A view of mudslide damage in Los Angeles, California where nearly seven inches of rain had fallen by Monday.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Los Angeles County appears hardest hit in the second of two big storms to hit California in a week. The storm has parked itself over the region, causing debris flows and widespread flooding.
Why it matters: Don't put away those sandbags just yet, because even after a day of record-breaking rainfall, heavy precipitation is expected to continue Monday into Tuesday.
What's next: Throughout the day, the storm should shift slightly to the west, affecting western L.A. and Ventura counties, which have already been getting walloped.
Keep reading... for more details and the latest conditions.
Where to find the latest information
Some resources to make sure you have the most up-to-date information:
Officials urged people in L.A. County to stay vigilant as the second of two atmospheric rivers continues to soak the region, causing floods, downed trees, debris flows and other hazards ahead of what is expected to be another full day of rain on Tuesday.
So far, Los Angeles County has been the hardest hit since the storm parked itself over the region, causing debris flows and widespread flooding.
The storm is expected to head southeast on Tuesday over Riverside and San Diego counties. L.A., meanwhile, will keep getting drenched. An additional 3 to 6 inches is possible before things start to dry out Wednesday.
Downtown L.A. saw 4.1 inches of rain, breaking the previous daily rainfall record of 2.55 inches set in 1927. Sunday was the 10th wettest day in L.A. history.
However, those rainfall totals are mild compared to what we've seen at other weather stations. More than 10 inches of precipitation has fallen on Topanga and Woodland Hills in the western San Fernando Valley.
"Stay safe and off the roads. Only leave your house if it is absolutely necessary," L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference Monday.
As of noon Monday, the L.A. Fire Department had rescued trapped motorists, responded to 130 flooding incidents, and 49 reports involving mud and debris flows, officials said.
At around 9 p.m. Sunday, 16 residents were evacuated from nine Studio City homes after a mudslide damaged two structures on Lockridge road. And L.A. firefighters evacuated people from at least three homes affected by debris flows on West Boris Drive in Tarzana. A landslide on Beverly Crest damaged at least six homes, forcing the evacuation of 15 people.
More than 7,200 LADWP customers were without power as of midday.
Flood watches and warnings are in place from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties through Tuesday as the heavy rain is expected to continue.
These long, sustained periods of rain are characteristic of El Niño storms. Warmer than normal waters off the coast — often associated with the climate phenomenon — are juicing our recent storms by sending more heat and water into the atmosphere.
Keep scrolling to see more information on rainfalls, landslides and other critically important information about the storm.
A man walks his dog on the edge of the Los Angeles River, carrying stormwater downstream Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024.
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Damian Dovarganes
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AP
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Areas of high concern
The southbound 405 Freeway at Moraga Drive, where a rock slide is blocking an outside lane.
The 5 Freeway's southbound connector to the 110 Freeway is blocked by a rock slide.
San Bernardino County officials are concerned about the potential amounts of snow falling in the mountain communities from Arrowhead to Big Bear. You'll recall that last year, massive amounts of snow paralyzed the communities, stranding people in their homes, destroying a local grocery store and making it difficult for people to get food and services. They are expecting 2 to 4 feet of snow above 7,000 feet and up to 10 inches in the 5,000 to 6,000 foot level.
The Lost Hills Sheriff's Station says all roads going to and from Malibu are having rock and mud slides. Malibu Canyon Road is closed between Malibu Crest and Mulholland Highway.
Sheriff's officials advise against driving on Kanan Dume Road, Topanga Canyon and other area roads.
Caltrans has closed State Route 23, aka Westlake Boulevard south of East Potrero Road due to flooding.
Pacific Coast Highway between Warner and Seaport in Huntington Beach is closed due to flooding.
Video: High winds on State Route 2 at post mile 57.5 in Angeles Forest this afternoon. SR-2 was already closed from Mt. Wilson Red Box Rd. to Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Rd & Islip Saddle to Vincent Gulch before the storm. STAY OFF mountain routes during this storm. #ACH#stormpic.twitter.com/wBzoSglcTS
It's not uncommon for rocks and mud to flow off steep hillsides and onto roads during heavy rains, and debris flows were reported across the region overnight. Additional incidents are likely as the day progresses.
