Topline:
We were at the El Rey in Mid-Wilshire recently. The occasion wasn't a gig, but an audition for a virtual K-pop group.
The backstory: The ubiquity of KPop Demon Hunters aside, virtual K-Pop idols are not new. But how do you cast for a virtual idol?
The audition: It takes motion capture technology and a giant on-screen avatar, but behind it all are real performers.
Read on ... to find out what the judges were looking for.
In three short decades, K-pop went from being pop songs made and listened to in South Korea to a globally consumed music — thanks in no small part to its knack for constant reinvention.
If the wild success of KPop Demon Hunters is any indication, the genre in its latest evolution has continued its cultural hold.
The Netflix animated film follows a K-pop girl group that also hunts demons. Said demons are disguised as their biggest rivals, a K-pop boy group. The movie has launched hit songs and the careers of the actors and singers who voice these fictional characters.
All that brings us to the El Rey in Mid-Wilshire last week, where K-pop agency Galaxy Corporation held an audition for its first virtual K-pop group. The venue, on this sleepy weekday afternoon, is hollow and quiet — save for three tables set up for judges in front of a giant screen that takes up the entire stage. On the screen is an avatar that bears a slight resemblance to Blackpink rapper Lisa.
Right now, she's just standing there, suspended in an odd inertia.
The publicity person tells me that's the virtual character the auditionees will bring to life. He then takes me backstage, where a motion-capture camera is set up to film the real people singing, dancing and rapping — animating the ginormous girl-vatar onscreen. (There's a boy-vatar, too.)
Auditions are an integral part of the talent pipeline for K-pop, with tryouts held both in South Korea and abroad, drawing throngs of hopefuls. To earn a shot to become a real-life K-pop trainee, participants are judged in a variety of skills — dancing, singing, rapping and modeling, among them.
Do the same standards apply to auditions for virtual acts?
"What makes us so different from other audition programs is that we have no age, no genre, no gender, meaning the participants can do anything they want," Gyuhyuk Song of Galaxy Corporation said through an interpreter.
"Dance, rap, vocal," Song continued, "if they're good at it, they're more than welcome to portray it."
The ubiquity of KPop Demon Hunters aside, virtual K-pop idols are not new. The girl group Aespa debuted in 2020, along with companion virtual avatars called æ. Three years later, the 2D boyband PLAVE came onto the scene — using motion-capture technology to power their singing and dancing. Also in 2023, MAVE made its entrance — a 3D CGI girl group created using AI.
As this incarnation of K-pop takes hold, it isn't so surprising to see companies like Galaxy casting for the next big thing.
But is it different to judge someone through an avatar?
"When I see a participant, I could usually tell within the first two to three seconds if this participant can have a future or not," said Song, who's been in K-pop for over a decade, including at the pioneering SM Entertainment. "Even virtual."
Soon, Song and the two other judges take their seats in front of the stage.
Next, a group of five people shuffles awkwardly toward the back of the stage — each holding a giant umbrella that covered everything except their shoes. The PR person said that's done so the judges won't be influenced by the contestants' looks.
Then the music starts — a song by the Fugees. The avatar on screen kicks into life as singing commences; her hand rises as her voice hangs a high note.
Slowly, I am making the connection between what's happening backstage and what I am seeing on screen. The movements are fluid, no lag — natural beyond virtual. When the hair of the girl avatar undulates, it looks great.
The music fades. That's the cue to end the performance.
Organizers said about 100 contestants showed up at the El Rey, from Los Angeles and as far away as South Korea and Germany, according to the company.
I stuck around for a half-dozen more auditions — watched people rap, dance, sing in all sorts of ways — acapella, playing a guitar and more.
Then it hit me — there are differences among the various performances. The voice, of course, also nuances like quivering eyelids or slight facial expressions that communicate a range of emotions from bliss to heartache.
It wasn't the technology that made it happen. It was the person behind it, performing.
