In Brief
After weeks of waiting, the governor signed a law overhauling local zoning to build more housing in California's biggest metro areas.
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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Attorney General Rob Bonta made the request after years of scandals at the county's facilities. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Californians, your newest state symbols are the native big berry manzanita and the giant garter snake. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The National Weather Service says the storm will likely pass over northern L.A. County early next week. -
James Rojas’s walking tours of L.A.’s Eastside feature the landmarks of Chicano and Latino culture. -
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. -
Using sidewalks and parking lot started as a way to help restaurants during the pandemic. Two news laws aim to help a still-struggling industry. -
Bike, skate or walk through Westlake, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights — and refresh yourself at these icons along the way.
Palisades Fire investigation
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The report is quite critical, documenting how systemic problems endangered the lives of firefighters and the public. -
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.
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Latest from the White House
Follow the fast-moving developments under the Trump Administration.
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The Trump administration says it has started the process of issuing "substantial" reduction-in-force notices to federal employees. Court filings suggest around 4,200 affected so far. -
The Nobel Committee cited her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela. Trump's White House communications director, Steven Cheung, reacted on social media, posting: "The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace." -
The Pentagon began withdrawing troops from Los Angeles in mid-July, but other cities could be next.
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. -
Fires can smolder underground for months. "It really is more common than I think people realize,” a fire scientist says. “It just doesn’t usually reignite another fire."
Featured events
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Event
CANCELED- Due to unforeseen circumstances, the show has been canceled. We'd love to see you at our next scheduled event on October 26, where our guests will be Dermot Mulroney and Loni Love. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
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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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Prop. 50 would enact a congressional map that helps Democrats, but a new analysis finds it doesn’t change Californians’ representation much on other measures. -
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.
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
An LA Commission created to tackle city government scandals is being stymied
A charter reform commission was created in 2024 in response to multiple Los Angeles city government scandals, including the leak of a racist tape featuring City Council President Nury Martinez. One of the commission’s aims was to modify the LA charter, which is basically the city’s constitution. But reports indicate that this commission is struggling to do its job. There are calls for transparency around its very structure. LAist Watchdog Correspondent Jordan Rynning joins Imperfect Paradise to talk about the commission’s issues and how this work will affect the lives of Angelenos.
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• 20:51
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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The U.S. job market showed more signs of weakness Friday, as the Labor Department reported just 22,000 jobs added in August. Revised figures show the economy lost jobs in June, for the first time since the pandemic winter of 2020. -
NPR combed through court records and other data related to Trump's takeover of D.C. police to get a better understanding of who has been swept up in the federal surge and what charges they are facing. -
"The business activities of our investors and the rights of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed," a foreign ministry spokesman said after about 300 South Koreans were detained. -
Under the settlement, Norwalk will also create a $250,000 fund for affordable housing and comply with state housing mandates. -
Tactics by immigration agents attempting to arrest undocumented immigrants have shocked the public and led to protests. But what is, and isn't, allowed by law when it comes to ICE arrests? -
Creatine supplements have become increasingly popular as social media influencers tout their benefits. What does the evidence say? -
Facing the rising cost of upkeep along the coastline, the city is expected to spend more than it earns to oversee the tidelands for the first time in 2026. -
This week, tech giant OpenAI announced new safety measures for kids. -
Temperatures will continue to cool down through Saturday. -
Nonprofit group We Explore Earth is holding an event Sunday in Elysian Park. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
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