Studio City: Two homes damaged by mudflow, with a total of 16 residents evacuated from nine homes. Heavy equipment has been brought out to help clear the road.
Tarzana: Three homes damaged by a mudflow and two people evacuated from a home.
Beverly Crest: Seven homes have been damaged by debris flow and 15 people were evacuated.
Topanga Canyon: A mudflow has closed a portion of the canyon.
Southbound 5 Freeway to southbound 110 Freeway, and Riverside Drive on-ramp: Closed due to mudflow.
405 Freeway just before Sunset: Small debris flow has closed the offramp.
Agoura Hills: Small mudslides at Cornell road and Eagleton street.
Malibu: 10-foot boulder reported on northbound Malibu Canyon Road just north of Pacific Coast Highway.
Several homes on Lockridge Road in Studio City damaged after part of the hillside came down. Look at the boulders that made their way down the hill to Fryman. @foxlapic.twitter.com/PF92aG1mau
But Jon Sweeten, a reservoir regulation engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, said videos of the Los Angeles River seemingly on the verge of overflowing shouldn't necessarily be cause for alarm.
“People see a lot of water in a channel that they see that's normally dry and they go, ‘Oh my goodness, there's a lot of water,’” he said. “That's just the channel operating in the way it was designed.”
The system, Sweeten added, “is designed to hold some of the water behind the dams and release it into concrete line channels that will convey the flow very effectively to the ocean.”
Since the 51 miles of river pass through different cities, at the time it was built, they were responsible for building bridges within their respective boundaries. Locals at the time asked for a narrow river so that it would be cheaper to build the bridges while also preserving more developable land.
“In order to make the system work well, they designed it so that it flowed very fast so — the system flows much faster than a natural stream would flow,” Sweeten said. “Which is why it's dangerous for people to stand on the concrete in the L.A. River, because water up to your ankle is capable of knocking you off your feet.”
Up in the mountains
So far, snow levels have been quite high, mostly above 7,000 feet. They'll fall to about 5,500 feet by Monday night, bringing snow to popular mountain areas.
Big Bear could see 6 to 8 inches, while Wrightwood could see 12 to 18 inches.
New Snow Alert: 2 more inches overnight reported on 2.4.24 bringing the 3-day total to 19". Snow expected through the week. Snow chains are in effect.
Higher mountain peaks like San Jacinto (10,834 feet) could get around 1 to 3 feet of snow, while Mt. San Antonio (10,064 feet) could get 4 to 6 feet.
The eastern San Gabriel mountains and the San Bernardino County mountains are under a winter storm warning until 10 p.m. Tuesday for areas above 6,000 feet.
Travel is expected to be difficult, if not impossible. Higher mountains could see winds up to 70 mph, which can damage trees and knock them onto roadways. If you must head in or around these areas, pack emergency supplies in your car just in case.
The Mount Wilson observatory closed Saturday until further notice because of the weather. Mountain High Resort was also closed Monday, but is expected to reopen on Tuesday.
The Angeles National Forest is urging people to stay away from the area at least for the next few days. Very hazardous conditions are expected, including heavy rain, fast-moving landslides, snow, and flooding.
Evacuations
Los Angeles County
An evacuation order is in effect for homes and businesses along La Tuna Canyon Road near the burn scars from the Land Fire in 2022. More info here.
Evacuation order was issued Saturday night through 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, for the area of Topanga Canyon along Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Owen Fire burn scar. Officials said: "Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access."
Evacuation order for the Agua Fire Burn Area in Soledad Canyon, east of Acton.
Evacuation warnings are in effect Sunday morning through 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, for areas near the Bobcat Fire (north end) and Lake Fire burn scars.
An evacuation warningis in effect Sunday afternoon through 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6 for the area in the Fish Fire burn scar in the city of Duarte.
Evacuation warnings are also in effect Monday afternoon through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6 for areas of Culver City’s Upper Crest area due to potential mud or debris flows. The city is asking people who live above, below, or adjacent to a hillside in or below the Upper Crest neighborhood to take extra precautions.
A voluntary evacuation warning was issued for Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon and Trabuco Canyons due to heavy rains.
