The Conjuring: Last Rites has broken a horror movie opening weekend record. Many knew that The Conjuring: Last Rites, billed as the final film in the franchise, would be big, but few people expected it would be as big as it was. While initial estimates had it opening in the $50 million range, the movie exceeded those expectations, grossing $84 million in its opening weekend. It became the third-highest opening weekend for a horror movie at the domestic box office, behind only It‘s $123 million and It Chapter Two’s $91 million. Worldwide, however, Ed and Loraine Warren vanquished Pennywise.
Variety reports that The Conjuring: Last Rites grossed $194 million worldwide to become the highest global opening for a horror film, beating the record previously set by It in 2017 ($179 million). The Conjuring: Last Rites brought in $110 million internationally, beating the record previously set by It: Chapter Two as the biggest international opening weekend ($93 million back). This gives Last Rites the highest grossing opening weekend for a horror movie worldwide, as well as the biggest weekend for a horror movie in 2025 in all markets. Of course, Last Rites is also easily the highest opening weekend in The Conjuring franchise.
Horror is Having a Great Year in 2025
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in The Conjuring: Last RitesWarner Bros.
The Conjuring: Last Rites‘ box office performance has been good news all around, and not just Warner Bros., giving them their seventh consecutive $40 million-plus opening weekend. Following a lackluster Labor Day weekend and summer 2025 performing a bit below expectations, theater owners were potentially bracing for a quiet few months. Yet The Conjuring: Last Rites’ record-breaking opening weekend has drawn audiences out in a momentum that hopefully can continue with titles like Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, The Long Walk, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.
The self-proclaimed final Conjuring film is one of several horror hits for the studio this year. Sinners is one of the highest-grossing films of the year at the domestic box office, with $278 million in domestic revenue and $366.6 million worldwide. Final Destination: Bloodline‘s $307 million worldwide total made it the highest entry in the franchise. Meanwhile, Weapons became the breakout hit of the summer movie season, grossing $251 million against a $38 million budget. Notably, all four films were released by Warner Bros., and three of those from New Line Cinema.
Now, with The Conjuring: Last Rites‘ massive box office performance, the supposed finality of the franchise is called into question. The possibility of Phase Two for the franchise has already been floated. With the It films about to be spun off into a television series on HBO with It: Welcome to Derry, it is not difficult to imagine The Conjuring series returning sometime in the near future.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for the Gladiator franchise.Ridley Scott’s Gladiatorand Gladiator II contain some of the greatest battles and fight scenes that have been captured on film in the last quarter-century, treating audiences to massive set pieces on both land and sea in the midst of an epic multi-generational saga between Maximus and Lucius’ quests for revenge.
However, there’s no denying that the true stars of the franchise are the gladiator fights, pitting men against beasts like rhinos and baboons and formidable warriors of old in bloodied combat for the spectacle of thousands of onlookers. So, for all those people who have yet to experience their “Roman Empire” moment today, here are the greatest gladiator fights in Gladiator and Gladiator II.
Gladiators vs. Baboons
The baboons in Gladiator IIParamount Pictures
One of the more memorable fight scenes from Gladiator II is the baboon fight scene, which sees Lucius (Paul Mescal), Jugurtha (Peter Mensah), and other Numidian prisoners take on hordes of CGI violent, rampaging monkeys that tear through bone and feed upon the flesh of these potential gladiators with terrifying, blood-soaked precision.
After Jugurtha is killed by one of the baboons, Lucius then uses his shackles to hold off the jaws of one of the primates before viciously biting him and then choking him out with his chains, impressing Denzel Washington’s Macrinus character enough to be mentored by the power broker as a gladiator.
Chain Duo
One of the earliest fight scenes in Gladiator occurs after Maximus (Russel Crowe) is betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), captured by slave traders, and then purchased by Proximo (Oliver Reed) for use in the games in Zucchabar. Here, Maximus is paired with Juba (Djimon Hounsou), a Nubian hunter, against several armored gladiators wielding swords, nets, and flails.
