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.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Great American Smokeout

We don't know how else to say it except like this: Fuck Cancer! Breast cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, all of it. Kiss our ass, Cancer! Especially lung cancer which is the leading cause of cancer deaths in this country and the most preventable. Take those sexy cigarettes and break 'em up, throw them in the trash and never look back. LAist had, for a long time, been seduced by the allure of attractive people holding rolled tobacco on their lips and in their hands but no longer. Smoking may be sexy but a long life and being able to run up a flight of stairs without fearing for a heart attack is way hotter.
Evite.com agrees. The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout is officially this Thursday the 17th but tonight Evite brings you The Great American Smokeout Benefit Show in the Front Bar of Knitting Factory Hollywood. A mixture of music and comedy, the benefit will help support ACS's efforts to fight the disease that has taken so many of our loved ones.
The show is only $10 and for that you get Space Mtn, The Sugarplastic and Let's Go Sailing rocking out and jokes from Michelle Biloon, Chris Fairbanks and Paul F. Tompkins.
The show starts at 8pm.
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.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?