Fiona Ng
is LAist's deputy managing editor and leads a team of reporters who explore food, culture, history, events and more.
Published April 21, 2024 5:00 AM
A friendly backyard game of kubb being played in South Pasadena.
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Joss Rogers
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Courtesy Los Angeles Kubb Club
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Topline:
A lawn game with Scandinavian roots has taken over the pint-sized city of South Pasadena.
What is it: It's called "kubb" (pronounced koob). The game has been described as a blend of bowling and horseshoes, "where you stand around with your friends chatting and having fun and throwing things across the yard," said one devoted player in L.A.
How is it played: Two teams, with up to 6 players on each side, try to knock down as many wooden blocks in their opponent's camp as possible by tossing wooden batons within an area — dubbed "pitch" in kubb parlance — of roughly 26 feet by 16 feet.
What's next: On April 28, the 8th Annual West Coast Kubb Championships will be held in South Pasadena, where players travel from kubb hotspots like Wisconsin and Minnesota to compete.
A lawn game with Scandinavian roots has taken over the pint-sized Los Angeles suburb of South Pasadena. If devotees have it their way, the game "kubb" will be on many more people's minds, just like that other little power sport that has transformed tennis courts the world over.
"Nothing will ever catch on like pickleball," said John Pettersson, a South Pasadena resident and commissioner of the Los Angeles Kubb Club.
But "like Pickleball, [kubb] is for all ages. The barrier to entry is very low and you don't need to be a top flight athlete to be good at it," he added.
How kubb is played
Kubb, pronounced koob, has been described as a blend of bowling and horseshoes, "where you stand around with your friends chatting and having fun and throwing things across the yard," Pettersson said.
The gameplay is pretty simple: Two teams, with up to 6 players on each side, try to knock down as many wooden blocks in their opponent's camp as possible by tossing wooden batons (underhand tosses only) within an area — or "pitch" in kubb parlance — of roughly 26 feet by 16 feet.
"Do you like throwing things at other things? Everybody does, right? Well, it's a good outlet for that," Pettersson joked.
The history of kubb
Wood batons and wooden blocks are all you need to play kubb.
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Andy Lemon
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Courtesy Los Angeles Kubb Club
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Kubb is sometimes known as "Viking chess" — linked to the rumor that Vikings had played the game using the skulls and bones of their conquered enemies during the Middle Ages.
Legends aside, the game is commonly believed to have originated from Sweden in the early 1900s.
Landing in the U.S.
A century later, it found its way to the U.S. While there's no definitive documentation of when the very first game of kubb was played stateside, the sport has grown to such a degree it warrants its own national championship.
That's thanks in large part to Eric Anderson of Eau Claire, a city of about 70,000 people in Wisconsin.
"We have the largest weekly kubb league in the world. Pretty much every school in our school district has kubb sets. I can go on and on," said Anderson, director of the U.S. National Kubb Championship that's held every July in Eau Claire.
Anderson and his wife were living in Sweden in the mid-2000s where he attended graduate school. Upon returning to the states, they brought with them their love for the lawn sport.
In 2007, the couple moved to Eau Claire, "sight unseen." Despite not knowing anyone in their new adopted home, Anderson decided to start a national kubb tournament that raised money and awareness for the atrocities in Darfur.
Players compete at the 2023 U.S. National Kubb Championship.
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Courtesy U.S. National Kubb Championship
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In that first year, Anderson estimated about 15 teams, or around 35 people, participated. The tournament has now grown to comprise of 144 teams with some 500 players — traveling in from states including Texas, Arkansas, Washington, New York, and of course, California.
Besides the national championship, there's an East Coast variety, a West Coast variation and other competitions at the state level, Anderson said.
Given its influence, it's only fitting that Eau Claire is known formally as the Kubb Capital of North America.
"In 2011, I went to the city manager, asked him to [name Eau Claire] as the Kubb capital of the U.S. And he laughed and said, 'no, how about Kubb Capital of North America?'" Anderson said. "I think the city manager was just like, 'Let's go bigger.' I wasn't gonna argue with him."
The South Pasadena contingent
For the folks thousands of miles away in South Pasadena, they first learned about kubb through a chance encounter in New York.
