Good evening! We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
Your Weather Planner
Cooler temperatures will settle in for a couple of days as a weak storm system passes over northern Mexico.
We will keep a few light rain showers and sprinkles in the forecast west of the mountains through Thursday night.
For Friday, San Diego County could still see a few light showers, but areas north of San Diego County will remain dry with more sunshine.
The weekend looks dry with mostly sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures.
Tomorrow’s Highs
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Today’s Big Stories
1. LA Metro advances underground heavy rail for Sepulveda Transit Project
A coalition of elected officials, labor and businesses representatives Wednesday announced support for a proposed heavy rail project that would connect the San Fernando Valley to the Westside.
The Metro Board of Directors is expected to vote Thursday on design plans for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project Locally Preferred Alternatives.
Of five options originally proposed, the board is expected to consider what is referred to Modified Alternative 5. The board’s Planning and Programming Committee has recommended approval of that plan, a heavy rail transit option that would run underground between the Van Nuys Metrolink Station and the E Line Expo/Sepulveda Station.
The proposal would be modified to include a connection to the Metro G Line and the future East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Line at Van Nuys Boulevard.
2. La Brea Tar Pits receives landmark donation toward Ice Age research center
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County Thursday announced its largest-ever donation, which will be used to establish the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research.
The philanthropic gift from the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation towards the new research center will help advance the La Brea Tar Pits’ long-planned makeover of the 13-acre fossil-rich site.
NHM President and Director Lori Bettison-Varga said in a statement that the foundation’s “transformational gift allows us to amplify the research that has always been at the heart of the Tar Pits, and to more fully integrate it into a revitalized and modernized campus that connects science, landscape, education and community in powerful new ways.”
With progressive research as its mission, “the re-imagined Tar Pits will be one of the most consequential scientific and cultural sites in the world,” she said.
Palisades homeowners said there is a large gap between insurance payouts for rebuilding homes lost in the Palisades Fire versus how much a true rebuild costs today.
She has lived in Marina Del Rey for the past year, but it’s not the place Sue Pascoe calls home.
“Not really. My husband and I decided not to buy anything because we were going to put it in our new home,” she said.
After she lost her home in the Palisades Fire, Pascoe moved fast to apply for a permit to rebuild. By March, she had all the documentation in. And by July, she had that permit in hand.
But six months later, her rebuild has gone nowhere. Pascoe said it’s all because her insurance company, State Farm, wants to pay far less for her rebuild than it will actually cost.
Contractors rebuild a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
4. ‘Profoundly moving’: From ‘Sinners’ to ‘Hamnet,’ honorees react to their Oscar nominations
The 2026 nominations for the Academy Awards have been announced, with Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic “Sinners” leading the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations. Check out the reactions from this year’s Oscar nominees sent to Spectrum News in statements.
‘Sinners’
Wunmi Mosaku received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Annie.
“This nomination means more to me than I can possibly put into words. ‘Sinners’ was made with such care, courage, and love, and to see the entire film recognized in this way is profoundly moving,” she said in a statement to Spectrum News. “Ryan’s fearless vision, the breathtaking work of every department behind the camera, and the generosity and brilliance of my fellow actors made this experience truly unforgettable. I’m endlessly grateful to Ryan, to my castmates, and to every single person who poured their talent into telling this story. Thank you to the Academy for honouring our work.”
‘One Battle After Another’
Teyana Taylor, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, told Spectrum News in a statement that on Wednesday night, she fell asleep watching “Pretty Woman” while thinking about happy endings and how impossible they sometimes feel.
“I woke up realizing I’ve been living in one that God has been preparing me for my own fairytale ending,” she said. “To be an Academy Award nominee is beyond anything I ever allowed myself to fully believe was possible…”
Click the link above to read more reactions.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting concludes in Davos
40th anniversary of first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees
In Case You Missed It
(The SoCal Scene)
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Click the link above for the full story.