The Brief

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is reporting an extremely rare situation.

A Baldwin Park resident has been diagnosed with dengue after catching it locally, the department announced on Monday. Dengue is a disease caused by a virus that spreads mainly through mosquito bites.

While a very low amount of L.A. County residents catch dengue through travel yearly, this is the first time the L.A. County Department of Public Health has reported a locally-acquired case.

That means there are likely infected mosquitoes in the county.

What is dengue?

Dengue is common in tropical and subtropical regions, like the Caribbean, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands.

This is California’s third locally-acquired dengue case. Two others were reported in Long Beach and Pasadena in fall 2023. Those cities have their own public health departments.

Locally-acquired means the person had no history of travel to areas where the disease is endemic.

The risk of it spreading in L.A. County remains low, but the announcement comes at a time when dengue cases have been rising globally. The 2024 calendar year has had the highest number of cases on record, according to a recent health advisory.

More than 11 million cases of dengue have been reported in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean in 2024, according to the CDC.

Dengue is primarily passed on to people through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are invasive to California.

Dengue can cause a range of flu-like symptoms. Those include fevers, headaches, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and even mild bleeding. About 1 in 20 cases develop serious disease symptoms, which could be life-threatening. But for most, symptoms usually last from a few days to a week.

What’s being done

The county Department of Public Health is working with vector control districts on prevention. The department said field teams are going door-to-door with information on dengue risk and mosquito bites nearby.

“This case further indicates that dengue fever is present in our community... ,” said Muntu Davis, L.A. County health officer, in a statement. “We must remain vigilant and prevent further cases through public education and mosquito control efforts.”

San Gabriel Valley’s vector control district is also increasing mosquito trapping to allow for more testing and to reduce the risk of additional spread in the Baldwin Park neighborhood.

How you can protect yourself

Because dengue is spread through mosquitoes, avoiding bites is the best way to protect yourself.

Aedes mosquitoes prefer to breed in small spaces, like containers and even bottle caps. And they are known as ankle biters that can be active during the day and in well-lit areas at night.

• Clear water and gaps

You’ll want to make sure to clear standing water around your home. A lot of the water sources that mosquitoes thrive off of are generated by us — think a dripping spigot, or water left outside for your pets. Clogged rain gutters, drying out buckets, and even fresh water in bird baths can become a breeding ground.

Give your home a check for gaps that mosquitoes can get through, like a broken window screen. The Greater L.A. County Vector Control District has a checklist that you can use to check your property.

• Use insect repellent

You’ll want to look for ones with specific active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, and 2-undecanone.

• Call in the experts

If the mosquitoes where you live won’t take the hint, call your local vector control district. They can catalog, remove, and document the spread — at no cost.

This story was originally published by The LA Local on Feb. 3, 2026.

An old couch, the remains of a black massage chair and a refrigerator with its door open clutter 4th Street and New Hampshire Avenue on the grassy strip between the sidewalk and the street.

On Berendo Street, two refrigerators, both full-sized, lay splayed out on the lawn on a sunny day in late January. Both were tagged with graffiti.

The items are unremarkable, but they speak to the volume of trash that falls into Koreatown — one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods for illegal dumping, according to the latest available data from the city.

“Every single person in my building — that’s their top concern,” said Tania Ramos, who was born and raised in Koreatown and serves on the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council. “It’s so horrible.”

From April 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, the city received a total of 206 illegal dumping reports at 4th Street and New Hampshire in Koreatown, according to an analysis of public data by Crosstown. The next highest count in that time frame was the 117 calls on the 7300 block of Lennox Avenue in Van Nuys, which leads overall for calls for service across the city.

Los Angeles overhauled its data last March, making it difficult to compare data from previous years.

Residents say the reporting system itself can feel ineffective.

“All the city tells us is to contact 311,” Ramos said. “They redirect you, but you have to wait and wait, and we end up being the ones that have to do neighborhood cleanups.”

The most impacted neighborhood from the 9-month period of April–December 2025 was Van Nuys, with 15,671 calls for service. Koreatown received 12,640 calls. Westlake ranked sixth, and Boyle Heights stood eighth, according to the data.

A spokesperson for Councilmember Heather Hutt, who represents part of Koreatown, did not respond to requests for comment about the long wait times and the high volume of illegal dumping.

Koreatown residents say they often report illegal dumping in their neighborhood, but often face long wait times for any type of cleanup.

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Jon Regardie

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The LA Local

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Illegal dumping is a long-festering problem in Los Angeles. While in some instances it involves an individual tossing a few trash bags on a corner, it often means discarded furniture, mounds of unsold fruit or construction detritus dumped in a vacant lot or an alley at night by someone who does not want to pay a disposal fee.

Ramos said delays can stretch into weeks.

