The United States and Iran came to a ceasefire deal on Tuesday night, expected to last two weeks, but Iran is already saying Israel is violating it by continuing attacks on Lebanon. The ceasefire came just a day after President Trump warned he would destroy a "whole civilization" unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, nearly 400,000 Los Angeles students could be out of class next week, as three major unions representing teachers, school staff, and administrators threaten a historic strike on April 14th, with the district now considering emergency "hubs" for families with no other childcare options. In business, the AI boom has propelled San Francisco's median home price to a record $2.15 million as high-earning tech workers flood a market with historically low inventory, and California’s data center expansion is facing significant local opposition, causing developers to scrap or delay multi-billion dollar projects, and even shift to other states like Texas. Read more at https://LATimes.com.
Transcript
This is an LA Times Studios Podcast.
Iran, the United States and Israel say they have reached a temporary ceasefire in the war that swept across the Middle East, but there are big questions that still remain.
Top of mind is the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of crude oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.
Iran insists that its military is still going to control access through the Strait, and we've heard from one diplomat that says Iran and Oman, whose territorial waters, formed the Strait, would still be collecting fees from passing ships.
This is a big departure from what had been before. The world largely considers the Strait an international waterway that should be free for all.
But we're a very, very long way away from peace. For starters, he had reportedly, according to the Pakistanis, guaranteed that Israel will cease the ceasefire.
But we're a very, very long way away from peace. For starters, he had reportedly, according to the Pakistanis, guaranteed that Israel will cease to attack Lebanon, but the Prime Minister of Israel has made it very clear that Israel is going to continue to attack Lebanon, but will cease attacks on Iran.
There have been attacks on Iran this morning, so we've seen some violations of the ceasefire on both sides, and it's, again, there is no mechanism at present in place.
There's no monitoring verification compliance mechanism to ensure that the ceasefire will hold.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Quick question. What can you buy for half a penny? NLA? Not much, right?
But when we all pitch in, here's what half a penny can do for all of us who live in LA County.
If we pass measure ER, half a penny can keep emergency rooms open, keep our local hospitals and community clinics from having to close their doors.
It can keep medical coverage available for working families, and keep LA County's healthcare system ready to respond with the next natural disaster happens.
Measure ER is on the June ballot, and does exactly that.
It's a half a penny to save emergency rooms, plan parenthood and medical from Trump's big ugly bill.
Half a penny to save the healthcare system we all rely on.
Half a penny to save lives.
Half a penny can make all of the difference.
Vote yes on measure ER. That's yes on measure ER.
Valet's drop May 4th. You can register to vote until May 18th. And vote yes on measure ER by June 2nd.
Add paid for by yes on ER, restore healthcare for Angelinos, sponsored by St. John's Community Health and Health Justice Action Fund.
Add committee's top funders, St. John's Community Health, California Community Foundation, Service Employees International Union Local 721-C2W-CLC.
San Francisco's housing market is heating up again, and AI is a big reason why.
Queenie Wong reports the city's median home price hit a record $2.15 million.
Up 18% from a year ago, according to real estate brokerage firm Compass.
Condo prices also jumped with the median sale price rising to $1.36 million.
The firm said the AI boom is helping drive new hiring, new wealth, and making it more competitive to live in the Bay Area City.
This competition is also increasing because inventory has tightened.
The number of homes for sale are down 28% from last year, which has made the market even more competitive, with buyers paying an average of 23% above asking price.
The new numbers show how the AI surge is not only reshaping the state's tech economy, but also making it more expensive to live in cities like San Francisco.
In other business news, California's data center boom is running into serious pushback.
Nylish Christopher reports that as tech companies pour billions into the infrastructure powering AI, some projects in California are being delayed or scrapped altogether.
In Monterrey Park, residents protested a proposed data center over concerns about energy use and pollution, with some calling for an outright ban.
The whole California is becoming less attractive for these projects due to high costs, regulations, and local opposition, so investors often choose to build in other places.
As a result, many projects and the jobs that come with them are shifting to other states like Texas, which is expected to become the country's leading data center market within the next three years.
That's it for now. Make sure to subscribe to the LA Times for these stories and more.
During one of the most severe windstorms Southern California experienced in more than a decade, the palisades and eaten fires ignited, leaving heartbreaking losses in our communities.
Now as we build back, we're building stronger, cleaner, and more resilient in communities most vulnerable to dangerous weather conditions and wildfires.
Southern California Edison is placing power lines underground, hardening the electric system by installing wires with protective coating and adding advanced technology to help keep communities safe.
The work is underway as communities rebuild across the region.
And if you were impacted by the eaten fire, support may be available through Southern California Edison's wildfire recovery compensation program.
Claims can be filed directly through the program. No legal fees, no lengthy litigation, payment and months, not years.
To file or explore the program, visit sce.com slash direct claims. Communications funded by ratepayers.
