Topline:
Fans came out earlier this week to see the Mexican crossover musical sensation and show off their fantastic 'fits.
Why it matters: The music of Peso Pluma marks a massive shift in crossover appeal for listeners of regional Mexican music in the United States.
Why now: The singer sold out two nights at YouTube Theater on Wednesday and Thursday.
What about the 'fits? This being L.A., fans did not disappoint. Read the full story to check out the photos.
Peso Pluma, the musical artist from Jalisco, Mexico, has made significant waves in the genre of music known as Corridos Tumbados. The genre is an updated sound of traditional Mexican corridos and rancheras that sprinkles in references to contemporary youth culture.
The singer's rise in popularity in the U.S. has been meteoric, connecting with a new generation of crossover listeners. His new album, Génesis, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
The music of Peso Pluma cuts across genres, generations, and cultures, and Los Angeles makes for the perfect backdrop for this unique style of music. We spoke to a few die-hard fans to tell us more about why they came out to support at his two-night sold-out stop at YouTube Theater in Inglewood on Wednesday and Thursday.
Originally from East L.A., now Lives in Long Beach
What brings you here today?
Peso Pluma!
Do you listen to a lot of music in Spanish?
Yes, I listen to a lot of Reggaeton.
Did you grow up listening to Mexican Regional Music? Where?
Yes, for generations. It was always around me. On car rides, everywhere in East L.A.
What does it mean for you to see this genre become mainstream, especially here in the U.S.?
I’m liking it. Artists like Peso Pluma are putting it on the map. I have tías and tíos, older generations, asking me about it.
Santa Clarita. Parents from El Salvador and Guatemala.
What brings you here today?
It’s my birthday. I bought it for myself.
Do you listen to a lot of music in Spanish?
I haven’t before. It’s been since last year. I wasn’t really on it but, you know, Peso Pluma brought me to the corridos and all that.
What were you listening to before? What else do you listen to?
Bad Bunny and rap, that’s it. J. Balvin.
What do you think of the fact that he’s blowing up?
It’s good to see. Mexico is close to California; we got all the Mexicans over here, so, you know, I like to see him represent the Latino community. Us too.
Ontario, California
What brings you here today?
I came to see Peso Pluma. I like him.
Do you listen to a lot of music in Spanish? Did your family listen to music in Spanish?
Yes. I always say that in my home there was la Virgen de Guadalupe and El Corrido de Camelia la Tejana. We are hardworking people and we are able to live vicariously through this music and its stories of other people’s lives.
Did you grow up listening to Mexican Regional Music? Where?
Yes, in Guadalajara, Mexico. I grew up listening to corridos. I think this is like the contemporary version of Los Tigres del Norte and Ramon Ayala. I’m happy because I like this music and now my son likes it, too. It’s brought us closer.
What does it mean for you to see this genre become mainstream, especially here in the U.S.?
I love it! It’s refreshing to give these young people importance. I have young people in my life, and I like to see them singing and enjoying the music. It’s great.
Karely hails from Veracruz, Mexico; Edwin from Lima, Peru
What brings you here today?
Karely: Peso Pluma! Yes!
Edwin: Doble P.
What other kind of music do you listen to?
Edwin: I really listen to everything: salsa, corrido, banda.
Does your family in Peru listen to this music?
Edwin: No, they don’t listen to this there.
Does this music get played in Veracruz?
Karely: Yes, Reggaeton is more popular, but they do play this.
What does it mean for you to see this genre become mainstream, especially here in the U.S?
Karely: I think we are in different times now. The times have changed, and the music has, too. This has come to revolutionize everyone because no one ever thought that these corridos tumbados were going to be this big.
L.A.
What brings you here today?
Peso Pluma. I have been listening to him since this year.
What do you think of the fact that he’s blowing up and artists like him are blowing up so big in this country?
I think it means a lot, especially for the Mexican community. Especially for this kind of music to be blowing up by competing with Reggaetoneros and rap songs. It means a lot to the community.
Have you always listened to this kind of music?
Yeah, I have.
Your family too?
Yeah, we’re from Sinaloa so we’re big fans.
Compton (Nayra was "born and raised")
What brings you here today?
Raul: Big fans of Peso Pluma since he started. What has it been? A year ago? Something like that.
Nayra: And he’s from Jalisco.
Do you listen to a lot of Regional Music?
