Ohtani was sidelined for Friday night’s 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. But manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani could play this weekend and remains in line to make his next scheduled start on the mound on Wednesday.

Ohtani was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning of Thursday night’s 8-6 win at Pittsburgh.

“He’s doing fine today,” Roberts said before the series opener against the White Sox. “I think that we got some pictures. There was no findings. It’s just the normal wear and tear. I thought initially it was a hamstring, it was the knee. So it just kind of got upset, swelled up a little bit.”

Ohtani, 31, is batting .305 with 13 homers and 40 RBIs in 67 games for the NL West leaders. On the mound, the reigning NL MVP is 6-2 with a 1.06 ERA in 11 starts.

Ohtani had surgery on his left knee in September 2019. Roberts said the swelling is in the back of the knee.

“That’s where a lot of the swelling with the knee kind of like builds,” Roberts said. “But again his range of motion today is good and so if it was another time in the season he’d be in there tonight.”

Ohtani did not speak with the media before the game.

Alex Call was in the leadoff spot for Los Angeles and Santiago Espinal stepped in as the designated hitter. Espinal contributed an early two-run single, but the Dodgers finished with just four hits — all in the first three innings.

Roberts also said utilityman Tommy Edman is on track to be activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Edman, who is coming back from offseason ankle surgery, is on a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who is on the 60-day IL because of a back issue, could start playing catch soon.

“(Glasnow) feels great, so he’s going to start kind of ramping things up,” Roberts said.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

See below for the results and how they will affect Los Angeles and its people.

Measure CB: Passed

With the passage of Measure CB, unlicensed and illegal marijuana dispensaries and operators within LA city limits will be required to pay the existing cannabis taxes.

For general cannabis sales, shops and businesses will be subject to a 10% tax. The city will also collect a 5% tax on medical cannabis sales, while a 2% tax will be imposed on cultivation.

If certified, Measure CB is expected to take effect this summer following the official canvass and certification of election results.

But it’s not clear how the city would enforce Prop CB to track down unlicensed cannabis dispensaries and enforce the new law.

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Measure TC: Passed

Measure TC, which supporters said will close “tax loophole,” make online travel companies to pay more for a transient occupancy tax or hotel tax than now.

Currently, online travel companies (hence the ballot name TC) are paying the 14% tax for hotel stays and short-term rentals of 30 days or less. But the problem, according to supporters, is that these online companies, such as Expedia and Booking.com, pay the tax based on the discounted wholesale room rate, instead of the higher price they charge to their customers.

Supporters like Councilmemebers Eunisses Hernandez and Tim McOsker said the $5 million generated annually under the new law can be used for city services, such as street and sidewalk repairs.

The measure will take effect after Los Angeles certifies the election and the ordinance becomes operative under city law.

Measure TT: Rejected

Los Angeles voters decisively rejected Measure TT, a proposal to raise the city’s hotel tax from 14% to 16% through 2028, then reduced it to 15% permanently.

Supporters said the measure would generate revenue from visitors attending the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympics to help pay for city services. Opponents, including hotel and tourism groups, argued it would discourage travel and harm the local tourism industry.

Tren de Aragua has been labeled by the United States as a terrorist organization. Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade, authorities announced in December.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strike occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to be director of national intelligence.

The U.S. State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ arrest.

In a post on his social media site, Trump wrote, “Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.” Trump’s post referred to Guerrero Flores by his alias, “Niño Guerrero.”

The post also included unclassified video, shot from above, of a small building with a green roof exploding.

Hegseth said, “The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere.”

Venezuela’s ministry of communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the operation.

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“During the operation, clashes occurred with members of criminal groups, resulting in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias ‘Niño Guerrero,’ the leader of one of these criminal organizations,” according to the statement.

The mineral-rich state, which borders Brazil and Guyana, is home to large illegal mining operations long controlled by gangs and other actors who mine with the consent — and to the benefit — of officials and the military.

Trump has taken a series of extraordinary actions against the gang, including a series of strikes on small boats his administration has accused of smuggling drugs to America. At least 207 people have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September.

Trump and administration officials have consistently blamed Tren de Aragua for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some U.S. cities. The president spent months repeating the claim — contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment — that Tren de Aragua had operated under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s control. The U.S. whisked Maduro out of Venezuela to face U.S. drug charges in January.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as millions of Venezuelans migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. in search of better living conditions.

Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in Aragua for murder and other convictions in 2013, when Venezuela’s crisis began as corruption, mismanagement and a drop in crude prices wrecked the oil-dependent economy. Guerrero Flores and a few other inmates saw a profitable opportunity as the government neglected prisons.

They assumed control and administration of the prison, establishing a system that controlled the entire inmate population through force and extortion. Over time, they transformed the facility into a sort of city that included a zoo, baseball field, casino and restaurants. Guerrero Flores had his own lavish suite.

The size of the gang is unclear. Countries with large populations of Venezuelan migrants, including Peru and Colombia, have accused the group of being behind a spree of violence in the region. Still, unlike other criminal organizations from Colombia, Central America and Brazil, Tren de Aragua has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders, according to InSight Crime, a think tank that tracks crime across Latin America.

In Venezuela, gang leaders have long been known to participate in various illegal activities, including gold mining and drug trafficking.

The legal mining of gold and other minerals is a component of the Trump administration’s phased plan to turn the crisis-wrecked country around. In March, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum told reporters during a visit to Venezuela that the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez was giving security assurances to mining companies interested in investing in the South American country.

Trump campaigned for a second term promising to crack down on immigration and crime. While polls show his favorability ratings have sagged on his handling of the economy, immigration remains Trump’s strongest issue, according to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

__

Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City contributed.

Chase Klugo was diagnosed with hearing loss as an infant. He and his sister both inherited a genetic condition that affects their hearing.

Klugo, who plays tennis, recently helped his high school team win a title. But he is also fighting off the court, joining hundreds of families who are urging California to expand coverage for children who need hearing aids.

“I personally have hearing aids, as you can see right here, in both of my ears,” Klugo said. “I can hear about 10% without my hearing aids.”

Advocates say mandated coverage for hearing aids has received bipartisan support in California, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has raised concerns about adding new requirements to the state’s health insurance system.

Klugo said he hopes sharing his story will help put pressure on state leaders.

“To be honest, it’s just bringing as much attention to the issue as possible and making an environment where Newsom feels like it’s the right thing to do, and it’s a no-brainer,” Klugo said.

Advocates say they have submitted a proposal to the governor that they believe addresses his concerns. A final decision is expected June 15.

“It makes me so happy that a sport that I truly love and play is just around the corner for me,” Luarca Alvarez said. “It’s really crazy to me, but I’m so happy it’s nearby.”

Alvarez has been playing soccer since she was 4. She now competes on the girls’ side for LA Breakers FC, the same local youth soccer club where Haji Wright developed his skills in the boys’ program.

Nick Hazell, girls’ program director for LA Breakers FC, said Wright’s rise is a point of pride for the club.

“One of our alums is Haji Wright, who’s going to be playing up front for the USA team at the World Cup,” he said.

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Hazell said the club has seen an increase in sign-ups as excitement builds around the tournament. He said having the World Cup in the United States is helping shine a brighter spotlight on soccer nationwide.

“That creates a buzz,” Hazell said. “It’s inspirational to see these world-class players basically in our backyard.”

For Luarca Alvarez, the impact of soccer extends beyond the field. She said LA Breakers FC has helped her grow as a player and as a person.

“I’ve learned life lessons like teamwork, self-growth and communication,” she said. “Those are very good life lessons I’ve learned from it.”

The LA Breakers FC girls program has produced multiple top college soccer players, including athletes who earned full scholarships for their abilities on the field.

Laotian police arrested Myung Jin Kim, 31, last month for having fake immigration documents and sent him back to Los Angeles International Airport earlier this week. He was then booked into the Anaheim Police Department jail, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.

Kim, a South Korean national, is accused of shooting and killing his friend, 26-year-old Christopher Kim, after arguing over money in the parking lot of a Westminster CVS on Sept. 5, 2018. Authorities said Kim had been out on bail for dealing drugs and possessing a gun as a felon when he killed his friend.

Kim shot his friend six times in front of the victim’s girlfriend and ran away, the DA’s office said.

Two years prior to the alleged homicide in Westminster, Kim orchestrated a murder-for-hire by hiring a hitman in San Jose, according to investigators. But the contract killer ended up fatally shooting the wrong man.

An investigation later identified several suspects in the San Jose murder, leading authorities to conclude that Kim had orchestrated the targeted killing, prosecutors said.

Nearly eight years after the deadly shooting in Westminster, Orange and Santa Clara County investigators learned Kim was in Laos and began drawing a plan to bring him back to the U.S.

“Justice knows no borders and we will go to the literal ends of the earth in the pursuit of justice,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But the long arm of the law of Orange County is coming for you and there is not a country on earth that is capable of shielding you from our unwavering pursuit of justice.

This is the first time Laotian officials returned a wanted fugitive from Laos to the U.S., the DA’s office said, adding that Orange County authorities have extradited or removed seven international fugitives since January 2026.

Kim was expected to be prosecuted for his crimes in Santa Clara County before being returned to Orange County to be prosecuted for his crimes committed in Orange County.

Kim’s return to the U.S. was a result of collaboration of nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies, including Vietnamese, Singaporean and Thai police.

The U.S. cruised past Paraguay 4-1 in their Group D opener Friday at Los Angeles Stadium, setting the tone with a relentless first-half showing.

Mauricio Pochettino is known for his high-intensity style that platforms his main attackers. That was on display early with Christian Pulisic looking the most bright. Chris Richards also returned from injury to start alongside Tim Ream and Alex Freeman.

Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun joined Pulisic up top as the three main attackers supported by two attacking wingbacks.

In the 7th minute, Pulisic and Weston McKennie combined brilliantly on the left flank that resulted in an own goal by Paraguay off midfielder Damian Bobadilla.

The U.S. didn’t stop attacking from there. It came close for a second goal throughout the first half, but just couldn’t get the final touch right for differing reasons.

It then came via Balogun in the 31st minute.

Pulisic once again was key, making an advanced run past Paraguay’s defensive line that left-back Antonee Robinson found with an incisive ball down the flank. Pulisic then cut it back to Balogun, who slotted it brilliantly with force.

But Balogun also didn’t stop there.

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Just before halftime, Tillman delivered a through ball down the right channel toward Balogun. Balogun got on the ball, spun his defender, then finessed it into the top left corner with his weaker left foot — a stunning moment given the context.

That allowed the U.S. to take it easier for the second half, though Pulisic came off for Sebastian Berhalter at halftime.

The U.S. saw things out from there, despite conceding one in the 73rd minute to substitute forward Mauricio.

Off a long kick from goalie Orlando Gill, Chris Richards jumped for an aerial too early that in turn opened up the rest of the defense.

Young rising forward Julio Enciso brought the ball down then dropped it into the space on the left flank, where Mauricio ran in to drill it past Matt Freese.

But the scoring didn’t stop there. Gio Reyna, who came on in the 82nd minute and was involved in a shock scandal with 2022 head coach Gregg Berhalter after the Qatar tournament, entered for a chance to rewrite the past.