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The records of more than 3,000 patients at CHLA’s former Center for Transyouth Health and Development will now be protected from federal subpoenas until at least February 2029 under a settlement.
What the federal government was seeking: The DOJ wanted to pull a wide swath of information from CHLA’s records related to hormone therapy prescriptions, including the identities and social security numbers of the people it was prescribed to.
What CHLA patients’ lawyers are saying: “This is a massive victory for every family that refused to be intimidated into backing down,” said Khadijah Silver, Director of Gender Justice & Health Equity at Lawyers for Good Government. “The government's attempt to rifle through children's medical records was unconstitutional from the start.”
What’s in the settlement: Under the agreement, which was first reported by Reuters, the federal government has withdrawn its requests for personal information like social security numbers, records and “documents relating to the clinical indications, diagnoses or assessments that formed the basis for prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy.”
What the hospital and DOJ say about the win: LAist has reached out for comment to both entities and has not heard back.
The backstory: The subpoenas were issued on or about June 11, 2025, according to the settlement. They were made public in July, though many patient families remained in the dark about whether they were affected. CHLA announced it planned to close its clinic for trans youth June 12.
After the Department of Justice issued a wide-ranging subpoena to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles last June, the records of more than 3,000 patients now will be protected until at least February 2029 under a settlement reached between patient families and the federal government.
What the federal government was seeking
The DOJ wanted to pull a wide swath of information from CHLA’s records related to hormone therapy prescriptions, including the identities and social security numbers of the people it was prescribed to. Lawyers for CHLA patient families said the broad request also included details of patients’ sexual health data and records of their mental health and said the inquiry violated their constitutional rights.
What CHLA’s lawyers are saying
“This is a massive victory for every family that refused to be intimidated into backing down,” said Khadijah Silver, director of gender justice and health equity at Lawyers for Good Government. “The government's attempt to rifle through children's medical records was unconstitutional from the start.”
Silver also noted that DOJ confirmed it had not received any sensitive patient data under the parts of the subpoena that had been struck down.
What’s in the settlement
Under the agreement, which was first reported by Reuters, the federal government has withdrawn its requests for personal information like social security numbers, prescription records and “documents relating to the clinical indications, diagnoses or assessments that formed the basis for prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy.”
The government cannot make new requests of this type to CHLA until February 2029. The settlement also establishes a process for the DOJ to continue to pursue seeking some limited redacted medical records from CHLA.
What it means for parents and children
In the aftermath of the subpoenas, many advocates were worried that families would face federal prosecution for seeking gender-affirming care for their children.
However, according to the settlement, the DOJ said it “is not currently aware of information that would support the federal prosecution of parents or guardians who have sought and consented to receiving gender-related care for their children at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.”
What the hospital and DOJ say about the win
LAist has reached out for comment to both entities and has not heard back.
The backstory
The subpoenas were issued on or about June 11, 2025, according to the settlement. They were made public in July, though many patient families remained in the dark about whether they were affected. CHLA announced it planned to close its clinic for trans youth June 12.
Judges have ruled against similar requests and struck down subpoenas seeking records from other hospitals, like Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children’s Hospital.
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Los Angeles voters could soon get another chance to weigh in on Measure ULA, better known as the city’s “mansion tax.”
The backstory: First approved by voters in November 2022, the measure has taxed real estate selling for more than $5 million. It funds tenant protection programs and affordable housing construction. But economists have found that because the tax also applies to apartments — not just mansions — housing developers are pulling back on building in the city relative to other parts of L.A. County. One UCLA study concluded the city would have more low-income units on balance if the tax did not apply to new apartments.
What’s new: Now, there’s a new effort brewing at City Hall to change how the “mansion tax” works. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, chair of the council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, introduced a motion Friday to place a new measure on the ballot. It would ask voters to exempt recently constructed apartment buildings from the tax, among other changes.
Read on… to learn why tax supporters are calling the reform effort “irresponsible.”
Los Angeles voters could soon get another chance to weigh in on Measure ULA, better known as the city’s “mansion tax.”
