Robert Garrova
explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.
Published October 28, 2024 2:07 PM
Kaiser mental health workers marched a picket line in front of the Los Angeles Medical Center on Sunset Blvd.
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Robert Garrova / LAist
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Topline:
The union representing some 2,400 striking Kaiser Permanente mental health workers said negotiations with the health care provider were “on hold” heading into week two of picketing.
Sticking points: Kaiser mental health workers say they feel like they’re on an assembly line with back-to-back appointments. One big sticking point is that they want more time outside of therapeutic sessions to handle patient charts and other follow up. Kaiser says the union’s request would lead to too much time away from patients.
Patient follow up: Kaiser said in an emailed statement that it reached out to all its members who had appointments this week, connecting with 97% of people and offering care to those who wanted it.
What’s next: Workers are striking this week throughout Southern California, from Los Angeles to San Diego. The union says there are no bargaining sessions currently scheduled. The 2022 strike in Northern California lasted about 10 weeks.
Officials say shoring up supply will come at price
By Ella Jackson | KQED
Published May 6, 2026 4:00 PM
Motorcyclists wait at a stop light outside the Shell gas station on 598 Bryant Street in San Francisco on April 24, 2026.
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Tâm Vũ
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KQED
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Topline:
While officials are not concerned about an immediate oil shortfall, California consumers are likely to see another price hike in the coming weeks as the war in Iran strains the global market, lawmakers said on Tuesday at a hearing about the uncertain future of the state’s fuel supply.
Why now: The hearing came after the final oil tanker to pass through the Strait of Hormuz arrived at the Port of Long Beach this week — the last shipment from the Middle East expected to reach California for the foreseeable future.
The backstory: Californians have been feeling the pain at the pump since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran spiked crude oil prices around the world. Today, drivers pay about $6.13 per gallon compared to the national average of $4.48, according to AAA.
Read on... for more on what this means for prices.
While officials are not concerned about an immediate oil shortfall, California consumers are likely to see another price hike in the coming weeks as the war in Iran strains the global market, lawmakers said on Tuesday at a hearing about the uncertain future of the state’s fuel supply.
The hearing came after the final oil tanker to pass through the Strait of Hormuz arrived at the Port of Long Beach this week — the last shipment from the Middle East expected to reach California for the foreseeable future.
“When this tanker is empty, it’s unclear where the next replacement ship will be coming from,” said Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, and Utilities and Energy Committee chair at Tuesday’s hearing.
Californians have been feeling the pain at the pump since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran spiked crude oil prices around the world. Today, drivers pay about $6.13 per gallon compared to the national average of $4.48, according to AAA.
While officials do not foresee California running out of oil, consumers should brace for additional price increases.
High gas prices are listed at a Chevron gas station in Los Angeles on March 9, 2026, as gasoline prices surge amid the ongoing war with Iran.
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Frederic J. Brown
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AFP via Getty Images
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“Based on what we’re hearing from the industry and what we have heard, the pricing will move molecules towards California, but it will come at a price,” Siva Gunda, vice chair of the California Energy Commission, said.
Gunda said the costs will come from a bidding war to divert oil from Asian markets to the West Coast.
Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, a California Energy Commission spokesperson said in a statement that the price spike is due to “the rapid escalation of crude oil prices because of the Iran War. These elevated prices are not unique to California, and prices are continuing to rise globally.”
However, Jamie Court, the head of Consumer Watchdog, a consumer protection group, said that California legislators, along with the state’s oil refiners, should take more responsibility for high prices. In a statement, Consumer Watchdog said oil refiners have been taking advantage of the current war to make record oil-refining profits, and Court said California Gov. Gavin Newsom “chickened out” of price gouging regulation.
“Trump can be responsible for about 70 cents of this because of the crude oil increase, but the rest of the two extra dollars we’re paying at the pump … are on Newsom,” Court said.
Severin Borenstein, professor and faculty director of The Energy Institute, UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, said in the public hearing that the recent spike is just one part of a larger trend.
While higher gasoline taxes and stronger environmental regulations in California play a role in the comparatively high prices — adding about $0.72 per gallon in taxes and $0.50 per gallon in environmental programs, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration — a refinery fire in Southern California in 2015 led to a “mystery gasoline surcharge” driving up prices. Bornstein said this adds about $0.50 per gallon, on top of oil and refining costs.
The Commission’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight said in the hearing that it’s also taken steps to deal with “branded” retailers like Chevron that have been overcharging California consumers at the pump.
“Everyone should be getting their gas at the generic brands,” Petrie-Norris said.
UCLA has been a frequent target of the second Trump administration.
