Headlines From The Times

Los Angeles County launches an investigation after a sanitation tunnel collapse traps 31 workers underground. Governor Gavin Newsom tours South Carolina, drawing both praise and criticism over his national ambitions. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s soundstage operators hope new state tax credits will revive production after a historic slowdown. Plus, a watchdog warns of a 400% surge in AI-generated child abuse imagery, calling for urgent regulation. Stay tuned for these stories and more from the LA Times newsroom.

Protesters in Santa Monica rally against Trump’s immigration raids and question the legacy of hometown figure Stephen Miller. California farmers dismiss claims that machines or Medicaid recipients can replace undocumented workers and urge legalization for essential labor. Homicides in Los Angeles fall 20%, setting the city on pace for its lowest total since 1968 despite LAPD budget concerns. Officials failed to act on federal disaster warnings before fires in L.A. and floods in Texas, delaying evacuation orders. Mattel debuts its first Barbie with Type 1 diabetes to reflect more children’s experiences. Linda Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Elon Musk’s X amid advertiser exits and controversy over antisemitic posts by the platform’s AI chatbot.

The Supreme Court allows Trump to move forward with mass federal layoffs, while L.A. cracks down on “renovictions” to protect tenants. In tech, Meta poaches a top AI executive from Apple. Governor Newsom demands long-term disaster aid as a new lawsuit threatens funding for Latino and low-income college students. And Amazon’s Prime Day sees slower sales and fewer discounts amid rising tariffs.

Seven are confirmed dead after a pyrotechnics warehouse explosion in Northern California. Firefighters battle the Madre Fire, the state’s largest blaze of the year. President Trump signs a sweeping spending bill that boosts military and immigration enforcement while cutting aid programs. Proposed NIH budget cuts freeze thousands of medical research projects. The Justice Department says Epstein had no client list, contradicting prior claims. Masked ICE raids spark lawsuits in L.A. State Farm faces investigation over wildfire insurance claims. And a GOP bill ends federal EV tax credits, threatening adoption.

California fire season is off to a dangerous start, with experts warning of a severe year ahead. A California man is indicted for sharing a hit list with a white supremacist terror group. Nordstrom announces it will close its Santa Monica store after 15 years, amid concerns over safety. And the L.A. City Council approves a $425 million plan to use “mansion tax” funds for affordable housing and homelessness programs.

A new Gallup poll shows national pride is dropping—especially among Democrats and Gen Z. Tesla sales continue to decline amid political backlash tied to Elon Musk. Tinder rolls out mandatory facial scan verification in California to fight scams. And despite growing divisions, Fourth of July fireworks celebrations are still happening across L.A., from the Hollywood Bowl to Catalina Island.

Sean “Diddy” Combs avoids the most serious charges in a closely watched federal case. A new poll shows Kamala Harris is a clear favorite in the California governor’s race—if she runs. Jane Fonda and other celebrities call out Amazon over treatment of pregnant warehouse workers. And Microsoft announces layoffs, joining a growing list of tech companies cutting jobs in California.

The Senate passes Trump’s sweeping tax and healthcare bill by a single vote — but it still faces a challenge in the House. Questions grow around Pam Bondi’s claim of “tens of thousands” of Epstein videos, as legal experts say there’s no evidence they exist. Apple considers outsourcing Siri’s core technology to OpenAI or Anthropic as it struggles to compete in the A.I. space. And Lululemon files a lawsuit against Costco, accusing the wholesaler of selling lookalike gear that mimics its high-end designs.

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team pushes back on racketeering and trafficking charges, with legal experts saying a guilty verdict isn’t guaranteed. Meanwhile, the Trump administration accuses Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic abuse and warns it could lose federal funding. In California, Blue Shield faces criticism for moving its parent company out of state — a change approved quietly by regulators. And President Trump says he won’t extend a pause on global tariffs beyond July 9, urging countries to cut deals or face steep new trade penalties.

Gas prices in California are set to jump this July, with new taxes and refinery rules adding costs at the pump. Meanwhile, illegal fireworks are already lighting up L.A., raising safety and environmental concerns ahead of the Fourth of July. Across the U.S., consumers are pulling back on spending as inflation outpaces income growth, affecting travel, recreation, and more. And in the face of growing energy demands, big batteries are emerging as a key tool in preventing summer blackouts.