L.A. Times - Religious News

L.A. to decide whether to stay the course with Mayor Bass or vote for change with Raman

David Zahniser — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 11:00:00 GMT

L.A. voters will decide between Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman, with the city's future direction on the line. As the contentious race nears the finish, the candidates are in a dead heat.

Daylight saving time ends tonight. Here's when to set your clocks back

Blanca Begert — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 03:55:42 GMT

Californians, like most of America, will get an extra hour of sleep tonight

3 days trapped in a drain pipe -- officers rescue man in Riverside

Blanca Begert — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 02:16:02 GMT

The man had crawled into an 18 inch diameter pipe that drains into a culvert in Riverside.

Massive sewage main break prompts closure of all coastal waters off Long Beach

Roger Vincent — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 21:55:09 GMT

All open coastal swimming areas, bays, and lagoons in Long Beach have been closed after a sewer main break that spilled thousands of gallons of wastewater into the ocean.

Dana Point landmark Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel resort sells for $600 million

Roger Vincent — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 21:53:09 GMT

One of Southern California's premier seaside resorts, the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, has been sold for an estimated $600 million as the top end of the state's hotel market continues to thrive.

Cascade of court rulings rebuffs Trump administration's election efforts

Kevin Rector — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 18:10:01 GMT

Federal judges have repeatedly rejected the Trump administration's efforts to wrest control over state voting processes and intimidate state and local elections officials.

California Botox doctor used $45 million in Medicare money to fund her lavish lifestyle, feds say

Stephen Battaglio — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:54:29 GMT

Violetta Mailyan was convicted in May of billing Botox injections that were never provided.

The Cheesecake Factory is a punchline. But it's also the California dream

Shelby Grad — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:47:24 GMT

On the night Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents, they offered an elaborate, twisted and ultimately unbelievable explanation of those crucial hours in 1989.

Ex-Garden Grove police sergeant kidnapped, assaulted coworker, prosecutor says

Iris Kwok — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:02:35 GMT

Former Garden Grove Police Sgt. Charles Starnes II was arrested after being charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting two coworkers, D.A. says.

Lopez: No undecideds here: Why Bass backers are on board, and Raman fans are fired up

Steve Lopez — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The L.A. mayor's race suddenly looks like a tossup. These voters explain why they're Team Bass or Team Raman.

Your last-minute guide to L.A. County Charter Amendment A

Times staff — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Measure A is a charter amendment that would require binding arbitration between county government and negotiators representing sheriff's deputies, firefighters, lifeguards and other public safety workers if contract talks reach an impasse and no compromise can be reached.

Your last-minute guide to the L.A. County sheriff's race: Luna vs. Villanueva

Karen Garcia — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

What you need to know about the rematch between Robert Luna and Alex Villanueva to be the next L.A. County sheriff.

Your last-minute guide to the L.A. city attorney's race: McKinney vs. Roy

Karen Garcia — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The basics you need to know about the two candidates running for the job of L.A. city attorney this midterm election.

Your last-minute guide to obscure but important statewide races in California

Times staff — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

There are a host of down-ballot races for statewide office that will be decided in the Nov. 3 general election.

Your last-minute guide to education-related ballot measures

Times staff — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Here is your last-minute guide to key education races that are on the November ballot in California.

Your last-minute guide to L.A. City Council races: Districts 3 and 9

Times staff — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Voters will choose who will represent City Council Districts 3 and 9. History will be made in District 9, which for the first time in 63 years will be represented by a politician who is not Black.

Your last-minute guide to all California propositions

Times staff — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Everything you need to know about all the California propositions in the November general election ballot: Voters will decide on proposals to tax billionaires, extend taxes on high earners, fund biomedical research and more.

Your last-minute guide to every L.A. city charter amendments, ballot measures

Times staff — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Voters in the city of Los Angeles will consider eight ballot measures covering everything from taxes and fire resources to governance of airports and the port and the quality of parks.

A tribe returns, joyful, to 51 acres in the San Gabriel foothills

Noah Haggerty — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A couple with a plot of land above Santa Clarita marketed their land as a potential glamping site. They decided to sell it to the local tribe instead.

Proposed billionaire tax could impact California sports teams

Seema Mehta — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The proposed billionaire tax on California's November ballot could slap a one-time 5% levy on wealthy residents, including sports team owners, to raise healthcare funds

Grudge rematch: Luna and Villanueva duel to lead nation's largest sheriff's department

Connor Sheets — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Robert Luna unseated Alex Villanueva as Los Angeles County sheriff in 2022. Now Villanueva is seeking to reclaim his position at the helm of the Sheriff's Department.

Raman says the LAPD has grown more secretive under Chief Jim McDonnell. Has it?

Libor Jany — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has criticized the LAPD for no longer releasing neighborhood crime statistics. Others have taken issue with slow responses to public records requests. Chief Jim McDonnell, however, says the department is more transparent than ever.

Arellano: This is the prayer Catholic bishops should have offered to Trump

Gustavo Arellano — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Protect those whom Trump has wronged, which is basically everyone in this country except tech bros, foreign dictators and men with great asses.

