A customer picks produce at the Fairfield Farmers’ Market on June 15, 2023.
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Semantha Norris
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CalMatters
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Today in How To LA:
L.A. County forms an anti-skim unit to combat EBT thefts, California adopts an official state bat; plus, pumpkin carving in La Cañada Flintridge.
Top Story: Our public assistance programs have a problem. This year alone, L.A. County officials say around $39 million has already been scammed from programs like CalFresh, CalWORKS and General Relief, putting taxpayers on the hook.
By next May, California is set to incorporate new technology to enhance EBT card security.
More news you need to know
In Southeast L.A., community members have organized against the stench of dead animals and other environmental problems for years. Read the final installment of our five-part series investigating how rendering plants in, and near, the city of Vernon are impacting residents in Southeast L.A.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is in Washington, D.C. this week with a delegation of six of the city’s council members to advocate to top-level federal officials on homelessness – including a push to expand housing opportunities for veterans.
The U.S. government has agreed to compensate thousands of migrant families who were forced apart at the southern border in 2017 and 2018 as part of the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy.
Good morning, L.A. It’s Wednesday, October 18. Today in How To LA: LA County forms an anti-skim unit to combat EBT thefts, California adopts an official state bat; plus, pumpkin carving in La Cañada Flintridge.
The fight against skimming
Our public assistance programs have a problem. This year alone, L.A. County officials say around $39 million has already been scammed out of programs like CalFresh, CalWORKS and General Relief, putting taxpayers on the hook.
Those thefts have been on the rise over the past three years, according to a motion put forward by L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis. In 2021, around $950,000 was skimmed from the programs, exploding to over $22.5 million in 2022.
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“The people being most impacted are the most vulnerable,” Solis told my colleague Yusra Farzan. “Those are the ones that obtained general relief meaning they only receive $221 in a month, so that is wiped out for some of them.”A new team will be created at the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office to combat scamming that has drained public aid programs.
By next May, California is set to incorporate chips with tap technology on new EBT cards which are thought to enhance security.
*At LAist we will always bring you the news freely, but occasionally we do include links to other publications that may be behind a paywall. Thank you for understanding!
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday that supports Israel and condemns the Hamas terror attacks after more than an hour-and-a-half of tense public comments and two recess breaks to remove protesters from the audience.
In Southeast L.A., community members have organized against the stench of dead animals and other environmental problems for years. Read the final installment of our five-part series investigating how rendering plants in, and near, the city of Vernon are impacting residents.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is in Washington, D.C. this week with a delegation of six of the city’s council members to advocate to top-level federal officialson homelessness – including a push to expand housing opportunities for veterans.
The U.S. government has agreed to compensate thousands of migrant families who were forced apart at the southern border in 2017 and 2018 as part of the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy.
Sonoma County partnered with a Redwood conservation group to purchase 394 acres of Russian River Redwood forest, including one of the tallest and oldest trees in California, the Clar Tree.
Starting in 2024, California is adding another critter to its long list of state animals. Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill making the pallid bat the official state bat.
Wait... one more thing
How to carve a pumpkin like a pro
Artist Zack Faraday carved the Joker in the style of Alex Ross on this giant pumpkin for the Carved event at Descanso Gardens.
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Susanne Whatley
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LAist
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Go big or gourd home, folks. It’s officially pumpkin carving season.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a jack-o’-lantern newb, you’ll want to check out the creepy creations at Descanso Gardens for its annual nighttime special event, Carved.
My colleague Susanne Whatley took a visit. She found designs ranging from the Joker and Venom to Baby Yoda and a happy little ghost.
Because Carved’s pumpkins weigh hundreds of pounds, they have an unfortunate foe – gravity. Let’s just say jack-o’-lanterns don’t look so pretty when they hit the ground.
Read more about Susanne Whatley’s visit to the pumpkin party here.
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By Christopher Weber and Amy Taxin | Associated Press
Published September 8, 2026 5:09 PM
Emergency vehicles repond to the chemical leak in LA Habra on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026.
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Jae C. Hong
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Associated Press
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Topline:
A slow leak from a chemical tank smeared an orange cloud across the sky of a Southern California neighborhood on Tuesday, but authorities said they quickly got it under control.
Why it matters: Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Aaron Katon said authorities responded to a La Habra business that makes cleaning products after receiving a call shortly before noon about the cloud. Police evacuated a nearby middle school as a precaution, Katon said.
The chemical: They do not yet know what the chemical was, but all shelter-in-place orders have been lifted, Katon said.
What's next: The regional air quality management district has deployed staff to the area to investigate, said Connie Villanueva, a spokesperson for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
A slow leak from a chemical tank smeared an orange cloud across the sky of a Southern California neighborhood on Tuesday, but authorities said they quickly got it under control.
Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Aaron Katon said authorities responded to a business that makes cleaning products after receiving a call shortly before noon about the cloud. Police evacuated a nearby middle school as a precaution, Katon said.
They do not yet know what the chemical was, but all shelter-in-place orders have been lifted, he said. The regional air quality management district has deployed staff to the area to investigate, said Connie Villanueva, a spokesperson for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The company, Shepard Bros., could not immediately be reached for comment.
Three company employees reported minor respiratory irritation and declined further treatment, Katon said.
