This is an LA Times Studios podcast.

Hi, I'm Angelica Coronado with LA Times Studios.

Here are some of today's news headlines.

Some of LA's most powerful names just popped up in the new Epstein files.

Clara Harder reports the

3 million pages recently released by the Department of Justice includes documents that mention

LA 28 Olympics chair Casey Wasserman, producer Barry Josephson, director Brett Ratner, New York Giants

co-owner Steve Tisch, Chef Adam Perry Lang, and PR broker Michael Citric.

The files include emails, photos, and records that range from purely professional to more

personal. Epstein, a once well-connected financial consultant, died in federal custody in 2019

after being charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy.

The context of the correspondence between each person in the case varies, but they all show

that Epstein's network encompassed a lot of different people. In other news, a new tax hike

is heading to the ballot in LA County.

Reporter Rebecca Ellis says this June, voters will be asked to approve a half-cent sales tax hike that could generate $1 billion per year to help offset federal funding cuts.

Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to put the measure on the ballot, which would last for five years if approved.

The measure was approved ahead of expected cuts from Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which they say will slash more than $2 billion from county health services over the next three years.

The proposal is backed by Restore Healthcare for Angelinos, a coalition of health care workers

and advocates who say if approved, it could prevent layoffs and keep emergency rooms open.

But supervisor Catherine Barger voted no, saying taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill

for Washington.

She also worries about how the money will be spent since the measure doesn't fully earmark it for health care.

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