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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • Food
    Sriracha Is Back
    Its production has resumed for a few months
    Anne To
    Published November 5, 2023 8:00 AM
    A red and white Sriracha bottle seasons a bowl of white rice on a wooden table
    Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce has been making its return to the shelves over the past few months.
    (
    Justin Sullivan
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    Topline:

    The Sriracha shortage that had gripped the nation earlier this year has shown signs of easing.

    Why it matters: After months of Sriracha belt-tightening, the sauce is back on the shelves. Huy Fong Foods Inc, the Irwindale-based manufacturer, says production resumed about two to three months ago.

    The backstory: The shortage was first reported in April 2022, when Huy Fong Food Inc. announced that weather conditions had affected the production of chili peppers that were the main ingredients of Sriracha. The revelation pushed the price of the bottles for many times their original price on auction sites like eBay.

    Go deeper: LA Restaurant Requests Sriracha Donations In Face Of Unprecedented Shortage

    The Sriracha shortage that had gripped the nation earlier this year has shown signs of easing.

    The shortage was first reported in April 2022 when Huy Fong Foods Inc. announced that weather conditions had affected the production of chili peppers that were the main ingredients of Sriracha. The revelation pushed the price of the bottles for many times their retail price on auction sites like eBay.

    But after months of Sriracha belt-tightening, the sauce is back on the shelves. The Irwindale-based Huy Fong told LAist that it has indeed resumed production of the sauce "about two to three months ago."

    How one restaurant dealt with the shortage

    The sauce has become a staple condiment in the United States where it's paired with everything from salads, sandwiches, to chicken nuggets and more.

    But at phở places, it’s a veritable staple, on par with bean sprouts and fresh basil. You can expect to see the green-capped bottle sitting next to a bottle of hoisin sauce.

    “It's kind of a part of the dining experience where when every guest comes, they expect you to have hoisin and Sriracha, because it's a whole package,” said Hanli Su, owner of Pho Ever in Alhambra.

    She says when the shortage of Sriracha occurred, there was an “uproar” from their customers.

    “They’ll ask us always, every time it would be like, ‘Oh there isn’t Sriracha on the table. Do you have Sriracha?’” Su said.

    Su says during the shortage customers were left with a sense of longing for the sauce.

    “It was just their experience was kind of incomplete, almost. So of course, they're here for the main thing, which is phở, but then there's always that like, 10% missing, which is like the Sriracha.”

    The supply chain unclogged

    Su says it was only this month when she started to see a drop in the wholesale prices for the sauce, which allowed her to stock up again. She’s stoked the sauce is back, but says she notices a difference.

    “We actually did like a taste test because we did have an old box of Sriracha from before the shortage that we never wanted to kind of give away,” Su said. “We noticed that the color of the old Sriracha was a little more vibrant …The new Sriracha is a little more kind of acidic, in a sense, like a little more sour.”

    Su says she had to readjust her recipes because the sauce no longer tasted the same, and multiple dishes used the sauce in it.

    None of her customers has brought the issue up to her, she says. But on a Reddit thread, some users are having the same hunch.

    We took the question to Huy Fong Food Inc., but the company has yet to respond.

    When Huy Fong Food Inc.'s Sriracha went off the shelf, it left behind a consumer base desperate for the garlicky, spicy sauce or any semblance of it.

    Many customers sought out substitutes, trying out similar versions of the sauce from Trader Joes, Underwood Farms, Lee Kum Kee and more.

    Su also sought out an alternative by importing boxes of Cholimex, the sauce most commonly used in Vietnam to pair with phở, which she says she prefers over Sriracha now.

    “When we did switch back to Sriracha, there was I would say 30% of our customers who are like, ‘Oh, do you still have the old sauce because it tastes better,’” Su said. “Sriracha is like a big name brand, and everyone's used to it, and everyone wanted it. But when they had no choice, but to try the substitute, they ended up liking it a little bit more.”
  • News
    Artemis II photos
    Images from the far side of the moon
    By NPR Staff | NPR
    Published April 7, 2026 10:30 AM
    A third of the planet earth set against a pitch black sky. In the foreground is the brown, cratered surface of the moon.
    (
    NASA
    )

    Topline:

    During the mission's loop around the moon, the crew took geological observations of places of interest on the lunar surface with their own eyes and snapping thousands of photos of the surface.


