Erin Stone
covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
Published June 7, 2024 5:00 AM
Black bear 162 stands over a broken bird feeder in LAist Morning Edition host Susanne Whatley's backyard in 2024.
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Susanne Whatley
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LAist
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Topline:
As black bears, coyotes and other critters show up more often in L.A. neighborhoods, local leaders say the state needs to better fund wildlife coexistence programs.
Push for funds: L.A. County supervisors unanimously passed a motion calling on the state to take a more coordinated, regional approach to address a rise in reports of wildlife sightings and encounters, particularly with black bears, in urban foothill areas such as Sierra Madre, Monrovia and La Cañada-Flintridge.
Lack of specialists: The state has authority over animals like black bears and mountain lions. When it comes to living with these animals among us, there are only four state biologists who serve as “human-wildlife conflict specialists” and are tasked with supporting a huge swath of the Southland. Three of those positions are now set to be cut due to a lack of funding.
The background: A rise in reports of black bear sightings and incidents in Sierra Madre — a city of 11,000 people at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains — is the biggest driver behind the push for a more regional approach to coexisting with wildlife in urban areas.
Coexisting with wildlife: In July, we’ll be launching a new season of our Imperfect Paradise podcast on this very topic. Each episode will focus on one animal living among us — mountain lions, coyotes and black bears. So if you want to learn more about the critters in town — and what us people are making of them — stay tuned for the July launch of our series “Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes and Bears.”
Black bear, coyote — even mountain lion — and other wildlife sightings and encounters have become more common in recent years, especially in L.A.’s foothill communities. That’s why city and county leaders say the state needs to double down on funding programs that educate and support cities in human-wildlife coexistence instead of letting budget cuts get in the way.
On Tuesday, L.A. County supervisors unanimously passed a motion calling on the state to take a more coordinated, regional approach to address a rise in wildlife sightings and encounters, especially with black bears in urban foothill areas. The motion also calls for more staffing and funding for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s human-wildlife conflict program, which provides support to local communities in dealing with their specific wildlife concerns.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents foothill communities along the 210 Freeway corridor, including Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Arcadia, and La Cañada-Flintridge, introduced the motion.
“We need a regional approach to minimizing encounters and helping the public understand what to do if they end up facing a black bear or other wildlife,” Barger told LAist.
She added that the goal is to also protect wildlife.
“For me, especially as someone who loves to hike and loves nature, it is important to recognize that we need to coexist,” Barger said. “This is about keeping communities safe, while also respecting wildlife.”
Funding troubles
The state’s human-wildlife conflict program is already stretched thin. There are only four human-wildlife conflict specialists currently tasked with supporting a huge swath of the Southland that includes L.A., Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Diego counties. The specially trained wildlife biologists share information with communities on how to coexist with wildlife, as well as guide city officials on local policies to aid that goal. They also collect data to better understand wildlife populations in the region and are authorized to relocate or even euthanize certain animals if necessary.
The program was formally funded in 2021, when the legislature appropriated $15 million to the California Fish and Wildlife Department, $7 million of which went to establishing the statewide Human-Wildlife Conflict Program and the current conflict specialist positions. But that one-time funding has now run out, and there’s no new money for it in the current budget proposal.
That means three out of the four human-wildlife conflict positions will be cut. The single Southern California position left will be permanently funded through existing money, according to the fish and wildlife department.
A black bear, tagged as 162 by wildlife officials, rests on a backyard patio in La Cañada Flintridge in 2024.
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Susanne Whatley
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“[The California Department of Fish and Wildlife] will continue to prioritize response to public safety reports, and urgent animal welfare issues just as we did before the one-time funding allocation occurred,” the department said in a statement in response to questions from LAist. “CDFW is in a better place as a result of one-time funding and we now have many educational resources, data points, and response plans that the funding provided.”
If the program “continues to show success over time, CDFW will need to work diligently to identify and expand resources and capacity,” the statement added.
But Barger said local leaders want more sustained funding for those positions now.
“I understand the governor has tough decisions to make, but this is really an issue that impacts all communities,” she said. “This is not a big ask, but the benefits, to me, far outweigh the cost.”
Two coyotes walk on the grass in Griffith Park (David McNew/Getty Images)
“I hope that the state will allocate the resources to have these human-wildlife conflict specialists available, and I want to really focus on keeping the public who live and visit these foothill communities safe,” she added.