Raul: Yeah, all the time, all the time!
What else do you listen to?
Raul and Nayra: Rap, Hip Hop.
Did your family listen to music in Spanish?
Nayra: Yeah. Only rancheras.
What do you think of him and other artists like him being this big in the country?
In the industry, globally, he makes us proud. He makes the Hispanic family proud.
Anaheim
What brings you here today?
Out here with my brother to see Peso Pluma.
Have you always listened to this kind of music? Regional, rancheras?
I’m originally from Mexico City. I’ve been listening to reggaeton for a long time but this, of course, is a new trend. It’s catchy. I’m Mexican. He represents our country. Why not!
Do you listen to a lot of music in Spanish?
I’ve been listening to Spanish music ever since I was growing up. Him, pretty much as soon as (I’m not gonna lie) the first track that hit on the radio.
What do you think of the fact that he’s blowing up like this?
If it’s his time to shine, he’s going to shine. And he’s doing an amazing job. That’s what he’s doing, he’s putting in work. I’m from Anaheim and I know he records in Anaheim, really close to where my parents live.
Mid-City, Los Angeles
What brings you here today?
Peso Pluma, big fan. Belicones!
How long have you listened to him?
Barely, maybe six months.
Did you listen to this kind of music before?
Yes. Chalino Sanchez. I grew up with this.
Your family, the kids, they’re listening to it, too?
I have a 9 year old and I try to put the clean version on, but yeah, you can’t control it. It’s everywhere. You go to restaurants and it’s there. Everywhere you go the music is there, so I can’t cover my daughter’s ears.
Grew up in Wilmington. Lives in San Pedro
What brings you here today?
Peso Pluma, I got into him this year, my brother got me into him. He’s a really big fan of this style of music. Gotta support the culture.
Have you always listened to regional, rancheras?
Our family, yeah. Corridos, Antonio Aguilar.
What else do you listen to?
I listen to everything. Actually my primary stuff I listen to is heavy metal. I like reggae, reggaeton, I’m just expanding my music. My brother really got me into him [Peso Pluma]. I said, "Ok, let’s go see him."
What do you think of the fact that it’s blowing up so fast?
I think it’s good. It shows the rest of the world that Mexicanos got talent to be on the platforms that other artists are as well. That they can carry that flag and sell out major stadiums two nights in a row. That tells you something, and I hope it opens up the way for other Mexican, other Latino artists as well, and see that “Hey man, we can do it, too."
South Bay area, Lawndale, born and raised our whole lives.
What brings you here today?
Tony: Peso Pluma. Big fans for a long time. Our family, our kids, everyone.
Do you always listen to this kind of music?
Tony: Yeah, we like all the young guys that have been coming up. Natanael Cano, JOP and them, all the young guys, Junior H.
What about back in the day? Did your folks listen to corridos?
Yeah, Chalino Sánchez and all those classics. At every party for sure.
What do you think of the fact that Peso Pluma is so popular here in the U.S.?
Angelica: I think it’s a good movement for Mexicans period, or Hispanics, that he’s blown up here in the U.S.
Tony: Yeah, it’s awesome to finally get somebody that’s being recognized worldwide, you know what I mean. Not just the Mexican region but here in the U.S., in Europe, in Argentina, everywhere. Colombia, everybody wants to work with him. It’s good for the Mexican people.
"I’m from Mexico, from Aguascalientes, but I grew up over here in East L.A."
What brings you here today?
I brought my son to see the Peso Pluma concert. He really likes it.
Do you listen to a lot of music in Spanish? Musica regional?
Yes, always.
What do you think of Peso Pluma and artists like him getting so big in the U.S.?
Honestly, I think he’s doing really good right now. It’s something new, you know. I think there was a need in Mexican music for someone to actually put our name out there. That’s why I brought my Mexican flag, cause this guy is kind of representing out there. He’s basically No. 1 right now. What can I say, he’s been doing great right now.
Juan has been in L.A. for three years and Glendi for two years. They live in Pico-Union.
What brings you here today?
The Peso Pluma concert. We have been fans since he started.
Did you listen to corridos or rancheras before?
Both: Yes.
And your families, do they listen to this kind of music?
Both: Yes.
Glendi: Especially my dad.
Does he like Peso Pluma?
Glendi: Yes, he’s sad that he didn’t come.
Long Beach
What brings you here today?
