For the first time since 1995, three American men — Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex Michelsen — have reached the US Open quarterfinals. It feels like a milestone moment for American tennis. Now they're chasing history: no American man has won on home soil since Andy Roddick in 2003. On the women's side, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and 2023 champion Coco Gauff make up the most US women's quarterfinalists since 2017.

Meanwhile, the Rams and 49ers are set to make history in the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia. The matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground features a Super Bowl-style atmosphere, Sean McVay's unique travel strategy, the Rams' "guinea pig" travel experiment, and the possibility of Aaron Donald making his return after coming out of retirement. Here's everything you need to know before kickoff.

And, fast-food workers in Los Angeles could soon have more control over when and how they work. The City Council is weighing a proposal that would require restaurants to give workers more notice regarding scheduling, and would also give workers paid training on labor rights. Supporters say this could make a huge difference for workers to plan for child care, medical appointments, and other responsibilities. But the restaurant industry says it could raise costs for businesses.

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A new one-dollar coin featuring President Trump's portrait is making headlines after the U.S. Mint put sleeves up for sale this week to celebrate the country's 250th birthday. The "heads" side shows Trump's portrait with "liberty" above it and the years 1776–2026, while the reverse features the Seal of the United States. Federal law generally bans living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency, but there's an exception for certain commemorative coins with Treasury Secretary approval. It's also not completely unprecedented: Calvin Coolidge appeared on a $1 coin 100 years ago while still in office.

Meanwhile, California’s rules allowing transgender athletes to compete in school sports will remain in place after a federal judge tossed a Trump administration lawsuit. The Justice Department argued that allowing trans girls to compete on girls teams would be a violation of Title IX, but Judge Cynthia Valenzuela ruled that Title IX does not clearly require California to impose a ban. The Justice Department says it’s considering an appeal.

And, K-Pop supergroup BTS took over SOFI Stadium this week, kicking off 4 sold-out shows on its world tour. This is the first LA show since the members completed their mandatory military service in South Korea.

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Gloria Steinem, the author and activist who helped revolutionize the feminist movement, died Wednesday at her home in New York City. She was 92.  For more than half a century, Steinem fought for abortion rights, equal pay, and same-sex marriage, calling herself an "entrepreneur of social change." From her groundbreaking undercover exposé on the Playboy Club to becoming one of the most recognizable voices of the women's liberation movement, Steinem's life and legacy reshaped how the world sees gender, work, and power. We look back at her extraordinary story.

Meanwhile, the NBA is handing down massive penalties against the Clippers that could devastate the team for years to come. After finding the team violated salary cap rules involving Kawhi Leonard, the league is issuing the Clippers a $30 million fine, stripping them of five first-round draft picks, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for a year, and fining Leonard $700,000. The Clippers deny the findings and say they’ll challenge the penalties.

And, Jordan Chiles is coming back to elite gymnastics and gearing up for the 2028 Olympics in LA. The Olympic gold medalist announced her return in a video narrated by NBA legend Michael Jordan, who asked, “Why again?” Chiles says it’s because “the dream is still there.” She helped Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics, and plans to split her time training for LA28 while also returning to UCLA as a student coach.

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A new Marsh survey finds employers expect health benefit costs to rise about 8% next year — the biggest increase in more than two decades. Employers are already eyeing ways to shift more costs onto workers. That's on top of a separate Aon report showing employees paid nearly 10% more in out-of-pocket care in 2026 than the year before, an increase of roughly $2,100.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods is Avoiding a DUI conviction after reaching a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and will lose his driver’s license for five years, pay at least $1,500 in fines, complete 50 hours of community service, and cover damages from the crash. The golfer was originally charged with DUI after a rollover crash in March.

The Los Angeles Angels are set for a change in ownership, and it could mark the start of a new era. Rams owner Stan Kroenke has agreed to buy the team from Arte Moreno in a record $4 billion deal, ousting the Angels owner after 20+ years. With the team’s playoff drought stretching back to 2014, fans are hopeful that Kroenke’s record of investing in Southern California sports will pay off. The deal still needs MLB approval.

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The U.S. Open is a big money maker for New York City. A consulting group working with the USTA says the tournament brings in about $1.2 billion a year, fueled largely by tourism, with over a million visitors attending last year alone. Restaurants, hotels, and bars all get a major boost, and businesses respond by hiring. The US Open creates an estimated 7,000 seasonal jobs each year, with many going to residents near the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens.

Also, UCLA is shaking up its athletic department just as football season begins. Martin Jarmond is out as athletic director after more than six years on the job, where he oversaw the move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. Longtime Lakers executive and UCLA alum Tim Harris will be taking his place. Officials blame financial challenges and a rapidly changing college sports landscape for the move.

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In his first major speech as Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh told the Fed's annual Jackson Hole conference that inflation — currently at 3.7%, above the Fed's 2% target — remains a top concern, and warned the central bank will act if prices don't ease. Warsh didn’t offer “forward guidance” on interest rates, signaling he wants a quieter Fed that lets economic data drive policy instead of public commentary. The Fed's next rate decision comes in mid-September.

