Paramount floated shifting its home base to Tennessee or Texas in July, hoping to deter California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta from waging a legal battle to block Paramount’s $111-billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. - Los Angeles Times
Scotland was the first to allow this: the law passed two years ago, and the first “visitor levies” were collected this summer in Edinburgh. Welsh localities will have the authority to charge this tax starting next year. Andy Burnham’s government just announced plans to extend this power to English local governments. - The Independent (UK)
As AI-generated writing floods the internet, more people are trying to detect which creators are using such tools to spin up copy. That means writers penning all their own work—and people who acknowledge using chatbots for help—are trying to master something they never worried about before: how to sound human. - The Wall Street Journal
With certain fiscal collapse within weeks, the board seeks to determine what recognition and acknowledgement will comply with the Court’s decisions in Beatty v. Trump et al. and with its statutory obligations, and wishes to explore additional options to present that recognition in a concrete and public fashion. - Washington Post
The process to select a successor to Mr. Bunch, who the Smithsonian said would stay through the end of the year, will offer Mr. Trump his best chance to exert control over the Smithsonian. Here is what to know about how the institution might choose its next leader. - The New York Times
“Under the amended administrative code, books that discuss gender-transition procedures or ‘gender ideology,’ or that ‘promote’ the existence of more than two biological genders, must be removed from youth sections and relocated to sections for adults.” Noncompliant libraries will lose their state funding. - The Advocate
“More specifically, Lévêque is charged with sexual assault involving violence, coercion, threat, or surprise, as well as indecent assault on a minor under the age of 15 by a person in a position of authority. … The victims are listed as being between eight and 18 years old (at) the time.” - ARTnews
Architecture critic Inga Saffron observes that, if the company wants to be welcoming to the community and engage potential new fans, their new headquarters does exactly the wrong thing. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
The current touring production, which dates from 2002, will close on August 15 of next year, allowing director Taymor and the rest of the creative team to reimagine and update elements of the staging. - Playbill
“Musicians and management of the Philadelphia Orchestra have struck a tentative agreement on a new three-year labor deal. The pact … would, if ratified, put the base minimum salary of orchestra members at $200,008 annually by the end of the contract.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
There was a lot of excitement when Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey (who co-starred in the Wicked films) confirmed they would headline a London revival of the musical next summer. Without them, the producers have evidently concluded there’s no way forward. - The Hollywood Reporter
“Apple TV’s new horror comedy Widow’s Bay led the way, ... winning a leading 14 trophies out of 19 nominations. … HBO’s medical drama The Pitt followed with seven awards out of 25 nominations, the most for any series this year. … In the limited series race, DTF St. Louis also led with seven wins.” - Variety
At 7:25 p.m., leaders of the opera walked onstage and told the patrons settling into their seats for an 8 p.m. performance that the opera had been canceled. An outdoor performance set for Sunday at Golden Gate Park, part of the opening festivities, was also called off. - The New York Times
Prolific costume designer Bob Mackie, whose dynamic sparkling and fringed creations dressed pop culture superstars such as Cher, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus, has died. - Los Angeles Times
