Good evening! We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
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Expect a weak marine layer on Tuesday and sunshine to arrive earlier for the coast.
Summer heat will return midweek.
Heat alerts will return to the forecast and remain in effect through the end of the week.
Tomorrow’s Highs
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Today’s Big Stories
1. ‘Ketamine Queen’ accused of selling fatal dose to Matthew Perry agrees to plead guilty
A woman known as the “Ketamine Queen,” charged with selling Matthew Perry the drug that killed him, agreed to plead guilty Monday.
Jasveen Sangha becomes the fifth and final defendant charged in the overdose death of the “Friends” star to strike a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Having initially pleaded not guilty, her change of plea means she’ll avoid a trial that had been planned for August.
Prosecutors had cast Sangha as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the “Ketamine Queen,” using the term often in press releases and court documents and even including it in the official name of the case.
A federal indictment charged Sangha with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Sangha will officially change her plea to guilty at an upcoming hearing, where sentencing will be scheduled, prosecutors said. She could get up to 45 years in prison. An email sent to Sangha’s lawyers seeking comment was not immediately answered.
2. Road closures begin near Vincent Thomas Bridge
Several road and ramp closures will begin Monday for the area around the Port of Los Angeles as part of an interchange improvement project.
Starting Monday, the on-ramp from Harbor Boulevard to the Harbor (110) Freeway and the off-ramp from southbound state Route 47 at Harbor Boulevard will be closed.
The closures near the Vincent Thomas Bridge will be in effect for ongoing construction of new roadways and ramps, according to the Port of LA.
“A new northbound on-ramp to (the) 110 and southbound off-ramp to state Route 47 will open in November 2025, along with a newly realigned Knoll Drive,” according to port officials.
Until then, residents and local commuters are advised to jump onto the northbound 110 from Gaffey Street in San Pedro. That freeway entrance can be accessed from First Street and Harbor Boulevard.
3. Gifford Fire now 91% contained after burning more than 131,500 acres
The Gifford Fire, California’s largest blaze so far this year, has now scorched 131,589 acres in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since erupting on Aug. 1. According to Cal Fire, containment of the fire continued to increase to 91% as of Monday morning.
Over 3,700 firefighters, 16 helicopters, over 250 engines, and 100 dozers are fighting the wildfire that broke out nine days ago along Highway 166, Northeast of Santa Maria, Cal Fire reported. The number of firefighters assigned to the fire decreased from earlier last week when almost 5,000 firefighters were assigned to the blaze.
So far, the so-called mega fire has destroyed now five structures, injured three civilians as well as nine firefighters, Cal Fire officials said. Officials did not disclose the extent of the civilian and firefighter injuries.
Since last Monday, crews have been working in steep, inaccessible terrain and dealt with temperatures in the mid-90s on Wednesday and above 100 on Thursday, said Capt. Scott Safechuck with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The causes of the fires are under investigation.
4. Matthew Stafford practices with Rams in QB’s first team workout of preseason
Matthew Stafford practiced with the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, marking the quarterback’s first workout with the team this preseason after having been unable to do so because of a sore back.
Stafford, 37, took first-team reps during the session and did not speak to reporters afterward. Coach Sean McVay said it was too soon to know what the session means for Stafford’s status going forward.
“I think that would be putting the cart way before the horse,” McVay said. “I thought he did a good job today, and we had 26 plays of team (with Stafford), and (he) did a really nice job of managing the huddle. I thought he saw the field well. I thought he went where the balls would go, and there’s some good competitive work on both sides today.”
McVay has repeatedly declined to put any timeline on Stafford’s availability, doing so again on Monday, after having initially said in July his starting quarterback would miss the first part of training camp. The Rams open the regular season on Sept. 7 by hosting the Houston Texans.
“I’m not going to pigeonhole myself into any plans,” McVay said. “And so we’re just really seeing how he feels. We’re really taking it a day at a time and a week at a time right now.”
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, left, talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford, right, during an NFL football practice Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Your Notes for Tomorrow
- Former President Barack Obama, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and former Attorney General Eric Holder participate in an event benefiting the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.
- State Employment and Unemployment
- 5th anniversary of Apple becoming the first U.S. public company worth $2tn
- National Aviation Day. Held annually on Orville Wright’s birthday
In Case You Missed It
(Spectrum News/Bree Steffen)
The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative at the University of San Diego, in partnership with UC San Diego, has been awarded $750,000 from the state of California to develop heat action plans for San Diego, Chula Vista and her city, La Mesa — three cities facing growing risks from rising temperatures.
Click the link above for more information.