    Historic mission: The Artemis II astronauts are making their way back to Earth after the lunar flyby. The crew became the first astronauts in over 50 years to fly around the far side of the moon. They also experienced a solar eclipse. The crew will return to Earth on Friday and splash down off the coast of California. NASA says a landing on the lunar surface won't happen until 2028, at the earliest.

    Read on. . . to look at the photos they captured.

    The Artemis II astronauts are making their way back to Earth after the lunar flyby.

    The crew became the first astronauts in over 50 years to fly around the far side of the moon. They also experienced a solar eclipse.

    During the mission's loop around the moon, the crew took geological observations of places of interest on the lunar surface with their own eyes and snapping thousands of photos of the surface.

    The crew will return to Earth on Friday and splash down off the coast of California. NASA says a landing on the lunar surface won't happen until 2028, at the earliest.

    Here is what they captured.
    Copyright 2026 NPR

    The moon with a halo of light around it. The moon appears black.
    April 6: Captured by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby, this image shows the moon fully eclipsing the sun. From the crew's perspective, the moon appears large enough to completely block the sun, creating nearly 54 minutes of totality and extending the view far beyond what is possible from Earth. The corona forms a glowing halo around the dark lunar disk, revealing details of the sun's outer atmosphere typically hidden by its brightness. Also visible are stars, typically too faint to see when imaging the moon, but with the moon in darkness, stars are readily imaged. This unique vantage point provides both a striking visual and a valuable opportunity for astronauts to document and describe the corona during humanity's return to deep space. The faint glow of the nearside of the moon is visible in this image, having been illuminated by light reflected off the Earth.
    (
    NASA
    )
    Closeup of the moon. The moon''s cratered surface appears gray.
    April 6: This is a portion of the moon coming into view along the terminator — the boundary between lunar day and night — where low-angle sunlight casts long, dramatic shadows across the surface. This grazing light accentuates the moon's rugged topography, revealing craters, ridges and basin structures in striking detail. Features along the terminator, such as Jule Crater, Birkhoff Crater, Stebbins Crater and surrounding highlands, stand out.
    (
    NASA
    )
    A tiny white dot against the blackness of space approaches a round, black moon.
    April 6: A close-up view from the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II crew's lunar flyby captures a total solar eclipse, with only part of the moon visible in the frame as it fully obscures the sun. Although the full lunar disk extends beyond the image, the sun's faint corona remains visible as a soft halo of light around the moon's edge. From this deep-space vantage point, the moon appeared large enough to sustain nearly 54 minutes of totality, far longer than total solar eclipses typically seen from Earth.
    (
    NASA
    )
    The silhouette of about 1/3 of the moon, appearing black. A small bit of light from the sun peeks out from behind it.
    April 6: Captured from the Orion spacecraft near the end of the Artemis II lunar flyby, this image shows the sun beginning to peek out from behind the moon as the eclipse transitions out of totality. Only a portion of the moon is visible in the frame, its curved edge revealing a bright sliver of sunlight returning after nearly an hour of darkness.
    (
    NASA
    )
    The moon, appearing in several shades of grey, against the blackness of space
    April 6: This image shows the moon, the near side (the hemisphere we see from Earth) visible at the right side of the disk, identifiable by the dark splotches. At lower left is Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moon's near and far sides. Everything to the left of the crater is the far side.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    The moon is pictured through the window of a spacecraft.
    April 6: The moon is seen in the window of the Orion spacecraft, in a photo taken by the Artemis II crew, at the end of Day 5 of the journey to the moon.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    A portion of a spacecraft is pictured in space, to its right is planet earth, appearing black with 2/3rds of its surface in shadow. Beyonf earth is a quarter moon.
    April 6: The Orion spacecraft, Earth and the moon are seen from a camera as the Artemis II crew and spacecraft travel farther into space.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    A man peers out a small, round window surrounded by various mechanical gadgets. The window is inside of a spacecraft. Outside the window is the white sliver of the moon.
    April 6: Artemis II pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Glover peers out one of the Orion spacecraft's windows looking back at Earth ahead of the crew's lunar flyby.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    Four astronauts wearing matching navy blue tops inside of a spacecraft. Above them hang a small Canadian and American flag.
    April 4: Artemis II astronauts (from left) Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Victor Glover gather for an interview en route to the moon.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    A woman wearing eyeglasses and a blue sleeveless top inside of a spacecraft. In the distance an American flag hangs inside the spacecraft.
    April 4: Astronaut Christina Koch preps for lunar flyby activities after completing aerobic exercise on the flywheel device.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    Half of the planet earth is pictured through the window of a spacecraft.
    April 3: An image of Earth taken by astronaut Reid Wiseman inside the Orion capsule.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    The front end of a spacecraft in space with the word "NASA" painted on it in red.
    April 3: The exterior of the Orion spacecraft Integrity is seen during the Artemis II mission en route to the moon.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    Planet earth, mostly obscured in darkness save for a sliver towards the lower left.
    April 3: The Earth seen from a window on the Orion spacecraft Integrity during the Artemis II mission en route to the moon.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    A female astronaut inside of a spacecraft. She is illuminated by a green light.
    April 3: NASA astronaut Christina Koch is illuminated by a screen inside the darkened Orion spacecraft on the third day of the agency's Artemis II mission. To the right of the image's center, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen is seen in profile peering out one of Orion's windows. Lights are turned off to avoid glare on the windows.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    Getty Images North America
    )
    Planet earth appears with blue and white swirls. There's a brown patch on the lower left portion of the planet.
    April 2: A view of Earth taken by Wiseman from of the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )
    A woman in profile, her hair floating in front of her. She is inside a spacecraft, looking out at planet earth through a window.
    April 2: Mission specialist Christina Koch peers out one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels toward the moon.
    (
    NASA via AP
    /
    NASA
    )