County supervisors are exploring other options if the state doesn’t allocate more funding, including working with San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. That could be tricky, though, because the state has authority over game species like black bears, and specially protected species such as mountain lions.
What’s behind this push?
A rise in reports of black bear sightings and incidents, particularly in Sierra Madre — a city of 11,000 people at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains — is the biggest driver behind the push for a more regional approach to wildlife in urban areas.
Who’s that bear?
Though they may appear brown or blonde, black bears are the only species of bear in California.
For thousands of years, grizzly bears, a subspecies of brown bears, were the main bear of the California landscape, including here in Southern California. But European and American settlers killed them all off by the early 1900s.
Black bears are omnivores and opportunists. They primarily eat plants and bugs, such as acorns, grass and ants, but they’ll also eat animal carcasses, small mammals and, of course, whatever’s in your trash.
While injuries by black bears and other animals remain extremely rare, there have been more reported incidents in recent years. Between 2016 and 2020, four people were injured by black bears in separate incidents in Sierra Madre. Two of those required stitches.
And since 2020, Sierra Madre has seen an increase in black bear sightings and encounters. Most concerning to officials and residents was that, between 2022 and 2023, the city reported more than 70 incidents of bears getting inside homes or cars. That had not been a significant issue earlier.
As a result of resident concerns, the city has relied heavily on guidance from the state’s human-wildlife conflict specialists in handling the rise in encounters.
That guidance led to the city now rolling out bear-resistant green bins, increasing education to residents on how to live safely with black bears, and a plan to launch a volunteer-run wildlife watch program, a community-based model that has seen success in black bear hot spots such as Lake Tahoe and Mammoth.
The city also passed a resolution urging the state to do more to manage the black bear population, and has sent its own letter to the state asking that the human-wildlife conflict program be better funded.
Are there really more bears?
No one really knows exactly why it seems like we’re seeing more black bears in foothill communities, but it’s likely a combination of factors.
A black bear hangs out in a neighborhood in Sierra Madre in May 2024.
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Erin Stone
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LAist
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The pandemic is likely a part of it — more people work at home and see bears. Some experts believe bears may be spending more time in urban areas due to more extreme fire, heat and drought in the last 15 years. There’s also the obvious: for years, communities like Sierra Madre have provided a smorgasbord of unsecured trash cans, enticing fruit trees and pools for bears to cool down in.
State wildlife officials also say black bear populations have grown significantly since the mid-1900s. The state estimates there are now more than 60,000 black bears in California. Ninety percent of them are in the northern and eastern part of the state, but experts believe populations in Southern California are growing too.
A caveat — the data for Southern California is a lot less reliable than the data up north. That’s because these estimates come from hunting data and very little black bear hunting happens down in the Southland.
Get ready for our new wildlife podcast series
Speaking of bears…
In July, LAist will be launching a new season of our Imperfect Paradise podcast on this very topic. Each episode will focus on one animal living among us — mountain lions, coyotes and black bears.
As someone who lives in Sierra Madre and has experienced the bear activity firsthand, I reported the episode about black bears. While black bears used to be more like celebrity sightings, according to long-time residents I’ve spoken with, things have changed in just the last five to 10 years.
Bears are now a far more regular presence than they used to be. Since the weather has started to warm up this year, I’ve seen our local black bears on a near-daily basis. So if you want to learn more about the bears in town — and what us people are making of them — stay tuned for the July launch of our series “Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes and Bears.”
Stefanie Ritoper
was formerly LAist's early childhood engagement producer.
Published May 6, 2026 8:00 AM
LAist reporter Julia Barajas interviews Maria Monares, a longtime resident of East Los Angeles, about odor issues in the area.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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Topline:
Whether you’re looking to connect with a reporter or have an interview coming up, here’s a cheat sheet to help you talk with journalists, including our staff from LAist.
Why it matters: Reporters come to you for a reason. They may be intimidating because they have a mic or a camera, but you have a perspective they need. Media outlets also want to expand their audiences, and that includes you.
Read on... for our cheat sheet on how to talk with journalists.
LAist reports on local issues for — and with — communities across Southern California, but chances are most readers have never spoken with a journalist before. Your stories and experiences power our reporting, so it’s important that people know what to expect when they speak with a reporter.
That’s what this guide is for.
Below are some tips from our newsroom on what to keep in mind when talking to a journalist.