The leak occurred in the city of La Habra near a mix of residential neighborhoods and industrial warehouses about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Anaheim.
Keary Godinez, who works in a nearby restaurant, said she saw what appeared to be a dark yellow cloud spread across the sky. The 20-year-old said she watched students across the street board buses to evacuate, but police told her the eatery could remain open.
“It looked like pollen dust,” Godinez said, adding she didn’t detect a smell from the cloud. “It just kind of smeared in the sky and started going away.”
La Habra Mayor Jose Medrano had urged residents to shelter in place and said some streets were being evacuated.
Luis Gomez, who manages a nearby pickleball program, said earlier Tuesday he saw the cloud, called police and was told anyone within a mile radius of the location was under an evacuation order.
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
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Christian Petersen
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of former coach Phil Jackson outside their downtown arena next year. The Lakers announced the plan Tuesday to honor Jackson, who led the Lakers to five championships and seven NBA Finals appearances during two stints totaling 11 seasons as their head coach.
The backstory: After his famed tenure leading Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls to six championships, Jackson joined the Lakers in 1999 and immediately began another era of major success for the 17-time NBA champion franchise. His first three teams in Los Angeles won championships behind the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, and the Lakers added two more titles in 2009 and 2010 led by Bryant and Pau Gasol. His Lakers also made the NBA Finals in 2004 and 2008.
What's next: The statue will be unveiled April 9 before the Lakers’ home game against Minnesota.
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of former coach Phil Jackson outside their downtown arena next year.
The Lakers announced the plan Tuesday to honor Jackson, who led the Lakers to five championships and seven NBA Finals appearances during two stints totaling 11 seasons as their head coach.
The statue will be unveiled April 9 before the Lakers’ home game against Minnesota.
After his famed tenure leading Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls to six championships, Jackson joined the Lakers in 1999 and immediately began another era of major success for the 17-time NBA champion franchise.
His first three teams in Los Angeles won championships behind the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, and the Lakers added two more titles in 2009 and 2010 led by Bryant and Pau Gasol. His Lakers also made the NBA Finals in 2004 and 2008.
Jackson set the Lakers franchise record for coaches with 610 victories while leading his teams to the playoffs in every year of his tenure, which ended in 2011.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. After he accepted my dad’s invitation to join the Lakers, Phil’s unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”
Jackson will be the ninth person associated with the Lakers to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza outside their arena. He joins Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Bryant, O’Neal, broadcaster Chick Hearn and former coach Pat Riley, whose statue was unveiled earlier this year.
Jackson’s 11 championships as a head coach are the most in NBA history. The North Dakota native and former New York Knicks forward is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published September 8, 2026 3:25 PM
Clouds form over Venice Beach in August. Tropical moisture from Hurricane Marie is currently causing extreme humidity in Southern California this week.
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Apu Gomes
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for much of Southern California from Wednesday morning through Thursday.
The details: This week’s combination of heat and humidity could be worse than it has been all summer. Forecasters say temperatures will peak on Wednesday. Highs could get up to the triple digits. Overnight lows will also stay elevated. They may only get down to the 70s in places, offering little relief from the heat.
The humidity: Climate experts say the humidity this week could be some of the highest on record in Southern California, even after a summer marked by repeated humid heatwaves. The moisture in the air, combined with the extreme heat, makes it increasingly difficult for the human body to cool down, especially when outdoors. It’s also driving scattered rain and thunderstorms that will continue for the next few days.
The backstory: The tropical moisture is due in large part to the leftovers of Hurricane Marie hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean. On top of that, record high ocean temperatures off the Southern California coast are adding to the humidity.
Destiny Torres
covers all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County.
Published September 8, 2026 2:22 PM
Mari Barke, photographed at the California Policy Center in Irvine in 2024.
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Courtesy of Mari Barke
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Topline:
An O.C. Superior Court judge increased the economic penalties for Orange County Board of Education member Marilyn “Mari” Barke for failing to report millions of dollars in economic disclosure filings. She will now have to pay more than $100,000 in penalties, according to court documents.
Why it matters: Barke was elected in 2018 to the Orange County Board of Education, which oversees and approves the county’s education budget that serves around 450,000 students.
Background: In 2024, the Fair Political Practices Commission found Barke liable for failing to correctly report income, resulting in a $3,200 penalty. But a judge in July said the FPPC’s settlement didn’t fully address Barke’s actions.
What are the penalties? Barke will have to pay $101,800 in penalties, as well as attorney fees, for incorrectly filling out economic disclosure statements and for failure to correct amended statements. She will be credited the $3,200 paid to the FPPC. Barke’s lawyer did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.
What changed? Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover handed the decision on Sept. 3. Colover said in a final statement on the decision that “substantial civil damages are warranted” to enforce the Political Reform Act and prevent future violations.
Officials say: The complaint was filed by Lynne Riddle, a retired judge. Riddle’s lawyers said in a statement to LAist that the court’s ruling is a “landmark” outcome for public trust and that the high penalty fees show how serious the offenses were. “We hope this result reminds every public official in California that transparency is not optional, and that the public has both the right to know and the tools to hold them accountable when transparency is ignored,” Riddle’s legal team said.
