Off the coast of Mexico, a family of killer whales has developed techniques to hunt whale sharks, the largest fish species on the planet.
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Kelsey Williamson
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Topline:
Killer whales are known for their intelligence and power, even an inclination to sink yachts. Now, research is showing how they take down prey that few other animals can.
Why it matters: The findings add to a growing body of evidence showing that killer whales take the title for the ocean's top predator, using cunning and coordination in their close-knit family groups to hunt everything from blue whales to great white sharks.
How they hunt: Orcas in Mexico's Gulf of California are hunting whale sharks using a highly specialized set of strategies to attack them. The killer whales first work together to ram the whale shark, stunning it and preventing it from diving deep, one of the whale shark's only defenses.
Read on... for more on how the orcas deploy their strategy.
Killer whales are known for their intelligence and power, even an inclination to sink yachts. Now, research is showing how they take down prey that few other animals can.
Orcas in Mexico's Gulf of California are hunting whale sharks using a highly specialized set of strategies to attack them. Generally, whale sharks have few predators to worry about, being the largest fish species on the planet. The gentle giants, which eat tiny plankton, can grow as long as a school bus. Still, killer whales have developed a way to take them down, which researchers documented in video footage.
"They are super smart," says Erick Higuera, one of the authors of the study. "They organize the hunt, the ambush. They're like snipers. They're specialists in their hunting tactics."
A male in the killer whale pod known as Moctezuma was spotted in multiple attacks, along with other family members working together.
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James Moskito
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The findings add to a growing body of evidence showing that killer whales take the title for the ocean's top predator, using cunning and coordination in their close-knit family groups to hunt everything from blue whales to great white sharks.
"They're capable of predating on the ocean's largest creatures so I think there's no doubt about their apex predator status at this point," says Salvador Jorgensen, marine ecologist at California State University Monterey Bay, who was not involved in the research.
A coordinated attack
As a marine biologist and cinematographer, Higuera has followed one pod of killer whales for years off the coast of Mexico's Baja California Sur. He's observed them eating other species of sharks and rays. One day, he received a tourist video documenting something he'd never seen.
In it, a male killer whale is swimming around the body of a bleeding whale shark. Later, three more videos showed similar scenes, where a group of killer whales worked together to attack other whale sharks. All the whale sharks were juveniles, though still 15 to 20 feet long.
"My surprise and my amazement is that they are definitely specialist hunters," Higuera says. "When we saw the video, we got excited."
Here's how the killer whales do it, which Higuera and his colleagues published in the journal Frontiers. First, the killer whales work together to ram the whale shark, stunning it and preventing it from diving deep, one of the whale shark's only defenses.
"It's a huge animal that has very tiny teeth," says Francesca Pancaldi, a marine biologist at Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas and a co-author on the study. "It's relatively slow compared to other sharks and it cannot defend itself, other than dive down. The whale shark is a great diver."
At the same time, the killer whales flip the whale shark onto its back. When sharks are upside down, they can go into a trance-like state known as "tonic immobility." Then, the killer whales begin biting the soft underbelly of the whale shark, causing it to bleed profusely.
The orcas coordinate their attack to ram the whale shark and keep it from diving, the whale shark's primary defense mechanism.
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Kelsey Williamson
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That could also give the killer whales access to eating one of the most nutritious parts of a shark – its liver, something that killer whales have been documented eating in other types of sharks.
"Sharks in general, they don't have a lot of fat," Pancaldi says. "The only fatty part in the body of a shark is the liver."
Killer whales are known for these highly coordinated attacks, where techniques are taught in multi-generational families, led by the matriarch.
"They have a tradition," Higuera says. "They have a culture that's unique to this family. There is definitely a cultural learning that has gone through generations."
Even great white sharks should worry
Orcas around the world specialize in different types of prey, each with their own unique hunting strategies. Some killer whales only eat fish, while others prey on marine mammals.
Orca families are highly specialized in their favorite prey, honing their techniques over generations.
Off California's coast, even great white sharks avoid orcas. One study found that white sharks fled when killer whales appeared, leaving their seasonal feeding grounds for as long as a year. Killer whales have been documented hunting white sharks off South Africa, going after their livers as well.
"When orcas come around, it creates this landscape of fear that white sharks, for example, are able to detect and respond to," Jorgensen says. "We've been seeing killer whales going after sharks and particularly larger sharks, which is the more surprising part of this, around the world."