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Genaro Molina
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Following a year-long inquiry into the admissions policies and practices at UCLA’s medical school, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice alleges that school leadership “intentionally selected applicants based on their race,” to the detriment of white and Asian applicants.
How does UCLA admit medical students? In a statement, an unnamed UCLA spokesperson responded that the medical school is complying with all federal and state laws.
“The admissions process at [the] David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is based on merit and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant. We are confident in our practices and our mission to maintain access to a high-quality education to all qualified students,” the statement said.
What is the Trump administration looking for?
In a press release, the department noted that “Medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors,” and that this fuels its “focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools.”
A history of lawsuits between Trump and UCLA: The Department of Justice has repeatedly gone after the University of California in Trump’s second term. Earlier this year, the department sued the university over allegations that UCLA officials allowed antisemitism on campus, and unsuccessfully demanded a range of concessions to bring UCLA more in line with its ideology, in addition to more than $1 billion in fines. The administration also tried to freeze the university’s research funding, prompting an effort to have the state of California be a backstop.
What's next: The DOJ says it wants to find an agreement with the university “to ensure that admissions practices are brought into legal compliance.”A UCLA spokesperson said the university is reviewing the report, but did not outline next steps.
Disclosure: Julia Barajas is a part-time graduate student at UCLA Law.
Following a year-long inquiry into the admissions policies and practices at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice alleges that school leadership “intentionally selected applicants based on their race,” to the detriment of white and Asian applicants.
“UCLA’s admissions process has been focused on racial demographics at the expense of merit and excellence — allowing racial politics to distract the school from the vital work of training great doctors,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, an assistant attorney general for the DOJ.
In a statement, an unnamed UCLA spokesperson responded that the medical school is complying with all federal and state laws.
“The admissions process at [the] David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is based on merit and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant. We are confident in our practices and our mission to maintain access to a high-quality education to all qualified students,” the statement said.
How does UCLA admit medical students?
The school’s website lists the following criteria:
Undergraduate record
Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores
Letters of recommendation
Graduate record (where applicable)
Life experiences (research, volunteerism, clinical, work, leadership, publications)
Admission interviews
AAMC PREview Exam scores (for Traditional MD Program Track applicants only)
The DOJ investigation focused on three items: median GPA scores, MCAT scores and the PREview Exam.
What does the DOJ say about academic scores?
The report looks at median GPA and found that based on materials provided to the DOJ, the scores for some applicant groups were lower than others for the 2023 and 2024 admitted classes. Here’s 2023:
How does race matter in the medical field?
The DOJ investigation also takes issue with “a theory that increasing ‘diversity’ of the healthcare workforce will improve healthcare outcomes for Black and Hispanic patients” that it says was promoted by the program’s director showing an “intent to racially discriminate under the guise of saving lives and conceal her true motive to treat certain applicants unfavorably based on their race.”
The investigation also looks at the PREview Exam, which it says asks open-ended questions about whether applicants are from marginalized backgrounds. “By design, this question asks Black and Hispanic applicants to reveal their race so that DGSOM can know and consider it.”
A number of studies suggest that when patients have doctors of the same race (called “concordance”) it leads to better medical results. A 2018 study of Black men in Oakland suggested doctors and same-race patients had better communication that led to better outcomes, and a 2025 study out of UCLA found Hispanic Medicare patients had a lower readmission rate and length of stay when treated by Hispanic doctors.
What is the Trump administration looking for?
In a press release, the department noted that “medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors,” and that this fuels its “focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools.”
Still, the administration has also curtailed that funding. Last year, the Republican-backed “big, beautiful bill” that President Donald Trump signed into law capped federal debt for professional degree students—a move that could push students to borrow from private lenders, which provide far fewer protections for loan repayment and don’t offer loan forgiveness.
A history of lawsuits between Trump and UCLA
The Department of Justice has repeatedly gone after the University of California in Trump’s second term. Earlier this year, the department sued the university over allegations that UCLA officials allowed antisemitism on campus, and unsuccessfully demanded a range of concessions to bring UCLA more in line with its ideology, in addition to more than $1 billion in fines. The administration also tried to freeze the university’s research funding, prompting an effort to have the state of California be a backstop.
What happens now?
The DOJ says it wants to find an agreement with the university “to ensure that admissions practices are brought into legal compliance.”A UCLA spokesperson said the university is reviewing the report, but did not outline next steps.
Disclosure: Julia Barajas is a part-time graduate student at UCLA Law.
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Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment reporter and brings you the top news you need for the day.