And he did, scoring an exquisite trivela with the last kick of the game as Alex Freeman earned the assist.

The result sees the U.S. score the most goals in a single World Cup game ever, setting the stage for what could be coming in group play.

The U.S. only had 1.35 expected goals via FotMob’s metric, but that’s a statistic best used to measure league outcomes than shorter tournaments. A better indicator is the U.S. having 53 touches in Paraguay’s box to just nine the other way.

Up next is Australia next Friday, a team that offers a few up-and-coming names but aren’t on the same level as the U.S. when it performs like this.

A crucial week awaits the Stars and Stripes following a memorable performance and scoreline.

Shalit “passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life,” his family told NBC News in a statement.

Shalit started as a part-time “TODAY” show contributor in 1970 before moving to a full-time role three years later. He earned national fame as the program’s go-to movie reviewer, offering his take on summer blockbusters, awards contenders and other big-screen projects until his retirement in 2010.

“The ‘TODAY’ Show was an extraordinary era for him,” his family said in its statement.

He stood out from the broadcast television pack with his colorful bowties and bushy mustache. He often studded his reviews in the “TODAY” show “Critics Corner” with puns and other cheeky turns of phrase, endearing him to millions of viewers.

“‘The Silence of the Lambs’ may be all wool and a yard wide, but it makes a terrific yarn,” he said in his review of the 1991 horror classic, which won best picture at the Academy Awards the following year.

He rarely minced words when a movie left him cold. In panning “X-Men,” he said the first entry in the hit superhero franchise “should not be taken seriously. In fact, it should be taken with two aspirin.” Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” is “passable,” he said — “speaking colonically.”

In addition to reviewing Hollywood releases, Shalit interviewed some of the biggest stars of the day, from Oprah Winfrey to Harrison Ford. His questions ranged from the serious to the silly, such as when he asked Kermit the Frog whether he planned to marry Miss Piggy.

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Shalit started his career as a print journalist. He was the senior film critic for Look Magazine and wrote the “What’s Happening?” page for Ladies Home Journal for a dozen years. He published articles in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, TV Guide, Seventeen, Glamour and McCall’s.

He composed and broadcast a daily “Man About Anything” essay on NBC’s coast-to-coast radio network from 1969 to 1982, according to his profile on the “TODAY” show website. He was also a regular panelist on the game shows “What’s My Line?” and “To Tell The Truth.”

Eugene Shalit was born on March 25, 1926, in New York. He was raised in New Jersey, where his father purchased a drug store. When the younger Shalit was in elementary school, he created the school’s first newspaper, The Spotlight, and bought a fedora so he looked the part, according to his “TODAY” profile. He later wrote his high school newspaper’s humor column.

He graduated in 1949 from the University of Illinois, where he proved his journalistic bona fides as a sports editor, columnist and humor writer for The Daily Illini.

He later became a reporter and writer for the Twin Cities’ daily newspaper and filed dispatches on Big Ten sporting events as a freelancer for The Associated Press in Chicago.

Shalit reached national fame as an on-air personality for the “TODAY” show, where he interspersed his entertainment coverage with offbeat in-the-field reports and improvisational hijinks on set.

He said farewell to viewers in 2010. In a tribute, former co-host Meredith Vieira said: “It’s hard to imagine not having him here. He is the ‘TODAY’ show.”

In more recent years, Shalit largely retreated from the public eye.

Shalit was married to Nancy Lewis for 28 years, from 1950 until her death in 1978.

According to the Long Beach Police Department, officers responded to the area of ​​Bayshore Avenue and Ocean Boulevard around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday after a report of a large gathering.

Upon arrival, officers began dispersing the group, and during the intervention, a fight broke out between Ocean Boulevard and Termino Avenue, resulting in the detention of several minors, police said.

Around 10 p.m., police cited five teenagers for violating the city’s curfew and released them to their guardians.

Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish urged the community to participate in authorized events taking place in the city and highlighted the work of officers in maintaining public safety.

“We encourage everyone to enjoy the permitted events taking place in our city. Our officers have an exceptionally challenging and demanding job, and they remain dedicated to keeping everyone safe. When inappropriate activity occurs, our response will be swift, direct, and focused,” Hebeish said in a statement.

The police chief added that large-scale disturbances like the one that occurred consume significant department resources and divert officers from other safety concerns in Long Beach, including emergency responses.

He also reported that the department will maintain an increased presence throughout the weekend and warned that violent behavior and violations of the law will not be tolerated.

No injuries were reported in this incident.

Long Beach Police asked residents to report suspicious or unusual activity by following the philosophy of “If you see something, say something,” by calling the police dispatch at 562-435-6711.

The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity will provide direct assistance to businesses impacted by the May 22 spill.

Businesses that experienced financial losses, property damage, cleanup-related expenses, or disruptions in operations may be eligible to file a claim for compensation through the Pacific Pipeline System LLC (PPS), county officials said.

Business owners call 877-817-5465 or email osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov to start the claims process. LA County’s Office of Small Businesses can also help business owners through the process and submit claims.

Those seeking assistance must include a specific dollar amount and supporting documentation in their application. Records that may be needed include business licenses, financial statements, sales reports, bank statements, photographs of damage, canceled contracts, payroll records, repair estimates and cleanup receipts.

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“This is a critical moment to stand with the communities of East Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, which have long borne the burden of environmental injustice,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis said in a statement.

An oil pipeline ruptured last month when a communications crew working on a fiber optic line struck the pipeline, spilling crude oil onto the road near East Cesar Chavez and North Eastern Avenues as well as into the Los Angeles River.

Community members, business owners, the river and even several wildlife species such as birds were affected by the incident.

A formal announcement is expected soon, the person familiar with the matter told NBC News. A spokesperson for Paramount Skydance did not immediately respond to request for comment on Friday.

The news was first reported by Politico.

Paramount owns a 114-year-old film studio, the Paramount+ streaming service and the CBS broadcast network. Warner owns a 116-year-old film studio, the HBO Max streaming service and a suite of cable channels, including CNN.

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has previously vowed to “honor the legacy of two iconic companies while accelerating our vision of building a next-generation media and entertainment company.” The 43-year-old media executive is the son of technology magnate Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle and an ally of President Donald Trump.

But the deal has faced blowback from some Hollywood professionals and government regulators.

In an open letter released in April, more than 1,000 entertainment professionals said the deal would “further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries — and the audiences we serve — can least afford it.”

The merger could draw legal challenges from state attorneys general. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said his office is investigating the tie-up, and a person familiar with the matter said New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office is part of that probe.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has publicly advocated against the deal, said the Justice Department’s green light was “terrible news for every American.”

“This fight isn’t over,” Warren said in a post on X. “State AGs must block this merger.”

Bonta’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

European Union officials are reviewing the merger over the deal’s financial backing from three Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds. In an April filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Paramount said its acquisition of Warner is backed in part by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Abu Dhabi’s L’IMAD Holding and the Qatar Investment Authority.

In recent weeks, Ellison’s Paramount has been under scrutiny over major shake-ups at CBS New, where his appointed editor in chief Bari Weiss fired multiple “60 Minutes” correspondents at the end of the most recent season.

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The special service, provided through Metro’s World Cup Enhanced Service Program, will operate for all eight World Cup matches scheduled at the stadium between today and July 10.

Buses will depart from First Street between Long Beach Boulevard and Elm Avenue in downtown Long Beach and will run every eight to 10 minutes beginning about four hours before kickoff and continuing until 90 minutes after each match ends.

According to Long Beach Transit, the trip to SoFi Stadium will take approximately one hour each way.

Reserved parking is available at City Place Lot C, 51 E. Third St., with reservations beginning at $12. Bus fares are $1.75 each way and can be paid using a TAP card, debit card, credit card or mobile wallet, officials said.

“Long Beach Transit is proud to partner with our regional transit agencies to help move fans efficiently during the World Cup,” Long Beach Transit President and CEO Kenneth McDonald said in a statement. “As we welcome
the world to our region, we are proud to deliver dependable mobility that brings fans, families, and cultures together.”

Long Beach Transit officials said the service is intended to provide local and international visitors with an alternative to driving while helping connect fans with one of the region’s largest sporting events.

The agency also noted that passengers attending World Cup-related celebrations in downtown Long Beach can connect to its Transit Gallery on First Street from routes throughout the city.

Along with his unfiltered name-calling, the ex-reality TV star threatened to “expose this corrupt machine,” adding he did not get into the race “for political power.”

“It’s war,” Pratt said. “I don’t have campaign laws hamstringing me now.”

Pratt claimed that he has audio proof that may force Bass and Raman to “resign in shame,” adding he’s committed to stopping the two mayoral candidates.

“If you think we uncovered a lot of fraud and evil in the campaign, just wait,” Pratt said in the video. “I was saving it for the general election.”

The Palisades Fire victim also said that “many” developers and business owners were leaving LA, which could result in less tax revenue for the city, leading to limited city services, including “less firefighters, less police patrols.”

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In the video, Pratt portrayed Los Angeles as a city plagued by drugs and crime, calling it “a mess.”

Although Pratt had previously said he would leave LA if he failed to win the mayoral election, he did not say whether he’s planning to move out of the city.

After NBC News projected earlier this week that Raman would advance to the runoff against Bass, Pratt remained mostly quiet except for posting a picture of a duck on X.

The next day, he shared a video of his home destroyed by the Palisades Fire and responded to Jimmy Kimmel, who said during his show’s monologue he had rented a U-Haul for Pratt after the reality TV personality said he would leave Los Angeles if he failed to become mayor.

“Jimmy Kimmel i guess you missed the part of the story i don’t need a U-Haul…I have nothing left to pack,” Pratt shot back.

NBC Los Angeles reached out to the campaigns for Bass and Raman but did not hear back as of Friday afternoon.

Burbank police told NBC4 Investigates they responded to an assault with a deadly weapon in progress at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the 10900 block of Sherman Way. The suspect had confronted two victims in the parking lot and attempted to stab the driver through the car window before slashing tires and leaving the scene, police said.

Details about what led to the altercation were not immediately available.

Through witness statements and a follow-up investigation, officers identified the suspect, who was later located and detained by Montebello police. The 39-year-old man was arrested and booked at the Burbank Jail and charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of vandalism.

As they have throughout the journey, his family will be there to support the 30-year-old midfielder in his second appearance on global soccer’s biggest stage. This time, the location of the stage at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, adds to the joy and depth of the experience for Roldan.

“It is a special feeling for me, for my family, for my friends to be able to root for the U.S., but also root for me in particular,” Roldan said. “I’m able to really enjoy this experience, I think, more than anybody else because of how I grew up and where I grew up.”

Roldan’s parents, Ana and Cesar, were up earlier Friday morning and wearing their Team USA gear in anticipation of watching their son in the first Group D match of the 48-team tournament.

“It’s a dream. We want to live it without waking up,” Cesar Roldan said. “It gives us goosebumps going to the game today, and seeing the environment. I know it’s going to be loud.”

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The United States will play two of its three group stage games in Inglewood. The United States’ other group stage game at Lumen Field in Seattle also will have special meaning for Roldan, who has played for the Seattle Sounders alongside since 2015.