  • Sponsored message
  • Climate & Environment
    Eastside air quality
    Residents invited to see how sensors are installed
    By Alejandra Molina | Boyle Heights Beat
    Published April 7, 2026 9:30 AM
    A small group of people listen to a man in a yellow safety vest holding a tablet talk on a sidewalk. Some take photos with their phones. Behind them are parked cars on a street with trees and small buildings.
    Climate Resolve leaders guide youth through Boyle Heights.
    (
    Reana Peña
    /
    Boyle Heights Beat
    )

    Topline:

    Eastside residents are invited to a series of field trips this month to learn how air-quality sensors will be installed across Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, in an effort to improve air quality and extreme heat in the community.

    More details: The nonprofit Climate Resolve, in partnership with Promesa Boyle Heights and California Climate Investments, is hosting two field trips on April 11 and April 18 for residents to witness the installation. Free shuttle transportation will be provided.

    Why it matters: Through these field trips, Eastsiders will get to see how and where air quality will be measured in their neighborhoods. Once installed, the monitors will measure wind, black carbon, ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide levels.

    Read on... learn how to participate.

    This story first appeared on The LA Local.

    Eastside residents are invited to a series of field trips this month to learn how air-quality sensors will be installed across Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, in an effort to improve air quality and extreme heat in the community.

    The nonprofit Climate Resolve, in partnership with Promesa Boyle Heights and California Climate Investments, is hosting two field trips on April 11 and April 18 for residents to witness the installation. Free shuttle transportation will be provided. 

    At the April 18 event, the nonprofit City Plants will also give out free potted fruit and shade trees. Proof of L.A. residency is required to receive a tree.

    Through these field trips, Eastsiders will get to see how and where air quality will be measured in their neighborhoods. Once installed, the monitors will measure wind, black carbon, ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide levels. 

    Historically, the Eastside has been plagued by high smog and poor air quality due to nearby freeways, rail yards, and industrial activities. East L.A. is crisscrossed by heavily trafficked freeways like the I-5, I-10 and I-710.

    Compared to more affluent neighborhoods, areas like Boyle Heights and East L.A. have fewer trees and parks, which naturally help filter pollutants and improve air quality.

    As a result, residents in these communities often experience poorer air quality, which contributes to health issues. For example, people in Boyle Heights are 75 to 86% more likely to develop asthma than those in other parts of California, according to a 2023 case study by East LA Community Corporation.

    How to participate
    Boyle Heights field trip:

    When: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11 
    East LA field trip

    When: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18

    Register at bit.ly/CommunityAirQuality

    For questions, call or message 213-267-4247

    Heads up: The address for each event will be provided the week of that event.

