Headlines From The Times

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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