The Brief

It’s been a challenging year for Adriana Orea, the L.A. City College pre-nursing student recently told LAist, as she took a walk to give herself a break from studying for finals.

On top of balancing work, school and being the parent of a three-year-old, Orea said the constant stream of families getting separated by immigration officials on social media has weighed her down. She said she didn’t have the time or energy to put up a Christmas tree this year.

As tough as the year has been, Orea has reasons to celebrate: Her son is thriving in pre-school, making friends and having fun. Orea has also completed the prerequisites for the competitive nursing programs she’ll be applying to this spring — something she attributes in part to financial support from the guaranteed basic income program her college is participating in. The program has provided Orea and 250 other L.A. community colleges students with $1,000 a month to spend according to their individual needs. The monthly installments recently ended, now it’s time to see what kind of difference they made in the lives of students.

Orea said she’s been able to get herself out of debt and start saving money. The goal of becoming a registered nurse — and the life she wants for her family — is getting within reach. “I’m so close,” she said. “I can’t wait to be in there.”

Evaluating the program’s success

Orea is among 251 students participating in the L.A. Community College District’s guaranteed basic income program, known as BOOST, short for Building Outstanding Opportunities for Students to Thrive. The initiative is part of a growing trend nationwide, with programs designed to support survivors of domestic violence, formerly incarcerated people and a wide range of adults with low incomes.

The program was made possible by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the California Community College Foundation, which pooled together more than $4 million in private funds. BOOST was made open to students pursuing health careers at four campuses: East L.A. College, L.A. City College, L.A. Southwest College, and L.A. Trade-Technical College. Those who met these requirements were invited to apply via email. For 12 months, Orea and the others received $1,000 installments, which they were free to spend however they liked.

Kelly King, chief advancement officer at the district, said the program aims to help meet employer demands for healthcare professionals, while bridging the gap between the students’ financial need and the region’s cost of living. In an email, she shared details about those who received the payments:

• average household annual income: $31,853  
• average age: 32
• 72% female, 26% male
• 65% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% African American
• 47% have children in the household

Though the payments have all been dispersed, the program is not over. BOOST is being evaluated by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research. To fully understand the impact the payments had on students, the assessment will include over 300 others who did not receive $1,000 a month in its evaluation, King said.

The center wrapped up a third wave of student interviews and surveys this December. King expects an interim report in May 2026 and a final report in May 2027.

“The reason it takes so long is because we're not just measuring what happens during the 12 months in which [students] receive the payments,” she said. “We're also measuring what happens in the six months after the payments have concluded. And then, of course, they have to put together all of the information and see what it tells us about impacts and change.”

Through anecdotes and previous LAist reporting, King has learned that students who received the installments have used this money to pay for everything from rent to dental work. Because nearly half of BOOST participants are parents, many of them have used it to cover childcare. Some students are even building a nest egg.

Orea said she opened a high-yield savings account after signing up for free financial literacy workshops at her campus. As Orea continues making progress toward becoming a registered nurse, she’ll have a cushion to fall back on if an emergency comes up. That money is now a source of relief, she said, “one less obstacle in the way.”

Adriana Orea, one of 251 students in the L.A. Community College District’s inaugural guaranteed basic income program.

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Courtesy of Adriana Orea

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Brenda Olazava, another BOOST participant, recently wrapped up her first semester at Cal State L.A. She graduated from L.A. City College in the summer.

Olazava credits BOOST with helping her get to a university. Without that additional support, she would have had to work more during community college, which would've likely delayed her academic progress, she said.

So far, Olazava’s experience as a transfer student has been smooth. “I fit in perfectly,” she said. And though she’s still waiting for her final grades, when she walked in for her exams, she had two As and two Bs.

Olazava and the other 250 students who received monthly support got their last payment in the fall. Since then, her financial situation has become “a little tight,” she said. Olazava now has two part-time jobs: one to pay the rent, and one to pay her other bills.

“I'm always busy,” she said. “When I get home, I'm exhausted.”

Plans for growth 

Like Orea, King, who’s in charge of the district’s guaranteed basic income program, also had a rough year.

In January, she was among hundreds of Altadena residents who lost their homes in the Eaton fire. “There was a moment where everything I own could fit in one suitcase,” she said.

After the fire — on top of dealing with rebuilding and insurance claims — King had to figure out what was best for her children.

On Sunday nights, she often lay awake debating: “Where do we send them [to school]? Do we ask them to mask outdoors? Do we say they can't play outside? Can they go to the park?”

These experiences, King said, reminded her of the importance of “stability and continuity,” of “having somewhere consistent to lay your head.”

They also reinvigorated her commitment to her work: “Until [our students’] basic needs are met,” she said, “it's really hard for us to ask them to focus on other goals.”

