The Brief

When a patient at Los Angeles General Medical Center experienced a medical emergency, Brandon Maldonado grabbed an intercom and called a “code blue” to bring immediate help from emergency hospital staff.

The Bravo Medical Magnet High School senior had trained for such emergencies through Los Angeles Unified’s patient care pathway — one of several career education programs a new study found improves students’ college readiness.

“That experience stuck with me because it taught me how to stay calm under pressure, and I didn’t panic,” Brandon said. “I knew what to do.”

A new report from research institute SRI International found promising results for students in Los Angeles Unified who completed career and technical education pathways — especially those that combine academics with workplace experience. These students not only graduated at higher rates, but were also more likely to complete college preparatory curriculum and enroll in college than their peers.

Miya Warner, lead author of the report, said the findings puncture the longstanding perception that career and technical education is mostly geared toward students who have no plans to go to college.

“The findings combat some of those lingering stereotypes around CTE and who it’s for,” Warner said.

In the state’s largest school district, the investments in career tech programs appear to provide students a leg up after they graduate from high school.

More than 165,000 LAUSD high school students, about a fourth of all students, were enrolled in career and technical education programs as of the 2021-22 school year. These programs include 265 traditional CTE pathways and 72 Linked Learning pathways — which combine technical training with college preparatory coursework — across 15 industry sectors.

Nearly two-thirds of students took at least one CTE course, but the report found higher positive outcomes among about a fifth of all students who completed a full CTE or Linked Learning pathway.

“The more the word can get out about the value of completion versus just a one-off course, the more that all the staff at the school can support students in meeting that goal,” Warner said. “I visited schools where counselors are putting seniors into the first year of a CTE sequence, and they can’t complete it.”

At Bravo Medical Magnet High, students begin taking medical prerequisite courses as sophomores before choosing a pathway in sports medicine or patient care. Brandon, now a senior, has gained hands-on experience in the ophthalmology department, the volunteer center and the infusion clinic at Los Angeles General Medical Center, which partners with the magnet school.

“I wanted to get real-world experience and get an overview of different departments; that way I can know which field I want to go into,” Brandon said. “’The value of getting the early exposure stage is you’re not just thrown out there. The (program) gives you the basic skill of how to respond.”

Ben Gertner, director of Linked Learning at LAUSD, said the district has raised CTE pathway completion rates from about 18% to nearly 25% between 2022 and 2025 and increased the number of Linked Learning pathways from 43 to 100.

“We want to ensure that we focus on developing school-site capacity,” Gertner said. “We also help schools to balance competing priorities, increase graduation rate and college and career readiness.”

Access is a key hurdle for students trying to start and complete CTE pathways. The report found that students with the highest and lowest academic performance took fewer CTE courses than students in the middle, suggesting that AP classes or credit recovery can create scheduling conflicts. Although incoming freshmen had access to an average of nine pathways, many did not learn about them early enough to enroll.

Warner emphasized that starting a CTE program early helps students build transferable skills, professional networks and gain hands-on experience.

One theater pathway student interested in becoming a lawyer, she said, gained confidence in communication and collaboration skills. Another student in patient care realized a healthcare career was not the right fit for him.

“How much better to figure that out in high school than wait, going into debt in a program that turns out is not actually a good fit for you,” Warner said. “It’s better to have those experiences early.”

Linked Learning shows better outcomes

Learning integrates academics, career-based instruction and real-world work experience to prepare students for both college and careers. 

Traditional CTE teaches technical and occupational skills for trades, jobs and careers through standalone courses.

The report found stronger outcomes for students in Linked Learning pathways, which combine work-based training and academic instruction, than in traditional CTE pathways, which offer standalone technical skills courses.

High school graduates who completed a certified Linked Learning pathway were about 16% more likely to finish college preparatory courses and 24% more likely to enroll in college than those who did not take any CTE courses.

“In the Linked Learning pathways, we saw a little bit more integration of those work-based learning experiences into the curriculum,” Warner said, adding that students are also more engaged with experiences in real workplaces.

