News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times

Faces and voices of Angelenos on America's 250th

Thu, 2 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We asked people across Southern California what the milestone means to them — and about their hopes for the nation as it celebrates its independence.

Commentary: 250 years? California was already going strong when the 13 colonies got their act together

Patt Morrison — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Don't get all cocky, you 13 original colonies. Yes, yes, 250 years, congratulations, enjoy the cake.

Arellano: Mission San Juan Capistrano is also turning 250. It has lessons for America

Gustavo Arellano — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

If a historical reckoning can happen in Mission San Juan Capistrano, it can happen anywhere. As we mark 250 years of this country, we need to push for more of these reckonings.

Granderson: How to be better stewards of the nation into our fourth century

LZ Granderson — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 09:40:00 GMT

The abandoned infrastructure of the cotton boom, the auto industry and mining shows us what not to do as data centers are debated and built.

Contributor: Theodore Roosevelt, the 'melting pot' and the meaning of America

Bruce J. Schulman — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 10:39:00 GMT

Should American identity be defined by race and ethnicity? Or by fealty to a set of ideas?

July Fourth fireworks may bring 'hazardous' air quality to Southern California. What you need to know

Corinne Purtill — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Hazardous levels of air pollution are expected across central and southern Los Angeles County, northern Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties from 5 p.m. Saturday evening through 3 p.m. Sunday.

Sure you want to set off that illegal firework? A police drone might be watching

Karen Garcia — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 17:27:53 GMT

Police officials in cities across California are using drones to cite people who use illegal fireworks over the Fourth of July weekend.

Noncitizen voting was gaining steam in L.A. Then fears of Trump backlash scuttled the plan

David Zahniser, Noah Goldberg, Melissa Gomez — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Some critics said the proposal lacked much-needed specifics, while others worried it would endanger the very people it was designed to help.

Want an AI-proof job? New research says you may be safer at companies embracing the technology

Nilesh Christopher — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

As workers around the world worry about being replaced by artificial intelligence, two recent studies have shown how humanity's competition and collaboration with bots in the office are evolving.

Demolition work at Boyle Heights warehouse halted by solar array owner, Lineage alleges

Jasmine Mendez — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 00:28:44 GMT

Lineage, which operates the facility, accused Altus Power, the solar panel subcontractor whose rooftop equipment is suspected of potentially sparking the June 17 fire, of obstructing demolition efforts.

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce married at lavish Madison Square Garden wedding

Summer Lin, Karen Garcia, Eloise Rollins-Fife — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 22:30:39 GMT

Swifties in NYC hope to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift and send their well wishes for Swift's nuptials.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: Revisit the roots of their love story ahead of MSG wedding bash

Alexandra Del Rosario — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 20:22:30 GMT

Revisit the roots of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's whirlwind romance turned generational love story, from the Kelce brothers' 'New Heights' podcast to a romantic garden engagement.

Trump refashions America's 250th as a celebration of himself

Michael Wilner — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Historians say the nation's 250th anniversary has become a politicized spectacle, a celebration of an imperial presidency.

Fresno County farmer gives away 182,000 pounds of nectarines for free

Kori McNair — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 21:43:22 GMT

A farmer in the San Joaquin Valley gave away 182,000 pounds of free nectarines because a contract dispute barred him selling them.

Your pet afraid of fireworks? Here's how to keep them safe for the Fourth of July

Sandra McDonald — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Here's how to keep your pet from getting out on the Fourth of July, and what to do if they get lost.

California is bringing back EV rebates. This is how to get one

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California is budgeting $135 million for new electric vehicle incentives, with special exceptions for California-based companies.

6 arrested for bidding on construction work in Palisades fire zone without a license, prosecutors say

Jasmine Mendez — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 03:13:13 GMT

A group of men who advertised work online in Pacific Palisades and collectively bid up to $1.27 million for construction in the fire-ravaged community now face potential penalties.

Cars in parking lot set ablaze in Wilmington, fireworks suspected, LAFD says

Jasmine Mendez — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 05:44:43 GMT

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, fire crews found multiple cars engulfed in flames in a parking lot at 1104 W. Pacific Coast Highway around 8:30 p.m.

Mother and daughter who were reportedly lost on Southern California trail are found 'alive and well'

Karen Garcia — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 19:03:45 GMT

San Bernardino County Sheriff's have found a mother and daughter who were lost on a steep hiking trail in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Diogo Jota honored by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal after World Cup win a year after his death

Chuck Schilken — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 18:35:51 GMT

An emotional Cristiano Ronaldo wore Diogo Jota's jersey, honoring Jota a year after his death following Portugal's dramatic World Cup win.

Woman pregnant with twins dies in Apple Valley crash

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 05:02:59 GMT

Lorena Lopez, 33, was broadsided when a man ran a stop sign, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.

