Topline:
If you're clamoring to get into the great outdoors, the good news is despite some closures there are still plenty of places to explore in the Angeles National Forest.
The backstory: Winter storm damage has several roads and major highways in the forest still closed. Other campgrounds are shuttered to allow damaged plants from the Bobcat Fire in 2020 to recover.
So what is open? Quite a bit. Read on to see the research we've compiled for you.
While the Angeles National Forest may be L.A.’s own backyard playground, lingering winter storm damage and recent wildfires have closed 16 campgrounds and Highway 2.
If you're clamoring to get into the great outdoors, the good news is there are still plenty of places to explore.
We did the research for you.
Winter storm damage has several roads and major highways in the forest still closed to traffic. Highway 2 is shut down for the foreseeable future, according to Caltrans District 7, which manages that highway.
Other roads listed as temporarily closed as of June 27:
You can check the current status on the Forest Service site.
In addition, campground sites and trails remain closed down due to the Bobcat Fire in 2020 to allow for plants to recover, a process that forest service officials say can take three to five years.
The Angeles National Forest is alerting visitors to be wary of "high" water levels in rivers, creeks and waterfalls from the recent winter/spring storms and snow melt.
And with this hot weather, fire danger is high right now.
“Despite more rain this year, followed by a fairly green spring in the mountains, forest grasses and brush are beginning to dry out and are becoming more flammable," said Robert Garcia, Angeles National Forest Fire Chief, in a statement.
A couple of tips for fire safety include: don't park on dry grass. Making sure your fire is dead before going to sleep. Before you go, be sure to check out all the advice and tips.
Park rangers are also warning hikers to be careful at high elevations as there's still some snow at the mountain tops. If you're planning on hiking Mt. Baldy, or Ice Canyon, don't go alone and be prepared for winter-like conditions.
We go deeper into why it can be dangerous to hike in winter-like conditions in SoCal mountains plus tips on how to stay safe and gear up.
Here's the full list of what's open at the Angeles National Forest broken down by campground, picnic and day/weekend use areas and trails:
For more information on reservations or restrictions, visit here.
Topline:
Researchers are dipping into a new field of study called "smoke ecology." The goal is to understand how the smoke billowing off of wildfires may be disturbing wild places and creatures — and whether anything can be done to prevent possible harm.
Why it matters: Toxic smoke from fires is an increasingly common problem, even in places untouched by flames. Fire season is starting earlier, lasting later, burning more land — and as a result, producing far more smoke.
The backstory: Birds are especially sensitive to smoke in large part because of how they breathe. A human being has soft lungs that allow inhalation and exhalation of air. By contrast, birds have rigid lungs surrounded by a collection of air sacs that act like bellows, pushing air continuously through the system.
Olivia Sanderfoot stands on a flower-freckled hillside in Amherst in Western Massachusetts. She listens for a moment — and a volley of birdsong flutters forth.
An Eastern Wood-Pewee. A goldfinch. A downy woodpecker.
"It's just magical," she says with an air of reverence. There are birds foraging among the flowers. Fluffy fledglings are darting about, learning the ways of the world.
"Every day that I get to start birding is a good day," she says. "If you want to get the widest range of species and hear the most songs, you want to be out here in the morning."
For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines, follow NPR’s Short Wave podcast.
Sanderfoot, a global change ecologist at Cornell University, knows that for the birds that live here, not every morning is this idyllic. Over the summer, this area was suffused with toxic smoke from distant wildfires in Canada. It's an increasingly common problem, even in places untouched by flames. Fire season is starting earlier, lasting later, burning more land — and as a result, producing far more smoke.
"Smoke can blow hundreds to thousands of miles away from that burn site," Sanderfoot explains. "That means that the footprint of a smoke event greatly exceeds that of any fire. How do birds deal with that?"
This is the central question animating Sanderfoot's desire to form a new field of study called "smoke ecology." The goal, she says, is to understand how the smoke billowing off of wildfires may be disturbing wild places and creatures — and whether anything can be done to prevent possible harm.
Sanderfoot's curiosity about how birds cope with smoke emerged in 2018 when she was living in Seattle and wildfires blazed in Eastern Washington. "The air smelled acrid," she recalls. "The city was just blanketed in this sickly yellow, gray haze."
