Daily Business Report: Monday, March 24th, 2025
Tesla gets permit to ferry passengers in California, a stepping stone toward driverless taxis
By MALENA CAROLLO | CalMatters
Tesla Inc. received permission from state regulators this week to begin a charter service that will use Tesla-employed drivers to ferry its employees in company-owned vehicles for prearranged rides, a step toward its plans for driverless Tesla taxis.
The California Public Utilities Commission, one of the state regulators that oversees hired vehicles, granted Tesla approval for what is known as a “transportation charter-party carrier” permit on Tuesday, acting on a November 2024 application from the company.
The permit does not allow Tesla to operate a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, nor does it give Tesla permission to run driverless taxis. And Tesla hasn’t applied for permitting for either of those functions.
“The only reasonable explanation I can come up with for why they’ve got this (permit) is to allow them to test some of the operational backend services required to run a mobility service,” said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at communications firm Telemetry and an auto industry analyst.
THE HIGH COST OF FIXING LAKE TAHOE
By JULIE CART | CalMatters
An azure jewel set more than a mile high, deep in the High Sierra, Lake Tahoe is California’s most highly curated and micromanaged natural asset. Even among the state’s many famous landmarks, Tahoe is beloved and revered.
The 2-million-year-old lake, famed for its deep blue color, sits in a basin encircled by steep forests. Despite the region being somewhat difficult to reach, about 15 million visitors from around the world flock there every year — three times more than Yosemite National Park.
Its beauty is also its vulnerability: Buffeted by the constant tug between developing the region and preserving it, and attracting visitors while managing their impact, Lake Tahoe is showing the strain.
Mirror Mirror Art Exhibition Unveiled at San Diego International Airport
By Jill McLaughlin | The Epoch Times
When you think of San Diego, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the dazzling sunlight reflecting off the ocean water, or the breathtaking red and purple hues of a sunset that blankets the horizon. These iconic Southern California images have long captivated artists. Decades ago, artists who shaped the Southern California Light and Space movement revolutionized the art world by harnessing the power of light in new and innovative ways. Now, that legacy continues with Mirror Mirror, a temporary exhibition on display at San Diego International Airport (SAN) in Terminal 2 in both pre- and post-security areas throughout 2025.
Mirror Mirror brings together more than 100 works by 16 contemporary artists from the region, all exploring the fascinating interplay between light, color, and space. Artists use a variety of materials including interactive LED displays, vibrant lightboxes, and yarn installations that invite viewers to engage directly with the art. Whether through optical illusions, dazzling surfaces, or unexpected contrasts, Mirror Mirror offers a dynamic experience, transforming your understanding of space and perspective as you move through the exhibition.
“We are thrilled to bring Mirror Mirror to SAN and offer travelers this unique visual experience as they journey through our airport,” said Kimberly Becker, CEO and President, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “This collection connects viewers to the Southern California arts community and the history that influences this contemporary art. We are grateful to the Airport Authority’s Arts Advisory Committee for their efforts to ensure that the arts are woven into the customer experience at SAN and reflect the richness of the regional arts and culture community.”
Mirror Mirror is open to all visitors at SAN. Whether you are arriving, departing, or simply passing through, take a moment to explore this captivating exhibition. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with contemporary art in a dynamic and accessible setting.
For more information about Mirror Mirror, including details on the featured artists and specific installation locations within Terminal 2, please click here.
Light and Space Movement of the 1960s
The Light and Space movement of the 1960s was driven by artists who were inspired by the unique quality of Southern California’s light. They incorporated new, light-interactive materials provided by local industries, including aerospace manufacturing and industrial design. By doing so, they created minimalist works that invited viewer interaction and engagement, transforming with the changing light and surroundings.
