The Brief

In the heart of east Los Angeles stands a beloved Mexican market that has been central to the Latino community in Boyle Heights for more than a half-century. El Mercadito's hallways are lined with ornate cowboy boots, talavera pottery, mariachi suits, traditional snacks and the unusually quiet murmurs of the vendors who continue to open their shops.

"We love this place, we adore this place," says customer, José Morales, 31, who has been coming here with his family his whole life. "And look at it right now, it looks like a ghost-town. Being realistic, people are just scared because of ICE."

Since early June, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has had a large presence in Los Angeles, conducting raids targeting migrants without legal status.

José Morales has fond memories of coming to El Mercadito with his siblings throughout their childhood. He says he's heartbroken to see this beloved community suffer amid ICE raids.

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While the Trump administration has continued to say its primary concern is "violent criminals," it has continued to sweep up many who have no such history — people in Home Depot parking lots, at car washes and in their neighborhoods. According to data released by ICE this month, about a third of people in its detention centers have no criminal history.

The presence of federal agents have kept many immigrants away from public life out of fear that they too could be detained.

Morales, who is a U.S. citizen, still comes to El Mercadito regularly to get his favorite "raspado" or shaved ice, but on this day he also came to the area to get a copy of his birth certificate.

"Even though I was born here and I mean I'm good and everything, I just feel safer with my birth certificate [with me at all times]," he says. "I don't want to be a mistake."

El Mercadito usually has a bustling lunch hour. These days, its stalls and hallways are much quieter.

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The heightened anxiety has meant less foot traffic at the market and in Latino neighborhoods around the city, leading to a slump in business. Marlene Rosado, who manages El Mercadito with her two siblings, says more than half of the stalls there have been closed or are operating under limited hours since ICE raids began.

"Our community is genuinely scared to leave their homes at moments," Rosado says. "And many of the vendors here are also afraid to open shop."

Marlene Rosado and her two siblings have been managing El Mercadito for over a decade, but spent most of their childhood in its halls with their late father who took it over in the mid-1980s.

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One young woman sits idly on her phone next to her grandmother, who has been running a stall at the market for decades.

"I've been basically calling off of work to come help my grandma because unfortunately a lot of employees quit or they're just not coming, because they're scared," she says.

She requested NPR not name her because her family is concerned they could be targeted by ICE. Although her grandmother says she is a lawful permanent resident, she's been on edge.

"She's also scared because she doesn't speak English, so if [federal agents] come and they try to terrorize her with a bunch of questions, she's not going to know what to do, so I have to be here."

Another vendor, Coco Garcia, says she's never seen El Mercadito's halls this quiet — not even during COVID.

"I remember in the pandemic, the government was giving us [financial] help. They're not helping us right now," she says. "The money people have saved up, obviously they're not going to come wasting on stuff they don't need right now, they're going to save it up for their rent, for their bills, for their groceries."

Julia Vasquez began her business selling aguas frescas from a cart 42 years ago. Today, she owns three stalls at El Mercadito, but says with the slump in business, she's having to throw away much of her product by the end of the day.

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Rosado worries some businesses may not make it much longer if customers, and even some shopkeepers, keep staying home. But she remains hopeful.

"I have a lot of faith in our community and our strength as Hispanics, Latinos, Mexicans that are here in Los Angeles and all our immigrant community," she says. "I know that a lot of fear has been instilled, but don't let that be the underlying message. It has to be strength in numbers, strength as a community. Together, we are a force."
Copyright 2025 NPR

Billy Gene Mills, one of the first Black politicians elected to the L.A. City Council, died on June 27 in his Leimert Park home. He was 96.

In a social media post, his son James Edward Mills wrote that his father had been struggling with failing health for years.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement Mills "helped shape the arc of justice and opportunity in our city."

Mills was the first Black American to graduate from UCLA Law School in 1954 and went on to work as a civil rights attorney.

Los Angeles City Council members Gilbert Lindsay (left), Billy Mills (second from left) and Tom Bradley (second from right), pose for a photo with two unidentified men in City Hall council chambers around 1965.

