Good evening! We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
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After days of unseasonably warm conditions, a weak disturbance will increase the cloud cover and bring down temperatures.
The weekend promises to be comfortable.
As of now, there are indications light rain could return to Southern California by next Tuesday or Wednesday.
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Today’s Big Stories
1. 3 dead, 7 injured after vehicle crashes into 99 Ranch Market in Westwood
Three people were killed and seven others were injured after a vehicle crashed into a 99 Ranch Market, an Asian foods supermarket, at the corner of Westwood and Rochester Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
LAFD reported that the seven patients were in serious condition, and a triage operation was set up outside the market.
It was unclear where the three victims who died were located, although video from the scene showed at least one body outside the store.
The massive rescue response closed a stretch of Westwood Boulevard, which was completely blocked by emergency vehicles.
2. Caruso, Beutner out as mayoral candidates; Miller in
Billionaire developer and former unsuccessful mayoral candidate Rick Caruso decided Thursday not to pursue another potential challenge to Mayor Karen Bass, while another prominent candidate announced he was dropping out of the fray for personal reasons.
Caruso’s decision not to run for Los Angeles mayor in the June mayoral primary comes a day after contemplating a run in the wake of a bombshell story published Wednesday by the Los Angeles Times saying Bass directed the watering-down of an after-action report critical of the L.A. fire department’s handling of the deadly Palisades Fire. Bass vehemently denied the accusation.
“Rick is incredibly moved by outpouring of support but reached an earlier decision in a thoughtful process and it stands. He will not be a candidate for mayor,” Mike Murphy, a political consultant for Caruso, told the Times Thursday.
The mayoral campaign took another turn Thursday morning when former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced he was dropping out of the race.
3. More than 160 lending institutions to provide mortgage relief for fire victims
More than 160 lending institutions made a commitment to provide mortgage relief for fire survivors whose homes were damaged or lost in the destructive January 2025 wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
Fire survivors can verify here which lenders may provide additional mortgage forbearance of up to 90 days, subject to investor approval such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and consistent with terms of the Newsom’s January 2025 agreement with banks.
Other aid lenders may provide includes payment options that do not include lump-sum, or balloon, payments, waiving any mortgage-related late fees that accrue during the forbearance period, and not reporting late payments on forbearance amounts to credit reporting agencies.
An aerial view shows houses being rebuilt on cleared lots months after the Palisades Fire, Dec. 5, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
4. Bad Bunny says he will bring his culture to 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance
Bad Bunny says he’s approaching his highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance with a mix of excitement, gratitude and perspective.
“To be honest, I don’t know how I’m feeling. There’s a lot. I’m still in the middle of my tour. I was just at the Grammys last week. All of that,” he said in English on Thursday at a press event hosted by Apple Music. He walked out to his 2017 single “Chambea.”
“I’m excited, but at the same time, I feel more excited about the people than even me — my family, my friends, the people who have always believed in me,” he said. “This moment, the culture — that’s what makes these shows special.”
Your Notes for Tomorrow
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In Case You Missed It
(Spectrum News/Jas Kang)
Artificial intelligence continues to be more-and-more mainstream, and one local college is embracing the technology.
UC San Diego is one of the first colleges in the country to have an undergraduate AI major program. First-year student Leena Banga grew up in the Bay Area and is part of the school’s first AI program cohort.
“We’re seeing that it’s being increasingly integrated in industries,” she said. “Such as transportation, telecommunications, health care and even education.”
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