Canyon residents were strongly encouraged to prepare and voluntarily evacuate on Sunday, especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals.
From the Yucaipa Police Department: Evacuation warning due to potential mud and debris flow for El Dorado and Apple fire burn scars.
Schools
Los Angeles Unified School District announced that all schools will be open on Monday with the exception of Topanga Elementary Charter and Vinedale College Preparatory Academy. Topanga students may report to Woodland Hills academy at 8001 Ledge Avenue in Sun Valley, while Vinedale students may report to Glenwood Elementary School.
Santa Monica and Malibu Unified schools are expected to open Tuesday.
Long Beach Unified released this statement on Sunday afternoon: "While there are currently no plans to close schools, in the event of any impacts or changes to scheduled plans, families from the affected schools will receive direct communication via text and email. Additionally, updates will be promptly posted on the school websites and social media platforms."
Santa Barbara Unified and Santa Maria Joint Union High School District have both preemptively cancelled classes and activities for Monday.
Universities
UCLA- Normal operations. Classes will occur as usual
USC- Normal operations. Classes will occur as usual
Cal State Fullerton is pivoting to remote classes on Monday. Staff are encouraged to work remotely. The faculty will have access to offices and facilities as the campus will remain open.
UC Santa Barbara has instructed faculty to move to remote instruction or reschedule classes. Any staff impacted by weather (including if a child’s school closes) should be allowed to work remotely or “request time off”
Cal State Long Beach said it expects normal operations and classes to resume on Tuesday.
Cal Poly Pomona is moving to remote classes and remote work for non-essential employees on Monday. The university says "The campus will remain open and minimally staffed, including University Housing, the Library, Centerpointe and student health services. We will provide an update via email and on the safety and emergency web page by the end of business on Monday regarding operating plans for Tuesday, February 6, 2024."
Cal State Northridge remains open, but on-campus in-person classes are cancelled. Course instructors will determine whether courses will shift to online instruction or alternative assignments.
The forecast for coming days, as of Sunday morning.
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Courtesy National Weather Service
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Here's what rainfall totals are forecast to be in coming days:
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Courtesy NWS San Diego
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High winds are also expected to be an issue:
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Courtesy NWS Los Angeles
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Emergency proclamations and preparation
The powerful storm moved L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to sign an emergency proclamation Sunday night for the region. She said the move will align the county with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency order and help the county act quickly to deploy resources.
“We had to proclaim a local emergency today following the governor’s statewide emergency declaration. We wouldn’t do that if this was something to ignore,” Horvath said.
San Bernardino County also declared a state of emergency Sunday night in anticipation of extreme rain and snow expected through Wednesday.
“This declaration puts the state and federal government on notice that our residents will need their help,” said San Bernadino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said the city is prepared to weather the effects of a potentially catastrophic storm. Bass declared a local state of emergency on Monday.
“This has been a tough day for our city,” Bass said Monday evening.
A man and his dog were rescued from the Pacoima Wash near Foothill Boulevard via helicopter after he jumped into the water after his dog. LAFD Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said both the man and the dog are safe now.
Bass said more than 100 unhoused people had to be evacuated from a tiny home complex. She added that they’re being moved into a nearby shelter that wasn’t being used, but now will be “instantly” filled.
Bass also answered a call from President Joe Biden towards the end of Monday’s news conference and held the phone up to the microphone so he could speak to the people of Los Angeles.
“We’ll get any help on the way as soon as you guys request it, so just let me know,” Biden said.
Mandatory evacuations have been issued for certain areas of L.A. and Santa Barbara counties.
Why LAUSD plans to be open Monday
L.A. Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said based on Monday's forecast, schools will remain open tomorrow morning, unless weather conditions change. District officials said they issue an update at 6 a.m. Monday.
Carvalho said in a news conference Sunday that the schools will remain open because "they are the places where many of our kids receive their nutrition."
However, Vinedale Elementary School, which is in an area in Sun Valley that is under mandatory evacuation, will be shut down. Students will report to Glenwood Elementary School about a mile away.
