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Monday, October 19, 2026
Evening edition
AI
DHS orders federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek productsThe Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal civilian agencies to stop acquiring DeepSeek's products and services and to remove its products from their IT systems, citing the Federal Supply Chain Security Act of 2018, PYMNTS reported Oct. 19. The order says DeepSeek's models "present multiple threat vectors," according to PYMNTS; Security Magazine reported the notice is set to publish in the Federal Register on Oct. 20.
Tenstorrent raises $1.5 billion at $6.2 billion valuationAI chip company Tenstorrent announced a $1.5 billion late-stage Series E round at a $6.2 billion valuation on Oct. 19, led by Trace Capital and Innovation X, SiliconANGLE reported. Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Management & Research Co., ARK Invest and T. Rowe Price also took part, according to SiliconANGLE. CEO Jim Keller said, "We've built one architecture and we sell it at every size."
Cleveland-Cliffs reports third-quarter resultsCleveland-Cliffs reported third-quarter 2026 revenues of $5.6 billion and GAAP net income of $165 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in an Oct. 19 release filed with the SEC. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $612 million and steel shipments of 4.2 million net tons.
Saudi Arabia postpones Future Investment Initiative to 2027Saudi Arabia announced Monday that the 10th Future Investment Initiative conference, originally set for Oct. 26-29 in Riyadh, is postponed to 2027, Xinhua reported. TheStreet also reported the postponement.
NAHB builder confidence falls to 29, lowest since June 2012The National Association of Home Builders said Oct. 19 that builder confidence fell 3 points to 29 in October, its lowest reading since June 2012. NAHB said 43% of builders cut prices in October, "the highest share during the 2020-2026 period," and the average price reduction held at 6%. The prospective buyer traffic gauge fell 5 points to 18, according to NAHB.
California existing-home sales down 3.4% in SeptemberCalifornia existing single-family home sales were 260,410 at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate in September, down 3.4% from August and 6.5% from September 2025, according to California Association of Realtors data released Monday and reported by MyNewsLA (single source). Los Angeles County sales were down 10.9% from a year earlier and up 5.4% from August, and the county's average price was $994,670, MyNewsLA reported.
Metro breaks ground on East San Fernando Valley light rail lineLA Metro broke ground on the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, a 6.7-mile line along Van Nuys Boulevard with 11 at-grade stations, MyNewsLA reported Oct. 19 (single source). The project costs nearly $4 billion, includes an $893 million federal grant, and is slated to begin operating in October 2031, according to MyNewsLA. Metro Board Chair and Mayor Karen Bass said, "The East San Fernando Valley deserves an affordable and safe transit system."
LMU receives $6.9 million federal grant to prepare teachersLoyola Marymount University announced Monday a $6.9 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor through the Teacher Quality Partnership program, MyNewsLA reported. The grant, the largest in the history of LMU's School of Education, will prepare about 80 teachers and 30 school leaders for underserved Los Angeles communities, according to MyNewsLA.
University of Idaho enrollment down about 1% to 12,275University of Idaho systemwide enrollment is 12,275 students, down about 1%, or roughly 100 students, from a year ago, according to the university's mid-semester census reported by Pullman Radio on Oct. 19. International undergraduate enrollment is down about 22%, and the Moscow campus has 10,388 students, Pullman Radio reported.
Pullman School Board holds listening session on graduation requirements TuesdayThe Pullman School Board is hosting a public listening session on high school graduation requirements Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School, Pullman Radio reported Oct. 19. The Washington State Board of Education is reviewing possible changes, and "some changes could first apply to students entering ninth grade in fall 2028," according to Pullman Radio.
Third annual Pumpkin Wall returns to downtown Pullman FridayThe third annual Pullman Pumpkin Wall, hosted by the Pullman Civic Trust and Downtown Pullman Association, runs Friday through Halloween at Pine Street Plaza, Pullman Radio reported Oct. 19. Residents can carve a pumpkin at home and drop it off at the plaza, where carved pumpkins are lit and displayed, according to Pullman Radio.
Supreme Court turns away Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's bid to revive plea dealThe Supreme Court on Monday rejected an effort to revive a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Associated Press reported. Reuters reported the justices turned away appeals by Mohammed and two co-defendants who had also signed plea agreements, and that a U.S. Air Force judge in August set their trial for June 2028.
Justice Department charges 28 noncitizens in California, seeks order on ballotsThe Justice Department said Oct. 19 it charged 28 noncitizens, all lawful permanent residents, with election-related crimes in California's four federal districts, and that 11 were arrested. The department also filed an emergency request in federal court in Los Angeles for a temporary restraining order to block California officials from counting ballots from more than 20,000 registrants it says are likely noncitizens, MyNewsLA reported. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn said, "LA County is fully abiding by" California election laws, according to MyNewsLA.
Houthis claim six attacks on Saudi targets in 48 hoursHouthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group carried out six attacks on oil, aviation and military targets in Saudi Arabia over the previous 48 hours, including Aramco facilities in Yanbu, the Shaybah oil field and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Xinhua reported Oct. 19 (single source). Xinhua reported no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia. Yemen ranks 6th of 179 countries in the Fund for Peace's 2024 Fragile States Index, in the top quarter.
Gilead pill shows remission results in ulcerative colitis trialGilead Sciences' oral drug emvistegrast produced a 23% placebo-adjusted clinical remission rate, described as statistically significant, in a Phase 2 trial in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, STAT reported Oct. 19 (single source). Gilead senior vice president Swati Tole said, "A majority do not achieve remission, so seeing these data was encouraging for us."