Maximus and Juba’s binding makes this battle uncomfortably claustrophobic, as the two are forced to stay close and periodically hug one another’s backs while taking on multiple gladiators at once. The fight then climaxes with the pair overpowering a trident-wielding gladiator that dies after Maximus stabs him with his own weapon.
Indoor Duel
One of the more intimate fights in Gladiator II occurs when Lucius takes on Senator Thraex’s (Tim McInnerny) fighter in the presence of Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), with the latter giving the order of “No Quarter.” Although Lucius is initially hesitant to fight the gladiator, he eventually relents, even using his fists and a vase to overpower the man.
“No Quarter” is a military term that designates soldiers to not take prisoners and instead execute the captured.
After a minute of scuffling, Thraex’s fighter gets the advantage against Lucius after recovering his blade. However, Lucius is eventually able to retrieve the dagger, stabbing the gladiator in the chest. In a film dominated by massive CGI set pieces and battles, this fight is a well-needed break from the chaos that still demonstrates the cruelty of Rome’s leadership.
Rhino Duel
A gladiator riding a rhino in Gladiator II
One of the biggest set pieces in Gladiator II occurs when Lucius and a team of gladiators take on an axe-wielding gladiator riding a rhinoceros in the Colosseum. Indeed, it’s one of the more fascinating spectacles in the entire Gladiator saga, and a breathtaking testament to the prowess of modern CGI artists.
In a bold stunt, Lucius puts down his blade, grabs two handfuls of sand from the arena’s floor, and tricks the rhino into charging into the walls of the Colosseum. With the rhino stuck, Lucius then takes on the opposing gladiator, who seemingly gets the upper hand until Lucius stabs him through the heart after refusing the mercy of the emperors.
Colosseum Naval Battle
A naval battle in the Colosseum in Gladiator II
Gladiator II’s spectacle reaches its pinnacle in the scene where the emperors flood the Colosseum’s floor to reenact the Roman naval battle with Persia. As Lucius leads his team of rowing gladiators, great white sharks swim amidst the battling ships, thirsty for the blood of the warring sailors.
After archers light their sails ablaze with fiery arrows, Lucius and his team of gladiators are forced to maneuver around the opposing vessel, overcoming their volleys after ramming the enemy ship into the side of the Colosseum. From there, Lucius and his gladiators board the wreck, viciously attacking their foes in one of the franchise’s most savage displays of violence.
Battle of Zama
Gladiator features its own battle reenactment when Maximus and his posse oppose a team of gladiators in a recreation of Carthage’s second fall that sees them cast as the barbarian hordes of Hannibal in Zama. Here, Maximus uses his past leadership to coordinate a battle plan against the rival gladiators, who are aptly labeled the “legions of Scipio Africanus.”
The second fall of Carthage occurred in 201 B.C.E., while Gladiator takes place 381 years later in 180 C.E.
These legions arrive in the arena by chariot in a cinematic nod to Ben Hur’s iconic chariot race from 1959. Though initially overcome by the chaos of the calvary and archers, Maximus organizes a response that cripples the legions’ chariots, leaving them vulnerable to attack and eventual defeat by the barbarian hordes.
Lucius vs. Acacius
Pedro Pascal’s Acacius tackling Paul Mescal’s Lucius in Gladiator II
One of the most anticipated fights in Gladiator II was Lucius’ duel with Acacius (Pedro Pascal), the general who ordered the death of his wife and is now married to his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). After attempting to dethrone the emperors and free Lucius, Acacius is arrested, stripped of his honors, and thrust into the Colosseum to meet his fate.
Throughout Gladiator II, Lucius goes by the alias “Hanno.”
In a surprising twist, Acacius, after revealing he knows Lucius’ true identity, raises his right hand, signaling his surrender to the crowd. In response, Lucius spares the defeated General, who—with his last words—tells the grandson of Marcus Aurelius that he would’ve died for his father before being executed by the Praetorian Guard.
Maximus vs. Tigris of Gaul
Tigris of Gaul in Gladiator
Perhaps the most legendary Colosseum fight in Gladiator occurs when Maximus takes on Rome’s former champion and only undefeated gladiator, “Tigris of Gaul,” a formidable, muscular opponent donning a silver, masked helmet that bears a teardrop on its left eye. Tigris isn’t the only challenger in this duel, however, as Commodus has one more trick up his sleeve—real-life tigers.
