A crowd gathers as Black skateboarders perform tricks on a ramp during a Juneteenth celebration in Los Angeles.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
There are several events today — and beyond — around Los Angeles to celebrate Juneteenth.
Why it matters: June 19 marks the day federal troops showed up in Galveston, Texas, back in 1865 — two and a half YEARS after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed — to tell enslaved Black people that slavery was over.
The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Texas the following year, and then the celebrations spread. Families who were part of the second great migration, when Black southerners moved north and west after World War Two, brought their Texas holiday to L-A in the late 1940s.
Why now: Now that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, more celebrations are held throughout the month of June. Here's our list.
Missed your chance to buy a seat to scream “Not Like Us” at the Kendrick Lamar concert at the Kia Forum tonight (although you might be able to snag really expensive resell tickets here)? Upset the large-scale Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival has been postponed to 2025? Well, fear not, there’s still music to be heard and the Leimert Park Village vendors are still holding a Black Family Reunion Juneteenth Celebration in the neighborhood starting today at 11 a.m.
Here are many more events, starting today, for you to righteously celebrate Juneteenth in L.A.:
Events
June 19, 2024, 12 p.m. Jonathan Leonard’s 75th Annual Juneteenth Emancipation Day Leimert Park COST: FREE, MORE INFO
Jonathan Leonard started a Juneteenth celebration in Leimert Park once he moved from Texas to Los Angeles in 1949.
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Ariyana Leonard and AyEsha Leonard McLaughlin
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For decades, Juneteenth was celebrated in Leimert Park with a family picnic that many say was started by Jonathan Leonard, a Texas transplant, back in 1949. He’d serve up barbecue, watermelon and traditional Big Red soda, and revel in community. His family has continued the tradition even after his death in 2017 so come on out to enjoy some good food and good company.
June 19, 2024, 2 p.m. to sunset Ebony Beach Club Juneteenth Community Beach Day Dockweiler State Beach, Tower 51 COST: FREE
The Ebony Beach Club in L.A. County after a year! Surf, barbecue, make friends and more at this beach community gathering on Juneteenth.
June 19, 2024, 8 p.m. Juneteenth Celebration T-Pain + Special Guests The Hollywood Bowl 2301 Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90068 COST: Varies, MORE INFO
Singer and rapper T-Pain is co-curating a Juneteenth celebration at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, June 19.
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LA Phil/Hollywood Bowl
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Are you sprung on T-Pain? Croon along with the singer/rapper, the Color of Noize Orchestra (orchestrated by Derrick Hodge) and special guests like D Smoke at this special celebration of Black music at the Bowl.
June 19, 2024, 7:30 p.m. Bless Their Little Hearts in 35 mm Ted Mann Theater at The Academy Museum COST: Student tickets: $5, Senior: $7, Adult: $10, MORE INFO
LA Rebellion film director Billy Woodberry's only fiction feature Bless Their Little Hearts (1983) is showing on June 19 at the Academy Museum.
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Academy Museum
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Watch Billy Woodberry’s only fiction feature Bless Their Little Hearts(1983). It’s a moving drama about a married couple in Watts who are struggling to support their family through unemployment. Woodberry was one of the founders of the L.A. Rebellion film movement and this movie was named to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.
Wednesday, June 19, 8 a.m. Juneteenth Hike & Breakfast Eaton Canyon Falls Trail Altadena COST: $5 DONATION, MORE INFO
This week's outdoor pick is an easy-to-moderate hike near Pasadena.
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JingKe888, licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Start your Juneteenth holiday off right with a hike in Eaton Canyon Falls with the Black Living Single Group. The nature hike will be followed by a hearty breakfast!
Wednesday June 19, 7 p.m. Juneteenth Trivia Night Highly Likely 4310 West Jefferson Blvd. West Adams COST: $20, MORE INFO
Test your Juneteenth knowledge, plus meet like-minded new friends at this trivia night hosted at Highly Likely in West Adams. There will not only be trivia, but also art and other games throughout the evening.
In partnership with Black in Mayberry, the City of Manhattan Beach will honor African American history with speakers, special guests and a gospel choir. The Juneteenth Ceremony will take place on Wednesday at 10 - 11 a.m. at Bruce’s Beach Park. And live music, food and vendors will follow at the Juneteenth Celebration & Concert from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Polliwog Park on Saturday, June 22.
Juneteenth Ceremony at Bruce's Beach Park on June 19.
