Makenna Sievertson
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published March 28, 2025 5:00 AM
Elementary school student drawings of Jackie, Shadow and their chicks.
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Third-grade Denton Elementary School students
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Courtesy of Amy Bauman and Friends of Big Bear Valley
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Topline:
The YouTube livestream of Big Bear’s famous bald eagle nest is popular with parents and educators alike, becoming a fixture in classrooms across the U.S. But when one of Jackie and Shadow’s chicks died a few weeks ago, many adult fans were suddenly confronted with the question — what do I tell the kids?
Why it matters: The loss of the chick can be an opportunity to talk about death with children when the stakes are lower than some of the other ways it comes up in schools or communities, according to David Schonfeld, a developmental behavioral pediatrician who directs the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
One experience: Marcy Billdt was a little hesitant to tell her fourth-grade class in Bakersfield’s Standard School District that one of the three chicks was missing. She did share that Jackie removed the body from the nest, and while they were sad about the loss, the class was able to turn its attention to celebrating how much the other eaglets had grown. “You're just so invested; it's like they're your babies too,” she said.
Read on ... to learn what educators and experts say about addressing the loss.
The YouTube livestream of Big Bear’s famous bald eagle nest is popular with parents and educators alike, becoming a fixture in classrooms across the U.S.
But when one of Jackie and Shadow’s chicks died a few weeks ago, many adult fans were suddenly confronted with the question — what do I tell the kids?
It may feel like a difficult conversation or one that you’d like to avoid entirely. But the loss of the chick can be an opportunity to talk about death with children when the stakes are lower than some of the other ways it comes up in schools or communities, according to David Schonfeld, a developmental behavioral pediatrician who directs the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
“Talking about death with young children, you know, in contexts that are not that personally threatening is actually helpful,” he said. “It can help prepare them for conversations about other losses that have a more direct impact on them.”
Why now and not later
Marcy Billdt was a little hesitant to tell her fourth-grade class in Bakersfield’s Standard School District that one of the three chicks was missing.
After watching the livestream with students for several seasons, she knew the nest didn’t always have a happy ending, but this class had developed a notably strong bond with all three eaglets.
“And honestly, I've attached a bond to [them], too,” Billdt told LAist. “It was something that has become a part of our classroom culture.”
In Marcy Billdt's fourth-grade class, students used their handprints to make Jackie and Shadow art.
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Fourth-grade Standard School District students
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Courtesy of Marcy Billdt
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The artwork was part of a writing prompt for the fourth-graders.
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Fourth-grade Standard School District students
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Courtesy of Marcy Billdt
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It’s normal to want to try to protect children from loss, Schonfeld said, but avoid the urge to clam up completely. Death is a natural part of life that many will confront in childhood — and silence can say more than adults realize.
Avoiding talking about something like death can quickly communicate to children that it’s not appropriate or is off-limits to discuss. And while they may not hear about it from you, that doesn’t mean they won’t learn about it online, on the playground or in public.
“In the United States, we've actually tried to insulate children from death,” Schonfeld said. “But we don't really insulate them from death, we just insulate them from discussions and understanding and coping.”
Talking about loss with children, on the other hand, shows that you are there for them and they can come to you when they’re dealing with important and serious topics.
When Billdt’s students initiated the conversation about the missing chick later that day, she gave them space to express their grief and shed a tear or two. Once they got past the initial shock, she said the students quickly focused on the other two healthy babies and how well Jackie and Shadow were caring for them.
“Kids are extremely resilient if you provide them the support that they need in order to navigate those feelings,” she said.
Additional resources
You can find more information on how children grieve and how you can help them understand death better here. The information is available to download in English, Spanish, Tagalog and five other languages. You can also order a physical copy for free.
But what do I say
The livestream had become a steady feature in Allison Meyer’s fourth-grade classroom in the Garden Grove Unified School District by the time the chick died, and she didn’t want to upset her students when they all returned from spring break the following week.
“ I had seen that Jackie had taken the chick in her beak and flew off with it,” Meyer told LAist. “I did not want to come back ... and show that to the kids.”
An elementary school student drawing of a bald eagle.
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Third-grade Denton Elementary School students
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Courtesy of Amy Bauman
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She did share that Jackie removed the body from the nest, and while they were sad about the loss, the class was able to turn its attention to celebrating how much the other eaglets had grown.
Meyer, on the other hand, seemed to take it harder than the students.
“You're just so invested; it's like they're your babies too,” she said. “It was heartbreaking to me ... took a couple days for me to kind of get over it. So I didn't wanna bum the class out.”
When talking to children about the death of the chick, or other losses in life, Schonfeld said there are a few critical concepts that can help them understand and cope.
An elementary school student drawing of Jackie and Shadow.
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Third-grade Denton Elementary School students
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Courtesy of Amy Bauman
)
First, explain that when somebody or something dies, they cannot come back. This may be contrary to what they see on TV or in cartoon characters, but it’s important for children to understand they’re gone and not just on a long trip far away.
