The Brief

Los Angeles residents have a lot of questions about a controversial plan to build a gondola connecting Union Station in downtown to Dodger Stadium.

California State Parks hosted a virtual meeting on Tuesday night to go over a proposed amendment to the plan that would allow it to be built over L.A. State Historic Park, which opponents have argued would threaten the 32-acre green space.

Alex Stehl, the deputy director of planning at State Parks, clarified during the meeting that the amendment is not a done deal.

“As we move through this process, we're going to be looking at whether or not it's feasible for this project to be in the park, and how would it be feasible,” she said.

What would the gondola do exactly?

The project, officially named LA Art, would connect the stadium, station, and Elysian Park.

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It would include three stations — one near El Pueblo, a Chinatown / State Park station, and another at Dodger Stadium. Three towers and a junction would also need to be built, as well as a system of cables and cabins.

Officials said it would provide access to surrounding communities, including Chinatown, Mission Junction, and Solano Canyon. It would operate daily, with the roughly 1 mile ride taking 7 minutes each way.

“LA ART would provide safe, zero emission, environmentally friendly, and high-capacity transit connectivity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a result of reduced vehicular congestion in and around Dodger Stadium and on neighborhood streets, arterial roadways, and freeways,” according to a presentation during the meeting.

Most of the park wouldn’t be beneath the project, which would be along the westernmost edge. The cabins would soar anywhere from 26 to 53 feet over the area.

Questions from residents

The meeting was translated into five languages, including Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Taishanese.

All of the questions and comments were sent directly to the moderators, and members of the public were not identified or able to share their thoughts verbally.

Some people asked about access to the park, given that it's currently free to visit. Stehl said they don’t intend to change that.

“People would still be able to access this park as they do now,” she said. “Of course, depending on things like special events or other things happening in the area, which sometimes does close off sections of the park, but there's no intent to limit access to the park.”

One person expressed concerns about the visual impact of the gondola and all its infrastructure, which Stehl said would be taken into account throughout the General Plan Amendment process.

Others asked if officials will be gathering information on the losses and risks to the park, and Stehl confirmed they are.

Another asked who will be responsible for operating and maintaining the gondola, such as the city or a private company. Stehl said that’s part of what’s going to be discussed over the next year, and into the future should they move forward.

What is a general plan? Why does it matter?

The General Plan accounts for conceptual goals and guidelines for long-term land use, management, and operations of the park, among others.

The first step is to collect input from the public, which is where we are now.

Officials will then develop amendment options, present the draft plan to the public for their feedback, and then submit the final draft to the State Park and Recreation Commission for its consideration.

The process will involve public outreach, and there will be multiple opportunities for people to comment and share their input, officials said.

Once that’s completed, the project will need several approvals and agreements from State Parks.

Those include a right of entry permit to construct a gondola station in the park, and real property agreements for aerial rights requirements. It’ll also need operational agreements for day to day operations such as hours, security, and programming.

How you can stay up to date

Any and all feedback received by Dec. 15 will be considered as the process moves forward.

You can do that through the General Plan Amendment website here, or email lastatehistoricparkgpa@parks.ca.gov.

You can also share your thoughts via mail by sending it to:

The PDF form is available in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.

And you sign up for the email list here.

Several Los Angeles heavy-hitters were recognized in the James Beard 2026 awards, the Oscars of the food world, which were handed out Monday night in Chicago.

Best Chef in California

Dave Beran, of Seline in Santa Monica, won Best Chef in California. The chef, who got Jeremy Allen White camera-ready for The Bear, said operating a restaurant in disaster-prone L.A. is hard.

"You name the problem every year.... whether it's fires so on and so forth. So to stay culture and goal-focused and believe in what we're doing even though I'm sure there are paths that probably would have been more profitable ... [the award] means a lot," Beran said.

Chef Dave Beran of Pasjoli and Seline in Santa Monica.

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John Troxell

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Beran, who also owns Pasjoli nearby, offers a 16-22 course tasting menu at Seline for $295.

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program

While L.A. was eclipsed in some key categories, like Outstanding Chef, Emerging Chef and Best New Restaurant, it picked up awards in others. Kato, the one-star Michelin restaurant in DTLA, won the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. Ryan Bailey, sommelier and co-owner, told the audience in his acceptance speech that their vision was all about inclusion.

It was important that "no matter what was in your glass you were raising to cheer, you felt equal” at the bar.

