The Brief

A group of artificial intelligence luminaries convened by Gov. Gavin Newsom issued what is expected to be an influential set of recommendations Tuesday, pushing state lawmakers to bring greater transparency into how AI models are made and operated.

The proposed steps will lead to advances in both innovation and public trust, the academic experts write in their draft report, helping the state balance experimentation with guardrails protecting against AI harms.

Newsom formed the group last fall as he vetoed a prominent bill to regulate AI, arguing the measure would curtail innovation.

Known officially as the Joint California Policy Working Group on AI Frontier Models, the group suggested that lawmakers:

• Encourage companies building advanced AI models to disclose risks and vulnerabilities to developers making their own versions of the models.
• Evaluate advanced AI models using an independent, outside party.
• Consider enacting rules to protect whistleblowers.
• Evaluate the possible need for a system to inform the government when private companies develop AI with dangerous capabilities.

Scott Wiener, the Democratic senator behind the bill Newsom vetoed, praised the report and said it may influence a scaled-down version of his measure known as Senate Bill 53.

“The recommendations in this report strike a thoughtful balance between the need for safeguards and the need to support innovation,” he wrote in a statement shared with CalMatters. “My office is considering which recommendations could be incorporated into SB 53, and I invite all relevant stakeholders to engage with us in that process.”

The draft report does not argue for or against any particular piece of legislation currently under consideration but may hold heavy influence over the 30 bills to regulate artificial intelligence now before the Legislature. Those measures include roughly half a dozen bills to address how AI raises costs of goods and others aiming to mitigate how the technology affects the environment, public health, and rising energy rates. Another bill would require businesses to disclose when AI is used to make important decisions about people’s lives. Business groups lobbied heavily against such regulations last session.

The draft report highlighted AI rules on the books in places like Brazil, China, and the European Union. It stated that California’s rules will play a unique and powerful role due to its position as the home of many major AI companies and research institutions.

“Without proper safeguards…powerful AI could induce severe and, in some cases, potentially irreversible harms,” the draft report reads. “Just as California’s technology leads innovation, its governance can also set a trailblazing example with worldwide impact.”

Members of the public have until April 8 to comment and share feedback before the recommendations are expected to be finalized this summer.

State Sen. Scott Wiener speaks at a press conference in San Francisco on Jan. 21, 2022.

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Karl Mondon

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Bay Area News Group

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Authors of the report include Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Jennifer Tour Chayes, dean of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, and Fei-Fei Li, former chief AI scientist at Google Cloud and creator of a pioneering AI project known as ImageNet. Li is commonly referred to as a godmother of AI and her perspectives have been sought after by members of Congress and the Biden administration.

The group focused on “frontier models,” the most cutting-edge forms of artificial intelligence, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which dates from late 2022, and R1, a newer model from Chinese company DeepSeek. California-based companies including Anthropic, Google, and xAI are also developing advanced general-purpose AI systems.

Frontier models promised improved efficiency, as when they help teachers grade writing assignments, but also carry risks. They can be used by scammers, enable the spread of disinformation and perpetuate bias. Hype and fear of frontier models led members of the public to consider whether AI may play a role in human extinction.

The draft report is one of a number of documents produced by the state of California in recent years, including one about the benefits and risks of generative AI in late 2023 and another about the impact of generative AI on vulnerable communities in late 2024. Neither report was mentioned by the working group.

A representative of tech business interests praised the report. Megan Stokes, state policy director for the Computer & Communications Industry Association, said the working group took great care to survey existing laws that protect Californians from potential AI harms and to review existing regulatory authorities, helping to ensure that new regulations are not duplicative. Stokes’ group opposes a bill that would require developers to disclose use of a creator’s copyrighted material before training an AI model. Copyright infringement is a current risk acknowledged by the working group.

Jonathan Mehta Stein, chair of advocacy group California Initiative for Technology and Democracy, said that while the working group’s draft report contains policy recommendations, it primarily urges that California wait and see — leaving lawmakers with little direction on best policies to pursue. That conclusion risks stunting the momentum of current legislation aimed at tackling known, documented harms, he added. His organization, which cosponsored three bills last year to protect voters from AI, wants the working group to add more actionable legislative recommendations into its final report.

“If California wants to lead on AI governance and on building a digital democracy that works for everyone, it must act and act now,” Stein said in a written statement “California sitting on our hands because industry is uncomfortable with regulation does not mean industry will be free of regulation. Regulation is coming. Inaction by California simply means other states will pass regulations and set the terms of AI governance, and California will cede its leadership.”

