L.A. Times - Religious News

Santa Rosa Island fire burns more than 10,000 acres, threatening rare plants and animals

Jack Flemming — Mon, 18 May 2026 04:51:03 GMT

A human-caused fire spread to more than 10,000 acres on Sunday night, destroying two structures and forcing the evacuation of 11 people.

Pedro Pascal goes undercover for 'Star Wars' surprise at Disneyland

Jack Flemming — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:50:39 GMT

Pedro Pascal surprised fans with an undercover appearance as "The Mandalorian" at Disneyland on Saturday.

Bittersweet Pride: Joy at the Long Beach parade, outrage over canceled festival

Brittny Mejia — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:47:40 GMT

Hundreds celebrated at the Long Beach Pride parade, but the weekend was overshadowed by the abrupt, last-minute cancellation of the popular decades-old festival.

Feds say they thwarted alleged terror plot targeting L.A. Jewish institution

Katie King — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:07:27 GMT

Federal authorities say they have disrupted a multi-city terror plot that included an L.A. Jewish center, arresting an Iraqi national with alleged ties to Kata'ib Hizballah.

Tustin police arrest man accused of fatally shooting ex-girlfriend before fleeing to Mexico

Brittny Mejia — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:07:19 GMT

Tustin police arrested 47-year-old Juan Marquez after he allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend, a mother of three, and fled across the U.S.-Mexico border.

3 dead in Oakland after speeding driver crashes into crowd, juvenile driver hospitalized

Katie King — Sun, 17 May 2026 16:36:54 GMT

The crash before midnight Saturday left three dead, and several other bystanders injured, according to an Oakland Fire Department official.

L.A. mayoral candidates vie for the crucial Latino vote. Bass has an edge over Pratt and Raman

Melissa Gomez — Sun, 17 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Latinos make up about 37% of the L.A. electorate. Mayoral candidates are putting out ads in Spanish, rallying endorsements and canvassing Latino neighborhoods.

Should a high-voltage power line run through California's largest state park? Critics are furious

Hayley Smith — Sun, 17 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The proposed 140-mile, 500-kilovolt Golden Pacific Powerlink from San Diego Gas & Electric would cut through California's largest state park, Anza-Borrego.

Barabak: Californians on a confounding race for governor: 'I haven't ... a clue who I'm going to vote for'

Mark Z. Barabak — Sun, 17 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Becerra and Hilton have emerged as the candidates to beat. But dozens of interviews across the San Gabriel Valley, a prime campaign battleground, find many voters still undecided. And discouraged.

L.A. County health officials confirm fifth measles case this year

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Sun, 17 May 2026 03:39:34 GMT

Officials have confirmed a measles case in a Los Angeles County resident who recently traveled internationally.

Woman killed in Santa Monica after crawling under Metro bus

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Sun, 17 May 2026 02:32:57 GMT

Investigators said a woman was pronounced dead at the scene after she moved under a Metro bus before it pulled away.

Photos: Red Bull Soapbox Derby Racing

Genaro Molina — Sun, 17 May 2026 02:24:22 GMT

What do a bowl of cereal, a dish of ramen, a hamburger, a taco truck and hot dogs have in common?

Mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt heads to the Valley, wooing voters in his rival's district

David Zahniser — Sun, 17 May 2026 01:07:25 GMT

Pratt declined interview requests and did not give a speech, opting instead to talk to voters one by one in Sherman Oaks.

The world's largest wildlife crossing and five others are coming to Southern California

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Sun, 17 May 2026 00:40:23 GMT

While construction continues on the world's largest wildlife crossing in Agoura Hills, planning is underway for five more crossings in the Mojave Desert and over I-15.

Train car found with 6 dead migrants inside came from Long Beach, officials say

Salvador Hernandez — Sat, 16 May 2026 21:32:06 GMT

Six migrants were found dead inside a train car in Laredo, Texas, Sunday, and officials say the train originated from Long Beach.

California man facing federal charges in international turtle trafficking plot

Greg Braxton — Sat, 16 May 2026 18:01:29 GMT

Federal authorities charged a Daly City man in an international trafficking plot to smuggle nearly 300 poached loggerhead musk turtles from Florida to Taiwan.