Ana and Cesar Roldan moved to California in the 1980s when their countries, Guatemala and El Salvador, were involved in civil wars. Born and raised in Pico Rivera with two brothers, Roldan played soccer on a patch of grass in the family’s back yard. Cesar Roldan made a goal from PVC pipes.

Roldan led El Rancho High School to the Southern Section Division III title and a 29-2-1 record. As a senior, he had 54 goals and 31 assists.

He went on to play two seasons at the University of Washington.

Roldan helped the Sounders to a Concacaf Champions Cup in 2022, two MLS Cups and a Leagues Cup. He earned his first-ever MLS Best XI selection in 2025.

The Sounders captain made his international debut in 2017. He has 45 caps and helped the United States win two Gold Cup titles.

Roldan was eligible to play for Guatemala or El Salvador, but he chose the United States.

“It was a very hard decision, knowing you could represent El Salvador and Guatemala,” Roldan said on an episode of “My New Favorite Futbolista.” “But I wanted to give back to the United States for everything they gave our family.”

Roldan is one of two United States players with ties to Southern California. Twenty-eight-year-old Haji Wright was born in Los Angeles and made his international debut in June 2022 against Morocco.

About the 2026 World Cup

The World Cup kicked off Thursday with Mexico winning the opener over South Africa in Mexico City. Co-hosts USA and Canada have their openers in Los Angeles and Toronto on Friday.

The 48-team group stage lasts until June 27, then the top two teams in each group along with the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32 beginning on June 28.

The remaining winning teams will then play in the Round of 16 starting on July 4. The quarterfinals will be held on July 9, and the semifinals will be July 14 and July 15, leading up to the championship match at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament, is one of the venues that will host the international soccer tournament. There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games

There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games

June 12: USA v. Paraguay
June 15: Iran v. New Zealand
June 18: Switzerland v. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 21: Belgium v. Iran
June 25: USA v. Türkiye
June 28: Round of 32 match
July 2: Round of 32 match
July 10: Quarterfinal

Other U.S. host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the Bay Area.

Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey are Mexico’s host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will host matches in Canada.

You can tune into “My New Favorite Futbolista” wherever you listen to podcasts, with episodes featuring Roldan and more World Cup stars.

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The investigation began at about 11:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Del Valle Avenue. A DEA sergeant confirmed that agents were serving a search warrant for drugs and firearms when they discovered a significant amount of fireworks inside the home.

It was not clear what amount of drugs or fireworks were found at the scene. It was also not clear if any arrests were made. 

The DEA has cleared the drugs and weapons found at the location and is now focusing on removing the fireworks.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Industry Station is now working with the DEA to figure out a safe method of removing the fireworks.

In California, only so-called “Safe and Sane” consumer-grade fireworks are legal, but county and local municipalities have different rules. It is illegal to store, manufacture, sell, use, or handle all forms of fireworks without a valid permit in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

From 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, overnight closures of the northbound 605 will take place between north of Washington Boulevard to Whittier Boulevard, according to Caltrans.

Up to two lanes will be closed in both directions of the 605 from Telegraph Road to the San Bernardino (10) Freeway for an equipment-moving operation from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night from Monday through next Friday.    

“There will be no full freeway closures associated with this paving operation,” according to a Caltrans statement.    

The closures on northbound 605 are as follows:    

Freeway Lanes:  Northbound 605 reduced to one lane from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday. Northbound 605 reduced to two lanes from 4 a.m. Saturday to 11 p.m. Sunday. Northbound 605 reduced to one lane from 11 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday. All northbound 605 lanes will reopen to the public by 5 a.m. Monday.

Ramps: The northbound 605 Washington Boulevard off-ramp closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday. The northbound 605 Washington Boulevard onramp closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday. Westbound Washington Boulevard/Saragosa Street on-ramp to northbound 605 closed from 7 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday. Northbound I-605 Whittier Boulevard off-ramp closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday.

There will be more 55-hour extended weekend lane reductions scheduled through 2026, including demolition work next weekend.

The sports entertainment category was announced in 2021 by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Walk of Fame. It honors individuals — not teams or sports affiliated groups — who have made significant contributions to the world of entertainment and demonstrated “longevity of excellence.”   

Beckham received the star because of his founding of the content studio, Studio 99, which specializes in developing and producing premium documentary features, series, and formats for global platforms and networks, including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, Ana Martinez, the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s producer, told City News Service.    

Tom Cruise and Beckham’s singer turned fashion designer wife Victoria joined him in speaking at the 10 a.m. ceremony outside the Ovation Hollywood shopping complex. Beckham and Cruise have been friends since 2007 when he signed with the Galaxy.    

“I give thanks to this country, to the fans that embraced us, the people that welcomed us and made our adventure so much fun,” Beckham said. “I want to thank my teammates, my friends, my team, for always being in my corner and cheering me on. Most of all, I want to thank my incredible family.”

Cruise told the crowd that Beckham changed the face of American soccer when he signed with the Galaxy, creating an excitement for the sport that had never been seen.

“Before David ever played a match for the Galaxy, stadiums across the league began to sell out,” Cruise said. “People who had never watched football — or soccer — suddenly had a reason to. When David arrived, Major League Soccer had 13 teams. Today it has 30.”

Victoria Beckham said her husband “has achieved the extraordinary.”

“And now, with the World Cup upon us, football — I’m sorry, soccer — in America is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its history,” she said.

New York Giants Hall of Fame defensive end turned “Good Morning America” anchor Michael Strahan was the first recipient in the sports entertainment category, in 2023.

The second recipient was the late Carl Weathers, honored for a nearly 50-year acting career after playing for the Oakland Raiders, best remembered for his portrayal of Sylvester Stallone’s boxing nemesis-turned-friend and mentor Apollo Creed in the first four “Rocky” movies.    

Tennis legend and feminist pioneer Billie Jean King became the third recipient last year.

Shares in Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX soared 25% after opening for trading at noon Friday, an auspicious start for history’s biggest initial public offering and enough to push the net worth of its founder and CEO over the trillion dollar mark.

The shares opened at $150, then shot to $168.90 around 12:.50 p.m. ET. That price gave the company a market value of $2.21 trillion. Musk, who also is a major shareholder and CEO of Tesla, is now worth an estimated $1.1 trillion, according to Forbes.

Musk says SpaceX, founded in 2002, is going public now because it needs money to fund its ambitions of putting satellites and data centers in space and eventually establishing a colony of people on Mars.

He earlier marked the opening of trading on Nasdaq, where the company’ shares are trading under the symbol “SPCX,” by joining a ceremonial bell ringing from Starbase, the South Texas home of SpaceX.

He reiterated his lofty goals “to make life multiplanetary.”

“Not just a few astronauts, I mean literally you,” Musk said. “Whoever you are watching this, SpaceX wants to be able to take you to the moon, take you to Mars and ultimately beyond.”

Known for his technological breakthroughs, as well as wild claims and missed deadlines, Musk was able to whip up enthusiasm for the IPO despite SpaceX losing billions of dollars a year. Institutional and retail investors alike jumped at the opportunity to buy a piece of the company at $135 per share before trading began. The $75 billion in proceeds SpaceX raised easily topped the previous record IPO from oil giant Saudi Aramco in 2019.

In addition to establishing a one-million person Martian colony, the company has promised to save humanity by establishing other outposts in space, launch data centers the size of football fields into orbit and outdo rivals Anthropic and OpenAI in the race to make money from artificial intelligence.

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To reach its goals, SpaceX needs billions more than it currently takes in from its rocket and satellite business. Between the start of 2025 and March 31, 2026, the company lost $8.7 billion.

Wall Street bankers that helped take SpaceX public are enthusiastic about the company — and the big fees they will earn — but not everyone thinks the stock price is justified.

Analysts at research firm Morningstar, which doesn’t earn any investment banking fees, wrote that the IPO is “significantly overvalued” because of SpaceX’s unproven technology and massive capital needs.

They estimate the company is only worth $780 billion — less than half its IPO value.

Still, Musk has pulled off the seemingly impossible before.

The now-trillionaire — on paper at least — made his fortune by creating two companies, Zip2 and PayPal, that netted him about $200 million at sale. He used that money to start SpaceX and invest in Tesla, and defied the odds by creating a space company that figured out how to reuse rockets and a car company that made electric vehicles cool.

Musk has realized vast sums of wealth for himself, much of it in stock he has yet to cash in or grants for shares he’ll only receive if Tesla or SpaceX hit ambitious performance targets. His recent pay package from Tesla drew criticism from the Vatican. At Tesla, he’s worried shareholders by fighting with regulators or dividing his attention between multiple companies and last year by taking a role in the Trump administration.

But a rising stock price has cured all ills: Since it went public in 2010, Tesla has returned 20,000% for shareholders, or more than $1.2 trillion in investor wealth.

SpaceX is the first of three “megacap” companies expected to go public this year, with Anthropic and OpenAI to follow. Nasdaq even revised its rules to allow SpaceX to gain entry into funds tied to its indexes in 15 days, which means investors will end up buying the rocket maker’s shares much earlier.

Not all investors are thrilled about SpaceX potentially showing up in their holdings of index funds. Officials from pension funds for firefighters, teachers and other workers in California and New York sent a letter to SpaceX last month decrying some of the provisions in its IPO, including the “super voting shares,” mandatory arbitration of shareholder claims instead of the possibility of lawsuits and how much power Musk will hold over the company.

__

AP reporters Stan Choe and Wyatte Grantham-Philips contributed from New York.

The scenes in Guadalajara Thursday night follow weeks of questions around demand for the largest-ever World Cup, fueled by concerns over ticket prices and the marketing strategy of organizers FIFA.

While there was little surprise that more than 80,000 boisterous fans saw Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the Azteca Stadium, the game in Guadalajara hours later involved two teams ranked below the top 25.

Large numbers of empty seats could be seen at the almost 46,000-seater stadium, though the official attendance was put at 44,985.

Fans have complained about what they say are excessively high ticket prices for months ahead of the tournament, as well as the cost of accommodation and flights to travel between or inside the three host nations, the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Visa access to the U.S. has also drawn scrutiny.

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An NBC News analysis of the World Cup affordability for an average fan in the U.S. found that hotels and tickets were still widely available for games early in the tournament. But depending on what match fans would want to attend, it could cost roughly the same amount as a month of rent in Chicago.

Earlier this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket pricing, saying it was on a par with other major sporting events.

FIFA has sold more than six million tickets for the tournament, and demand had exceeded expectations by “a factor of 10 or more,” he said.

“Our entry price, which is $60, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the playoff phases,” Infantino said.

But some supporter groups have challenged this position.

Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint to the European Commission in March, accusing FIFA of shutting ordinary fans out of the tournament by imposing “sky-high” prices that far exceed those at previous World Cup events. It has also said that the $60 tickets FIFA is advertising “barely existed” and were snatched up before general public sales opened.

Last month, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey issued a subpoena to FIFA over its ticketing practices, citing media reports that fans may have been misled about the locations of the seats they were purchasing, and FIFA’s public statements and ticket releases may have contributed to soaring prices.

