Yusra Farzan
covers Orange County and its 34 cities, watching those long meetings — boards, councils and more — so you don’t have to.
Published April 19, 2024 4:19 PM
USC students and faculty protest against the administration's decision to cancel the valedictory address at commencement.
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Courtesy Alan Mittelstaedt
)
Topline:
The University of Southern California’s decision to cancel its valedictorian’s commencement speech has set off a campaign of external and internal pressure on the university to let Asna Tabassum speak as originally planned. Meanwhile, Tabassum says she still plans to attend the commencement ceremony in May.
Security measures: LAist has not received a response to an inquiry about any additional security measures the university has taken given that Tabassum confirmed she plans to attend. But in a notice posted Friday, the university said that "given the highly publicized circumstances" surrounding our main-stage commencement program, all outside previously scheduled speakers and honorees would be honored at a later date. That would include keynote speaker John Chu, best known for directing the film Crazy Rich Asians.
Pressure points: On Thursday, hundreds of students and faculty marched on campus in a peaceful protest. An external petition started by the Council on American-Islamic Relations has garnered more than 40,000 signatures calling on the university to reinstate Tabassum’s speech. In addition, around 150 faculty members have sent a letter to university President Carol Folt, Provost Andrew Guzman and the Board of Trustees saying the university’s decision contradicts the university’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion and “stifles open communication.”
Read on... for more on the controversy.
The University of Southern California’s decision to cancel its valedictorian’s commencement speech has set off a campaign of external and internal pressure on the university to let Asna Tabassum speak as originally planned.
USC’s 2024 valedictorian, Tabassum, says she still plans to attend her school’s commencement ceremony in May, even though she will no longer be allowed to speak.
“I have not received any communication from (the) university about my attendance. I still plan on attending the graduation ceremony,” she told LAist. “I love USC, and I am truly honored and humbled to have been selected as the USC Class of 2024 Valedictorian.”
Being valedictorian, she said, was an honor for her and a “victory” for “hijabis, Muslims, South Asians, (and) first generation Americans.”
Asna Tabassum
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Courtesy Asna Tabassum
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On Monday, USC announced that it was canceling Tabassum’s speech due to unspecified safety concerns because of campus tensions related to the Israel-Hamas War. However, Los Angeles Police Officer Jeff Lee confirmed to LAist that they do not have a crime report open on the security threats.
LAist has not received a response to an inquiry about any additional security measures the university has taken given that Tabassum confirmed she plans to attend. But in a notice posted Friday, the university said that "given the highly publicized circumstances" surrounding our main-stage commencement program, all outside previously scheduled speakers and honorees would be honored at a later date. That would include keynote speaker Jon Chu, best known for directing the film Crazy Rich Asians.
Tabassum’s selection as valedictorian drew criticism from the group Trojans for Israel for touting what they called “anti-Zionist rhetoric." Tabassum has received backlash for a website she linked to on her Instagram profile that contains a list of books and documentaries about Palestinian history and politics. She also links to an external website, created by Palestinians, that “covers Palestinian history/politics and debunks common Zionist myths.”
But Tabassum said she's been overwhelmed by the support she's receiving.
“We’re sparking some important conversations about our values at a magnitude I never dreamed of,” she said. “We’re making lemonade out of lemons.”
On Thursday, hundreds of students and faculty members marched on campus in a peaceful protest, chanting “Let her speak!” An external petition started by the Council on American-Islamic Relations Greater LA office has garnered more than 40,000 signatures calling on USC to reinstate Tabassum’s speech.
Students and faculty protest USC's decision to cancel the valedictory address at commencement.
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Courtesy Alan Mittelstaedt
)
Around 150 faculty members have also penned a letter to university President Carol Folt, Provost Andrew Guzman and the Board of Trustees saying the decision contradicts the university’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion and “stifles open communication.”
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion require the inclusion of a variety of points of view and experience,” the letter states. “The promotion of well-being includes the well-being of communities beyond our campus borders. Above all, this decision does not reflect our collective commitment to act with integrity.”
In a statement, the university said the decision "had nothing to do with the background or viewpoint of the valedictorian, but was instead based on a careful and holistic review of the situation from a safety and security standpoint.”
