An aerial view of the Los Angeles City Council chamber as it votes on agenda item 14 about tourism workers wages ahead of the 2028 Olympics at their May 23, 2025 meeting.
(
Los Angeles City Clerk
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles City Council has approved an ordinance that would raise the wages of hotel and airport workers to $30 an hour over the next three years ahead of the Olympic games. The ordinance now heads to Mayor Karen Bass’ desk for a signature.
What do supporters say: Unite Here Local 11 Union backs the ordinance, president Kurt Petersen told the City Council, “City leaders have an opportunity to ensure the Olympic and Paralympic Games benefit hard-working Angelenos, and this ordinance does just that." Advocates say that low-wage workers live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to keep up with costs of living in L.A. Additional, they argue that the wage hikes will benefit the local economy.
Details: If Bass signs it into law, workers will see a wage hike to $22.50 starting July, gradually reaching $30 by 2028. The ordinance applies to hotels with 60 and more rooms.
What does the hotel industry say: Ahead of Friday's city council vote, a number of hotel operators said they would pull out of an agreement to provide discounted rooms for the Olympics over the ordinance, including the Hilton and W Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Ray Patel, a small hotelier, says increased wages will force owners to pass off costs to the consumer. In yesterday's council meeting, he asked the city to consider expanding the exemption.
"You did good with 59, but we need the 60 to 150 limited-service, family-owned hotels to also be exempt," Patel said.
Nicolas Perez
is one of the producers for AirTalk and FilmWeek, hosted by Larry Mantle.
Published May 7, 2026 9:36 AM
An L.A. City Council motion passed Thursday would ban pretextual stops, in which police officers pull over a car or pedestrian for a minor violation as a way to investigate a more serious crime.
(
Courtesy
/
Chris Yarzab via Flickr
)
Topline:
The L.A. City Council voted Wednesday to ban the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of pretextual stops, in which officers detain or pull over a person for a minor offense in order to investigate the them for a more serious crime.
Context: Civil rights activists have long said that pretextual stops disproportionately affect communities of color, an argument that data backs up. In 2022, the Police Commission updated LAPD policy to require officers making a pretextual stop to turn on their body cameras and explain why they plan to pull a car over or stop a pedestrian.
Yes, but: The City Council’s proposal does not immediately change LAPD policy. The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, which sets department policies, will ultimately decide if the practice should be banned. LAPD leaders have said in the past that eliminating pretextual stops could diminish the department’s ability to detect illegal activity.
Topline:
The L.A. City Council voted Wednesday to ban the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of pretextual stops, in which officers detain or pull over a person for a minor offense in order to investigate the them for a more serious crime.
Context: Civil rights activists have long said that pretextual stops disproportionately affect communities of color, an argument that data backs up. In 2022, the Police Commission updated LAPD policy to require officers making a pretextual stop to turn on their body cameras and explain why they plan to pull a car over or stop a pedestrian.
Yes, but: The City Council’s proposal does not immediately change LAPD policy. The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, which sets department policies, will ultimately decide if the practice should be banned. LAPD leaders have said in the past that eliminating pretextual stops could diminish the department’s ability to detect illegal activity.
What's next: The Police Commission will have to take up the proposal before it advances further.
A history of SoCal nuns challenging Catholic norms
Faheem Khan
is an Associate Producer for AirTalk and FilmWeek, assisting with live radio production and in-person events.
Published May 7, 2026 8:52 AM
Sister Corita Kent was an artist, designer, educator and one of the most prominent figures of IHM during the 60s.
(
Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
/
Corita Kent. Art and Soul. The Biography.
)
Topline:
Southern California was at the forefront of the 1960s counterculture movement. Hippies, Indian gurus and Scientologists were among the prominent groups seeking a newfound spirituality, but it was a local nunhood that came to challenge the Catholic hierarchy of the time.