Even President Donald Trump weighed in, blasting high World Cup ticket prices in an interview with The New York Post last month.

NBC News reached out to FIFA for comment on the optics of the empty seats at Thursday’s game between South Korea and Czech Republic, and whether they were down to high ticket prices and other issues like travel costs and visa barriers.

The tournament takes place over the span of more than five weeks and concludes on July 19 with the final in New Jersey.The U.S. opens its campaign Friday night against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed.

Held every four years, the international soccer tournament kicked off on Thursday and runs through July 19. The U.S. is one of the host countries this year, and Los Angeles is slated to host eight matches.

Although Santa Monica isn’t hosting any matches, the police department says soccer fans will gather around the city for several activations and community events during the tournament.

The SMPD plans to increase foot, bike and vehicle patrols, support crowd management and coordinate with security teams at events and other city departments. These proactive efforts will be focused near popular areas, including the pier, downtown, Santa Monica Place and the Third Street Promenade, officials said.

“This is an opportunity to showcase the best of Santa Monica,” SMPD Chief Darrick Jacob said. “We want people to come, enjoy the city, support local businesses, and celebrate responsibly. Our officers and professional staff will be out throughout the city to help make that possible.”

Police are encouraging residents and visitors to use public transportation when available and stay aware of their surroundings. Anyone with public safety concerns can call the non-emergency line at 310-458-8491.

The DA’s office announced that it filed a motion Thursday, asking a Superior Court judge to delay the payments until the end of 2026. The 34-page motion noted that investigators believe more than 80% of the claims were fabricated.

“Premature disbursement continues to pose a substantial risk of interfering with its investigation by complicating witness cooperation, obscuring financial trails, and impairing the office’s ability to identify and prosecute fraudulent activity, as well as unjustly enriching those engaged in fraud at the expense of true victims,” the motion stated.

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The announcement came more than a year after the LA County Board of Supervisors approved the $4 billion to settle sexual abuse claims — one of the largest sex abuse settlements in U.S. history — made by more than 7,000 people, with some of the alleged incidents dating back to 1959. Some of the abuse cases allegedly happened at LA County facilities.

Then about six months later, the DA’s office announced it’s investigating bogus damage claims after the LA Time reported that some plaintiffs in the $4 billion sex abuse settlement were paid by vendors to sue the county. In some cases, according to the LA times, people were paid by an LA law firm to file false claims. 

“Now the fraudsters come in a variety of different ways,” District Attorney Hochman said in a news conference in November 2025. “These can be individual claimants that never suffered sexual abuse. At any point, at the hands of Los Angeles County, but they looked at this potential settlement as a way to get some free money.”

A hearing for the motion was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 15, according to the DA’s office.

“This intervention is critical to safeguarding the rights of the legitimate child abuse survivors, including preserving the integrity of the settlement process,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “It will also help ensure that individuals who have allegedly filed fraudulent claims are held accountable for exploiting the horrific abuse and trauma experienced by genuine survivors.”

Anyone with information on allegedly false sex abuse claims or payments for false claims was urged to contact a county AB 218 fraud hotline at 844-901-0001 or visit fraud.lacounty.gov/ab218.

Now it’s the U.S. men’s national team’s turn.

Friday’s slate will continue with the three hosts in the spotlight. The day will start with Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B play before it ends with the USMNT vs. Paraguay at night.

The U.S. men’s national team are in a Group D that also features Turkiye, a potential dark horse, and Australia, so claiming all three points no matter the cost will be key against a disciplined Paraguayan side led by star winger Miguel Almiron.

So, what time is the game and where will it be available to watch? Here’s everything to know:

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When is the USA-Paraguay World Cup game?

The U.S. and Paraguay will meet on Friday, June 12.

What time is the USA-Paraguay World Cup game?

Kickoff time is set for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Where is the USA-Paraguay World Cup game?

SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium) is the venue for the action.

Where to watch the USA-Paraguay World Cup game on TV, online

The game will be available to broadcast in Spanish on Telemundo with streaming on Peacock. Fox will carry the game in English.

Who are the key players to watch in USA-Paraguay?

For the U.S., its ceiling in the tournament will be dictated by Christian Pulisic’s form. Defender Chris Richards is also racing to be fit and is the team’s best center-back, so his return would be a key boost. Matt Freese is expected to start in net, a marquee moment for the 27-year-old NYCFC goalie.

Paraguay is led by Atlanta United star winger Miguel Almiron, who can create a goal out of nothing with his crafty left foot. Left-footed center-back Omar Alderete enjoyed a fine debut season in the Premier League with Sunderland, while Diego Gomez in midfield is a relentless engine who can contribute in the final third. If Julio Enciso is fit, his ballstriking could be gamechanging.

For those coming from Orange, Ventura and San Diego counties, they were encouraged to take Amtrak Surfliner, which is running additional routes and dates, to get to Union Station.

Once reaching the transit hub, visitors can purchase the special edition FIFA World Cup TAP cards for LA Metro, which is running shuttle buses to the stadium and watch parties.

A team of about 2,000 transit agency employees will be deployed throughout Los Angeles County during the tournament to assist riders using the agency’s enhanced transit services, according to LA Metro officials.

About 2,000 employees were expected to leave their regular office assignments during the tournament to supplement bus operators, Metro Ambassadors, transit security personnel and other frontline staff. The workers will be placed throughout the transit system to help visitors traveling to matches, fan zones and other World Cup-related events, LA Metro said.

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There will be 300 World Cup buses traveling from transit hubs across Southern California to SoFi Stadium, which is called Los Angeles Stadium during the World Cup.

“Anywhere in LA when there’s big events, you do not want to be driving. Traffic, not just traffic but parking’s outrageous,” Hermilia Bustamante said at Union Station.

Some parking facilities near the stadium were asking as much as $300 for one day even though they are a few blocks away from the game site, according to digital parking reservation services, including SpotHero.

Caltrans also encouraged fans to use public transportation, warning of heavy traffic on game days on signs along the freeways.

Los Angeles is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches during the tournament.

The investigation by the HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) uncovered “repeated false statements, its irresponsible actions and failures” by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), according to a statement from the federal department.

Despite receiving $1 billion over the last five years, HUD officials said the city has failed to reduce homelessness due to “LAHSA’s repeated false statements and its irresponsible actions and failures.”

“Despite receiving more federal homelessness funding than any other jurisdiction in the nation, Los Angeles remains the epicenter of the nation’s drug-fueled homelessness crisis,” the federal agency said in a statement.

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Among the allegations, LAHSA did not keep track of the unhoused who left transitional motel housing, yet it kept paying for empty hotel rooms, according to HUD.

Also in 2025, LAHSA wasn’t able to provide verification paperwork to show where the 2,300 housing sites are located, the report said.

The homelessness agency is also accused of fabricating certifications to cover up the fact that it did not have internal policy to prevent conflict of interest until Sept. 26, 2025.

During the five-year period, homelessness in LA increased 100% and free housing for homeless went up 212%, HUD claimed.

LAHSA officials pushed backed on the federal government’s claims, stating that its actions could put thousands of formerly homeless people back on the street.

“LAHSA received a letter from HUD announcing a suspension of CoC funding. After initial review, this appears to be a blatant attempt to pull yet more resources from Los Angeles, a city they have targeted time and again, when it is clear that LAHSA has either corrected or is in the process of correcting nearly all of the issues raised,” according to a statement from LASHA.

The organization maintained that local oversight actions have already resulting in strong repairs and reforms to LAHSA’s internal controls, which officials said are “accountable and viewable to the public.”

“If HUD’s Inspector General actually conducts a fair review of LAHSA’s current and future practices, they will clearly see how our systems now allow us to clearly track the work and investments that have resulted in LA outperforming the nation by reducing homelessness over the last two years,” LAHSA said in it’s statement.

In response to the announcement, Mayor Karen Bass’s Office said she has “grave concerns” about LAHSA, highlighting she has already directed the city to evaluate how it can move away from the agency.

“Threatening federal funds does nothing to house people and jeopardizes the progress Mayor Bass has led to reduce homelessness for two years in a row, after it only went up in Los Angeles for years,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “Ultimately people will lose their lives. We urge HUD to work with the City of Los Angeles to provide the necessary funding to reduce homelessness.”

LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is running for mayor against Bass, also released a statement, saying the city and the county should work together to work with HUD for the homeless agency.

“This action by the federal government is exactly what I have been concerned about, and why I have pushed for years for the City to build the capacity needed to manage our own contracts, programs and dollars,” Raman said.

City News Service contributed to the report.

According to the National Weather Services’ Climate Prediction Center, above-average surface temperatures have been recorded in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, and conditions favoring El Niño are expected to intensify in the coming months.

“There is a 63% chance of a very strong El Niño during November-January that would rank among the largest El Niño events in the historical record going back to 1950,” forecasters said.

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Even though a very strong, potentially historic, El Niño is forecast for later this year, the impacts on Southern California are still up in the air. The last very strong El Niño was in 2015 and 2016, which ended up being the 13th driest year on record for Los Angeles. In contrast, the very strong El Niño of 1997 and 1998 produced over 30″ of rain in Los Angeles.

“Even very strong El Niño events do not lead to the expected impact everywhere, but stronger events can more significantly tilt the odds in favor of expected outcomes,” according to forecasters. “In summary, El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2026-27.”

Typical impacts of El Niño generally include stormier weather in the southern United States — meaning more rain and snow. It also can lead to increased risk of flooding during high tides on the West Coast. Harmful algae blooms are also a potential effect on the West Coast.

According to the NWS, El Niño generally leads to a southern shift of the jet stream over the northern Pacific Ocean, resulting in drier conditions in areas such as the Northern Rockies and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.

But it brings stormier conditions to the southern regions.

“Every El Niño is not the same; each one is unique with its own imprint on our weather,” Ken Graham, NWS director, said in a statement. “Advanced monitoring and an improved understanding of El Niño patterns allow the NWS to better predict and better prepare the public and our core partners for what is to come.”

The girl, who was pulled into the water with her mother and sibling Tuesday as they were walking on Treasure Island Beach, was located during an early Thursday morning aerial survey, according to authorities. The sighting was about 250 to 300 yards offshore of Christmas Cove, about 1/4-mile north of where she was swept into the water.

The body was recovered by Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol. She was identified by the coroner’s office as Amada Mia Brown, of San Bernardino.

The girl’s father, Aaron Brown, said his “sweet little baby” loved the beach, not afraid of water.

“It’s sad this happened to her. She didn’t deserve it,” the grieving father said.

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Authorities initially received a 911 call at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday about a woman and her two children in need of help in the water near Treasure Island Beach. The mother and sibling were rescued by witnesses.

Witnesses who jumped into the water were taken to a hospital for evaluation and later released.

“Their actions undoubtedly prevented further loss of life,” the city of Newport Beach said.

Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel began searching for the young girl Tuesday night.

“Based on preliminary information, a mother and her two children were swept into the ocean by powerful water conditions while near the shoreline,” the agency said in a news release.

In a statement Wednesday morning, authorities said the search was expanding beyond the victim’s last known location at Treasure Island Beach. The strategy was changed based on prevailing ocean conditions, currents, wave action and drift modeling, according to Laguna Beach Marine Safety.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol and the United States Coast Guard later joined the effort to find the girl.