At the rate that the technology is changing, the draft report is right to point out that the window to regulate AI may be closing soon, said Koji Flynn-Do, co-founder of Secure AI Project, a group established in December 2024 that previously supported the Wiener AI bill that Newsom vetoed He said it’s heartening to see the report focus on safety and security protocols and testing to mitigate risks alongside a letter by employees of frontier AI companies calling for whistleblower protections.

“People will say that it goes too far, some people say that it doesn’t go far enough, and I think there’s something for people on both sides,” he said.

The draft report “seems like progress to me,” said Daniel Kokotajlo, who also endorsed the AI safety bill proposed by Wiener last year. He’s a signatory of a letter written by current and former employees of companies building frontier models that calls for whistleblower protections and an adverse event reporting system. The righttowarn.ai letter is cited by the working group in the draft report.

“I want to see more specific proposals, like these companies should do this and these regulations should be passed, but it’s still progress to be talking about these things at all.”

Los Angeles is often celebrated for its warm weather, Hollywood glamour and championship sports teams but the city’s foundation has a powerful Black history that is often overlooked.

From the city’s Black founders and their fight to be free from slavery, to a Black architect who designed thousands of buildings throughout the city, L.A.’s first Black residents have had lasting influence.

The LA Local traveled around the city to unearth some of the intriguing Black history facts. Here we highlight seven sites in Los Angeles that show the contributions of Black people in Los Angeles.

Bridget ‘Biddy’ Mason Memorial Park

Situated behind an office building on South Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles is a tribute to Bridget “Biddy” Mason. She was born enslaved in Mississippi and was brought to California by her owner Robert Marion Smith — even though slavery was illegal in California. After being enslaved in the state for five years, Mason won her freedom in 1856 by challenging her enslavement in court. Thirteen other family members were also freed, according to the National Park Service..

She became one of L.A.’s first Black woman landowners building wealth through real estate. Her net worth was said to be about $3 million in the 1860s, which would equate to nearly $60 million today. She also provided housing and food for the poor, acted as a midwife and helped establish the city’s first Black church, NPS noted.

The memorial park stands near property she once owned.

First African Methodist Episcopal Church

The First African Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as First AME or FAME, was co-founded in 1872 by Mason and other Black leaders. It was first located on Spring Street in Los Angeles, according to the National Park Service. The church was then moved to Harvard Boulevard, where it still stands today. It became a spiritual, political and organizing hub for Black Angelenos during segregation, according to the church’s website.

Most recently, the church was pastored by the Rev. Cecil Murray from 1977 to 2004. Under his leadership the church grew from 250 members to 18,000 at the time of his retirement, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel.

The first home built by architect Paul R. Williams

Though he faced racial discrimination, Paul Revere Williams became one of the most celebrated architects in L.A., whose legacy reshaped the city’s skyline and luxury design culture.

He was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. He designed thousands of buildings during his career, including The Beverly Hills Hotel and homes for Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. Williams was also part of the team that designed the iconic Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport, as reported by LAist.

His first home sits in South Central and is designated as a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. He lived in this home for about 30 years until racial covenants were outlawed in the 1950s.

African American Firefighter Museum

On Central Avenue in South Central sits the historic fire station and museum that honors the Black firefighters who broke racial barriers in the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The museum “resides inside Fire Station No. 30, one of two segregated firehouses in Los Angeles between 1924 and 1955,” according to the museum’s website. The museum also notes that Sam Haskins was the first Black man to join the L.A. Fire Department in 1892 and died three years later fighting a fire.

The museum was founded in 1997 and is a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. It is also registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

Gilbert W. Lindsay Recreation Center

The Gilbert W. Lindsay Recreation Center on East 42nd Place is named in honor of the first Black member of the Los Angeles City Council, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Before taking office, he worked as a janitor for the city’s Department of Water and Power, according to LA City Parks.

Elected in 1963, Lindsay represented District 9 for nearly 30 years. He supported civil rights and fought for economic investment, infrastructure improvements and services in historically underserved Black neighborhoods. He also served on the board of directors of the NAACP.

28th Street YMCA

The 28th Street YMCA building was designed by Williams, the renowned architect.

It was originally constructed to serve Black residents in L.A. who were banned from other facilities during segregation, according to the LA Conservancy. It won a Conservancy Preservation Award in 2013.

It became a hub for housing, community programs and social gatherings. Today, it serves as affordable housing for low-income adults and is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ralph J. Bunche House

The former home of Ralph J. Bunche, the first Black person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, is located in South Central on East 40th Place. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bunche played a key role in negotiating the 1949 Arab-Israeli armistice agreements through the United Nations. He also helped organize the civil rights march in Montgomery, Ala., in 1965, the Nobel Peace Prize organization said.