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mbcommunications
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The Juneteenth Celebration & Concert at Manhattan Beach on Saturday, June 22, 2024.
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Through June 23 Freedom: Juneteenth Art Exhibit 910 Abbot Kinney Venice COST: $15, MORE INFO
A collaboration between nonprofit arts group Black in Mayberry and the Experimentally Structured Museum of Art (ESMoA) in Lawndale, the Freedom exhibit brings together a group of 12 Black artists reflecting on the African-American journey, exploring the questions “What is freedom?” and “Are we truly free?"
Saturday, June 21, 2024, 4 p.m. Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair Victoria Community Regional Park 419 MLK Jr. St, Carson CA, 90746 COST: Free, register here
Come out and enjoy this free event that will include community resources, discussions, performances and activities for all ages. There will be tenant protections, immigration rights and mental health support services for attendees.
Gillian Morán Pérez
is an associate producer for LAist’s early All Things Considered show.
Published June 24, 2026 5:07 PM
A traveler who had measles flew on Southwest Airlines through Burbank Airport on the morning of June 17. L.A. County health officials are warning people at the location of possible exposure to the highly contagious virus.
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Megan Garvey
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LAist
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Topline:
L.A. County health officials today confirmed the seventh case of the measles this year in a passenger who was traveling through Hollywood Burbank Airport on the morning of June 17.
Why it matters: They're warning people who may have come in contact with the person of possible exposure to the highly contagious virus.
What you should know: Public health officials say the infected traveler arrived on Southwest Airlines Flight 4245 Gate A4 on June 17 at the Hollywood Burbank Airport. Anyone who was at that gate between 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. may have been exposed. In addition, people who were at the Thrifty Rental Car Service on June 17 from 9:20 to 10:20 a.m. and on June 18 from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. may have been exposed. That's located at 2627 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank.
L.A. County health officials Wednesday confirmed the county's seventh measles case this year — a traveler who passed through Hollywood Burbank Airport on the morning of June 17.
They're warning people who may have come in contact with the person of possible exposure to the highly contagious virus.
What you should know: Public health officials say the infected traveler arrived on Southwest Airlines Flight 4245 Gate A4 on June 17 at the Hollywood Burbank Airport. Anyone who was at that gate between 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. may have been exposed.
Officials also noted that people who were at the Thrifty Rental Car Service on June 17 from 9:20 to 10:20 a.m. and on June 18 from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. may have been exposed. That's located at 2627 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank.
What if I was on the flight? Public health officials say passengers sitting next to the traveler will be notified by local health departments and should monitor for symptoms. Keep in mind those symptoms could appear up to three weeks after you were exposed.
Symptoms to look out for: Common symptoms include runny nose, fever cough, or a rash. It's also important if you develop these symptoms, don't just walk into a health care center without calling ahead first.
For people exposed on June 17, the last day to monitor for symptoms is July 8. For those exposed on June 18, the last day to monitor for symptoms is July 19.
How can I protect myself?: It's important to check if you are vaccinated against the measles. As health officials noted in the news release reporting the latest case: "The most effective way to protect yourself and your family is with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine."
Mariana Dale
has been reporting on changes in LAUSD’s leadership since the FBI searched Alberto Carvalho's home in February.
Published June 24, 2026 4:01 PM
Andres Chait, acting superintendent, at a March 2026 LAUSD board meeting.
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Jason Armond
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline
The Los Angeles Unified Board voted unanimously to appoint Andres Chait, a longtime district administrator, as superintendent days after his predecessor resigned.
Why now: The board met privately to discuss the district’s top job three days after Alberto Carvalho resigned. Carvalho wrote in a letter that he was leaving “because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction.”
Who is Andres Chait? Chait rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator at LAUSD over nearly three decades. The responsibilities of his most recent role, chief of school operations, included overseeing school safety, athletics and the district’s office of emergency management.
Why it matters: LAUSD is the country’s second largest school district, employs 83,000 people and enrolls more than 400,000 students across more than 1,000 schools.
Read on ... for more on what the new administrator will face.
The Los Angeles Unified Board voted unanimously to appoint Andres Chait, a longtime district administrator, as superintendent days after his predecessor resigned.
“This board's decision reflects the confidence in Mr. Chait's leadership, his decades of service to Los Angeles Unified, and his demonstrated ability to guide the district during this period of transition,” said board President Scott Schmerelson.