Rip current warnings were issued on a day of high surf along the Southern California coast. Swells arrived Tuesday and built throughout the day.

A Beach Hazards Statement issued by the National Weather Service warned of increasing wave heights and rip currents that can quickly pull a swimmer away from shore.

The massive blaze, which was one of several fires reported on the 5700 block of Promotory Parkway in the San Joaquin County city, could be seen from across the Bay Area region. Firefighters pointed to water supply challenges and weather conditions as the reason the blaze spread quickly and engulfed the approximately 1 million-square-foot facility.

No injuries have been reported, officials said.

Officers were also on scene assisting with evacuations and directing traffic, according to police.

A police spokesperson said explosions can be heard at the warehouse as flames continued to burn. Police have also told residents impacted by the smoke to close their windows and to shelter in place.

Medline Industries warehouse destroyed in Tracy fire

NBC Bay Area’s SkyRanger showed the gutted building belonged to Medline Industries. The company has a distribution center located in the area.

Medline provided the following statement:

“Medline can confirm a fire is occurring at our Tracy, California distribution facility. All Medline employees and on-site personnel are accounted for. The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority. We are coordinating closely with local authorities and first responders as we assess the fire’s impact and will share more details as they become available.”

Fire breaks out at neighboring FedEx warehouse after blaze prompted evacuations

Tracy Mayor Dan Arriola said there was no mandatory evacuations in place due to the blaze, but added several nearby businesses in the area self-evacuated.

Police said all warehouses southwest of the Medline building have been evacuated:

“We are aware of multiple fires in the area and are coordinating with personnel from South San Joaquin County Fire Authority to assess conditions and address any evacuation needs if they arise. Out of an abundance of caution, public safety personnel are present in the Tracy Hills area; however, there is currently no threat to residents. Personnel are assisting with traffic control and monitoring conditions.”

The neighboring warehouse evacuated during the blaze is FedEx’s Tracy hub. The company provided the following statement:

“We are aware of a building fire that started at a neighboring location before spreading to the Tracy hub. All team members have been safely evacuated and are accounted for. As this is an active situation, further questions should be directed to the local authorities.”

At around 7 p.m., authorities said an additional fire broke out at the nearby FedEx warehouse, burning pallets and multiple big rig trailers.

Officials said firefighters “performed an aggressive fire attack” to bring it under control. They added that the exterior of building caught fire, but the flames did not engulf the building.  

Tracy’s city manager declares local state of emergency

As around 200 fire personnel combat the fire, authorities said the city’s manager declared a local state of emergency to help ensure that all available resources and emergency response capabilities are available to assist.

How did the fire spread so quickly in the large Tracy warehouse?

The blaze was reported just before 1 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they found a “rapidly developing fire involving the roof” of the warehouse.

Officials said firefighters faced water supply challenges with no water pressure in the building. In addition, sprinklers installed in the warehouse were not working.

“Early suppression efforts were hampered by a failure of the building’s private fire water system, which significantly impacted initial firefighting operations,” the City of Tracy said in a statement. “Combined with high winds, low humidity, and elevated temperatures, the fire quickly extended from the roof into the interior of the facility.”

A cause of the fire is still under investigation, police said.

How could the fire impact air quality in surrounding areas?

According to the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality District, as of Thursday afternoon there was no indications the smoke was impacting the air quality, because the smoke is high and up off the ground.

However, authorities said as the night falls and temperatures dop, there is concern the smoke could fall as well. Because of this, they advised residents to go inside their homes if they smell smoke, keep their doors and windows shut and run their HVAC.

If they don’t have a place to go, officials advised them to go to any place with air conditioning. The warning comes as authorities said they don’t know what’s in the smoke, so they said, “it’s best not to breathe it.”

The San Joaquin Valley Air Quality District said they will keep monitoring the air quality in the neighborhood near the fire throughout the night.

Warehouse fire sparks mutual aid response

In addition to Tracy firefighters and Cal Fire crews, several fire departments from the Bay Area responded to the massive warehouse blaze.

The Alameda County Fire Department sent over a strike team and additional resources to the blaze. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District sent over two engines to help provide coverage in the city.

Tracy Fire Department Chief Randall Bradley said it is possible that crews will remain on the area for several days.

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Becerra has the support of 52% of California’s likely voters, compared to Hilton at 31%, according to the poll by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. 17% of the surveyed said they are undecide.

Becerra’s main support base is the state’s registered Democrats, according to the researchers. More than 80% of registered Democrats said they support Becerra in the November runoff.

Similarly, a large majority of Republican voters support Hilton. Eighty-four percent of California’s Republicans said they would vote for the former Fox News host in the upcoming general election.

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But the problem for Hilton is that California has more Democrats than Republicans by 20% points, creating a big hurdle for the GOP candidate in a state that hasn’t had a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even if Hilton absorbed the 17% of the undecided voters, based on the current findings, the Republican candidate would have a lesser chance of becoming California’s governor.

Another possible conundrum for Hilton: Pre. Donald Trump’s endorsement. The support of the president helped Hilton during the primary election against his Republican rival Chad Bianco. And it could solidify the GOP bloc’s support for Hilton.

However, Trump’s endorsement would deter independent voters from casting their ballot for Hilton, according to the researchers.

“Trump’s endorsement is unlikely to broaden Hilton’s base of support among the overall electorate in the general election,” the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies said. “This is because large majorities of the state’s electorate have consistently viewed Trump and the job he is doing as president in highly negative terms.”

During a campaign event Thursday, Hilton appeared to share his strategy against Becerra by frustrations felt by Californians.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican or Democrat, I think it’s important to understand if we don’t change direction in California, we really could be heading toward an economic crisis,” Hilton said. “If we continue down this path, we’ll see more, more businesses leaving, more pressure on the budget that means taxes will have to go up.”

An additional factor behind Becerra’s lead is support from more populous counties in California. The survey found Becerra is favored in LA, San Diego counties as well as the Central Coast region. While Hilton is competitive in Orange County, the Inland Empire and Central Valley, other areas that Hilton is likely to carry are sparely populated, according to the latest findings.

When it comes to age groups, gender categories and ethnicity blocs, Becerra maintained a big deal, the poll said. For example, among Black voters, 51% said they support Becerra, compared to 19% for Hilton. While 52% of Latino voters said they would vote for Becerra, 28% expressed their support for Hilton.

The latest survey also may explain why Becerra was able to beat his Democratic rival Tom Steyer. Despite Steyer’s targeted effort to shore up support from progressive voters, the poll found 39% of those who identified as progressive supported Becerra, compared to Steyer’s 29%.

The video, provided by a lawyer for the Gerrish Swim and Tennis Club, was captured by a security camera on the property. In the upper-right portion of the footage, flashes are visible near Edison transmission towers in nearby hills.

Attorneys for the club have theorized that an active electrical line may have energized an inactive line, potentially sparking the fire.

“There was an arcing event on the towers. The molten metal falls to the ground, they ignite the vegetation, and unfortunately it rips through the canyon,” said attorney Paul Starita.

NBC Los Angeles previously shared another video recorded the night of Jan. 7, 2025, which also appeared to show flames burning beneath a transmission tower.

Southern California Edison said the newly released footage appears to show the same flashes captured in earlier video.

“This video shows the same two flashes as last year’s video,” spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said in a statement. “We hope this latest video is turned over to the appropriate authorities to help in the larger investigation.”

The cause of the Eaton Fire remains under investigation.

Several of the matches created noteworthy moments — some celebratory, others heartbreaking — that were written into the World Cup archives and also in U.S. men’s national team history. 

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Thirty years later, the next World Cup is set to visit LA, which again will host eight matches. SoFi Stadium, known as the Los Angeles Stadium for the 48-team tournament, will be the site of two United States group stage matches.

Other venues for the 1994 World Cup — many of which no longer exist or have been renamed — were Stanford Stadium in the Bay Area, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Soldier Field in Chicago, the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Giants Stadium in New Jersey, Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts, RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. and the Citrus Bowl in Florida.

Here’s a look at the four of the most memorable games the Rose Bowl staged in the tournament.

1994 World Cup group stage: United States v. Colombia 

The U.S. went into its second group game as underdogs against a strong Colombia team, buoyed by creative playmaker Carlos Valderrama, that was favored to win the tournament. 

Ultimately, the host managed to beat the odds, winning the game 2-1 at the Rose Bowl and almost assuring qualification out of its group. It was also the first win by the U.S. in the World Cup since 1950, when it beat England 1-0. 

The aftermath of the match is notorious for the tragic death of Colombian defender Andrés Escobar, who scored an own-goal during the game and was blamed by some fans in his native country for their defeat and later exit from the competition. He was shot and killed shortly after returning to Colombia.  

1994 World Cup group stage: Romania v. United States

The final group stage match saw the U.S defeated by Romania 1-0 with the hosts almost assured to qualify for the knockouts due to their earlier results. 

However, Romania’s win progressed the team out of the group, knocking out Colombia. 

Colombia’s loss to Switzerland in the other group game meant the U.S. qualified as one of four teams to finish in third place. In that World Cup, four teams that finished third with the best results advanced to the knockout stage.

This was the first time the U.S. made it through the group stage since the 1930 World Cup.  

Round of 16: Romania v. Argentina 

A classic match witnessed underdogs Romania win its first ever World Cup knockout match 3-2 against two-time champions Argentina, who was heavily favored to win the encounter. 

The match was remembered for its fast-paced, end-to-end entertainment by both teams in 98-degree LA heat. 

The 1994 tournament was notable for legendary Argentina player and World Cup winner Diego Maradona being banned for doping violations after having played two group stage games. 

1994 World Cup final: Brazil v. Italy

More than 94,000 fans in the Rose Bowl witnessed America’s first ever men’s soccer final. The match between two soccer giants Brazil and Italy ended 0-0 after regular and extra time with a penalty shootout to decide who would be world champions. 

During the penalty shootout, spectators witnessed World Cup history after watching Italy’s hero in the competition Roberto Baggio become the villain, shooting his decisive penalty kick over the goal. The Italian superstar stood alone devastated with his hands on his hips as Brazil celebrated.

This was also the first World Cup final to be decided by a penalty shootout.

About the 2026 World Cup

The World Cup begins Thursday with Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City and co-hosts USA and Canada hosting their openers in Los Angeles and Toronto a day later.

The 48-team group stage lasts until June 27, then the top two teams in each group along with the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32 beginning on June 28.

The remaining winning teams will then play in the Round of 16 starting on July 4. The quarterfinals will be held on July 9, and the semifinals will be July 14 and July 15, leading up to the championship match at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament, is one of the venues that will host the international soccer tournament. There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games

There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games

June 12: USA v. Paraguay
June 15: Iran v. New Zealand
June 18: Switzerland v. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 21: Belgium v. Iran
June 25: USA v. Türkiye
June 28: Round of 32 match
July 2: Round of 32 match
July 10: Quarterfinal

Other U.S. host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the Bay Area.

Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey are Mexico’s host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will host matches in Canada.