As the ocean's top predators, killer whale families have developed the skills to take their pick. "They eat all the best stuff in the ocean," Jorgensen.
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published January 8, 2026 4:33 PM
The Original Saugus Cafe's neon sign.
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Konrad Summers
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Creative Commons on Flickr
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Topline:
The Original Saugus Cafe, L.A. County's oldest restaurant since 1886, was supposed to have closed Sunday, with lines around the block. But this week a sign on the door said it was reopening under new ownership. That was news to the Mercado family, who had previously run the business for nearly 30 years. It's turned into a legal dispute between the Mercado family and the owners of the property, who are laying claim to the name.
Why it matters: The dispute highlights the precarious position of small business owners who operate under informal agreements with their landlords. For nearly 30 years, the Mercado family ran the restaurant on a handshake deal with property owner Hank Arklin Sr. After he died, the Mercado family is facing losing not just their location, but potentially the business name and legacy they've built.
Why now: Hank Arklin Sr., a former California assemblyman with multiple properties, died in August at age 97. New management presented the Mercado family with written lease terms they found unfavorable, triggering negotiations to sell the business that ultimately fell apart.
Lines stretched around the block Sunday at the Original Saugus Cafe in Santa Clarita. It was supposed to be the restaurant's last day before closing after 139 years — making it the oldest continually operated restaurant in Los Angeles County.
But earlier this week, a sign was posted on the door saying, "Reopening under new ownership soon," although there were few details about who would be running it.
The sign was a surprise to the Mercado family,who have operated the restaurant for nearly 30 years. The family now is in a legal dispute with the Arklin family, who owns the property, about the potential re-opening and who owns the historic name.
The background
Alfredo Mercado worked his way up from bartender to restaurateur, purchasing the business in 1998. Since then Mercado and his daughters have operated the restaurant, leasing from the Arklin family. For most of that time, according to the Mercado side, the two families maintained good terms. Property owner Hank Arklin Sr., a former state assemblyman who owned other properties in the area, kept a verbal month-to-month agreement with the Mercados — no written lease required.
That changed when Arklin died in August at age 97.
New terms, failed negotiations
Larry Goodman, who manages multiple properties for the Arklin family's company, North Valley Construction, took over the landlord relationship. In September, the Mercado family say they were presented with a new written month-to-month lease.
Yecenia Ponce, Alfredo's daughter, said the new terms included various changes to the existing agreement, including a rent increase and charges for equipment.
Months of back and forth negotiations about different options, including selling the business, ultimately fell apart. Their attorney, Steffanie Stelnick, says they are being forced out, without proper legal notice, and has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Goodman saying the family has plans to continue running the business.
LAist reached out to Goodman for comment repeatedly Wednesday and Thursday by phone but did not hear back.
Goodman told The Signal, a Santa Clarita valley news outlet, that Alfredo Mercado had changed his mind several times in recent weeks about keeping the business.
“I said, ‘Fine,’ then I got out and got someone to take it over,” Goodman said.
He said he'd been in contact with Eduardo Reyna, the CEO of Dario's, a local Santa Clarita restaurant, and that the cafe could re-open as soon as Jan. 16.
Who owns what?
The dispute also focuses on who owns the rights to the Original Saugus Cafe name.
Ponce said when her father purchased the restaurant in 1998, it was called The Olde Saugus Cafe, but the name was then changed to The Original Saugus Cafe. State records show that name registered as an LLC under Alfredo Mercado.
After Arklin’s death, however, the Arklin family filed a pending trademark application to lay its own claim to the name.
The Mercado family is resisting.
"As long as they don't buy the name from us, we're not handing it over," Ponce said.
Ponce said the family had no idea the landlord planned to continue operations.
"We truly did think we were closing," she said. "We were not aware that they had plans to continue."
She apologized to customers for the confusion.
Whether the decades-old restaurant name survives — and under whose control — may ultimately be decided in court.
Makenna Sievertson
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California. She has a special place in her heart for eagles and other creatures that make this such a fascinating place to live.
Published January 8, 2026 4:22 PM
The roughly 550-pound male black bear has been hiding out under an Altadena home.
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CBS LA
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Ken Jonhson
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Topline:
A large black bear has finally crawled out from under a house in Altadena where he’s been hiding for more than a month.
How we got here: The roughly 550-pound bear, dubbed “Barry” by the neighbors, had been holed up in a crawlspace beneath the home since late November.
Why now: Cort Klopping, a spokesperson with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed to LAist Thursday that the bear had left and the access point had been secured.