The board met privately to discuss the district’s top job three days after Alberto Carvalho resigned. Carvalho wrote in a letter that he was leaving “because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction.”
The board placed Carvalho on paid administrative leave following FBI searches of his home and district office in February and appointed Chait acting superintendent. Carvalho has not been charged with a crime and has maintained his innocence.
Who is Andres Chait?
Chait rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator at LAUSD over nearly three decades. The responsibilities of his most recent role, chief of school operations, included overseeing school safety, athletics and the district’s office of emergency management.
Chait thanked the board, the community and his family after the announcement Wednesday and reflected on his first day as a kindergarten teacher 30 years ago. “ I was probably more nervous than the kids were, but I knew then that this was a place where I could make a positive difference in the lives of students and families,” Chait said. “I've always known that there is no greater accelerator of change and opportunity than the schoolhouse, and that is still true today.”
What is the superintendent responsible for?
LAUSD is the country’s second-largest school district, employs 83,000 people and enrolls more than 400,000 students across more than 1,000 schools. Despite recent gains in student test scores, the majority of students are not proficient in reading and math skills for their grade level. The district also faces looming financial challenges from declining enrollment — which is tied to state funding — and federal investigations into programs designed to help underserved students succeed.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
LAUSD Superintendents (1990-present)
Bill Antón (July 1990-Sept. 1992)
Sidney Thompson (Oct. 1992-June 1997)
Ruben Zacarias (July 1997-Jan. 2000)
Ramón Cortines* (Jan. 2000-June 2000)
Roy Romer (July 2000-Oct. 2006)
David Brewer (Nov. 2006-Dec. 2008)
Ramon Cortines* (Jan. 2009-Apr. 2011)
John Deasy (Apr. 2011-Oct. 2014)
Ramon Cortines* (Oct. 2014-Dec. 2015)
Michelle King (Jan. 2016-Sept. 2017)
Vivian Ekchian* (Sept. 2017-May 2018)
Austin Beutner (May 2018-June 2021)
Megan Reilly* (July 2021-February 2022)
Alberto Carvalho (February 2022-June 2026)
Andres Chait (February 2026-present)
* Denotes interim
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A former Orange County state parks superintendent has been charged with secretly filming naked male lifeguards in the locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
What allegedly happened? Kevin Pearsall retired last year shortly after officials executed search warrants in the case against him. He was charged Wednesday with taking secret footage and is also accused of sending the images to two other men. Efforts to reach Pearsall were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Read on ... for more about the allegations and the pending case.
A former state parks superintendent who oversaw Orange County beaches was charged Wednesday with secretly filming naked male lifeguards and other workers inside the locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach. The former superintendent, Kevin Pearsall, is also accused of sending some of the images to two other men.
What charges does he face?
Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach, faces five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recordings. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 18 years and eight months behind bars.
Scott C. Thomas, a defense attorney representing Pearsall, declined to comment in the wake of the charges being announced by the Orange County District Attorney's office. Pearsall is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 6 and could enter a plea at that time.
Details of the investigation
In July 2025, a California State Parks officer discovered a USB stick with a hidden camera in the men's locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. The officer contacted California Highway Patrol, which launched an investigation.
The investigation found Pearsall allegedly had recorded numerous secret videos in the locker room over an 11-month period beginning in August 2024, according to the DA's announcement. Pearsall retired from his job shortly after CHP served search warrants in the case. He turned himself in earlier this week.
State Parks reaction
Marty Greenstein, a spokesperson for California State Parks, told LAist the agency “takes these charges very seriously and has fully cooperated with law enforcement through every step of the investigation.” Greenstein declined to comment further, citing the active criminal investigation.
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published June 24, 2026 3:39 PM
The konbini-style snack shop at Tiny's, stocked with imported chips, Japanese Kit-Kats and a refrigerated wall of drinks.
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Gab Chabrán
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LAist
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Topline:
Sang Yoon — the chef behind Father's Office, the Los Angeles gastropub institution known for its high-quality food and an uncompromising no-substitutions policy — has opened Tiny's, a new fast-casual burger stand and konbini-style snack shop inside Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza.
Why it matters: For Yoon, the son of Korean immigrants who grew up between two worlds, Tiny's is the restaurant he always imagined but never had: an American burger stand meets an Asian convenience store, all under one roof.