Ebonique Rembert was arrested after allegedly hopping a gate June 2 at the west San Fernando Valley residence, the LAPD said. Her case was scheduled for a June 26 court proceeding.

Her arrest came on the heels of a 44-year-old man being arrested several times for the same crime at Brown’s home. That suspect, who was charged with two counts of trespassing and one count of possession of methamphetamine, was arrested three times within 24 hours.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said no charges will be filed against one of Brown’s security guards who fired an air gun in an May 1 altercation with a woman outside the home.

The shooting was reported on the northbound side of the freeway after officers responded to calls about someone on the road with a weapon, possibly a hammer. The individual later died at a hospital.

Details about what led to the altercation in the community east of downtown Los Angeles were not immediately available.

No officers were injured.

All lanes on both sides of the 101 Freeway near Fourth Street were closed for the initial shooting investigation. Southbound lanes reopened, but northbound lanes remained closed into late Thursday morning.

While the World Cup centers around national pride, there are also financial incentives for the players.

FIFA announced a record-breaking prize pool for the 2026 tournament spanning the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The winner will get the biggest share, of course, but even nations that miss the knockout stage will receive a participation payday.

From the World Cup champions to 48th place, here’s a breakdown of the prize money for the 2026 tournament.

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2026 FIFA World Cup prize money total

FIFA announced in December that the 2026 World Cup financial contribution would be a record-setting $727 million. That figure is a 50% increase from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

How much money does the World Cup winner get?

The winning nation will earn $50 million at this year’s World Cup. That’s up $8 million from the prize Argentina received after winning the 2022 title.

2026 FIFA World Cup prize money breakdown

Here’s how much money each nation will receive based on its overall finish:

• Champions: $50 million
• Runners-up: $33 million
• 3rd place: $29 million
• 4th place: $27 million
• 5th-8th place: $19 million
• 9th-16th place: $15 million
• 17th- 32nd place: $11 million
• 33rd-48th place: $9 million

Each qualified team also received $1.5 million in preparation costs.

Fire crews responded to the 11000 block of W. Hartsook St. at around 3 a.m. to help rescue the man who had fallen into an approximately 3 foot wide and 30 feet deep hole. 

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, firefighters lowered an oxygen mask for the man due to the air quality inside of the hole. 

Firefighters used an aerial ladder truck to create a high point for a rope rescue and finally got the man out after about an hour, LAFD said. 

The man was transported to a local hospital. His condition was not known.

But sometimes big-time blowouts can occur.

European side Hungary owns the record for the biggest defeat inflicted on an opponent, while Spain’s 7-0 group-stage rout of Costa Rica in 2022 is the most recent example.

Here’s what to know about the biggest defeats in the tournament’s history since 1930, which may see more lopsided scores in 2026:

2026 FIFA World Cup

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What is the biggest defeat in World Cup history?

Two nations are on the right side of history having won games by a goal differential of plus-nine, with one country achieving the feat twice.

Here’s a look at those scorelines in order by the year it happened:

• Hungary 9, South Korea 0: 1954
• Yugoslavia 9, Zaire 0: 1974 
• Hungary 10, El Salvador 1: 1982

What’s the most goals scored in a World Cup game?

The most goals scored in a World Cup game by one team is Hungary’s 10 against El Salvador in 1982.

When combining two teams, Austria and Switzerland scored 12 in a 1954 fixture with the former winning 7-5.

What’s the most goals scored in a World Cup Final?

Brazil holds the record for most goals scored in a World Cup Final with its 5-2 win over Sweden in 1958.

What’s the most goals scored by a team in one World Cup?

Hungary has scored the most goals by a nation in one World Cup with 27 tallies in 1954. Here’s a game-by-game look at Hungary’s memorable scorelines, though the incredible run ended in heartbreak:

• Group Stage Game 1: Hungary 9, South Korea 0
• Group Stage Game 2: Hungary 8, West Germany 3
• Quarterfinals: Hungary 4, Brazil 2
• Semifinals: Hungary 4, Uruguay 2
• Final: West Germany 3, Hungary 2

Which player has scored the most goals in a World Cup game?

Forward Oleg Salenko scored five goals in Russia’s 6-1 win over Cameroon in its final group stage contest at the 1994 World Cup. 

Editor’s note: A version of this story was first published in 2022.

The offside rule has caused some of the most frustrating moments ever in soccer and is the bane of some fans’ existence. Offside is often called at the most inopportune times of the game, and almost every team in the history of soccer has been on the receiving end of an egregious offside call. 

Offside whistles often end in disputes because referees are human, which means there is always room for error. Referees are even sometimes attacked following games that end in offside controversies.

Over the years, the offside rule has evolved, but for casual fans, it still can be a challenge to fully comprehend. So, here’s all you need to know about the detailed rules of offside in soccer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

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What is offside in soccer?

Offside in soccer is a rule that stops players from standing near the opposition’s goal. A player becomes offside when they are on the opponent’s side of the field without the ball and two players from the other team (including the goalie) are not between them and the goal. 

There is, however, no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick.

What happens if a player is caught offside?

According to FIFA rules, a player is penalized for offside “at the time the ball is touched or played by one of his teammates.”

This means that every inch of a player’s head, body or feet must be in front of the last defender when the ball is passed to them. 

If the referee determines that a player is offside, the referee awards an indirect free kick where the offense occurred. But the ball must be passed to another player before a goal can be scored. 

Is technology used to help spot offside offenses? 

At times, referees will miss a goal scorer from an offside position or disallow a truly deserved goal, which is usually followed by a group of tearful football fans in the stands. 

For the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA used semi-automated offside technology to help offer support for the video match officials and on-field officials, if they request it, in an effort to help them make faster and more accurate offside decisions.

How can a player avoid being offside?

Players can avoid being offside by checking that there is a defender further up on the field at all times. The player must make sure that the defender does not slip behind them, which would cause them to be in an offside position. 

Why is the offside rule important?

The offside rule prevents offensive players from lingering in the area near the opposing team’s goal, which would allow the offensive player to score easily. This rule is similar to “cherry picking” in basketball where a defensive player runs back to play offense before the defensive possession is over.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified her on Wednesday as 61-year-old Ana Amaral Moreira.

According to the Manhattan Police Department, Moreira was doing her laundry when another woman drove a black SUV into Suds & Duds Coin-Op Laundry on Aviation Boulevard near 10th Street just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Video from the scene showed the glass in front of the business had shattered, and a support beam had been damaged.

Investigators were working to determine why the driver, who was not hurt, accelerated instead of braking. She was cooperating with the ongoing investigation, the MBPD said.

Police said Tuesday alcohol was not believed to be a factor.

The operation involving the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles Police Department started around 1:30 p.m., according to the DEA. The agency said three arrests were for felony narcotic sales and four were for warrants, while five people received misdemeanors for quality-of-life violations.

More than $10,000 in cash was also seized, the DEA said.

Wednesday’s action was part of the ongoing “Operation MacArthur Park,” which officials said last week was in its third phase. Last Thursday, 13 people were arrested, and six were cited in less than an hour.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the operation’s first phase focused on dismantling the leadership of the 18th Street gang, while the second phase targeted drug dealers and suppliers around the park west of downtown Los Angeles.

“Phase three will be a consistent law enforcement presence in the park to enforce state law, which prohibits people from being under the influence of narcotics and possessing drugs with the intent to use them,” he said last Thursday.

In May, an operation resulted in more than a dozen arrests, including two people believed by law enforcement to be the main sources of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the park, according to the Department of Justice. Federal agents and Los Angeles police searched several locations in MacArthur Park, South LA and Calabasas as part of the narcotics investigation.

Some of the people sought had connections to street gangs with ties to the MacArthur Park area, which has been described by federal authorities as an open-air drug market.

Community complaints about drug dealing and violent crime in the area led to efforts from the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD in 2025, when extra patrols were assigned to the park and neighborhood.

In early 2025, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said extra patrols had helped reduce reports of violent crime in the area. Mayor Karen Bass, who is projected to face Councilmember Nithya Raman in the November runoff, said the city’s homeless and mental health response teams were effective in reducing the number of encampments and open drug use.

The park in LA’s Westlake neighborhood dates back to the 19th century. It was renamed after Gen. Douglas MacArthur, a top commander in World War II and the Korean War, in the 1940s and designated City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #100.

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Video from NewsChopper4 showed at least five Los Angeles Police Department vehicles following the dark-colored SUV as the pursuit made its way on the 91, 105 and 110 freeways, as well as surface streets. The chase moved through areas like Compton, Long Beach, Lynwood and South LA.

The LAPD later canceled the pursuit due to safety concerns. The car was last seen by NewsChopper4 in the area of San Pedro and 51st streets around 9:15 p.m.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information arrives.

With nearly 94% of the expected vote tabulated, Ma secured first place by receiving 19.1% of the votes, compared to Romero in second place with 18%. There was only a 90,000-vote difference between the two candidates.

Democratic candidate Josh Friday, who finished third with 14.6%, conceded Wednesday after receiving more than 1.2 million votes.

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Who is Fiona Ma?

After serving as California’s state treasurer since 2019, Ma now has her eyes on the lieutenant governor’s office.

She has held various public offices, including the State Board of Equalization, the State Assembly and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The certified public accountant also became the first woman of color to hold the state treasurer’s office.

With her experience, Ma is pledging to support small businesses and create jobs while focusing on affordability issues as lieutenant governor.

However, her career was marred by controversy in recent years.

In 2021, Ma was sued by a former employee for sexual harassment as she was accused of exposing herself and getting into the bed with her during work trips. The lawsuit was settled for $350,000, but Ma has maintained the allegations were false.

Her ties to Pegasus California School, a China-based institution, were also scrutinized after the school faced an audit for potential fraud and improper diploma practices. The audit did not accused Ma of any wrongdoing, but she did receive donations from the school’s founder for her political campaigns.

Who is Gloria Romero?

Until 2024, Romero was a Democrat, who became the first woman to serve as California Senate Majority Leader.

After switching to the Republican party two years ago, Romero is now running for lieutenant governor as Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton’s running mate.

Romero is promising to demand education and government accountability if she becomes the next lieutenant governor. Among some of her campaign pledges, she wants to curb tuition increases at UC and CSU schools and demand accountability in public education.

In the deep-blue state, Romero, who endorsed President Donald Trump in 2024, could be labeled as a MAGA candidate.

The East LA native’s conservative positions on gender identity issues may also be a liability among California voters. When she decided to switch to the GOP, she blamed the Democratic Party’s gender identity issues, especially when it comes to notifying parents about a teen’s gender identity.

The event, presented in collaboration with the Recording Academy, was billed as a first-of-its-kind live concert experience connecting Los Angeles, Toronto and Mexico City, the three countries co-hosting the expanded 48-team tournament, according to organizers.

The concert was held Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

Headlining the Los Angeles portion of the event were Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido, internationally known for hits including “Fall,” “If” and “Unavailable”; Major Lazer, the electronic music group founded by producer and DJ Diplo and known for global dance hits such as “Lean On” and “Cold Water”; pop singer Ava Max, whose breakthrough single “Sweet but Psycho” topped charts around the world; and rapper BIA, whose songs include “Whole Lotta Money” and collaborations with artists including J. Cole and Nicki Minaj.