Photos: Gustavo Dudamel, L.A. Phil music director, honored at 2026 USC commencement ceremony

Jason Armond, Genaro Molina — Sat, 16 May 2026 16:26:01 GMT

Los Angeles Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel delivers the keynote address at USC's 143rd commencement ceremony.

Lopez: L.A.'s cracked sidewalks are a symptom of a bigger breakdown. Does new plan offer real hope?

Steve Lopez — Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Sidewalks and streets could get long-awaited upgrades, but don't hold your breath.

The gray wolf's improbable California comeback continues as population hits modern record number

Clara Harter — Sat, 16 May 2026 11:00:00 GMT

After being hunted to extinction a century ago, gray wolves are continuing their remarkable comeback story in California, with state wildlife officials reporting a modern record number of the apex predators in 2025.

Long Beach cancels Pride Festival the day before event starts, citing lack of permit

Clara Harter — Sat, 16 May 2026 03:01:56 GMT

The day before the annual Long Beach Pride Festival was set to kick off, the city announced that the event had instead been canceled — pointing blame at the organizer for failing to provide required safety information in time.

School resource officer accused of excessive force on student, authorities investigate

Karen Garcia — Fri, 15 May 2026 19:46:05 GMT

A Riverside County deputy has been reassigned pending an investigation into a use-of-force incident involving a female student near Vista del Lago High School.

Three poisoned by mushrooms foraged in California wine country amid 'unprecedented' outbreak

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 15 May 2026 19:26:15 GMT

Three people were recently hospitalized after eating poisonous wild mushrooms foraged in California wine country amid an unprecedented outbreak of illness and deaths linked to the practice statewide, according to Napa County health officials.

The Steyer campaign pays influencers. Their posts don't always make that clear

Ben Wieder — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:33:26 GMT

Tom Steyer's campaign appears to have relied on paid influencers more than any candidate for governor, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.

Conditions at immigrant detention centers in California have worsened under Trump, report says

Andrea Castillo — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:15:25 GMT

California enacted a law during the first Trump administration requiring state oversight of immigrant detention facilities. This is the fifth report released by the California Department of Justice since 2019.

Tustin police search for shooter who killed a 42-year-old woman

Grace Toohey — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:39:19 GMT

A woman was found fatally shot Thursday evening in Tustin. Witnesses reported seeing a man fleeing the scene, according to the Tustin Police Department.

Winds to whip Southern California, boosting risk of fires and dangerous seas

Alex Wigglesworth — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:34:28 GMT

Southern California is in for some windy weather over the weekend, which could bring brief periods of elevated wildfire risk to some areas.

Altadena's latest roadblock to rebuilding: Sewage

Grace Toohey — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of Altadena residents worry that they may be on the hook for a share of the estimated $70 million needed to build sewer lines in neighborhoods that rely on septic tanks.

After public outcry, Orange County halts herbicide spraying in creeks

Ian James — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Orange County officials announced they will 'pause' spraying herbicides in creeks across the county. The decision came after a social media campaign by residents.

Trump administration readying a plan to impose Colorado River water cuts on western states

Ian James — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The White House has told western states it's working on a 10-year plan for the overtapped Colorado River that will allow for reassessing cutbacks every two years.

L.A.'s ultra-urban rivers wash tons of trash out to sea. There's a plan to change that before the Olympics

Lila Seidman — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

'Trash interceptors' will be installed in the L.A. and San Gabriel rivers to stop tons of plastic from reaching the ocean before the 2028 Olympics.

Top takeaways from final governor's debate: Knives out for Becerra

Seema Mehta, Nicole Nixon, Kevin Rector — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Candidates running to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom repeatedly attacked surging Democrat Xavier Becerra during a testy debate in a remarkably unsettled contest less than three weeks before the June 2 primary.

Commentary: Who won and who lost in Thursday night's California gubernatorial debate? Our columnists weigh in

Gustavo Arellano, Mark Z. Barabak, Anita Chabria — Fri, 15 May 2026 03:00:54 GMT

Candidates pile on the Democratic front-runner, Xavier Becerra, including a white-paper wielding Katie Porter. But nothing happened that's likely to shake up the race as it careens toward the finish. Some inspiration would help.