First approved by voters in November 2022, the measure has taxed real estate selling for more than $5 million. It funds tenant protection programs and affordable housing construction.
But economists have found that because the tax also applies to apartments — not just mansions — housing developers are pulling back on building in the city compared to other parts of L.A. County. One UCLA study concluded the city would have more low-income units on balance if the tax did not apply to new apartments.
Now, there’s a new effort brewing at City Hall to change how the “mansion tax” works.
City Councilmember Nithya Raman, chair of the council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, introduced a motion Friday to place a new measure on the June ballot. The ballot measure would ask voters to exempt recently constructed apartment buildings from the tax, among other changes.
“We've seen some real pressures on the market as a result of ULA,” Raman told LAist. “It was sold to voters and talked about as a mansion tax. I don't think it was intended to slow the construction of new apartments in a city with an acknowledged and widespread housing crisis.”
Supporters of the tax say it’s working as intended. They dispute claims that ULA is responsible for slower housing growth in the city.
No council votes have yet been taken.
Supporters say the tax has funded eviction defense and rent relief programs. It has also produced the city’s largest-ever pot of money for low-income housing development, though less than 200 apartments have been completed and leased so far.
Joe Donlin, director of the group United to House L.A., called the latest reform effort “irresponsible.”
The proposed tax exemption for apartments built within the last 15 years would be “a tax break for developers and billionaires,” Donlin said.
“That would be giving money away from ULA programs that are protecting renters, that are keeping people from falling into homelessness, and building affordable housing,” he said.
Raman’s motion would also cancel the tax on homeowners affected by the Palisades Fire. Another change would restructure certain financing terms in order to attract traditional lenders to participate in ULA-funded affordable housing projects.
Many of the changes are similar to those proposed by state lawmakers in a bill that failed to advance at the tail end of last year’s legislative session in Sacramento.
But those who support reform say without some changes, the tax could soon be thrown out entirely. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is collecting signatures for a separate ballot measure that would overturn not just Measure ULA, but similar taxes across the state.
Mott Smith, a reform proponent and the co-author of a UCLA study that found the tax had sharply reduced high-end real estate sales, said this is shaping up to be a tough political fight.
“I commend Councilmember Raman for doing her best to turn Measure ULA into something that might actually work before it goes away,” Smith said.
Some L.A. council members have already signaled opposition to the push for reform.
Alejandra Alarcon, a spokesperson for Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, said in a statement to LAist that Jurado opposes the motion as written.
“Voters overwhelmingly supported ULA to help build and sustain diverse communities,” the statement read. “Any changes to the measure should be made with community advocates at the table, not without them.”
The new City Council effort has a long way to go before any changes are made to the tax.
If a majority of the council approves it for the June ballot, a majority of local voters would need to sign off on changing a measure that received nearly 58% support from voters back in November 2022.
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On Saturday the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey will honor the 40th anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger as well as other pioneering missions.
The backstory: The event will honor Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher ever selected to go to space as well as other pioneering women astronauts. McAuliffe and her six fellow crew members were lost when Space Shuttle Challenger exploded a little over a minute after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986.
What to expect: The free event will include hands-on activities – such as air rocket building –and a panel discussion with engineers who worked on the Challenger mission. A local retired teacher who was trained on the same curriculum that McAuliffe would have delivered from the shuttle will also give a talk about how she’s kept the legacy of the lost mission alive.
How to attend: The Astronaut Commemoration Day event will be at the Columbia Memorial Space Center at 12400 Columbia Way in Downey from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Go deeper... about the space shuttle model cleared for landing in Downey
Topline:
Southern California’s famous bald eagle couple have welcomed a new egg in their nest overlooking Big Bear Lake.
Why it matters: The feathered duo, known as Jackie and Shadow, are featured in a popular YouTube livestream run by Friends of Big Bear Valley that has captivated thousands of people.
