![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/maryweb-176.jpeg\")
\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Spectrum_News_Plus_PromoCard_4-11-2023.jpeg\")
<\/a>\nIntroducing Spectrum News+
Watch the latest news from across the country.<\/p>\n
Around SoCal<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0LA Council to consider changes to mansion tax<\/a><\/p>\n The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a proposal to amend the so-called mansion tax in a bid to address concerns it limited construction of housing units and could face a challenge at the state level.<\/p>\n Council members are expected to discuss and vote on a motion introduced Friday by Councilwoman Nithya Raman, chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, and seconded by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. If approved, the motion would instruct the City Attorney’s Office to draft a measure for the June primary ballot that would alter Measure ULA.<\/p>\n Voters approved Measure ULA in November 2022. It went into effect in April 2023, placing a 4% tax on property sales above $5 million and a 5.5% tax on sales above $10 million. Proponents of the measure celebrated the first $1 billion raised by the tax in early January.<\/p>\n Money from Measure ULA funds programs supporting affordable housing production and homelessness prevention. Critics of the proposal have argued the measure has chilled the production of apartments and other multi-family housing.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Ex-Olympic snowboarder pleads not guilty to running a drug smuggling ring<\/a><\/p>\n A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned top FBI fugitive made his first appearance in a U.S. court on charges he allegedly ran a billion-dollar multinational drug trafficking ring and orchestrated multiple killings.<\/p>\n Authorities said Ryan Wedding turned himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City last week and was flown to California after a yearlong effort by authorities to arrest him. His lawyer said he didn’t surrender in Mexico and was arrested.<\/p>\n Wedding pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in federal court in Santa Ana, California. Wedding was indicted in the U.S. in 2024 on federal charges of running a criminal enterprise, murder, conspiring to distribute cocaine and other crimes.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Luka Doncic scores 46 points as the Lakers beat the Bulls 129-118<\/a><\/p>\n Luka Doncic had 46 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 129-118 victory on Monday night.<\/p>\n LeBron James scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half as Los Angeles improved to 3-1 on an eight-game trip. Rui Hachimura added 23 points on 9-for-11 shooting.<\/p>\n The Lakers were swept by Chicago in their two-game series last season, including a wild 119-117 loss at the United Center on Josh Giddey’s half-court shot at the buzzer.<\/p>\n The Lakers shot 56% (46 for 82) from the field, including a 16-for-33 performance from 3-point range.<\/p>\n (AP Photo\/Nam Y. Huh)<\/p>\n Around the Nation<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0Border Patrol commander Bovino and some agents expected to leave Minneapolis<\/a><\/p>\n 2.\u00a0White House presents 3-point plan for Minneapolis law enforcement to tone down tensions<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lakers_doncic_bulls_ap_26027081988109_ca_0126.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Kathy_Eldon_la_stories_ca_0126.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ronald_Reagan_Federal_Building_AP.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n