The backstory: This wasn’t the first time the bear hid out under a house in Altadena. The same bear was lured out from another crawlspace in the area and relocated miles away to the Angeles National Forest after the Eaton Fire last year. Wildlife officials said they believed he'd been back in Altadena for several months.
Why it matters: Officials encourage residents to secure access points around their homes. One suggestion is to cover crawlspaces with something stronger than the wire mesh Barry has broken through, such as metal bars.
What you can do: Bears are extremely food motivated and can smell snacks in trash cans on the curb from 5 miles away, Klopping has said. He suggested putting trash cans out the same day they get picked up and bringing pet food sources inside, including bird feeders. You can find tips on how to handle a bear in your backyard here and resources from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife here.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Libby Rainey
is a general assignment reporter. She covers the news that shapes Los Angeles and how people change the city in return.
Published January 8, 2026 2:15 PM
A protester displays a poster as tear gas is used in the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles on June 8, 2025.
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Eric Thayer/AP
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FR171986 AP
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Topline:
Community leaders and politicians in Los Angeles are responding in outrage after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The fatal ICE shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good has sparked anger and fear in Los Angeles, which has been an epicenter of federal immigration enforcement since the summer.
What are some groups saying? Jorge-Mario Cabrera with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, says the killing was upsetting but not surprising. " Los Angeles has been witness of the escalating aggressiveness of these federal agents against the community," he told LAist.
Read on... for how local politicians are reacting.
Community leaders and politicians in Los Angeles are responding in outrage after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minnesota on Wednesday.
The fatal ICE shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good has sparked anger and fear in Los Angeles, which has been an epicenter of federal immigration enforcement since the summer.
Jorge-Mario Cabrera with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, says the killing was upsetting but not surprising.
" Los Angeles has been witness of the escalating aggressiveness of these federal agents against the community," he told LAist.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the shooting, saying Good was trying to run agents over with her car. That account has been disputed by eyewitnesses, the mayor of Minneapolis and other officials. Bystander video also challenges the federal narrative, according to MPR News.
L.A. politicians have joined a chorus demanding justice for Good. Mayor Karen Bass posted on X, saying that ICE agents are waging "a purposeful campaign of fear and intimidation" on American cities.
"The senseless killing of an innocent and unarmed wife and mother by ICE agents today in Minneapolis is shocking and tragic and should never have occurred," she said in the post.
The senseless killing of an innocent and unarmed wife and mother by ICE agents today in Minneapolis is shocking and tragic and should never have occurred. And it happened because of the brutal and racist policies of the Trump administration that unleashed these agents in…
Nereida Moreno
is our midday host on LAist 89.3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Published January 8, 2026 2:05 PM
Crystal Hernández is the violinist for the Mariachi Rams and the only woman in the group.
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Courtesy Los Angeles Rams
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Topline:
As the Rams head to the NFL playoffs this weekend, we’re shining the spotlight on a beloved fan favorite: the Mariachi Rams. Violinist Crystal Hernández, the only woman in the band, tells LAist it’s exciting to see how fans — even those cheering for the opposing team — have embraced their presence at SoFi Stadium. She said it shows how involved and integral Latino culture is to L.A.
“There's no boundary. There's no border,” she said. “It’s all about love and joy and bringing excitement to the game.”
Why it matters: The Rams are the first NFL team to have an official mariachi. The group was formed in 2019 by Hernández' father, the renowned mariachi Jose Hernández. Since then, a handful of teams, including the Houston Texans, have begun incorporating mariachi bands as part of their cultural programming.
Game day: The Mariachi Rams’ musical flare has captivated audiences, blending hip-hop and rock-and-roll sounds with traditional mariachi. They typically perform two or three times throughout the game, starting with a Mexican classic like “El Rey” and segueing into local favorites like “Low Rider” from the Long Beach band War and Tupac’s “California Love.”
The Mariachi Rams blend hip-hop and rock and roll sounds with traditional mariachi. They typically perform two or three times throughout each game.
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Courtesy Los Angeles Rams
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Keeping traditions alive: Crystal Hernández also works with L.A. County students at the nonprofit Mariachi Heritage Society. She said it’s important to pass the tradition down to kids — and especially young girls who may not otherwise see themselves represented onstage.
“If you're a mariachi, you're also an educator,” she said. “It's our responsibility to teach the next generation so this beautiful Mexican tradition doesn't die out.”
