Headlines From The Times

A Marine Corps anniversary event at Camp Pendleton sparked alarm when a live artillery round exploded midair over the I-5 Freeway, striking a California Highway Patrol cruiser with shrapnel and prompting an investigation into safety failures. In Pacific Palisades, officials declared eight fire-damaged homes public nuisances after owners missed cleanup deadlines for toxic debris. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and top Democrats in Congress announced a probe into ICE misconduct, citing racial profiling and wrongful arrests of U.S. citizens. U.S. envoys traveled to Israel to help stabilize the fragile Gaza ceasefire after renewed violence. In business, Latino authors and bookstores push for stronger representation in publishing, while NBCUniversal and Apple launch a new streaming bundle combining Peacock and Apple TV.

Malibu declares a state of emergency to remove homeless encampments over wildfire fears. The Trump administration escalates military action in Venezuela, risking a wider conflict. L.A. County prepares to pay nearly $1 billion more to sexual abuse victims. John Bolton pleads not guilty to mishandling classified information. Walmart teams with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to its shopping app, and Beyond Meat’s stock crashes to record lows amid massive losses.

A California judge blocks federal layoffs during the government shutdown. Governor Newsom unveils a new plan to sell low-cost insulin statewide. Federal prosecutors charge two executives with misusing homelessness funds. California sues over the cancellation of the Solar for All program. Waymo expands its driverless cars to London in its first European rollout. And Spotify teams up with Netflix to bring video podcasts to streaming audiences starting in 2026.

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.