Karen Benavides, a senior in the patient care pathway at Bravo Medical Magnet High, recalled stepping in to help in the surgical intensive care unit during a hospital staff shortage.

“I got to help a patient, help the nurses. I took phone calls, and it was just a very immersive experience,” Karen said. “I didn’t stop for a second, and I really liked the rush.”

Karen, who plans to become a physician assistant, said she has become more confident communicating with peers, teachers and patients, especially with those who may be uncooperative.

“I also feel like it’s helped improve my teamwork and being able to think critically, go through situations and see what the best course of action is,” Karen said.

About half of the students in certified Linked Learning pathways completed their programs, while about a quarter completed traditional CTE pathways, according to the report. Students at a “higher-need” middle school also had greater access to Linked Learning pathways but fewer traditional CTE options than students at “lower-need” schools.

Suzanne Bogue, a teacher in the patient care pathway at Bravo Medical Magnet High, said strong teacher collaboration distinguishes Linked Learning from traditional CTE.

“The junior year teachers and the senior year teachers, we all work together and help each other target the students that might need a little more support,” Bogue said.

Schools can opt into Linked Learning with a 75% faculty vote in favor of onboarding at LAUSD, which has “led to more of a sense of commitment to the Linked Learning approach,” Gertner said.

Brandon said he plans to attend UC Riverside to study biology and hopes to become an anesthesiologist after shadowing one through the program.

“One of the valuable skills I’ve learned is teamwork,” Brandon said. “It just gives you that exposure to being able to talk to people you’ve never really talked to before.”

In California’s upcoming June primary election, you’ll have the opportunity to cast your ballot for any of the candidates for governor, regardless of which party you’re registered with. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Known as a “jungle primary,” this system is different from how most states handle their primary elections.

This year, Democrats raised the alarm that two Republican gubernatorial candidates may move to the general election, locking out Democrats despite outnumbering Republican registered voters almost two to one. That’s because the crowded field of Democratic candidates threatens to split the party’s vote. Until recently, multiple polls have shown the two Republicans, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, polling at the top of the race.

Driven in part by these concerns, critics of the top-two primary have now filed a ballot initiative that would repeal this system and return California to party-based primaries, potentially as early as 2030.

But how does this top-two arrangement work? Why does California do things this way? And what are the chances of voters choosing between two GOP candidates for governor in November?

How does California’s top-two primary system work?

In a traditional closed primary, such as in presidential races, voters can only choose among candidates from their own party: That is, say, registered Democrats could only vote for Democratic candidates.

But in a top-two primary, all candidates from all parties appear on a single ballot open to any registered voter. The two candidates with the most votes in that primary then move on to the general election, even if they’re from the same party.

Kim Alexander, president and founder of the California Voter Foundation, said this is an even bigger concern for third parties in the state.

“One of the unfortunate byproducts” of California’s jungle primary system, Alexander said, is how “it’s really shut out a lot of minor parties from the general election and they run the risk of being kicked off the ballot altogether.”

“Because if you don’t have candidates appearing on ballots at a certain pace, then you can’t remain an official party,” she said.

Does this really mean Californians might not get a Republican vs. Democrat race for governor in November?

That’s correct: Under the top-two primary system, the November contest could be an intraparty fight.

That scenario has worried many California Democrats. With seven top Democrats crowding the field, there’s a risk of fracturing their party’s vote. Meanwhile, if enough Republican voters back both Hilton and Bianco to push them both into the top two, California could be locked into an all-Republican general election for governor.

Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, left, and Tom Steyer, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, fist-bump prior to a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco, California, on April 22, 2026. California will hold its primary election on June 2, where the top two finishers advance to the general election in November regardless of party affiliation. (Jason Henry/Nexstar via Bloomberg)In March, state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged politicians in his party to take a hard look at the viability of their campaigns and drop out before the filing deadline.

“California’s leadership on the world stage is significantly harder if a Democrat is not elected as our next Governor,” Hicks wrote in an open letter.

