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Blue Skies

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

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The sky is blue. In most places, that sentence exemplifies a self-evident statement. Of course the sky is blue; what were you expecting, pink?

Well, yes. Here in Los Angeles, the sky is nearly as likely to be pink, or violet, or, depending on the sun's heat on the ocean or fires in the hills, opalescent white or gloomy, smoky gray. There's a red sky at night on enough evenings that sailor's delight must be a frequent occurrence in Santa Monica Bay. Sometimes, as the Traveling Wilburys once sang, "The sky ain't blue/ It's kinda yellow/ You know it's true." And of course, sometimes it's a filthy brown.

In a basin that so often fills with smog and haze, it is worth noting when it is possible, as it has been lately, (at least a few miles inland) to see the wild blue yonder.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

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