After learning that a BOOST participant also lost her housing in the Eaton fire, King and her team secured additional funding for that student. Then, they moved to identify and provide post-fire aid to another 780. Almost a year later, the L.A. Community College District continues to make grants available for students experiencing housing insecurity due to the fires.

“We want to make sure that they can stay enrolled [in school] this spring,” King said.

As she plans for BOOST’s future, King is seeking another $1.8 million in private funding for a new 150-member cohort. One idea is to focus on students in the skilled trades, which could also enable the district to provide support for “more male-identified students,” who tend to go underrepresented in guaranteed basic income programs.

L.A. County still needs to rebuild thousands of homes damaged in the fires, King added, “and we want those good jobs to go to Angelenos.”

Updated February 28, 2026 at 05:12 AM ET

TEL AVIV — The U.S. and Israel have launched strikes against Iran with the goal of toppling the regime, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles at Israel and a U.S. naval base in Bahrain. An Iranian official said all Israeli and U.S. interests in the region were now considered legitimate targets.

The joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran comes after weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S. military buildup in the region, as the U.S. and Iran tried to negotiate a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program. Trump said those efforts had failed.

"Bombs will be dropping everywhere," President Trump said, addressing Iranians in a video posted to his Truth Social account. "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations."

The Israeli military said in a statement its fighter jets were striking "dozens of military targets" in Iran with "full synchronization and coordination" between the Israeli and U.S. militaries following months of joint planning.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack is to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran."

"Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," Netanyahu said in a video.

A person briefed on the operation told NPR it was expected to last a few days, with Israel's military focusing on targeting Iran's missile program.

"We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground," Trump said.

Israel has closed its airspace to all passenger flights, and civil defense protocols have been activated. Regional military forces remain on high alert.

A 48-hour state of emergency has been declared nationwide. Air raid sirens have been sounding across Israel, with authorities warning civilians to enter bomb shelters.

Trails of smoke streaked the sky above Tel Aviv as Israeli interception systems fired at incoming missiles. A hospital in central Israel began moving operations to an underground fortified compound.

"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. It's menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world," Trump said.

Trump said the U.S. had "sought repeatedly to make a deal" but Iran "rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions."

Trump told the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to "lay down your arms… or you will face certain death."

Iranian government media reported rocket fire in parts of the capital, Tehran. State television has broadcast footage showing smoke rising after a blast in the city. The extent of the damage and potential casualties has not yet been confirmed.

The strike follows weeks of speculation about potential military action against Iran, particularly amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Facing a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall for the upcoming school year, Pasadena Unified's school board voted unanimously this week to finalize a plan to send layoff notices to more than 160 staff members as part of an effort to balance its budget that began last fall.

The district has maintained that the job reductions are necessary because of a $30 million budget deficit, part of a financial crisis made worse by the Eaton Fire.

California schools must notify employees about potential layoffs for the following school year by March 15. The number of current employees who will be out of a job next year is still unclear, in part, because people may be reassigned to vacant positions. In the past, PUSD has also rescinded some layoff notices before they took effect.

Parents, teachers and union leaders at the Thursday meeting criticized the district for targeting teachers and school staff for layoffs instead of administrative positions.

“ Teaching for PUSD means anxiety every March as it approaches, because we don't know if we're going to get to keep our job or not,” said Genevieve Miller, a PUSD teacher who said her children also graduated from the district. “ There's a different way forward.”

Board members acknowledged the decision they made was difficult.

“ I just want to be very clear that this is not the outcome that anybody prefers,” Board member Yarma Velázquez said. “Workforce reductions and the continuous, year after year position of being in this place where we have to reduce positions is draining and it is painful.

“I am very aware of what the implications are for all of the people that work here at PUSD.”

The board meeting

At the meeting, which started at 4 p.m. and nearly lasted until midnight, parents highlighted the potential of families and teachers choosing to leave the district because of the layoffs.

“ Right now, the [PUSD] community is in fight mode, as you can see from the turnout and other comments being made here tonight,” said parent Neil Tyler. “But if you approve these resolutions as proposed tonight, a large chunk of the community will quickly shift to flight mode and the death spiral of this district will begin.”

Jonathan Gardner, president of United Teachers of Pasadena, told the board that the cuts meant the district would lose dozens of middle and high school teachers and child development staff.

“ The best thing for kids and staff is always stability and making sure that we have full staff,” Gardner said. “The priorities should be working from the student experience out. Instead, what we see is millions and millions of dollars being spent on contracted services and millions and millions being spent on extra staffing at the central office.”

Speakers also noted that Pasadena Unified had endured years of budget cuts, which affected teachers, librarians and office staff.

Others said PUSD was failing to meet its requirement under California law to commit at least 55% of the district’s education expenses to teacher salaries.

LAist reached out to the district for comment on this but has not yet received a response.

Pasadena Unified board members said the cuts were necessary, especially after warnings from regulators that they could be out of compliance with requirements to balance the budget.

