On Friday, the Pentagon released a batch of never-before-seen files. All 162 documents, photos, and videos are related to what the government calls "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena," or what most people call UFOs. The latest files are posted to a new website from the Department of Defense, and officials say there's more to come, with files to be released to the public on a rolling basis. But one expert and former Department of Defense official that spoke with L.A. Times Studios says there's really nothing new in the files, and that the release without analysis or context could create more conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. Read more at https://www.latimes.com

40 pounds of fentanyl were seized and 18 people arrested, as federal agents and local authorities in Los Angeles raided MacArthur Park on Wednesday in what First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli is calling "Operation Free MacArthur Park." Following the raid, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on X that the DEA and LAPD had "taken back MacArthur Park." Meanwhile, what started as a transit dream in 1962 is finally becoming a reality in Los Angeles. After nearly 65 years of roadblocks, the first phase of Metro's long-awaited D Line extension opens on Friday. It'll add nearly four miles of track under Wilshire Boulevard from Koreatown to Beverly Hills with three stations along the way, and Metro says the D Line could dramatically cut commute times. Read more at https://www.latimes.com

CNN founder Ted Turner has died at 87. Turner revolutionized television in 1980 by launching CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, creating an "always on" cycle that defines media today. He went on to build a cable empire, including with TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is proposing a pied-à-terre tax on luxury properties over $5 million for owners who don't live in the city full-time. He says it will raise at least $500 million for free child care and other social services. Billionaire Ken Griffin, whose $238 million Central Park penthouse was featured in Mamdani's video on Tax Day, has fired back, calling the tax discriminatory and saying he'll create more jobs and build out his offices in Miami. And if your summer bucket list includes a trip to Yosemite, you might find yourself stuck in hours of traffic instead of taking in the views. The park is seeing its largest crowds in a decade, with more than half a million people visiting so far this year, after the Trump administration slashed the National Park System's staff by 25% in February and ended the reservation system entirely. Read more at https://www.latimes.com

Both Iran and the U.S. are claiming control over the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where prior to the war about 20% of the world's oil, or over 100 tankers, passed through each day. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth branded this mission "Project Freedom" and described the U.S. as having a "red, white and blue dome over the strait.” Meanwhile, voters in Ohio and Indiana are headed to the polls on Tuesday in primaries that offer a temperature check on President Trump's second term, with gerrymandering at the center of both elections. And Delta announced they'll stop serving free snacks and drinks on flights under 349 miles unless you're sitting in first class, impacting about 500 flights per day starting May 19th. Read more at https://LATimes.com. 
 

Kylie Jenner is facing a second lawsuit from a former housekeeper, who says she suffered abuse, harassment, and discrimination while working for the celebrity. Meanwhile, the State Department detained five Iranian green card holders, based in the Los Angeles area, and is now trying to strip them of their residency. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer taking credit for two women's arrests and saying she had been "quietly documenting" their social media and sharing that information with the government.  And the Kentucky Derby kicks off Saturday, with this year's favorite being Renegade, a bay colt bred in Kentucky. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

The Pentagon says the Iran War is costing $25 billion, but Democratic leaders are skeptical of the pricing, and Harvard’s Linda Bilmes says the war could end up costing up to $1 trillion. "Wars always cost more than expected" is how Bilmes puts it. Meanwhile, a new poll from Ipsos and Reuters found that only 24% of Americans see the war as being worth it. And the Iran War is costing everyday Americans too. The U.S. will keep a naval blockade on Iran until they give up their nuclear program, meaning oil prices will likely remain high, and when oil goes up, so does the cost of shipping, travel, and even groceries. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

The FCC is ordering a sweeping review of all broadcast licenses owned by ABC in what is perhaps the most aggressive attempt by the federal government to target the media. Officially, regulators say it’s about an investigation into Disney's diversity and inclusion policies and whether they violate the Communications Act of 1934. But the timing of the FCC review, which could allow them to pull those ABC stations off the air, is hard to ignore, as it comes just days after Jimmy Kimmel's jokes about Melania Trump. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

The Justice Department is now authorizing firing squads as a method of execution, marking a major shift in federal death penalty policy. The method has rarely been used in modern U.S. history, with only three executions carried out this way since the 1970s. The move is part of a broader push to expand and speed up capital punishment under the Trump administration. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says the policy supports victims, while critics, like Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, Professor at Brooklyn Law School and Robin Maher, Executive Director at Death Penalty Information Center, pushback against the move and argue it’s a reaction to prior efforts to limit executions. And the Lakers failed to sweep the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of the first round playoff series. The Rockets capitalized on the excessive turnovers from the Lakers and a poor performance from Lebron James. The Lakers are coming back home for Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead, where they will face the Rockets with Kevin Durant back on the roster without key players like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Read more at https://LATimes.com

Right now, Americans are paying on average $4 per gallon at the pump, and in California, where the average price of regular gas is $6 per gallon, rideshare drivers with companies, like Uber and Lyft, say it's becoming more and more difficult to make a living. LA Times Studios caught up with Sergio Avedian, a rideshare driver who's notched over 10,000 trips and is a senior contributor at "The Rideshare Guy" blog, and Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics for more on what’s happening. Read more at https://LATimes.com. 
 

Congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign following reports that he sexually assaulted a former staffer; allegations also came out that he sent multiple women explicit photos and text messages. The congressman, who up until this weekend led the polls in a crowded field of Democratic candidates, now faces a criminal investigation and pressure from some members of Congress to resign, as a bipartisan effort to expel him from the House is quickly gaining steam. Meanwhile, Hungarians are celebrating Péter Magyar's win as the next president of their country, replacing far-right authoritarian Viktor Orbán in a massive moment that will affect the course of politics for Europe and the rest of the world. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

Anthropic is now briefing the government and starting an effort called Project Glasswing, giving 50 tech organizations like Microsoft and Nvidia access to their new platform Mythos Preview in an attempt to strengthen digital defenses. Meanwhile, an exclusive Wall Street Journal report reveals the U.S. Justice Department's investigation into whether the NFL is engaging in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers. And, for nearly a decade, Californians watched as their neighbors left the state in record numbers, but research from the California Policy Lab shows the biggest driver is simple: affordability. Read more at https://LATimes.com.