Born in Detroit, he moved to L.A. with his family and later became valedictorian at Jefferson High School. He attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship and “graduated in 1927 summa cum laude, valedictorian of his class, with a major in international relations,” the Nobel Peace Prize organization said. He also received a master’s degree in political science from Harvard in 1928. The Ralph J. Bunche Center was established in 1969 at UCLA in his honor.

The World Cup already is a massive undertaking for organizers. So imagine what it would take for families to brave the traffic, parking and crowds for one of the eight tournament matches at SoFi Stadium this summer.

But don’t worry: There are plenty of World Cup-related things to do with kids and a bunch of activities around L.A. to help you get in on the tournament action.

L.A. County Library's Summer of Soccer starts now

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Courtesy LA County Library

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LA County Library Summer of Soccer

LA County Library is celebrating the World Cup being in town with a “Summer of Soccer” at its branches. Activities include storytimes, movie nights and craft-making activities for kids of varying ages.

When: May 20 to July 9

Cost: Free

Learn more.

California Science Center's new exhibition celebrates the transformative power of play and the joy of the human body in motion.

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Courtesy California Science Center

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California Science Center ‘GAME ON!’ exhibit

The California Science Center has a new 17,000-square-foot exhibit, “GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play,” full of interactive activities to explore the science behind sports. The exhibit includes a practice batting area and a mini-field to practice soccer kicks.

When: Now, through the LA 2028 Olympics

Cost: Admission is free, but groups of 15 or more require a timed reservation.

Learn more.

Union Station hosts a World Cup fan zone.

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City of Los Angeles’ ‘Kick it in the Park’ 

The city is hosting a series of family-friendly watch parties across the city during the World Cup. The parties will have youth soccer clinics and “family fun zones” with interactive activities and arts. Other cities, like West Hollywood and Pasadena, are also hosting local family-friendly watch parties.

When: June 11 to July 19

Cost: Free

Learn more.

Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana.

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Courtesy Discover Los Angeles

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Soccer Shots Game Day 

Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana on June 27 for children 5-8 years old. Players will be split into teams to play round-robin style games.

When: 2 to 4 p.m. June 27

Cost: Tickets are $20

Learn more.

The Torrance Historical Society & Museum

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Courtesy Torrance Historical Society & Museum

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Torrance Historical Society & Museum

Did you know that the American Youth Soccer Organization, or more commonly known as AYSO, was founded in Torrance? Well, the museum there is hosting a curated collection of soccer memorabilia to celebrate the World Cup.

When: The exhibit is open until Aug. 31

Cost: Free

Learn more.

Thousands of international soccer fans are about to descend on Inglewood for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. SoFi Stadium is the tournament's premier venues — but the best reason to spend time in the neighborhood has nothing to do with what's happening on the pitch.

Inglewood's food scene reflects a city where Black and Latino residents make up nearly 90% of the population. These aren't tourist traps — they're the spots locals have been eating at for years, from a James Beard-recognized soul food diner open since 1983 to a carnitas truck with roots in Michoacán.

Here's where to eat before the whistle blows.

Wings 2 Go

Lemon pepper chicken wings from Wings 2 Go in Inglewood.

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Cesar Hernandez

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LAist

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Wings 2 Go is a small but mighty wing shop that sits in a tiny strip mall along Crenshaw Boulevard, attracting wing fanatics from far and wide looking to get a fiery bite. The menu at Wings isn't huge by most standards but it still manages to pack a punch when it comes to offering a variety of tastes and flavors.

Opt for the six-piece ATL Special with hot lemon pepper seasoning, $10.91. Upon the first transformative bite of a wing, suddenly you're Jordan after clinching his first NBA finals win in 1991, celebrating in ecstasy. The sticky, crunch-fried wing is drenched in the perfect amount of sauce, then sprinkled with galactic bits of salty, citrusy lemon pepper seasoning that will leave your lips tingling.

If you're looking to broaden your flavor horizons, there are also jerk BBQ, aji verde, and Cajun rub as sauce options. Whichever fiery selections you choose, wash them down with lemonade or sweet tea, or go for a hole-in-one with an Arnold Palmer to quench your thirst.

Country Style Jamaican Restaurant

The exterior of Country Style Jamaican Restaurant.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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Our love for Jamaican-style take-out restaurants knows no bounds, and the city of Inglewood has some of the best Jamaican food in Los Angeles.