None of the contenders heeded his plea.

However, the likelihood of Republicans shutting Democrats out of the November election has decreased since President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton in April. A clear front-runner could unify Republican voters behind Hilton and open the door for a Democrat to claim the second spot in the runoff.

Plus, the most recent Emerson poll now shows former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in the lead with 19% of likely voters for the first time in the race. Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer are tied for second with 17%.

Becerra’s surge came after former East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell — who was regarded as a front-runner for the gubernatorial primary — exited the race last month amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations.

Why does California have this top-two system?

Historically, California required a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to pass the state budget instead of a simple majority vote.

In 2009, Democrats needed to court Republican votes to pass the state budget. Then-state Sen. Abel Maldonado, a Republican, agreed to vote yes — but only if the Legislature put a measure on the ballot to create the top-two primary system.

Voters approved that measure, Proposition 14, in 2010, amending the state constitution.

Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed the measure as a way to transform state politics, forcing candidates to appeal to voters across party lines and ultimately boost more moderate politicians.

“He liked to talk about living in a post-partisan political climate,” Alexander said. “He liked the idea of candidates having to appeal to more voters than just voters of their own party, and to face competition.”

The system was also designed to give more influence to California’s no party preference voters, who make up 23% of registered voters in the state, just behind Republicans at 25%.

Which political offices in California are decided using this system?

The top-two primary applies to “voter-nominated” offices: governor and other statewide positions like lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, state controller, insurance commissioner and state board of equalization members.

It also covers state Senate and Assembly seats and U.S. congressional offices.

The jungle primary system does not apply to presidential elections, local and nonpartisan offices such as city council, school boards, judges, district attorneys or the superintendent of public instruction.

Which other states use this system?

Washington state was the first to adopt a top-two primary for congressional and state-level elections in 2004, but not for governor.

Unlike California, Washington allows write-in candidates in the general election — a safety valve for scenarios where one party is locked out.

A handful of other states use variations of the system. Nebraska’s legislature is nonpartisan, so it uses a top-two primary for state legislative races.

Louisiana uses a majority-vote system for statewide executive offices, state legislative seats and local offices. If a candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, they win outright. If not, there is a second round of voting with the top two vote-getters in November.

Alaska adopted a top-four primary in 2020 for state executive, state legislative and congressional races. An effort to repeal the state’s top-four primaries was narrowly defeated by voters in 2024 but will be on the ballot again this year.

If I’m a ‘no party preference’ voter, can I even vote in the California primary?

Yes: Any registered voter, including those with no party preference, can vote for any candidate in voter-nominated races like the governor’s contest.

The top-two primary system draws no distinction based on a voter’s party registration.

Are there any efforts to get rid of California’s jungle primary?

Driven in part by concerns that Democrats could be locked out of this year’s governor’s race, a new ballot initiative seeks to repeal California’s top-two primary system.

Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio filed the initiative, called “Undo the Top Two,” with the attorney general on May 8.
He called the jungle primary a “failed experiment.”

“The prospect of having to vote for a candidate who’s not from your party in November has really woken up a lot of voters in the state about the dangers of the top-two primary,” Maviglio said. “The chance that a Democrat would have to choose between Chad Bianco or Steve Hilton is sending a chill up the spine of a lot of Democrats.”

However, even if successful, Maviglio’s initiative won’t impact the 2026 election — since he hopes to place the measure on the 2028 ballot, with any changes taking effect no earlier than the 2030 elections.

Ventura County firefighters are on the scene of a fast-moving small brush fire burning on the south side of Simi Valley.

The fire started near Sequoia and Sandy Avenues. It's being whipped by gusty winds, which are pushing the fire away from neighborhoods, but it's still threatening some homes.

Sandy Fire, by the numbers

• Size: 185 acres
• Firefighters: Approximately 200
• Air support: Four helicopters, one air tanker

Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for the area. Here's a map of the current evacuation areas, as of 11 a.m. Monday.

An evacuation center for small animals has been set up at the Simi Shelter, and livestock can be taken to the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

VC Alert has opened its information hotline, which is at 805-465-6650.

