Topline:
Joshua Tree National Park crews have started to survey damage to its namesake plant after the latest wildfire broke out on Friday.
Why now: The Eureka Fire started Friday at around noon in the Covington Flats area of the park.
The backstory: The area is known as a kind of last refuge for the tree.
Crews at Joshua Tree National Park have begun to survey damages to its namesake plant in the wake of the latest wildfire that has burned more about 200 acres in an area known as a "refuge" of sorts for the tree.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Eureka Fire is at 40% contained, according to fire authorities.
The fire broke out Friday at around noon in the Covington Flats area of the park.
"This area of Covington Flats is a place where we hope is a kind of last refuge for our Joshua trees because of higher elevation," said park spokesperson Meg Rockwell. "It's an area that Joshua trees seem to really prosper."
As temperatures climb from changing climates, Joshua trees have been retreating to higher elevation areas, Rockwell said, where there's more rainfall and cooler temperatures.
Those areas, like Covington Flats, are places where the park has worked to clear up fire fuels to try to protect Joshua trees, which do not recover well from fire damage.
"Joshua trees do not like fire. They do not need fire. They do not want fire," Rockwell said. "When the ground area and the Joshua tree itself burns, it will scar and die. And it takes a very long time for the ground to recover for Joshua trees to then bloom."
Friday's fire started near Eureka Peak, according to Rockwell, a spot sought out by visitors for views of sunsets and bigger Joshua trees that the area is known for.
Rockwell said there is damage to sections of the Joshua tree forest in the area. She said park crews are out today to begin to assess the extent.
The fire is under investigation.
Topline:
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an $843 million homelessness spending plan that includes nearly $200 million in reductions to programs and services in the next budget year.
Why it matters: Among the affected programs is Pathway Home, which helps move people from encampments into temporary housing. The county reduced funding for that program by $92 million, which will shrink it from 20 project sites to seven, officials said.
Supervisors also approved $105 million in reductions to other programs, including large cuts to street outreach teams, homelessness prevention programs and other supportive services.
Why now: Officials said they had to reduce spending to cover the rising costs of operating shelter beds and the loss of tens of millions in temporary state and federal funding, including some COVID-19 relief dollars.
Read on ... for details about the new budget and how it will affect homelessness services in the county.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an $843 million homelessness spending plan that includes nearly $200 million in reductions to programs and services in the next budget year.
Among those programs is Pathway Home, which helps move people from encampments into temporary housing. The county reduced funding for that program by $92 million, which will shrink it from 20 project sites to seven, officials said.
Supervisors also approved $105 million in reductions to other programs, including large cuts to street outreach teams, homelessness prevention programs and other supportive services.
County officials said they had to reduce spending in order to cover the rising costs of operating shelter beds and the loss of tens of millions in temporary state and federal funding, including some COVID-19 relief dollars.
“With federal neglect and state cuts, we have to do more with less,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told LAist. “And we will.”
The county’s new Department of Homeless Services and Housing has been warning about the looming shortfall since July. County officials solicited input on how to fill an initial $303 million gap.
Since then, the department adjusted the county’s homelessness spending plan, after finding some one-time state grants and cost-saving measures.
The budget year starts July 1.
Last month, local homeless service providers urged county officials to restore all of the more than $200 million in proposed reductions to programs and services. Some supervisors raised concerns about specific cuts.
Since then, new revenue projections show the county stands to bring in $21 million more through Measure A than originally anticipated.
Measure A is a sales tax ordinance, approved by L.A. County voters in 2024, that funds homeless services and affordable housing initiatives. It is expected to generate about $1 billion annually, but exact revenues fluctuate with consumer spending.
The county’s slightly rosier revenue projections allowed the homeless department to roll back a fraction of the proposed reductions.
“It’s not a windfall and it doesn’t solve every challenge, but it does give us the ability to restore important programs that were on the chopping block,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
The board voted to use much of that $21 million to restore funding for two dozen full-time outreach workers and about 100 shelter beds that were previously on the chopping block.
The plan approved Tuesday also calls for $5 million in Measure A revenue to partially restore funding for interim housing in Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale. It restored more than $1 million to operate family solution centers — hubs to connect unhoused families with services — and about $500,000 for a program that helps military veterans access government benefits.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell said she wishes Pathway Home funding could be maintained. She said it’s been crucial for helping people living in RV encampments in her district, which spans from Koreatown to much of the South Bay.
"These restorations don't expand encampment resolution operations,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “The services with the greatest impact in the Second District remain reduced, and the current plan does not replace what was cut."