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He was elected to the city council in 1963, representing District 8, and served until 1974. Mills was one of the first three Black men, along with Tom Bradley and Gilbert Lindsay, to join the city council.

While on the council, Mills “led the city to renewed unity and cooperation after the tumultuous Watts Riots,” UCLA wrote in a statement that accompanied a Public Service Award given to him in 2003. His tenure, UCLA noted, saw the installation of paved alleys and streetlights throughout South Los Angeles for the first time.

In 1974, Mills was appointed as a judge to the Los Angeles Superior Court by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan.

Mills is survived by five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

SEATTLE — Folarin Balogun, the star striker of the U.S. men's national soccer team, is eligible to play in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.

In an unusual move, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee announced Sunday that it would suspend Balogun's one-game red card ban for a probationary period of one year, allowing him to play in any remaining World Cup games.

In a brief statement, the committee did not give a reason for delaying the suspension. Balogun's probationary period will be revoked and the one-game suspension enforced if he commits "another infringement of a similar nature and gravity," FIFA said.

Balogun received the red card last Wednesday during the 2-0 U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 match. He had stepped on the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović as the two tangled while going after the ball.

The main referee initially declined to call any foul on the play, but after a replay review of slow-motion video and stills, a video referee recommended a red card. Afterward, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino criticized the decision to grant a red, calling the contact "a normal action in football that happened by accident."

U.S. Soccer had not filed a formal appeal. But a spokesperson told reporters Sunday that the organization had been "engaged" with FIFA during the deliberations.

In a statement, U.S. Soccer said it would accept the decision and is pleased Balogun will be eligible to play. "Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans," the statement read.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The team learned of the decision on Sunday morning while riding a bus to a training session in Seattle.

"I'm mostly just happy for him, seeing that smile on his face. He deserves to be playing in this game," said U.S. winger Christian Pulisic, who called the referee's decision to give Balogun a red card "extremely harsh."

The decision to delay a one-game red card suspension is highly unusual, although there had been precedent already at this World Cup. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo received a three-game suspension last November for elbowing an opponent in a World Cup qualifying match. That suspension would have caused him to miss the first two games of the World Cup, but FIFA's Disciplinary Committee put the suspension on hold and allowed him to play.

It is unclear what factors may have led FIFA to allow Balogun to play.

Rules governing the use of VAR, or video assistant referee, say that slow-motion replay should only be used for "facts," such as the point of contact for physical fouls or handball calls, while normal-speed video should be used to judge the "intensity" of an offense.

However, on Wednesday, the video referee reviewed slow-motion footage and still images before recommending a red card.

Balogun's demeanor was notably calm and respectful after the controversial call. He shook hands with the referee after the game, and speaking to reporters on Friday, he said the contact had been unintentional but that he accepted the referee's decision.

"I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion," Balogun said. "There's still lots of people we're inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching. We have to show the correct way to handle things even when you think it's unjust."

On Sunday, Pulisic told reporters he was impressed by how his teammate had handled himself. "Good things happen to people like that. And he was so positive and all for the team, and it just feels right," Pulisic said.

Monday's Round of 16 match against Belgium is one of the biggest in the history of the U.S. men's national team. A win would send the U.S. to the quarterfinals, matching the deepest run by the American men in the modern era of the World Cup.

Copyright 2026 NPR

The La Brea Tar Pits are heading into a multimillion-dollar renovation — that means the museum will have to close to the public for two years.

The history

Built in 1977, the George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits has a special place in the hearts of Angelenos who’ve ever taken a field trip to see its massive mastodon skeletons or dire wolf skulls. Don’t worry — all that stuff is staying, said museum educator Kay Lai.

Why now?

“This museum, as beloved as it is, definitely needs that refresh. And I’m really excited for the next generation of kids that get to grow up and make new memories here with this new space,” Lai told LAist.

What’s going to be new?