"So the guy we call the forefather of Kubb in Southern California is also a resident of South Pasadena," said Julie Halverson, a kubb player who lives in Highland Park. "Joe Zenas saw the game being played in a park in New York and brought it here."
A group of residents quickly embraced the game, but all roads to kubb always lead back to Eau Claire.
"An early group of them went out to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to play [and] check out the national championship, and then came home and got really excited about it," Pettersson said.
That was about nine years ago — shortly before the Los Angeles Kubb Club was founded. Today, more than 20 teams — with names like Ace of Baseline, Poplar Mechanics, and Kubbix Rubes — play against each other at various parks in the L.A. area.
West Coast Kubb Championships
On April 28, the L.A. Kubb Club will host the 8th Annual West Coast Kubb Championships in South Pasadena, where players travel from kubb powerhouse states like Minnesota and Wisconsin to compete.
Competition aside, Halverson and Pettersson said the vibe at any kubb game is always cordial, kid friendly and welcoming of newcomers, even if you have never swung a baton at a wooden block in your life.
"People who play it often come back for more," Pettersson said.
How to watch
2024 West Coast Kubb Championships When: Sunday, April 28, starting at 9 a.m. Where: Orange Grove Park, 815 Mission St., South Pasadena More info here
2024 U.S. National Kubb Championship When: July 12-14, 2024 Where: Eau Claire, WI More info here
Nick Gerda
is an accountability reporter who has covered local government in Southern California for more than a decade.
Published December 2, 2025 5:21 PM
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on April 15.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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Topline:
L.A. County leaders on Tuesday greenlit public transparency about payouts to county executives in response to LAist revealing a secretive $2 million settlement with the county’s CEO.
The action: County supervisors unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to have the county proactively tell the public about such settlements once they’re finalized, and to look into creating a public website describing them.
The backstory: The directive cited coverage by LAist’s coverage revealing that two months earlier, county CEO Fesia Davenport had quietly gotten a $2 million settlement payment from the county. As reported by LAist, Davenport’s settlement deal was labeled “confidential” and was not publicly reported out by the county.
Read on ... for more on what led to the board's move for transparency.
L.A. County leaders on Tuesday greenlit public transparency about payouts to county executives in response to LAist revealing a secretive $2 million settlement with the county’s CEO.
County supervisors unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to have the county proactively inform the public about such settlements once they’re finalized and to look into creating a public website to describe them.
Among other things, the approved motion requires that all future settlements with county executives include language making it clear the agreement will be proactively disclosed to the public.
The backstory
The directive cited coverage by LAist revealing that two months ago, county CEO Fesia Davenport had quietly gotten a $2 million settlement payment from the county. As reported by LAist, Davenport’s settlement deal was labeled “confidential” and was not publicly reported out by the county.
The settlement was in response to her claims the supervisors harmed her reputation and caused her distress by putting a measure before voters — which was approved — that will create an elected county executive position. It’s among multiple reforms to restructure county government under last year’s voter-approved proposition, known as Measure G.
Davenport did not return a message for comment.
‘Public trust’ cited
“Transparency is central to strengthening public trust, without exception,” Horvath said in a statement after Tuesday’s vote. “Since joining the board, I have actively taken steps to ensure the public is included in the work of the county, especially concerning the use of public funds.
“Creating a clear process for department executive settlements is a commonsense action fundamental to good governance.”
David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, commented on the decision, calling transparency the "oxygen of accountability in government."
“There is no reason why the county should not be proactive about posting and disclosing settlements that have been reached, especially with former executives or staff,” Loy said.
Davenport was one of several county executives to receive sizable settlement payouts over the past few years. Four additional county executives received payouts, according to Davenport’s claims that led to her settlement.
Costco is now one of the largest companies to sue the Trump administration over tariffs, hoping to secure a refund if the Supreme Court declares the new import duties illegal.
The Supreme Court is weighing the future of President Donald Trump's tariffs on nearly all imports. Justices seemed skeptical about their legality during last month's oral arguments. Lower courts had previously found that Trump had improperly used emergency economic powers to set most of the new levies.
The backstory: Dozens of companies across industries have filed lawsuits to seek refunds in the event that the Supreme Court finds Trump's tariffs illegal. The list includes makeup giant Revlon, the canned-foods maker Bumble Bee and Kawasaki, which makes motorcycles and more. Now Costco has joined the queue.
