Astrophysicist Ray Jayawardhana to lead university
Matt Dangelantonio
directs production of LAist's daily newscasts, shaping the radio stories that connect you to SoCal.
Published January 6, 2026 4:38 PM
Incoming Caltech president Ray Jayawardhana speaks during an announcement ceremony at Caltech in Pasadena on Tuesday.
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Christina House
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Caltech has selected astrophysicist and Johns Hopkins University provost Ray Jayawardhana as its next president.
Who he is: According to his introduction video, Jayawardhana goes by "Ray Jay."
His academic work in astronomy explores how planets and stars form, evolve and differ from each other. He's part of a team that works with the James Webb Space Telescope to observe and characterize so-called exoplanets — planets around other stars — with an eye toward the potential for life beyond Earth.
In addition to his time as provost at Johns Hopkins, where he oversees the university's 10 schools, Jayawardhana has also taught at Cornell University, the University of Toronto and the University of Michigan and also had a research fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. He got his undergraduate degree at Yale and earned his Ph.D. at Harvard.
Why now: In April, current Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum announced he'd retire after the 2025-26 academic year. Rosenbaum has led the university for the past 12 years.
What's next: Jayawardhana will step into his new role July 1.
Carlos Rincon, pastor of the Assemblies of God church Centro de Vida Victoriosa in East L.A., speaks at a vigil outside the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2026.
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Semantha Raquel Norris
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The LA Local
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Topline:
East Los Angeles pastor Carlos Rincon stood outside a Minneapolis church on Friday, in below-zero temperatures, livestreaming what he was witnessing on the ground in the face of violence by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the region.
More details: “The persecution in Minneapolis is terrible, more cruel than what’s happened in Los Angeles,” the pastor said in his video. Federal agents “are going against anyone,” Rincon, who pastors the Assemblies of God church Centro de Vida Victoriosa in East LA, told Boyle Heights Beat.
Why now: Rincon, who has attended vigils and protests against immigration raids in LA, was in Minneapolis for three days. He witnessed clergy getting arrested at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport in an anti-ICE protest. He marched with tens of thousands of Minnesotans amid the state’s general strike against ICE.
Read on... for more of Rincon's visit.
This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on Jan. 27, 2026.
East Los Angeles pastor Carlos Rincon stood outside a Minneapolis church on Friday, in below-zero temperatures, livestreaming what he was witnessing on the ground in the face of violence by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the region.
In a matter of weeks, he said, “an army of people” at Dios Habla Hoy Church in Minneapolis managed to distribute food packages to thousands of families — including green card holders and U.S. citizens — who were too afraid to leave their homes for food and worship.
“The persecution in Minneapolis is terrible, more cruel than what’s happened in Los Angeles,” the pastor said in his video. Federal agents “are going against anyone,” Rincon, who pastors the Assemblies of God church Centro de Vida Victoriosa in East L.A., told Boyle Heights Beat.
Rincon, who has attended vigils and protests against immigration raids in LA, was in Minneapolis for three days. He witnessed clergy getting arrested at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport in an anti-ICE protest. He marched with tens of thousands of Minnesotans amid the state’s general strike against ICE.
Since Rincon’s visit, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said some federal agents will begin to leave Tuesday amid outrage over the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal immigration agents.
In Minneapolis, Rincon was struck by the number of white Americans showing up in defense of immigrants. He recalled elderly American women “battling the snow” as they kept watch for agents. He also saw as many as 500 or more people sorting food inside the church for distribution.
Rincon spent time with Dios Habla Hoy pastor Sergio Amezcua, who has denounced ICE as “acting like narco cartels back in Mexico.” Amezcua’s church set up a system — involving volunteers of all religious and ethnic backgrounds — to deliver food to thousands of families in the area.
“I got citizens, permanent residents, they avoid coming to church. … We preach to the world religious freedom and Minnesota people cannot go to church,” Amezcua said in a video on the nonprofit news site Mother Jones.
“And if they come to church, there’s ICE agents outside of churches waiting for them,” he said. “It’s really evil what’s going on.”
The Rev. Carlos Rincon spent three days in Minneapolis.
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Courtesy of Rincon
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A board member of the Latino Christian and National Network, Rincon said he went to Minneapolis to gauge the needs of Latino churches in the area. He said Dios Habla Hoy Church had to implement added security measures before letting anyone inside the church.
“I’m impressed by the city, people of Minneapolis, how selflessly they serve,” Rincon said. “They’re willing to risk their own lives.”
Rincon, who is part of the LA-based Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, wants more religious Latino leaders to denounce ICE violence.
His denomination, the fast-growing Assemblies of God, is made up of about 180,000 adherents in its Southern California network, many of whom are immigrants. Rincon said a fellow LA pastor is currently at risk of deportation. It’s a conservative denomination, he said, “that has been captivated by the Republican Party.”
“Although we are targets, the evangelical Pentecostal churches, they’re not speaking on this issue,” said Rincon, who is Mexican American. “I’m trying to change that.”
