A Los Angeles-based startup with a mission to enable multimedia storytelling in communities worldwide that otherwise lack the resources was awarded a $200,000 grant by the Knight Foundation on Wednesday. The Tiziano Project's Tiziano 360 project was one of 16 ideas to win a prestigious Knight News Challenge grant awarded to fund internationally relevant innovative media and digital news concepts. more ›

The controversial budget-saving move to cut $500,000 from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs grant program was saved this morning after a proposal to cut the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel guests pay that), which funds the grants, was killed this morning during a City Council meeting. However, the department stands to lose nearly 50% of its staffing, currently at 63. 11 will leave due to the Early Retirement Incentive Program and another 16 could be axed if the proposed 1,000 citywide layoff plan passes. If that happens, Cultural Affairs will be left with 36 employees. more ›

Los Angeles has earned $586 million dollars from the American Recovery Investment Act (you know, the Stimulus Package?), according to city officials speaking at a city council committee meeting last Friday. more ›

An in-depth look into stimulus money (or the lack thereof) coming into Los Angeles reveals that the nation's 2nd biggest city is losing out. For example, the graph to the right shows transportation and infrastructure funding via grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). New York City is the big win and San Diego is slightly edging out Los Angeles. more ›

We've heard about the Lakers badness that went down last night. Sometimes it's the worst of the group that makes up the most of the news coverage. Good news doesn't bleed, but it's still good news. One project the city runs that we would like to highlight is the Community Beautification Grants program (they have a blog, too) Over 930 projects have been completed in partnership with the community across the city since 1998. 540 of those projects can be seen on an interactive Google map (it's a big web page, we warn thee). Projects range from murals to gardens to playgrounds. more ›

Since Californians overwhelmingly rejected his propositions last week in the special election, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his latest budget plan detailing $5.5 billion in cuts from a deficit estimated to be $24.3 billion by July 1 (that's higher than the $21.3 billion that was touted in the last few weeks). more ›

Today, the ACLU sent a letter to the City of Calabasas over a city policy reflected in their community service grant applications, which provides money to organizations for social service services within the city. more ›