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Looking for free Wi-Fi and A/C? These L.A. libraries deliver

As Los Angeles swelters under summer heat and remote workers seek refuge from cramped home offices and costly cafes, public libraries across the region have become vital community spaces, offering free air conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, and peace and quiet to all who walk through their doors. “There’s no place like it,” said Joyce Cooper, director of branch services for the L.A. Public Library. “Where else can you just walk in off the street and get help for whatever you need?” Since reopening after the pandemic, L.A. libraries have seen a notable increase in visitors using b

Free school for 4-year-olds? California says yes — if parents hear about it

California races to stop golden mussels from threatening water supply

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Can California really balance fish, farms, and faucets with one plan?

California water regulators unveiled a revised framework for managing the Bay-Delta watershed that seeks to protect fish habitats while maintaining water deliveries to communities across the state. The State Water Resources Control Board's proposal incorporates Gov. Gavin Newsom's Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program, marking the first significant overhaul of water management rules in the region since 1995. The initiative allows water agencies, farmers, and other users to enter into cooperative partnerships rather than face traditional regulatory mandates. "I am proud to see the Health

Community library in El Sereno offers tools, books, and belonging

Father of Georgia school shooter had letter from son ‘asking for forgiveness’ on day of the shooting, testimony reveals

Firefighters rescue family trapped by fallen tree; home declared total loss

SYLVA, North Carolina (WLOS) -- A Sylva woman is sharing her story after a massive tree came crashing down on her home during a powerful thunderstorm Thursday afternoon.That woman, Autumn Richards, said she and five of her family members, including her six-year-old granddaughter, were all inside their home on Chickadee Lane when it happened.Richards explained that they were all in separate parts of the home when the tree came down.“I felt it in the floor and the lights flickered twice. Then a loud crash. I thought the whole house was gone. I came running out, screami

Man accused of stealing garbage truck, crashing on bridge after chase

Police officer detained by ICE is being held at Massachusetts facility

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Entertainment|Lifestyle|Sports|US

Steelers' Aaron Rodgers eager for helmet switch: 'It looks like a spaceship'

Aaron Rodgers is still feeling things out in Pittsburgh, in more ways than one. The NFL's oldest player, who wrapped up his initial (and likely only) training camp with the Steelers at Saint Vincent College on Tuesday, is still searching for the right helmet. The league banned the helmet Rodgers has long preferred because it didn't meet certain safety standards. He's not exactly enthralled with the replacement he's been using. “I’m trying to change (it),” Rodgers told reporters. “We’re in the process still. It looks like a damn spaceship out

Business|Economy|US|World

Inflation holds steady, but Trump’s tariffs are boosting some prices

Falling gas prices helped keep overall inflation tame in July; however, a broader array of products got even more expensive last month, showing that President Donald Trump’s expansive tariffs are being passed along to consumers.Consumer prices rose 0.2% in July, keeping the annual inflation rate at 2.7%, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Stocks were higher on Tuesday. The Dow rose 480 points, or 1.09%. The S&P 500 rose 0.73% and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.72%.“We have seen moderate inflation over the last year … certai

Here’s how Trump’s BLS commissioner pick has criticized the BLS

Trump cites 'major lawsuit' against Fed's Powell, again urges rate cut

DNC chair takes steps to restrict corporate and dark money in 2028 primaries

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will ask party members later this month to take the first step towards restricting corporate and so-called dark money spending in the 2028 presidential primaries, siding with progressives in an ongoing intraparty debate over campaign finance rules.Martin will introduce a resolution at the DNC’s August meeting calling on a new reforms panel to explore ways the party can eliminate corporate and dark money donations from the upcoming presidential primary cycle, according to a draft obtained by CNN.Progressives, including Vermont independent Sen. Be

Arts|Education|US

White House orders review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits to ensure alignment with Trump directive

The White House is conducting a comprehensive internal review of exhibits and materials at the Smithsonian Institution – the organization that runs the nation’s major public museums – in an effort to comply with President Donald Trump’s directive about what should and shouldn’t be displayed.The initiative, a trio of top Trump aides wrote in a letter to Smithsonian Institution secretary Lonnie Bunch III, “aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultura

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth belongs to an archconservative church network. Here's what to know

Analysis: Why Trump shouldn't be afraid of a failed summit in Alaska

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Urgent warning issued as dangerous fake Labubu dolls flood UK market

Fake Labubu dolls that could pose a choking hazard for young children have flooded the UK market, a consumer standards body has warned.Legitimate Labubu toys, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and sold by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, have become a viral and profitable sensation around the world. The palm-sized plushie, which has a bunny body, elf-like face and sharp teeth, is so popular that genuine versions are becoming increasingly difficult to come by.In May, Pop Mart announced that it was temporarily suspending all in-store sales of the collectible across the UK following chaotic scene

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The Little League World Series has had its share of drama before even getting to Williamsport

The road to Williamsport was filled with more drama than usual for a couple Little League World Series participants this year, including a Venezuelan team that needed visa exemptions to make the trip and an American club that narrowly knocked off a defending champ. Baseball's preeminent youth baseball tournament resumes Wednesday in central Pennsylvania. The festivities begin with a look at what makes the 20-team event special. ESPN is airing a documentary called “Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024" on Tuesday night. The filmmakers had great raw material

The ‘godfather of AI’ reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI

UN chief puts Israel, Russia 'on notice' over conflict-related sexual violence accusations

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As Everest costs go up, Nepal just made it free to climb nearly 100 other mountains

A permit to climb the world’s tallest mountain costs an eye-popping $15,000 — and that’s before you add in the price of airfare, gear and a guide.But Nepal, which has long sought to diversify its tourism offerings beyond showpiece Mount Everest, has come up with a new plan to attract travelers to less expensive, less visited regions of the country.The government announced it’s opening up 97 peaks in Karnali and Sudurpaschim, two states in far western Nepal, to international climbers for free.“There are so many mountains (in Nepal),” Himal Gautam, a director in the Nepal Tourism Dep

Education|Environment|Science|World

Extreme heat is threatening tropical birds, even in untouched forests, scientists warn

From the rainforests of Central and South America to the savannas of northern Australia, the world’s equatorial regions are home to thousands of unique bird species, from macaws to toucans to hummingbirds, who thrive in hot and humid environments.But as climate change accelerates, tropical regions are seeing ten times the number of dangerously hot days than they did 40 years ago, threatening the survival of some of the world’s most colorful birds, new research shows.Between 1950 and 2020, extreme heat events reduced tropical bird populations by 25% to 38%, according to a study published in