Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Challenge to LA Sanctuary City Policy
A federal judge in Central California has rejected the Trump administration’s claim that Los Angeles’ sanctuary city ordinance is unconstitutional. The ordinance limits the city’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Judge Fernando Olguin of the US District Court for Central California dismissed the administration’s argument, though he permitted the filing of an amended complaint. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from .
Los Angeles city attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto commented on the ruling:
“This order reinforces the well-established principle that local governments have the authority to decide how to use their personnel and resources. The goal of this ordinance … is to encourage victims of and witnesses to crime to feel safe coming forward to seek help from LAPD regardless of their immigration status. It does not obstruct or impede lawful federal immigration enforcement operations.”
US Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Lower Housing Costs
The US Senate has passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing housing costs by streamlining construction and permitting processes after months of negotiations.
The legislation limits investors’ ability to purchase homes, waives certain federal permitting requirements to facilitate new construction, and authorizes pilot programs to provide grants for home improvements and affordable housing planning. It includes a provision banning investors who own 350 or more single-family homes from buying additional single-family properties. The bill also expands access to manufactured homes and increases mortgage availability.
Both Democrats and Republicans supported the act as they prepare for the November midterm elections, where housing affordability is a key concern for voters. A shortage of new home construction has been identified as a major factor driving up housing costs in recent years.
Two Killed and Several Injured as Tornado Strikes Southern Illinois
Authorities in Illinois reported that two elderly residents were killed and at least five others injured when a tornado struck southern Illinois on Sunday evening, destroying several buildings.
The sheriff’s office posted on Facebook that the tornado touched down around 5pm, destroying at least three mobile homes. None of the injured sustained life-threatening injuries, according to the agency.
AccuWeather reported that the National Weather Service issued 117 tornado warnings on Sunday, with 40 tornado reports filed with the Storm Prediction Center, primarily between Peoria, Illinois, and Jasper, Indiana. Illinois has already recorded 164 tornado reports in 2026 up to last Thursday, the highest number since record-keeping began. Experts note that intense tornado outbreaks are becoming more frequent and concentrated amid the climate crisis.
In Other News
Iran has agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors back into the country as part of a deal under which the US will lift sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports.
California drivers are under investigation for allegedly using an AI tool to coordinate and inflate ride-sharing prices.
A shooting in Montreal described as a “nightmare” has resulted in multiple casualties, including a police officer and a bystander.
Activists claim that Monika Silva Koniuszek, a whistleblower investigating the Ecuadorian president’s family business, was murdered despite government assertions that she died by suicide.
The UK government plans to require YouTube and TikTok to implement new content regulations, a move expected to provoke conflict with Silicon Valley executives and the Trump administration.
The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool remains discolored despite Donald Trump’s claims that vandals damaged his $14 million renovation, which aimed to turn the water “American-flag blue.”
Stat of the Day: US Government Opposes Auction of Titanic Artifacts
RMS Titanic Inc, which holds exclusive salvage rights to the Titanic wreck, plans to auction over 100 artifacts despite prior agreements to display them only in museums and traveling exhibitions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), representing US interests and oversight of the wreck site, argues that such a sale would violate RMS Titanic’s legal obligations.
Culture Pick: Olivia Cooke on Power, Privilege, and Dividing Audiences in House of the Dragon
As season three of House of the Dragon approaches, Olivia Cooke, who portrays Alicent Hightower, discusses playing “the saddest woman in Westeros,” dealing with fans who swear at her for selfies, and going viral for her unique pronunciation of the word “stunning.”
Don’t Miss This: Me and My Idiot AI Boyfriend
Lauren Oyler initially viewed talking to AI as a surrender to a force that seeks to eliminate human interaction in pursuit of seamlessness. However, after her editor asked her to get an AI boyfriend, she produced a compelling piece exploring this unusual relationship.
… Or This: The Rise and Fall of the UK’s Keir Starmer – Where Did It All Go Wrong?
Despite winning a landslide election victory in 2024, Keir Starmer is being forced out as the UK prepares to welcome its seventh prime minister in a decade, likely Andy Burnham.
Jonathan Freedland analyzes why Starmer is stepping down despite no clear political missteps, suggesting that the UK electorate has become increasingly volatile and impatient.
Climate Check: A Thousand Years Old and 20 Storeys High – Tracking Taiwan’s Tallest Trees
Ancient trees play a vital role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide. Chris Swanston, director of science for the Save the Redwoods League, describes these giant trees as “an engine for biodiversity,” explaining that a single 2,000-year-old tree can support dozens of generations of species within its canopy. Their branches function as ecological neighborhoods rather than just typical tree limbs.
Last Thing: Lost Memoir of Hiroshima Survivor Found After Decades in US Archive
The memoir of Kiyoshi Tanimoto, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, was discovered this summer in a US archive. The 230-page document, written nearly 80 years ago, recounts his experiences witnessing the city’s destruction.
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