Immaculate Heart Sisters: Originally founded in Spain in 1848, the Immaculate Heart Sisters flourished in Southern California in the 1960s after an invitation from the bishop in California brought 10 sisters to the United States. Led by broad-minded mother superiors, almost 200 sisters worked in L.A.’s Catholic schools, and were known for their diverse perspectives.
Why it matters: This led to lasting changes in the Catholic church — and those efforts largely happened right here in Southern California. Sister Lenore Navarro Dowling, a member of the Immaculate Heart Sisters since 1950, said, “Many of us went to get training to be a lawyer, a nurse, a social worker.”
Read on... for more on the history of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in L.A.
The Immaculate Heart Sisters of Mary (IHMs) — a Catholic community and teaching institute for women based in Los Angeles — has a long history of activism and social justice work, often resisting the status quo.
This led to lasting changes in the Catholic church — and those efforts largely happened right here in Southern California.
A California arrival, 1871
Originally founded in Spain in 1848, the Immaculate Heart Sisters landed in SoCal in 1871 after an invitation from the California bishop brought 10 sisters to the region.
By the 1920s and '30s, they had established the first all-girls Catholic high school and the first accredited Catholic girls college in Los Angeles, led by broad-minded mother superiors who were known for their wide-ranging ideas and perspectives.
“They weren’t afraid to invite people who might disagree with the church or with church policies,” Diane Winston, a Knight chair in media and religion at USC Annenberg, said during a conversation on AirTalk, LAist 89.3’s daily news show.
The group flourished in SoCal in the 1960s, which came at a time when the Catholic church started to reimagine itself. By 1962, the Vatican had its Second Vatican Council, a landmark meeting that led the Church to modernize.
Sisters in the 60s counterculture era
Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules, created around 1966–1967 by artist, educator, and nun Sister Corita Kent along with her students and colleagues.
(
Corita Kent. Art and Soul. The Biography.
/
Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library
)
From the folk-rock enclave in Laurel Canyon to the six-day Watts uprising, L.A. was at the forefront of the 1960s counterculture and the civil rights movement.
At the same time, the demographics were rapidly changing. Urban populations expanded significantly as the expansion of African American and Latino communities in the city coincided with white flight.
This consequential period for the city prompted the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart to make their own decision to respond to the signs of the times.
Winston said she believes ideas surrounding “authenticity” in the '60s combined desires for self-realization and making the world a better place — and this informed how the sisters wanted to live, what professions they could serve and how they interacted with the world.
Sister Lenore Navarro Dowling, a member of the Immaculate Heart Sisters since 1950, said, “Many of us went to get training to be a lawyer, a nurse, a social worker.”
Sister Corita Kent
One of the most prominent figures of IHM during the 1960s was Sister Corita Kent, an artist known for her pop art prints combining words and images from commercials, political statements and brands.
“She took the big G logo from General Mills, and made it stand for the goodness of God as well as the goodness of life on this earth,” Winston said.
The Big G Stands for Goodness (1964) by Corita Kent.
(
Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library
/
Corita Kent. Art and Soul. The Biography
)
Corita Kent's "Sunkist" (1965) .
(
Corita Kent. Art and Soul. The Biography
/
Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library
)
Corita Kent's (1985) 22-cent "Love" stamp.
(
Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library
/
Corita Kent. Art and Soul. The Biography
)
"Eight Men Slain" Corita Kent's "Eight Men Slain," part of the "My People" series (1965).
(
Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library
/
Corita Kent. Art and Soul. The Biography.
)
Dowling said it was revolutionary at the time for sisters to feel free to make choices.
“Making changes turned out to be an act of resistance,” Dowling said, adding, “We were in solidarity with one another in resistance to the administration of the Catholic Church.”
IHM today
The sisters of IHM function today as a network of Catholic parishes, schools and congregations across the nation that represent various professions that active sisters pursue.
Dowling said the nuns are still extremely active in social justice causes.
“Standing our ground is a core value,” she said.
Listen
Listen
16:48
SoCal History: California’s counterculture nuns
Keep up with LAist.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Redondo Beach could see a high of 70 degrees today.
