SoCal News NOW
A Starbucks barista has been fired after drawing a pig on a coffee cup that was served to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy last week. The Jan. 9 incident occurred at a Starbucks in Norwalk and was condemned as “offensive” by the Sheriff’s Department, as law enforcement officers are often referred to as pigs [...]
Data has revealed the world's “worst” major tourist attractions, and one notoriously tourist-friendly (or tourist-trapping, depending on your outlook) destination in Los Angeles topped the list. Analysts at Stasher, a travel company specializing in luggage storage, looked at five metrics oriented to the modern traveler to come to their conclusion: Google Reviews ratings, TikTok engagement, [...]
A woman was hospitalized as flames tore through a two-story office building in Winnetka early Tuesday morning. The fire began shortly after 5 a.m. and was classified as a “major emergency” structure fire by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Sky5 was overhead as firefighters battled the blaze on the 20200 block of West Sherman Way [...]
A crash involving a semi-truck caused all lanes of the 101 Freeway to be shut down Tuesday morning. Sky5 was above the scene, the northbound span of the 101 at Vermont Avenue in East Hollywood, at 7 a.m. and observed crews clearing a jackknifed tractor-trailer and a smaller vehicle, the latter of which appeared to [...]
Two inmates in a California state prison are being investigated for the alleged murder of a third inmate in one of the facility’s yards on Sunday, officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced. The violence unfolded at Calipatria State Prison, about 150 miles from San Diego in Imperial County. In a CDCR [...]
Lady Gaga is bringing the "Mayhem" to Los Angeles for a surprise performance for her little monsters. The one-night only show is called Mayhem: Requiem and will take place on Jan. 14. A flyer posted on the Lady Gaga fansite Lady Gaga Now shows the performance is in collaboration with Apple Music. The site also [...]
Police at the University of California, Los Angeles, are investigating a sexual assault that allegedly occurred on campus. The UCLA Police Department stated in a campus community alert that around 12 a.m. on Monday, officers received a report of a sexual assault in the 600 block of Landfair Avenue. “The victim reported they were unable to [...]
The cartoonist revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with cancer. [...]
Authorities are searching for an arsonist after surveillance video captured a minivan being set on fire outside a mosque in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night. The incident was reported outside the Akber Masjid Islamic Center on the 1000 block of San Julian Street shortly before 10 p.m. Los Angeles firefighters responded and quickly extinguished [...]
A woman is lucky to be alive after crashing off a freeway transition lane and plummeting more than 40 feet onto train tracks in Los Angeles early Tuesday. Video showed the woman’s overturned vehicle catch fire after the crash on the northbound 110 Freeway transition road to the northbound 5 Freeway around 2:40 a.m. The [...]
SoCal News NOW
- Data indicates L.A. is home to the world’s ‘worst’ major tourist attraction January 13, 2026Data has revealed the world's “worst” major tourist attractions, and one notoriously tourist-friendly (or tourist-trapping, depending on your outlook) destination in Los Angeles topped the list. Analysts at Stasher, a travel company specializing in luggage storage, looked at five metrics oriented to the modern traveler to come to their conclusion: Google Reviews ratings, TikTok engagement, […]
- Starbucks barista fired over pig drawing on deputy's cup January 13, 2026A Starbucks barista has been fired after drawing a pig on a coffee cup that was served to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy last week. The Jan. 9 incident occurred at a Starbucks in Norwalk and was condemned as “offensive” by the Sheriff’s Department, as law enforcement officers are often referred to as pigs […]
Media
New York Times journalists had to plan carefully for an Oval Office conversation with a president who dominates discourse and makes false claims. [...]
His chronicles of a corporate cubicle dweller was widely distributed until racist comments on his podcast led newspapers to cut their ties with him. [...]
The defunct food publication is re-emerging as a newsletter, with new leadership and zero approval from its original owner. [...]
Her reimagining of “CBS Evening News” is under heavy scrutiny, and even became a punchline on her own network on Sunday at the Golden Globes. [...]