Meanwhile, USC and UCLA are launching new degree programs focused on artificial intelligence in an effort to keep up with a fast-changing job market. USC is introducing its first undergraduate AI degree, where students will learn to build AI systems for fields like robotics, drug discovery, and agriculture. UCLA is taking a different approach. The university is introducing a new Digital Humanities department that combines AI with subjects like history, sociology, and the arts. Both schools are emphasizing ethics and tools to spot bias, misinformation, and errors.

And, Blake Lively has been awarded about $407,000 in attorneys’ fees and court costs following the dismissal of Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against her. Lively had asked for more than $8 million, but a federal judge found the hours billed by her attorneys were unreasonable and opted to award her a much smaller amount. It could be the final chapter in the high-profile legal battle between the two “It Ends With Us” stars.

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NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has tapped a fifteen member Business Advisory Council with executives from real estate, retail, dining, sports, and healthcare. But missing from the council are executives from the city's largest financial employers, like BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase. There's been tension between Mamdani's democratic socialist platform and a skeptical business community, including his public clash with Citadel's Ken Griffin over a proposed pied-à-terre tax.

Meanwhile, newly released police records reveal additional details surrounding the arrest of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York in an Ohio prostitution sting. Investigators say York responded to an undercover online ad, agreed to pay $160, and was arrested after arriving at a meeting location. York later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of engaging in prostitution and disorderly conduct.

And, the NFL is officially retiring the Pro Bowl game after more than 70 years. While the annual exhibition is coming to an end, 88 players will still earn Pro Bowl honors and be recognized at a new celebration in Los Angeles featuring flag football events.

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Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to settle claims from California and other states that its platforms harmed the mental health of young users. The tech giant denies wrongdoing, but will roll out new daily usage limits and other measures on Facebook and Instagram. California alone could collect up to $2.1 billion.

LeBron James took out a nearly $300 million loan in 2018, right before joining the Los Angeles Lakers. The previously unreported deal involved companies advised by Guggenheim Partners, which was led by Mark Walter at the time. Walter later became the Lakers’ controlling owner.

One of Hollywood’s most distinctive and versatile actors has died. Tim Curry, known for his unforgettable performances including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise the Clown in IT, passed away on Wednesday at 80. His cause of death has not been released.

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Bitcoin had been sliding for months, down 31% over the past year. Then last week, everything changed.

News out of Washington sent the crypto surging back above $77,000, jumping 20% in just a few days. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's plan to double long-term government bond buybacks pushed bond yields lower and pressured the dollar — and a weaker dollar sent investors hunting for alternatives, like Bitcoin.

A growing number of California’s richest residents are looking overseas as political unrest in the US mounts – not necessarily to leave, but because they want to have a Plan B. Through these so-called “golden visas,” people are seeking residency, and in some cases citizenship, in other countries by investing in property or businesses abroad.

Read more about the growing practice here: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-13/more-more-wealthy-californians-are-seeking-golden-visa-residency-outside-u-s

The world's largest retailer, Walmart, just reported its worst sales growth in more than six years. Last quarter, the Arkansas-based company saw its store sales rise just 2.6 percent. This comes as overall retail spending dropped in July, and according to the University of Michigan, consumer sentiment fell about 8% this August.

Meanwhile, Disneyland is finally giving Tomorrowland the major makeover fans have been asking for. Disney announced at D23 that the iconic land will be reimagined with new attractions, more open spaces, and a renewed focus on Walt Disney's original vision for the future. While the project is still in its early stages, it marks one of the biggest planned changes to Disneyland in decades.

And, from horseback riding in Burbank to tacos in Los Feliz, arcade games in Pasadena and dancing at Club Tee Gee, Love Island USA host Ariana Madix is sharing her ideal Sunday around Los Angeles. Fresh off filming the latest season in Fiji, the Emmy-winning host says she's enjoying being back home and soaking up everything L.A. has to offer.

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The U.S. national debt hit a record high this week, topping $40 trillion. That’s double what it was in 2016 at the start of President Trump's first term. Most of that spending is going toward rising military costs, programs like Social Security and Medicare, and Trump's tax cuts. The war in Iran has already cost the U.S. more than $34 billion, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

And, as NFL season approaches, CBS is moving forward with its coverage while Tony Romo remains on leave following his arrest. There’s no timetable yet for his return. In the meantime, CBS Sports President David Berson says three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as the network’s lead broadcast team. Romo was arrested in July on suspicion of impaired driving and is scheduled to appear in court on September 21.

Meanwhile, several coaches at El Camino Real Charter High School have been placed on administrative leave while the school investigates allegations surrounding CPR and first-aid certification. The L.A. Times reports certification cards used by some coaches could not be verified in a Red Cross database. Parents say some were escorted off campus, including a longtime baseball coach. This comes just weeks after the Woodland Hills school replaced its executive director and assistant principal overseeing athletics.

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