County homelessness officials told supervisors the 100 shelter beds they saved will be prioritized for people living in encampments and will help make up for cuts to Pathway Home.
"The reduction to Pathway Home is not a reduced commitment to encampment resolution,” L.A. County Department of Homeless Services and Housing director Sarah Mahin said Tuesday. “It’s a recognition that it was built on one-time funding and we need to expand strategies to include more cost-effective resolution solutions."
The supervisors also voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a new motion focused on accountability in homeless service contracting. The motion by Horvath and Kathryn Barger directs the homelessness department to work with the county auditor-controller to create strict oversight procedures for contracts, including random site visits, performance monitoring and provisions for termination.
They said the goal is to prevent the mismanagement that has plagued the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and the fraud that has resulted in recent arrests. Last month, federal authorities arrested Alex Soofer, director of a nonprofit called Abundant Blessings, on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions in dollars meant to serve unhoused Angelenos. Soofer pleaded not guilty to the charges this week.
"Public dollars intended to address homelessness have gone unaccounted for under LAHSA," Horvath said. “That is unacceptable and it ends now with the county.”
Last year, the board voted to divert more than $300 million in county homelessness dollars away from LAHSA and administer the funds itself with a new homelessness department.
“As the department launches, every contract, every dollar, and every outcome must withstand scrutiny,” Horvath told LAist in a statement. “We don’t have resources to waste or time to lose in addressing the homelessness crisis.”
Barger described instances of fraud within the homeless services sector as “moral failures” that cannot be tolerated.
“They represent theft from the most vulnerable people in our community,” she said.
She also argued that ethical service providers “should not have their reputations destroyed by the criminal actions of a few bad actors.”
Barger told fellow supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting it’s their responsibility to monitor how county homelessness dollars are being spent — and to defund programs that aren’t generating results.
“Setting the budget is the easy part,” Barger said. “We have to see results. And if we don’t, we have to have a debate at this board: is that the best use of these resources?”
The department must report back to the board in 60 days with their full plan for monitoring contractors and preventing fraud and misuse of public funds.
Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez told supervisors his office would submit a plan to county homelessness officials Tuesday.
Topline:
Congress has approved $94.3 million in mobility-related funding for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles as part of a spending bill to end the partial government shutdown, according to Metro.
Why it matters: Metro has asked for $3.2 billion in federal funding to pay for projects to enhance transportation during the Games. The money will pay for leasing land, designing temporary bus facilities and station improvements, as well as designing enhanced pedestrian pathways for venue areas, according to a statement from Metro.
What about the World Cup? The bill, signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, also included money for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June. Around $9.1 million is earmarked for the international tournament’s transportation funding.
Reaction: The L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority applauded the spending package.
“The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a time for America to shine on the world stage — and we know that transportation will be a key part of the visitor experience,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins.
Go deeper … into how Los Angeles is preparing for the mega event.
Topline:
A crew of four moon-bound astronauts will remain on the ground for at least a month after NASA delayed the launch of the Artemis II mission. During critical pre-launch testing Monday, mission managers uncovered a number of issues that prevented the completion of the test.
What caused the delay: Issues leading to that delay began about an hour into Monday's test, known as the wet dress rehearsal. As the team began fueling the rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sensors picked up a hydrogen leak. Super-chilled hydrogen is used as the fuel for the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The wet dress rehearsal uncovered other issues — including a problem with the Orion capsule, which will carry the crew to the moon. There were also issues with cameras due to cold weather and audio dropouts across communication channels.
What's next: Work now begins to fix the issues. NASA will require another wet dress rehearsal before giving the "GO" to put astronauts on board. "All in all, a very successful day for us on many fronts," said Blackwell-Thompson. "Then, on many others, we got some work we've got to go do." The earliest launch window for another attempt is March 6. NASA has additional launch opportunities on March 7, 8, 9 and 11.
A crew of four moon-bound astronauts will remain on the ground for at least a month after NASA delayed the launch of the Artemis II mission. During critical pre-launch testing Monday, mission managers uncovered a number of issues that prevented the completion of the test.
NASA is now planning a March launch date for the four astronauts — three from the U.S. and one from Canada — on a ten-day mission to circle the moon and return to Earth, traveling farther than any humans have ventured into deep space.