Schonfeld said they should also understand that all living things eventually die. If they don’t realize death is inevitable, children may think they’re being punished in some way, which can lead to feelings of guilt and shame.
Schonfeld also recommended explaining that all life functions stop working in death so children aren’t concerned about them being cold, hungry or lonely.
A drawing of one of Jackie and Shadow's chicks.
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Third-grade Denton Elementary School students
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Courtesy of Amy Bauman
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Overall, be direct and honest, he added. Don’t be afraid to talk about what happened to the chick, but you can also follow-up with how us humans are different. For example, Schonfeld said that while it’s sad the eaglet didn’t survive the snowstorm, fortunately, as people, we do provide resources and support to those who need it.
“It's so much easier to talk about the chicks than it is to talk about, you know, a close family member,” he said. “ I think we should start with the things that naturally present themselves, and that will help put us in a good position to talk about the more difficult topics the kids will have to face during their childhood.”
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published January 8, 2026 4:33 PM
The Original Saugus Cafe's neon sign.
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Konrad Summers
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Creative Commons on Flickr
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Topline:
The Original Saugus Cafe, L.A. County's oldest restaurant since 1886, was supposed to have closed Sunday, with lines around the block. But this week a sign on the door said it was reopening under new ownership. That was news to the Mercado family, who had previously run the business for nearly 30 years. It's turned into a legal dispute between the Mercado family and the owners of the property, who are laying claim to the name.
Why it matters: The dispute highlights the precarious position of small business owners who operate under informal agreements with their landlords. For nearly 30 years, the Mercado family ran the restaurant on a handshake deal with property owner Hank Arklin Sr. After he died, the Mercado family is facing losing not just their location, but potentially the business name and legacy they've built.
Why now: Hank Arklin Sr., a former California assemblyman with multiple properties, died in August at age 97. New management presented the Mercado family with written lease terms they found unfavorable, triggering negotiations to sell the business that ultimately fell apart.
Lines stretched around the block Sunday at the Original Saugus Cafe in Santa Clarita. It was supposed to be the restaurant's last day before closing after 139 years — making it the oldest continually operated restaurant in Los Angeles County.
But earlier this week, a sign was posted on the door saying, "Reopening under new ownership soon," although there were few details about who would be running it.
The sign was a surprise to the Mercado family,who have operated the restaurant for nearly 30 years. The family now is in a legal dispute with the Arklin family, who owns the property, about the potential re-opening and who owns the historic name.
The background
Alfredo Mercado worked his way up from bartender to restaurateur, purchasing the business in 1998. Since then Mercado and his daughters have operated the restaurant, leasing from the Arklin family. For most of that time, according to the Mercado side, the two families maintained good terms. Property owner Hank Arklin Sr., a former state assemblyman who owned other properties in the area, kept a verbal month-to-month agreement with the Mercados — no written lease required.
That changed when Arklin died in August at age 97.
New terms, failed negotiations
Larry Goodman, who manages multiple properties for the Arklin family's company, North Valley Construction, took over the landlord relationship. In September, the Mercado family say they were presented with a new written month-to-month lease.
Yecenia Ponce, Alfredo's daughter, said the new terms included various changes to the existing agreement, including a rent increase and charges for equipment.
Months of back and forth negotiations about different options, including selling the business, ultimately fell apart. Their attorney, Steffanie Stelnick, says they are being forced out, without proper legal notice, and has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Goodman saying the family has plans to continue running the business.
LAist reached out to Goodman for comment repeatedly Wednesday and Thursday by phone but did not hear back.
Goodman told The Signal, a Santa Clarita valley news outlet, that Alfredo Mercado had changed his mind several times in recent weeks about keeping the business.
“I said, ‘Fine,’ then I got out and got someone to take it over,” Goodman said.
He said he'd been in contact with Eduardo Reyna, the CEO of Dario's, a local Santa Clarita restaurant, and that the cafe could re-open as soon as Jan. 16.
Who owns what?
The dispute also focuses on who owns the rights to the Original Saugus Cafe name.
Ponce said when her father purchased the restaurant in 1998, it was called The Olde Saugus Cafe, but the name was then changed to The Original Saugus Cafe. State records show that name registered as an LLC under Alfredo Mercado.
After Arklin’s death, however, the Arklin family filed a pending trademark application to lay its own claim to the name.
The Mercado family is resisting.
"As long as they don't buy the name from us, we're not handing it over," Ponce said.
Ponce said the family had no idea the landlord planned to continue operations.
"We truly did think we were closing," she said. "We were not aware that they had plans to continue."
She apologized to customers for the confusion.
Whether the decades-old restaurant name survives — and under whose control — may ultimately be decided in court.
Makenna Sievertson
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California. She has a special place in her heart for eagles and other creatures that make this such a fascinating place to live.
