Top L.A. firefighters union leaders are suspended after an audit reveals $800,000 in undocumented spending. UPS and the U.S. Postal Service announce major job cuts and route changes, as mail volume drops and costs rise. Skechers heads into a $9.4 billion deal to go private with backing from 3G Capital. And OpenAI says its nonprofit board will remain in control of its for-profit business.

Security cameras are going up in Altadena after a surge in burglaries, but some locals say it’s not enough. President Trump’s 2026 budget proposes deep cuts to domestic programs while boosting military spending. Despite strong job growth in April, economists warn that trade wars and government cuts could cool the labor market. And a shipping loophole that kept online prices low is now closed raising costs for sites like Shein and Temu, and potentially for consumers across the U.S.

California faces a Senate showdown over its right to ban new gas-only cars by 2035. New data shows the state’s population numbers are back on the rise, signaling a slow post-pandemic recovery. In labor news, Starbucks workers reject a wage offer after two years of stalled negotiations. And at the ports, bonded warehouses are seeing surging demand as companies try to delay steep new tariffs.

California’s immigration detention centers are under fire for falling short on mental health care and safety standards. A massive earthquake along the Cascadia fault could sink coastal areas by six feet and dramatically expand flood zones. Southern California Edison faces potential liability in the billions after the deadly Eaton Fire, and Southwest Airlines is ending open seating and limiting free checked bags, sparking frustration among loyal travelers.

President Trump marks 100 days into his second term with sweeping executive actions and rising criticism over tariffs. Amazon and the White House clash over transparency on rising costs. In L.A., Luka Dončić steps up to help restore a vandalized Kobe and Gianna Bryant mural. And in California, a deepening shortage of primary care doctors is pushing small practices to the brink — despite new state investments.

Federal investigators begin a controlled burn in Pacific Palisades to determine the cause of January’s deadly fire. Tens of thousands of L.A. County workers walk off the job, disrupting major public services. Tech layoffs surge across California, shaking confidence in an industry long seen as secure. And the U.S. dollar faces its worst first 100 days under a president since 1973, raising fears of a longer-term economic shift.

Stanford scientists warn that if childhood vaccination rates stay low, measles could become as common as the flu by 2050. A California produce supplier faces lawsuits over a deadly E. coli outbreak that was never publicly disclosed by the FDA, raising serious food safety concerns. Jack in the Box announces plans to close more than 150 locations nationwide as rising costs and debt force a major restructuring. Major budget cuts to LADOT could derail Los Angeles’ Olympic transit plans and jeopardize traffic safety initiatives.

California’s economy is now the world’s fourth-largest, but new federal tariffs could put that growth at risk. Meanwhile, the state is racing to get more residents signed up for a Real ID before the May 7 deadline, which will impact domestic travel. At the Port of Los Angeles, imports are already dropping as major retailers pull back due to trade tensions. And in Long Beach, hospitality workers at the convention center have secured raises, healthcare, and stronger pensions following a wage dispute.

California’s State Bar admits it used AI to write bar exam questions, triggering outrage, legal review, and calls for reform. Los Angeles voters approved billions in new homelessness taxes, but the maze of oversight boards has left even elected officials struggling to track results. The NLRB says Amazon must negotiate with Teamsters at its San Francisco warehouse, a case that could set a national precedent. Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max joins the streaming crackdown on password sharing.

The Catholic Church prepares to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis. Southeast Asian immigrants in Southern California are being detained or deported during routine ICE check-ins. Labor negotiations across California stall after the Trump administration fires federal mediators. And Walgreens agrees to pay up to $350 million in an opioid settlement as it prepares to close 1,200 stores.