The Brief

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach isn’t just a major attraction for tourists and locals alike — it’s also a sea turtle rescue, endangered shark breeder, a frog nursery and more.

The aquarium has long supported conservation efforts across the Pacific Ocean, and now those efforts are expanding.

“There are international conservation efforts all around the world that would benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the professionals at the aquarium,” said new Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Flocken. “So we're going to be learning in both directions, taking what we learn from other groups, but also trying to bring the knowledge that we've already built here.”

Flocken, who is trained as a lawyer and previously served as president of Humane Society International, succeeds Dr. Peter Kareiva, who had a five-year contract starting in 2020 and left his post at the aquarium to pursue science and conservation advocacy work.

Reporters this week got a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium’s growing sea turtle rescue efforts and a new partnership to boost populations of the endangered Indo-Pacific zebra shark.

Rescuing green sea turtles

The San Gabriel River has become home to a population of green sea turtles — the creatures have made a remarkable comeback after once being on the brink of extinction.

But living in one of most urbanized rivers in the world has its risks. Earlier this year, aquarium staff rescued a young turtle entangled in fishing lines, caught on debris, and on the brink of death. The turtle was found by volunteers participating in the aquarium’s Southern California Sea Turtle Monitoring community science program.

Aquarist Stacy Hammond with Porkchop, who is having a breakfast of romaine lettuce.

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One of the turtle’s front flippers was tangled in fishing lines and stuck in debris. The line cut off the blood to one of her front flippers, so staff eventually had to amputate it. A fishing hook was lodged in the back of her neck.

Now, the sea turtle has gotten a second chance at life — and having just three flippers doesn’t seem to be hindering her. (Experts aren’t entirely certain of the turtle’s sex, but guess she is female given the smaller size of her tail.)

“It has not seemed to faze her at all. She navigates great,” said senior aquarist Stacy Hammond. “She ate right away, which is uncommon for our rescue sea turtles. She eats very well.”

Aquarium staff say Porkchop is recovering well and will soon be released back into the wild.

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It’s why staff nicknamed her Porkchop. They expect to be able to release her back into the wild before the end of the year. She’s one of four the aquarium has rescued this year.  

The aquarium has rescued and rehabilitated a variety of sea turtles since 2000, all of which found in U.S. waters are either endangered or threatened species. Now they’re expanding that work by building an expanded enclosure with specialty equipment and medical supplies.

Saving endangered zebra sharks

Fern, a female zebra shark who is helping to repopulate her endangered kin in Southeast Asia.

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A baby male zebra shark will go to another aquarium to help breed the species.

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Visitors can see the ultrasounds of zebra shark eggs. This image shows the mouth of a zebra shark developing.

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Veterinarian Brittany Stevens conducts an ultrasound on a zebra shark egg.

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The aquarium’s expanded conservation work also includes joining a global effort to recover populations of the endangered zebra shark in Indonesia, where overfishing and habitat degradation has decimated the population.

The aquarium is home to a zebra shark named Fern, who has the necessary genetics from that region. Her viable eggs will be flown first to the Seattle Aquarium, which will prepare them for transport to Indonesia. Then, when the shark embryos hatch and mature, they’ll be released into a marine protected area off the coasts of the Raja Ampat archipelago to help recover the species’ population there.

“We had one of the first successful artificial inseminations with the zebra shark here at the aquarium, and that becomes important as a potential means of managing genetics across populations,” said Nate Jaros, the aquarium’s vice president of animal care. “So this is all part of rebuilding that population.”

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

In Los Angeles, the buzz around HBO’s “Heated Rivalry’ isn’t just about the drama on-ice, it’s sparking heated debates off the rink. 

Through her Substack, “Black Girl Watching,” critic and filmmaker Brooke Obie has been hosting in-person salons and online critique sessions about films like “Sinners” and the hit TV hockey romance.

“I believe in the power of criticism and the necessity of it as a tool to fight fascism and I am always going to create community spaces where we can think critically about the media we consume,” Obie told The LA Local.

As the show’s popularity grows, fans and advocates are asking whether its success reflects real inclusion or another moment of rainbow capitalism in sports.

Brooke Obie, creator of the Black Girl Watching Substack.

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Obie said that there are many Black fans of “Heated Rivalry,” so she wanted to create a safe space for them to discuss it.