Why now: Tiny's opened last week at South Coast Plaza, marking Yoon's first new concept in years and his first venture into Orange County — a deliberately accessible entry point for a chef who has spent decades at the top of L.A.'s gastropub scene.
Read on ... for more on what makes the new venture special.
Making your way through South Coast Plaza — the sleek consumer cathedral in Costa Mesa, a sort of mall of malls — past Uniqlo window displays and Pop Mart blind boxes, there's a good chance you'll eventually land at Tiny's, the new casual restaurant from Chef Sang Yoon.
The burger shack-meets-Asian convenience store is the latest from Yoon, best known for Father's Office, the Los Angeles institution where he's spent two decades running one of the city's most uncompromising kitchens — no substitutions, no exceptions.
Tiny’s marks Yoon’s first venture into Orange County — a deliberately accessible entry point for a chef who has spent decades at the top of L.A.'s gastropub scene.
The concept
Tiny's is the place Yoon wanted to exist as a kid.
Inside, you're greeted by shelves stocked in the style of a konbini, the beloved Japanese convenience corner store, with cilantro-flavored Doritos from China, elote-flavored Turtle Chips from Korea and, for the purists, the requisite Japanese Kit-Kats and Pocky too.
At the counter, a friendly employee greets you beneath a letterboard menu anchored by Yoon’s signature 30-day dry-aged beef burger. Starting at $9 for a plain burger, up to $12 for the Tokyo Dog dressed in bonito flakes and furikake, there's also salt and vinegar tots, french fries, miso mac 'n' cheese and soft serve that runs from Straus vanilla to Pineapple Dole Whip, available as a swirl, cup, cone or float. That's the menu, streamlined by design.
Chef Sang Yoon's cheeseburger and Tokyo Dog at Tiny's, his new fast-casual concept inside South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa
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Grid Vongpiansuksa
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Courtesy Tiny's Burger
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For Yoon, the son of Korean immigrants who grew up between two worlds, the idea of opening a burger stand with a konbini was about tapping into the happy place of his memories: after school with friends, trying out the latest snacks to hit the market to Friday nights with the entire family celebrating after a long week of grinding it out with burgers and chili fries.
"The corner burger stand is where life happened. ... What if those two of my favorite things were under one roof?" said Yoon.
Tiny the dog
Inspiration for the name Tiny’s came from a somewhat unlikely place: Yoon’s beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Yoon describes her as appearing extremely cute and friendly, but in reality, she was actually sassy and judgmental. Illustrations bearing Tiny’s "don't mess with me" vibe can be seen throughout the restaurant.
“People would rather hear this from a sassy, cute dog than me. So I decided that we should channel Tiny. And let this belong to her," Yoon said.
The food
The cheeseburger itself is simple: a thin patty topped with melted American cheese and Tiny's signature sauce — a blend of Kewpie mayo, caramelized gochujang, ssamjang and tomato — finished with pickle chips and a bed of lettuce.
What sets it apart is what you can’t see, the same 30-day dry-aged chuck Yoon has used at Father’s Office for over 25 years.
“I still don’t think there’s any product superior to that for the purpose of a hamburger,” he said.
The spread at Tiny's includes the cheeseburger, miso mac 'n' cheese, chicken nuggets, tater tots, fries and a jammy egg sando — a konbini staple in Japan.
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Grid Vongpiansuksa
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The nuggets ($10) had a crispy, craggy exterior finished with visible seasoning crystals, a small but deliberate touch, and came with a fresh herbaceous dipping sauce. As for the chili fries ($8), the chili itself was sufficient as an L.A.-style chili (think Tommy's), but since Lao Gan Ma chili crisp was promised in the name, I was expecting that distinctive, crunchy, fermented kick — but left wanting more of it. It felt more like a whisper than a statement.
The miso mac 'n' cheese ($6) was a highlight of the meal, especially for someone who doesn't usually order mac 'n' cheese. Fresh ridged elbow pasta with a proper chew in each bite, and salty morsels of miso folded into a tight cheese sauce had me picking up forkfuls until it was mostly gone. Consider my position reconsidered.
Encouraged, I went back and ordered a Dole Whip ($7). The electric, tangy flavor, paired with the soft creaminess, served as a suitable exclamation point for my lunch that day.
With Tiny's, Yoon has built his most personal restaurant — accessible in price, but uncompromising in intention.
Could mall food now be on a new trajectory? Perhaps we've finally transcended corn dogs at Hot Dog on a Stick and cinnamon rolls at Cinnabon.