“Nothing can take precedence over the safety of our community,” the statement added.
Campus debate
The university’s unprecedented decision to cancel a valedictory speech, for the first time since its founding in 1880, comes at a time when college campuses have been roiled with debate because of the Israel-Hamas war. At Columbia University, law enforcement was called in to disband a pro-Palestinian protest and earlier this month, police in riot gear arrested 19 people at Pomona College.
Tabassum said she believes her experience is “an extension of the censorship that universities are doing of students across the nation.”
“On college campuses everywhere, we are seeing examples of students who are courageously exercising their first amendment rights to stand up for the human rights of those who are oppressed and silenced in Palestine,” she told LAist. “I never expected to join the ranks of those students, but am humbled to lend my voice to the fight for justice.”
Tabassum told LAist that her minor in resistance to genocide was inspired by the Shoah Foundation’s archives, which informed her viewpoint “on equality and humanization” and inspired her to become an interviewer for the Health and Human Rights Oral History Project housed at USC.
“Lessons from these experiences are central to my insistence upon human rights for all people, including Palestinians,” she said.
Faculty weighs in
Laurie Brand, a professor emerita who’s studied international relations and the Middle East, is also part of the USC Palestine Justice Faculty Group, comprised of roughly 25 interdisciplinary faculty members. The group released a statement calling the university’s decision “another example of USC’s egregious pattern of supporting anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim racism.”
Brand said the group felt compelled to weigh in on the university’s decision based on academic freedom and the backlash Tabassum has received for supporting Palestinian human rights.
“There's nothing in any of Asna’s statements that suggests that she's antisemitic at all,” Brand said. “She simply is a young woman who is concerned with universal values, and that's demonstrated in a number of statements that she's made.”
In the lead up to commencement, Brand said, various groups and faculty are looking to come together to try and lobby the university.
USC students and faculty protest the administration's decision to cancel the valedictory speech at commencement.
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Courtesy USC Muslim Student Union
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On Wednesday, Brent Blair, a USC School of Dramatic Arts professor, donned a Star of David necklace, a kippah and a prayer shawl as he stood in front of the campus’ Tommy Trojan statue with a sign that read, “Jewish Faculty In Support of Asna Tabassum. Let Her Speak.”
While Blair said he does not “prefer” the language in Tabassum’s social link, he wrote a letter to the provost about his concerns that the “free exchange of ideas” is being challenged and that the university’s decision “infantilizes her for us to assume that she cannot maintain a sense of decorum.”
He said he will continue his protests hoping for a change of heart by the university.
Prior precedent?
In another letter sent to President Folt and Provost Guzman, Donald Miller, a professor of religion at USC, wrote about the time he helped bring Archbishop Desmond Tutu to speak on campus in 1986, when South Africa’s apartheid was being debated.
“More than 3,000 students gathered in front of the Doheny Library steps where a stage had been constructed,” he wrote. “Because there had been death threats against Tutu, the entire front of the stage was lined with LAPD officers and many more were on the perimeter of the large audience of students.”
When asked if a similar security arrangement can be made for the upcoming commencement ceremony, Lee from the LAPD told LAist he didn't know. But a crime report is needed, he said, to establish a potential victim and investigate.
By canceling Tabassum’s speech, Miller writes that the university has “created a situation that will invite protests, send a horrible message to our Muslim community, and tarnish the reputation of the university.”
Wider community pressure
Hasna El-Nounou, a programs manager at Muslim Student Association West, a nonprofit organization that supports 40 Muslim student associations in California, Arizona and Nevada, said the organization was in touch with Tabassum before it was announced that her speech had been canceled.
El-Nounou and her team provided emotional support to Tabassum and gave her guidance, while Muslim community members provided assistance in crafting her public statement. The group went on to mobilize students and others to voice their opposition to the university’s decision.
“It's a very difficult time for the Muslim community as a whole,” El-Nounou said, “but definitely a very tumultuous and emotionally rigorous time for college students in particular.”
Julia Barajas
covers what Angelenos need to know and the essential news of the day.
Published July 24, 2026 3:00 PM
A LAHSA Commission meeting held on Friday, on April 25, 2025.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission unanimously approved a $496 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, moments before the agency released its annual homeless count.