“(We) talk about some of the racial nuances of the show that impact the ways characters are treated by the fandom,” she said. “And (we discuss) how existing racist and sexist tropes can be used to interpret characters when too much is left to the imagination of the audience by the writers.”

The Canadian drama is based on the novels by Rachel Reid. It was created for TV by Jacob Tierney and follows two closeted rival hockey players, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, whose secret romance unfolds over years of competition. 

It premiered quietly on the streaming service Crave before being licensed to HBO Max, where it grew into what HBO executive Casey Bloys called a “word-of-mouth sensation,” even with little marketing.

From left, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) in “Heated Rivalry”.

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The show’s success has been swift and unusual, given its origins on a small Canadian streamer and lack of marquee names. Its stars, Connor Storrie (Ilya) and Hudson Williams (Shane), have appeared at awards shows, carried the Olympic torch and posed for glossy photo shoots. Social media is flooded with fan edits and watch parties.

Recreational hockey leagues reported an uptick in queer participation.

But beneath the celebration, fans like Obie say the conversation is incomplete.

She said she noticed early on that online conversations about the show often lacked racial nuance — particularly around Shane, who is written as having a Japanese mother but rarely explores that cultural identity on screen.

“With a white author and a white showrunner at the helm, Shane’s lack of culturally Japanese experiences is a clear weak spot in a fantastic show,” Obie said.

Obie added that the goal of critical dialogue around the series is not to tear down the show but to create an inclusive space where LGBTQ+ fans of color and others in the margins can feel seen in a fandom that often skews white.

Joel Relampagos announces the casting of his new reality series.

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The show’s impact has been positive for a sports culture that has historically marginalized queer athletes. Specifically, there has been a queerification of sports since the show’s premiere, according to Emmy-winning producer Joel Relampagos.

Relampagos, who is developing a reality series focused on queer athletes, told The LA Local that he has seen more athletes willing to share their stories since the show premiered.

“We really have to eliminate that old mentality that being an athlete looks a certain way — like it’s a monolith,” Relampagos said. “When in fact, it’s so not.”

He has received submissions from queer hockey players across the United States and Canada, including many from L.A. Some are still closeted. Others say the show gave them courage to consider coming out.

Former professional golfer and LGBTQ+ sports law and policy expert Maya Satya Reddy told The LA Local that she has seen an influx of new queer hockey fans and increased interest in competitive recreational leagues such as Outloud LA, She/They Sports, GLASA Softball and Lambda Basketball in Los Angeles. 

“The impact ‘Heated Rivalry’ has had on so many, athletes and non-athletes alike, is incredible and something to be celebrated,” Reddy said. “But describing it as revolutionary in changing queer and trans sports spaces is disingenuous. It’s only been two months!”

Reddy, who is of South Asian descent, founded the Queer Asian Social Club, a Los Angeles-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

She said she left playing golf because of discrimination and pivoted to LGBTQ+ sports law and policy advocacy. She founded the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Sports Project and participated in programming for the first-ever Pride Day at PGA Championship.

“I have lived this,” Reddy said. “I have seen firsthand, both personally through my athletic career, and professionally in my law and policy work the importance of representation and its shortcomings.”

She celebrates “Heated Rivalry” but said there is still little effort to drive systemic change in the sport beyond the heavy attempt to capitalize financially on its success.

GBTQ+ sports law and policy expert Maya Satya Reddy plays golf.

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Since the show debuted, Williams and Storrie’s fame has skyrocketed. So has that of their co-stars François Arnaud and Robbie G.K., who play characters that have a tertiary romance on the show.

“Hudson and Connor’s invitation to be torch bearers is the perfect example of the impact this show has had on sports,” said Reddy. “It is clear as day that the (International Olympic Committee) made this selection as a marketing ploy to capitalize on the craze.”

Reddy points out that IOC President Kirsty Coventry has recently made it a “core mission to target trans athletes.” 

In June 2025, Coventry created a working group to review “protecting the female category.” At the end of last year, it was reported that the IOC is considering a a policy that would ban transgender athletes from the Olympic Games, potentially affecting the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

Reddy also mentioned recent news of USA Hockey banning trans people from participating in certain programs. She noted that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who praised “Heated Rivalry,” is the same commissioner who faced backlash for banning promotional warm-up jerseys, which included Pride-themed jerseys as well as Pride tape on hockey sticks. 