I’m out here to see Peso Pluma, the biggest artist out here right now.
Have you been listening to him for some time?
Yeah, for a while. Before he became famous, I’ve been listening to him.
Have you always listened to this kind of music?
Oh yeah, yeah. Like corridos, corridos tumbados. I love it, you know.
Do you listen to anything else?
I listen to reggaeton and all that, too.
What about your family? Do they listen to Mexican music?
Yeah. My family is a big fan of corridos. The old corridos, too.
What do you think of the fact that he is so popular in the U.S.?
I think it’s because of his unique voice. He’s so unique. That voice is like never heard, never before.
Topline:
As federal officials suspend funding to L.A.’s main homelessness agency — citing mismanagement — a recent audit found the agency did not spend tens of millions of dollars allocated to it.
The scale: The audit found the L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) underspent its overall budget by $108 million in the last fiscal year ending in June 2025, mainly because of “program delays.” The year before, the underspend was nearly $150 million. Some of it was carried forward to future years, auditors wrote.
Federal underspend: The audit shows LAHSA spent at least $7 million less in federal dollars than it had budgeted last fiscal year. LAHSA had budgeted $61.5 million in such dollars. It spent only about $49 million to $54.4 million, per the audit.
A history: Underspending at LAHSA was called out more than four years ago, in a January 2022 audit that found the agency left $3.5 million in federal grants on the table by not using them.
As federal officials suspend funding to L.A.’s main homelessness agency — citing mismanagement — a recent audit found the agency did not spend tens of millions of dollars allocated to it.
The audit found the L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) underspent its overall budget by $108 million in the last fiscal year ending in June 2025, mainly because of “program delays.” The year before, the underspend was nearly $150 million. Some of it was carried forward to future years, auditors wrote.
Specifically to federal dollars, the audit shows LAHSA spent at least $7 million less than it had budgeted last fiscal year. LAHSA had budgeted $61.5 million in such dollars. It spent only about $49 million to $54.4 million, per the audit.
Underspending at LAHSA was called out more than four years ago, in a January 2022 audit that found the agency left $3.5 million in federal grants on the table by not using them.
A spokesperson for LAHSA has not responded to a request for comment.
LAHSA is governed by a 10-member commission that is half appointed by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, and half appointed by each of the five county supervisors. Bass has served on the commission since she appointed herself to it in fall 2023.
Bass’ office said in a statement that the mayor “has grave concerns about LAHSA and zero tolerance for mismanagement and negligence.” The federal money suspension puts lives and progress on homelessness at risk, the statement added.
The mayor’s office statement says the mayor “previously directed the city to evaluate how to move away from the agency.”
When the City Council considered in March whether to withdraw the city’s funds from LAHSA and instead have the city directly oversee the dollars, Bass cautioned that the city first would need “a serious, thoughtful transition plan,” adding that “the last thing we need is a new department and more bureaucracy.”
Spokespeople for the county supervisors have not returned messages for comment on the underspending.
The city of L.A. also has been underspending its homelessness budget — to the tune of $513 million in Bass’ first full fiscal year as mayor that ended June 2024, according to an analysis later that year by City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s office.
Federal officials cited that in their letter Thursday as one of many reasons for their suspension of funds to LAHSA. The letter incorrectly attributed the full underspend to LAHSA. The findings were instead about the city’s overall homelessness spending, a portion of which goes to LAHSA.
Spokespeople for HUD have not responded to an emailed request about the inaccuracy.
A controller’s analysis for the following fiscal year, ending June 2025, found the city again underspent its homelessness budget, by at least $473 million.
“Breaking City Hall from its decades old dysfunctional system is how we finally brought homelessness down by 17%,” Bass said in a statement at the time. “I’m glad to support the controller’s recommendations to further reform the status quo.”
The federally required audit, known as a single audit, must be done each year by an accounting firm hired by LAHSA.
The latest one, finalized last month and covering the fiscal year that ended last June, found failures surrounding poor bookkeeping and accounting of taxpayer money at the agency — which spent over $800 million in public funds last fiscal year.
The agency’s financial statements initially included “significant” inaccurate amounts that needed to be adjusted late in the audit process, the auditors found.
It found the inaccuracies stemmed from a "significant deficiency” in LAHSA’s “internal controls,” which are supposed to safeguard against financial inaccuracies and fraud.