The announcement was the latest in a series of increasingly aggressive actions by Paramount to buy Warner Bros. [...]
Under Trump, the F.C.C. has used obscure regulatory powers to crack down on network TV. Some conservatives are pushing back. [...]
The winning films, TV shows, actors and production teams at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards. [...]
The annual awards show will anoint a best podcast for the first time this year, a sign of the industry’s increasing status in Hollywood. [...]
He spent two decades hosting the PBS series, during the formative years of personal computing. It was seen in more than 300 cities at its peak. [...]
The show, streaming on HBO Max, doesn’t have one of the biggest audiences, but viewership grew very quickly in just a few weeks. [...]
Media
- How New York Times Reporters Prepared to Interview President Trump January 13, 2026New York Times journalists had to plan carefully for an Oval Office conversation with a president who dominates discourse and makes false claims.
- Scott Adams, Creator of the Satirical ‘Dilbert’ Comic Strip, Dies at 68 January 13, 2026His chronicles of a corporate cubicle dweller was widely distributed until racist comments on his podcast led newspapers to cut their ties with him.
- Gourmet Magazine Is Back. It’s Not Exactly Sanctioned. January 13, 2026The defunct food publication is re-emerging as a newsletter, with new leadership and zero approval from its original owner.
- ‘We Need to Be the News’: Inside Bari Weiss’s Bumpy Revamp at CBS January 13, 2026Her reimagining of “CBS Evening News” is under heavy scrutiny, and even became a punchline on her own network on Sunday at the Golden Globes.
- Popularity of ‘Heated Rivalry’ Has Surprised Even TV Executives January 13, 2026The show, streaming on HBO Max, doesn’t have one of the biggest audiences, but viewership grew very quickly in just a few weeks.
Health
Psilocybin-assisted therapy is legal in three states, but access has so far been limited and expensive. [...]
That number could increase significantly as more consumers are faced with higher bills brought on by expiring premium subsidies. [...]
The groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say the C.D.C.’s revised vaccine schedule is not based on scientific evidence and will harm the public. [...]
A study of more than 5,000 pages of agency documents on mifepristone over 12 years found that agency leaders almost always followed the evidence-based recommendations of scientists. [...]
Comments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies suggest the revised schedule may presage an approach to immunization that prizes individual autonomy and downplays scientific expertise. [...]
He Jiankui spent three years in prison after creating gene-edited babies. Now back at work, he sees a greater opening for researchers who push boundaries. [...]
Researchers are not just worried about the virus popping up on American farms. Other types are causing trouble around the world. [...]
His discovery of the protein fragment GLP-1 was crucial in the development of Ozempic, Wegovy and other blockbuster obesity and diabetes treatments. [...]
Now the government’s recommendation is to “limit” drinking, without specifying safe amounts for men and women. The guidelines no longer warn of risks like cancer. [...]
After receiving a diagnosis of terminal cancer, he used his experience in public relations to draw attention to the skyrocketing cost of medication. [...]
Health
- Initial Obamacare Enrollment Drops by 1.4 Million as Expiring ACA Subsidies Drive Up Premiums January 13, 2026That number could increase significantly as more consumers are faced with higher bills brought on by expiring premium subsidies.
- Medical Groups Will Try to Block Childhood Vaccine Recommendations January 13, 2026The groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say the C.D.C.’s revised vaccine schedule is not based on scientific evidence and will harm the public.
- ’Shrooms Lead the Pack in Psychedelic Medicine, but Rollout Is Bumpy January 13, 2026Psilocybin-assisted therapy is legal in three states, but access has so far been limited and expensive.
- China’s ‘Dr. Frankenstein’ Thinks Time Is on His Side January 13, 2026He Jiankui spent three years in prison after creating gene-edited babies. Now back at work, he sees a greater opening for researchers who push boundaries.
