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Elly Yu
What I cover
I cover critical issues facing kids and their families, from housing to health to childcare. Research has shown the early years of a child’s life are a crucial time — how can we ensure the youngest Angelenos are set up to thrive?
My background
Before taking on the early childhood beat, I was on LAist’s investigative team, where my reporting on nursing homes propelled changes in state law. My work has been recognized by the Sacramento Press Club and has been a finalist for IRE and Gerald Loeb awards. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and am happy to be reporting in a place I call home. Before coming to LAist, I worked at NPR stations in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., where my focus was on healthcare, immigration and state politics. When I’m not reporting, I’m chasing down my two young children.
My goals
I want my coverage to help Angelenos navigate the complex world of raising a young child 5 and under.
Best way to reach me
Email: eyu@laist.com. If you have a tip, you can also reach me on Signal. My username is @ellyyu.89.
Stories by Elly Yu
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After criticism of how California rolls out education programs, a new bill would trigger evaluationsAn LAist story found that the state has spent billions on the implementation of a brand new grade, transitional kindergarten, without a formal mechanism to evaluate it.
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A new study from UC Irvine finds using a tablet or TV to distract children can lead to more behavior problems down the line.
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The report by the National Institute for Early Education Research found California met 3 out of 10 quality benchmarks for transitional kindergarten.
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A board resolution requires the school district to develop a policy that will curb how much time kids spend on computers and tablets.
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Stefan Bean is running unopposed to oversee an education system that serves nearly a half-million students.
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Trustee Area 5 is the lone seat up for election this year on the O.C. Board of Education, which has a major say in the county education budget and charter school issues.
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Teachers with the Los Angeles Unified School District will get four weeks of paid parental leave under terms of a new contract.
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California Botanic Garden opens Children’s Woodland, a free-form nature play space that emphasizes connections to native plants.
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Publicly available data also shows the number of people being held at the facility near Victorville has tripled since last fiscal year.
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Under the new law that went into effect this year, childcare providers are barred from asking about a child's or family member’s immigration status.
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Officials say the change will affect an estimated 23,000 people in Los Angeles County.
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New federal data shows ICE arrested more than 14,000 people in the L.A. area in 2025.