Why now: Jackie laid the first egg of the season around 4:30 p.m. Friday, according to organization records, as more than 14,000 people watched on the livestream.
The backstory: Jackie also laid the first egg of the season around this time last year, with the second and third a few days later.
Read on ... for more about the eagles' "nestorations."
The eagle (egg) has landed.
Southern California's famous bald eagle couple, known as Jackie and Shadow, appear to have something new to take care of, as seen on the popular YouTube livestream run by Friends of Big Bear Valley that has captivated thousands of people.
Jackie laid the first egg of the season around 4:30 p.m. Friday in the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake, according to organization records, as more than 14,000 people watched the livestream.
In recent months, the birds were seen working on their "nestorations"— bringing in fresh sticks and fluff furnishings to the top of the Jeffrey pine tree they’ve claimed as their home, according to the nonprofit.
Last year, Jackie laid the first egg of that season around the same time, following up with a second and third a few days later.
Fans are once again eagerly watching the eagles for signs of more eggs in the clutch, which refers to the eggs laid in each nesting attempt, usually three days apart.
Jenny Voisard, the organization’s media and website manager, told LAist the Big Bear bald eagle fan community grew when the couple successfully raised two bald eagle chicks, Sunny and Gizmo, last season.
“The building of the nest, the bonding, the flirting, the mating, the bickering, the moving the sticks around, defending against intruders, you know, that's all been new for a lot of people,” she said.
“People are all kind of like nervous aunties and uncles,” she continued. “So we just try to keep everybody calm.”
As always, Jackie and Shadow are in charge. Fans will have to wait and see what this season will bring, Voisard said.
Friends of Big Bear Valley has been keeping track of the nesting season milestones, including a new daily record of at least 28 sticks delivered to the nest in November. The eagles’ previous single-day stick record was 25, according to the organization.
Other milestones include Shadow dropping off the first fluff in December, and the first mating a few weeks later.
“Pancaking” is a term Friends of Big Bear Valley uses to describe when the eagles lay flat in their nest bowl, before the eggs have arrived, for increasingly longer stretches of time.
The organization said Jackie had her longest “pancake session” of the season so far this week, laying in the nest for a little more than a half hour.
“That activity is a sign that we're getting closer to egg-laying,” Voisard said. “[Jackie’s] doing a few things, she's making the shape and she's testing it out.”
Jackie will likely also eat more fish from the nest so she has enough energy for the egg-laying process, Voisard said. Last January, the eagles brought two fish to the nest in the hours before the first egg was laid and three fish a day earlier, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley records.
When eggs are imminent, she said Jackie will “pancake” on the nest for long periods of time before rousing and puffing up her feathers. Then, Jackie typically makes a high-pitched, whistling tea kettle noise as she has contractions, according to the organization.
On Friday, Jackie made the tea kettle noise about three minutes before the first egg was laid, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley records.
“She looks almost royal, because all of her feathers are out and it's just — I cry,” Voisard said with a laugh. “It's usually pretty amazing.”
While there are signs of new life coming to the nest, every season is different for Jackie and Shadow, and Friends of Big Bear Valley is encouraging people to be patient.
It was unseasonably warm in the area this past fall, and last season was the first time Jackie and Shadow successfully raised two chicks to fly away from the nest instead of just one. The organization has said both factors could delay this season’s egg-laying timeline.
“I'm sure [two] was a lot more work than with just one,” Sandy Steers, executive director of the organization, told LAist previously. “So I think that had something to do with them needing a longer break.”
And some seasons have ended with an empty nest, including in 2024 and 2023 when both sets of eggs didn’t hatch after weeks of waiting.
Voisard said while we can’t predict what’s going to happen this year, fans don’t have to watch in fear or let human emotions get in the way of enjoying the eagle experience.
“We feel all of the feels with Jackie and Shadow … happiness, laughter, we get worried, we feel joy, we felt sorrow,” she said. “It's all OK, and Jackie and Shadow move forward, no matter what.”
