California Today: Austin Beutner, L.A. Civic Leader, Drops Out of Mayor’s Race

February 6, 2026, 6:31 a.m. Pacific time

Today’s Top Story

Ryan Young for The New York Times

Austin Beutner, L.A. Civic Leader, Drops Out of Mayor’s Race

Mr. Beutner, a former ally of Mayor Karen Bass, entered the contest in October. He is leaving the race weeks after the sudden death of his daughter.

After Appearing in Epstein Files, L.A. Olympics Chief Lies Low at Milan Games

Casey Wasserman, who is leading preparations for the 2028 Summer Games, has expressed “regret” after messages he exchanged with Ghislaine Maxwell decades ago surfaced.

The Dark Side of A.I. Weighs on the Stock Market

The prospect of disruptions from artificial intelligence has hung over the economy for years. But this week advances in software tools precipitated a sell-off on Wall Street.

NBA Post-Trade Deadline Watch Guide: Warriors-Lakers, Knicks-Celtics, Harden’s Cavs Debut

The NBA trade deadline was a head rush. The swarm of players dealt this week include James Harden, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Anthony Davis.

Crypto Takes a Deep Slide Despite Trump’s Support

The price of Bitcoin is now lower than when President Trump was elected in 2024, raising concerns of a new “crypto winter" in the industry.

Bad Bunny’s All-American, All-Spanish, All-Eyes-on-Him Super Bowl

Amid harsh rhetoric from the White House, the Puerto Rican superstar will take the stage on Sunday promising a message of unity: “The world will dance.”

3 Killed as Vehicle Crashes Into Grocery Store in Los Angeles

Four other people were taken to a hospital, two with serious injuries and two with minor injuries, officials said.

The Long Goodbye: A California Couple Self-Deports to Mexico

Enrique Castillejos and his wife, Maria Elena Hernandez, raised a family in California. But they were undocumented immigrants, and after President Trump’s crackdown began, they decided to return to Mexico.

The Bay Area Is Skeptical That ICE Won’t Conduct a Super Bowl Surge

Federal officials said ICE would not conduct enforcement raids in the region this week. But leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area have passed “anti-ICE” ordinances, and activists have planned rapid response efforts nonetheless.