This is an L.A. Times Studios podcast.

Hi, I'm Faith Pino, and you're listening to Headlines from L.A. Times Studios.

Here's some of today's top stories from the Los Angeles Times.

ABC has polled Jimmy Kimmel live indefinitely after backlash over the host's comments about the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

According to Stephen Battaglio, ABC announced the move late Wednesday, following Kimmel's opening monologue Monday night, when he suggested the man accused of killing Kirk

might have been a pro-Trump Republican. The conservative commentator was fatally shot at a public speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10th.

The move comes after the FCC threatened action against Disney-owned ABC. In response, parent company Nextstar Media Group said they would pull Kimmel from all affiliate stations nationwide.

Nextar called Kimmel's remarks, quote, offensive and insensitive, and said keeping him on the air isn't in the public interest.

FCC chairman Brendan Carr also threatened to review ABC affiliate licenses.

That's a big deal for NextAr, which is pushing for approval of a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.

Media experts say it's rare for a late night show to get pulled under political pressure,

and it's now raising questions about free speech under the Trump administration.

University of California police are stocking up on weapons and equipment.

The annual request approved by the Board of Regents Wednesday includes drones, bullets, and thousands of pepperball rounds.

Jowad Khalim reports that five campuses, UCLA, Irvine, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco

asked for new gear. UC San Diego's request was the biggest, asking for 5,000 rifle rounds to replace training

ammo. Most of their other requests were from non-lethal items like pepperball launchers and foam rounds.

State law requires police to report every year on what military-style equipment they buy and use.

UC says the gear is mainly for training and keeping campuses safe.

But past reports show that UC police have used these non-lethal tools outside of training.

At UCLA in June of 2024, officers fired 240 pepperball rounds at a crowd during a pro-Palestinian protest, though

they said no one was directly hit.

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