UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies’ Brian Taylor responded to a Los Angeles Daily News query about the 710 North Pasadena signs, saying he didn’t see any malicious effort, despite saying directional signs on freeways can be “a head scratcher.” Read and see more about UCLA in today’s Los Angeles Times, KTLA and others.

More highlights from UCLA in the News: July 14, 2026

In ‘Love Island,’ prediction markets see new driver: reality TV  | LA Times

Culture betting has already produced instances of accused market manipulation. There is no watchdog for any of it, notes Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. “We’ve normalized putting money on entertainment, and now juiced up our entertainment experience,” Fong said. “None of these [trades] are regulated activities, [not at] the state level, and not at the federal level. There’s been zero positioning to say ‘This is how we’re going to protect from insider trading when it comes to popular culture contracts.’”

An effective way to treat drug addiction — but you may not like it | LA Times

(Commentary co-written by UCLA’s David Farabee) The Department of Health and Human Services recently sought advice from patients, clinicians and public health experts on addiction treatments supported by “rigorous, empirical evidence of effectiveness.” Health and Human Services endorses medications to address opioid addiction, but there are actually no medications to address addiction to stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Uptick in disease-carrying insects | KTLA-TV

“Well, you know, we're seeing constantly changing ecology. This is related to climate change, to changes in the environment. Certainly, we're going to continue to see changes. When we have rainy years, we see increases in mosquitoes, we see increases in certain animals,” said UCLA’s Anne Rimoin.

Battle over trees in Pasadena | Spectrum News 1

“Legacy contamination is fairly widespread. An estimated 1 in 4 U.S. households may have soil concentration,” said UCLA’s Kirsten Schwarz (approx. 2:22 mark).

UCLA partnering with Sundance Institute | Spectrum News 1

UCLA is partnering with the Sundance Institute to help aspiring filmmakers. The multi-year partnership will offer the Digital Learning Hub in September, where students will have access to on-demand classes and industry insights.