She was told it was a one-time event — yet the same thing happened two years later.
"I remember walking outside and my eyes were just burning," Sanderfoot says. "And I thought, 'What on earth are animals doing? Are they OK?'"
Very little was known apart from anecdotes — like the absence of birdsong or the arrival of droves of birds to a backyard, famished and parched.
"Smoke is a toxic soup of substances," she says. "It's not just about what [birds are] inhaling, which is inevitably bad for them. It's also about how the cues that they use to navigate their world are upended when it gets smoky outside."
To puzzle out what was going on, Sanderfoot realized that she needed to collaborate with researchers from a range of other disciplines, including conservation biology, statistics, ecophysiology and atmospheric chemistry.
"Real-world problems don't map cleanly onto the same academic silos that have been set up for decades," says Tracey Holloway, an atmospheric chemist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the lead of NASA's Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team, and a colleague of Sanderfoot's. "We need to be tackling new problems with new partnerships."
For instance, in order to understand what birds are inhaling, one has to know what's moving through the air in time and three-dimensional space. "It depends on which way the winds are blowing," says Holloway, "what chemical processes are happening in the air, and also patterns of rainfall and where the emissions are coming from." The science depends on air quality monitoring, satellite data, and evermore sophisticated computer modeling.
Birds are especially sensitive to smoke in large part because of how they breathe. A human being has soft lungs that allow inhalation and exhalation of air. By contrast, birds have rigid lungs surrounded by a collection of air sacs that act like bellows, pushing air continuously through the system.
"This allows birds to take up about twice as much oxygen with each breath that they inhale compared to us," says Sanderfoot. "This means that they're vulnerable to all the other things that are in the air, too."
Morgan Tingley, an ecologist at UCLA, is another member of the burgeoning smoke ecology cohort. "What we're trying to do is getting smoke to be recognized as a disturbance in and of itself distinct from fire that is worthy of our concentrated attention," he says.
For much of his career, Tingley has studied wildfires — events with a clear start and stop, and defined borders. But the smoke produced by those wildfires can present its own unique set of problems, as it can spread far from the original blaze.
"Smoke is extremely hard to predict and it's highly variable," he says. "It can be there one day, one hour, and gone the next. Which means that it's hard to actually disentangle what its impacts are because you can't really control it."
This means that it's not possible to anticipate where smoke will appear, or when. Scientists also prefer not to subject animals to smoke intentionally.
So when it comes to studying wildfire smoke and birds, the trick is to gather data everywhere. To do so, the researchers rely on legions of amateur birders and professional conservationists and ornithologists across the country who are already on the ground collecting data when smoke happens to blow in.
One such individual is Pam Sowizral, the bird project coordinator at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln outside of Boston. On a sunny morning in late August, she walks up to a bluebird nest box and gently raps on the outside.
"Always give a little knock first," she advises quietly. "Let them know you're coming." When she lifts the side panel, she reveals two feathery puffballs huddled on a bed of pine needles. These baby bluebirds are the last of the season here.
Sowizral says that nearly every year for the last 20 years, three times a week in spring and summer, she and her volunteers check the bird boxes here and count the nests and the eggs and how many chicks fledge. They check when the weather's good, when it's bad (within reason) — and when the smoke rolls in.
"Those periods of time when the smoke was here, the air somehow felt a little different," she says. But "that didn't stop us from doing our usual monitoring of our boxes."
That's key. Nationally, counts like this one, which is part of Cornell University's NestWatch project, provide a portrait of bird activity and behavior before, during and after smoke events.
Sanderfoot of Cornell University says she's using these kinds of observations, alongside observations of breeding behavior, to help her understand how birds are coping with wildfire smoke in a variety of places.
She's revealed three distinct strategies, depending on the species and the individual birds. They either hunker down and stay put, fly away, or shift their behavior — by not vocalizing as much or venturing out less often, say.
"This could be an attempt to mitigate their exposure," says Sanderfoot. "It might also be how they are forced to respond if they feel unwell."
In addition, she and her colleagues have observed that repeated exposure to smoke appears to impair the body condition of a variety of birds, leading to lower weight overall.
