US prosecutors sue Southern California Edison over wildfires in LA County, Inland Empire
Federal prosecutors have filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison, claiming the utility's actions caused two destructive wildfires that burned in Los Angeles and Riverside counties. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles announced the lawsuits Thursday morning in response to the Eaton Fire in January, which burned through Altadena and parts of Pasadena, and the Fairview Fire in 2022, which started in Hemet. The lawsuits seek more than $40 million in damages for the Eaton Fire and approximately $37 million for the Fairview Fire. Joining us with the story is Makenna Sieverston, reporter for LAist, who’s following the latest.
Read the full LAist story here.
Statement from SoCal Edison:
Our thoughts are with the community impacted by the Fairview Fire. We are reviewing the lawsuit and will respond through the appropriate legal channels. We continue our work to reduce the likelihood of SCE’s equipment starting a wildfire. SCE is committed to wildfire mitigation through grid hardening, situational awareness, and enhanced operational practices.
Regarding the Eaton Fire. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, we will review this lawsuit and respond through the appropriate legal channels.
Is pop music criticism too soft these days?
For every fan of Taylor Swift, there’s also an ardent hater. But chances are, their ire is directed to the pop stardom of Swift, and not her actual music. Take a glance around major music review websites and you may even walk away with the idea that her music is universally acclaimed. And while no one can deny the commercial success of Swift, a recent New Yorker article has made the case that pop music critics in general have gotten soft on her and other pop star’s musical abilities. The reasons cited are many, but is it actually true? Joining AirTalk today to talk about the realities of being a pop music critic is our hometown L.A. Times pop music critic Mikael Wood. Of course, we want to hear from you too! Do you think pop music criticism is too soft these days? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Deda Restaurant brings authentic Georgian cuisine to Pasadena
When you hear the term “Georgian” cuisine, what comes to mind? Likely the state, but keep in mind that there’s a whole country named Georgia, with a population size of Los Angeles, that holds a rich history. Although technically a European country, it borders Asia and culturally has customs that straddle both continents. The bread and cheese, staples of Europe, make up dishes like khachapuri; the dumpling-like khinkali feels reminiscent of what you’d find all throughout Asia. So for this Food Friday, we’ll get a crash course on Georgian cuisine from Tamaz Gomiashvili and Mike Mdinaradze, owners of Deda Restaurant in Pasadena.
FilmWeek: ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites,’ ‘Twinless,’ ‘Preparation for the Next Life,’ and more!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
Films:
The Conjuring: Last Rites, Wide Release
Twinless, In Select Theaters
The Threesome, In Select Theaters
Preparation for the Next Life, Alamo Drafthouse DTLA
Tinā, In Select Theaters
Hamilton, Wide Release
The Cut, Laemmle NoHo
Love, Brooklyn, In Select Theaters
Feature: LA’s first annual Silent Film Festival
In our age of surround sound and IMAX theaters, emphasizing the importance of sound effects and mixing in movies, it’s easy to forget that for film history’s first thirty years, movies were silent. A new film festival is aiming to fix that. In partnership with the American Cinematheque, Retroformat Silent Films and Mount Saint Mary’s University are hosting the first annual Los Angeles Silent Film Festival. The festival will take place at the American Cinematheque Los Feliz theater from September 12 to September 14, and include the world premiere of the World Restoration Premiere of ‘He Who Gets Slapped’ (1924) starring Lon Chaney, Sr., John Gilbert and Norma Sheare and the Los Angeles Restoration Premiere of ‘Kid Boots’ (1926) starring Clara Bow and Eddie Cantor. Each of the screenings will be accompanied by a live score selected and played by Musical Director Cliff Retallick and guest artist Andrew Earle Simpson. The festival will allow audiences to experience silent films as they were originally intended. Joining us on FilmWeek to talk about the festival and the importance of silent film preservation is Thomas Barnes, president of Retroformat Silent Films and one of the co-founders of the Los Angeles Silent Film Festival.
You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here.