Maximus remains on the backfoot for the majority of his fight with Tigris, fending off powerful blows while tigers prowl at his heels. However, once Maximus is able to disarm Tigris of his axe, he’s able to stab him with it in his foot, ending the fight. In an act of defiance against Commodus, Maximus also refuses to kill Tigris, setting up his eventual duel with the boy-king.
Maximus vs. Commodus
Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe as Commodus and Maximus in Gladiator
Perhaps the most satisfying duel in the entire Gladiator franchise comes when Maximus takes on Commodus one-on-one in the Colosseum at the climax of the film, in which the latter—being entirely devoid of any virtue or honor—stabs him in the side before concealing his wound, rigging the fight in his favor.
This isn’t enough to stop Maximus, however, who easily defeats Commodus even after being stabbed twice by the tyrant, drifting off into Elysium after securing Rome’s future as a Republic (that is, until that reality becomes a dream once more, ushering in the events of Gladiator II).
Lucius vs. Macrinus
Likewise, the most satisfying duel from Gladiator II arrives at the film’s climax when the armies of Acacius and Macrinus are poised to face off against one another on the outskirts of Rome before Lucius and Macrinus begin a duel fated to determine the future of the empire.
After Macrinus disarms Lucius, kicks hot coals in his eyes, and shoves him in the river, the battle appears finished as he repeatedly stabs the boy in the water. However, Lucius—bearing the armor of his father, Maximus—is unscathed, resurfacing to cut off Macrinus’ arm and kill him.
At the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, a final farewell for one rock giant heralded the televised return of another.
Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler returned to the stage during the annual awards show, joining bandmate Joe Perry , singer Yungblud and Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt to honor the life and music of late heavy metal pioneer and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July at age 76. “Livin’ on the Edge” singer Tyler, 77, helped the VMAs pay tribute to Osbourne more than a year after Aerosmith announced its retirement from touring.
Sunday’s tribute was a medley of the hits “Crazy Train,” “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home”and began with Yungblud energizing the crowd with his take on the first song. Before making his way up to the stage, Yungblud kissed the cross necklace Osbourne had gifted him and appeared to mouth, “For Ozzy!”
Yungblud also offered VMAs attendees a taste of his performance from the Black Sabbath “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert in July. After plenty of head-banging during “Crazy Train,” he slowed things by singing an excerpt from “Changes,” which he had performed at Osbourne’s final show.
Finally, Tyler made his grand entrance with Perry, singing the opening lyrics to Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Images of Osbourne throughout his life faded in and out in the background. Yungblud joined Tyler for the tribute’s grand finale, harmonizing and trading lines to finish out the emotional power ballad.
“Ozzy forever, man!,” Yungblud yelled out at the end of the song, embracing Tyler.
Aerosmith announced its decision to step away from live performances after Tyler injured his vocal cords during a September 2023 show on the group’s Peace Out: The Farewell Tour. The rock band’s August 2024 announcement said Tyler had struggled with “getting his voice to where it was before his injury.”
“Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible,” the statement added. “We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision — as a band of brothers — to retire from the touring stage.”
Tyler reportedly returned to performing live months after that announcement, jamming with Aerosmith bandmate Tom Hamilton for his sixth annual Jam for Janie Grammy Awards viewing party in February at the Hollywood Palladium. He delivered a six-song set that also featured appearances by Bettencourt, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Lainey Wilson and other musicians, according to Billboard.
After the VMAs, Tyler’s daughter Mia Tyler praised her father’s stage comeback, sharing a snippet of the performance to her Instagram. “And that’s how you do a tribute,” she captioned her post. “Beautiful. Just beautiful.”
“And how good does my dad look??? So proud of him,” the younger Tyler added before sending her love to Osbourne’s loved ones.
The VMAs aired live on CBS from the UBS Arena in New York and saw LL Cool J pick up hosting duties. Lady Gaga, hours before her concert at Madison Square Garden, was the big winner of the night, taking home four prizes including artist of the year and best direction. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter followed with three wins apiece.