Outstanding Hospitality

Meanwhile Providence, the three-star Michelin restaurant on Melrose that's celebrating its 21st anniversary this week, won Outstanding Hospitality. Co-owner and General Manager Donato Poto joked that in the restaurant world, its longevity puts it "somewhere between middle age and a miracle."

Kim Stoler, beverage director at Providence restaurant on Melrose, mixes the Electric margarita made table side.

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Josh Letona

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With a 1:1 customer to staff ratio, Poto said that exceptional service "is not something that can be scripted or manufactured, but rather is the result of a team united by a shared commitment to care, humility, and excellence."

Other SoCal honors

In a ceremony that was part celebration and part a passionate plea for recognition of the role of immigrants in the food industry, the contributions of other Angelenos were also honored.

Silver Spoon, the legendary soul food restaurant in Inglewood, was recognized with a James Beard America's Classics award, given to "locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal."

Local icon Nancy Silverton was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award. However, she said, “This award doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere … because I have nowhere to go. And mark my words I will be back there to receive my lifetime achievement award 2.0. “

A local nonprofit, No Us Without You, was awarded Humanitarian of the Year. Started by chefs Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz to provide food relief to hospitality workers during the pandemic, six years later, it's pivoted to also serve food at home to families affected by ICE raids.

Check out the full list of winners ▶

This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:

• CalFire incident page
• Latest evacuation map
• Los Angeles County Fire Department
  

A fire near Stevenson Ranch Monday afternoon prompted evacuation orders and warnings before firefighters were able to stop its forward progress hours later at 6:25 p.m. The Max Fire, which was reported at about 4:20 p.m., has so far burned 45 acres, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.

The fire is located just west of the 5 Freeway in Pico Canyon Park, near Stevenson Ranch Parkway, according to Cal Fire.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of the communities of Southern Oaks and Sunset Pointe, including the Laing-Brookefield Open Space. Parts of Valencia and Newhall are under evacuation warnings.

The basics

• Acreage: 45 acres as of 6:25 p.m. Monday
• Containment: 0%
• Structures destroyed: None reported
  
• Deaths: None
• Injuries: 0
• Personnel working on fire: Not immediately available
  
  • Live maps show multiple aircraft over the fire

Evacuation map and orders

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for:

• STV-PICO

And warnings have been issued for zones:

• SCL-DELPRADO
• SCL-MEADOWS
• STV-CONSTITUTION
• STV-E109
• STV-POEEvacuation warnings

Authorities say those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.

What we know so far

The Max Fire broke out about 4:20 p.m. west of Stevenson Ranch. It's currently 0% contained.

It's among several fires in recent days, including the Hazel Fire near Lancaster, which burned 66 acres Monday before the L.A. County Fire Department said crews had stopped forward progress of the fire. Evacuation warnings for nearby residents are still in place for that fire. LAist media partner CBS LA reports aerial footage showed a few structures on fire.

Listen to our Big Burn podcast

Fire resources and tips

Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide

If you have to evacuate:

• Why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
• How to get packed up
• How to leave your house
• What evacuation terms mean and how to sign up for alerts

Navigating fire conditions:

• How to drive in high winds and fire danger
• How to prep for power outages
• How to navigate poor air quality

How to help yourself and others:

• Resources for fire victims, evacuees and first responders
• If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
• How to help find lost pets

How to start the recovery process:

• What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
• How to make an insurance claim
• How to safely clean up wildfire ash

What to do for your kids:

• How to talk to children about wildfires and losing a home
• What parents should know about wildfire air quality

Prepare for the next disaster:

• Fire season is here. Make sure you're signed up for these alerts
• Every day is now fire season. Let's get you ready for the next wildfire
• Yes, wildfires are getting worse. The history that got us to this moment

A B-52 bomber crashed Monday and burst into flames, killing all eight people aboard, shortly after takeoff at a U.S. Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, military officials said.

Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down around 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission at the base, which is north of Los Angeles. Black smoke rose from a large swath of charred desert near what appeared to be a runway on the base, with emergency vehicles nearby.

After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Col. James Hayes, the Deputy Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, said at a news conference.

“We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that officials were working to notify their families.

On board was a mix of military service members and government and civilian contractors, Hayes said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, and it could take up to six months to complete an investigation, Hayes said, but shared that the B-52 was supporting the “radar modernization program.”

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber that entered service in 1955. Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, it has been used in conflicts involving the U.S. military from Vietnam to Iran.

In 2025, a B-52 flew to Edwards with a new, modernized radar system. A test team planned to conduct ground and flight test activities on the aircraft throughout 2026 to feed a production decision, the air force said in a 2025 news release. The modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system replaced the aircraft’s antiquated radar for efficacy.

