Frank Stoltze
I came to L.A. as a very young reporter on New Year’s Day, 1991. Two months later, four LAPD officers were caught on videotape beating Rodney King. A year later, the night before the riots/rebellion broke out, I was in the Nickerson Gardens housing project in Watts at an extraordinary rally of rival gangs that had brokered a truce.
Today, I cover Civics and Democracy in L.A. As we face perhaps the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War, I seek to engage with communities and examine the hurdles to becoming involved in the political process. I cover the various social and political movements seeking to improve the lives of Angelenos. I also cover anti-democratic forces.
And after all these years, I still need to figure out the best donut shop in L.A. The best torta. The best (not fanciest) coffee. Best of all I get to meet the smartest, most interesting people and bring their voices to you.
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After he was appointed by President Donald Trump last month, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, took the rare step of moving to strike the conviction won by his own office. -
State officials have scheduled a June 13 hearing date, just days after the two were resentenced in the 1989 murders of their parents. -
Federal prosecutors say two people have been arrested on suspicion of using their car to try to block immigration agents from doing their job in South Los Angeles. -
Lyle and Erik Menendez have been serving life in prison without parole in connection with the killings. A state parole board could now determine if and when the brothers are released. -
Gov. Gavin Newsom once again is calling on cities and counties to ban homeless encampments on the streets. -
The hearing is now scheduled to start May 13. -
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City President Freddy Escobar, a prominent figure in the city's union politics, has been suspended, according to the Associated Press. -
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said criminologists, forensic scientists and crime scene photographers could be laid off. -
Many of the demonstrations for workers’ rights have also become an indictment of President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration. -
As L.A. Mayor Karen Bass proposes more than 1,600 layoffs to deal with a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall, departments will make their case on needs. We have details on the agendas and how to participate.