KCLU will provide the latest fire updates on-air and online throughout the day.

A jury in California took less than two hours to decide that Elon Musk waited too long to file a lawsuit against his one-time business partner Sam Altman over the direction he's steered the artificial intelligence company OpenAI since the two had a falling out nearly a decade ago.

In a unanimous decision, the nine-member advisory jury said Musk was beyond the statute of limitations when he launched his case in 2024. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, agreed, tossing the case out.

"I've always said I would accept the jury's verdict," Gonzalez Rogers said after issuing her decision. "I think there's a substantial amount of evidence to support the jury's finding."

The decision brings a swift end to a three-week trial that laid bare the fears and ambitions that led two of Silicon Valley's biggest personalities to team up 11 years ago to launch OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and then to part ways after a dispute over how to run it.

In determining that the suit was filed too late, the jury sidestepped questions at the heart of Musk's case accusing Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman of committing a "breach of charitable trust" by allegedly jettisoning OpenAI's founding mission, and then profiting from the decision — claims they disputed in court.

OpenAI was established in 2015 as a nonprofit aiming to create advanced AI for the benefit of humanity — a mission born out of a shared concern among the founders about the potentially negative consequences of AI being controlled by any one person or for-profit company.

But by 2017, the founders were convinced they needed to set up a for-profit arm of OpenAI to raise money and attract researchers in order to be competitive. Musk wanted control, but the others disagreed, and he left the board in 2018.

In court, he claimed that Altman "stole a charity" by creating a for-profit entity that became, in his words, "the main thing" at OpenAI.

Lawyers for OpenAI argued that Musk in fact supported the creation of a for-profit subsidiary with the goal of attracting big investments. They argued that, rather than being motivated by a commitment to OpenAI's original mission, Musk was unhappy that it did so well without him. A year and a half before suing, Musk launched xAI, a for-profit AI company, and OpenAI's lawyers said his lawsuit was an attempt to hurt a competitor.

Musk also sued Microsoft for aiding OpenAI through investments totaling $13 billion between 2019 and 2023. That claim was also dismissed.

Musk's lead lawyer had argued that Altman and his colleagues treated the nonprofit like a "shell" after the founding of the for-profit subsidiary in 2019, shifting employees and intellectual property into the for-profit.

After OpenAI made a $10 billion deal with Microsoft in 2023, Musk attorney Steven Molo argued last week in court, the company abandoned its commitment to open sourcing and safety, and instead "enriched investors and insiders."

In addition to helping found OpenAI, Musk was an early source of funds, providing $38 million over the course of several years to help get it off the ground. But Sarah Eddy, an attorney for OpenAI's defendants, argued in closing statements last week that that money came with no strings attached, meaning Musk "does not have a charitable trust to enforce."

Whether OpenAI breached a charitable trust or not, the jury's decision indicated that they believed that Musk took note of the actions that he claims were a breach of trust more than three years before filing his suit.

If the jury sided with Musk — and the judge agreed with them — OpenAI and Microsoft could have been forced to "disgorge" into OpenAI's nonprofit foundation up to $150 billion in damages. Musk also sought the dismissal of Altman and Brockman from their posts, as well as the dismantling of the for-profit entity.

The verdict interrupted a hearing on possible remedies. But at 10:23 am Pacific time, Edwin Cuenco, the designated courtroom deputy, handed Judge Gonzalez Rogers a note, after which she declared: "We have a verdict." The jury had started deliberations at 8:30 am.

Microsoft is a financial supporter of NPR.

Copyright 2026 NPR

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

The sun is setting and lights are shining down on the Mendez High School soccer field in Boyle Heights. Balls are scattered across the large green turf as Barrio Futbol Academy players set up for practice. It’s the first of two try-outs of the spring and players are running drill after drill. 

For young female athletes in the neighborhood, experiences like these have not been easy to come by.