Edwards Air Force Base is home to a large portion of the U.S. Air Force’s aircraft test and development efforts and is about 100 miles (161 km) north of Los Angeles. The 412th Test Wing, which runs the base, also conducts developmental testing of all Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software and components before purchase by the service as well as throughout their lifespan.

The vast desert base is also where Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager reached a speed of Mach 1.05 and broke the sound barrier in 1947.

The airfield was closed most of Monday and all inbound aircraft were being diverted, but it reopened by late afternoon. Non-commercial visitor passes for the base were suspended as emergency crews doused the flames.

It’s too soon to say what might have happened.

The way the B-52 crashed so quickly after takeoff without getting very high or going far makes aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti suspect some kind of flight control malfunction.

It’s possible the controls were rigged wrong after maintenance, he said, or a catastrophic engine problem or a failure of a piece of equipment that was being tested.

“I think it was definitely a controllability issue. Now, whether that was tied to an engine failure, a flight control failure, or some new testing device failure, I’m not sure,” said Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Although the Air Force has been flying B-52 bombers for more than 70 years, testing out new equipment on a plane can create new challenges.

“A flight test is always riskier than normal operations, so that’s why you have specially trained test pilots, and you should have other safety protocols,” Guzzetti said.

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Toropin reported from Washington D.C. AP Transportation Writer Josh Funk contributed to this story from Omaha, Nebraska and AP reporter Hallie Golden contributed from Seattle.

Heavy surf, high tides and rip currents have done some damage to the Southern California coast, with potentially dangerous conditions expected to last at least until Thursday.

The conditions already have had devastating consequences. Just last week in Laguna Beach, a 5-year-old girl drowned after she was swept into the ocean by powerful surf. Authorities said they were able to rescue her mother and brother, who were caught in the same swell.

In Crystal Cove State Park, tides over 7 feet and heavy surf damaged part of a historic cabin, and nearly flooded another. A lifeguard tower was nearly pulled into the water.

Heavy surf and high tides pulled sand from beneath a cabin at Crystal Cove Historic District.

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Erin Stone

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'Biggest waves I've ever seen'

“ At the peak of it, just the biggest waves I've ever seen here in my experience as a lifeguard,” said Jake Beckley, who’s been a Crystal Cove lifeguard for six years. “We've lost pretty much the entire beach at certain points.”

The tide reached as high as The Beachcomber restaurant at one point, and pulled chunks of a historic seawall from beneath a cabin nearby.

Sandra and Rigo Garcia of San Dimas have been visiting Crystal Cove to stay in those historic cabins since the late 1990s. They’ve seen the beach change over the decades.

Sandra and Rigo Garcia have been coming to Crystal Cove for decades and have seen the beach change.

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Erin Stone

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“The tide is just so high that it took all the sand, and we're just like, ‘Oh, where's my beach?’” Sandra Garcia said as they sat under an umbrella on the sand of a small road.

Rigo Garcia pointed to the patch of sand in front of them.

“This spot was always the greatest spot, because I would come early in the morning, set up the easy-ups and chairs, and we always had plenty of real estate,” he said. “The kids would be able to swim maybe 10, 15 yards while they're out there. But now it's so dangerous…too many rocks.”

How we got here

A strong southern swell, combined with high tides, has led to the coastal erosion and flooding. The highest tides of the year, however, usually come in the winter, but over the last week some beaches have seen record high tides for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service.

Riley Pratt, an environmental scientist with California State Parks Orange County District, said these events are a window into the future — as pollution in our atmosphere heats up the planet and melts glaciers, sea levels rise.

“As sea levels rise, things like this are gonna become more common, and their impact is going to be proportionally greater because the baseline is shifting,” he said. “That's going to change what is this just annual cycle into something that's new and that we haven't seen before.”

But for now, the beach is crowded, the sun is shining, and summertime is in the air. And for the Garcias and their fellow beachgoers, there’s no time like the present.

“Earth changes, so you have to go with it,” said Sandra Garcia. “Even though it has changed so much, we still can enjoy it… and be thankful that we have this paradise here.”

What's next

In Orange County, the National Weather Service warns that dangerous surf conditions, including rip currents, are expected to continue through Friday evening.

This creates dangerous conditions for swimming. Anyone caught in a rip current is advised to swim parallel to the shore to clear it. And, as the NWS says, "always swim near a lifeguard."

In L.A. County, conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday night, including coastal flooding, high tides and rip currents.