“For the sake of the district's solvency, I feel like it would be irresponsible if I took an action that put this district in jeopardy,” board member Michelle Bailey said Thursday night. “I can't in good conscience take that kind of action.”

About the budget issues

Concerns over declining enrollment numbers, which are tied to funding, have been growing since the Eaton Fire.

A report commissioned by a state agency recommended that the state increase its funding for the school system to help with fire recovery.

Some observers said Pasadena Unified’s budget issues date back much longer than that.

“Over the past 30 years, Pasadena Unified has faced a mounting fiscal calamity, one that you can no longer ignore or postpone,” Octavio Castelo, director of business advisory services for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, told Pasadena Unified’s board in November. “Despite your best efforts and intentions, the district has not been able to live within its means."

Cutting staff will likely mean losing some school programs, including language and music.

“ You have Mary Jackson [Elementary in Altadena] — it's a science magnet school, and they're cutting the science teacher,” Gardner, the teacher’s union president, told LAist. “That's the heart of the school.”

What happens next

The layoff notices are expected to be sent to affected staff members by mid-March.

The district will have until summer to finalize the list.

K-12 education reporter Mariana Dale contributed reporting.

The Los Angeles Unified School Board voted unanimously Friday to place Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

The FBI searched Carvalho’s home and district offices Wednesday. A DOJ spokesperson said the agency had a court-authorized warrant but declined to provide additional details. The FBI told LAist media partner CBS LA that the underlying affidavit remained under court-ordered seal.

The board also appointed current Chief of School Operations Andres Chait as acting superintendent after the seven-hour closed meeting Thursday and Friday.

“I know that this is a very challenging time,” said Board President Scott Schmerelson in a brief public statement after the decision was announced. “I want you to know that the board believes in you, supports you and knows that you will continue to do your very best to support the students and families of the district.”

Schmerelson clarified in an email to LAist that he was referring to Chait. The seven-member board exited the meeting room without taking questions. Carvalho was not present and has not made a public statement since the searches Wednesday.

The district posted a statement online later in which Schmerelson wrote that “today’s action is aimed at fulfilling our promise to students and families to provide an excellent public education without distraction.”

The board’s decision provided clarity about district leadership but did not shed light on the reason for the searches, which have been the subject of widespread speculation.

“While we understand the need for information, we cannot discuss the specifics of this matter pending investigation,” read the district’s statement.

Who is the acting superintendent?

Chait has worked for the district for nearly three decades. The chief of school operations’ responsibilities are varied and include athletics, the district’s office of emergency management and staff investigations. Chait has presented to the board on everything from school safety to the cell phone ban and the district’s calendar.

Chief of School Operations Andres Chait has worked for LAUSD for nearly three decades.

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Courtesy of Los Angeles Unified School District

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“I am humbled by the board’s confidence in appointing me to serve as acting superintendent during this critical time," Chait said in the district’s statement. "Our focus remains clear: to ensure stability, continuity and strong leadership for our students, families and employees."

What we know about AllHere, LAUSD’s AI tool

A spokesperson for the FBI in Miami confirmed Wednesday’s L.A. searches are linked to a search of a South Florida home the same day. That property, identified by local media outlets, belongs to Debra Kerr, who was associated with the company LAUSD contracted to create a short-lived AI tool called AllHere.

Federal authorities have not connected AllHere to this week’s investigation.

Los Angeles Unified approved a $6.2 million contract with AllHere in June 2023 to develop a tool that would create an “individual acceleration plan,” using district data and featuring an artificial intelligence chatbot.

LAUSD debuted “Ed” the following March as a "personal assistant" to students that would point them toward mental health resources and nudge students who were falling behind.

Within three months of its debut, the company behind Ed, AllHere, furloughed the bulk of its staff; its CEO was later charged with fraud. The district defended the process it used to debut that chatbot, which cost $3 million.

Parents and educators demanded transparency after the district shut down the chatbot.

Many questions remain

The federal investigation comes at a time when LAUSD is financially strained, cutting hundreds of jobs and facing pressure from the district’s largest labor unions to settle new contracts.

SEIU Local 99, which represents school support staff and United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) have issued statements calling on the district to clearly communicate about the status of the superintendent and the investigation.

"UTLA educators and our school communities have long raised concerns about LAUSD rapidly increasing spending on education tech and outside contractors, while investment in classrooms and educators has declined,” UTLA wrote in a statement provided to LAist.

Carvalho has been superintendent of LAUSD since 2022, and the board unanimously renewed his contract in 2025. Prior to coming to L.A., Carvalho had worked for the Miami-Dade County school district for decades, 30 years as a teacher and the last 14 years as the district's supervisor.

Carvalho's time at LAUSD has included a number of wins for the district, including gains in test scores and participation in AP classes.