(
Mel Melcon
/
iStockphoto
)
QUICK FACTS
Today’s weather: Cloudy morning then sunny
Beaches: Mid-60s to low 70s
Mountains: Mid-60s to low 70s
Inland: 81 to 89 degrees
Warnings and advisories: None
What to expect: Some morning clouds followed by a sunny afternoon. Temperatures to reach the mid 80s for some areas, and up into the triple digits in some parts of Coachella Valley.
Read on ... for where it's going to be the warmest today.
QUICK FACTS
Today’s weather: Cloudy morning, then sunny
Beaches: Mid-60s to low 70s
Mountains: Mid-60s to low 70s
Inland: 81 to 89 degrees
Warnings and advisories: None
As promised, warm temperatures are on tap for Southern California today.
Areas closer to the coast will wake up with partly cloudy skies, but otherwise we're in for mostly sunny conditions all day.
At L.A and Orange county beaches temperatures will stick around the upper 60s, and up to the low 70s for the inland coast.
For L.A. County valleys, temperatures will range from 79 to 87 degrees. Meanwhile, the Inland Empire will see highs of up to 89 degrees.
And in Coachella Valley, temperatures there will warm up to the mid 90s — up to 101 degrees in some areas.
Unique Markets is a great place to find last-minute gifts this weekend.
(
Courtesy Unique Inc.
)
In this edition:
Clockshop’s annual Kite Festival, UCLA hosts work about the fires, a kids' book fair at the Japanese American National Museum and more of the best things to do this weekend.
Highlights:
Clockshop’s free annual Kite Festival takes over the L.A. State Historic Park, giving you a chance to enter your homemade kite into a competition, check out artist-commissioned kites and an inflatable sculpture, and, of course, participate in a free kite-making workshop.
The second annual Nikkei Children’s Book Festival brings children’s book authors and illustrators to the Japanese American National Museum for a fun day celebrating the love of reading.
Spend Friday afternoon and evening than at UCLA, exploring a new collection of interactive exhibits and music created by artists impacted by last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires.
This past week, I had the pleasure of meeting a group of artists in Venice who are creating installations that are open 24/7 right on the boardwalk, and doing free pop-up opera and other performances at night all summer long. Being a Venice local, it’s been so fun to see these projects come in along an otherwise pretty quiet stretch of Ocean Front Walk — take a stroll there this summer and you never know what or who you might see.
Licorice Pizza has your weekend music picks. On Friday, Muna begins their two-night run at Shrine Expo Hall, and Wu Lyf plays the first of two nights at the Lodge Room. Plus, Snow Tha Product is at The Novo, Fishbone plays the Teragram, and Netflix Is a Joke has two music-focused events: Beautifully Broken Comedy with Jelly Roll at the Greek, and A Visit From ‘Portlandia’ with Fred & Carrie at the Ford. The dream of the '90s is alive! Saturday, the Netflix fun continues with two nights of Flight of the Conchords at the Greek; on Sunday, Rodrigo y Gabriela are at the YouTube Theater and Norah Jones is at Pacific Electric.
Last weekend, I strolled down to the free jazz shows on Third Street Promenade and was happy to see so many folks out for the music. This week, the fest continues with its marquee events, including Kamasi Washington (the festival’s organizer), jazz legend Stanley Washington (with Stewart Copeland of The Police) and many more greats taking the stage at Santa Monica’s Tongva Park.
Venice Art Walk
Through Sunday, May 17 910 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice COST: FREE; MORE INFO
8-27-006 001
(
Ed Templeton
/
Venice Family Clinic Art Exhibition
)
Check out dozens of artworks from established, mid-career, and emerging artists — and maybe even snap one up — at the annual Venice Art Walk, benefiting the Venice Family Clinic. This year’s Signature Artist is L.A. artist Alison Saar; the gallery and the online auction are free to peruse and open to the public all week long.
Unique Markets
Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10 Cooper Design Space 860 S. Los Angeles St., Downtown L.A. COST: FROM $11.54; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Unique Inc.