LAist reported Thursday that LAHSA has been using tax dollars to pay for more than 250 empty apartments as part of an initiative Mayor Karen Bass introduced years ago to make housing readily available to unhoused people. That’s just over a third of the units in the strategy, known as master leasing, according to an LAist review of official data.
The vacancies have been tying up tax dollars — largely overseen by the county — that could house hundreds of people in other approaches, according to official financial data.
If you have a tip, you can reach me on Signal. My username is ngerda.47.
In response to previous audits that found major problems with LAHSA’s oversight of tax dollars, county supervisors decided last spring to withdraw all of the county’s $300 million-plus in annual funding of services through LAHSA and instead have the county directly manage it starting July 1.
Problems identified in the latest audit reiterate why the county pulled its funding, Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement Monday.
The city is considering moving in a similar direction as the county. A key City Council panel — its homelessness committee — recently recommended the full council start shifting city homelessness funding out of LAHSA over the course of the next fiscal year. Bass urged caution, saying moving too quickly to shift funding could disrupt services for unhoused people.
LAHSA has long functioned as the L.A.’s homeless services department, with over $300 million in city money expected to flow through LAHSA this fiscal year.
Top line:
For any World Cup-related festivities, you might want to consider a diverse set of cookies. Lei'd Cookies in Culver City is a one-stop shop for cookies that take inspiration from countries across the globe. One of their owners spoke with Austin Cross, "AirTalk" on Friday host, about their cookies experience.
Flavor inspirations: The Philippines, Mexico, Cuba, Thailand, Morocco and more.
The ultimate Lei'd Cookies experience: Add ice cream to a warm cookie at the Culver City shop or take a group of friends to their pop-up at Smorgasburg L.A., for a more communal experience.
Read more ... to learn more about the bakery and the different cookies we tried.
A cookie business with well over a dozen flavors ranging from Mexican hot chocolate to mango sticky rice? How very L.A.! Lei’d Cookies started as a pandemic pop-up. Nowadays, you'll find them in the Culver City Arts District.
Co-owner Leilani Terris originally thought she'd become a physical therapist. After applying to school, she took a gap year, taught herself to bake and connected with co-owner James Lewis to start their cookie business.
Terris sat down with Austin Cross, who hosts AirTalk every Friday, to explain how their cookies take customers on a bite-sized journey to other countries.
Add ice cream to a warm cookie at their Culver City shop. If you want a more communal experience, take a trip with a group of friends to Smorgasburg L.A., which takes place every Sunday in downtown L.A.
Terris wants customers to get a taste of other cultures. Lei'd Cookies has put a spin on ghriba, a type of shortbread cookie from Morocco, and spicy Mexican hot chocolate.
Topline:
A hot, dry winter has led to fires already this year, and experts said Friday at a news conference in Los Angeles that that is projected to continue. Different from previous wildfire seasons, though, is that experts are also closing watching an El Niño.
Fire outlook: Robert Garcia, a U.S. Forest Service fire chief, said that the recent Burro Fire in Angeles National Forest provided “some indicators of what may be ahead in the months ahead” as vegetation starts to dry. The Burro Fire charred 30 acres and burned for about a week in May in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Glendora.
El Niño predictions: The National Weather Service is predicting a 63% chance of a “very strong” El Niño from November to January. It be one of the most powerful since 1950, according to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center.
Read on … to learn more about El Niño and fire season.
Southern Californians could face floods and fires this year.
A hot, dry winter has led to fires already, and experts said Friday at a news conference in Los Angeles that that is projected to continue.
Different from previous wildfire seasons, though, experts are also closely watching El Niño, a powerful weather pattern that causes changes in winds and ocean temperatures.
“California is faced with multiple disasters, whether it be fires, floods, hazardous material incidents,” said Brian Marshall, fire and rescue chief with the California Office of Emergency Services. Marshall said the El Niño “could impact fires and could impact flooding across the state.”
The National Weather Service is predicting a 63% chance of a “very strong” El Niño from November to January. It could be one of the most powerful since 1950, according to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center.
Heavy El Niño storms could trigger flash flooding and debris flows in wildfire burn scar areas.
The effects of the rapidly developing El Niño on this year’s wildfire season remain uncertain, and experts urged residents to stay vigilant.
“Even very strong El Niño events do not lead to the expected impact everywhere,” according to the Climate Prediction Center.
