A city in California’s East Bay, seat of Alameda County
Paramount has signaled potential relocation of operations to other states as California and 11 other states challenge its Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Executives flag a October 1 deadline to settle or face a shift of headquarters and jobs to alternative states, with potential financial penalties for missed milestones.
A teenage driver has led to a fatal crash near International Boulevard and a city neighborhood, with three people killed at the scene and several others injured. The driver has been detained; police are investigating potential alcohol or drug involvement. The incident is developing.
A California jury has found Elon Musk’s 2024 lawsuit against OpenAI, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman to be time-barred under the statute of limitations. The verdict, accepted by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, clears OpenAI of liability over Musk’s claims that the nonprofit pivot to a for-profit structure harmed his early contributions. Musk plans to appeal; OpenAI edges toward an IPO path with Microsoft’s backing.
Meta has settled with Breathitt County School District in Kentucky over claims that its platforms fuel addictive behavior harming students. Terms are undisclosed; the suit sought more than $60 million for a 15-year mental health program. Settlements with TikTok, Snap and YouTube precede this accord, while other bellwether trials are scheduled.
Aldon Smith, the former NFL standout, has died at age 36. The 49ers picked him seventh overall in 2011 and he became one of the league’s most explosive edge players, setting franchise records early before off-field issues curtailed his career. The team has offered condolences. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Protests outside Poetica Coffee in Park Slope have escalated after a social media post accused the shop of banning a Jewish congressman over his support for Israel. The Justice Department has opened a civil-rights investigation into the incident as demonstrators clash with counter-protesters. The controversy has drawn national attention and sparked debate about discrimination and free speech.
A federal lawsuit filed this week accuses Oakland police and Falck emergency responders of restraining a 36-year-old man during a mental health crisis, leading to his death. The case highlights ongoing concerns about police restraint and emergency medical response in Oakland.
Federal and local probes have produced new findings and warnings about autonomous vehicles. The NTSB has reported that a Tesla driver manually overrode Full Self-Driving before a June crash that killed a 76‑year‑old in Katy, Texas. NHTSA has issued a directive demanding AV developers fix cases where driverless cars enter or block emergency scenes; Waymo and California regulators are under pressure over several incidents.
Waymo has announced the expansion of its driverless robotaxi fleet to four new U.S. cities, starting with employee rides before opening to the public. The Ojai vehicle is introduced as a comfort-focused option, with expansion plans across San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver. The rollout faces regulatory approvals and past safety incidents.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk are trading blunt exchanges as Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets. Musk intensifies with taunts about SpaceX’s future IPO and Altman counters with notes on GPT-5.6 Sol’s benchmarks, amid OpenAI’s confidential IPO plans.
A cross-border cocaine trafficking operation involving Liberia, Spain and the UK has been revealed. Liberia’s case centers on a 237.6-kilogram seizure linked to Paul King and Global Logistics Services, with prosecutors alleging a web of false documentation and warehousing. Spain’s investigation ties a 13-ton haul to a money-laundering network connected to a California SPAC founders. San Diego’s gang sweep uncovers a retail-to-wholesale cocaine market, with 20 pounds seizing weekly. Authorities warn of Liberia as a transit hub and Europe-bound shipments.
Meta has faced a federal lawsuit alleging its internal AI systems and monitoring tools discriminated against workers on legally protected leave in a May layoff round totaling about 8,000 jobs. The suit seeks an injunction to pause separations and an independent audit of the selection process while claims proceed in arbitration.
A coalition of 12 U.S. states has secured a 14-day pause on Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, pending a ruling on a preliminary injunction. The deal remains under antitrust review globally as regulators weigh competition, pricing, and content implications for theaters, networks, and streaming platforms.
Tennessee alleges Meta ignored internal research showing Instagram harmed teens, keeping features like autoplay, notifications and infinite scroll to boost ad revenue. Meta counters that it is transparent about risks and has tools to protect young users. The trial in Nashville could force changes or penalties if Meta is found liable.
Valeria Luiselli’s Fourth novel Beginning Middle End follows a narrator touring Europe with her daughter, searching for a narrative arc. Critics note episodic chapters and fragmented structure, yet the work probes memory, myth, and family across Sicily, Germany, and the Netherlands. The narrative struggles to cohere, but it remains a sharp meditation on storytelling itself.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Meta and TikTok cannot appeal early on Section 230 immunity claims, allowing multiple lawsuits over addictive design and youth safety to proceed. Trials for state AG actions and other plaintiffs remain scheduled, with bellwether cases moving forward.
California governor and wife have released four years of tax filings showing income mainly from winery and hospitality ventures; there is ongoing federal scrutiny against the Newsoms, and returns for 2025 are pending due to an extension.
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund and to change product features for young users, adding to a $375 million jury award from March and bringing Meta’s total liability in the case to $942 million. The bulk of the new fund — $420 million — is allocated for youth mental-health treatment; other measures include limits on notifications and enhanced age-assurance steps.
New Mexico has ordered Meta to implement measures to curb youth harm on its platforms, including age-verification improvements, reduced under-18 engagement features, and mandatory safety notices. The ruling allocates $420 million for treatment and prevention services, with the total civil liability reaching $942 million, subject to appeal.