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.
Morning Briefing: Fixing California’s Unemployment System
A staffer works to process claims at California's unemployment office, March 30, 2020. (California Employment Development Department)
()
Never miss a morning briefing. Subscribe today to get our A.M. newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Good morning, L.A.
In the midst of the smoldering dumpster fire that is our current political climate, some good news: Californians who are out of work can begin applying for unemployment again, hopefully with better results this time around.
After getting mired in a backlog of 1.6 million unresolved claims in late September, the state’s Employment Development Department closed down for two weeks to reset. In addition to the backlog, they hoped to address recent findings that applicants had, at best, a one-in-1,000 chance of reaching a human by phone, and that applicants who don’t speak English have a near-impossible time navigating the system.
Support for LAist comes from
EDD officials said that during their 14-day shutdown, the department also worked on speeding up benefit payments and reducing fraud.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, October 6
The farm of the future might be in Compton, in a warehouse, and partially run by robots. LAist contributor Stefan Slater has the story of Plenty, a company backed by big tech bucks, that wants to change the way we grow and eat food.
The census may count people, but its data is also the basis for determining what type of roadwork is done, when and where, reports Dana Amihere.
Support for LAist comes from
As flu season gets underway amid a pandemic, L.A. County health officials announce free shots will be available at county libraries starting later this month. Jackie Fortiér has more.
Spooky screenings. Immersive, drive-through experiences. Pumpkin patches. Victorian mourning rituals. Family-friendly events. We've got it all. Christine N. Ziemba has this season’s best online and IRL Halloween events.
Never miss an LAist story. Sign up for our daily newsletters.
The Past 24 Hours In LA
Money Matters: Californians who are out of work can once again file for unemployment benefits. When MGM delayed the release of the next James Bond film, one of the nation’s biggest chains had to padlock more than 500 domestic theaters.
Support for LAist comes from
L.A. Kids: All L.A. playgrounds can be reopened for public use, with mandatory social distancing and limited use up to 30 minutes. Outside spending on LAUSD school board races has already topped $11 million, putting this year's election well ahead of the record-shattering pace in 2017. Here’s how schools can apply for the highly coveted reopening waiver.
Representation Matters: Judge Martin Jenkins is the first openly gay man and the third Black man to be appointed to the California Supreme Court. Census-informed data is used to allocate federal dollars to ensure special education is properly funded, and to fill in opportunity gaps for students from low-income homes.
Here’s What To Do For Halloween: View Self Help Graphics' annual Día de los Muertos exhibition, join comedian Myq Kaplan's birthday party, prep for the upcoming election with a ballot cram session, and more in this week’s best online and IRL events.
Photo Of The Day
A pedestrian walks past empty displays where upcoming movies were once promoted, in the before times.
(Photo by Frederic J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
()
Support for LAist comes from
Help Us Cover Your Community
- Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
- Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.
The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
This post has been updated to reflect changes in what's coming up for today.
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
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.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist