In Brief
An ordinance that the L.A. City Council soon will consider would allow certain Olympics projects to skip city zoning and planning requirements.
Today on AirTalk, Burbank Airport suffers amid government shutdown; CA's housing shortage and Measure ULA; The resurgence of film photography; LAUSD 2026 School Game Plan; How do ceasefire agreements work? And what makes a good diss track?
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• 1:39:13
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
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• 35:30
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The allegations stem from a media report that primarily alleged a law firm paid some plaintiffs to sue the county. -
Families can still get nutrition assistance benefits, but funding could run out if the federal government shutdown continues. -
Attorney General Rob Bonta is asking tenants who have experience with Mike Nijjar, one of the state's biggest landlords, to share their complaints with his office. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend. -
The bill would increase penalties for metal recyclers who possess or purchase metal used in public infrastructure. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
From funeral feasts to bratwurst and beer! Explore Halloween rituals at a food and death panel, catch Mariska Hargitay’s new doc, Oktoberfest hits Pomona and more.
Town Hall Tuesday
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People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
The Board of Supervisors puts the brakes on a plan to increase the cost of a marriage license from $91 to $176. -
LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia has made six recommendations the Charter Reform Commission. They would ultimately need voter approval.
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Latest from the White House
Follow the fast-moving developments under the Trump Administration.
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Democrats and a federal union argue the Trump administration's language posted on federal agency websites and in some emails blaming the "Radical Left Democrats" for the government shutdown is in violation of a 1939 federal law. -
Bondi defended her work as attorney general, rejecting allegations that DOJ investigations and prosecutions, including the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, are driven by politics. -
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s comments came after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from dispatching California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon.
Conflict in the Middle East
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It's been two years since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israeli leaders promised a punishing offensive. Here are some numbers showing the war's toll. -
Israelis are paying heavy costs for the longest war in their history: a mental health crisis, trauma, unprecedented division during wartime, animosity abroad and apathy for Palestinian suffering. -
On the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, the leaders of Israel and Hamas are pushed by Arab countries and the U.S. toward a potential end to the war.
School Game Plan
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In Los Angeles Unified alone, there are more than 400 elementary schools, plus hundreds of specialized programs and dozens of charter schools run by separate nonprofits. -
If you want to send your child to a magnet, dual-language, or charter school next year, here’s what you need to know. -
Families say the process of choosing a school for their child is bewildering, overwhelming and anxiety-driven. So we made a guide to help.
LA's wildfires: Your recovery guide
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Your game plan for what happens next. LAist will be there every step of the way. -
Transmission lines have been linked to the start of the Eaton fire in January. But another kind of line — distribution lines that power homes — were also wreaking havoc before that fire sparked. -
Scientists say La Niña is likely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a dry winter in Southern California.
Featured events
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Event
On October 11, comedian Drew Lynch (he/him) and actor Nana Visitor (she/her), plus surprise guest experts will join J. Keith and Helen for a trivia show like no other!
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After the January fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades leveled more than 12,000 homes and businesses, the two communities are still grappling with the lingering effects of the disaster and trying to find ways to move forward. On October 14, we’ll focus on Pacific Palisades and surrounding communities. AirTalk host Larry Mantle will talk with guests about what the road to rebuilding looks like and how best to navigate this new reality.
Civics & Democracy
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A dozen facilities saw air traffic control shortages on Monday, delaying flights at several airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed "a slight tick-up in sick calls" due to the shutdown. -
Brian Williams called in the bomb threat during a stressful meeting he wanted to get out of, prosecutors say. -
The Nov. 4 election asks voters to weigh in on Prop 50, which would allow the state to temporarily use new Congressional maps for elections in 2026, 2028 and 2030.
Education
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Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
The show has a new host and a new digital format but the same mission. -
USC says it’s reviewing the letter also sent to eight other prestigious schools nationwide. California's governor vowed that any California universities that sign will lose state funding.
Featured Podcast
Reports about failures in response to the January LA fires and a 2018 fire have striking similarities
A new report details the Eaton and Palisades fires, including failures in the emergency response. But this report bears striking similarities with another -- which chronicled the response to the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Southern California. LAist Science Reporter Jacob Margolis discusses the reports and what they mean for L.A. County moving forward.
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• 23:27
Explore LA
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Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
Clair has been a fixture at the corner of San Vicente and 26th Street for about seven years until she was stolen. -
Come one, come all. Intergenerational Mahjong brings people of any age, race or experience level to play the timeless tile game.
Food
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At this time of year, the flor de izote blooms in Los Angeles. The Salvadoran American chef Karla Tatiana Vasquez says the flowers are both a delicacy and a connection to her identity. -
The new ordinance applies to certain grocers operating in the city and has led to some self-checkout lanes to shutter. -
The beloved ice cream was discontinued in 2022. The Salt & Straw ice cream chain is aiming to improve on our childhood memories with a new version.
More stories
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The biannual event promises exciting trains big, small, and virtual for all locomotive fans. -
At the El Rey Theatre in L.A. on a recent day, I saw how the next generation of K-pop stars is made. -
The building opened in 1925 with a lot of fanfare, but it’s faced a lot of ups and downs since. -
LAist senior editor Suzanne Levy recounts her life with a backyard fig tree and a squirrel with a sweet tooth. -
As UC leaders grapple with how to respond to research grant cuts and a potential billion-dollar penalty, some are taking a defensive stand. -
The approval came amid major warnings that the project would take away funding from basic city service like police and sidewalk repair. -
The move by Mayor Karen Bass comes before consolidation of the departments is made final. -
The group voted to make people who want a COVID shot to be briefed on harms and benefits, but in a close vote, it failed to pass a proposal that states should require people to get a prescription. -
George Cook is the Trump administration's new acting director of the Census Bureau, which has been thrust into the middle of a renewed attempt by President Trump to alter the national head count. -
A set of laws Gov. Gavin Newsom signed today extends California clean-energy programs while taking steps to shore up oil and gas production. It also opens the door to a Western energy grid. -
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee. -
A man and his child were swept off a road in Barstow, and communities in the San Bernardino Mountains faced a deluge. The threat of heavy rain has now passed.
Latest from our reporters
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