In Brief
The report is quite critical, documenting how systemic problems endangered the lives of firefighters and the public.
LAUSD test scores improve again, exceeding pre-pandemic performance. Here’s what parents should know
Today on AirTalk, LAUSD test scores improve; telling others about your health issues; unlikely non-resturant places for the best eats in So-Cal, and FilmWeek.
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• 1:31:36
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
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• 41:59
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After weeks of waiting, the governor signed a law overhauling local zoning to build more housing in California's biggest metro areas. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
The National Weather Service says the storm will likely pass over northern L.A. County early next week. -
The county’s chief operating officer, Joe Nicchitta, will serve as acting CEO. -
John C. Reilly brings back Mister Romantic, Vietfest Film Festival hits the O.C., the L.A. Times Food Bowl is back, dublab celebrates 26 years and more.
Food Friday
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Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Bike, skate or walk through Westlake, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights — and refresh yourself at these icons along the way. -
State health officials will target ultraprocessed food additives, dyes, chemicals and other ingredients, surpassing federal efforts led by RFK Jr.
Palisades Fire investigation
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The release comes the same day federal prosecutors charged a man in connection with starting a blaze that became the Palisades Fire. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
Fires can smolder underground for months. "It really is more common than I think people realize,” a fire scientist says.
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Latest from the White House
Follow the fast-moving developments under the Trump Administration.
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Military experts say they also worry how these new deployments will affect recruitment and public trust. -
National Guard troops from Illinois and Texas have been tasked with protecting federal government employees such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and federal property. -
A new poll shows trust in federal health policies is plummeting, and what — or who — people believe increasingly depends on their politics.
Conflict in the Middle East
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Israeli forces have completed a pullback of troops from Gaza on Friday after Israel's Cabinet approved a plan for a ceasefire aimed at ending the devastating two-year war. -
Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for the "first phase" of a plan promoted by President Trump to end the war in Gaza. A ceasefire is expected to go into effect after an Israeli Cabinet vote. -
Israel's cabinet has approved the first stage of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal with Hamas — a move aimed at ending the two-year war in Gaza and freeing hostages on both sides.
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. -
SoCal Edison says it will announce its compensation program sometime this fall. -
All disasters are chaotic, but an LAist review of reports produced after two wildfire incidents found similar shortcomings and similar recommendations about how to fix them.
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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Event
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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California is known for taking weeks to tally its ballots, causing uncertainty and frustration among voters. That could change with a faster turnaround under a new state law. -
The crowdsourced site was taken down without warning, days after political figures called for its removal. Its creators quickly launched a replacement. -
VietRISE said the post from August was part of a series born out of the realization that many people don't know about Vietnam’s history beyond 1975.
Education
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LAUSD test scores improve again, exceeding pre-pandemic performance. Here’s what parents should knowThe district reports the scores in all subjects and grade levels now meet or exceed pre-pandemic grade levels, and several student groups are outpacing their peers statewide. -
The law requires a database intended to stop teachers facing credible accusations of abuse from quitting and getting rehired at another school. -
In a world where even toddlers are increasingly on screens, local graphic designer Meeta Panesar has created a print magazine that invites readers to explore the world and their own creativity.
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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A new exhibition at the Institute for Art and Olfaction focuses on the connection between scent, cultural memory and mythology. -
The next Long Beach Fixit clinic takes place Saturday. People are encouraged to bring small appliances, toys, electronics and bicycles that need repair. -
The musician visited L.A. to announce his first solo album and reflected on his three decades coming to the city.
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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Remnants from Hurricane Priscilla could bring showers and thunderstorms to the region Thursday. -
The city can’t approve higher fees to bolster the street light repair budget without gaining approval from property owners. -
Commissioners have a big agenda: expanding the City Council, switching to a ranked-choice voting and more. Nearly four months after an already delayed start, one commissioner told LAist they're still "at square one." -
Arts for L.A. advocacy group convenes Wednesday to help artists heal and renew and do the same for the L.A. communities they serve. -
A federal union argues that Trump administration language posted on federal agency websites and some emails blaming a shutdown on the "Radical Left Democrats" violates a 1939 federal law. -
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. -
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. -
An ordinance that the L.A. City Council soon will consider would allow certain Olympics projects to skip city zoning and planning requirements. -
Este junio, California demanadó al proprietario Mike Nijjar por discriminación y condiciones de viva antihigiénicas e inseguras adentro de sus viviendas. Ahora, el fiscal general de California, Rob Bonta, está pidiendo que los inquilinos de Nijjar compartan sus experiencias con los funcionarios estatales. -
The Board of Supervisors puts the brakes on a plan to increase the cost of a marriage license from $91 to $176. -
A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees that federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.
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