Organizers said the concert featured live performances from all three host nations, along with special appearances and broadcast segments highlighting the cultural connections between Canada, Mexico and the United States as the World Cup gets underway.

Doors at Crypto.com Arena opened at 5 p.m. Wednesday, with the show beginning at 6 p.m. Attendees were encouraged to arrive early to experience the full program, including performances and exclusive content originating from the other host cities.

Los Angeles is one of 16 host cities selected for the World Cup and will host multiple matches during the tournament. The first of eight matches at SoFi Stadium is scheduled for Friday.

This will be the second time the two square off in a general election. The incumbent, a former Long Beach police chief, unseated Villanueva in the 2022 election after getting about 61% of the vote.

In 2018, Villanueva defeated then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell to become sheriff, making him the first candidate to oust an incumbent in the nation’s largest sheriff’s department in more than a century. Now, Villanueva is hoping Angelenos will vote out an incumbent again.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Luna has received 44.18% or 856,069 votes in the primary race, while Villanueva has 21.71% or 420,683 votes, according to the updated tally released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

“We’ve advanced through the June 2 primary, and I’m humbled by it,” Villanueva said in part of an emailed statement on Tuesday. “I’ve walked many neighborhoods across the county over these past few months, and what I heard everywhere was the same. People are tired of waiting for someone to take their safety seriously. I heard you, and I’m not going to let you down.”

Eric Strong, who served as chief of campus safety and security operations in the probation office, was in third place with 14.95% of the vote. The Marine veteran and former member of the Compton and Pasadena police departments also finished third in the 2022 primary.

Eight candidates for LASD sheriff were on the June primary ballot.

With the majority of the votes tabulated as of Wednesday, over 50% of voters approved the sales tax increase while more than 49% opposed the proposal.

The passage of the ballot measure means the sales tax increase will take effect on Oct. 1, 2026.

Measure ER, which was introduced by Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis in January, is called the Essential Services Restoration Act and asked voters to enact the half-cent general sales tax increase for five years, through Oct. 1, 2031.

County officials said the measure would generate about $1 billion annually, with the goal of offsetting reductions in state and federal funding for various healthcare programs.   

The county sales tax currently stands at 9.75%. The proposed hike would increase it to 10.25%.

Decision 2026 Jun 10

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Kathryn Barger, the lone supervisor whose opposed placing Measure ER on the June ballot, said Wendesday the sales tax increase would create a “additional burden” on taxpayers amid high inflation, but she said she respects the “will of the voters.”

“Moving forward, my responsibility is to ensure the revenues generated are managed with accountability and measurable results,” Barger said in a statement. “Taxpayers deserve to know how these funds are being spent, whether promised outcomes are being achieved. I will be a strong advocate for rigorous oversight and fiscal responsibility every step of the way.” 

Meanwhile, in the race for Los Angeles County sheriff, the incumbent Sheriff Robert Luna as well as the former Sheriff Villanueva have advanced to the general election. Read more here.

Drop 2 will include tickets across all Olympic sports and price points while supplies last.

Olympic fans will have to register by July at the LA28 website for the next round. Registrants will then be notified via email between Aug.6 and 7 whether they get a time slot.

If LA fans were registered through the LA presale in April, they do not have to re-register.

When the first ticket sale window opened, more than 4 million tickets were sold, prompting LA28 organizers to say it was the “most successful ticket launch in Olympic history.”

Despite criticism from Southern California residents that the ticket prices were too high and unaffordable, organizers said 95% of all tickets for LA residents were priced under $100.

The ticket maximum are 12 total for Olympic events. Fans are limited to purchased up to four tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies.

One exception: up to 12 tickets can be purchased for soccer matches.

A secure ticket resale network will be established in 2027, according to organizers.

See more information here.

The attorney for Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, had requested that the Highland man be released on $2,000.

Abdulkarim is accused of intentionally setting multiple fires inside the distribution center leased by Kimberly-Clark while recording himself. Federal authorities alleged the suspect, who was employed by the warehouse, was angry over wages and corporate profits.

Investigators said Abdulkarim was identified and arrested after authorities combed through social media videos and statements he allegedly made after the fire.

“All you had to do was pay us enough to live,” the person in one of the videos said. Officials alleged the voice from the video is that of Abdulkarim.

The fire destroyed the entire warehouse and caused approximately $500 million in losses, according to the Department of Justice.

Abdulkarim’s former colleague, who relied on warehouse jobs for his livelihood, said the fire allegedly started by Abdulkarim is “ruining people’s lives.”

“There are things going on in the world right now, but you don’t go burning a building down because your life is more important. You are just going to make others peoples lives worse,” the man, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

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The Kimberly-Clark Corporation said the distribution center was operated by third party logistic partner NFI Industries, of which Karim was an employee. It housed paper products that firefighters said fueled the flames for hours. The company said it is working to relocate employees to other locations and minimize the impact to customers and consumers.

Firefighters prevented flames from spreading to other buildings and a nearby neighborhood.

Kimberly-Clark is a consumer goods and personal care business that produces mostly paper-based sanitary products. Its brands include Huggies, Kleenex, Depend, Kotex and others.

Abdulkarim’s next court hearing was scheduled for Aug. 26.

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Kenneth Bass was listed as one of the plaintiffs who are blaming the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) under the city government, accusing the LADWP of failing to manage the water supply system and leaving the Santa Ynez Reservoir empty.

The complaint, obtained by NBC News, was filed last month.

Kenneth Bass and his wife Cindy claim that they suffered smoke inhalation from the wildfire, which also led to the couple’s emotional distress and mental anguish.

In a statement to NBC News, the attorneys for Kenneth and Cindy Bass said their family connections to Mayor Bass was “irrelevant.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Bass’ names were formally added as some of the nearly 40,000 victims who suffered losses,” the statement said. “(As) non-public citizens they are entitled to respectful privacy as they pursue their legal rights along with all represented victims.”

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In response to the complaint, Mayor Bass’s Office said that “there’s nothing new” to about the lawsuit as she has publicly talked about her brother’s loss.

“Thousands of people are plaintiffs in this action, which names 18 public and private sector defendants. The City Attorney’s Office is responsible for defending the City and DWP in this lawsuit,” the mayor’s office said.

Bass mentioned her brother during a townhall last year, adding that he has been living in the Malibu area for 40 years.

The timing isn’t ideal for the mayor who is seeking reelection after failing to win the primary election last week outright. Her handing of the Palisades Fire will likely once again highlighted as her brother joined the lawsuit.

The latest lawsuit is one of several filed by Palisades and Malibu residents, who claim the city and state are liable for failing to put out the Lachman Fire, which had been smoldering for a week before exploding into the Palisades Fire, according to authorities.

Grossman, who was convicted in 2024 of killing 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-year-old brother Jacob after driving her Mercedes SUV at high speed and striking them in a crosswalk, was found liable in a civil trial last week. While Erickson wasn’t charged with murder and manslaughter during the criminal trial, he was found negligent in the boys’ deaths in the same civil trial.

Last week, jurors had awarded the Iskander family $176 million in compensatory damages. But they determined that punitive damages may be warranted because Grossman and Erickson acted with malice — now bringing the total award to $198 million.

With Wednesday’s verdict, the victims’ family were awarded a total of $198 million.

Karim and Nancy Iskander, Mark and Jacob’s parent, expressed gratitude to jurors and those who supported the family through the most excruciating period of their lives.

“Today we thank you, and we thank the jury for delivering the punitive damages verdict today and, along with the previous wrongful death verdict,” the couple said, adding their hearts remained broken. “(No) verdict can ease the pain of losing our two sweet boys. It is a profoundly sad day when a jury is forced to place a dollar value on the lives of our children.”

The Iskanders said they expect Grossman and Erickson to appeal the verdict but added the legal proceedings, people had a chance to get to know Mark and Jacob.

“Sleep tight, Mark and Jacob. We love you,” the statement from the parents said.

Brian Panish, the lawyer for the Iskander family, said the jury determined Grossman and Erickson need to be held accountable.

“(Jurors) understood that these people needed to be punished. They punished them,” Panish said. “They sent a message to other drunk drivers and other people that speed and race and protect our children. They’re vulnerable.”

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Legal analyst Royal Oakes said the punitive damages award for the victims means jurors were “angry” while listening to the testimony.

“The lawyer for the parents was able to accomplish that by showing that Dr. Grossman was trying to hide assets, and he and his wife were basically trash-talking the mother of the dead boys,” Oakes said.

But Grossman and Erickson may have avoided the worst-case scenario because, according to Oakes, punitive damages are often much bigger than regular damages.

“For example, if a big company was ordered to pay $1 million, it’ not uncommon for the jury to say, ‘We’ve got to send a message and make them pay $10 million in punitive,'” Oakes explained. “But here, they gave $176 million in regular, and the punitive aren’t supposed to wipe out people. It’s supposed to take a chuck of their money, and so the $21 million accomplishes that.”

The civil lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the Iskander family, alleging Grossman and Erickson had drinks together on the night of Sept. 28, 2020 before racing down on Triunfo Canyon Road and striking Mark and Jacob.

The civil trial included testimony from the boys’ parents, law enforcement officers, crash scene investigation experts and a psychiatrist, who testified that Nancy Iskander has demonstrated multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder since witnessing Grossman run over and kill two of her sons.

On the stand, Nancy Iskander described events like birthdays and Mother’s Day.

“Part of me is simply dead,” Iskander said. “Part of my heart is gone.”

Iskander said she replays the tragic chain of events that led to the deaths of her sons in her head, six years after the deadly crash. She said the family often went on walks in the same area.

“Their lives will never be the same,” Iskander attorney Brian Panish said in his closing argument. “He (Erickson) and Rebecca Grossman deserve each other because they’re both the same kind of person.”

But the attorneys for Grossman and Erickson disputed the claims that they were drunkenly racing at the time of the collision.

The Iskander family lawyer had initially demanded $20 million from Grossman and $1 million from Erickson in punitive damages.

Grossman, who was found guilty of two counts each of second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of hit-and-run driving in 2024, is serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. In March, a panel of the Second District Court of Appeal upheld the criminal case conviction.

During her criminal trial, prosecutors argued that Grossman had been drinking with Erickson before the crash and was driving her SUV at 70 mph in a 45-mph zone. After striking Mark and Jacob at a marked crosswalk, Grossman was accused of continuing to drive until her disabled vehicle came to a stop farther up the road.

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Key to the prosecution’s case, a detailed timeline and location plot, based on Rinderknecht’s own repeated 911 calls on Jan. 1, 2025 to report the first of the two fires, that shows he was in the immediate area where the fire started.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew O’Brien told jurors ATF investigators ruled out all other possible causes, making Rindkernecht the culprit.

“They determined it wasn’t an accident, it was intentional, and the defendant, Jonathan Rinderknecht, was the only person near the fire when it began,” he said.

O’Brien showed jurors still images that Rinderknecht allegedly recorded of the Jan. 1 fire, and said the defendant’s ChatGPT prompts and other digital messages showed he was thinking about fires and that he was angry at wealthy people.