This particular casual walk-up counter establishment has a particular place in our heart. The welcoming, joyous atmosphere is infectious as soon as you enter. The walls are painted the same dark green as the Jamaican flag. Images of Black luminaries are featured next to maxims extolling a virtue-filled life.

To get the most for your buck, we recommend choosing any of the mini plate options. Our personal favorite is the curried goat ($14.50). Stewed bone-in pieces of goat have been cooked in a dark yellow curry full of aromatic spices. The chunks of meat are spicy, juicy, and fatty, and fall off the bone onto a bed of rice and beans that's also saturated with maximum curry flavors.

Carnitas El Artista

Plates of tacos at Carnitas El Artista.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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While it might be easy to pledge one's allegiance to the culinary wonder that is carnitas, how often do you take it upon yourself to dive deep into the different parts of the pig? Each has its own unique textures that delight with every helping. Carnitas El Artista is where such dreams can come true, thanks to the hard work of owner Gustavo Chavez and his family, who are from Michoacán, the Mexican state known as the birthplace of carnitas.

With Mexico entering the World Cup as one of the tournament's most celebrated footballing nations, this is where to eat in their honor. Their tacos de carnitas ($4.95 each) are the best option: choose the mix that includes all the different cuts of pork.

The sizable taco manages to pack all the flavor and texture of each aspect of the protein, providing an extremely nuanced bite that combines sticky, fatty, and chewy elements. Serve the meat on a fresh tortilla with crisp-tasting salsa, topped with thin shards of red onion, for the right amount of acidity to cut the richness of the pork.

It's a showtime taco for the masses, if ever there was one. Pro tip: they offer a 2-for-1 deal on tacos Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to close.

Woody's Bar-B-Que

The inflation fighter (3x) lunch special at Woody’s Bar-B-Que.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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If you've spent any time in Inglewood, there's a good chance you've seen Woody's Bar-B-Que on Market Street. If not, you've definitely smelled it. The unmistakable aroma of delicious grilled and smoked meat is the unofficial scent of that part of town. It's not uncommon for lines to wrap around the small business, spilling into the moderately sized parking lot.

It's never not a joyous occasion at Woody's as you wait in line to place your order at the walk-up window, where overhead speakers play booming deep cuts from the '80s and '90s R&B or Madlib's Shades of Blue, helping set the mood.

Our favorite aspect of Woody's is the lunch special menu, which feels like a trip back to when the restaurant opened in 1975. Names like Inflation Fighter, Business Man's Lunch, and Lady's Lunch all add to its charm and cost $10.95.

All plates come in a brown paper bag, giving the vibe of the school lunch that your mom used to pack, along with two slices of white bread and a small container of a side of your choice.

El Capitalino

Quesadilla fritas from El Capitalino MX food truck.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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What if the quesadillas from your youth were, in fact, a gateway into a large quesadilla universe that's actually larger than what you might have originally considered? El Capitalino achieves just that. Owner Ivan Gomez was inspired by the quesadillas he saw prepared during a trip to Mexico City and by his mother and grandmother, who grew up making the meal. For $5, each thick corn tortilla is made by hand, usually by Ivan's mom, Norma Ramirez. She takes the raw masa and forms it into a flat disk, then stuffs it with cheese.

The tortilla is then folded and fried in oil. After it's done cooking, the quesadilla is removed, pulled apart, and packed with a filling of your choice — chicken tinga, hongos, rajas con queso, carne asada, or chicharrón prensado — then fried with guajillo salsa and stuffed with lettuce and cream. No matter what the filling is, you'll get a unique griddled cheesiness, accented by expertly flavored fillings, that makes for one of the best-tasting quesadillas we've ever had.

The Serving Spoon

The Serving Spoon has been an Inglewood cornerstone for four decades, dishing up grilled corn bread and fried turkey chops.

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Isaiah Murtaugh

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The LA Local

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Founded in 1983 by Harold E. Sparks — a young man from Hamilton, Ohio who traded a steady foreman job at General Motors for his dream of opening a soul food restaurant in Inglewood — The Serving Spoon is now in its third generation of family ownership and a recent recipient of the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award.

The Foundation called it a "vital social and cultural anchor," which feels right the moment you slide into one of the red leather booths or take a seat at the wooden counter.

Go for breakfast: the catfish and waffle, the salmon croquettes, the grits. Plates run $15–25, depending on your protein. Come early on weekends or expect a wait.

If you're visiting from out of town and want to understand Inglewood's cultural legacy in a single meal, this is the place to start.

Sunday Gravy

Cheesy garlic bread at Sunday Gravy, the Italian-American spot on Centinela Avenue in Inglewood.