Mariah Carey joined the exclusive club of Video Vanguard award winners while Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin picked up the Rock the Bells visionary award and Latin icon award, respectively. In true diva fashion, Carey jokingly threw some shade at the music show for previous snubs as she received the award from Grande.
“I can’t believe I’m getting my first VMA tonight. I just have one question: What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?” she said, adding “I’m kidding, I love you MTV, this is amazing.”
Fresh off the release of his new album Different Night Same Rodeo, Bailey Zimmerman is prepping for an extensive 2026 trek in support of the project — and it will mark his first tour headlining arenas.
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The singer-songwriter revealed his excitement over the upcoming tour in a Monday (Sept. 8) Instagram post, while also expressing gratitude for his current New to Country Tour. Of his Different Night Same Rodeo Tour, he wrote, “MY FIRST TIME PLAYING ARENAS,” and further noted, “This year’s tour has been nothing short of unbelievable y’all…LIKE THE CRAZIEST SHOWS OF MY LIFE…and I thought why would we stop now? LET’S KEEP IT GOINGGG…”
His Live Nation-promoted Different Night Same Rodeo Tour will visit more than 30 venues in the United States and Canada next year. The trek will launch Feb. 19 in Estero, Fla., with stops in Boston, Atlanta, Nashville, Toronto and more before concluding on June 20 in Ottawa, Ontario.
Joining Zimmerman are openers Hudson Westbrook (“House Again”) and Blake Whiten (“Made for Goodbyes”). Tickets for the tour will go on sale Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. local time on Zimmerman’s website, while fans can sign up for an artist presale until Sept. 9; the artist presale access will run Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. local time.
Zimmerman’s new album features an array of collabs, including his Luke Combs collaboration “Backup Plan,” and work with The Kid LAROI (“Lost”) and Diplo (“Ashes”). Those aren’t Zimmerman’s only recent collabs. In April, Zimmerman and BigXthaPlug released their Billboard Hot 100 top 5 hit “All The Way.”
See the full tour schedule for Zimmerman’s Different Night Same Rodeo Tour 2026 in his announcement below:
It’s been an unforgettable year on General Hospital filled with explosive storylines and casting shakeups, and co-head writers Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten tell TV Insider that they are feeling “gratified and humbled. The cast and crew have fulfilled and surpassed our expectations in every respect and for every story.”
Amid the forward momentum, which includes the arrival of One Life to Live vet Erika Slezak, GH is also taking time to honor its past. This month, the show will mark the passing of Monica Quartermaine, whose portrayer, Leslie Charleson, died on January 12 of this year. “Leslie Charleson was adored by the cast, crew, and audience,” Korte and Van Etten note.
“When bidding farewell to her and to Monica, there could be no half-measures,” the writers reveal. “Honoring Leslie’s contribution to General Hospital and Monica’s significance to Port Charles meant doing more than simply throwing a funeral and looking back at the past. We wanted Monica’s passing to kick off a new story; to create new connections on the canvas; to test her loved ones; and to grow their relationships. This way, Monica may be gone — but her legacy will be felt long into the future.”
The loss of Charleson has been compounded by another recent heartbreak: the death of Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) on August 15. “We’re heartbroken by Tristan’s passing,” say Korte and Van Etten. “He created the consummate General Hospital hero; Robert Scorpio was swashbuckling and sensitive, smoldering and vulnerable.”
The writers say they’re “fortunate that he was able to make one last return, and that his scenes centered on expanding his Scorpio family.”
They also have plans for a Robert Scorpio-focused tribute episode in the future. “He is sorely missed, and we aim to pay tribute to Tristan and Robert the same way that we did for Leslie and Monica,” Korte and Van Etten tell TV Insider.
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC, Check Local Listings
Netflix folks came up with a mash-up clip of Wednesday Season 2 where Enid Sinclair and Agnes perform the choreographed dance to Lady Gaga’s rendition of “The Dead Dance.” The streaming giant posted this clip, with a note directed toward the Little Monsters, stating that all of them must have been re-enacting this choreography in their living rooms by now. This first look has been buzzing heavily between fans of the supernatural show and equally loud pop culture circles.