Our critic cannot tell a lie: 'Young Washington' is the dullest of history lessons

Katie Walsh — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 22:24:03 GMT

Arriving in the cloak of a summer blockbuster, this simplistic take on the future U.S. president shows us a decent, noble kid with zero complexity.

Comedy saved her life. Now Teruko Nakajima's 'Made in America' is saving others

Steven Vargas — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 19:11:22 GMT

From Cedars-Sinai psych ward to Upright Citizens Brigade stage, Teruko Nakajima turns a doctor's "prescription" for comedy into an one-woman show.

Commentary: Even in ugly times, the bicentennial united us. America 250 still can

Mary McNamara — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

If grassroots America could find reason to celebrate in the shadow of political assassinations, a crippling gas shortage and the Vietnam War, we can figure out a way to do it again, 50 years later.

How Donny Hathaway turned this soft rock cover into America's defining song

Mikael Wood — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Hathaway's gospel-infused arrangement and call-and-response with a crowd at the Troubadour transformed Carole King's song from a private promise into a proclamation of Black resilience.

10 must-watch movies that capture America in times of profound change

Amy Nicholson, Mark Olsen, Joshua Rothkopf, Josh Rottenberg, Glenn Whipp — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

From classic dramas like 'The Grapes of Wrath' and 'Nashville' to a John Carpenter sci-fi nightmare, these movies articulate a shifting national mood.

What literature belongs in today's classroom? 5 L.A. high school teachers weigh in

Mariella Rudi — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

F. Scott Fitzgerald, Octavia E. Butler, Homer: Los Angeles teachers share what they are teaching in today's high school classrooms, book recommendations and how they're fighting AI and tech fatigue.

American playwrights are embracing the nation's complexity. Will audiences answer the call?

Charles McNulty — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Democracy is in crisis. But writers such as Young Jean Lee, Tarell Alvin McCraney and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, are stepping up, dramatizing the complexities of what it means to be an American.

'Minions & Monsters' is a daffy summer comedy over 100 years in the making

Amy Nicholson — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 19:04:01 GMT

A 'Minions' prequel, clever and funny, rewinds to the silent era to showcase the classic Hollywood movies that inspired its manic yellow horde.

Questing into her past with a camcorder, a young woman confronts the worst in 'Romería'

Tim Grierson — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 22:19:41 GMT

Filmmaker Carla Simón completes a trilogy of personal movies that dive into her own history, her family's lingering grief and her journey to adulthood.

They're finally too old for it in the middling clip reel 'Jackass: Best and Last'

Amy Nicholson — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:55:57 GMT

After four gross-out features that occasionally reached cinematic greatness, Johnny Knoxville and the gang gather for a hasty and underwhelming final hurrah.

Folarin Balogun urges U.S. to focus on beating Belgium despite red card he calls unjust

Kevin Baxter — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 22:16:42 GMT

Folarin Balogun hopes staying calm after getting an unjust red card teaches others to stay poised as the U.S. chases a World Cup win over Belgium.

Mexican officials vow new safety protocols after World Cup celebrations turn deadly

Kate Linthicum — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 19:44:06 GMT

After a World Cup celebration turned deadly, Mexican officials vowed to strengthen safety protocols ahead of their team's Sunday match against England.

How the FIFA World Cup is providing a boost for L.A. businesses

Annika Duneja — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The FIFA World Cup has given L.A. businesses a lot of opportunities to find new customers, win contracts and grow their capacity.

2026 World Cup knockout round TV schedule, game previews and results

Kevin Baxter — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Everything you need to know to watch and follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including start times and TV and streaming information for every game.

Spain routs Austria while still working to reach World Cup champion form

Iliana Limón Romero, Jad El Reda — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 23:33:54 GMT

Spain extends its unbeaten match streak to 34 games in a 3-0 victory over Austria in the round of 32 at the World Cup at SoFi Stadium.

Ubícate, Oasis: Maná's Fher Olvera slams Liam Gallagher over Mexico-England forecast

Carlos De Loera — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:44:51 GMT

Maná frontman Fher Olvera claps back at Oasis' Liam Gallagher after the British singer claimed that England would beat Mexico 5-0 ahead of the two teams' upcoming World Cup match in Mexico City.

U.S. men piling up historic moments at World Cup, but focus is on the here and now

Kevin Baxter — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 15:19:19 GMT

The U.S. has won three matches, the most it has won in a single World Cup, among other records. Yet all that means absolutely nothing to the players.

Swanson: Justice for U.S. star Folarin Balogun, red card for VAR

Mirjam Swanson — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 14:00:11 GMT

Soccer's video assistant referee system is worse than the NBA's tedious in-game reviews. Worse than the existential NFL question of whether it is or is not a catch.

2026 World Cup knockout round TV schedule, game previews and results

Kevin Baxter — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Everything you need to know to watch and follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including start times and TV and streaming information for every game.