William Deverell, director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, said more rain can also increase plant growth, which can eventually dry out and create more fuel for fires.
Robert Garcia, fire chief in the Angeles National Forest, said the recent Burro Fire provided “some indicators of what may be ahead” as vegetation starts to dry. The Burro Fire charred 30 acres and burned for about a week in May in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Glendora.
Fire officials advised people to create defensible space around their homes by clearing it of dry vegetation and other flammable materials.
Pre-fire conditions, including the abundance of dry vegetation, were “dominant drivers” of burn severity in the Eaton, Palisades and Hughes fires in January 2025, according to a new study led by San Diego State University in collaboration with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers.
“Regions like Los Angeles … have a lot of human populations who are living closer to these environments that are susceptible to wildfires,” said Madeleine Pascolini-Campbell, a scientist at JPL and a co-author of the study.
Beyond fire prevention, defensible space also helps firefighters enter properties to extinguish flames.
“Wind-driven, ember-casting wildfires moving through a community without defensible space makes it very difficult for us to be able to combat those fires,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime E. Moore said at the news conference. “It makes it unsafe for our firefighters and those that are working hard to protect your home.”
Topline:
Los Angeles Unified has renamed two campuses previously named for Cesar Chavez. The move follows a New York Times investigation that found the famed labor leader sexually abused girls and women.
What’s changed: Cesar Chavez Learning Academies in San Fernando is now Arroyo High School, and Cesar Chavez Elementary School is now Oakland Street Elementary School.
How the change came together: The board voted unanimously to rename the schools Friday following town hall meetings and a vote among staff, students and parents at each campus.
The backstory: A March New York Times investigation found survivors of Chavez’s abuse included United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The LAUSD Board voted unanimously a week later to begin a renaming process for the two campuses after a consultation with the schools’ communities.
Read on … to see what other names were considered and what's next.
Los Angeles Unified has renamed two campuses previously named for Cesar Chavez. The move follows a New York Times investigation that found the famed labor leader sexually abused girls and women.
The board voted to rename the schools Friday following town hall meetings and a vote among staff, students and parents at each campus.
Cesar Chavez Learning Academies in San Fernando is now Arroyo High School, and Cesar Chavez Elementary School is now Oakland Street Elementary School.
A March New York Times investigation found survivors of Chavez’s abuse included United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The LAUSD Board voted unanimously a week later to begin a renaming process for the two campuses after a consultation with the schools’ communities.
With one exception, none of the other prospective names were associated with specific people.
Previously called: Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academy
Other names considered:
The vote: Arroyo High earned 557 of 1,063 votes, and was the most popular choice among each of students, parents and staff. It’s based on the street where the school is located. (“Arroyo” is Spanish for “creek.”)
Previously called: Cesar Chavez Elementary School
Other names considered:
The vote: Oakland Street Elementary received 211 out of 314 votes, and was the favorite among each of students, parents and staff.
The district has designated $209,000 for renovations associated with the name changes, including changing signs and marquees.
The single largest cost is refurbishing the high school’s hardwood gym floor, which will cost an estimated $120,000. Other significant costs include removing and replacing metal lettering on the front of the high school for $25,000, as well as removing and replacing crash pads and banners in the gym for $30,000.
LAUSD board members can amplify concerns from parents, students and educators. Find your representative below.
District 1 includes Mid City, parts of South L.A. (map)
Board member: Sherlett Hendy Newbill
Email: BoardDistrict1@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6382 (central office); (323) 298-3411 (field office)
District 2 includes Downtown, East L.A. (map)
Board member: Rocío Rivas
Email: rocio.rivas@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6020
District 3 includes West San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood (map)
Board member: Scott Schmerelson
Email: scott.schmerelson@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-8333
District 4 includes West Hollywood, some beach cities (map)
Board member: Nick Melvoin
Email: nick.melvoin@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6387
District 5 includes parts of Northeast and Southwest L.A. (map)
Board Member: Karla Griego
Email: district5@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-1000
District 6 includes East San Fernando Valley (map)
Board Member: Kelly Gonez
Email: kelly.gonez@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6388
District 7 includes South L.A. and parts of the South Bay (map)
Board Member: Tanya Ortiz Franklin
Email: tanya.franklin@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6385
Senior editor Ross Brenneman contributed to this story.
