SAG-AFTRA member Christine Robert pickets in solidarity with striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers outside Netflix offices Wednesday in L.A. The actors contract expired at midnight and a double strike now appears imminent.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
SAG members have until the end of the day tomorrow to vote on a tentative contract. Actors say there’s a lot in the deal to be happy about but the threat of AI has pushed a few to consider a “no” vote.
Why it matters: The dual strikes by the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America lasted months, essentially shutting down most Hollywood productions. The financial ripple effects were felt by businesses all across L.A. that help support the industry and its players. Most have expressed a desire to just get back to work, so any threat to the ratification of the contract is a concern.
Why now: Theunion wraps up voting tomorrow.
The backstory: The tentative SAG agreement states studios would be required to get informed consent for using an actor’s digital replica, and pay them. But some actors don't think it goes far enough. Listen to the latest How To LA podcast episode where host Brian De Los Santos speaks with LAist reporter Robert Garrova about what actors want, and what could happen next.
Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.
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L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks
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Topline:
Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027. At a community meeting Thursday night at MacArthur Park Elementary School, officials said fence installation is now expected to continue through fall 2027, overshooting the previously announced spring 2027 completion date.
Why now: Thursday’s meeting highlighted the divide over the city’s plan to fence off MacArthur Park, with tensions rising during public comment. The Los Angeles Police Department says the fence will make drug enforcement easier, while some in the community who volunteer around the park questioned whether it will improve safety enough to justify the cost. The city has allocated $2.3 million for the project, but officials have not said whether that will cover the full cost.
What's next: Officials also outlined other planned improvements, including restoring access through the tunnels connecting the park’s north and south sides, making accessibility upgrades and providing free Wi-Fi for parkgoers. Residents who want to provide input on the fence’s decorative elements can email admin@themorcosgroup.com or call (310) 479-4727 for more information.
Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.
At a community meeting Thursday night at MacArthur Park Elementary School, officials said fence installation is now expected to continue through fall 2027, overshooting the previously announced spring 2027 completion date.
Thursday’s meeting highlighted the divide over the city’s plan to fence off MacArthur Park, with tensions rising during public comment. The Los Angeles Police Department says the fence will make drug enforcement easier, while some in the community who volunteer around the park questioned whether it will improve safety enough to justify the cost.
The city has allocated $2.3 million for the project, but officials have not said whether that will cover the full cost.
Installation of the green metal fence around the park’s perimeter is expected to begin in November and take about a year. A second phase, adding decorative elements to the fence, is planned for fall and winter 2027. Officials said the schedule could change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Capt. Ben Fernandes with the LAPD’s Rampart Division said the fence would create a barrier along Alvarado Street and other areas where officers have seen people using narcotics. That would allow police to focus more of their enforcement efforts inside the park, he said.
“So if people are going deeper into the park to use, that’ll make it easier for us to go in and do enforcement on them and arrest them for that use,” Fernandes said.
MacArthur Park will close every night once an 8-foot-tall fence goes up around the green space, with Los Angeles police officers sweeping the park for encampments and people sleeping there before the gates shut. The Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved the plan Thursday.
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LA Recreation and Parks
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“I’ve been an officer for 29 years, and I’ve always known I can go buy drugs there, and I did as a narcotics officer. So what I’m saying is, we are trying to make it not convenient,” he added.
Fernandes also said the city plans to enhance the park’s existing camera network. LAPD officers and Los Angeles Park Rangers will be able to monitor the cameras from their respective stations, he said. City officials are still evaluating whether additional cameras will be needed to address blind spots in the park after construction is complete.
Ariana Walker, who visits MacArthur Park every Saturday with a group of friends who pool their own resources to distribute food and hygiene kits, questioned whether the city had shown that the fence would improve safety and how much it would cost to maintain.
“The fence is a $2.3 million fence at the base level,” she said. “And they haven’t given us any indication of how much more it’s going to cost for upkeep, to keep anybody safe. There’s no conclusive evidence that a fence is going to stop crime the way that they’re suggesting.”
The meeting grew tense when John Alle, a local property owner whose family owns the building that houses Langer’s Delicatessen across the street from the park, objected to having his comments read from a written comment card rather than speaking directly to officials. Alle has been a vocal critic of the city’s response to drug activity and public safety concerns around MacArthur Park.