“Recently, there was a toilet in front of my building, and it took four to five weeks for it to get cleaned up,” she said.

Pablo Cardoso, director of environmental services at the Koreatown Youth and Community Center, said illegal dumping has “always been an issue.”

“For our crews, yes, there have been more requests to go and pick up bulky items,” he said.

Cardoso believes convenience and limited infrastructure both play a role.

“My personal opinion about it is that people are just lazy and the easy way to get rid of their unwanted furniture is to just dump it in front of their building,” he said. “I also don’t think that these condos or apartments where they live don’t have the dumping or trash bins for big furniture.”

Sometimes there are hazardous materials. At a Jan. 14 meeting of the City Council’s Public Works Committee, Nicholas Fuentes, with the city sanitation bureau’s Livability Services Division, said asbestos in abandoned commercial and construction material is a problem.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez chairs the committee and said during the meeting that some residents don’t use or know about the free hazardous waste drop-offs the city offers and instead resort to dumping.

“I come across buckets full of oil in my district, like on the side of the road,” Hernandez said. “That means someone got the oil, put it in the buckets, put it in their mode of transportation, drove to this place and dropped it off.”

The city offers free bulky item pick-up for residents getting rid of that old desk or mattress (it involves lugging the item to the curb on trash day). But illegal dumping is a criminal offense, and perpetrators can be fined up to $1,000.

“Do they call 311? I hope they do,” Cardoso said. “Is 311 the best system? It’s there, but I don’t know. What I know is that they’re overwhelmed with requests.”

Awareness of the service remains low, organizers say.

“When I would promote 311, which is a free service, a majority of people do not know about it,” said Pia Cadanela of No Harm KTLA, a volunteer group that does trash pickups in the neighborhood twice a month. “Even people who volunteer with us would be surprised. They did not know that there’s a free pick-up service by the city.”

The issue is not new. In 2021, then-City Controller Ron Galperin authored a report titled “Piling Up: Addressing L.A.’s Illegal Dumping Problem.” Yet the document’s suggestions on how to combat the practice have produced few tangible results.

Fourth and New Hampshire may be a dumping destination because of one corner: While apartment buildings and the Joohyang Presbyterian Church occupy three parts of the intersection, the southeast corner holds a vacant lot, with a series of tents by a retaining wall.

It’s likely already being monitored by the city. Fuentes said his team works on problem points in each of the 15 council districts.

“We have identified with the directors of each council district those chronic locations, and we know that they need to be serviced on a regular basis,” he said at the committee meeting.

Although Fourth and New Hampshire suffered more than anywhere else in the city last year, it was not the only destination for frequent dumpers in Koreatown. There were 57 MyLA311 reports at 3525 W. Third St., a strip mall. That ranked ninth in the city.

Cardoso said dumping tends to snowball after the first items are left behind.

“I drive by the streets, and there might be one or a couple of chairs,” he said. “And then later I drive by again, and it’s like, ‘Oh, now there’s a sofa. Now there’s a fridge.’”

“People see that little pile, and they’re like, ‘Oh, let’s add to that pile,’” he continued.

Ramos said residents are left frustrated by what she sees as a lack of outreach.

“I’ve never seen a city representative go door to door with resources and inform community members,” Ramos said.

She added, “It’s a combination of a lot of things — a lack of community education, lack of city outreach, lack of getting to the complaints, long response times — which can discourage people from contacting 311 because they have to wait too long.”

It’s no secret that childcare is expensive — and unaffordable — for many families. In L.A. County, costs for childcare take up, on average, nearly 20% of a family’s household income.

But in papers published last week, researchers at the University of California and Stanford say a solution is possible — and that a universal childcare system can be implemented in California, the most populous state in the country.

“It is not easy to fix the childcare market. It requires investments of resources … but it is feasible,” said Neale Mahoney, a professor of economics and director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. “I'm optimistic that if we focus on this issue, then we can take big strides.”

Last year, New Mexico became the first state to offer universal childcare, and local jurisdictions like San Francisco and Alameda County have moved to infuse money into their childcare systems.

Economists at Stanford estimate it would cost the state between $12 to $21 billion a year to implement a universal childcare system for children 3 and under. The researchers say the investment could lead to 100,000 mothers joining the workforce, which could create up to $23 billion in GDP for the state.

“What happens fairly immediately from a program that provides more robust childcare coverage is that you have more parents working in particular, you have more moms able to work, and of course, that contributes right back to the economy in the form of taxes,” said Chloe Gibbs, a policy fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

Researchers at UC Irvine and UC Berkeley, in a parallel paper, said the current childcare infrastructure needs to be changed to make a universal system possible and made a series of recommendations. That includes combining a confusing system of 14 different funding streams for subsidized child care.