Heavy rains are expected to continue through Monday morning, with some of the most intense downpours expected between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.. The National Weather Service is warning of "life threatening flooding, damaging winds and heavy mountain snow," and has revised the expected rain totals to up to 8 inches across the greater L.A., and up to 14 inches in the mountains and foothills, through Tuesday.
"Los Angeles County now seems to be the area of most concern where the heaviest rain will last the longest," said Ryan Kittell at the National Weather Service.
Flooding and other dangers are expected for across the state. California officials warned that the Southern California coastline — including Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas — would likely see the most severe damage.
"These next storms are going to be impactful and dangerous, and most of the damaging impacts most likely to our coastal and southern regions," said Nancy Ward, director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "They're the most dangerous natural disasters that we have, killing more people from storm damages and flooding than wildfires every year."
More ahead
Residents in mountain, canyon and coastal areas should prepare for the risk of debris flows and flooding to remain at least through Tuesday.
Those in landslide prone areas like the Palos Verdes Peninsula should be on the lookout for indications of land movement, including the formation of new cracks, the fracturing of underground utilities, doors and windows falling out of plumb and sounds of creaks and groans coming from the ground.
Los Angeles County Fire Department locations also have sandbags and sand.
Sand and sandbags are available at these locations in Orange County.
Significant snowfall expected for #SoCal thru Tue.
- 2 to 4 feet above 7000 ft - 10-20 inches between 6000 and 7000 ft - Up to 10 inches between 5000 and 6000 ft - Wind gusts up to around 90 MPH -WINTER STORM WARNINGS in effect thru Tue#CAwxpic.twitter.com/iKjqJPN7Ss
Here’s an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings, if any are issued:
Flood advisories are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The goal is to give people enough time to take action.
Flood watches are your indicators to get prepared to move.
Aflood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area, you need to get to higher ground immediately.
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is coming or in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can start within minutes.
If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags you can find some at local fire houses.
Staying safe when the winds are high
Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they may pose a significant fire hazard.
If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away.
Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching.
Do not use any equipment inside that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.
Tips on staying warm
State law requires residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment, usually central air conditioning (A/C) or a wall heater. — Caitlin Hernández
Use heat smartly to save money: Cranking things like the A/C and wall heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
Open and close those vents: If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
Adjust your wall heaters: If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
Turn on your ceiling fan (really): If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. The direction a fan turns can push air in different directions, and since hot air floats up, you’ll want to move that around. Your fan should spin clockwise to create an updraft to circulate. Not all fans will have this option, though.
George Kiriyama, a senior editor, is tracking the storm and adding updates along with Kevin Tidmarsh, a producer, and Fiona Ng, LAist's weekend editor. Other LAist staff members will be keeping a close eye on how the storm is affecting various parts of the region.
This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.
Many Native American languages are endangered. With the help of his mentor, a 12-year-old in Michigan hopes to help preserve his language through robotics.
Why it matters: U.S. Indian boarding schools played a major role in the loss of Indigenous languages. Children separated from their families were taught, sometimes violently, not to speak their native tongues, and many did not pass them on to their children.
Today, some Native youth are learning their languages in schools. That's why SkoBot was invented.
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The idea came to Danielle Boyer in a toy store. The inspiration? It was Tickle Me Elmo.
"Whenever you'd press his belly, he would talk, and he would teach you things," she said. "There are toys that teach us in English, but there aren't toys that teach us Anishinaabemowin. And I wanted that to be different."
Anishinaabemowin includes the Potawatomi, Odawa and Ojibwe languages. Exact estimates vary, but there are fewer than 10,000 people in the U.S. who speak Anishinaabemowin. That number is around 25,000 in Canada. Some Native languages have just a few dozen fluent speakers, while others have none.
Boyer has seen how quickly language loss can happen. Her grandmother speaks Anishinaabemowin, but she is one of the last fluent speakers of their dialect.
"It is devastating to feel like your language could be lost," said Boyer, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. "You lose your culture, you lose a way to describe who you are."
U.S. Indian boarding schools played a major role in the loss of Indigenous languages. Children separated from their families were taught, sometimes violently, not to speak their native tongues, and many did not pass them on to their children.
Today, some Native youth are learning their languages in schools. But Boyer said many of them still aren't invested. "They see it as another homework assignment."
