LA Times in the mix as regulators eye Paramount–Warner Bros. deal, fueling press scrutiny of media consolidation. Big, historic LA paper.
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after an eight‑month probe, concluding the deal is unlikely to harm competition in streaming, linear TV or theatrical film markets. The transaction still faces reviews in the U.K., EU and potential lawsuits from state attorneys general.
Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge is reshaping its live storytelling, with Darth Vader taking center stage and legacy Star Wars figures rejoining daily narratives, signaling a shift away from strictly timeline-bound experiences.
California regulators have found hundreds of violations in State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims tied to the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires. The investigation reviewed 220 claims and identified 398 state-law violations in 114 cases. Authorities seek penalties and potential license actions as part of broader reforms to post-disaster claims processing.
Eileen Wang has pled guilty to one count of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, for operating the US News Center to publish pro-PRC material from 2020 to 2022. She has resigned as Arcadia’s mayor. Co-operating with authorities, Yaoning Sun has already received a four-year sentence.
Pratt has surged in early opinion indicators as he campaigns on homelessness, crime and city dysfunction, buoyed by viral videos and a standout debate performance. With early voting underway for the June 2 primary, analysts say a runoff remains likely if no candidate clears 50%.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has unveiled a sweeping housing plan aimed at delivering 200,000 affordable homes, expanding public and nonprofit ownership, and reforming construction rules. While supporters say it will unlock supply at scale, critics warn it could slow development and raise costs for landlords and tenants. The plan is being rolled out with a focus on building through public, nonprofit, and private partnerships.
The Ellison family’s Paramount is pushing ahead with its deal to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, amid heightened scrutiny from the DOJ and state attorneys general. Regulators have hosted a lengthy deposition and remain weighing antitrust implications, while Paramount’s chief legal officer frames opposition as politically charged. CBS News leadership changes have intensified internal turmoil.
The Los Angeles mayoral primary remains undecided as ballots continue to be counted. Bass has advanced to the November runoff, while Raman has gained a narrow lead over Pratt for the second slot as mail ballots are tallied.
A California civil jury has found Rebecca Grossman and ex-Dodger Scott Erickson negligent in the deaths of two boys, Mark (11) and Jacob (8), in the 2020 Westlake Village crash. Compensatory damages have been awarded; punitive damages will be decided later. Grossman is already serving a 15-to-life prison term for related charges.