Concerns over federal funding for L.A. Olympics raised by state lawmakers

Katie King — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:10:12 GMT

As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympics, state lawmakers are raising concerns that potential clashes with President Trump could cause chaos.

Chabria: A former Becerra aide pleaded guilty in a fraud case. I still have questions

Anita Chabria — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:03:41 GMT

Though Williamson's guilty plea may seem like an ending to the saga, it shouldn't be.

Suspect in Playa del Rey crash that killed toddler was already wanted in two DUIs, records show

Ruben Vives — Thu, 14 May 2026 23:57:43 GMT

Court records show the suspect in the May 3 crash in Playa del Rey that killed a 1-year-old and his uncle had been arrested twice for DUI and had two outstanding arrest warrants.

Dodgers pitcher, horse racing jockeys linked to cockfighting in Puerto Rico

Hannah Fry — Thu, 14 May 2026 22:44:38 GMT

All-Star closer Edwin Díaz and brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz were allegedly linked to illegal cockfighting in Puerto Rico through social media posts, according to reporting from USA Today.

What Newsom's proposed budget means for education in California

Howard Blume, Jaweed Kaleem, Kate Sequeira — Thu, 14 May 2026 22:13:32 GMT

Gov. Newsom announces record education funding and how he'd like to spend it — including rainy-day reserves and a massive boost to help students with disabilities.

Steyer campaign staffer linked to video of rival Katie Porter berating staff

Nicole Nixon — Thu, 14 May 2026 20:06:31 GMT

A Tom Steyer staffer appears to have leaked the infamous video that showed former Rep. Katie Porter yelling at a staff member during a video call.

Two chemicals in everyday California air may pose 'unacceptable' cancer risk, findings suggest

Hayley Smith — Thu, 14 May 2026 20:00:55 GMT

California health officials have released new scientific findings that suggest the health risks from exposure to two chemicals present in ambient air, acrolein and ethylene oxide, are worse than previously known.

SoCal man sold $80 million in cannabis products and didn't report it, state prosecutors say

Hannah Fry — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:41:33 GMT

A man who operated unlicensed marijuana dispensaries across Southern California is facing dozens of felony charges for evading $7.1 million in taxes, according to state prosecutors.

House fire in Montebello leaves one dead, authorities start arson investigation

Grace Toohey, Joseph Serna — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:31:20 GMT

One person is confirmed dead and two others critically injured in a house fire early Thursday in Montebello that police are now investigating for "suspicious circumstances."

Irvine man arrested after allegedly killing a duckling, dumping others in the trash

Summer Lin — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:32:50 GMT

An Irvine man was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, according to authorities.

Alameda County to pay $36 million over deputy's double murder and 911 cover-up

Richard Winton — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:05:51 GMT

Alameda County to pay $36 million to the surviving family of Maria and Benison Tran, who were killed by a sheriff's deputy.

This coming El Niño could be a monster. Will it bring epic rain to California this winter?

Rong-Gong Lin II — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:25:33 GMT

A super-strength El Niño appears to be taking shape in the Pacific Ocean, heightening concerns that Southern California could be in for an extreme rainy season.

Consultant linked to Becerra and Newsom pleads guilty in federal corruption case

Dakota Smith — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:16:59 GMT

Dana Williamson's federal corruption case is taking center stage in the governor's race.

'We won!' UC service workers get tentative deal for big raises, averting threatened strike

Jaweed Kaleem — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:23:20 GMT

UC strike is averted as AFSCME Local 3299, representing 40,000 technical patient care workers and service staff, reaches a tentative agreement that it says won major raises and caps on healthcare premium costs.

Tax windfall may rescue Newsom's final budget as governor

Taryn Luna — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

The unusual early preview of his final budget comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom begins to wind down his time at the state Capitol and considers a run for president in 2028.

Hantavirus strikes a cruise ship, Californians at risk: Is this the start of something much worse?

Rong-Gong Lin II — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The MV Hondius was the epicenter of the first-ever deadly outbreak of hantavirus aboard a modern cruise ship. Was this a freak occurrence, or a sign of things to come?

