Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published July 2, 2024 5:00 AM
The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, which was built in Hawthorne, delivered people and supplies to the International Space Station, but it's now on display for the first time at the California Science Center's Work in Progress gallery.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Topline:
Nearly six months after Endeavour reached for the stars one last time for its “Go For Stack” mission, the California Science Center is giving visitors a first look at what’s to come for the space shuttle’s new permanent home in Exposition Park.
Why it matters: You can catch a sneak peek of some of the artifacts and exhibits at the “Work in Progress” gallery while construction is expected to continue on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center for about another year.
Why now: Museum officials said crews are more than halfway done constructing the 200,000 square-foot building.
The backstory: The walls are covered with distinct details about the future of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, but the gallery also brings you back to 2012, when Endeavour made its final flight over California.
What's next: “We'll bring other things in so that this gallery, during the next months, will have a changing set of artifacts in it, and every time you come you might see different things,” Jeffrey Rudolph, the president and CEO of the California Science Center, told LAist.
Nearly six months after Endeavour reached for the stars one last time for its “Go For Stack” mission, the California Science Center is giving visitors a first look at what’s to come for the space shuttle’s new permanent home in Exposition Park.
You can catch a sneak peek of some of the artifacts and exhibits at the “Work in Progress” gallery while construction is expected to continue on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center for about another year. Museum officials said crews are more than halfway done constructing the 200,000 square-foot building.
Jeffrey Rudolph, the president and CEO of the California Science Center, told LAist that the Electron rocket, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, and some of the other objects currently on display may also be moved into the new building sooner than later.
“We'll bring other things in so that this gallery, during the next months, will have a changing set of artifacts in it, and every time you come you might see different things,” Rudolph said.
“Mission 26: The Big Endeavour” series includes more than 80 photos of the space shuttle's final flight over California in the Work in Progress Gallery.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Walking through the 'Work in Progress'
As you enter the gallery, you’re immediately met with a Dragon cargo spacecraft that helped carry people and supplies to and from the International Space Station.
It’s the first time this particular spacecraft, which was the first to reach orbit three times and has spent about 99 days in space, has ever been on display.
The back of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, charred by the reentry into earth's atmosphere from its missions to the International Space Station.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Jessica Jensen, the vice president of customer operations and integration at SpaceX who leads their NASA and national security missions, told LAist that this Dragon was built in Hawthorne, and that’s one of the reasons the company wanted to donate it to the gallery.
“It's so cool for kids or families to be able to see, hey, you live in Los Angeles, you can come be a part of this,” she said. “Whether you're a designer, you're an analyst, you're a technician, you're a welder — we need all types of people to be able to make these programs successful, and it's right here, basically in our neighborhood.”
You can’t miss the nearly 60-foot-long Electron rocket that’s lying down near the ground towards the middle of the gallery space.
People can see a nearly 60-foot-long Electron rocket, designed by Rocket Lab in Long Beach, up close for the first time at the California Science Center.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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Donated by Rocket Lab, Electron is the world’s first and only reusable small-launch vehicle.
The rocket delivers satellites to Earth’s orbit, and with dozens of launches to date, it’s deployed 190 satellites for commercial, defense, and academic missions.
Its 3D-printed Rutherford engines were designed in Long Beach, and it’s the first time people have been able to see the piece up close and personal.
The walls are covered with distinct details about the future of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, but the gallery also brings you back to 2012, when the Endeavour made its final flight over California.
The “Mission 26: The Big Endeavour” series includes more than 80 photos of the space shuttle’s 12-mile, nearly three-day journey from LAX to Exposition Park.
Alyson Goodall, senior vice president of the California Science Center, told LAist the entire city came out to welcome Endeavour, and it can be a little emotional reliving that journey through the more than 80 photos in the Work in Progress gallery.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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What’s next for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center?
Construction for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is well underway, Rudolph said, but there are still some major obstacles ahead.
The Endeavour itself is now covered up by construction, but you can still see part of the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank peaking over the soon-to-be Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Exposition Park.