    Freelance writer Valeria Macias contributed to this report.
  • Climate & Environment
    Coyote season
    LA fires may be leading to more coyotes sightings
    Adolfo Guzman-Lopez
    Adolfo Guzman-Lopez is an arts and general assignment reporter on LAist's Explore LA team.
    Published April 7, 2026 5:00 AM
    Two coyotes walk in a park in the late afternoon sun.
    Two coyotes walk on grass at the edge of scorched earth in Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
    (
    David McNew
    /
    Getty Images North America
    )

    Topline:

    An expert says fires may destroy coyote dens and disrupt territories, which is why SoCal residents may be seeing more coyotes during mating season now.

    Why it matters: While coyotes are mostly afraid of humans, packs can include aggressive coyotes that can be dangerous to humans and pets.

    Why now: Spring is mating season, during which coyotes are more active and mark their territories while looking for mates.

    What to do if you see one: An expert says it's good to carry a noisemaker like a whistle or a cowbell, and even bear spray. Throwing a rock at a coyote could also discourage it from approaching you.

    Go deeper: How to life safely with coyotes.

    It’s spring, and that means coyote mating season, not just in Southern California wildlands, but also in the urban landscape. While it’s hard to say whether there are more coyotes roaming the region, the fact that it's mating season means you are more likely to see one.

    “Animals are sort of out and about. They're vocalizing. They’re scent marking. They're grooming, they're moving around, they're looking for mates,” said Ted Stankowich, a professor of biological sciences at California State University, Long Beach.

    He hasn’t studied the effects of the Palisades and Eaton fires on coyotes, but said fires often destroy coyote dens and disrupt their territories.

    “Where one pack might have dominated one sort of larger territory, that territory might be split up. And now you have two packs in there, and you might have two breeding females and more pups,” he said, which can lead to more interactions with humans.

    Most coyotes are afraid of people, Stankowich said, but packs may include an aggressive member. Here are his suggestions when encountering coyotes:

    • Carry a noisemaker, like a whistle or cowbell to scare them
    • Throw a rock to make their encounter with you unpleasant
    • Carry bear spray
    • At home, keep small and large pets inside — a coyote pack can overtake larger dogs, like German shepherds
  • Climate & Environment
    Cooler weather
    Rain for SoCal likely to come later this week
    Gillian Morán Pérez
    Gillian Morán Pérez writes about your daily weather forecast.
    Published April 7, 2026 5:00 AM
    A person is walking on a paved dirt path and holding the leash of a brown dog. The grass extends beside them with several trees lining the path. A skyline is rising behind them and beneath a blue sky with clouds.
    Gusty winds are expected for most of SoCal.
    (
    Mel Melcon
    /
    Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
    )

    QUICK FACTS

    • Today’s weather: Mostly sunny
    • Beaches: Mid 60s to around 70s
    • Mountains: Mid-60s to around 70 degrees
    • Inland: 77 to 84 degrees
    • Warnings and advisories: None

    What to expect: Mostly sunny skies and cooler temperatures. L.A. and Orange County beaches will see temperatures in the mid 60s to around 70 degrees, though some Orange County coastal areas could reach 76 degrees.

    Read on ... to learn about the rain coming later this week.

    QUICK FACTS

    • Today’s weather: Mostly sunny
    • Beaches: Mid 60s to around 70s
    • Mountains: Mid-60s to around 70 degrees
    • Inland: 77 to 84 degrees
    • Warnings and advisories: None

    After a warm weekend, Southern California will see cooler temperatures this week and even some rain over the weekend.

    L.A. and Orange County beaches will see temperatures in the mid 60s to around 70 degrees, though some Orange County coastal areas could reach 76 degrees.

    Meanwhile, daytime highs for the valleys and Inland Empire will reach into the low 80s, with the warmest areas expected to reach 84 degrees. Coachella Valley will see temperatures in the 90s.

    Looking ahead, weekend rain is in the forecast starting Friday through Saturday. We could get anywhere between a quarter to a full inch of rain, with the higher amounts of rainfall more likely for higher elevations. There's also a chance of thunderstorms that could produce heavy downpours. For anyone going to Coachella, it looks like rain is likely for Saturday.