Boyer and Hoy work on some last-minute adjustments to his AI-powered SkoBot before presenting at his school's end-of-year showcase, called the STEAM Museum.
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That's why she invented the SkoBot. It's a customizable toy robot designed to get Indigenous children excited to learn their languages.
"I can say 'Hey SkoBot, what is bear?' And it will say, 'Bear is makwa, makwa,' and it'll repeat it, right? So I can say, 'What is crane?' It'll say, 'Crane is ajijaak, ajijaak.'"
SkoBots use a form of artificial intelligence to speak Indigenous languages, and they're small enough to mount on the user's shoulder. They sort of resemble mini R2-D2 droids, from Star Wars, except these robots are designed to look like woodland creatures and decorated in Native American florals.
Through a nonprofit she started when she was 18, Boyer, now 25, has mentored hundreds of Native American children across the country, teaching them to build SkoBots of their own. One of them is 12-year-old Holden Hoy in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
"I was already a big fan of robotics and how they work, how you can bring inanimate objects to life," he said. "And I'm Ojibwe, and so I've always wanted to save the Ojibwe language."
Hoy, a rising seventh-grader, showed off his design at an end-of-the-year science fair at his school, JKL Bahweting Anishinaabe School in Sault Ste. Marie. Like Boyer, he is a member of the Sault Tribe.
He programmed his SkoBot to answer three questions ahead of his presentation. One of them was, "What's your name," to which the robot would respond in Hoy's voice: "Aaniin, Hello. Sabe indizhinikaaz, Bahweting indoonjibaa. I was built by Holden Hoy. I will not gain sentience and take over the world. Or will I?"
Hoy named his SkoBot Sabe, which means Bigfoot in Anishinaabemowin. In Ojibwe culture, Bigfoot represents honesty, one of seven sacred teachings.
His classmates and their parents stopped by his booth to see Sabe in action. Boyer was there too, helping Hoy with his presentation.
"I'm very happy that people are actually coming to this booth," Hoy said. "I'm happy that they are learning things, and I'm really happy that I'm part of the Ojibwe."
Sabe has one eye, a sensor that detects movement and lets it know to start listening.
Hoy's Sabe, or Bigfoot, SkoBot on display (right), alongside three other SkoBots that Boyer brought with her to show off at the STEAM Museum. Each represents a specific animal: a wolf, turtle and bear. Hoy's SkoBot is 3D printed in light gray, and its face is adorned with a footprint surrounded by floral designs.
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"Basically, when it hears that one trigger word, it then plays a prerecorded audio file. So there isn't synthetic speech, there isn't any generative AI," said Boyer. "It's simply listening to what you're saying, identifying it and playing [audio files] that already exist."
That means the SkoBots will never make things up, often called AI hallucinations. Hoy said it's important not to use generative AI. "AI tends to falsify things a lot, not get things from trustworthy sources."
Boyer's goal isn't to replace interactions with real language speakers. Instead, it's to get kids interested in not only their languages, but in subjects like science, math and engineering as well. That includes getting them to think about how to use AI ethically.
"Artificial intelligence, especially when it's not created by Indigenous people, stands to do a lot of harm to our communities," she said. "When you are putting accurate information into these models … you're giving away sacred information to companies that don't have our best interests at heart."
And as chatbots have become more popular, Boyer said some people have turned to them to help them learn their languages. She's even seen large language models like ChatGPT invent fake words in Anishinaabemowin, which she said is dangerous. "If we're not learning our language correctly, we shouldn't learn it at all."
Jocelyn Hoy is Holden's mom. She's excited that her son is not only exposed to their culture, but he's eager to know more. She said he's even been teaching her new things.
"As someone who, at a time in my life, did not want to be identified as Native American … now as an adult, I cannot wait to learn more, and I think the SkoBots are going to help me and so many kids — so many people in general — learn their heritage and who they are."
Holden Hoy said that heritage and the language are inseparable: "The language is the culture!"
He added, "It is important to protect it, because it's some people's way of life. Generation after generation is based around this culture."