“I’m only aware of one person involved with ‘Heated Rivalry’ who spoke about any of this — Harrison Browne, a trans professional hockey player that appeared in the series,” Reddy said.

“At the same time, the two leads of the show were being congratulated and celebrated for being selected by the IOC as torch bearers for the Winter Olympics,” she added.

“Neither Hudson nor Connor has said anything about this ban in USA Hockey, nor have they, at least meaningfully, mentioned or celebrated their trans cast member Harrison.”

Some breezy conditions will linger this morning, but otherwise we're looking at a slightly cooler day.

The warmest area today will be the Coachella Valley, where temperatures will reach 75 to 80 degrees.

Elsewhere, we should stay under 80 degrees today across the region. The beaches will remain around the low to mid 70s, up to 75 degrees for coastal Orange County. Most L.A. County valleys, the Inland Empire and inland Orange County will hover in the mid to upper 70s.

The coolest areas today will be the Santa Clarita Valley, where temperatures there will be from 64 to 71 degrees, and the Antelope Valley where temperatures will range from 58 to 86 degrees.

The story first appeared on The LA Local.

Koreatown will be a bit crowded in June as thousands of fans gather for multiple FIFA World Cup watch parties.

Organizers from local Korean groups announced Wednesday the schedule of events as the South Korean team is set to play in three games in Mexico on June 11, 18 and 24. 

Viewing parties for the June 11 opener and the June 24 match where South Korea will take on South Africa will be held at Liberty Park in Koreatown. Organizers estimate 1,500 to 2,000 attendees and will close off Serrano Avenue next to the park to accommodate food trucks. A large LED screen showing the game will face Wilshire Boulevard, with sponsor booths lining the street.

Although kickoff for the games that will be broadcast in the evening, programming will start at 2 p.m. with performances and other activities at Liberty Park.

Event organizers include the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, the LA Korean Festival Foundation, and the Korean American Chamber of Commerce.

The June 18 game against Mexico is projected to draw 2,000 to 3,000 attendees, organizers said. Duha Hwang with event organizer Advue said they plan to shut down Normandie Avenue along the same stretch used for the LA Korean Festival at Seoul International Park.

Programming for the Mexico match will start at 10 a.m. and run as an all-day event, Hwang said. 

“This will likely be the biggest game of the group stage for our neighborhood,” Hwang said. “Koreatown is home not only to Korean Americans but to many different communities. We want this to be a joint celebration, where both Korean and Mexican communities come together to support their teams.” 

South Korea’s opponent for the June 11 game will be determined after European league play concludes later this spring. They could play against Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or the Republic of Ireland.

Inglewood is one of several North American host cities for this year’s games, but South Korea will be playing their matches in Mexico.

Hwang said this year is especially meaningful, given the World Cup is being held in North America for the first time since 1994. 

“In 2002, many of us were in Korea cheering on the national team. Now, the World Cup is being held here, on the continent where we live. Being able to cheer for Team Korea here at home makes this moment particularly significant,” Hwang said. 

Organizers acknowledged parking will be limited and encouraged attendees to use public transit or rideshare services. Hwang said they will look into plans to operate shuttle buses.

On a tranquil morning in January, Victor Correa had a vision for the day: Breakfast burritos from La Azteca Tortillería, and, later, a wedding he’d attend with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter.

The sky was bright blue when he set out for breakfast from his home in the city of Downey.

But Correa didn’t get far — just down the block, he witnessed a scene that’s played out more and more across the country this past year: masked men hopping out of unmarked cars to haul away Latino workers.

Correa grabbed his phone and started recording from his car. In videos he shared with LAist, men with dark sunglasses — one with a Border Patrol uniform and one in plainclothes — questioned two gardeners while other masked men stood watch from black SUVs nearby.

One of the men pointed what appeared to be a pepper gun at Correa and commanded him to move his car.

Just three days before, Correa knew, an ICE agent in Minneapolis shot and killed Renee Good, a legal observer and mother of three, in her car.

“Don’t fuckin’ shoot me!” he shouted at the federal agent. “I’m not fuckin’ doin’ nothin’!”

Correa honked and hurried to park. “ICE! ICE is here!” he yelled. By the time he made it back to the scene, one of the gardeners had already been taken inside a black Chevy Tahoe.

With urgency in his voice, Correa asked the remaining worker for his name in Spanish.

“José Solorio,” the man managed to say as an agent grappled him.