He was allowed to comment during the meeting and said the city needs to take a tougher approach to drug use and sales around the park.
“We see knife attacks at all hours of the day. It’s out of control. And it’s not gotten any better,” he said. “We want to bring it back to where it was 15 or 20 years ago.”
Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.
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Gary Coronado
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The LA Local
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Alle pointed to public events at the park, including an upcoming Día de los Muertos celebration and a Labor Day weekend picnic hosted by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman as positive developments for the space. But he added those events do not reflect conditions throughout the park.
Officials also outlined other planned improvements, including restoring access through the tunnels connecting the park’s north and south sides, making accessibility upgrades and providing free Wi-Fi for parkgoers.
Residents who want to provide input on the fence’s decorative elements can email admin@themorcosgroup.com or call (310) 479-4727 for more information.
Destiny Torres
covers all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County.
Published October 23, 2026 1:43 PM
Metrolink’s Orange County service between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations will be temporarily suspended starting Monday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Oct. 30, due to high tide forecasts.
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Photo Courtesy of OC Transportation Authority.
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Topline:
Metrolink’s Orange County service between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations will be temporarily suspended next week, starting Monday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Oct. 30.
What lines will run? Orange County Line trains will operate only between L.A. Union Station and the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station. According to Metrolink, alternate transportation such as buses will not be available.
Why now? A coastal flood warning is in effect for the entire Orange and San Diego coastline Sunday through Thursday. “Astronomical” high tides could create significant coastal flooding starting Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Morning high tides could reach nearly 7 feet Saturday morning and are likely to exceed 7.5 or 8 feet by Monday.
Officials said: “The temporary service adjustment is intended to minimize the potential for widespread delays and cancellations if coastal conditions disrupt rail operations,” Metrolink officials wrote in an announcement Thursday. “This shift will also reduce competing rail traffic and shorten potential weather-related delays for other carriers, including Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and freight trains, that operate along the beachfront corridor near San Clemente.”
Background: The service suspension is along the troubled rail corridor from South Orange County to the San Diego County line. Erosion and landslides along the coastal rail have caused disruptions since 2021.
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Students at Ensign Intermediate School have been parking their e-bikes in the neighborhood since the district outlawed them on elementary and middle school campuses.
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Jill Replogle
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LAist
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Topline:
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed charges Wednesday against six parents and one relative of children involved in illegal e-motorcycle use. O.C. District Attorney Todd Spitzer joined AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news show, to talk about the charges and rising e-bike-related incidents.
What he's saying: "We have about a 430% increase in emergency room visits by young people today, underage minors, who are being injured as a result of these e-bikes," Spitzer said, referring to incidents in Southern California.
A growing issue: Spitzer pointed out thatWednesday’s charges are the latest in a growing number of cases involving e-bikes, including one incident that resulted in a 13-year-old rider’s death.
Why charge the parents? Spitzer clarified that parents are not being charged with a crime just for giving their child an e-bike. "We're filing when the adult who's responsible for the actions of that child has additional special knowledge that their kid is a danger to the community and, in most cases, to themselves," he said, such as a history of reckless riding or knowledge of illegal modifications.
Example: In the case of the 13-year-old who died after crashing his e-motorcycle, his father could face up to six years in prison.
Listen to the full conversation:
Listen
9:51
Orange County D.A. announces charges tied to e-bike usage
Destiny Torres
covers all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County.
Published October 23, 2026 12:15 PM
The third annual OC Book Fair returns to Old Town Tustin on Nov. 14.
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Tom Hermans
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Unsplash
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Topline:
The third annual OC Book Fair returns to Old Town Tustin on Nov. 14 with bookish activities, local authors, shopping and more. A portion of El Camino Real will be closed for the free event.
What to expect: Attendees will be able to watch author talks, get books signed, participate in community roundtables and more. The fair lineup features indie bookstores, including local shops like Arvida Book Co., Heartbound Book Shop and the Untold Story Bookstore.
What you need to know: The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along El Camino Real between Main and Second streets and on Third Street between C Street and Prospect Avenue.
What about parking? Free street parking will be available throughout Old Town Tustin, as well as at the Tustin Public Library and the Civic Center. More free parking will also be available at the C Street Parking Structure, located behind 158 W. Main St.