Costco lawsuit: In its suit filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade, Costco did not specify how much it's already paid in tariffs. But the retail giant worries that even if the Supreme Court eventually unravels Trump's tariff regime, it may not recoup the total costs.
Costco now is one of the largest companies to sue the Trump administration over tariffs, hoping to secure a refund if the Supreme Court declares the new import duties illegal.
The Supreme Court is weighing the future of President Donald Trump's tariffs on nearly all imports. Justices seemed skeptical about their legality during last month's oral arguments. Lower courts previously had found Trump improperly used emergency economic powers to set most of the new levies.
Dozens of companies across industries have filed lawsuits to seek refunds in the event the Supreme Court finds Trump's tariffs illegal. The list includes makeup giant Revlon, the canned foods maker Bumble Bee and Kawasaki, which makes motorcycles and more. Now Costco has joined the queue.
"This is the first time we're seeing big companies take their heads out of the sand publicly," said Marc Busch, a trade law expert at Georgetown University. For the most part, small companies have been leading the legal action against tariffs, he said, adding, "It's nice to finally see some heavyweights joining in the fray."
In its suit filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade, Costco did not specify how much it's already paid in tariffs, but the retail giant worries that even if the Supreme Court eventually unravels Trump's tariff regime, it may not be able to recoup all that money.
Costco executives in May had said that about a third of what is sold in the U.S. comes from abroad, predominantly non-food items.
NPR's Scott Horsley contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 NPR
Yusra Farzan
has been reporting on lawsuits against LAPD's use of force at protests.
Published December 2, 2025 4:27 PM
LAPD officers form a perimeter during an anti-ICE protest downtown in June.
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Carlin Stiehl
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The L.A. City Council voted 8-4 on Tuesday to continue allowing the Los Angeles Police Department to be armed with 40 mm foam bullet launchers and tear gas.
Why it matters: Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez — who asked city leaders to ban the LAPD’s use of 40 mm foam bullet launchers and tear gas — said the police department has deployed the weapons “in ways that should make everyone here on this body pause.” He cited examples of weapons used against journalists and protesters during this summer’s protests against federal immigration activity in L.A.
LAPD responds: Chief Jim McDonnell said taking these weapons away from the officers “puts us in a very bad position relative to city liability and relative to protecting our officers and the public that we serve.”
Read on ... for more about the City Council's decision.
The L.A. City Council voted 8-4 on Tuesday to continue allowing the Los Angeles Police Department to be armed with 40 mm foam bullet launchers and tear gas.
California law enforcement agencies are required to track and publicly document how they use military equipment, including less-lethal bean bag shotgun rounds, drones and armored vehicles, under state law AB 481 passed in 2022. The law also requires city leaders to approve or disapprove military equipment use annually. That vote came in front of the council Tuesday.
Another law passed after the George Floyd protests of 2020 restricted the use of crowd-control weapons, including tear gas and foam bullets, unless specific criteria are met. In 2020, a federal judge also imposed an injunction restricting LAPD’s use of force at protests, citing the “unfortunate history of civil rights violations by LAPD officers.”
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez — who introduced an amendment asking city leaders to ban the LAPD’s use of 40 mm foam bullet launchers and tear gas — said military equipment use is allowed only in specific instances but that the police department has deployed the weapons “in ways that should make everyone here on this body pause.” He cited examples of weapons used against journalists and protesters during this summer’s protests against federal immigration activity in L.A.
“In recent months, we’ve watched this equipment deployed in ways that echo the same intimidation tactics we condemn in ICE raids — tactics that erode trust and violate basic legal protections,” he said. “Our residents should be able to exercise their rights without being met with [foam] bullets or tear gas.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell countered that such weapons are "a de-escalation tool, short of using deadly force. The last thing we want to use is deadly force."
He continued: "Taking a tool like this away from us puts us in a very bad position relative to city liability and relative to protecting our officers and the public that we serve.”
”Rather than be swayed by emotion or swayed by the loud voices of a relative few," McDonnell said Tuesday, "we're here to protect 4 million residents of Los Angeles and all the visitors who come here."
