L.A. Times - Opinion Blog

Toning down the green of the Spring Street bike lane

By Carla Hall — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:06:00 PDT

The fading yet controversial green bike lane that stretches through downtown Los Angeles on Spring Street may be getting a fresh coat of paint that all — including the temperamental asphalt — can live with.

On Benghazi, Obama vs. Republicans again

By Michael McGough — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:52:00 PDT

Maybe because President Obama said so many other things in his speech Thursday -- about drones, Guantanamo and a “new phase” in the war against terrorism -- a reference to Benghazi didn’t attract much attention. But, at the risk of over-interpretation, it struck me as another attempt by the president to counter the Republican claim that he refused to recognize Benghazi as a terrorist attack.

Fear not, the IRS won't be collecting your medical records

By Jon Healey — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:00 PDT

Led by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), a number of House Republicans asserted this week that the newly scandalized Internal Revenue Service, in its role as Obamacare enforcer, would collect sensitive personal medical records . That was one of the latest reasons cited for repealing the 2010 law, formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Capture an asteroid? Piece of cake

By Paul Whitefield — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:07:00 PDT

“What could go wrong?”

The wise move on the Leimert Park station

By Jon Healey — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:31:00 PDT

When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board took up L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas' proposal Thursday to add two stations to the new Crenshaw light-rail line, Lakewood City Councilwoman Diane DuBois asked the right question. Then she gave the wrong answer.

College grads, maximize your 20s before it's too late

By Alexandra Le Tellier — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:28:00 PDT

Forget gay Scouts, the real threat is clueless dads

By Paul Whitefield — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:37:00 PDT

The Boy Scouts of America is voting on whether to allow gay boys to be Scouts. Which is, of course, really stupid, because gay boys are already Scouts, and have been for many years, even if Scouting chooses to think otherwise.

Mayor-elect Garcetti, hire these ex-pols!

By Patt Morrison — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:15:00 PDT

You won’t see politicians lined up at the unemployment office, but every election means that some defeated officials wind up out of work.

With election fatigue setting in, L.A. tees up another vote

By Jon Healey — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:51:00 PDT

This post has been updated, as indicated below.

Monica Ratliff, the 5th-grade teacher who schooled L.A.'s campaign 'experts'

By Karin Klein — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:42:00 PDT

The Times' editorial board endorsed 5th-grade teacher Monica Ratliff for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board -- twice -- but that doesn’t mean we expected her to win.