"They all respond in different ways," she says. "And we need to figure out what those ways are and how effective they are in order to design effective conservation strategies for a rapidly changing world."
This is one of Sanderfoot's top priorities: determining what might constitute what she calls smoke refugia for birds — safer spots where they can hunker down until conditions improve. "I want to know where birds are going when it's smoky," she says, "what resources they're seeking out, and what we could provide to help them during a risky time" — like water and perhaps shelter or food.
"I would like to be able to give people something they can do to help," she says.
Sanderfoot's personal experience with wildfires didn't end in Seattle. "I almost feel like the smoke is following me," she says.
In early 2025, she and her family fled the fires in Los Angeles, where they were living at the time. And this summer, she watched as a blanket of smoke descended upon parts of the U.S., including Ithaca, where she lives now, blowing off the remote Canadian infernos. She says she doesn't think it's a coincidence.
"Let's put it this way," she says: "We can expect that the future will be smokier."
It's a fact that's true for birds and people, which means that what Sanderfoot and her colleagues learn about smoke ecology may reveal a clearer way forward — for us all.
"By learning more about birds," she says, "I think we might learn something about how we can take care of ourselves and each other."
Copyright 2026 NPR
Topline:
Orange County has ended its relationship with its main mental health partner, Mind OC, which does business as Be Well. Officials announced the split Tuesday as part of a legal settlement with the nonprofit.
Why it matters: The settlement means Orange County’s Health Care Agency will now have full control over the county’s Be Well mental health campuses in Orange and Irvine. The opening of the Irvine campus had been delayed because of the dispute.
The legal dispute: The county filed a lawsuit in March accusing Mind OC, commonly known as Be Well OC, of squandering more than $60 million in public funds. The nonprofit had previously accused the county of violating its lease agreement for the Orange campus.
What happens next: Clinical providers and teams are gearing up to begin services at the Irvine campus as soon as possible, the county said in a news release. Patients can expect a full rebranding of both campuses from the Be Well OC name to a new brand name and design.
Background: A damning audit in 2024 found the organization failed to ensure proper staffing and effective outcomes of key services. LAist also reported in 2004 that Mind OC used taxpayer money to pay a person close to disgraced former Supervisor Andrew Do for work that was never completed.
Officials weigh-in: “We are proud to have built two state-of-the-art campuses for behavioral health services in Orange County. We look forward to continuing our mission and serving Orange County residents,” Dr. Richard Afable, board chairman of Mind OC, said in a statement.
“We finally secured the keys and can open the Irvine campus so children and families facing a behavioral health crisis get the care they need closer to home,” Supervisor Katrina Foley wrote in a statement.
Go deeper… on the legal battle between Mind OC and Orange County.
Topline:
This Sunday, Oct. 11, a 6.5-mile stretch of road will be closed to cars from Mariachi Plaza to Echo Park for CicLAvia Heart of L.A.
When is it and what can I expect? CicLAvia Heart of L.A. will take place Sunday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can expect to see local gems along the route, restaurants and vendors, and event hubs featuring activations and water refill stations.
Parking and transportation: No street parking is allowed along the CicLAvia route from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Driveways along the route will also be inaccessible from 7 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, so be sure to plan ahead and move your car before 7 a.m. if you need to use it.
Read on... for more on road closures, parking, and where to find our partners Boyle Heights Beat and The LA Local at CicLAvia.
This story first appeared on The LA Local.
Despite an intense heat wave scorching Southern California this week, temperatures will begin to cool, just in time to enjoy car-free streets in Boyle Heights for CicLAvia this weekend.
On Sunday, Oct. 11, a 6.5-mile stretch of road will be closed to cars from Mariachi Plaza to Echo Park for CicLAvia’s Heart of L.A., encouraging residents to enjoy open streets in their neighborhood. This year, Boyle Heights Beat and The LA Local will be tabling at CicLAvia to share more about our community-centered reporting.
Whether you choose to walk, run, or roll, be sure to enjoy the fresh air, drink plenty of water, and wear sunscreen (and don’t forget your helmet if you’re on wheels!).