- Trump’s Steep Science Budget Cuts to Be Turned Back by Congress January 12, 2026After the White House called for billions of dollars in funding reductions, senators and representatives said they wanted to safeguard and even boost funds for basic research.
Science
Animals that researchers call “supersucklers” come back for their mother’s milk even after they can hunt, mate and fend for themselves. [...]
A cavity in the middle of the rockhead poacher’s skull might be used like a maraca to produce sound, new research suggests. [...]
A fossil of Manipulonyx reshetovi, found in a Mongolian desert, shows how the dinosaur used its specialized claw to snatch eggs. [...]
After the White House called for billions of dollars in funding reductions, senators and representatives said they wanted to safeguard and even boost funds for basic research. [...]
Eric and Wendy Schmidt are backing a start-up-like approach to building a giant space telescope and powerful ground observatories. [...]
Astronomers announced the discovery of a starless cloud of hydrogen gas, a pristine relic of the cosmos that is almost as old as time itself. [...]
Eavesdropping on their owners seems to help some toy-crazy and talented pups learn more words. [...]
Jawbones and other remains, similar to specimens found in Europe, were dated to 773,000 years and help close a gap in Africa’s fossil record of human origins. [...]
Residues on arrow tips found in South Africa hint at how far back in history humans have been using poison for survival. [...]
The agency wants to curtail a section of the Clean Water Act that Democratic governors have used to restrict fossil fuel development. [...]
Science
- E.P.A. Moves to Limit States’ Ability to Block Pipelines January 13, 2026The agency wants to curtail a section of the Clean Water Act that Democratic governors have used to restrict fossil fuel development.
- Initial Obamacare Enrollment Drops by 1.4 Million as Expiring ACA Subsidies Drive Up Premiums January 13, 2026That number could increase significantly as more consumers are faced with higher bills brought on by expiring premium subsidies.
- A Scientific Expedition to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier Deals With Weather Hiccups January 13, 2026The clock is ticking. But low clouds have prevented helicopters from moving scientists and gear onto the continent’s fastest-melting glacier.
- Medical Groups Will Try to Block Childhood Vaccine Recommendations January 13, 2026The groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say the C.D.C.’s revised vaccine schedule is not based on scientific evidence and will harm the public.
- The Sea Lions of the Galápagos Are Not Ready to Stop Nursing January 13, 2026Animals that researchers call “supersucklers” come back for their mother’s milk even after they can hunt, mate and fend for themselves.
World of Tech
From talking computers to self-driving cars, here are the trends to watch. [...]
Here’s a cheat sheet for decoding this year’s A.I.-driven tech lingo, from RAG to superintelligence. [...]
Under the shift, which Google said would eventually be rolled out to all users, old addresses would remain active. Messages and services would not be lost. [...]
After the country barred children under 16 from using social media, many parents have been asking whether similarly tough action is needed in their own countries. [...]
Try these useful shortcuts for sharing your Wi-Fi with guests, wrangling your to-do list or deciding what to do with family and friends. [...]
Governments are studying the decision to prohibit youths from using platforms like Facebook and TikTok as worries grow about the potential harm they cause. [...]
It can be easier to talk to strangers, which might explain why Reddit has become an increasingly popular resource for wedding planning. [...]
If companies can modify internet-connected products and charge subscriptions after people have already purchased them, what does it mean to own anything anymore? [...]
He and a partner founded Tekserve, a Manhattan emergency room for frozen hard drives, keyboards, screens and their confounded owners. [...]
This year’s high-end models from Apple and Google raise the bar for mobile photography, but users should take the time to learn the settings and features. [...]
World of Tech
- The Tech That Will Invade Our Lives in 2026 January 8, 2026From talking computers to self-driving cars, here are the trends to watch.
- Gmail to Let Users Change Their Addresses While Keeping Data December 30, 2025Under the shift, which Google said would eventually be rolled out to all users, old addresses would remain active. Messages and services would not be lost.