Remember: You are the expert on your own life
Tell the story you want to tell about yourself.
Be honest. Truthfulness and facts are central to journalistic ethics.
Also know your worth. Reporters come to you for a reason. They may be intimidating because they have a mic or a camera, but you have a perspective they need. Media outlets also want to expand their audiences, and that includes you.
Common questions
How can I get a journalist’s attention?
Contact reporters by social media or send them a personal email — at LAist, contact information is available on our staff page. If you meet a reporter, get their business card. It will usually have a direct phone number to talk with them.
Will all my words be published?
Probably not. Journalists are often working with a limited word count or air time. They will likely use one short sound bite or quote from you. It’s also possible they will not use your interview at all. Reporters and their editors decide what will get published.
Can I see a copy of the story before it's published?
Probably not. It is against journalistic ethics to have sources review a story before it’s published. Imagine if a journalist were to do a piece about government corruption. You wouldn’t want the government agency to review the story and edit it. Editors review stories for accuracy.
When will the story be published?
It depends on the type of story. Some stories are short and may air on the radio or be published online the same day you talk to the reporter. Other times a reporter might work on a story for several weeks or months. It’s OK to follow up with the reporter who talked to you and ask when the story might be done and ask them to let you know where you can read or hear it.
Can I speak with a fact-checker?
You are welcome to ask reporters about their fact-checking process or how they make sure a story is accurate. Not all outlets have fact-checkers. If the story is an investigative story or a long-form or magazine format, designated fact-checkers are more common. At LAist, reporters and editors are responsible for verifying information.
What if I am asked about something that makes me feel uncomfortable?
Your story is your own and during an interview you have full control over what you say to a reporter. Answer questions in any way that makes you feel most comfortable, and you can always decline to answer a question.
What do I do if a reporter asks me about my immigration status?
You don't have to disclose your immigration status to a reporter. If it's directly relevant to the story, a trustworthy reporter will explain that and also tell you how they'd handle the information. You can decline to answer.
How do I determine if the newsroom I'm speaking with has a specific point of view?
It's a great question and relates directly to media literacy — meaning how well you can spot misinformation, disinformation and bias. The reality is that we all have points of view. Here are some tools to check on where a publication falls across the political spectrum:
FAIR's (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), which describes itself as a "progressive media watchdog group" has this media literacy guide.
You should be able to find information on who funds the work on the site (corporations, individual owners, subscribers, members and so on).
You can also check out this interactive chart tracking media outlets across the political spectrum (note that you may need a paid version to search smaller outlets). Ad Fontes Media, which describes itself as a "public benefit corporation" which they said means they are "a for-profit business with a stated public mission," has been publishing its analysis since 2018.
Is everything I say usable in a story?
You can come to an agreement with reporters ahead of the conversation about how your words can be used:
“On the record”: This means that everything you say in your conversation with the journalist can be quoted, published and attributed back to you. By default, you should assume any exchange you have with a journalist is on the record unless you mutually agree otherwise.
“On background”: This means that you are sharing information with a journalist that can be referenced in a story, but is not directly attributed to you.
“Off the record”: This means that you are sharing information that is not for publication. People may share experiences or tips off the record if they want the journalist to be aware of the information but don’t want it mentioned in a story. Remember that “off the record” only counts if both you and the journalist agree to it.
It's worth noting that different newsrooms may use these terms slightly differently. You should confirm with the reporter that you have as shared understanding of the meaning.
Do I need to pay to be in a news story? Can I get paid?
No and no. You will not pay or get paid to be in a news story because this is against journalistic ethics. Anyone who receives payment for a story could be swayed to bend the truth.
What if the reporter gets my story wrong?
If you feel that the reporter misrepresented your story, you can ask for a correction or an update to clarify a point. Reporters want to get the story right and they don't want to incorrect or misleading information to go unchecked. That said, corrections deal with information that is factually incorrect, so you should be ready to explain what was wrong and why. Under California law, you have 20 days to demand a correction and the publisher has to respond within a set period of time.
Think about the main points you want to get across in your interview. What are the most critical things for the reporter to know? Some people like to organize their thoughts into three major points. If you are not used to telling your story, you may want to have a friend ask you some questions to practice. Depending on the story, a reporter may also ask if you have any pictures to share that they can use to help tell the story.
Get involved with LAist
Ask LAist reporters questions
You can reach out to LAist reporters through the contact information listed on their bios. All our editorial staff, including the teams reporting, editing and producing news, are listed here.
