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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • News
    April 8 Eclipse
    L.A.'s experience will be far from totality
    By Nell Greenfieldboyce | NPR
    Published March 8, 2024 5:15 AM
    A map of the U.S. shows a wide band stretching from southern Texas northwest up into Canada.
    Eclipse gazers enjoying totality on Aug. 21, 2017, in Isle of Palms, S.C. Eclipse experts say partial eclipses aren't nearly as dramatic.
    (
    Courtesy NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
    )

    Topline:

    After the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse, the contiguous United States won't see another for 20 years. And the one that's coming in 2044 will only be visible from the less-populated states of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

    What will I see April 8 in L.A.? In Southern California, the April 8 eclipse will max out at about 50% of totality — far from the total eclipse that will be experienced elsewhere in North America. That will take place at 11:11 a.m.

    When will the next one be visible here? If you're hoping to experience a total eclipse in L.A. someday there's bad news. According to NASA records, the most recent total eclipse here was in 1724 and another isn't forecast through the year 3000.

    Keep reading ... for details on why experts say even 99% totality is nothing like the real thing.

    When the moon slips in front of the sun on April 8, many places will hold eclipse viewing parties. The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, for example, will hand out special viewing glasses shaped like the historic building.

    What about in L.A.?

    In Southern California, the April 8 eclipse will max out at about 50% of totality — far from the total eclipse that will be experienced elsewhere in North America. That will take place at 11:11 a.m.

    If you're hoping to experience a total eclipse in L.A. someday there's bad news. According to NASA records, the most recent total eclipse here was in 1724 and another isn't forecast through the year 3000.

    "We encourage everyone to come to the Alamo," says Alamo Trust spokesperson Jonathan Huhn, who notes that past astronomical events have drawn thousands to the Alamo's plaza. "We're hopeful to have another 5,000 people out in front of the shrine of Texas liberty to witness this beautiful celestial event."

    But the Alamo is just outside the so-called path of totality — that's the ribbon of land that stretches through 13 states, from Texas to Maine, that will see a total solar eclipse. During a total eclipse, the sun is completely obscured by the moon.

    "We're not in the 100% area of totality," says Huhn, who says he thinks the sun will be around 99.9% obscured. "It's very, very close."

    Close but no cigar, according to eclipse experts.

    "I would never tell someone, '99% is close enough.' That's definitely not the case with a solar eclipse," says Michelle Nichols, who directs public observing programs at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

    "Drive those last few miles to get into the path of totality," she urges. "People go to total eclipses to get the full experience, and 99% will not get you the full experience."

    "It's 100% or nothing," agrees Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist who has experienced 30 total solar eclipses. "There's such a radical, dramatic difference between a 99% partial and a 100% total. There's no comparison."

    During a total eclipse, the sky darkens suddenly and dramatically. The temperature drops. Stars come out. Beautiful colors appear around the horizon. And the once-familiar sun becomes a black void in the sky surrounded by the glowing corona — that's the ghostly white ring that is the sun's atmosphere.

    "It seems supernatural," says Espenak. "It is so far beyond the scope of normal, everyday existence that it seems dream-like or hallucinogenic."

    A partial solar eclipse offers none of that magic, according to Rick Fienberg, the project manager for the American Astronomical Society's solar eclipse task force.

    "Even at 99%, it gets no more dark than on a sort of typical overcast day," says Fienberg. "You can have a 75% or 80% partial solar eclipse, and if you didn't know it was happening, you might not notice because the environment changes so little."

    That's because the sun is just so incredibly bright that even a tiny exposed sliver can light up the sky — or hurt your eyes if you're not wearing protective glasses. Only during the brief total eclipse phase when the sun is completely covered (which varies depending on your exact location but could be around four minutes) is it safe to look up toward the sun without special eye protection.

    "The sun is about a million times brighter than the full moon," explains Angela Speck, an astronomer at the University of Texas at San Antonio. So if 99.9% of the sun is obscured, she says, there will still be "a thousand times more light than the full moon, and so it's still bright."

    The last time parts of the United States got to see a total solar eclipse, in 2017, the path of totality went over a lot of rural areas, says Nichols. This time, the path cuts through more urban areas.

    That means while around 32 million people live in the path, many more live a short distance away.

    For them, the difference between seeing a partial eclipse and seeing a total one may mean going across town.

    "If you get right up to the path, but don't go that last, you know, a few hundred yards into it, you're going to have a very, very deep partial eclipse," says Fienberg. "It will definitely get noticeably dark, but not near as dark as it will get at 100%. And you will not see the solar corona."

    Popular places located just outside the path of totality will have to decide what kind of event to hold that day, if any.

    The San Antonio Zoo is on the side of the city that won't see a total eclipse. Unlike the nearby Alamo, it will focus on having pre-eclipse activities on the day before.

    "We are hosting an Eclipse Prep event on Sunday instead of an event on Monday," zoo spokesperson Hope Roth told NPR by email, adding that astronomers will attend and free solar glasses will be available. "We will encourage guests to visit the zoo, grab their glasses, and have a fun time while preparing for the Eclipse the following day."

    The historic Cincinnati Observatory, which frequently holds sky gazing parties, will only see a 99.7% partial eclipse. Staffers there thought hard about whether or not to hold an eclipse celebration.

    "For the longest time leading up to this eclipse, we had been committed to being closed," says executive director Anna Hehman, "because totality, if the skies are clear, is within an hour of us."

    Eventually, they decided to hold an event for those members of their community who, for whatever reason, couldn't travel to the path of totality.

    "While we encourage everyone to head to totality if possible, we love that people want to be at the Cincinnati Observatory for out-of-this-world events like this one. So, if you can't head to totality, please join us," the observatory's website says.

    After all, a partial eclipse is still an interesting celestial event that people have observed since antiquity, even if it's not as dramatic.

    "The buzz about solar eclipses is usually focused on totality, and witnessing a total eclipse is worthy of the hype. But the vast majority of people won't be in the path of totality," astronomy educator Shauna Edson, at the National Air and Space Museum, told NPR in an email.

    That's why the museum is holding an eclipse celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which will see an 89% partial eclipse.

    "This eclipse falls during cherry blossom season, so a lot of people will be visiting DC, and the Museum wanted to provide a space where they could enjoy the eclipse together," Edson noted, adding that participants will be able to enjoy the crescent-shaped shadows that form under trees and try out different methods for viewing the partial eclipse.

    After April 8, the contiguous United States won't see another total solar eclipse for 20 years. And the one that's coming in 2044 will only be visible from the less-populated states of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

    Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org.

  • 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.