Don Was produced the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Ozzy. At 73, he found his voice in Detroit -- and the Dead

August Brown — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Was' LP "Groove in the Face of Adversity" recalls Detroit's blue-collar ambition. His late friend Bob Weir would love his new tour.

California returns stretch of coast to Indigenous tribes. 'This is beyond huge'

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 02:22:14 GMT

State transportation officials recently approved the transfer of Blues Beach and the surrounding bluffs to Kai Poma, a nonprofit founded by representatives of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

Simi Valley police shoot suspect inside Thousand Oaks hospital, spurring huge police response

Richard Winton — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 00:46:29 GMT

A person was shot and wounded by a police officer Thursday afternoon at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Ken Marino

Marah Eakin — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Chess, then coffee with a side of flowers, band practice, Thai sausages and then more chess.

SoCal man dosed his kids with hallucinogenic mushrooms every day

Noah Haggerty — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 23:33:36 GMT

A man in North San Diego County pleaded guilty to enlisting his 9- and 11-year-old kids in a conspiracy to grow and distribute psilocybin mushrooms. He also admitted to feeding the two kids psilocybin capsules daily.

L.A. Affairs: He wanted L.A. I wanted New York. A panic attack changed everything

Matt Gerlach — Fri, 3 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

For my relationship, I agreed to move back to Los Angeles. Was I doing the right thing? At this point in my life, would Southern California be a good fit?

L.A. Affairs: Could a close friend who always 'got' me become something more?

Kathleen Fisher — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

We would come together and drift apart — sometimes as lovers but mostly as friends. Then everything changed.

Herb Alpert on the question in his head and the sadness in his horn

Mikael Wood — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 17:31:59 GMT

Ahead of a show Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl, the 91-year-old trumpeter looks back at his decades-long career.

Contributor: Alcohol should be stigmatized like smoking

Emma Fenske — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 19:28:00 GMT

Drinking causes 1 in every 20 deaths worldwide. Perversely, because its harms are so widespread and longstanding and well known, many people accept them.

Contributor: Who should keep sidewalks passable? Denver solved the dilemma

Wes Marshall — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 10:05:00 GMT

Most cities don't even know which sidewalks need fixing. Two cities show how to do better.

Contributor: Bloody brawl of humans, dogs and a bear threatens Californians' fragile detente

Steve Searles — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

After the most recent bear encounter in Mammoth Lakes, fear and misunderstanding are again taking over.

Column: Democrats' newest ideas have been failing for centuries

Jonah Goldberg — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Rent freezes, wealth taxes and price controls have all been tried and tested — and none of them actually work.

First recorded Tesla Semi crash kills two people in Nevada

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:04:37 GMT

An electric Tesla Semi struck two passenger vehicles outside of Reno on Sunday, leaving two dead and sending one to the hospital.

Home insurer surcharges for wildfires is legal, judge rules

Laurence Darmiento — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 16:50:13 GMT

A California judge turned down a petition to halt surcharges home insurers have been levying policyholders statewide for costs related to the January 2025 wildfires in L.A. County.

Legal correspondent Paula Reid expected to join MS NOW after CNN departure

Stephen Battaglio — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 17:34:55 GMT

Reid 's planned departure comes ahead of the impending merger of CNN parent Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount.

Disneyland to offer $59 evening tickets next month

Samantha Masunaga — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:33:41 GMT

Disneyland Resort is commemorating its 70th anniversary through Aug. 9, and has introduced new shows and additions to rides as part of the occasion.

ESPN is moving its L.A. operations to Hollywood Park in Inglewood

Stephen Battaglio — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 21:39:10 GMT

The Disney-owned sports media company is exiting its downtown Los Angeles facility.

iHeartMedia lays off on-air personalities nationwide, including at Riverside-based KGGI

Cerys Davies — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:41:28 GMT

IHeartMedia has started to restructure its radio programming to reduce costs. Dozens of on-air hosts nationwide are being laid off, including three at KGGI.

Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers taking cautious approach with his biceps ailment

Maddie Lee — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 04:51:51 GMT

Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing prove to be back on the same page and Teoscar Hernández hits a grand slam in the Dodgers' 4-3 comeback win over the Padres.

Cameron Carr makes a strong first impression in Lakers' summer league opener

Thuc Nhi Nguyen — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 04:55:53 GMT

In his unofficial NBA debut, Cameron Carr finishes with 19 points and five three-pointers in the Lakers' summer league loss to Golden State.

Letters to Sports: Mixed emotions over LeBron James leaving Lakers

Sat, 4 Jul 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section give their thought on LeBron James parting ways with the Lakers, Kawhi Leonard, Dave Roberts and the Sparks.