Why it matters: The agency's new budget, approved today, is down 40% compared to $829 million approved last year. The drop accounts for L.A. County’s move away from the agency — along with fewer dollars from the state. The agency’s budget is now 73% funded by the city of L.A. At the same time, homelessness in L.A. is up. New numbers show the population of people living outdoors in the city grew by7.9% between early 2025 and 2026.
What does the money do: In addition to the annual tally,the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority uses federal, state, county, and city dollars to provide a range of services — everything from safe places to park for people who live in their cars to permanent housing placement.
Who’s on the commission? LAHSA is governed by a 10-member commission that is half appointed by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, and half appointed by each of the five county supervisors. Bass has served on the commission since appointing herself to it in fall 2023.
The backstory: The embattled agency, which has been at the forefront of the region’s response to homelessness for more than three decades, is currently fighting for survival. Following a series of harsh audits and a judge’s rebuke of LAHSA’s spending and management, L.A. County supervisors pulled funding from the agency. LAHSA is also in the middle of a court battle with the Trump administration, which is seeking to cut its access to hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds.
The Pio Pico - Koreatown Branch Library in Koreatown is one of several cooling centers recommended by the city.
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Gary Coronado
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The LA Local
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Topline:
While a late July heatwave baking Los Angeles is expected to break by Monday, a new heatwave could be following close behind next week.
More details: Temperatures will linger in the high 80s and low 90s in downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods, including Koreatown, Pico Union and Westlake. The National Weather Service projects temperatures will peak on Sunday afternoon. Meteorologist Bryan Lewis with the National Weather Service said residents can expect more humidity than usual.
Stay cool: During hot weather, the beach is an immediate go-to for folks that want to stay cool, but Lewis warns against this as the surf will be extra choppy. Here's some places to beat the heat.
Los Angeles will be under a heat wave advisory until Monday evening as temperatures show no signs of letting up over the weekend.
Temperatures will linger in the high 80s and low 90s in downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods, including Koreatown, Pico Union and Westlake.
The National Weather Service projects temperatures will peak on Sunday afternoon. Meteorologist Bryan Lewis with the National Weather Service said residents can expect more humidity than usual.
While dense, urban centers have more concrete and see more vehicle traffic, downtown and the surrounding areas will not be the hottest locations during this heatwave in the Southland, as the Antelope Valley will be under an extreme heat advisory over the weekend.
During hot weather, the beach is an immediate go-to for folks that want to stay cool, but Lewis warns against this as the surf will be extra choppy.
The Pacific Coast will see large swells “coming up from tropical systems off the coast of Mexico,” Lewis said. “We are issuing a beach hazard statement that’ll be in effect through at least the weekend [which] may be extended.”
While the weather is expected to cool down on Monday, forecasts show that another heatwave could develop by the end of next week.
Councilmember Heather Hutt’s office recommends residents to rest in shade or a building with air conditioning and to stay hydrated with plenty of water.
Residents should also:
Cool down at a public library, recreation facility, senior center or other public air-conditioned building
Check up on relatives and neighbors, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions
Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances
When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening
Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments and staying hydrated
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Faheem Khan
is an associate producer for LAist's daily news show, AirTalk
Published July 24, 2026 2:24 PM
Chaiwale and Co.'s location in Orange, CA.
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Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh
/
Courtesy of Chaiwale & Co.
)
Topline:
The owner of Chaiwale & Co tells us about where chai comes from and misconceptions around the drink. Plus, we try some South Asian desserts.
The backstory: The Indian subcontinent’s dominance in tea production can be traced back as early as the 19th century when British colonizers established plantations in western India. While the British preferred their tea black and lightly sweetened, the Indian populace began to make their own version of the tea, giving birth to what we now know as chai. Today, chai has become more than just a drink for South Asians around the world. It is a symbol of hospitality, community and respect.
What is chai? Traditional chai is prepared in a dhoodh pati style, which refers to chai that is boiled with milk, sugar, green cardamom and sometimes other aromatics like cinnamon, ginger and star anise, a combination known as masala.
Chai tea? No, no, no: To set the record straight once and for all, chai in Hindustani directly translates to “tea.” So, the term “chai tea” — which many people use — is actually redundant because it translates to “tea tea.”