“ It shouldn't be on providers and families to sort through what they're eligible for and the regulations of all of them,” said Jade Jenkins, associator professor of education policy at UC Irvine.

Where will the money come from? 

In New Mexico, the state’s universal childcare program is paid through the state’s sovereign wealth funds supported from oil and gas revenues. While California doesn’t have that sort of dedicated funding stream, Gibbs says there are other options.

Gibbs said some states have used lottery funds for childcare, or implemented so-called “sin taxes” — taxes on products like cigarettes or alcohol, while others have also created endowment funds. “Then of course, there’s the redeployment of dollars that are currently spent on other things,” she said.

Currently, the state has set aside $7.5 billion for subsidized childcare in the proposed budget, including more than $5 billion from the state’s general fund. That amounts to about 2% of the state’s budget.

Learn more about the child care system

• California's childcare sector is already fragile. Can it survive the next natural disaster? Preschools have been closing in L.A. County. There also are not enough childcare providers, and those who are in business are chronically underpaid.
• San Francisco gave child care workers a massive raise. Is it a model for LA? Three years after the city's pay plan launched, those involved say it's been transformative. Some educators said the additional pay is keeping them in their jobs, and making a future in the profession viable.
• New Mexico will be the first state to offer universal child care. What could that mean for California? New Mexico has been offering free childcare for families who make up to 400% of the federal poverty level, and starting in November, it removed the income eligibility requirements — making the program universal for families.

"Galentine's Day" was first introduced to us in 2010 on the television series Parks and Recreation. Since then, it has become so deeply embedded in popular culture that I bet most of you didn’t know you should be thanking Leslie Knope for “only the best day of the year.”

Well, there has never been a better time than now to focus on the love for the ladies in your life. Although really, it's a day about celebrating those you can always count on, no matter the gender.

Read on for ideas on how to celebrate Galentine's Day in Los Angeles, which traditionally falls on Feb. 13, (but this year is beginning as early as Feb. 5). 

Rooftop cinema screening

NBC's Parks and Rec, the series which created Galentine's Day

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Courtesy NBC

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Dig into the real story behind Galentine’s Day at Rootop Cinema Club in DTLA on Thursday, Feb. 5. It’s an entire mini-marathon of Parks and Recreation, the show that started it all. Tickets begin at $35 per person and include a love seat with fireside heater and a hot chocolate for you and your bestie. As the website says, "Valentine’s Day is for lovers — but Galentine’s Day? That’s for legends."

When and How: Reserve your tickets here for the 6:30 p.m. screening.

Galentine’s dinner under the stars

Oysters and champagne anyone? At Mother of Pearl in DTLA

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Michael Kleinberg

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Courtesy Mother of Pearl

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Set the stage for a night of pure fabulousness with a rooftop dinner at Mother of Pearl, the oyster and champagne bar from Michelin-starred Chef Joshua Gil. The four-course prix fixe begins with a caviar bruschetta and small plates for the table, which is a perfect time to order a round of mini tinis. Menu highlights include tuna ribbons with wild baby fennel and salsa verde, steak Diane with pommes puree, and a strawberry tiramisu to finish. Since Mother of Pearl is part of the multi-level nightclub and restaurant space Level 8 in Downtown Los Angeles, your night doesn’t need to end with dinner.

When and How: Reserve via OpenTable for Friday, Feb. 13, beginning at 5 p.m. 

Afternoon tea

Visit the iconic Culver Hotel in Culver City for a one-day-only Galentine’s Tea that will give you a reason to feel your best. The experience includes artisanal tea, finger sandwiches, and heart-shaped sweets along with bite-sized petit fours. Dress to impress as a festive ensemble will earn you a complimentary glass of pink bubbly. The entire tea time will be accompanied by live music.

When and How: Galentine’s tea is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. Reserve on OpenTable. The cost is $75 per person.
 

Après Surf Lounge

You get your own personal firepit at Viceroy Santa Monica

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Courtesy Viceroy Santa Monica

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Gather up to six of your girls for a poolside cabana with everything you need for a fun celebration. A night out at the Après Surf Lounge at the Viceroy Santa Monica includes a curated cheese board, tabletop s’mores, and a bottle of something sparkling. There are also table topic cards and a build-your-own bouquet activity to keep things festive while you share laughs around your personal fire pit.

When and How: Galentine’s Day cabanas are available on both Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14, beginning at $230 for up to 6 guests. Reserve on their website.

Line Dancing with your Ladies

The Galentine's Day Bootloose event happens on Feb 13

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Courtesy Desert 5 Spot

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There’s nothing like line dancing to spark a night of liveliness between friends. On Friday, Feb. 13, Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood is hosting a Galentine’s Day Bootloose with free line dancing lessons led by Mike & Diana. They’re also extending Desert Hour drink specials until 9 p.m., which includes $6 beer and wine, $9 cocktails, and 2-for-one $10 tacos.

