The Los Angeles Times reported on the highly anticipated reopening of the Westwood Village theater following its purchase by a group of 35 prominent directors, including Jason Reitman, Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. The group is leading a $25 million restoration of the historic venue in an effort to revive Westwood’s role as a hub for movie premieres while also preserving a beloved gathering place for UCLA students. The article featured several current UCLA students who expressed enthusiasm for the theater’s return. Read more about UCLA in today’s Associated Press, Bloomberg Law and others.

More highlights from UCLA in the News: June 3, 2026

In California, frustration with Democratic status quo roils races | Los Angeles Times

Still, most political experts agree that Bass has the most viable path to victory, starting with a solid base of Black voters and a large share of Latino voters, plus support from powerful unions. “Under normal circumstances, or at least under historic circumstances, that would be plenty to get her over the finish line,” said Jim Newton, executive director of UCLA Blueprint magazine and a former political journalist for The Times. “What’s problematic for her is that there are people who are angry with her.” (Newton was also interviewed by Spectrum News 1 and UCLA’s Zev Yaroslavsky was interviewed by KABC-TV.)

He was a reality show villain. Can he be the mayor of Los Angeles? | BBC

But he has an uphill battle, according to Efrén Pérez, a professor who teaches political psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. The city has not had a Republican mayor since 2001 — a quarter of a century ago. And Pratt’s base and his platform are still rather narrow, Pérez says.

Public safety a top priority in LA’s mayoral race | Spectrum News 1

Jorja Leap, an adjunct professor from UCLA said crime stats aren’t enough to judge public safety. She said crime is often broadcasted to people which can also contribute to fear. ”I also think it’s a time of tremendous instability in our country and in our world, and we cannot discount that with people not feeling safe. We are in a place now where we were involved in a war,” said Leap. 

U.S. lead in science is shrinking fast as China, India, Iran catch up | Los Angeles Times

(Commentary by UCLA’s Amir Faghri) A country with one of the fastest-rising scientific profiles operates under sweeping international sanctions, has limited access to Western research infrastructure and is rarely mentioned in American conversations about global innovation. That country is Iran. Its rise, alongside China’s dominance in critical fields and India’s rapid scientific expansion, signals something Washington has been slow to recognize: the global map of science and engineering is being redrawn, and the United States is not driving that change.  

Extreme weather can whip up anxiety. A safety plan can help | Associated Press

One way to ease anxiety is to prepare as best you can ahead of time, including hashing out a plan for what to do during a disaster. Making an evacuation plan and putting together an emergency kit can provide a sense of control, said Melissa Brymer, a psychologist and director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.  

Big Law insider trading scheme shows document security flaws | Bloomberg Law

The case exposes a security challenge within law firms. “If someone really wants to gain access to other client information, they can,” said Scott Cummings, a legal ethics professor at UCLA’s School of Law.

Your mind has the secret machinery to manipulate, stretch times | Popular Mechanics

“Time may feel like something we simply move through, but our brains are constantly shaping how it is experienced and remembered,” says cognitive neuroscientist David Clewett, an assistant professor of psychology at UCLA.