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Makenna Sievertson
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LAist
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“Getting the shuttle in was probably the most challenging part of the project, but the building construction itself, the part of the building that goes above and around the space shuttle, is a really complex structure,” he said.
That piece is called a diagrid, and the 200-foot-tall structure will eventually be self-supporting, so there’s no columns or walls obstructing your view of the Endeavour exhibit — but it can’t stand on its own until it's complete.
The California Science Center is also still about $35 million short of its $400 million funding goal, but Rudolph said there’s still plenty of space shuttle tiles available for people to sponsor.
“There's lots of things going on here, and in all of Exposition Park, this is going to be the go to place in L.A. without question,” Lynda Oschin, chairperson of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation, told LAist.
Mariana Dale
explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.
Published July 21, 2026 2:50 PM
The Marshall High School Jazz Band opened the 2026 Los Angeles Unified Opening of Schools event.
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Mariana Dale
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LAist
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Topline:
Los Angeles Unified students showed improvements on the state’s reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year.
Why now: Superintendent Andrés Chait announced the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.
“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve.”
Why it matters: Student achievement, as measured by test scores, plummeted during the pandemic. Los Angeles Unified’s growth in 2025 outpaced the state as test scores exceeded pre-pandemic levels. This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science.
It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.
Read on ... for more information from the address. This story will be updated.
Students within the Los Angeles Unified School District showed improvements on state reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year, district authorities announced Tuesday.
Superintendent Andrés Chait revealed the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.
“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve. These are collective accomplishments.
"They reflect the dedication, skill, and commitment of our entire community,” he said.
Jai Gant-Leau, principal of Eagle Tree Continuation High School, said the “back-to-basics” focus of Chait’s speech was a welcome departure from the tone of recent opening addresses.
“We will continue to rise for the outcomes and expectations for the success of our students. That's the message I got,” Gant-Leau said. “Very different than the others where it was a lot of… bells and whistles.”
This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science. It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.
“The decisions will be hard, but we cannot lose sight of what defines us,” Chait said. “We are the system that lifts students to opportunity, turns potential into achievement, creates spaces of belonging, healing, growth.”
Cato Hernández
covers important issues that affect the everyday lives of Southern Californians.
Published July 21, 2026 2:41 PM
The program will focus on homes that survived the Eaton Fire.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Altadena residents with homes that survived the Eaton Fire will soon have a chance at getting their soil cleaned up. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new remediation program focused on lead contamination.
Didn’t this already happen? The federal government previously remediated properties where homes burned, although that thoroughness has been scrutinized. Helen Chavez Garcia, a spokesperson for Supervisor Kathryn Barger, said the county’s new program will be for properties that are still-standing, to help residents facing insurance obstacles.
What we know: The program will use $3 million of state and county funds for administrative and remediation costs. It will prioritize applicants who live with pregnant women or children under 6 years old. These groups face serious health risks with lead exposure.
What’s next: The program structure is being figured out, but it will be under the L.A. County Development Authority. A cohort of community organizations and researchers are helping design it. That's expected to launch this fall.
Keep up with LAist.
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Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published July 21, 2026 2:37 PM
A beach vendor takes a break under the Santa Monica Pier last week. More heat is in store for Southern California this week and into next.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
A heat advisory is in place for much of Southern California from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday.
The heat: Temperatures are expected to climb steadily this week. Inland valleys in L.A., Riverside and San Bernardino counties will see highs between the mid-90s and about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and most of Orange County, will hit the 90s, while beaches hover mostly in the upper 70s. Humidity also continues to add to the discomfort, making it harder to cool down.
Fire risk: Despite higher-than-normal humidity, a combination of dry brush and wind will also increase the likelihood of fires sparking in some places. The risk will be concentrated in places prone to high winds, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and southern Santa Barbara County.
Beach conditions: Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to persist through the weekend along the Southern California coast.
Read on … to learn more about what’s driving these uncomfortable conditions.
