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ICYMI: An 11th Grader Documents Life At Santa Monica High For The New York Times

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- A White House report concluded that bite-mark analysis is pretty much junk science, throwing the plotlines of countless Law And Order episodes into doubt.
- Nico Young, an exceptionally talented 11th grader at Santa Monica High, documented the timeless rituals of teenagerdom for The New York Times Magazine.
- KPCC has an interesting look at how different Southern California school districts are implementing (or perhaps more accurately, enforcing) that new vaccine law.
- Gov. Jerry Brown signed dramatic climate legislation Thursday, telling the crowd that “California is doing something that no other state has done.” We can only hope, as the old saying goes, that when California sneezes, the nation catches a cold.
- A pilot shuttle program will soon connect popular hiking spot Chantry Flat to the Gold Line.
- There was some excitement earlier this week over the news that The New York Times's principal restaurant critic Pete Wells will now be reviewing L.A. eateries.This recent New Yorker profile of Wells offers fascinating insight into how the restaurant review sausage is made, regardless of whether or not you thought Cassia deserved three stars.
- Nico Young's work at Santa Monica High reminded me of that of another esteemed photographer and chronicler of Los Angeles youth culture—Lauren Greenfield. Here's Greenfield's 2007 short "Kids + Money," also for The New York Times Magazine:
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Cruise off the highway and hit locally-known spots for some tasty bites.
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Fentanyl and other drugs fuel record deaths among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. From 2019 to 2021, deaths jumped 70% to more than 2,200 in a single year.
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This fungi isn’t a “fun guy.” Here’s what to do if you spot or suspect mold in your home.
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Donald Trump was a fading TV presence when the WGA strike put a dent in network schedules.
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Edward Bronstein died in March 2020 while officers were forcibly taking a blood sample after his detention.
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A hike can be a beautiful backdrop as you build your connection with someone.