copper thieves stripped wiring from streetlights, leaving them in the dark. Why are people stealing copper? Well, the metal is a hot commodity. In business, a shop on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles is selling thrifted clothes and beauty items from influencers to combat fast fashion, and California Governor Gavin Newsom announces that the state reached its clean air vehicle goals last year, which were set in 2010 by then Governor Jerry Brown. Read more at LATimes.com.
During the first year of his second term, President Trump took unprecedented actions. Meanwhile in Greenland, protests erupted over the weekend as Trump doubled down on his threats to take over the autonomous territory from Denmark. The President says the acquisition is necessary for security reasons, though others have denied that Greenland is under threat from China or Russia. And in California, San Diego’s development boom is shining a spotlight on Los Angeles’s own housing crisis; San Diego is building apartments at nearly twice the rate of LA, where new construction plummeted 33% over the past three years. Read more at LATimes.com.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in a New York courtroom Monday, marking his first appearance since U.S. forces seized him and his wife from their bedroom in Caracas late Friday night. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that he is issuing a letter of censure to Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly for participating in a video urging U.S. soldiers to uphold the Constitution. And in other Washington news, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Monday he will not run for a third term. In California, record-setting rain continues, though sunny skies are expected by the weekend. In business, California is weighing a one-time 5% tax on billionaires and their trusts, and Tesla has been overtaken as the world’s top electric vehicle seller by China’s BYD. Read more at LATimes.com.
The United States military presence is growing in the Caribbean, with the Southern Command estimating about 15,000 personnel in the region, as tensions continue to build with Venezuela. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., fallout continues after President Trump added his name to the Kennedy Center — jazz supergroup The Cookers are pulling out of their New Year's Eve show there. Also, the National Guard is no longer in Los Angeles, but they’re patrolling New Orleans — exactly one year after a New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street that took the lives of 14 people. In California, the New Year is bringing a new round of rain to the southern part of the state, but even bad weather can't stop the 137th Rose Parade from marching through downtown Pasadena. And as people around the world ring in 2026, there will be partying, but also introspection and reflection; at a New Year's event in Sydney, Australia, a moment of silence – representing a nation's path towards healing — took place to remember the victims of a recent anitsemitic terrorist attack. Read more at LATimes.com.
President Trump said Monday that the U.S. “hit” an alleged drug facility along a shoreline as he escalates pressure on Venezuela. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security launched a fraud investigation in Minneapolis, targeting suspects accused of stealing billions in government funds. In California, the DMV rolled out a new pilot program aimed at cracking down on reckless driving, with added penalties for motorists clocked at more than 100 miles per hour. The state also became the first in the nation to require folic acid in most tortilla and corn masa products, a move aimed at reducing birth defects. And in sports, the Rams fell 27–24 to the Falcons on Monday night, sliding to the No. 6 seed in the NFC heading into the playoffs. Read more at LATimes.com.
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. The talks focused on securing a U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Over the weekend, Trump also worked to advance a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday before welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his Palm Beach, Florida, club later that day. Meanwhile, Paramount’s hostile bid to buy Warner Bros. continues. Last week, the deal gained backing from Larry Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, who said he would guarantee more than $40 billion in equity. In California, the state has lost more than a quarter of its immigration judges this year. Some retired, while others were terminated without advance notice, adding pressure to an already overburdened court system. And Southern California is facing another week of extreme weather. After days of storms, forecasters are warning of high winds up to 65 miles per hour through Tuesday. Read more at LATimes.com.
The suspect in the recent Brown and MIT shootings was found dead on Thursday night. Meanwhile, for millions of Americans who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, the clock is ticking; open enrollment for 2026 coverage is still open, but many shoppers are feeling sticker shock. Also, the Kennedy Center board votes to include President Trump’s name in the organization’s title. And, Ford's exhibit, "American Icon: A Mustang Immersive Experience," is now in L.A. Could it boost sales among Gen Z consumers? In business, the Port of Los Angeles is closing a busy 2025, but officials expect trade to fall off next year, and Elon Musk's SpaceX eyes a possible record initial public offering.
The board of Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount's hostile bid. Meanwhile, Nick Reiner appeared for the first time in Los Angeles Superior Court and was denied bail. And for nearly a year, Times reporters have been covering the rebuilding efforts in Pacific Palisades, following the devastating fires that destroyed thousands of homes. Meanwhile, Times reporters are reporting that four alleged members of a child sex abuse network have been charged; investigators say the group, CVLT, is mostly dismantled, but has splintered into another entity. Also, some exciting news for sports fans: it may be a bit easier to score tickets to the World Cup in 2026, with a new supporter entry tier for tickets at a fixed rate of $60. And, just up the 101 in Santa Barbara, the city's newspaper, the Santa Barbara News-Press, is back and with a new editor. In business, experts are saying L.A. County's $700 million estimate to retrofit its old headquarters is grossly inflated, and Instacart is facing backlash following an AI experiment that charged customers different prices for the same items.