Inside the local ballot measures L.A. will vote on in the Nov. 3 election

Itzel Luna — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In addition to competitive mayoral and City Council races, L.A. voters also will have their say on 10 local ballot measures that will impact the county and city.

Two competitive L.A. City Council seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot

Melissa Gomez, Itzel Luna — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Two Los Angeles City Council seats are on the ballot Nov. 3: one representing the San Fernando Valley and the other South Los Angeles.

A pregnant woman killed, 6 injured in Bay Area Spirit Halloween shooting

Iris Kwok, Stephen Battaglio — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 07:09:34 GMT

One person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in the Bay Area late Friday.

Justice Dept. sent subpoenas to L.A. election officials. What that means and what happens next

Sonja Sharp — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:08:44 GMT

After alleging that noncitizens are registered to vote in L.A. County, the U.S. Department of Justice recently sent subpoenas to local elections officials, calling them to testify before a grand jury. The move may signal that criminal charges are in the works — but the county has ways to fight back.

California sisters among hundreds stranded in Asia after cruise ship halts operations over high fuel costs

Grace Toohey — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 01:39:14 GMT

California sisters are among about 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia after a Florida-based company abruptly suspended its months-long residential cruise ship, citing "extraordinary" fuel costs.

Boyfriend of 'SNL' writer's missing sister among two arrested on suspicion of murder

Emily St. Martin — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 01:06:11 GMT

Christina Downer's actor boyfriend is among two people arrested on suspicion of murdering her nearly a year after she disappeared, Los Angeles police said Friday.

Ex-South Lake Tahoe mayor pleads guilty to wire fraud in church embezzlement case

Iris Kwok — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:39:18 GMT

A former South Lake Tahoe mayor whose church fraud case shocked residents in the scenic Sierra Nevada city pleaded guilty to wire fraud this week in federal court.

O.C. woman who lured puppy with food to run him over was caught on video, federal prosecutors say

Terry Castleman — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:07:05 GMT

A 75-year-old Anaheim woman faces federal charges and could face up to seven years in prison after allegedly running over and killing a puppy in Santa Ana.

Video showing federal agent pointing handgun in face of bystander sparks outrage

Salvador Hernandez — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:04:56 GMT

Video shows ICE agents detaining a man in North Hollywood, and then pointing a handgun directly in the face of an apparently unarmed bystander during a tense encounter.

Exorbitant egg order at Monterey school cracks open 'disgusting' embezzlement scheme, police say

Clara Harter — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 22:53:04 GMT

An unusually expensive Costco breakfast order led Seaside police to arrest two staff members at Monterey International School, accused of embezzling nearly $300,000. The school's chief financial officer is accused of spending public funds on massages, luxury travel and Pilates classes.

LAPD officer accused of holding girlfriend at gunpoint is also charged with abusing kids

James Queally — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 19:18:26 GMT

Los Angeles police Officer Anthony Gutierrez has been charged with kidnapping, assault and two counts of child abuse likely to cause serious injury.

9th Circuit again denies Trump administration request to block 20,000 California ballots

Kevin Rector, Brittny Mejia — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 19:16:28 GMT

Federal grand jury subpoenas have demanded that county election officials turn over internal communications and testify, raising concerns that investigations could intimidate workers.

High tides damage 114 structures in Huntington Beach. City warns of more flooding to come

Jack Flemming — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:52:07 GMT

High tides damaged 114 structures in Huntington Beach this week as flooding continues to bash coastal communities across Southern California.

NTSB releases new details of deadly Yosemite National Park firefighter helicopter crash

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:35:10 GMT

The firefighting helicopter that crashed in Yosemite last month had problems with its water bucket during an earlier flight, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report.

California's first sea turtle eggs could hatch any day now. Biologists prepare for the 'frenzy'

Corinne Purtill — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:42:55 GMT

Federal biologists made a last-minute decision to relocate the eggs after forecasters predicted high tides would swamp their nests on Orange County beaches.

A new rainstorm moves in Friday. What does it means for L.A. Halloween?

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:54:40 GMT

Storms will start to arrive Friday, with stray showers in isolated areas and maximum temperatures slightly lower than average, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service.

'They come in droves': How robotaxis hog EV chargers in one corner of Southern California

Ella Chakarian — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:02:37 GMT

Drivers say the robotaxis are taking up charging spots at public stations, as San Diego officials push for more control over autonomous vehicles.

Your last-minute guide to in-person voting for California's general election

Karen Garcia — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Everything you need to know about how to vote last-minute in the 2026 California general election, including how and where to register, check your status and more.

Commentary: California's super-rich conquered the world, but not always the voters

Patt Morrison — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Big-money tycoons have leveraged their fortunes to shape the state with their railroads, mines, newspapers, oil businesses and ranching and agriculture.

Democrats are the wild card in House race between two SoCal Republicans

Dakota Smith — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Two veteran Republican incumbents are battling for a solidly red congressional seat in Orange and Riverside counties in an election that could be swayed by Democratic and independent voters.

Your last-minute guide to Proposition 45: CEQA and data centers