Published January 8, 2026 4:22 PM
The roughly 550-pound male black bear has been hiding out under an Altadena home.
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CBS LA
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Ken Jonhson
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Topline:
A large black bear has finally crawled out from under a house in Altadena where he’s been hiding for more than a month.
How we got here: The roughly 550-pound bear, dubbed “Barry” by the neighbors, had been holed up in a crawlspace beneath the home since late November.
Why now: Cort Klopping, a spokesperson with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed to LAist Thursday that the bear had left and the access point had been secured.
The backstory: This wasn’t the first time the bear hid out under a house in Altadena. The same bear was lured out from another crawlspace in the area and relocated miles away to the Angeles National Forest after the Eaton Fire last year. Wildlife officials said they believed he'd been back in Altadena for several months.
Why it matters: Officials encourage residents to secure access points around their homes. One suggestion is to cover crawlspaces with something stronger than the wire mesh Barry has broken through, such as metal bars.
What you can do: Bears are extremely food motivated and can smell snacks in trash cans on the curb from 5 miles away, Klopping has said. He suggested putting trash cans out the same day they get picked up and bringing pet food sources inside, including bird feeders. You can find tips on how to handle a bear in your backyard here and resources from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife here.
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.
Libby Rainey
is a general assignment reporter. She covers the news that shapes Los Angeles and how people change the city in return.
Published January 8, 2026 2:15 PM
A protester displays a poster as tear gas is used in the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles on June 8, 2025.
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Eric Thayer/AP
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FR171986 AP
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Topline:
Community leaders and politicians in Los Angeles are responding in outrage after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The fatal ICE shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good has sparked anger and fear in Los Angeles, which has been an epicenter of federal immigration enforcement since the summer.
What are some groups saying? Jorge-Mario Cabrera with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, says the killing was upsetting but not surprising. " Los Angeles has been witness of the escalating aggressiveness of these federal agents against the community," he told LAist.
Read on... for how local politicians are reacting.
Community leaders and politicians in Los Angeles are responding in outrage after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minnesota on Wednesday.
The fatal ICE shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good has sparked anger and fear in Los Angeles, which has been an epicenter of federal immigration enforcement since the summer.
Jorge-Mario Cabrera with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, says the killing was upsetting but not surprising.
" Los Angeles has been witness of the escalating aggressiveness of these federal agents against the community," he told LAist.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the shooting, saying Good was trying to run agents over with her car. That account has been disputed by eyewitnesses, the mayor of Minneapolis and other officials. Bystander video also challenges the federal narrative, according to MPR News.
L.A. politicians have joined a chorus demanding justice for Good. Mayor Karen Bass posted on X, saying that ICE agents are waging "a purposeful campaign of fear and intimidation" on American cities.
"The senseless killing of an innocent and unarmed wife and mother by ICE agents today in Minneapolis is shocking and tragic and should never have occurred," she said in the post.
The senseless killing of an innocent and unarmed wife and mother by ICE agents today in Minneapolis is shocking and tragic and should never have occurred. And it happened because of the brutal and racist policies of the Trump administration that unleashed these agents in…
Nereida Moreno
is our midday host on LAist 89.3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Published January 8, 2026 2:05 PM
Crystal Hernández is the violinist for the Mariachi Rams and the only woman in the group.
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Courtesy Los Angeles Rams
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Topline:
As the Rams head to the NFL playoffs this weekend, we’re shining the spotlight on a beloved fan favorite: the Mariachi Rams. Violinist Crystal Hernández, the only woman in the band, tells LAist it’s exciting to see how fans — even those cheering for the opposing team — have embraced their presence at SoFi Stadium. She said it shows how involved and integral Latino culture is to L.A.
“There's no boundary. There's no border,” she said. “It’s all about love and joy and bringing excitement to the game.”
Why it matters: The Rams are the first NFL team to have an official mariachi. The group was formed in 2019 by Hernández' father, the renowned mariachi Jose Hernández. Since then, a handful of teams, including the Houston Texans, have begun incorporating mariachi bands as part of their cultural programming.
Game day: The Mariachi Rams’ musical flare has captivated audiences, blending hip-hop and rock-and-roll sounds with traditional mariachi. They typically perform two or three times throughout the game, starting with a Mexican classic like “El Rey” and segueing into local favorites like “Low Rider” from the Long Beach band War and Tupac’s “California Love.”
The Mariachi Rams blend hip-hop and rock and roll sounds with traditional mariachi. They typically perform two or three times throughout each game.
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Courtesy Los Angeles Rams
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Keeping traditions alive: Crystal Hernández also works with L.A. County students at the nonprofit Mariachi Heritage Society. She said it’s important to pass the tradition down to kids — and especially young girls who may not otherwise see themselves represented onstage.
“If you're a mariachi, you're also an educator,” she said. “It's our responsibility to teach the next generation so this beautiful Mexican tradition doesn't die out.”