Artist brings Korean public art tradition to Ktown
By Hannah Kang | The LA Local
Published July 26, 2026 10:00 AM
Artist Dave Young Kim's mural at the Korean Resource Center in Koreatown depicts traditional Korean drummers. The mural was informed by oral histories collected by youth in the Koreatown Storytelling Program.
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Nathan Solis
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Topline:
Korean American artist Dave Young Kim has completed his first mural in Koreatown, aiming to revive a tradition of Korean public art that has largely disappeared from the neighborhood where he grew up.
The mural: Installed this summer at the Korean Resource Center, the mural centers on pungmulnori — a traditional Korean folk performance combining drumming, dance and acrobatics — with drummers moving beneath sweeping ribbons of color and plum blossoms blooming across the wall.
Why it matters: Kim, 46, who was born and raised in Koreatown, says many of the culturally rooted murals he remembers from childhood have vanished, along with the public funding that once supported them. His work carries forward a tradition established by Korean American muralists like Dong-In Park in the late 1980s and early 1990s — at a time when longtime residents worry the neighborhood's Korean character is fading amid rapid change.
Murals depicting Korean drummers, dancers and historical figures were a large part of Dave Young Kim’s childhood in Koreatown.
At the time, the Korean American artist didn’t know what all of the imagery meant, but it left a lasting impression on him.
“We don’t learn culture via formal education. It’s all gleaned,” Kim said. “It’s just what we sense, and we feel a connection to it without actually knowing anything about it. It belongs to us, and it feels very familiar.”
Many of the murals Kim remembers from his childhood have since disappeared. With his latest mural at the Korean Resource Center, Kim hopes to bring some of that visual imagery back to the neighborhood.
Completed this summer, the mural is Kim’s first in Koreatown.
The mural shows a group of traditional Korean drummers moving beneath sweeping ribbons of color, with plum blossoms blooming across the bottom of the wall. Faint outlines of traditional Korean architecture appear in the background.
At the center of the mural is 풍물놀이 (pungmulnori), a traditional Korean folk performance that combines drumming, dance and acrobatics and has long been part of village festivals and celebrations.
A close-up view of artist Dave Young Kim’s mural at the Korean Resource Center in Koreatown. The work depicts traditional Korean drummers.
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Courtesy Dave Young Kim
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For Kim, the project was a chance to reconnect the neighborhood with the kind of cultural imagery he says shaped his own understanding of identity growing up.
“It was important to me growing up, and for me to see myself through very purposeful art, very intentional art,” he said. “For my own formation and identity, I think it was very important. I’d like to do that for future generations.”
Kim, 46, who was born and raised in Koreatown, said the project felt different from his other murals because it was rooted in the community where he spent his childhood.
“The formative years of my life are here,” he said.
The project grew out of the Abbey Mural Prize, a national grant program that supports community-based public mural projects.
As part of the project, Kim partnered with the Koreatown Storytelling Program, which trains youth to interview community elders. Students interviewed residents at Durae Crenshaw House, an affordable senior housing complex and home to the Korean Resource Center, and shared transcripts with Kim as he developed the mural.
The architecture in the mural reflects the idea of home that emerged repeatedly in interviews with elders, Kim said.
“There were a lot of iterations of the mockups. The very initial ones were very, very, very rooted in the stories, the narratives from the elders,” Kim said.
The interviews also left an impression on Daisy Yeon, 17, one of the students who conducted them. She said participating in the project changed the way she thinks about Koreatown and its history.
Yeon said she believes traditional Korean imagery still has a place in a neighborhood that has changed rapidly in recent years.
“Personally, the way Koreatown has evolved in these few last years from the pandemic and the shift where people move into other Korean enclaves like Buena Park and Torrance, Koreatown is partly becoming a place of pop-up matcha spots, for example,” she said. “So I think it’s important for tradition to still be here.”
Seeing the finished mural was “a full-circle moment,” she said, after spending months interviewing elders whose stories became part of the artwork.
While researching Koreatown’s public art history, Kim learned many of the murals he saw as a kid grew out of cultural initiatives and public funding that no longer exist. He also discovered an earlier generation of Korean American muralists whose work once covered parts of Koreatown.
In 1993, artist Dong-In Park completed a mural of traditional Korean farmers’ dance in the Korean Community Center at 981 S. Western Ave.