How else you can be a part of LAist's reporting
Aside from contacting journalists directly, you can share your story with LAist through short surveys and meeting us in person. Learn more here.
This guide was originally written by former LAist early childhood producer Stefanie Ritoper, with contributions from Mariana Dale. Cato Hernández and David Rodriguez also contributed to this guide.
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published May 6, 2026 5:00 AM
The Birria XLB, a limited-edition collab between Paradise Dynasty and Burritos La Palma, available starting May 11.
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Katrina Frederick
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Courtesy Paradise Dynasty
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Topline:
Paradise Dynasty and Burritos La Palma have teamed up on a limited-edition Birria XLB — birria de res folded into a soup dumpling skin.
Why it matters: Two of the defining food obsessions of the past decade in Southern California — birria and XLB — are meeting in one bite, and the collab feels less like a gimmick and more like a natural expression of how L.A.'s Asian and Latino food cultures have always cross-pollinated.
Why now: The Birria XLB drops publicly May 11 at Paradise Dynasty's South Coast Plaza and Americana at Brand locations.
File this under things that could only happen in L.A.
Paradise Dynasty, the Singapore-based chain known for its signature eight-flavor xiao long bao, has teamed up with Burritos La Palma — the SoCal burrito institution whose birria de res recipe traces back over 45 years — to create a limited-edition birria soup dumpling. The Birria XLB will be available starting Monday (May 11) for a limited time at Paradise Dynasty locations.
I've eaten my weight in both soup dumplings and burritos, so naturally, I'm a fan of both.
Paradise Dynasty has been on a steady ascent as a major player in L.A.'s dumpling scene, with locations at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.
Meanwhile, Burritos La Palma — known for its simple, savory burritos and finely crafted flour tortillas — has been capturing hearts and stomachs since Alberto Bañuelos opened the first eatery in L.A. in 2012. It’s since grown to several spots across L.A. and Orange County, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2024 for its high-quality, Zacatecan-style handmade flour tortilla burritos at an affordable price.
How the collab came together
So what exactly is a birria soup dumpling? A delicate wrapper, lightly packed with tender birria de res — slow-braised beef stewed in chilies and spices — juicy, savory and gone in one bite.
It all began with a call from Paradise Dynasty, when Jason Kuo, district manager for Paradise Dynasty USA, reached out to Bañuelos, calling it, simply, a perfect match between the two dishes.
Kuo said the idea came straight from the community.
"When we started asking guests and people around us what flavor they would want to see in a soup dumpling, birria kept coming up again and again — it was very clear. If we're going to do birria, it has to be done right. Burritos La Palma was the first name that came to mind."
Bañuelos was "beyond thrilled" to have been approached.
"We come from a small town in Mexico, and to be able to elevate to the level of Paradise Dynasty and that culinary perfection, I can't even really put it into words," he said.
It took months of R&D to get the right consistency. Bañuelos said the process required dialing down the moisture and upping the spice potency and landed on serving a fresh red salsa with thin slivers of serrano peppers alongside — a riff on the black vinegar and pickled ginger traditionally served with soup dumplings.
The Birria XLB's juicy interior is part of what makes it work — the dish is served with a fresh, tomato-based salsa and slivers of serrano pepper in place of the traditional black vinegar and pickled ginger.
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Katrina Frederick
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Courtesy Paradise Dynasty
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How it tastes
I got a chance to try the dumplings ahead of the public launch and was struck by how well the combination worked. The juicy nature of birria is almost turbocharged in dumpling form, its savory, herbaceous flavors fully encapsulated in the thin skin, creating an exceptional texture in every bite. The dish hits even harder when dipped in the light tomato-based salsa — a rush of freshness that cuts through the richness, with a spike of heat from fresh serrano. (Feel free to skip the peppers if spice isn't your thing.)
But what's most impressive is how organic it all feels. This isn't fusion for fusion's sake — it's a natural meeting of two dishes that are deeply embedded in the Southern California diet, each playing to the other's strengths.
It feels like a logical meeting of the minds — birria and soup dumplings have both been part of L.A.'s culinary zeitgeist for the better part of a decade, and it makes sense that these worlds should collide.
When asked whether a collaboration like this could happen anywhere else, Bañuelos was quick: "It has to start in L.A. You just can't compete."
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.
