It’s Wednesday, Feb. 26 And Here Are The Stories We’re Following Today

Today we bring you a special report on one of the nation's best known charter schools. Here's more from executive editor Megan Garvey:

Carla Javier has spent the last couple of years on a unique beat: arts education. It's an interesting topic to cover in California where access to the arts in school is supposed to be required, but there are clearly disparities. At the core of Carla's mission has been this question: Who does, and does not, get to learn about and make art.

And that's the question at the center of a controversy she has been following for months as the Orange County School of the Arts, a public charter school, faces off against its current authorizer, Santa Ana Unified. The school's passionate supporters argue it's special. Critics say it's more exclusive than a public school should be and that oversight has been lax.

The school's current charter is set to expire in June. We really hope you read the story and let us know what you think: The Uncertain Future of the Orange County School of the Arts

Here’s what else we’re following:

Covering Today:

• Curry House, the popular Japanese chain, abruptly closed its restaurants across Southern California this week. Our food editor Elina Shatkin is looking into what happened.
• Pop culture writer Mike Roe takes a look at some of the diverse creators through animation's history and the struggles they've faced, including the first African American to work at Disney; an artist who became an animator after being interned; and one of the first women in the industry.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom is offering a bunch of state-owned parcels around L.A. for homeless services. What could be done with that land? Caroline Champlin will have the details.

In Case You Missed It:

• Those nasty LAUSD school board campaign mailers you’ve been getting? They’re part of the most expensive — and maybe the most negative — L.A. school board primary ever. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
• The California lottery hasn’t been paying what it’s supposed to towards public education [And LAist played a role in getting officials to pay attention.]
• Disney CEO Bob Iger stepped down from his role.
• One of California’s main sources of water — the Colorado River — is drying up.
• L.A. City Council approved a crackdown on tour buses going through parts of the Hollywood Hills.
• A new homeless shelter opened in Venice, despite earlier community pushback.
• Elon Musk’s SPaceX will take up residence in San Pedro.

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.