- Decoding the A.I.-Driven Tech Lingo From 2025 December 30, 2025Here’s a cheat sheet for decoding this year’s A.I.-driven tech lingo, from RAG to superintelligence.
- Worn Down by Worry, Parents Look Longingly at Australia’s Social Media Ban December 27, 2025After the country barred children under 16 from using social media, many parents have been asking whether similarly tough action is needed in their own countries.
- Handy Phone Features Can Save You Holiday Time December 24, 2025Try these useful shortcuts for sharing your Wi-Fi with guests, wrangling your to-do list or deciding what to do with family and friends.
Innovation
- Rumor: Samsung Is Reviving Bixby With Perplexity-Powered AI January 13, 2026A new leak suggests Samsung may revive Bixby by handing complex queries to Perplexity, with different response modes and a live voice chat feature. The post Rumor: Samsung Is Reviving Bixby With Perplexity-Powered AI appeared first on TechRepublic.
- UK Open Banking Celebrates 8th Anniversary With 16M Users January 13, 2026One in five UK consumers and small businesses actively use these services, creating an ecosystem worth approximately £4.1 billion to the UK economy. The post UK Open Banking Celebrates 8th Anniversary With 16M Users appeared first on TechRepublic.
- Leaked Windows 11 Feature Shows Copilot Moving Into File Explorer January 12, 2026Microsoft is testing a hidden 'Chat with Copilot' button in Windows 11 File Explorer, signaling deeper AI search and a coming Agent Launchers framework. The post Leaked Windows 11 Feature Shows Copilot Moving Into File Explorer appeared first on TechRepublic.
- Meta Removes 544K Teen Accounts Under Australia’s Ban January 12, 2026The tech titan isn't celebrating this compliance milestone. Instead, it launched a scathing attack on the legislation. The post Meta Removes 544K Teen Accounts Under Australia’s Ban appeared first on TechRepublic.
- ‘Are You Dead?’: New App Captures Anxieties of Young Chinese Living Alone January 12, 2026The app, which requires users to check in regularly to confirm they are alive, has become the country’s most downloaded paid application in recent weeks. The post ‘Are You Dead?’: New App Captures Anxieties of Young Chinese Living Alone appeared first on TechRepublic.
Artificial Intelligence
- Trump Warns Microsoft: Don’t Make Americans Pay for AI Electricity January 13, 2026President Donald Trump pressures Microsoft and Big Tech to cover the costs of powering AI data centers as rising electricity bills spark consumer concerns. The post Trump Warns Microsoft: Don’t Make Americans Pay for AI Electricity appeared first on TechRepublic.
- No Regrets: Why This CEO Still Stands by Cutting 80% of His Workforce January 13, 2026IgniteTech CEO Eric Vaughan says AI drove 2023 layoffs that cut staff by 80%, arguing the shift enabled faster product development and higher profitability. The post No Regrets: Why This CEO Still Stands by Cutting 80% of His Workforce appeared first on TechRepublic.
- Rumor: Samsung Is Reviving Bixby With Perplexity-Powered AI January 13, 2026A new leak suggests Samsung may revive Bixby by handing complex queries to Perplexity, with different response modes and a live voice chat feature. The post Rumor: Samsung Is Reviving Bixby With Perplexity-Powered AI appeared first on TechRepublic.
- AI-Powered Crypto Scams Drive Record $17B Losses in 2025 January 13, 2026Research by Chainalysis reveals that AI-powered impersonation tactics have exploded by an unprecedented 1,400% year-over-year. The post AI-Powered Crypto Scams Drive Record $17B Losses in 2025 appeared first on TechRepublic.
- Leaked Windows 11 Feature Shows Copilot Moving Into File Explorer January 12, 2026Microsoft is testing a hidden 'Chat with Copilot' button in Windows 11 File Explorer, signaling deeper AI search and a coming Agent Launchers framework. The post Leaked Windows 11 Feature Shows Copilot Moving Into File Explorer appeared first on TechRepublic.