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Courtesy Sunday Gravy

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In the early 1970s, the Bashirian family opened their first restaurant, Jino's, in this very same Centinela Avenue location — aiming to give the people of Inglewood something different from the big chains.

Their children Sol and Ghazi have continued building on that foundation with Sunday Gravy, a modern red-sauce Italian-American spot serving fresh pasta from Florentyna's and artisan breads from Cadoro Bakery, both made in Inglewood.

Italy is one of the world's great football nations, and this is about as close as the neighborhood gets to a proper Italian-American Sunday table: meatballs with whipped ricotta, short rib ragù, Caesar salad with Calabrian pepper aioli.

Somerville

Somerville's homage to the past

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Photograph: Jakob N. Layman/Jakob N. Layman

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Jakob N. Layman

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South L.A. hasn't traditionally been known for its vibrant restaurant scene, but that's slowly changing — and Somerville, opened by actor and entrepreneur Issa Rae along with partners Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan of GVO Hospitality, is one of the reasons why.

Technically a short drive from SoFi, the name refers to Hotel Somerville, a focal point for the Black jazz scene on Central Avenue in the 1930s and '40s that regularly hosted Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Billie Holiday. "I just wanted to be able to dress up, hang out, and eat well in my neighborhood," Rae has said.

The menu honors the spirit of the original hotel: start with Parker House rolls with truffle butter ($19) or the fried chicken and caviar sliders ($29), then move on to the collard green lasagna ($36) or paccheri pasta with short rib ragù ($36). It's a dressed-up night out in a neighborhood that's long deserved exactly that.

When the sun goes down it’s easy to spot the bars and clubs where the parties happen in Los Angeles. But summertime is (possibly) the best time to explore the region’s not-so-obvious nightlife offerings.

Want to explore the cemetery through music or take a night ride with thousands of bicyclists? What about joining citizen scientists to study urban bats or stare at the stars (not the ones in Hollywood)?

LAist prepared a handy guide to help visitors and locals alike make the most of our summer nightlife.

Gear up with citizen scientists

Yuma myotis is another possible bat candidate and one of the bats recorded in the Backyard Bat Survey.

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Courtesy of L.A. County Natural History Museum

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The Natural History Museum of L.A. County conducts its annual Bat Roost Count, a community led science project where teams study bat roosts and give biologists, policymakers and activists information about bat populations and activity in the region.

Registration is open for those 14 and older. You need to RSVP to join the June 13 survey or the June 14 survey. If you miss out on June, you can register for the July survey in August.

For families, the museum plans to offer separate bat roost events sometime in August or September. People of all ages will be able to learn about bats, roosting behavior, watch a bat and learn how scientists are studying them. Those interested should fill out a form for details.

Concerts in the cemetery 

The sun sets at the Hollywood Forever cemetery on Dec. 4, 2025.

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Ronaldo Bolaños

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Getty Images

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Hollywood Forever is one of the most iconic cemeteries in the world and it’s more than just a resting place for the famous. The sprawling 60-acre grounds also host cultural events, film screenings and evening concerts. Big names such as Olivia Rodrigo, Tame Impala and Lana Del Rey have performed at the cemetery.

Check out their events here.

Star parties above L.A.

Grab a flashlight and go on a night hike in Griffith Park.

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Mario Tama

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Getty Images

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The Griffith Observatory is considered one of the most visited public observatories on the planet and offers plenty of things to do for night owls.

Once a month, the Observatory partners with local telescope groups and hosts a Star Party. Dozens of telescopes set-up on the lawn and the observatory says there’s always something to see. Check out the dates here.

If you can’t make a Star Party, the observatory is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The observatory is closed on Mondays.

You can also catch other evening events here.

L.A.’s Critical Mass 

Cyclists gather for the monthly Critical Mass rides in Koreatown on Nov 8th, 2025.

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Steve Saldivar

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The LA Local

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Join thousands of bikers in one of the largest community bicycle rides in the U.S. The evening ride happens on the last Friday of every month on the corner of Western and Wilshire. Check the routes, they change each month.

Aboard the Queen Mary

The Queen Mary is lit at night on Nov. 2, 2025 in Long Beach.

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Getty Images

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Los Angeles Times

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At sunset the Queen Mary in Long Beach provides a host of spooky experiences. The ship is rumored to be haunted and there are tours and ship walks to investigate the claim.

The cheapest ticket is the Haunted Encounters Tour with general admission costs around $58 with Graveyard Tours starting at $89.

VIP Tours are also available starting at around $200.

View the times and dates here.