Headlines From The Times

R&B legend D’Angelo has died at 51 after a battle with cancer, remembered as a defining voice of neo-soul with albums like Voodoo and Black Messiah. A major storm is soaking Southern California, bringing flash flood warnings and dangerous driving conditions across the region. The federal shutdown enters a third week as thousands of government workers face layoffs and pay uncertainty. California’s secretary of state is refuting false claims that mail-in ballots expose voters’ choices. Governor Newsom has signed new wildfire insurance laws to speed relief for victims. In business, Newsom signs new AI safety rules into law to protect minors and Long Beach enforces the nation’s first staffing requirements for self-checkout lanes to reduce retail theft.

Former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner launches his campaign for Los Angeles mayor, challenging Karen Bass. The Trump administration cuts hundreds of jobs at the Education Department, while USC eyes the future of its rivalry with Notre Dame. In the Middle East, Hamas frees the last Israeli hostages. Back in the U.S., Southern California braces for severe storms. In business, Tesla offers customers lackluster discounts and OpenAI expands ChatGPT’s reach with new third-party integrations.

A deadly explosion at a munitions plant in Tennessee has left workers missing as rescue crews search the site. MIT’s president rejected a White House proposal linking university funding to political alignment. The Los Angeles Fire Department is under fire for failing to use thermal cameras before the deadly Palisades blaze reignited. New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted following pressure from President Trump. In business, companies are using AI to create fake news-style ads without disclosure, and Nestlé has withdrawn from a global alliance to cut dairy methane emissions.

California test scores rose for a second straight year, with major gains in Compton and L.A. Unified as the state adopts new literacy reforms. The federal shutdown deepened after President Trump suggested furloughed workers might not get back pay. A Lakers fan sued LeBron James, claiming a misleading retirement tease. Trump announced an Israel-Hamas peace deal with hostage releases and troop withdrawals. L.A. County moved toward declaring an emergency over ICE raids. In business, experts warn of an AI investment bubble, and three University of California scientists won the Nobel Prize in Physics for advances in quantum computing.

Federal agents arrested a Florida man accused of starting the Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. President Trump deployed Texas National Guard troops to Chicago, sparking lawsuits from state leaders. Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress in a politically charged case. Los Angeles residents will see trash bills nearly double to offset a billion-dollar budget deficit. In business, police raided L.A.’s CoolKicks store and arrested its CEO over allegedly buying stolen sneakers, meanwhile California shoppers face new import fees after tariff exemptions were rolled back.

Illinois and Chicago sue to block a federal plan to deploy National Guard troops as tensions rise in major U.S. cities. The Supreme Court rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, while indirect talks begin in Egypt to end the war in Gaza. Three scientists earn the Nobel Prize for breakthroughs in immunology. Then, a Chevron refinery fire threatens to raise gas prices, and developers in Los Angeles prepare for flying taxis that could reshape urban travel.

Firefighters battled a massive explosion at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, shaking nearby homes and raising questions about operations and gas prices. In Michigan, thousands donated to the family of a church gunman. Russia launched its largest drone assault on Ukraine’s energy grid as Ukraine struck targets deep inside Russia. Former President Trump declared drug cartels terrorist groups, prompting bipartisan concern over unchecked military action. In Burbank, a former school board member was charged with diverting district funds for personal gain. In business, Apple shifted resources from its Vision Pro product to AI smart glasses following weak sales and PepsiCo is testing natural dyes for Cheetos and beverages to meet consumer demand for healthier ingredients.

Title: Kilmar Abrego Garcia Denied Asylum, Israel Intercepts Flotilla, Manchester Synagogue Attack, Trump Cuts Climate Funds, Sephora Waste Settlement, UCLA Stagflation Forecast Description: A Baltimore judge denied asylum to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvador native at the center of immigration debates, leaving him at risk of deportation. Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla bound for Gaza, detaining activists and drawing international condemnation. In the U.K., two people were killed in a terror attack outside a synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur. The Trump administration cut nearly $8 billion from clean energy projects in Democratic states, while expanding coal production. In business, Sephora will pay $775,000 in a hazardous waste settlement, and a UCLA forecast warns of “stagflation-lite” due to the Trump administration’s tariff policy and fed rate cuts.

Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist and conservationist, has died at 91. President Trump urges military training in U.S. cities, sparking lawsuits and backlash. The U.S. government shuts down after failed negotiations, while California ends carpool lane access for clean-air vehicles. In business, OpenAI launches new parental controls for ChatGPT, and DoorDash expands its grocery services nationwide through a major Kroger partnership.