The suspected gunmen of an antisemitic terrorist attack in Australia are a father and son, reportedly inspired by ISIS. In the U.S., the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6%, the highest it's been in four years. Meanwhile, in Texas, the state is moving to expand conservative student clubs in public high schools, with Governor Greg Abbott emphasizing his support for Turning Point USA. Also, in Southern California, forecasters are monitoring a strong storm that's expected to reach the coast on December 23rd and last through Christmas Day. And, new reporting is showing the impact of Brendan Carr's leadership at the Federal Communications Commission on San Francisco-based station KCBS and beyond. In business, the company behind Roomba files for bankruptcy, and an Amazon warehouse near LAX sells for a record price.
Hollywood is mourning the death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner; their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested soon after on suspicion of homicide. Meanwhile, federal authorities say they stopped a New Year's Eve terror attack, targeting Los Angeles area businesses, arresting four people involved in the plot. In California, a growing teacher shortage is being made worse by a new Trump administration policy requiring employers to pay a one-time sponsorship fee for new H-1B work visas for international workers. And on the first night of Hanukkah, the Pacific Palisades community stood together for their 38th menorah lighting. In sports, the Los Angeles Rams rallied to beat the Detroit Lions and clinch a playoff berth. In business, homeowners who lost their houses in January’s LA wildfires say banks are denying or limiting mortgage forbearance, despite a state law promising up to a year of relief, and the podcast industry is being reshaped by a surge of AI-generated shows.
A federal judge rules that the Trump administration must withdraw the National Guard from Los Angeles, saying the deployment is no longer lawful. Australia becomes the first country to ban social media use for anyone under 16. The Federal Reserve issues its third interest rate cut of the year. Another court orders the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 grand jury records under the new transparency law. The Trump administration proposes a settlement that could remove millions from the SAVE student loan plan, while Congress extends the Secure Rural Schools Act. Candidate Tom Steyer opposes both Netflix’s and Paramount’s proposed acquisitions of Warner Bros. Discovery. Heavy fog disrupts travel across California’s Central Valley. In business, a major appliance chain abruptly closes, leaving customer orders in limbo, and personal finance columnist Liz Weston explains why everyone should have a will.
President Trump is in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, defending his record on affordability. New details in the Epstein investigation might emerge in the coming days after a federal judge in New York approved the Justice Department's request. Also, Nvidia shares are falling today after Trump announced Monday that the California-based company would be able to sell its H200 AI chip to approved customers in China. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to again lower interest rates. In Los Angeles, Times reporter Karen Garcia profiled Joey Garcia, a working dad by day and a street parking defender by night. And Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is named Male Athlete of the Year by The Associated Press. In business, Netflix's proposed buyout of Warner Bros. is sparking concern in the movie industry, while a closer look at Netflix's CEO, Ted Sarandos, reveals the road to the deal.
Paramount is staging a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Meanwhile, the Trump administration halted immigration applications for people from over 30 countries last week, following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. Also, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could expand President Trump's control over independent federal agencies. Across the pond, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in London with European allies. And the investigation into Kerri Ann Abatti's death continues. She was part of one of the most influential farming families in Southern California's Imperial Valley. In business, a Google-backed film by Michael Keaton is aiming to change the narrative on AI, and the California State Transportation Agency rejected plans to raise the height of the Port of Los Angeles Vincent Thomas Bridge as re-decking on the overpass begins.
Netflix agrees to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in an unprecedented Hollywood merger that will reshape the entertainment landscape. The CDC reverses its long-standing recommendation for the hepatitis B birth vaccine, drawing immediate backlash from medical experts. The Supreme Court allows Texas to use a disputed congressional map expected to add GOP seats. A Pentagon watchdog finds Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated communication rules during Yemen strike discussions in a group chat on the "Signal" app. California expands oversight to protect underage farmworkers. LeBron James’ historic scoring streak comes to an end. Architecture pioneer Frank Gehry dies at 96. In business, a Waymo autonomous taxi hits a dog in San Francisco reigniting a fierce debate about safety and Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund moves toward controlling EA in a record-setting buyout.
President Trump’s remarks targeting Somali immigrants and Rep. Ilhan Omar escalate tensions as federal agents prepare enforcement actions in Minnesota. CBS News announces a primetime special featuring Erika Kirk, marking Editor in Chief Bari Weiss’ on-camera debut and signaling a shift in the network’s editorial approach. In business, a new UCLA report warns California’s unemployment rate will rise as immigration policies hit specific regions and Costco sues the Trump administration to halt global tariffs and recover billions in import duty payments.