A gated building at Urban Strategies, a facility that holds unaccompanied minor immigrants under contract with the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, in San Benito, Texas.
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Patricia Lim
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KUT News
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Topline:
Nine Democratic House members from California are demanding information about how the Trump administration is treating unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant and in federal custody.
Why now: They signed a letter last week, along with 39 other House Democrats, to Trump officials expressing their concern that the girls are not receiving adequate medical care or access to abortion.
How we got here: The letter comes in the wake of an investigation by the California and Texas Newsrooms, public media collaboratives in those states. LAist is part of The California Newsroom. The joint investigation found that the federal government is detaining pregnant migrant girls in a single group home in South Texas. Doctors and reproductive-health researchers interviewed for the investigation said prenatal care is severely limited in that region.
Nine Democratic House members from California are demanding information about how the Trump administration is treating unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant and in federal custody. They’ve signed a letter, along with 39 other House Democrats, to Trump officials expressing their concern that the girls are not receiving adequate medical care or access to abortion.
The joint investigation found that the federal government is detaining pregnant migrant girls in a single group home in South Texas. Doctors and reproductive-health experts interviewed for the investigation said prenatal care is severely limited in that region.
The letter says the detention violates federal regulations because the children are “entitled to the full range of medical care, including reproductive health care.”
Rep. Gil Cisneros, who represents the central San Gabriel Valley, says he worries that pregnant migrants who are apprehended in California will be put at risk if they’re sent to a part of Texas that is short on obstetric care. Of particularly concern: High-risk pregnancies are common among minors.
“If they were in California," he said, "they would be able to have more choices of the type of health care that they would get when it comes to reproductive health care.”
Rep. Judy Chu, who represents the West San Gabriel Valley, wrote in a statement that “this administration is so intent on restricting abortion that it is using immigration detention as a tool to control these girls’ bodies.”
Mariana Dale
explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.
Published May 5, 2026 3:40 PM
The Trump administration has announced a Title IX investigation into LAUSD.
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Genaro Molina
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District responds to educators accused of sexual misconduct with students.
Why now: The department accuses the district of maintaining a policy that “automatically” reassigns teachers to other schools when they are accused of sexual misconduct with students and cites a 2024 agreement with the teacher’s union.
The district’s policy: A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson wrote in a statement that it’s “not true” that staff being investigated for sexual misconduct are reassigned to other school sites. “‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” the spokesperson wrote.
LAUSD protocol related to employee misconduct says administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite whenever there is a risk to the safety of students or staff. The 110-page document also lists several other requirements for allegations related to sexual misconduct, including contacting law enforcement and the agencies that license teachers.
The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District responds to educators accused of sexual misconduct with students.
The department accuses the district of maintaining a policy that “automatically” reassigns teachers to other schools when they are accused of sexual misconduct with students and cites a 2024 agreement with the teachers union.
A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson wrote in a statement that it’s “not true” that staff being investigated for sexual misconduct are reassigned to other school sites.
“‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” the spokesperson wrote.
United Teachers Los Angeles called the DOE's accusations a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the district’s reassignment policy.
“[Employees] are not reassigned to another classroom or to any other setting where they would interact with students,” read a statement provided by the union. “This policy protects both students and staff and creates conditions for a thorough and appropriate investigation of allegations.”
Kimberly Richey, the assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in a statement that Title IX requires schools to address claims of sexual misconduct in a “timely manner.”
“It is unconscionable that the district would simply ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements to protect teachers who cause life-changing harm to their kids,” Richey wrote. “The Trump administration will always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of all students and restore common sense to our schools.”
LAUSD protocol related to employee misconduct says administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite whenever there is a risk to the safety of students or staff.
The 110-page protocol document also lists several other requirements for allegations related to sexual misconduct, including contacting law enforcement and the agencies that license teachers.
“Los Angeles Unified takes all allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement. “Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of every student and staff member in our care.” The statement also said the district follows Title IX procedures and continuously reviews its policies, training and reporting systems.
The UTLA settlement outlines several circumstances where an employee can be reassigned, including a law enforcement investigation of misconduct, sexual harassment of a student, behavior toward a student perceived to be motivated by a sexual interest and communicating with a student for non-school-related purposes.
A new California law requires schools to train students and staff to recognize and report misconduct and write new policies on “appropriate behavior.” It also will create a new database of educators credibly accused of abuse.
