Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

Teachers and students of Fremont High School in South Los Angeles protested over plans by L.A. Unified's superintendent to take over the chronically low-performing campus next year and force every employee to reapply for their jobs.

Jews around the world celebrate the festival of Hanukkah for eight nights, beginning tonight. Some Southland Jewish institutions take the economy into account during their observances.

Some Southland telephone workers who answer and help maintain emergency and information call services will join the ranks of the unemployed this month. The labor union that represents them staged a large protest rally today outside their building in Long Beach.

Student leaders at public universities aren’t only debating fee hikes and class cuts. A Cal State Long Beach student senator wants an image of a hero of the Cuban revolution removed from a mural in the campus humanities building.

The economy’s depleting pantries in many households. In two reports released today, nutrition advocates say that’s one of the reasons more public school parents should sign up their children for free breakfast programs.

Public school districts in California must submit preliminary budgets to county education officials next week. Administrators at the Los Angeles Unified School District are set to vote on a budget plan tomorrow with significant cuts.

Israel’s consul general in Los Angeles inaugurated a new partnership yesterday that's intended to foster interaction between Jewish students and mostly Spanish-speaking immigrant students.

A Southland composer has set out to introduce and remind listeners about the fundamental beliefs of American democracy. He's doing so through a symphonic work that blends soloists, a choir, a full orchestra, with the speeches of two iconic presidents - and the present one.

Steve Barr, the founder and chairman of the influential charter school company Green Dot Public Schools, is stepping down from day to day activities and his position as chair. A spokeswoman said today Barr is leaving Green Dot to work on “national education issues.” She gave no other details about his departure.

Police arrested 14 protesters at a University of California Regents finance committee meeting at UCLA today.

The first Southland monument dedicated to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor is about two-thirds finished on a patch of grass next to Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Groups that want to take over governance of several dozen Los Angeles Unified schools have less than a week to apply. The process is part of a major policy change approved three months ago to improve education by handing over control of up to 300 low-performing and new campuses to groups that submit reform plans.