)
Bring mom to pick out her own perfect gift at this spring’s Unique Markets at the Cooper Design Space penthouse. The Unique Market has a knack for finding brands that go on to become L.A. cool-kid household names, like Hedley & Bennett, P.F. Candle Co., CoolHaus, Poke'To and more. There are also free drinks, a free DIY charm-making station and a photo booth with free Polaroid prints.
JANM’s Nikkei Children’s Book Festival
Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Japanese American National Museum 100 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo COST: $10 ADULTS, KIDS FREE; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy JANM
)
The second annual Nikkei Children’s Book Festival brings children’s book authors and illustrators to the Japanese American National Museum for a fun day celebrating the love of reading. In the morning, there’s a special reading of Ken Mochizuki’s Baseball Saved Us (9:30 a.m.), plus a session with Maggie Tokuda Hall, the author of Love in the Library and a national leader of Authors Against Book Bans. An afternoon session (1 p.m.) features Korey Watari, the author of Kimi the Ballerina, and Mike Wu, a Pixar artist and the illustrator of Kimi the Ballerina. Many more authors and illustrators will be on hand, plus there will be arts and crafts, signings, a pop-up book store and more.
Firebirth
Friday, May 8, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Herb Alpert School of Music Lani Hall Theater 445 Charles E. Young Drive East, Westwood COST: FREE; MORE INFO
(
Mural by wemok_art/Photo by Michele Yamamoto
)
I don’t think there’s a better place you could spend Friday afternoon and evening than at UCLA, exploring a new collection of interactive exhibits and music created by artists impacted by last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires. From a custom Fender Stratocaster crafted for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity from trees that were damaged around the Eaton Fire to listening and viewing stations for works from local artists, including the L.A. Field Recording Club, there are all kinds of ways to explore how the community has responded and processed grief and resilience over the past year. A panel conversation features Chris Douridas (KCRW), Jessica Schwartz (UCLA Musicology), Liz Koslov (UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability) and Kim Yu (Altadena Town Council, Caltech), followed by a closing concert with works from UCLA students and faculty, including the Herbie Hancock Institute Band and the Los Angeles premiere of Will Rand’s Firebirth with violinist Grace Alexander.
L.A. Art Book Fair
Through Sunday, May 10 Printed Matter ArtCenter College of Design, South Campus 960 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena COST: $8, FREE ON SUNDAY; MORE INFO
So much more than just a collection of art books, the annual L.A. Art Book Fair is organized by Printed Matter and features a whole weekend of DJs, live music and exhibitions. This year’s projects include an archival show of newspapers by Chicano in Print; a curated selection of Ed Ruscha's expansive Sunset Strip project by The Getty Research Institute; artifacts of pre-Y2K Asian girlhood from the '90s band Emily’s Sassy Lime (E.S.L.), organized by Ooga Booga; and a site-specific billboard project by Werkplaats Typografie that evolves over the course of the fair.
PICASSO: Le Monstre Sacré
Through Sunday, May 17 Odyssey Theatre 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. COST: $38, MORE INFO
(
Brigitta Scholz Mastroianni
/
NUX Photography
)
If you saw Hannah Gadsby’s stand-up special Nanette, perhaps you also will never be able to read Picasso’s name without whispering Pablo Pic-asshole to yourself. It’s no secret that Picasso, like many brilliant artists, had a dark side, and this new play, coming to the Odyssey straight from London, explores just that. British actor Peter Tate and Olivier Award-winning director Guy Masterson bring their production here for just two weeks.
Clockshop Kite Festival
Saturday, May 9, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. L.A. State Historic Park 1245 N. Spring St., Downtown L.A. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Let’s go fly a kite! Clockshop’s free annual Kite Festival takes over the L.A. State Historic Park, giving you a chance to enter your homemade kite into a competition, check out artist-commissioned kites and an inflatable sculpture, and, of course, participate in a free kite-making workshop.