When and How: RSVP for your Friday, Feb. 13 bootloose on the hour beginning at 7 p.m. here. RSVPs aren’t necessary if you won’t be line dancing, but Galentine’s Day is not about putting baby in the corner. Let your inner cowgirl roam free!

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an $843 million homelessness spending plan that includes nearly $200 million in reductions to programs and services in the next budget year.

Among those programs is Pathway Home, which helps move people from encampments into temporary housing. The county reduced funding for that program by $92 million, which will shrink it from 20 project sites to seven, officials said.

Supervisors also approved $105 million in reductions to other programs, including large cuts to street outreach teams, homelessness prevention programs and other supportive services.

County officials said they had to reduce spending in order to cover the rising costs of operating shelter beds and the loss of tens of millions in temporary state and federal funding, including some COVID-19 relief dollars.

“With federal neglect and state cuts, we have to do more with less,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told LAist. “And we will.”

The county’s new Department of Homeless Services and Housing has been warning about the looming shortfall since July. County officials solicited input on how to fill an initial $303 million gap.

Since then, the department adjusted the county’s homelessness spending plan, after finding some one-time state grants and cost-saving measures.

The budget year starts July 1.

Some funding restored

Last month, local homeless service providers urged county officials to restore all of the more than $200 million in proposed reductions to programs and services. Some supervisors raised concerns about specific cuts.

Since then, new revenue projections show the county stands to bring in $21 million more through Measure A than originally anticipated.

Measure A is a sales tax ordinance, approved by L.A. County voters in 2024, that funds homeless services and affordable housing initiatives. It is expected to generate about $1 billion annually, but exact revenues fluctuate with consumer spending.

The county’s slightly rosier revenue projections allowed the homeless department to roll back a fraction of the proposed reductions.

“It’s not a windfall and it doesn’t solve every challenge, but it does give us the ability to restore important programs that were on the chopping block,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said.

The board voted to use much of that $21 million to restore funding for two dozen full-time outreach workers and about 100 shelter beds that were previously on the chopping block.

The plan approved Tuesday also calls for $5 million in Measure A revenue to partially restore funding for interim housing in Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale. It restored more than $1 million to operate family solution centers — hubs to connect unhoused families with services — and about $500,000 for a program that helps military veterans access government benefits.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell said she wishes Pathway Home funding could be maintained. She said it’s been crucial for helping people living in RV encampments in her district, which spans from Koreatown to much of the South Bay.

"These restorations don't expand encampment resolution operations,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “The services with the greatest impact in the Second District remain reduced, and the current plan does not replace what was cut."

County homelessness officials told supervisors the 100 shelter beds they saved will be prioritized for people living in encampments and will help make up for cuts to Pathway Home.

"The reduction to Pathway Home is not a reduced commitment to encampment resolution,” L.A. County Department of Homeless Services and Housing director Sarah Mahin said Tuesday. “It’s a recognition that it was built on one-time funding and we need to expand strategies to include more cost-effective resolution solutions."

New oversight push

The supervisors also voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a new motion focused on accountability in homeless service contracting. The motion by Horvath and Kathryn Barger directs the homelessness department to work with the county auditor-controller to create strict oversight procedures for contracts, including random site visits, performance monitoring and provisions for termination.

They said the goal is to prevent the mismanagement that has plagued the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and the fraud that has resulted in recent arrests. Last month, federal authorities arrested Alex Soofer, director of a nonprofit called Abundant Blessings, on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions in dollars meant to serve unhoused Angelenos. Soofer pleaded not guilty to the charges this week.

"Public dollars intended to address homelessness have gone unaccounted for under LAHSA," Horvath said. “That is unacceptable and it ends now with the county.”

Last year, the board voted to divert more than $300 million in county homelessness dollars away from LAHSA and administer the funds itself with a new homelessness department.

“As the department launches, every contract, every dollar, and every outcome must withstand scrutiny,” Horvath told LAist in a statement. “We don’t have resources to waste or time to lose in addressing the homelessness crisis.”

Barger described instances of fraud within the homeless services sector as “moral failures” that cannot be tolerated.

“They represent theft from the most vulnerable people in our community,” she said.

She also argued that ethical service providers “should not have their reputations destroyed by the criminal actions of a few bad actors.”

Barger told fellow supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting it’s their responsibility to monitor how county homelessness dollars are being spent — and to defund programs that aren’t generating results.

“Setting the budget is the easy part,” Barger said. “We have to see results. And if we don’t, we have to have a debate at this board: is that the best use of these resources?”

The department must report back to the board in 60 days with their full plan for monitoring contractors and preventing fraud and misuse of public funds.

Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez told supervisors his office would submit a plan to county homelessness officials Tuesday.