Torrance's Iva Jovic chases win over Jessica Pegula in all-American Wimbledon match

Douglas Robson — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 20:44:51 GMT

Wimbledon's No. 1 Court will feature a showdown between U.S. standard bearer Jessica Pegula and American rising star Iva Jovic in the round of 16.

Here are L.A.'s 2026 Michelin winners, and the world's first three-star Mexican restaurant

Stephanie Breijo — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:50:55 GMT

L.A.'s Kato earns its second star, two local chefs are rising-star talent, a San Francisco restaurant just became Michelin's first three-star Mexican restaurant in the world, and other accolades from this year's 2026 California Guide reveal.

Trailblazing Alta California chef Joshua Gil dies at 50

Stephanie Breijo — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:13:41 GMT

Chef Joshua Gil, who helmed groundbreaking L.A. restaurants, helped reimagine Mexican cuisine in the city and mentored local chefs, died Monday morning.

Los Angeles tries again to phase out urban oil production

Hayley Smith — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:08:24 GMT

The L.A. City Council attempted to phase out oil production in 2022, but the ordinance was struck down by a judge following legal challenges from the oil and gas industry.

Supreme Court turns away Alan Dershowitz's defamation suit against CNN

David G. Savage — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:36:57 GMT

Justice Clarence Thomas says the court should 'reconsider' past rulings that protect press from libel suits.

How Roberts led a fractured Supreme Court to wins for the right and defeats for Trump

David G. Savage — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 19:37:40 GMT

In President Trump's second year back in the White House, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the court punctured his claim to have power with no limits.

Remember the art of window displays? This one will keep you lingering in a vibrant L.A. picnic scene

Claire Salinda — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

For her window display at the new Toast store in West Hollywood, artist Kyna Payawal was inspired by the outdoor gathering cultures of L.A. and "the idea of having a shared blanket."

For its first L.A. women's show, Hermès touches down in Bel-Air — Birkin bags everywhere

Elisa Wouk Almino — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 23:06:49 GMT

Held in a butter-yellow hangar structure on a serene hill, the show embraced each wrinkle in an outfit as "a powerful current."

A historically hot Paris Fashion Week photographed with a kid's camera

Julissa James — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 00:12:33 GMT

I took a kid's camera to Paris Fashion Week, because was it ever really that serious?

Nine non-negotiable items for a well-designed life

Julissa James — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

From a Waka Waka rocking chair to a baby pink Brutalist listening station, here are the home, fashion and beauty items that will level you up this month.

Her water bill was 'insane.' So she tore out her lawn and planted a 'wabi-sabi' wonderland

Lisa Boone — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

For Julia Lee, tearing out her lawn and replacing it with drought tolerant plants was about more than saving water. It was also an opportunity to connect with her neighbors.

In her Silver Lake ADU, this L.A. artist turns glass and clay into something magical

Lisa Boone — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Los Angeles artist Julie Burton hand-crafts elegant glass jewelry, ceramics and home decor in her Silver Lake ADU.

He turned his one-bedroom West Hollywood apartment into an entertainer's paradise

Marissa Gluck — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

After finding an apartment where he could have a big enough dining room to entertain, Julio Miranda-Martin set about making it his own, which meant a room-to-room paint makeover and warm lighting.

More is more is more in this L.A. 'barn' exploding with thrifted finds and maximalist flair

Lisa Boone — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Interior designer Meeshie Fahmy turned a barn-style home in Inglewood into a bold, colorful space filled with secondhand furniture and plenty of art.

Argentine club queen Six Sex wants you to get free

Reanna Cruz — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 19:12:59 GMT

In her debut album, "Ultra," Six Sex counters today's "sex recession" with "ultra terrorific fantasy." She spoke to De Los about her pleasure-seeking ethos and Argentina's alt-pop vanguard.

Marla Ramirez's 'Banished Citizens' explores historic expulsion of Mexican Americans. Will it happen again?

Andrea Flores — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:50:30 GMT

With the landmark case of Trump v. Barbara before the Supreme Court, arguments surrounding restrictions to birthright citizenship have resurfaced, particularly amongst the descendants of banished U.S. citizens.

LeRoy Irvin, former Rams cornerback who holds NFL punt return record, dies at 68

Chuck Schilken — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 22:42:50 GMT

LeRoy Irvin, Rams cornerback and special teams standout in the 1980s, has died at 68. He holds the Rams record for non-offensive touchdowns.

Appreciation: L.A.'s ultimate monster: The lesson of Veda Pierce

Shelby Grad — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:51:55 GMT

Veda Pierce always had her eye on the bigger house, the fancier car, the richer man. It was a drive that would destroy her life and make her one of the greatest L.A. villains of all time.

When three presidents died on the Fourth of July, Americans saw the work of God

Melissa Etehad — Tue, 4 Jul 2017 10:00:00 GMT

On July 4, 1831, James Monroe died from heart failure and tuberculosis at his daughter's house in New York City.