Here’s what to know about street closures, local gems to explore across the neighborhoods and how to get reimbursed for parking.
CicLAvia Heart of LA will take place Sunday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Participants can expect to see local gems along the route, restaurants and vendors, and event hubs featuring activations and water refill stations.
The route spans 6.5 miles through Boyle Heights, the Arts District, Little Tokyo, Downtown, Chinatown and Echo Park.
Only people-powered vehicles are allowed, including bikes, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades.
Motorized wheelchairs and mobility devices for people with disabilities are allowed. E-bikes are allowed with some restrictions. See the full guidelines here.
Stretches of 1st Street, St. Louis Street, Boyle Avenue, Whittier Boulevard and the 6th Street Bridge will all be closed to car traffic. Check out the full event map here.
Street closures will begin as early as 4 a.m. on the day of the event. Streets are expected to reopen by 6 p.m.
No street parking is allowed along the CicLAvia route from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Driveways along the route will also be inaccessible from 7 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, so be sure to plan ahead and move your car before 7 a.m. if you need to use it.
According to the CicLAvia website, cars will be towed if they are parked along the event route.
If you live or work directly on the route, CicLAvia says you may be reimbursed up to $20 per vehicle for any parking costs incurred from 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 through 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
To request reimbursement:
All buses that usually run along the CicLAvia route will be detoured on the day of the event. A full list of bus detours can be found here.
In Boyle Heights, these Metro stations are located less than half a mile from the route:
Be sure to check out a range of event hubs, local gems, shops and restaurants along the route using this interactive map. And come say hi to the Boyle Heights Beat team—we will be stationed at the Mariachi Plaza Hub from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Topline:
The White House clarified Donald Trump's comments at a Monday night rally, explaining that the president was not insinuating that he wanted Iran to attack U.S. cities but instead wants to prevent Tehran from having that capability.
What happened: Trump was discussing the Iran war and the resulting high gas prices that have become a midterm liability for Republicans during his remarks in Nebraska when he mentioned the possibility of an Iranian attack on U.S. soil.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he said of the war and its economic fallout. “They can take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
The context: The commentary, including Trump's casual mention of the two California cities, was delivered in the familiar meandering style that he uses at campaign rallies, when he speaks for extended periods — often an hour or more — and is only occasionally following prepared remarks on a teleprompter.
Pushback: His comments were condemned on social media by lawmakers in California, including the governor, and L.A. and San Diego mayors. At least one Republican politician also pushed back, saying “no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.”
The White House clarified Donald Trump's comments at a Monday night rally, explaining that the president was not insinuating that he wanted Iran to attack U.S. cities but instead wants to prevent Tehran from having that capability.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on social media Tuesday that the president's comments have been misunderstood and misrepresented in a “media freakout” that is “not rooted in reality.”
Trump was discussing the Iran war and the resulting high gas prices that have become a midterm liability for Republicans during his remarks in Nebraska when he mentioned the possibility of an Iranian attack on U.S. soil.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he said of the war and its economic fallout. “They can take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
The commentary, including Trump's casual mention of the two California cities, was delivered in the familiar meandering style that he uses at campaign rallies, when he speaks for extended periods — often an hour or more — and is only occasionally following prepared remarks on a teleprompter.
Critics, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, seized on his statements. The governor, a Democrat who could run for president in 2028, called Trump “deranged and dangerous” for, in Newsom's framing, “saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego.”
Cheung, in his response Tuesday, said it was obvious that Trump was not calling for such an attack.
“The media freakout over President Trump’s comments is not rooted in reality,” he said. “He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped. America is safer because of the President.”
Cheung added that Iran “has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”
Still, at least one Republican politician shared Newsom’s interpretation.
“As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war,” Jim Desmond, the Republican congressional nominee in a metro San Diego district, wrote on social media, adding that “no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.”
Trump has often criticized U.S. cities as he campaigns, especially the largest areas that lean heavily Democratic. At a recent North Carolina rally, he described the state's cities as “blood-soaked killing fields.” North Carolina's violent crime rate ranks in the middle third of states, according to FBI statistics.
Iran has said that it’s not pursuing nuclear weapons, but has enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade levels that have no civilian purpose.