“After you see all the evidence, we’ll ask you to return the only verdict consistent with that evidence  – guilty on all three counts,” he said.

In the defense’s opening attorney Steve Haney said jurors should remember Rinderknecht is presumed innocent, and there’s little proof he ignited the Lachman Fire, let alone caused the destruction from the larger, Palisades Fire that started six days later.

“No matter what the government’s theory is the evidence will show Jonathan did not start the Jan. 1 Lachman fire,” he said, and explained a far more likely explanation were New Year’s Eve fireworks reported by neighbors and firefighters.

“There will be one thing missing, proof that Jonathan set that fire on Jan. 1. And in court, when proof is missing, the verdict is not guilty.”

By mid-morning, the first two prosecution witnesses had testified about some of the land damaged in the Lachman and Palisades fires as the government must establish a ‘federal nexus’ — that there was federal property, or federally-funded property, that was affected by the fire.

Jody Lyle, the superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, one of the national park units, told jurors that while the area burned in the Lachman Fire was managed by the state, it was part of a larger region with overlapping federal authority.

The head of state parks in Southern California, superintendent Richard Fink, testified that the Palisades Fire destroyed some 8,000 acres of Topanga State Park, but was unaware if the Lachman Fire damaged any land directly owned by the federal government.

Prosecutors said during opening statements that Rinderknecht repeatedly listened to a French language rap song prior to the ignition of the Lachman Fire, and showed still images from its associated music video that shows fire.

A French language translator hired by prosecutors testified she translated the song into English.

On cross examination by the defense, Alma Abrego said the song repeatedly referenced marijuana, and included the lyrics, “a joint and a tea,” but didn’t remember lyrics containing mentions of burning or arson.

ATF special agent Michael Montevidoni began testifying before the lunch break about his role in the investigation of the Palisades Fire, which he said began on Jan. 10.

He told jurors the investigation to try to find the origin and cause of the Palisades Fire was the largest ATF investigation he’d ever been a part of.

After the break, Montevidoni spent more than an hour authenticating dozens of exhibits prosecutors planned to show jurors, including security video recordings, cellphone location data, and complete copies of Rinderknecht’s online accounts, such as his ChatGPT and social media accounts.

He explained how investigators came to focus on Rinderknecht, first by identifying that his cellphone was in the Palisades Highlands around the time the Lachman Fire started after obtaining “tower dumps” from the major cellphone providers that listed every active device in the area.

Later, Montevidoni said agents worked for days to identify a white sedan captured on a fire alert camera  parked close to where the fire started, after it appeared the same car — with Utah license plates — was recorded driving through the Palisades neighborhood on other security images.

License plate reader data from Utah narrowed the search to white Infinity V60s, and the LAPD’s Flock camera system’s photos and logs of cars in the Palisades and West LA led to one particular sedan rented by Rinderknecht from Avis.

“We discovered the owner of the phone, then the info from Avis, and matched that it was the same person,” Montevidoni said.

Rinderknecht was placed under physical surveillance before agents obtained warrants to search his apartment, car, and digital devices and accounts.

On Jan. 24, 2025 Montevidoni says agents discovered a bright green Bic barbecue-style lighter in the glove compartment of Rinderknecht’s rented Infinity, that investigators say could be the lighter used to ignite the brush.

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Paraguayan fans across the United States have been planning barbecues and get-togethers to watch the team’s group stage matches. While many balked at the prices for Friday’s match against the U.S., with seats selling for more than $1,000 each, some have already bought tickets to later matches.

Santiago Araujo, 32, is among them. His family owns one of the few Paraguayan restaurants in the U.S., in the seaside town of Pacific Grove. He and his brother scored tickets to see the team take on Australia in Santa Clara, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) away.

“Every Paraguayan I know wants to go,” said Araujo, who moved to California with his family when he was 11. “It’s not like there’s seasons of any other sports in Paraguay. I used to sleep with a soccer ball as my toy.”

A long wait for the small, but dedicated, Paraguayan community

There are some 37,000 Paraguayans living in the U.S., according to Census estimates, and they’re eager for the team’s long-awaited return to FIFA’s prized tournament. It’s the first time Paraguay has clinched a World Cup spot since 2010, when it had its best performance, reaching the quarterfinals. The team, which FIFA currently ranks 40th in the world, is making its ninth World Cup appearance.

The U.S. and Paraguay are joined in Group D by Turkey and Australia, which Paraguay will respectively face on June 19 and June 25 in Santa Clara.

One of Paraguay’s veteran players, midfielder Miguel Almirón, plays for the MLS’ Atlanta United. At 32, he remembers watching that 2010 World Cup as a kid with hopes that someday he, too, would have the opportunity to play on soccer’s biggest stage.

It’s been a long wait.

“It’s going to be something beautiful in that moment, not just for me, but also for my family and for all the Paraguayan fans, and for anyone who’s been with us through all the tough moments,” Almirón said recently, thinking ahead to the first match. “There are going to be a lot of emotions at that moment. We take it on with responsibility, because we know so many people are depending on us.”

How fans are celebrating in the United States and Paraguay

Paraguay is among South America’s less populous countries, with about 7 million people. Landlocked, it’s surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil and known for vast savannas, lush landscapes and the indigenous Guarani culture. In the U.S., more concentrated Paraguayan communities can be found in New York and the affluent town of Bernardsville, New Jersey, which Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña visited in 2024.

To cheer on the team, Paraguay fans will don its red-and-white jerseys and tubular top hats. In Northern California, Cafe Guarani, which Araujo’s family owns, is hosting a celebration to bring together Paraguayan fans between the games with traditional dishes that include manioc empanadas and iced yerba mate. In the Queens borough of New York, they’ll gather at the I Love Paraguay Restaurant to watch the games.

Ana Di Sessa, of New Jersey, said she’d love to attend the matches in California but it’s too much of a trip.

“It is not only the tickets — you have to pay your hotel, the flights,” she said. “A lot of people are not going to be able to go there.”

Zoraida Pereira, a travel agent in Bernardsville, said she has sold packages to fans heading to Santa Clara, but not the opening game because of ticket prices. The 43-year-old, who was born in Paraguay but has lived in the United States for more than 30 years, said it’s tough to choose between the two countries on the pitch.

“I am rooting for Paraguay this time around,” she said. “They’ve been out for so long.”

The frenzy is also underway more than 5,000 miles (8,046 kilometers) away in Paraguay, where the documentary film “El Renacer Albirrojo” was released about La Albirroja’s yearslong journey to return to the World Cup. The team was sent off to the United States with a fanfare of fireworks, and some community members in the U.S. said they have friends and family flying in from Paraguay to attend the matches.

Rodrigo Valdez, a computer engineer in San Diego, is planning to travel more than 450 miles (724 kilometers) to Santa Clara to see the team play. Born in the U.S., the 34-year-old spent his childhood in Paraguay and relishes the attention the team is getting.

He said he’ll watch Friday’s game with family and friends in San Diego. Despite having a 4-month-old baby, his wife encouraged him to buy himself a ticket to the match with Australia as a gift for his first Father’s Day.

“It was a unique opportunity for us that we are living in California,” Valdez said. “It will be very meaningful.”

About the 2026 World Cup

The World Cup begins Thursday with Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City and co-hosts USA and Canada hosting their openers in Los Angeles and Toronto a day later.

The 48-team group stage lasts until June 27, then the top two teams in each group along with the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32 beginning on June 28.

The remaining winning teams will then play in the Round of 16 starting on July 4. The quarterfinals will be held on July 9, and the semifinals will be July 14 and July 15, leading up to the championship match at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament, is one of the venues that will host the international soccer tournament. There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games

There are five group stage matches at the stadium and three knockout phase games

June 12: USA v. Paraguay
June 15: Iran v. New Zealand
June 18: Switzerland v. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 21: Belgium v. Iran
June 25: USA v. Türkiye
June 28: Round of 32 match
July 2: Round of 32 match
July 10: Quarterfinal

Other U.S. host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the Bay Area.

Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey are Mexico’s host cities. Toronto and Vancouver will host matches in Canada.

NBCLA’s Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.

Police initially received a call about the road rage report in the 1100 block of West Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire area. The report indicated someone with what appeared to be a firearm threatened another person, the LAPD said.

The victim followed the person to the nearby high school campus on West Olympic Boulevard, where school police detained two people, including a primary suspect identified only as a juvenile male, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

A suspect identified as a juvenile female was arrested on suspicion of battery after allegedly spitting at an officer. She was released from custody.

The search continued Wednesday afternoon for two juvenile males, police said.

All are believed to be students at the high school.

A Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson released the following statement.

“Today, the school initiated a lockdown as we received reports of a possible weapon on campus,” the spokesperson said. “We took immediate action, including notifying the Los Angeles School Police Department and Region West Operations for further investigation. The Los Angeles School Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department are conducting a search of the campus for weapons. We will provide additional information once it is available.”

FBI agents were at GKN Aerospace Wednesday morning serving a search warrant about two weeks after a chemical tank crisis at the facility in Garden Grove led to mass evacuations and the threat of an explosion and toxic spill.

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The warrant includes a general list of items to be seized, such as samples of substances inside any container with methyl methacrylate — the toxic material inside the tanks — or any hazardous material, documents involving the storage or handling of the toxic chemical used in plastics, records on risk analyses of GKN’s equipment, complaints by employees about the hazardous materials and other items.

“We are cooperating with authorities at our Garden Grove facility and will continue to do so,” a GKN spokesperson said.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued a statement about the search.

“From day one, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has been on the ground and fully engaged in our investigation into potential criminal acts by GKN related to the May 21, 2026, hazmat incident,” Spitzer said. “I am encouraged that the federal government has followed our lead and launched a parallel investigation into the activities at GKN. I welcome any prosecutorial and regulatory agency review to ensure that the 50,000 victims who were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of this emergency situation receive the full restitution to which they are entitled.”

Abouty 50,000 residents in Garden Grove and Stanton were evacuated for days during the Memorial Day weekend as authorities worked to neutralize the toxic chemical inside the tank. Firefighters said it appeared the tank would either explode or spill its toxic contents after a problem with the valve used to release pressure.

A blast radius map was released to the public that showed which areas would be most affected if the situation led to an explosion and toxic plume.

Ultimately, a crack in the damaged tank relieved pressure, allowing authorities to give the all-clear for residents to return home days later.

Crews were planning to remove the remaining methyl methacrylate, or MMA, from two tanks next to the one that was damaged at GKN Aerospace. The operation was stalled due to a delay in delivery of sealed trucks needed for the job.

When the operation occurs, workers will pump the MMA out of two storage tanks and into the sealed trucks, which will take the chemicals away for disposal.

On Tuesday night, a GKN Aerospace executive spoke at a community meeting about the crisis and what happens next.

“On behalf of GKN and the Garden Grove plant, I want to say I am sorry that this event occurred,” senior vice president of GKN Aerospace Steve Carlin said.

The city’s mayor asked whether the company would remove the chemical from its site.

“We are still very early in the stages of actually investigating and reviewing exactly what happened on May  21j,” he said. “So, it’d be too early for us to draw any conclusions one way or the other.”