Listen
13:36
Food Friday: Chaiwale & Co
How to visit:
Address: 177 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Hours: Sun-Thurs from 8-10 a.m., Fri-Sat 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cost: A 12 oz. cup of chai costs $4.99, Samosas are $7.99 each, Rose Pistachio Loaf is $6.49 a slice, and a slice of Gulab Jamun Cheesecake is $7.99
Read more... to learn how Chaiwale provides the ultimate chai-drinking experience with traditional clay cups.
Chai is more than just a drink for South Asians around the world. It’s a symbol of hospitality, community and respect.
Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh, co-owner of Chaiwale & Co., joined AirTalkFriday host, Austin Cross, to talk about how he’s preserving the traditions around the drink — and to sip some chai, of course.
Community and connection
For as long as he can remember, Singh has been connecting with loved ones over a cup of traditional homemade chai.
“Desi chai is very different from what the Western world knows – not only in taste, but the meaning of it too,” Singh said.
The phrase desi comes from the Sanskrit word desha, meaning "land" or "country," andis used to describe people, cultures and products of South Asia and its global diaspora.
Singh and his brother opened the chai shop in 2024 with a clear goal in mind — community and connection.
Chai in its truest form
Chai takes on many different shapes and sizes, but its truest essence can be traced back as early as the 19th century, when British colonizers established plantations in western India, where the Indian populace made their own version of tea, called chai.
To set the record straight once and for all, chai in Hindustani directly translates to “tea.” So, the term “chai tea” — which many people use — is actually redundant because it translates to “tea tea.”
Traditional chai is prepared in a dhoodh pati style, which refers to chai that is boiled with milk, sugar, green cardamom and sometimes other aromatics like cinnamon, ginger and star anise, a combination known as masala. So, chai tea latte — also redundant.
Singh was inspired by all the misconceptions around chai to fill what he saw as a gap in the market.
New Desi wave
In addition to the nostalgia Chaiwale & Co. provides, they’ve also dabbled in South Asian fusion, most notably with their rendition of a gulab jamun cheesecake.
Gulab jamun cheesecake
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Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh
/
Courtesy of Chaiwale & Co.
)
Gulab Jamun — deep-fried dough balls soaked in a sugar syrup — are a South Asian household staple, usually enjoyed at festivities and weddings, and of course, over chai.
The clay cup tradition
Dhoodh pati style chai served in a traditional clay cup
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Shilapjot ‘Sunny’ Singh
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Courtesy of Chaiwale & Co.
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The chai at Chaiwale is served in traditional clay cups and copper teapots to pay homage to how it's done back in the subcontinent.
One of the most nostalgic chai snacks is Parle-G cookies, which are served complimentary with the chai.
The ultimate Chaiwale experience
Every Sunday, Chaiwale & Co. has ‘Bollywood High Tea’ from 12-2 p.m. at its Orange location, where you can experience traditional chai and samosas to fusion items like a butter chicken burrito and gulab jaman cheesecake.
The experience costs $35.99 per person ($15 online reservation + $20.99 in-store) with a table minimum of two people.
The Paramount logo is displayed at Columbia Square along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Calif. on March 9, 2023.
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Patrick T. Fallon
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Skydance-owned Paramount on Friday agreed to delay closing its $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery well into next year, as a judge continues to consider a challenge from 12 states seeking to block the deal altogether.
The backstory: Twelve states, led by California, sued to block Paramount’s pending buyout of Warner last month — alleging that such a combination would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers, particularly moviegoers and cable customers.
Read on... for more on the backstory.
NEW YORK (AP) — Skydance-owned Paramount on Friday agreed to delay closing its $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery well into next year, as a judge continues to consider a challenge from 12 states seeking to block the deal altogether.
In a court filing, Paramount said it wouldn’t close the merger until five days “after the merits determination in these matters” or June 1, 2027. The move arrives just days after U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín granted a temporary restraining order requested by the states to freeze the transaction for several weeks.
Twelve states, led by California, sued to block Paramount’s pending buyout of Warner last month — alleging that such a combination would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers, particularly moviegoers and cable customers. Paramount has called the states’ claims meritless and vowed to “vigorously defend” its merger.