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So that is the kind of blessing Netflix bestows on you. It is a behind-the-scenes showcase of Enid (Emma Myers) and Agnes (Evie Templeton) committing wholeheartedly to a dance routine. One gig, this was not just another routine-they danced to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “The Dead Dance.” Anyone remotely conversant with Gaga’s lexicon knows that’s a Little Monster worship deep cut. Choreography-wise, it remained edgy, spooky, and very much on the Addams Family vibe. Netflix’s caption reads, “Every Little Monster in their living rooms just now,” taking a direct shot at Gaga’s fandom, insinuating they’re already out there attempting the moves. Honestly? They ain’t far off.
Reactions came immediately and packed with chaotic positivity. “Screaming, dancing, and living every lyric like it’s a personal anthem. The Little Monster spirit is unmatched!” perfectly captures the feelings. The vibe? Contagious. “We dance and dead on REPEAT!!!!!!” That’s just the energy. People are excited; some said the scene has already moved in rent free in their heads. “My head will automatically always remember this dance every time Gaga’s song comes on,” said one person. That’s a testament to a well-timed pop culture movement.
But not everything about was screaming and jumping. The clip brought an unbelievable amount of confusion to people who were altogether lost at sea. A continuous trend among the comments was a plainly worded desperate plea: “What is the name of this movie or series?” People had to be told again and again: Wednesday. It is funny how something so big to one group can be a complete mystery to another. One articulate user did try and lure the curious onlooker with, “It’s a TV Show, and yes, it is very interesting and well made.”
A random one about the characters read: “Love their sisterhood here and Agnes being her own person,” emphasizing the dynamic between the two characters. And then one seemed genuinely surprised: “I thought these 2 couldn’t stand each other,” which may show how the new season could be doing a little shifting to relationships in unexpected ways. Then, there’s the quintessential sarcastic query that appears in every teen show chat, “Do they ever go to class?” Some things never change.
The clip’s timing is spammed as the ought-to-be-perfect antidote for spoiler anxiety. “Had to binge-watch this to stop seeing your spoilers,” said one fan, an example of a sure-fire way marketing is ensuring you watch the latest episode sooner. Amidst the irrevocable hype, there was a weird unrelated comment that tried to stir up some old Netflix drama, but was promptly silenced by, “We didn’t ask for your opinion.” Pretty much the phenomenon was on the dance.
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This shared moment is a truly genius cross-pollination, riding the wave of Wednesday and capitalizing on Lady Gaga’s superstar status. A simultaneous meme injection for fans of both parties, ever eager to be remembered. Netflix exactly knew what was going on behind this; it was basically marketing’s attempt to monetize the convoluted fans to create an uproar for their content. And it does. People are talking, dancing, and actively trying not to get spoiled on the new season because of this clip. A win for everybody and especially Little Monsters.
Alexis had originally hinted at a summer wedding, but the couple has yet to walk down the aisle. While rumors of a split circulated when the wedding didn’t happen, she made sure to assure fans that the wedding is on 100%.
Alexis Bellino and John Janssen are all smiles before their big day
And to reiterate the point and squash the split rumors, Alexis continues to share loved-up photos of the two of them leading up to their big day. Whether it’s working out together or enjoying a fun Labor Day weekend in swimwear, fans are watching the couple enjoy their time together before their wedding day.
This time Alexis shared a peek into the couple’s fun joint bachelor and bachelorette party. The couple celebrated together in Las Vegas and called it their “Nearlyweds Party.” The event brought together some of the famous pals, including Jo De La Rosa and husband Taran Gray, along with McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys star Galyna Saltkovska. It looks like this wedding is one Galyna’s not nervous about attending.
US Weekly shared some snaps of the event, including spa days, dinners together, and even a matching bride and groom cake.
Looks like wedding preps are in full swing. Based on the timing of the party, the big day could be coming up real soon. In fact, in the photo of her and John, Alexis even teased that they may just get it done in Vegas.