Issues leading to that delay began about an hour into Monday's test, known as the wet dress rehearsal. As the team began fueling the rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sensors picked up a hydrogen leak. Super-chilled hydrogen is used as the fuel for the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
Hydrogen is an efficient propellant for rockets — but its molecules are so tiny and light they can escape even the tightest of seals. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said they had troubleshooted the initial leak, but when they began to pressurize the tank, another leak surfaced.
"And so as we began that pressurization, we did see that the leak within the cavity came up pretty quick," said Blackwell-Thompson.
Hydrogen leaks plagued testing of NASA's Artemis I mission in 2022. Blackwell-Thompson said lessons learned from that uncrewed flight were utilized for Artemis II, but there's more investigation is needed.
The wet dress rehearsal uncovered other issues — including a problem with the Orion capsule, which will carry the crew to the moon. While no one was on board Monday, teams practiced preparing the spacecraft for its passengers. A valve that pressurizes the vehicle required additional attention and took more time to close the hatch than anticipated.
Teams also uncovered issues with cameras due to cold weather and audio dropouts across communication channels. "As always, safety remains our top priority, for our astronauts, our workforce, our systems and the public," said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman in a post on X, and that NASA will only launch when the agency is ready.
Work now begins to fix the issues. NASA will require another wet dress rehearsal before giving the "GO" to put astronauts on board. "All in all, a very successful day for us on many fronts," said Blackwell-Thompson. "Then, on many others, we got some work we've got to go do."
The earliest launch window for another attempt is March 6. NASA has additional launch opportunities on March 7, 8, 9 and 11.
The crew of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen were released from quarantine and will remain in Houston, Texas. They'll re-enter quarantine about 14 days ahead of the next launch attempt and make the trip to the Kennedy Space Center six days before liftoff.
Artemis II is testing key systems of the Orion spacecraft, like its maneuverability and life support systems, ahead of the planned Artemis III mission that will take humans to the lunar surface. The Artemis II will mark the first time humans have returned to the moon since the final Apollo lunar mission in 1972.
Copyright 2026 NPR
Topline:
A trial got underway Tuesday in a case alleging that Huntington Beach illegally dilutes the power of Latino voters with its at-large election system.
The backdrop: Cities across Orange County and elsewhere in California have faced similar challenges over the past decade. Most have settled by adopting by-district elections, where voters only vote on a city council representative from their area, rather than requiring candidates to run citywide. But Huntington Beach is fighting the effort in court.
The argument against at-large city elections: The plaintiffs allege that under the current, at-large election system, the power of the city's biggest Latino neighborhood is diluted, leading to poor representation.
The city’s defense: Lawyers representing Huntington Beach pointed to past elections of Latino candidates, saying they prove that the city’s current at-large election system doesn’t impede Latino residents’ ability to participate in the local political process.
Go deeper ... for more about the legal case.
A trial got underway Tuesday in a case alleging that Huntington Beach illegally dilutes the power of Latino voters with its at-large election system.
Cities across Orange County and elsewhere in California have faced similar challenges over the past decade. Most have settled out of court by adopting by-district elections, where voters only vote on a city council representative from their area, rather than requiring candidates to run citywide. A notable exception is Santa Monica — the city has been fighting a challenge to its at-large election system in court for nearly 10 years.
Now, Huntington Beach is following suit.
The case was brought by the nonprofit group Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and Victor Valladares, a Huntington Beach resident and Democratic Party activist. It’s being heard by Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig L. Griffin.
The plaintiffs allege Latino voters can’t elect a candidate of their choice under the current system, in violation of the California Voting Rights Act. This alleged dilution of Latino voting power, they say, leads to poor representation and negative consequences for the city’s majority-Latino Oak View neighborhood.
“Their needs get ignored,” Kevin Shenkman, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said during his opening statement Tuesday. “It is a natural result of the at-large election system.”
Latinos make up about 20% of the population in Huntington Beach. Under a draft map of electoral districts drawn up by demographer David Ely, a witness for the plaintiffs, the district that includes the Oak View neighborhood would be 40% Latino. Plaintiffs argued this would give residents more power to elect a city councilmember who represents their interests.
In their opening argument, lawyers representing Huntington Beach argued that Latinos in Huntington Beach are spread across the city and politically diverse.
The city’s lawyers also argued that recent elections of Latino city council members, including MMA star Tito Ortiz in 2020 and Gracey Van Der Mark in 2022, prove the city’s current at-large election system doesn’t impede Latino residents’ ability to participate in the local political process.
“The system works, it’s not broken, and the evidence will show that at trial,” said Anthony Taylor, one of the attorneys representing Huntington Beach.
The trial is expected to last into next week.
