Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire

IN BRIEF

Aerial view of housing in Los Angeles with a view to the city's downtown skyline in the distance.

Housing & Homelessness

How much housing is LA actually building?

Updated numbers quantify the city's housing shortage. Here's what's standing in the way of building more.

Climate & Environment

Environmental groups launch $10M fundraiser to buy land near Big Bear’s famous bald eagle nest

The goal of the $10 million "Save Moon Camp" fundraiser is to permanently preserve more than 62 acres of land along Big Bear Lake.
Food

‘Not even water?’ How to be an ally to your Muslim colleague this Ramadan

‘Ramadan Kareem’ or ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ are phrases you can use to wish your Muslim colleague or friend.

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Entertainment Thursday

A white woman with short black hair, wearing a black scarf and gray blazer in front of a grey background that partially reads "Nominees Night."

Diane Warren knows how to write hit songs — and where to find the best vegan food in LA

The legendary (and once again Oscar-nominated) songwriter shares her list of the best vegan restaurants in L.A.

There’s a reason to get to LAX early: the airport’s concert series

The “LAX Presents” series brings performances to the airport’s terminals. LAist caught a recent one with the ambient techno trio Purelink.
Actor Robert Duvall has died — he brought a compassionate center to edgy hard roles

Duvall appeared in over 90 films over the course of his career, imbuing stock Hollywood types — cowboys, cops, soldiers — with a nuanced sense of vulnerability.

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Hotels, vacant properties, weed and more on this year’s voter ballots

A dog standing on her hind legs holding on to a human's arm.

Did you know you can borrow a dog for a weekend?

A person in front of a building with a pyramid shape on top of it with a copper box opened and letter coming out of it.

Inside LA Central Library’s 100-year-old time capsule

A man is standing in front of a high school with a flag waving in the background.

Teacher rebuilds 30-year collection lost to fire

A person holding up a drawing of a street in front of a street lined with trees.

We drew your memories before the fires

LAist reporter David Wagner holds a microphone, overlaid in front of a mansion.

Is the 'mansion tax' helping or hurting Los Angeles?

Pasties displayed on some wooden treys with light peeking through.

Trying the viral bagels from Miopane

Dave Goldstein, a bald man wearing blame-framed glasses and wearing a black t-shirt with a brown corduroy overshirt.

Landlord asks renters’ zodiac signs over credit scores

A crew of people with mixed heritages, Black, Asian and multiracial are collaged against a dusky sunset.

Why 'Sinners' was the 'final exam' of filmmaking

A man with sunglasses and a hat on is at a mountain top pointing to green hillsides.

Will LA's burned hillsides ever look the same?

Latest from the White House

Follow the fast-moving developments under the Trump Administration.

The Justice Department is not acting like it used to, criminal defense lawyers note

Criminal defense lawyers are tracking when the Justice Department appears to rely on irregular charging practices.

Extremist rhetoric is often found in government messaging. Who's the target?

In a rare move, the White House recently took down a racist post from one of President Trump's social media accounts. Extremism researchers say it fits a pattern.
At Santa Ana Immigration Court, church members keep a watch on changing deportation policy

This court observer program started last summer when the Trump administration’s deportation campaign ramped up in Southern California.

Epstein files fallout

Epstein files fallout takes down elite figures in Europe, while US reckoning is muted

Unlike in Europe, officials in the U.S. with ties to Epstein have largely held their positions of power.
How Epstein and Maxwell used an elite Midwest arts school to prey on girls

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell lavished money on the Interlochen Center for the Arts to gain access, documents show.
Britain's ex-Prince Andrew is arrested on suspicion of misconduct over Epstein ties

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

LAist Member Love Month

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LAist Love Month with Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

LAist report David Wagner, holding a microphone and speaking to camera.

Local news thrives thanks to you

Yusra Farzan speaking to camera, overlaid on an image of an Orange County sign.

LAist's Yusra Farzan celebrates you for Love Month!

LAist is grateful to YOU during Love Month

Reporter Makenna Sievertson gives a small smile to the camera.

Thanks to you, LAist keeps LA County covered

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Upcoming events

Thu, Feb 19

The Story Collider LIVE: True, Personal Stories About Science

Join us for a night of hilarious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming stories about science.
Sat, Feb 28

Go Fact Yourself LIVE with Jordan Carlos and Erinn Hayes

On February 28, standup comedian Jordan Carlos and actor/comedian Erinn Hayes, plus surprise guest experts will join J. Keith and Helen for a trivia show like no other!
Sat, Mar 7

AirTalk’s FilmWeek Oscar Preview

We’re gearing up for our annual FilmWeek Oscar Preview. AirTalk host Larry Mantle and the FilmWeek critics will take us through the major races and rundown the likely winners.
Thu, Mar 12

Go Fact Yourself LIVE with Laura Dave and Drew Lynch

On March 12, American novelist Laura Dave and comedian Drew Lynch, plus surprise guest experts will join J. Keith and Helen for a trivia show like no other!
Sun, Mar 29

Marketplace LIVE with Kai Ryssdal

This … is Marketplace. Join host Kai Ryssdal for an afternoon doing what he does best: unpacking the headlines of our economy – and what they mean for the rest of us.

Civics & Democracy

A distinctive narrow high-rise has a pyramid-shaped top. the top of a palm tree is visible in the foregroud.

Your quick guide to the LA mayor's race

Forty people are running for mayor, including incumbent Karen Bass.

As ICE raids continue, volunteers say grocery deliveries are still critically needed

With fear keeping some immigrant families inside, a program to bring groceries directly to their doors is seeking to expand.
LA revives zoning law that could ban some private detention centers from contracting with ICE

The changes would prevent private facilities for unaccompanied children from contracting with federal immigration agencies.

Education

Students seated in a first period class at Narbonne High School, an L.A. Unified School District campus in Carson. Students are seated at long tables, writing in notebooks and binders and viewing images on a Smartboard at the front of the classroom.

California schools face a new budget hit: soaring insurance costs after sex abuse lawsuits

A recent state law lifted the statute of limitations on sex abuse lawsuits, driving a huge increase in payouts by school districts and government agencies.

LAUSD board approves plan that could see significant job cuts. What happens now?

The divisive 4-3 vote approves the issue of preliminary layoff notices to more than 3,000 employees.
Trades workers union goes on strike across Cal State University

Building maintenance staff demanded the university honor pay raises.

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Featured Show

Imperfect Paradise

LAist's weekly on-demand news magazine show that pulls back the curtain and dives deeper into the biggest and most consequential SoCal stories of the week from our newsroom. New episodes drop every Friday.
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As the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues, we explore what’s happening on the legal side of immigration enforcement. One group of court observers at the Santa Ana Immigration Court is trying to help immigrants and asylum-seekers who appear there get a fair shot under the law.

LAist Orange County Correspondent Jill Replogle tells us about her experience following the court observers and how what’s happening in these courtrooms determines the fate of undocumented immigrants across the U.S. We also discuss how immigrants, lawyers, and even judges are trying to keep up with the administration’s rapidly evolving immigration policies.

Inside an Orange County immigration court. What it reveals about the Trump Administration’s changing policies
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