We hope you’ve gotten used to the hot weather, because it’s going to be here for a while.
The National Weather Service has issued yet another heat advisory for much of Southern California, less than a week after other high-temperature warnings were lifted.
This week’s advisory will be in place from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday. Forecasters expect temperatures to climb steadily over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.
The San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and other inland areas in L.A., as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, will likely see highs ranging from the mid-90s to about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and much of Orange County, will hit the 90s. Beaches will hover mostly in the upper 70s.
Humidity will also add to the discomfort. Even though it’s decreasing slightly, it makes cooling down harder, especially at night.
People who work outdoors or do not have air conditioning are especially at risk from the heat and humidity, along with people over 65, young children and other sensitive populations.
Making sense of heat forecasts
Southern Californians are no strangers to hot weather in the summer, but heat waves are getting hotter, longer and more frequent as the climate changes.
So you should know the words forecasters use to describe these weather events — and the risks they pose.
Heat advisory: Advisories are issued when temperatures are expected to be hot enough to cause discomfort and potentially lead to heat-related illnesses, especially for more vulnerable populations like young children and the elderly.
Extreme heat watch: Watches are essentially forecasts for upcoming periods of extreme heat. Forecasters say heat watches often cover wide areas and will be revised into more focused warnings and advisories as conditions become clearer over time. Watches are a good time to prepare for extreme heat.
Extreme heat warning: Warnings are issued when heat levels are or will likely become extremely dangerous. Under extreme heat warnings, it's a good idea to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, stay hydrated and help loved ones and pets stay cool.
Forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for fires, driven by a combination of wind and dry vegetation.
Southern California hasn’t seen much rain recently, despite the humidity, leaving plants with little moisture and turning them into the perfect fuel.
“Even though the air feels kind of moist, we're in the time of season where it doesn't matter. The fuels are dry and they're ready to go,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell.
Kittel said people should take extra care with anything that could create a spark, and residents in fire-prone areas should remain aware of their surroundings in case a fire starts.
The fire risk is likely to be concentrated in a few specific areas that will experience higher winds than others, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and in southern Santa Barbara County.
For most of the region, though, winds should stay fairly mild.
Dangerous beach conditions
Southern Californians also have to contend with some ocean-specific risks this week.
Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to hit the coastline at a time when the heat may drive more people to the beach. The conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.
If you decide to head to the beach, it’s a good idea to ask a lifeguard for advice on the conditions before entering the water. It’s also recommended to swim only near occupied lifeguard stands, stay off of rock jetties and avoid turning your back to the waves.
South-facing stretches of coastline will bear the brunt of the swell, which is being driven by two tropical storms churning hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.
“Those two systems generated the winds and the waves locally that are pushing towards us, and so that's creating elevated surf and some stronger currents than normal,” Kittel said.
The swell is not expected to cause significant coastal flooding as high tides remain relatively low.
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
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Jackie Ramirez
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Topline:
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
Why now: More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.
Free rides begin Wednesday: Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale. Pickup locations are at select Eastside parks.
Read on . . . for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more.
Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.
Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday at select Eastside parks so residents can enjoy a day at the lake at no cost.
More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.
To ensure families still have access to summer recreational activities, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis directed resources toward providing the “beach bus” program to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale.
Read below for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more.
Pickup locations
Belvedere Aquatic Center
5035 1st St. East Los Angeles, CA 90022
Obregon Park Pool
4021 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90063
Salazar Park Pool
3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023
City Terrace Park Pool
1126 N. Hazard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90063
Shuttle dates and times
Wednesday, July 22
Thursday, July 23
Friday, July 24
Saturday, July 25
Morning trip:
Check in at 8:30 a.m.
The bus departs East LA at 9 a.m.
The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 12 p.m.
Afternoon trip:
Check in at 12:30 p.m.
The bus departs East LA at 1 p.m.
The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 4 p.m.
What to know
No registration or proof of address is required, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own food and drinks. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