Another Californian was exposed to hantavirus in deadly cruise ship outbreak, officials announce

Clara Harter — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Health officials have identified a fifth California resident who was exposed to the hantavirus strain that spread on a Dutch cruise ship and killed three people.

Amid surging inflation, L.A. food giveaway draws thousands — and runs out of supplies

Clara Harter — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Angelenos are feeling the pinch of ongoing gas and grocery price spikes amid the U.S. war on Iran. A food distribution event in Baldwin Hills ran out of supplies Wednesday, sending scores of families home empty-handed.

200,000 Californians create as much power as a nuclear plant to help the grid. Now that's up in the air

Blanca Begert — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California has one of the most successful "virtual power plants" in the world, but it's on the chopping block.

Tesla rollover crash sparked Chino Hills fire that forced people from their homes, officials say

Clara Harter, Andrew J. Campa — Thu, 14 May 2026 04:11:35 GMT

A fire that sparked Wednesday evening in Chino Hills was caused by a Tesla vehicle that crashed and rolled over, authorities reported Thursday. The Grand Fire has spread to 30 acres but is 50% contained.

L.A. moves to delay $30-an-hour minimum wage for hotel, airport workers tied to 2028 Olympics

Suhauna Hussain — Wed, 13 May 2026 23:42:24 GMT

The move, which would delay the wage hike by two years to 2030, is aimed at stopping a ballot initiative to repeal a business tax that could cost the city some $860 million annually.

40,000 UC workers gird for a strike, disrupting medical services, cafeterias at all campuses

Jaweed Kaleem — Wed, 13 May 2026 22:48:01 GMT

More than 40,000 University of California workers plan an open-ended strike Thursday morning unless contract demands are met. A walkout would disrupt some medical procedures, cleaning and dining services system-wide.

Millions of dollars in scholarships are available to high school students. Here's how to get funding

Karen Garcia — Wed, 13 May 2026 22:44:02 GMT

Public school students throughout Los Angeles County may be eligible for hassle-free scholarship funding of up to $1,500.

Vance says $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California will be deferred over fraud concerns

Kevin Rector — Wed, 13 May 2026 22:29:26 GMT

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the Trump administration is deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to California over concerns the state is allowing "fraudsters" to drive up costs to taxpayers by pushing unnecessary medications on unsuspecting patients.

Ex-Dodger denies seeing Rebecca Grossman kill young brothers with her SUV

Richard Winton — Wed, 13 May 2026 22:14:19 GMT

Former Dodger Scott Erickson told jurors in a civil trial Wednesday that he never saw Rebecca Grossman hit the boys with her SUV.

Case of shooting at Rihanna's home clouded by concerns over accused woman's mental health

James Queally — Wed, 13 May 2026 20:34:42 GMT

A public defender representing a Florida woman accused of opening fire on Rihanna's Westside home in March said mental health concerns could be an issue in the case.

O.C. mom faces charges after son on e-motorcycle allegedly struck, fatally injured 81-year-old

Salvador Hernandez — Wed, 13 May 2026 20:15:51 GMT

Prosecutors allege Tommi Jo Mejer's 14-year-old son struck the Vietnam War veteran, 81, with his e-motorcycle in Lake Forest last month, delivering fatal injuries.

Image of water polo players in Speedos sparks feud. Mom demands SoCal school officials resign

Summer Lin — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:52:06 GMT

Temecula Valley Unified School District Board President Joseph Komrosky and member Jennifer Wiersma compared teenage students to Chippendales dancers and an OnlyFans crew.

13 hurt in major crash in Santa Clarita after big rig tries to avoid running a light, officials say

Andrew J. Campa — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:05:45 GMT

Thirteen passengers were injured when a bus collided with a gravel big rig and potentially one additional vehicle Wednesday morning in Santa Clarita, authorities confirmed.

Drug counselor who sold Matthew Perry fatal dose of ketamine handed prison sentence

Gavin J. Quinton, Brittny Mejia — Wed, 13 May 2026 18:10:08 GMT

Erik Fleming previously pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court to distributing the ketamine that killed 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry in 2023.

Newsom to propose fund to help California wildfire victims rebuild

Taryn Luna — Wed, 13 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

The $100-million fund would help wildfire victims rebuild homes by covering loan-loss guarantees and reducing interest rates during construction.

