California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to dismantle homeless encampments, following a US Supreme Court decision allowing such actions. The order aims to address dangerous encampments while supporting the individuals living in them. California has the largest homeless population in the US, and this move is being closely watched by other cities and states. (CNN)
The FCC has proposed regulations to increase transparency regarding the use of AI-generated political content in TV and radio ads. Political advertisers would be required to disclose if AI is used in their ads and make on-air disclosures. The goal is to prevent manipulation and deception in political advertising, following instances of AI being used to deceive voters. (UPI)
Manhattan diamond dealer Manashe Sezanayev was indicted for allegedly swindling fellow merchants of $460,000 by replacing their real diamonds with lab-grown imitations. Sezanayev, with a history of gemstone fraud, swapped genuine diamonds for fake ones, cutting and inscribing them to resemble originals. He previously defrauded wholesalers out of $9 million, resulting in a one-year prison sentence. (AP)
Southwest Airlines, known for its open seating policy, is discontinuing the practice and implementing assigned seating on all flights. The decision was based on customer feedback and research indicating a preference for assigned seats. The airline will also introduce premium seating options to generate additional revenue. Southwest expects the change to broaden its appeal and attract more customers. (UPI)
The largest wildfire of the season in California was allegedly caused by a 48-year-old man who pushed a burning car into a gully. The man was arrested and charged with arson. The blaze destroyed structures and forced thousands to evacuate. The suspect was seen leaving the area amid evacuating park visitors. The fire, called the Park Fire, continued to spread and fill West Coast skies with smoke. (ABC News)