She captioned the pic, “Just a couple of ‘Nearlyweds’ hanging cabana side @virginhotelslv. Maybe we’ll pop down the street to tie the knot pre-wedding Vegas style!” The shot shows her in a pretty white cut-out maillot and John shirtless in red swimwear.
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Why is it called “dirty” rice? The rice gets brown as it cooks with meat, Cajun spices, and the holy trinity of Cajun cooking: onion, bell pepper, and celery. My version combines ground pork and beef for a flavorful twist on this Louisiana classic!
Cajun Comfort in One Skillet
One-Pan: Everything cooks in a single skillet, which means big flavor and easy cleanup.
Leftover Rice Saver: The tastiest way to use up leftover rice!
Fast & Filling: Comes together quickly but hearty enough to be a full meal.
Budget-Friendly: Simple ingredients that stretch a long way without breaking the bank.
A Reader’s Review
Who knew dinner could be so simple! I only used ground beef because I didn’t have any ground pork.
– Connie
Dirty Rice Ingredients
Protein: For a lighter option, use ground turkey instead of beef and pork.
Add Some Kick! Spice it up by adding some cayenne pepper before simmering. Or top with some hot sauce when serving.
How to Make Cajun Dirty Rice
There is something so comforting about making Dirty rice. I LOVE Cajun seasonings, and this Cajun rice recipe is one of my favorites. It’s fast, simple, super budget-friendly, and a great way to use up leftover rice!
Cook Meat: In a large pot, cook and crumble the ground beef and pork on medium-high heat until no longer pink.
Add Vegetables & Seasonings: Add in the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook until they start to soften.
Rice & Broth: Add the white rice and beef broth. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low.
Cover & Simmer: Cover and let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Fluff, stir, and serve alongside my yummy hush puppies!
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Keep the lid on while the rice cooks! Steam is the secret to evenly cooked, fluffy grains that fully absorb the Cajun spices..
Refrigerator: Store rice in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 5–6 days.
Freezer: Cool rice completely, then transfer to a sealed freezer bag or container labeled with the date. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Thaw rice in the fridge overnight before reheating. Warm it in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also reheat on the stove over medium heat until warm.
The days of huge, unused swaths of public and commercial lawns appear to be numbered in California and the Metropolitan Water District is offering an incentive to hasten their demise, at least in Southern California: A whopping $7-per-square-foot rebate to businesses, schools and other public institutions that replace their thirsty lawns with sustainable landscapes containing native and/or drought-tolerant plants
The offer, which went into effect Sept. 1, is the largest rebate ever offered by the agency and more than double the $3-per-square-foot rebate it previously offered to commercial and public customers, thanks to a $30-million grant from California’s Department of Water Resources and $96 million from the federal Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program.
Rebates for residential lawns are still at $3 per square foot, said Krista Guerrero, a senior resource specialist for the water district who manages the agency’s turf replacement program and specializes in outdoor water efficiency.
Essentially, Guerrero said, the Metropolitan Water District is trying to prepare some of the state’s biggest water users for a new state law, AB 1572, that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027, prohibiting public entities including schools and municipalities from using potable, i.e. drinkable, water to irrigate nonfunctional lawns. The same requirements will go into effect for business owners in 2028 and HOAs and other common-interest properties starting in 2029.
Functional turf is defined as lawn used for recreational and community gatherings — even areas where children and pets can run and play such as outside homes or on schoolyards.
Irrigation systems that send water into the air will not be permitted under the rules for the new $7-per-square-foot turf removal rebates.
(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)
“But walking across a lawn to get to the entrance of a building is not considered functional,” Guerrero said. “Having grass around a parking lot is not considered functional. If you’re only standing on it to mow it, that generally means it’s nonfunctional.”
The agency believes commercial and public entities control about 20,000 acres of nonfunctional lawns in Southern California, Guerrero said, which could be a lot of ugly brown terrain in a few years if they all just stop watering that turf.
“The bill only requires that they stop irrigating [nonfunctional lawns], so we’re hoping to motivate them to beautify their property instead of just turning off their irrigation,” Guerrero said. “We’re not just looking at water savings. We’re focusing on biodiversity and environmental benefits too.”