Published May 6, 2026 2:14 PM
New self-checkout rules are coming to Santa Ana retail stores next month in an effort to target theft.
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Justin Tallis
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved an ordinance last night requiring retail stores to staff self-checkout lanes in efforts to improve public safety and address theft.
What we know: The approved ordinance requires that retail stores staff at least one employee to monitor self-checkout lanes. Shoppers will be limited to 15 items or fewer, and they would not be able to purchase items that require I.D., like alcohol. Long Beach and Costa Mesa have adopted similar ordinances.
Officials say: Mayor Valerie Amezcua said the ordinance is an attempt at protecting shoppers and employees, not at driving businesses out of Santa Ana.
“Similar to Costa Mesa and Long Beach, where we look at the employees and what benefits them,” Amezcua said, “I want to make sure our Santa Ana residents go home safely, and they don’t put themselves in danger because, again, the quality of their lives matter to me.”
“Unfortunately, we would be forced to consider passage of this ordinance at this time a dismissal of the importance of grocery and a denial of policy consideration in a fair and open manner,” Tim James, director of local government relations for the California Grocers Association, wrote.
What’s the timeline? The new rules will go into effect next month.
Robert Garrova
explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.
Published May 6, 2026 1:22 PM
Gary Baseman's menu drawing titled "Genghis Cohen."
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Courtesy Gary Baseman Studio
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Topline:
A new art exhibition from L.A.'s own Gary Baseman is breathing life into the mid-century, Googie architecture of Johnie’s Coffee Shop at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax.
Why now? “Off the Menu: Dining and Drawing in LA” features work drawn directly on menus from 40 different local staples, including Musso and Frank’s and Genghis Cohen, and of course, Canter's.
The background: Baseman is known for his iconic cat illustrations and whimsical characters that have shown up in the New York Times, Disney animation and plenty of toys. His L.A. food institution roots go deep: He grew up in the Fairfax district and his mom worked in the bakery at the legendary Canter’s Deli for 35 years.
What Baseman says: “There’s a sense of community and comfort by being in these places,” Baseman told LAist. “This show is all about my love and celebration of L.A. dining culture.”
Read on... for details on how to check the show out.
A new art exhibition is breathing life into the mid-century, Googie architecture of Johnie’s Coffee Shop at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.
Artist Gary Baseman is known for his iconic cat illustrations and whimsical characters that have shown up in the New York Times, Disney animation and plenty of toys.
His L.A. food institution roots go deep: he grew up in the Fairfax district and his mom worked in the bakery at the legendary Canter’s Deli for 35 years.
“Off the Menu: Dining and Drawing in LA” features work drawn directly on menus from 40 different local staples, including Musso and Frank’s and Genghis Cohen, and of course, Canter's.
Gary Baseman's drawing on a Canter's Deli menu.
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Courtesy Gary Baseman Studio
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“There’s a sense of community and comfort by being in these places,” Baseman told LAist. “This show is all about my love and celebration of L.A. dining culture.”
Baseman said the idea for the exhibition can be traced back to his time traveling around the world. At many of his dining stops around the globe, he would... borrow... menus and begin sketching scenes in his cartoon-like style.
“Let’s just say I wouldn’t give them back to the waiter and I would actually start drawing on the menu itself... It was a way of giving them immortality through the body of work,” Baseman said.
Baseman said he loved the idea of opening Johnie’s up again for people to see. He called the location the perfect place for a show like this, which takes visitors on what he calls a “dream reality” tour of L.A.’s food institutions through sketches and drawings.
Designed by the firm Armet and Davis, Johnie’s Coffee Shop occupied the building from 1966 to 2000, when it closed down, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. Johnie’s has also been used for filming locations and shows up in The Big Lebowski, Reservoir Dogs and more.
Johnie’s hasn’t been completely dormant over the past decade though. Under the guidance of the Community Solidarity Project, a mutual aid nonprofit with a longstanding footprint in Mid-Wilshire, the building served as a campaign center for Bernie Sanders, a mutual aid distribution hub, a filming location with student filmmakers and more.
Gary Baseman's menu drawing of Musso and Frank's.
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Courtesy Gary Baseman Studio
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Now it’ll house Baseman’s first solo show in L.A. since 2013’s “The Door is Always Open” at the Skirball Center. The launch of “Off the Menu” was purposefully timed to coincide with the opening of the first phase of the Metro D Line extension, which includes a Wilshire/Fairfax stop.
“Off the Menu” kicks off at Johnie’s on Friday, May 8, with a Metro D Line celebration from 3 to 6 p.m.
A public opening reception will take place: 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, May 9
Then, the exhibition will be open noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, until June 14.