While searching for a girls’ soccer team in Boyle Heights for her stepdaughter, Eden Carriedo, 31, noticed opportunities were limited for young female athletes, so she created Barrio Futbol Academy. 

“There were very few girls’ teams to pick from,” Carriedo said. She went on to say that the ones that did exist were too expensive for many families. 

Competitive soccer clubs can cost upwards of thousands of dollars a year, and that doesn’t include tournament fees and travel. But Barrio Futbol Academy focuses on affordability. 

The goal is simple: to remove financial barriers so more girls can play. But what started as a single team last spring has become something much bigger.  

Barrio Futbol Academy players participating in a passing drill at Mendez High School field.

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“I was a single coach, but I expanded it to the formal nonprofit that it is now,” Carriedo said. In the early days, the club offered pickup games every other week at Ramon Garcia Park, but after growing into their first year as a competitive team, they continue to offer select free practice and futsal sessions, a type of indoor soccer that’s played on a smaller court. 

For many players, the academy offers more than just a chance to compete. The young players of Barrio Futbol Club all carry aspirations and goals of their own.

“I hope to gain a lot more confidence,” said 13-year-old Camila Alonso. 

Fellow teammate 12-year-old Leilanie Gomez hopes to build her skills. “Definitely to get better … like new tricks and things that I haven’t done before,” Gomez said. 

Building more than a team 

More than just creating a team, the academy has built a strong sense of community, connection and belonging. At practices, players not only train but also form connections and build confidence together.

“My favorite thing about this team is that I always have my teammates, the parents, and the coaches that are always pushing me to be the best that I can be, even when I don’t feel like I’m doing my best,” Gomez said. 

This sense of community is not only felt on the pitch but also on the sidelines. 

“I feel like everybody gravitates to each other, because they know that it’s a team effort overall,” said Linda Rosas, 31, parent. 

Parents of the athletes say that the program makes the families feel connected and supported. 

“I absolutely love my Barrio family, the community, everybody, is just great. Everybody embraces everybody,” said parent Sandy Alcala. 

Breaking financial barriers

Youth club soccer in the United States can cost families anywhere from about $1,472 to nearly $10,000, depending on the level of play. However, this range doesn’t include travel and gear expenses, which could potentially bring the total price to $20,000 annually per child, according to data reported by Girls Soccer Network. These high expenses often put competitive soccer out of reach for many families, highlighting the reality of the country’s pay-to-play system.

“I think that the mission of Barrio is to do everything we can to break down the pay-to-play system,” Carriedo said. 

Eden Carriedo, 31, Founder and coach of Barrio Fútbol Academy.

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At Barrio Futbol Academy, this is demonstrated in how the program is run day to day. The club attempts to keep costs as low as possible by only asking families to cover what is necessary.

“When I say accessibility, I mean that we do not charge a dime more than what is necessary,” Carriendo said. 

The program’s affordability has made a noticeable difference for families in the Eastside and Boyle Heights.

“I think it’s important that we keep providing that because it keeps girls out of trouble. It keeps them engaged, it keeps them going,” Alcala said. “And it keeps the parents motivated to want to keep bringing them, knowing that it’s not costing them an arm and a leg.” 

The mission to provide affordable, competitive soccer has also received support from local businesses, including Picaresca Barra de Café and Purgatory Pizza, who both sponsor the Barrio team.

“Those two [businesses] I asked first because I was comfortable in those spaces, “ said Carriedo. “It’s important that the communities that sponsor this team are from the community.”

A Barrio Futbol Academy player prepares for the ball.

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Lasting impact

For many families, the impact of Barrio Futbol Academy goes far beyond just the game itself. The program is helping players build life skills that extend into their futures.

“I think that the clubs help the kids build confidence and build structure and build communication skills,” said parent Tesia Gomez.

Carriedo hopes those lessons stay with players long-term.

“I would love nothing more than for homegrown athletes out of Boyle Heights to maybe one day play in a World Cup,” she said. “But also be a female CEO that cites her time in sports.”

This story was produced under The LA Local’s Youth Journalism Program. To learn more or to get involved, click here.