Karen Bass, Xavier Becerra top new poll for L.A. mayor, California governor

Noah Goldberg — Wed, 13 May 2026 17:59:07 GMT

The incumbent mayor is leading among likely voters, but not by a big enough margin to avoid a Nov. 3 runoff with either Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman.

Heavier storms and longer dry spells are drying California and the West

Ian James — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:59:24 GMT

As more rain is concentrated in heavier storms, many parts of California and the western U.S. are drying, new research shows.

Ex-gubernatorial candidate with OnlyFans model fiancée charged with witness tampering

Hannah Fry, Richard Winton, Seema Mehta — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:14:36 GMT

The real estate developer who ran for governor before stepping down in November was arrested in Los Angeles County on Tuesday, records show.

Photos: Orphaned Monrovia bear cubs on path back to wild after state euthanized their mom

Clara Harter — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

After state officials made the controversial decision to euthanize a beloved Monrovia bear, the fate of her cubs was uncertain. Now, the 4-month-old brothers are making promising progress toward returning to the wild.

Scam of elderly man goes so well, con artists strike again. But their timing is horrible

Andrew J. Campa — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Shaohua Sun of Monterey Park and Yanwen Gu of Rosemead pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit elder abuse. They deceived a Ventura man into giving them $25,000 and were arrested after trying to take $50,000 more, authorities say.

Contributor: 'Super meth' isn't exactly real, but the drug is a real factor in L.A. homelessness

Sam Quinones — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:01:00 GMT

Hyper-pure methamphetamine is a major driver of mental illness in Los Angeles and many other parts of the country.

Disabled veterans may be getting a big property tax break in California

Katie King — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Severely disabled veterans in California could be getting an expanded tax break. Proposed legislation would exempt from taxation 50% of the residential property owned by a fully disabled veteran, or 100% if their household income does not exceed $40,000.

Crisis in 'Chinese Beverly Hills': Residents fear a backlash after mayor accused of working with China

Hannah Fry, Brittny Mejia, Cierra Morgan, Summer Lin — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Authorities this week said Arcadia's mayor, Eileen Wang, was acting as an illegal foreign agent of China, a situation that has brought both shock and concern.

Arellano: How a fast food taco showed us who Steve Hilton really is

Gustavo Arellano — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The social media blowback exploded like a digital Montezuma's revenge. Some noted that "street tacos" are made with corn tortillas and bought from a food truck or street stall.

Social media videos take center stage in L.A. mayoral campaign

Noah Goldberg — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

L.A. mayor candidates Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman aim to go viral on social media while incumbent Karen Bass buys ads on 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy.'

L.A.'s surging real estate prices have cooled, so why is nobody buying condos?

Roger Vincent — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The number of condominiums sold in Los Angeles County in January and February was the lowest it's been since 2005.

After the L.A. fires, Altadena's Little League almost folded. Then, they had the season of a lifetime

Grace Toohey — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A new documentary, 'Going for Home,' follows Altadena's Little League in its historic season following the Eaton fire. A community screening of the film will be held Saturday in Altadena's Loma Alta Park.

The nation's students are deep in a reading recession. Here's how L.A. and California fit in

Sharon Lurye, Howard Blume, Jocelyn Gecker — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:01:00 GMT

Student reading scores were declining before the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the slide got worse. Recent bright spots of progress include Compton, L.A. and Modesto.

Man hit by L.A.-bound plane on Denver runway is ID'd. Questions on his motivation swirl

Clara Harter — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:30:12 GMT

Officials have identified the man who walked in front of an L.A.

What we know about Eileen Wang, former Arcadia mayor accused of being Chinese foreign agent

Times staff — Tue, 12 May 2026 23:21:19 GMT

Eileen Wang won the endorsement of prominent political figures and was elected to a seat on the Arcadia City Council. She told The Times in 2024 she had moved to California from China 30 years ago.

Bloody attack amid huge crowd of minors on e-bikes in O.C. 'Out of nowhere,' man says

Salvador Hernandez — Tue, 12 May 2026 23:08:20 GMT

Sam El-Said said he was hit in the face with a glass bottle thrown by someone in the crowd of young e-bike riders and was kicked and stomped on by multiple people.