He told the Los Angeles Times he hoped “the 1.5- and second-generation Korean kids” would not forget their language and history. Park, along with artists including Sonia Hahn and Kuk Chol Han, helped establish a tradition of public art celebrating Korean culture during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
An undated photo of Dong-In Park’s mural depicting a farmers band playing music and dancing to provide entertainment for Korea’s largely agricultural population. The mural was previously located at 981 Western Avenue in Koreatown.
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Courtesy Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles
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Kim wants his mural to carry that tradition forward while also reflecting the history of the community it was created for.
The Korean Resource Center, founded by South Korean democracy activist Yoon Han-bong, has long organized around immigrant rights, workers’ rights and civic engagement. During the project, Kim learned that traditional Korean drumming has long played a role in the organization’s activism.
In the mural, an older drummer who immigrated from Korea leads the group, followed by a middle-aged performer who learned from him and younger drummers wearing sneakers, modeled after college students who continue the tradition today.
“Where we landed was very much to the core of what KRC is,” Kim said. “They are very activist and progressive.”
The Koreatown of today is filled with Korean-owned businesses and Korean-language signs, Kim said, but far fewer public murals reflecting Korean culture.
His latest mural isn’t about recreating the past so much as restoring something he believes has faded from the neighborhood.
As an artist, Kim said, public art has the power to shape how people experience a place.
“There’s something about the everyday landscape that you kind of are forced to take in,” he said, “and then as an artist, having the ability to shape what that might be.”
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Remediation work continues at Lineage Logistics, where residents and nearby businesses have had to deal with odor complaints as rotten food remains inside the ruined cold-storage Lineage Logistics warehouse in Boyle Heights nearly one month after the fire.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
Lineage, the company leasing the storage warehouse in Boyle Heights that burned in June, says “nearly half” the food waste has been removed.
Why it matters: The rotting food inside the warehouse has led to noxious odors in the surrounding neighborhood, causing issues with vermin.
The backstory: Lineage has been removing the food products for weeks and has faced citations and warnings from L.A. County and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
What's next: Demolition and cleanup of the rest of the burned building will be completed in the coming days, the company said, as it begins cleanup of the unburned section.
Lineage Logistics, the company that operates the burned cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights, announced yesterdayit's removed “nearly half” of the food waste there.
The waste, the company said, has been sealed in deodorized containers and is being transported off-site.
Lineage estimated that demolition and cleanup of the rest of the burned structure should be largely completed in the “coming days.”
Before the weeklong fire that began on June 17, the warehouse stored approximately 44,000 tons, or 88 million pounds, of food.
The company said it has started removing the wall separating the burned and unburned sections of the building this weekend to speed up the cleaning of the unburned structure.
The process includes installing plastic sheeting where the wall used to be to help tamp down odors
That part could take up to three days and may temporarily increase odors. To mitigate the smell, the company said three carbon filters will be added on the Union Pacific side of the warehouse.
The company is trying to meet a 45-day deadline set by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass to complete the cleanup. Lineage has faced citations and warnings from L.A. County and the South Coast Air Quality Management District for "an ongoing odor nuisance" and “unsanitary and nuisance conditions.”
Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted in favor of easing regulation of popular peptides. The recommendations could pave the way for specialized pharmacies to produce them in the U.S.
Why it matters: Currently, these peptides can't be made in the U.S., except for research purposes, leading many peptide users to buy unvetted substances sold online, with disclaimers such as "for research use only" and "not for human consumption."
By narrow margins, the panel voted in favor of all but one. The FDA isn't required to follow advisory committee recommendations but typically does.
A slate of popular peptide therapies has won the backing of a key advisory panel to the federal government — a step that could eventually open up broader access to the experimental drugs.
In a marathon two-day meeting last week, the panel of doctors, academics and pharmacists recommended the Food and Drug Administration reclassify almost all of the compounds under consideration so that specialized pharmacies in the U.S. could begin offering them.
Seven different peptide therapies — none of which are FDA-approved drugs — were under consideration.
Currently, these peptides can't be made in the U.S., except for research purposes, leading many peptide users to buy unvetted substances sold online, with disclaimers such as "for research use only" and "not for human consumption."
