Headlines From The Times

President Trump's Board of Peace met for the first time to discuss goals for redevelopment in Gaza, where more than 70,000 Palestinians have died over two years of war. And, more news is coming out about a High Sierra tragedy—the avalanche that left eight skiers dead and one still missing; of the 15 skiers who set out with Blackbird Mountain Guides, six were rescued and two remain hospitalized, but are expected to recover. It's now the deadliest avalanche in modern California history. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Senator Bernie Sanders is taking aim at billionaires, helping a campaign to tax California's wealthiest residents. The proposal would impose a one-time 5% tax on the total wealth of billionaires in the state. In business, L.A's westside is getting its first Ikea, and California regulators approved new rules that would ban blackjack in card rooms. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

Just northwest of Lake Tahoe, eight of the nine skiers that were still trapped under an avalanche were found dead on Wednesday afternoon. The search for the remaining person has turned into a recovery mission more than 24 hours after the collapse buried 15 backcountry skiers under the deadliest avalanche in modern California history. Meanwhile, public comments sent out by an AI-powered advocacy company might’ve led, in part, to a Southern California plan being scrapped that would’ve placed fees on new gas furnaces and water heaters in an effort to cut back on smog-forming pollution. And, it’s a day of celebration for Mikaela Shiffrin, who took gold in slalom. Shiffrin’s the most decorated skier in Olympic history, but failed to medal at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Mikaela Shiffrin is so back. In business, fire survivors in Altadena say connecting to Southern California Edison’s new underground power lines could cost $20,000 to $40,000 per home, and Rivian's shares jumped up after reporting a profitable year despite a broader slowdown in the EV industry. Read more at LATimes.com.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., died at the age of 84. As leaders around the world reflect on his legacy, Jackson is remembered as one of the nation’s most powerful voices for Black Americans. In other news, Warner Bros. Discovery is giving Paramount Skydance seven days to submit its “best and final” offer to buy the entire studio, including Warner’s cable channels and HBO Max. The move comes after Paramount submitted an enhanced offer last week, complicating Netflix’s proposed $82.7 billion deal. And happy Lunar New Year! The Year of the Fire Horse is said to inspire action, confidence and independence. In business, Chipotle reports its worst business year since going public 20 years ago, and Mattel saw its shares plunge after reporting weak holiday sales due to miscalculated Barbie doll demands. Read more at LATimes.com.

The Department of Homeland Security could shut down this weekend if lawmakers leave Washington for a holiday break without reaching a deal on a funding bill. Meanwhile, inflation cooled in January. New data shows U.S. inflation at 2.4%, just above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. In other news, President Trump repealed the 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gases, reversing years of federal climate policy. And in Southern California, a storm is expected to bring moderate rain and potentially dangerous waves to the coast next week. In business, a proposed California bill would extend mortgage relief for homeowners rebuilding after the Palisades and Eaton fires, and Wall Street is selling stocks seen as vulnerable to artificial intelligence disruption. Read more at LATimes.com.

Newly released Justice Department records tied to Jeffrey Epstein mention several prominent Los Angeles figures, including Casey Wasserman, Barry Josephson and Brett Ratner. The documents contain emails, photos and other records ranging from professional to personal, underscoring the breadth of Epstein’s network before his 2019 death while facing sex trafficking charges. Meanwhile, L.A. County officials have voted to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the June ballot. Supporters say the measure would offset expected federal healthcare cuts, while critics question its oversight and impact on taxpayers. In business, major social media companies including Meta, TikTok, and Snap will be evaluated under a new teen safety rating system, and Los Angeles has approved a new adaptive reuse ordinance allowing office buildings to convert into housing.