The Times: Daily news from the L.A. Times
Sen. Lindsey Graham Dies at 71; ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Housing Bill Quietly Becomes Law, and Flock Cameras Put on Pause
Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, died on Saturday at 71 years old. According to the medical examiner, Graham died from an aortic dissection, a tear in the main artery. Graham served as a close advisor to President Trump. A fierce supporter of Ukraine and Israel, he pushed for more aggressive foreign policy measures.
And for months, lawmakers called it a ‘once in a lifetime’ housing bill. Over the weekend, it quietly went into effect. The measure won't bring a single sweeping change; instead, it's a collection of 56 regulatory tweaks aimed at boosting the housing supply by lowering costs and encouraging more construction. It passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
Meanwhile, the LAPD has suspended its use of Flock Safety's license plate reader cameras while officials work to address concerns over data privacy, security & information sharing.
Finally, Conor McGregor's return to the Octagon ended just 69 seconds into UFC 329 after suffering a right knee injury against Max Holloway. UFC President Dana White says doctors believe McGregor may have torn his ACL.
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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
