In Brief
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.
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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An ordinance that the L.A. City Council soon will consider would allow certain Olympics projects to skip city zoning and planning requirements. -
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. -
Bike, skate or walk through Westlake, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights — and refresh yourself at these icons along the way. -
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. -
The bill would increase penalties for metal recyclers who possess or purchase metal used in public infrastructure. -
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.
Watchdog Wednesday
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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." -
The city can’t approve higher fees to bolster the street light repair budget without gaining approval from property owners. -
The allegations stem from a media report that primarily alleged a law firm paid some plaintiffs to sue the county.
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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 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. -
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. -
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.
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. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend. -
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.
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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The Board of Supervisors puts the brakes on a plan to increase the cost of a marriage license from $91 to $176. -
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s comments came after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from dispatching California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. -
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.
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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Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the August 1989 shotgun killings of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. -
The unions that represent teachers, principals, support staff and construction workers have protested what they say is a lack of progress on new contracts. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
RFK Jr.'s hand-picked panel of vaccine advisors is expected to vote to delay the hepatitis B shot for newborns. Doctors warn that could fuel a return of a disease virtually eradicated in U.S. kids. -
The University of California plans to “evaluate every option” to resolve charges of antisemitism brought by the Trump administration against UCLA. -
President Trump filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and four of its journalists, accusing them of harming his business and personal reputation. -
Kash Patel's appearance in the Senate comes at a delicate time for the director, who is a loyalist of President Donald Trump but has no experience leading an organization like the FBI. -
The FAIR Plan faces accusations of denying smoke-damage claims and more. Can California lawmakers keep the insurer of last resort accountable? -
Israel's surprise attack in Qatar on Tuesday targeting Hamas' top political leaders was the latest in a campaign aimed at hunting down Israel's top enemies since the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. -
The report issued Tuesday by experts commissioned by the United Nations' Human Rights Council calls on the international community to end the genocide and take steps to punish those responsible. -
The offensive expanded the same day that independent U.N. experts accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. -
A movie star to his core, Robert Redford has died after a visionary career in cinema, including founding the Sundance Institute that transformed the market for independent films.
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