LAPD's 'best' anti-gang unit shut down, officers investigated for turning off body cams

Libor Jany, Richard Winton — Tue, 12 May 2026 22:57:14 GMT

Members of the 77th Street Division gang enforcement unit have been accused of turning off their body cameras and failing to document some traffic stops.

Union-funded 'attack ad' against Pratt seems aimed at helping him make runoff, analysts say

Noah Goldberg — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:12:48 GMT

Unions backing Bass may be calculating that Pratt would be easier to beat than Raman in a runoff, analysts say

ICE puts new restrictions on members of Congress inspecting detention centers

Andrea Castillo — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:47:25 GMT

A new ICE policy requires members of Congress to seek advanced approval in order to speak with detainees during oversight inspections at detention facilities.

L.A. quietly fires its first chief heat officer

Hayley Smith — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:38:26 GMT

Marta Segura stepped into the new role in 2022 amid a dramatic increase in climate-fueled heat events.

Transnational burglary crew busted in Westlake Village, authorities say

Fedor Zarkhin — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:22:49 GMT

Authorities in Ventura County say a transnational burglary crew was arrested after a pursuit in Westlake Village.

D4vd murder case: Singer to face key hearing on charges he killed, dismembered teen

James Queally — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:06:06 GMT

A preliminary hearing has been set for June in the murder case against David Anthony Burke, the 21-year-old singer better known as D4vd, meaning more detailed evidence about the killing of teenager Celeste Rivas Hernandez will soon become public.

Kern County fire captain arrested after allegedly sexually abusing minor for years

Summer Lin — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:17:51 GMT

A Kern County fire captain was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor for years, according to authorities.

'Delivery drivers' stole $6.5 million from California crypto owner at gunpoint, feds say

Fedor Zarkhin — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:27:29 GMT

Federal prosecutors say the men forced a victim to turn over his cryptocurrency with threats of violence.

Another sales tax hike? Rising costs a concern for L.A. voters in healthcare measure

Rebecca Ellis — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

With the electorate in a dour mood and reeling from rocketing gas prices, some speculate that voters' willingness to tax themselves may be dwindling as ballots arrive for the June 2 election.

Arellano: Tom Steyer courts Latinos in Santa Ana. A young voter wonders if it's just a show

Gustavo Arellano — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A visit to Santa Ana, the heart of Latino Orange County, was a good move for Steyer. At Alta Baja, he could talk to my Mexican American wife and other blue-collar Latinos.

Inside LAUSD's alleged $22-million money-laundering scheme, 'the largest' in district history

Howard Blume — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Their business ties began years before a school-district manager allegedly steered work to executive's company in exchange for kickbacks, LAUSD lawsuit claims.

Massive and made of fiberglass, Muffler Men are a Route 66 classic — and they're multiplying

Christopher Reynolds — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

First erected in the early 1960s as an advertising gimmick, these giants are rising again thanks to preservationists, kitsch aficionados and savvy entrepreneurs.

California's Democratic incumbents face primary challenges from political newcomers

Justine McDaniel, Ana Ceballos — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The challenges are part of a national wave reshaping the debate over generational power and the direction of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.

What the postcards leave out: 5 moments in history that still echo along Route 66

Jasmine Desiree — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

And where you still find remains of these events, from the Dust Bowl exodus to Japanese American incarceration.

3 teens help a beloved dojo owner return to fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades

Hailey Branson-Potts — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Soon, the Gerry Blanck Martial Arts Center, a small but much-loved business that burned in the Palisades fire 15 months ago, will return home.

Why Mel's Drive-In in Santa Monica is the perfect final stop on your Route 66 trip

Stephanie Breijo — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Once the Penguin Coffee Shop, and now Mel's Drive-In, this Googie gathering place marks the unofficial end of the Mother Road.

Out of hundreds of suspects, 42 arrested in Inland Empire child sex exploitation bust

Clara Harter, Alex Wigglesworth — Tue, 12 May 2026 02:48:06 GMT

A suspect in a child sexual assault, two corporate vice presidents and a child psychologist were among 42 people arrested in a sweeping child sexual exploitation bust in the Inland Empire.