Lai said the museum refresh will include a new focus on Zed, an 80% complete Columbian mammoth found at the site. With new outdoor classrooms and a 1-kilometer pedestrian pathway that will take visitors past excavation sites, the idea is to make research more visible to the public.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Both Mexico and England are undefeated in the 2026 World Cup. All of that will change on Sunday when the two teams meet at Estadio Azteca at 5 p.m. for the round of 16 match.

Mexico has not allowed one goal during their entire run in the tournament, and they will have the home-field advantage. That means England will not only have to take on the Mexico squad, but also 80,000 Mexican fans cheering from the stands.

Here are the free spots showing the game all over Koreatown, Pico Union and Westlake. There are no official park-sponsored watch parties in the local neighborhoods, according to the city’s Kick It In the Park schedule, but here are a few of the local sports bars, restaurants and other spots that will be showing the game.

Koreatown

• Guelaguetza
  3014 W Olympic Blvd.

  Mole coloradito over chips could fix anything. There are no reservations at the Oaxacan staple, so arrive early with your full party or you’ll be left standing (which is not the worst thing). The restaurant boasts a large screen, a dance-party vibe, micheladas and so much more. More info here.

• The Line Hotel
  3515 Wilshire Blvd. 

  The hotel has been showing games throughout the tournament and will have special offers on drinks and food. The venue will show the game on a large LED screen, with a live mariachi band and DJ set by Chulita Vinyl Club. There will also be a 90-minute unlimited margarita pitchers for $45 per person, according to the organizers. More information can be found here.
  

• Biergarten
  206 N Western Ave.

  The Biergarten is showing every match on multiple screens all over the bar. Their promise of Korean-German fusion is accompanied by a plethora of drinks on tap. More information can be found here.

• Eastwood
  611 S Western Ave.

  The country-inspired bar and restaurant will host the game on various screens around the venue and will serve bar towers and other specials. If the game isn’t enough of an emotional rollercoaster for fans, they can try their luck on the bar’s mechanical bull. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. More information can be found here.

• Baja’s Grill Sports Cantina
  3250 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 103

  For flavors of Baja California during the game, this Cantina will be running specials and happy hour. The bar is surrounded by multiple screens and regularly hosts $35 open bars from 6 to 10 p.m. More information can be found here.

• Lock and Key 
  239 S Vermont Ave. 

  The cocktail den will be hosting the game alongside $8 drink specials for margaritas, palomas and vodka martinis. Multiple DJs will also be present during and after the game. More information can be found here.

• DJM Soju Bar
  3275 Wilshire Blvd.

  The restaurant will host the game both indoors and outdoors alongside food and drink specials. They serve a variety of plates, from spicy pork bulgogi and seafood soup to sweet-and-sour chicken. A wide variety of soju is also offered. Doors will open at 4 p.m. More information can be found here.

Westlake and Pico Union 

• Pulgarcito Family Restaurant 
  2500 W Pico Blvd.

  This family-owned restaurant serves pupusas, quesabirria and plato de birria, along with camarones a la diabla, plátanos fritos with beans and crema, and many more Salvadoran dishes. They also have cold drinks and multiple screens for the game. More information can be found here.
  

• Casa Gish Bac Cocina Oaxaqueña
  1436 S Vermont Ave.

  The Oaxacan restaurant will be showing the games on multiple TVs, as well as on a projector. Happy hour is from 2 to 6 p.m., right before kickoff. Deals include $5 beers and $2 tacos. They’re also sweetening the celebrations with a free shot with every Mexico goal. More information can be found here.
  

• Huicho’s Bakery
  1250 Vermont Ave.

  The local bakery will be showing the game outside of their shop on one TV. They offer a variety of Central American and Mexican food, as well as pastries and bread.
  

• Xecul Restaurante Guatemalteco
  1051 S Alvarado Street

  The Guatemalan restaurant will show the game on two TVs indoors. They offer a wide variety of traditional Guatemalan flavors, like their el shuco xecul, as well as fusion plates like chow mein mixto.
  

• Cafe con Ron
  819 S Flower Street

  The Mexican seafood and brunch location will be showing the game on TVs around its cantina area. They offer fish tacos, quesabirria and drink specials. More information can be found here.