California Today: World Cup Puts Spotlight on L.A.’s Mexican-Korean Kinship

June 19, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

World Cup Puts Spotlight on L.A.’s Mexican-Korean Kinship

The bond between the two communities was on show at a packed Koreatown watch party for the match between South Korea and Mexico on Thursday.

Large Waves Sweep Napping Beachgoers in California Into the Sea

Two college students lying on a Santa Cruz beach were swept as massive waves and dangerous rip currents inundated the coastline in recent days.

Union Behind California Billionaire Tax Offers to Reduce the Rate

The health care workers’ union that made it to the ballot with its plan to impose a 5 percent tax on billionaires’ wealth told Gov. Gavin Newsom it would accept a 2 percent levy instead.

Tech Workers Maxed Out Their A.I. Use. Now They’re Trying to Minimize It.

Artificial intelligence is expensive to use, many companies discovered. That has led to a new era of saving costs.

San Francisco Film Patrons Are Found Dead on Side of Highway

Judith Sheldon, 84, daughter of an Oscar-winning director, and her husband, Wylie, 86, were traveling to Oregon on a hot day. Their deaths are under investigation.

Empty Rooms and Plunging Prices: World Cup Tourism Is Off to a Slow Start

Hotel and visitation numbers were expected to spike this year. So far, several of the host cities have instead seen slumps.

After Her Knicks Celebration Drew the Police, an Officer Killed Her Dog

Marie Marseille had waited her entire life to see the New York Knicks win the N.B.A. championship. Her elation ended in tragedy.

Man Who Tried to Enter Sabrina Carpenter’s Home Gets 5-Year Restraining Order

The pop star and songwriter said she feared what the man would do if he was not prevented from coming near her or her family, according to court records.

Shohei Ohtani Used This Goal-Setting Method When He Was a Freshman in High School

During Shohei Ohtani’s first two years at Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan, his baseball coach, Hiroshi Sasaki, introduced him to the Harada Method.