U-Haul Strikes Crowd in Westwood; Federal Lending Guidance Receded; Chip Markets Rally

Lead: A U-Haul vehicle crashed into a crowd during an anti-Iranian regime rally in Westwood, California, on Sunday as federal agencies withdrew protections for immigrant borrowers. Concurrently, semiconductor stocks remained near peak levels despite rising supplier costs and shifting federal personnel deployments.

What we know

• A U-Haul vehicle drove into a crowd of protesters during an anti-Iranian regime rally near the federal building in Westwood on Sunday afternoon SOURCE.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the deployment of hundreds of federal officers to Minnesota this week following local protests SOURCE.
• The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Justice have withdrawn guidance that prohibited lenders from discriminating against immigrants and non-citizens SOURCE.
• Micron Technology shares closed at $345.87 on Monday, while chip testing and packaging vendors increased prices by up to 30% SOURCE.
• NVIDIA and Micron are among the top-ranked semiconductor stocks as AI demand continues to drive sales volume SOURCE.
• Former Congresswoman Mary Peltola has launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Alaska SOURCE.
• Baltimore County police are investigating a series of commercial break-ins that occurred early Sunday at businesses on Frederick Road in Catonsville SOURCE.
• Microsoft introduced a Windows 11 policy that allows IT administrators to uninstall the Copilot app on managed devices SOURCE.

What we don’t know yet

• The exact number of injuries from the Westwood U-Haul incident and the current medical status of those struck.
• The specific motive of the U-Haul driver or whether the Los Angeles Police Department has filed formal charges.
• How the withdrawal of legal guidance by the DOJ and CFPB will alter the approval rates for current mortgage and business loan applications by non-citizens.
• The identity of the suspects involved in the Catonsville commercial burglaries.

Why it matters

• The Westwood incident suggests heightened physical risks for participants at political demonstrations near federal property.
• The policy shift regarding immigrant lending may restrict access to credit and housing markets for millions of non-citizen residents.
• A 30% increase in chip testing fees creates new cost pressures for hardware manufacturers that may be passed on to consumers.
• The deployment of federal agents to Minnesota signals a move toward intensified federal-local coordination in immigration enforcement.

What’s next

• Federal agents are scheduled to begin arriving in Minnesota this week following the DHS directive.
• Lending institutions are expected to review and update internal compliance protocols regarding applicant citizenship status.
• The Los Angeles Police Department is expected to release information regarding the driver's identity and any suspected intent.
• Market analysts will monitor upcoming quarterly earnings reports to see if semiconductor margins are squeezed by increased supplier fees.
• IT administrators can begin implementing the new Windows 11 policy to remove AI tools from corporate systems.