How we got here
After this summer’s anti-ICE protests, the LAPD once again came under scrutiny for its use of foam bullet launchers and tear gas.
An LAist investigation found LAPD used crowd-dispersal tools on people who did not appear to pose a threat and, in some cases, did not appear to be protesting at all. LAist reporters witnessed LAPD officers firing less-lethal munitions into crowds and at protestors running away from police. They did not hear clear warnings about the use of crowd-dispersal weapons during some of the protests and could not locate evidence that adequate warning was provided during subsequent protests.
But at Tuesday’s council meeting, McDonnell said, these weapons are deployed as “a last resort to be able to restore order” and after people have been given time to leave.
The Los Angeles Press Club sued the LAPD after June’s protests, citing violations of journalists’ rights while covering protests. After a judge issued an injunction in that case prohibiting the use of force against journalists, the LAPD filed an emergency motion asking the judge to lift the injunction, stating it required “operationally impracticable standards.” The judge denied the LAPD’s request.
How to watchdog your police department
One of the best things you can do to hold officials accountable is pay attention.
AB 481 requires police departments — including those at transit agencies, school districts and university campuses, sheriff’s departments, district attorney’s offices and probation departments — to provide reports about the use of military equipment.
So how do you know if they're in compliance? It’s simple. Search for the law enforcement agency name and "AB 481" on any search engine, and a public page should pop up. Here’s the LAPD’s.
Frank Stoltze
is a veteran reporter who covers local politics and examines how democracy is and, at times, is not working.
Published December 2, 2025 3:45 PM
L.A. City Hall on April 21.
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Carlin Stiehl
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Getty Images
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Topline
The city of Los Angeles has been working on major changes to its charter, which is basically the city’s constitution. The changes could bring sweeping reform to how the city works.
The backstory: The L.A. City Council created a Charter Reform Commission last year after a series of scandals rocked City Hall.
The details: The commission has been meeting for several months on a wide range of topics, including City Council expansion, ranked-choice voting systems and land-use planning changes.
“It is weedy. It is academic. But the charter touches Angelenos’ everyday lives,” said Raymond Meza, who chairs the commission.
Town hall: On Saturday, the commission will hold a town hall meeting in Echo Park in an effort to get more people involved in the process. It will take place outside on the northeast lawn of the park — weather permitting. It's scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
How to get involved: For a list of all upcoming meetings, go here.
There’s also a survey on the commission’s website at reformlacharter.lacity.gov.
The city of Los Angeles has been working on major changes to its charter, which is basically the city’s constitution. The changes could bring sweeping reform to how the city works.
The Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission has been meeting for several months on a wide range of topics, including City Council expansion, ranked-choice voting systems and land-use planning changes.
“It is weedy. It is academic. But the charter touches Angelenos’ everyday lives,” said Raymond Meza, who chairs the commission.
This week, the commission will host a town hall meeting in Echo Park in an effort to get more people involved in the process. It will take place outside on the northeast lawn of the park — weather permitting.
Despite getting a slow start, the commission is hosting multiple meetings in an effort to meet an April 2 deadline to submit proposals to the City Council. It’ll be up to the council to decide whether to place reform proposals on the ballot next November.
The commission has broken reform down into four subject areas, with committees for each.
They are:
planning and infrastructure
government structure
better government
personnel and budget
“We’re in an exciting moment,” said David Levitus of L.A. Forward, an advocacy group.
“Looking at the charter for reform is long overdue”
Reform Commission
The L.A. City Council created the commission last year after a series of scandals rocked City Hall. Former Councilmember Jose Huizar went to prison on federal corruption charges and secret audio tapes revealed backroom dealing on redistricting.
The panel is made up of four appointees by Mayor Karen Bass, two by the council president and two by the president pro tempore. Those eight selected an additional five through an open application process.
On Thursday, the full commission is expected to take up proposals for a two-year budget cycle and an expedited city hiring process. Advocates of the changes say extending budget planning from one to two years will allow city leaders to better anticipate spending and revenue.
They say the city hiring process is slow and byzantine.
Meza said the Echo Park meeting Saturday is an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the process and speak at length with commissioners.
“We absolutely want to hear from people what is important to them as residents of the city of Los Angeles when it comes to their expectations of their city government," he said.