For instance, to be eligible for the rebate, applicants need an approved plan to retain stormwater such as installing bioswales or dry stream beds that collect and store rainwater in the ground instead of allowing it to run off into the street. The new landscape must also include at least three water-efficient plants per 100 square feet, Guerrero said, “which depending on the plants they chose will cover 50% to 70% of the project area at full maturity.”
A mound of lawn between sidewalks in a small shopping center in Pasadena might be a candidate for the Metropolitan Water District’s new rebate of $7 per square foot for nonfunctional turf.
(Jeanette Marantos / Los Angeles Times)
The new landscape doesn’t require an irrigation system, but if a new one is installed, it cannot involve overhead sprinklers, and the project area cannot include hardscapes unless they are permeable, meaning water can soak into the ground.
The agency’s website includes a long list of acceptable plants, which, unlike many such sites, starts with a long list of California native shrubs, grasses and ground covers that Guerrero compiled. The agency is working with the Theodore Payne Foundation to expand its water-efficient landscape certification program to include training contractors in how to properly maintain a native plant landscape, she said.
“We are very interested in providing design options for people who want flowers, colors, fragrance and ways to support pollinators — or people who want lawn alternatives such as Kurapia and dymondia,” she said.
“We want a diverse list,” she said, “because we want to maximize as many benefits as possible [with these new landscapes] — water savings, creating habitats, improving air quality and cooling. It’s opportunity to increase the environmental benefits of your property while showing your customers that you’re part of the solution.”
No stock is truly crash-proof. When the chips are down, even the largest and most stable of UK companies can see their share prices suffer as (some) investors dash for the exits. But a few FTSE 100 stocks might prove more resistant than most if/when the next big drop comes.
Today, I’ll touch on three examples that cautious Fools might wish to consider buying in the good times — arguably right now — in preparation for the bad.
Always needed
A characteristic of defensive businesses is that they do something ‘essential’. National Grid (LSE: NG) fits the bill nicely.
Regardless of what’s going on in the economy, we all need access to electricity and gas. And it’s this predictable demand that has allowed the share price to slowly appreciate over the long term. It’s also meant consistent dividends.
This is not to say that the latter are always growing. Last year’s payment, for example, was ‘rebased’ after the Grid sold a whole heap of shares and put the money towards upgrading its infrastructure. This shocked holders at the time, underlining the point that one should never take any income stream for granted.
However, the fact that the shares have since recovered helps to underline the Grid’s robustness. The yield also stands at a very respectable 4.7%, as I type.
Bursting with brands
A second defensive company that could weather the next storm better than most is consumer goods giant Unilever (LSE: ULVR). After all, it owns a huge number of branded products that people purchase habitually, from Domestos to Horlicks to Ben and Jerry’s.
Of course, one easy-to-spot risk here is that a proportion of people will cut back in tough economic times and look for cheaper alternatives. That’s certainly a valid concern in the short term. But we also know that consumers usually return to previous behaviours when confidence bounces back.
Longer term, analysts are sceptical about Unilever’s ability to meet its own growth targets. But remember that we’re interested in a company’s toughness here, rather than its ability to deliver massive capital gains. Not being the next highly-speculative AI bet might actually turn out to be a blessing when markets stagger.
Unilever also scores well when it comes to returning rising amounts of cash to owners. The 3.3% yield is on par with the average across the index.
This might seem a strange pick — the share price is down 10% in the last 12 months. No doubt some of this is related to Donald Trump’s threat to slap tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. Ongoing jitters about management’s ability to deliver on an ambitious drug pipeline have probably contributed too.
But, again, I think GSK’s attractions outweigh its issues. Aside from operating in a highly defensive sector (everyone needs healthcare at some point, especially as populations age), revenue and profit have been moving in the right direction in 2025. Debt has roughly halved since 2016. There’s a 4.4% yield as well.
And with shares trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just nine — the average in the index is around the mid-teens — I reckon GSK offers potentially spectacular value if that pipeline eventually bears a sufficient amount of fruit.
