The Times: Daily news from the L.A. Times
New York Pauses Data Center Construction Amid AI Boom, AI "Actor" Causes Hollywood Controversy, and Man Arrested for Vandalizing Waymo
The AI boom is fueling a race to build data centers across the United States. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul is hitting pause, becoming the first state to temporarily ban approvals for the largest of those projects. The executive order halts new permits for "hyper-scale" data centers that use over 50 megawatts of power for one year. And, AI-generated character Tilly Norwood is set to star in the feature film "Misaligned," reigniting debate across Hollywood over whether artificial intelligence can truly be considered an actor. Meanwhile, a man was arrested in East Hollywood after police say he climbed on top of a Waymo & vandalized it.
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The Times: Daily news from the L.A. Times
Bob Iger, Josh Kushner Buying Lakers for $12+ Billion, Jalapeños Linked to Salmonella Outbreak Prompt Major Taylor Farms Recall, and Spotify Cracks Down on AI Artists With New Labels and Algorithm Limits
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner are set to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12 billion — just over a year after Mark Walter took a controlling stake at a then-record $10 billion. The sale still needs NBA Board of Governors approval, which could take a few weeks. And, federal health officials say jalapeños imported from Mexico are the likely source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 345 people across 27 states. Taylor Farms is recalling a wide range of ready-to-eat products from major retailers, including Trader Joe’s, Target, and Walmart. See the full list of recalled products at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-11/taylor-farms-recall-expands-to-jalapenos-pulled-from-trader-joes-target. Finally, Spotify is rolling out a new “AI Persona” label for artists who were created with artificial intelligence. Starting in mid-September, those AI artists will also be excluded from Spotify’s personalized mixes and Discovery playlists. The platform will use both AI detection and human review to identify AI artists, and an appeals process will be available. Read more at https://LATimes.com
The Times: Daily news from the L.A. Times
Nvidia’s $500B AI Buildout With Wall Street Heavyweights, Nithya Raman Could Lose Key City Hall Leadership Role as Mayoral Race Heats Up, and New Video Podcasts Are Coming to Disney+ and Hulu
Nvidia is partnering up with six asset managers, including BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, to bring half a trillion dollars into AI infrastructure — chips, power plants, and data centers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the goal is to connect its customers with lenders for loans and credit, though key details about the project remain unclear. BlackRock’s Larry Fink says the move reminds him of the creation of mortgage-backed securities, treating AI compute as a new investable asset class. Nithya Raman could lose her leadership role as chair of Los Angeles City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson plans to split the committee into separate housing and homelessness panels, with Raman no longer leading either one. The political shakeup comes as Raman challenges incumbent Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles. Raman is accusing city leaders of political retaliation, while the Bass campaign is criticizing Raman’s record on homelessness. Homelessness remains one of the driving issues of the mayoral race. Disney+ and Hulu are expanding their podcast offerings through a new deal with iHeartMedia. The partnership brings popular video podcasts — including "Hey Jonas!" with the Jonas Brothers and "Pod Meets World" — to the streaming platforms, with more shows arriving this fall. And, Jackie, arguably the world’s most famous bald eagle, dies after mysterious illness. Read more at https://LATimes.com
The Times: Daily news from the L.A. Times
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Earnings Beat Expectations, Iran Ceasefire Hopes Rise, and California Won't Ban 'Forever Chemicals' After Bill Fails
The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Tuesday. Faith Pinnow from L.A. Times Studios breaks down what's driving the rally — from strong second-quarter earnings reports to growing optimism around a potential Iran ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus: a look back at how far the index has come since 1957. California lawmakers have rejected a proposal that would have phased out pesticides containing PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," on farms across the state. Supporters cited health concerns linked to PFAS exposure, while agricultural groups argued a ban would hurt farmers and limit crop protection tools. The revised bill now focuses on publicly identifying pesticides that contain PFAS. Read more at https://LATimes.com
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