Soon, other neighbors emerged. They too began to record. One called out for a number to contact Solorio’s family: “¡Número de teléfono, jefe! ¡Número de teléfono!”

A woman in a floral bathrobe walked up and began scolding the agents. Amid the fray, the gardener inside the SUV appeared to let himself out. Then, the agents drove off.

“Get the fuck out of here!” Correa shouted after them.

Footage from one of the videos captured by Victor Correa on Jan. 10, 2026.

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Correa had been watching videos of immigration raids on social media for months, with a combined sense of fury and heartbreak. He’d also read up on how to be an effective bystander and what his rights are when filming federal agents in public spaces.

“I told myself that if I ever saw something like that, that I would be ready,” he told LAist. “And so, when my moment came, I was ready. And I let out all my rage.”

“I apologize to all the abuelas out there for all the cursing,” he said.

'What I hope everybody would do'

After the agents left, Correa said, he, the gardeners and neighbors unwound. According to Correa, the man who exited the SUV after being detained talked about trying to show proof that he’s in the U.S. legally to one of the agents, “but they wouldn’t listen."

The man also tried to show it to Correa, who shook his head and waved him away, he said.

“You don't have to show me anything," Correa recalled saying.

He said he "just did what I hope everybody would do."

Born and raised in Downey, Victor Correa created a community watch program after witnessing an attempted immigration raid on his block.

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The experience left Correa wanting to do more to protect his community from further raids. He teamed up with City Councilman Mario Trujillo to found Downey ICE Watch. For their first meeting in January, they invited Unión del Barrio, an organization with decades of experience in community patrol, to teach attendees how to spot immigration agents. The group also distributed whistles, a tool that’s become symbolic of community resistance to federal immigration agents. That Tuesday night, Correa said proudly, over 100 people showed up.

Keeping bystanders safe — or as safe as possible — was and continues to be top of mind, he added. Days before Downey ICE Watch’s first meeting, federal agents shot and killed another bystander, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis.

Looking back on his encounter with federal agents, Correa said that, in hindsight, he would strive to be “a little less aggressive.”

“I would still go out there and record and blow whistles,” he added, “but I would not [get] as close, because I have a family, I have a daughter. And these guys seem to be getting away with murder.”

Meeting neighbors, forming community

In February, Correa held a second meeting for his group at Downey Christian Memorial Church. Last summer, when the Trump administration began its militarized deportation effort in Southern California, armed agents detained a man in the church’s parking lot. When faith leaders asked the agents to identify themselves, they said one of the officers pointed a gun at its senior pastor, Rev. Tanya Lopez.

As local residents entered the church’s multipurpose room for the Downey ICE Watch meeting, Correa and other organizers had them sit with people who live in their part of the city. Correa said this would help locals mingle with their neighbors, creating a sense of camaraderie that’s essential to community patrol work.

About 50 people attended. The multi-ethnic audience listened closely as Rev. Lopez encouraged them to join her interfaith immigration court observer program. Immigration attorneys talked about cases they’re working on, about the families they’re fighting to keep from being separated.

Local attorney Alfonso Morales thought it important to talk about cases where he’s been successful, including the release of two men who were detained during a warrantless raid at a car wash in San Dimas.

He also offered guidance for bystanders who film federal agents in public spaces.

“Don't interfere,” he told them. “You're there to record and document.”

Morales encouraged them to describe what they witness: “Narrate. Talk about the place, the time, how many officers, how many vehicles, the license plate — all of that is public information.”

“Make sure people know where you are,” he added. “And keep a full copy of the video.”

Morales acknowledged that this type of work can take a toll on one’s mental health.

“I now have a therapist,” he shared. “Seeing people taken on a daily basis, when you know the law, and you know the law should be on your side—it’s painful.”

Still, federal immigration agents “need to know people are watching,” Morales said. “And that history will not forget.”

Correa wrapped up the February meeting with a presentation from other community groups, BarrioPower and Siempre Unidos LA.

Rosa Vazquez, who co-founded BarrioPower last summer, stressed that, if local residents do not feel comfortable participating in community patrols, they can still help their neighbors. Community members, for instance, can deliver groceries to those who are too scared to leave their homes, or volunteer to drive their neighbors’ children to school.

“When the world feels like it's crumbling around us every single day,” she said, “the only way to overcome the despair that is natural for us to feel is to take action.”