By narrow margins, the panel voted in favor of all but one. The FDA isn't required to follow advisory committee recommendations but typically does.
The outcome represents a win for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly supported peptide therapies, and the broader wellness and longevity industry, which stands to profit substantially.
These peptides are promoted for a wide range of uses and are often taken together, including for injury recovery, muscle growth and fat loss, improving athletic performance, enhancing metabolism and more.
If the agency takes the panel's recommendations, clinicians could have the ability to prescribe six peptide therapies: BPC-157, MOTS-c, KPV, TB-500, Epitalon and Semax.
A compound called Emideltide, sometimes used for insomnia, was the only one to receive a down vote.
The panel's endorsement of peptides was a striking rejection of the FDA's stance against them.
While the level of evidence for each compound varies, all of them lack the kind of large, well-controlled trials in humans that are necessary to establish safety and effectiveness, which is required for drug approvals. Peptides are strings of amino acids — smaller than a protein — that often act as signaling molecules in our bodies and carry out many critical functions.
They can be synthesized and delivered as drugs, often by injection. Some of those, like insulin, are naturally occurring in the body. Others are modified versions, as with the blockbuster GLP-1 obesity drugs.
Scientists for the agency spoke extensively about the lack of reliable data for any of the seven peptides before the committee. They advised the panel to vote no.
In some cases, they couldn't find any published clinical studies in humans — and there were safety concerns like the potential to encourage cancer growth or to trigger a massive immune response.
A "foundational challenge" was simply defining the substances, because the chemical composition for peptides labeled with the same name varied considerably, explained FDA official Russell Wesdyk.
"You will see many, many different forms," he said. "We can't create quality standards until we actually know what it is."
The divide among the experts on the panel was a study in contrasts.
Ahead of the meeting, eight new memberswere appointed. Most have ties to the peptide industry and include physicians who work for medical practices and companies that promote them.
In almost all cases, they voted in favor of lifting restrictions.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services pushed back on criticism about potential conflicts of interest and said all underwent the standard ethics and vetting process.
"I think it's about patient access," said Dr. Asare Christian, one of the panel members who runs a Pennsylvania-based clinic that advertises peptide protocols and hormone optimization.
That sentiment was echoed throughout the many hours of public comment.
Compounding pharmacies, large telehealth providers and others from the industry underscored the perils of the unregulated marketplace, with some offering anecdotes of patients obtaining unmarked vials from sketchy suppliers.
"What we are advocating for is not the Wild West," said Brigham Buhler, who runs a telehealth company that offers hormone optimization and peptides and is an ally of Secretary Kennedy.
"What we are advocating for is to slow down or shut down the gray and black market and to allow patients to have a safe and effective manufacturing process," he told the panel.
But some panelists were skeptical of that argument.
"I'm concerned that we are responding to market-induced demand rather than a decision based in solid science," Dr. Elizabeth Rebello, an anaesthesiologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, commented after casting a no vote.
The FDA committee was tasked with reviewing data that supports using these peptides to treat a variety of specific conditions, such as BPC-157 for treating ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.
However, if the FDA ultimately reclassifies them and they are produced by compounding pharmacies in the U.S., clinicians would have discretion to write prescriptions outside of those narrow indications.
During the meeting, industry groups — and some on the panel — repeatedly criticized the FDA presentations for not reflecting more recent scientific data on the substances, including results from other human studies that had been submitted ahead of time.
FDA staff said they had considered everything submitted by the meeting deadline and would still take new information into account as they weigh next steps.
The decision to place the products on the FDA's official list for compounding doesn't come close to the standards for drug approval, but some worry that nuance will not be clear to the public, which may not be aware of the limited data for humans.
"I think this endorsement can be potentially harmful and I cannot in good conscience vote yes," said Dr. Brian Lee, a member of the panel and an associate professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
If the FDA moves to reclassify the peptides so that compounding pharmacies can make them, it will be through a formal rulemaking process that could stretch into next year or 2028. There is a possibility that Kennedy could invoke special authority to make them available sooner.
The panel is scheduled to meet again in February to consider additional peptide therapies.
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