“I’m taking a risk because I wasn’t born in this country. I’m a naturalized American, but I believe in what I do,” he added.
In LA, Rincon and his largely immigrant church, which he has led for nearly 40 years, have helped provide funds to immigrant families in need during the raids. While not all congregants agree on everything, “they see me as their spiritual leader,” he said.
Rincon returned to LA on Saturday, just in time to attend a downtown interfaith vigil outside of the federal building, where he addressed clergy and others.
“I come in love with the beloved community of Minneapolis,” he said in Spanish. “They are rising up. They are fighting. “Thank you, Lord, for Minneapolis, because they have opened their doors and protected the vulnerable.”
“They are saving lives when others have built walls,” Rincon continued.
What to expect: Another mild day with partly cloudy skies.
What about the temperatures: In Orange County, coastal areas will see highs around 62 degrees. Meanwhile, in L.A. County, the beaches will be a bit warmer with highs around 70 degrees, and in the mid-70s for the valleys.
Read on ... for more details.
QUICK FACTS
Today’s weather: Partly cloudy
Beaches: Around 70s
Mountains: Mid-60s to low 70s at lower elevations
Inland: 69 to 75 degrees
Warnings and advisories: None
We're in for another mild day with partly to mostly cloudy skies. The National Weather Service forecasts that come Thursday, temperatures will rise more and the Santa Ana winds will return.
Coastal communities in the L.A. area will see highs mostly around 70 degrees today. Meanwhile, the Orange County coast will stay cooler with high temperatures around 62 degrees.
More inland, the valleys and the Inland Empire will see highs from 69 to 75 degrees, up to 76 degrees in Coachella Valley. In the Antelope Valley, highs will be mostly in the low 60s.
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State wants feedback from gas facility's neighbors
Erin Stone
is a reporter who covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
Published January 28, 2026 5:00 AM
The Aliso Canyon gas storage facility was the site of the largest known methane leak in U.S. history in 2015.
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Ashley Balderrama
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LAist
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Topline:
The state wants to hear from people who live near the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility in the hills above Porter Ranch about how to spend $14 million awarded through a legal settlement.
The background: The Southern California Gas-owned storage reservoir in the San Fernando Valley was the source of the largest known methane leak in U.S. history in 2015. Thousands of residents in Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Granada Hills were forced to evacuate. Ten years on, many residents are still concerned about the health effects and ongoing pollution from the site. As part of a settlement with SoCalGas, California received $71 million as part of a legal settlement with SoCal Gas reached in 2018. The gas utility and its parent company, Sempra Energy, paid more than $2 billion in settlements and fines for the leak.
What’s next: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation is looking to invest $14 million from the Aliso Canyon gas leak legal settlement. They’ll host listening sessions throughout the year to hear from residents on how they’d like to see those funds used.
How to get involved: The sessions are open to residents who were affected by the Aliso Canyon disaster or who live or work in the communities of Porter Ranch, Granada Hills, Northridge, Chatsworth, North Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka, West Hills, Van Nuys and Lake Balboa. Here’s the info for upcoming listening sessions:
Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment and digital equity reporter.
Published January 28, 2026 5:00 AM
L.A. City Council members could ask voters to raise hotel taxes, rideshare taxes, vacant property taxes and more.
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Tom Szczerbowski
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
L.A. voters could be asked this year — in elections in June and November — to raise taxes in a number of ways to help fund city services.
What measures are up for discussion? There are seven! On Tuesday, the L.A. City Council directed the city attorney to draft two options for a hotel tax. The first is a 4% increase that falls to 2% after the Olympics; the second is a 2% increase that drops to 1% after the Games. The council will choose one of those options to put before voters. Another ballot measure ordinance will be drafted to start taxing unlicensed cannabis shops.
Wait, aren’t unlicensed cannabis shops illegal? Yes, but they do exist across L.A. Licensed cannabis shops are responsible for a 9.75% sales tax, 10% business tax and 19% state cannabis excise tax. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez voted against taxing the illegal businesses. “You're setting up, unintentionally, a false expectation that you're going to be able to hold these guys accountable,” Rodriguez said, adding that the city attorney should instead be shutting those shops down.
What about the other measures? A 5% increase in the parking tax was sent back to the budget and finance committee for further discussion.
The council also directed the city attorney to look into additional tax measures for the November ballot.
A 6% tax on tickets for events with more than 5,000 attendees.
A tax on shared rides like Uber and Lyft.
A vacant properties tax to encourage renting or selling.
A retail deliveries tax: a $1 flat fee on delivered goods.
Is raising taxes the only solution for the city’s budget? Rodriguez — who voted against the tax ballot measures — said the city needs to think about tightening its belt. “If we're not having a full conversation around where we're going to cut back, but we're going to talk to taxpayers about increasing more, it's a really big problem,” Rodriguez said.
What’s next? The city attorney’s office has until Feb. 11 to draft any measures that will appear on the June primary ballot.
