Supreme Court Weighs Phone Searches to Find Criminals Amid Complaints of 'Digital Dragnets'
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on April 27 about whether geofence warrants—searches that sweep the location data of every phone within a defined area— violate the Fourth Amendment. The case stems from a 2019 Virginia bank robbery in which detectives used Google’s stored location‑history to pinpoint the suspect, Okello Chatrie, leading to his arrest and a conditional guilty plea. Civil libertarians argue the practice amounts to a modern “digital dragnet,” while law‑enforcement officials contend it is a vital tool against tech‑savvy criminals. The Court’s ruling, expected by June, could reshape how digital evidence is obtained nationwide.
A Renewed Threat to JPL as the Trump Administration Tries Again to Cut NASA
The Trump administration’s 2027 budget request calls for a 23% cut to NASA’s overall budget and a 46% reduction to its science programs, putting 53 science missions – including Mars Perseverance and a new Venus orbiter – at risk. The...
Meet the LAUSD Veteran Who Leads the Principals Union
Maria Nichols, a 60‑year‑old former principal, now heads the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) after merging with Teamsters Local 2010. The tentative contract she negotiated grants more than 11% salary increases for roughly 3,000 principals, assistant principals and middle managers,...
If You Shop at Trader Joe's, It May Owe You $100
Trader Joe’s agreed to a $7.4 million class‑action settlement after receipts printed in 2019 displayed ten‑digit credit and debit card numbers, violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. The deal allocates $2.6 million for attorney fees and an additional $10,000 incentive, leaving...
Authors Are Slamming Reese Witherspoon for Telling Followers 'It's Time to Learn A.I.'
Oscar‑winner Reese Witherspoon used an Instagram Reel to tell her followers that women need to start learning artificial intelligence, warning that their jobs are three times more likely to be automated. She cited a small book‑club sample where only three...
Jury Awards $11.8 Million to Dodgers Fan Blinded by LAPD During World Series Celebration
A federal jury awarded Isaac Castellanos $11.8 million after a Los Angeles police projectile permanently blinded him during the 2020 World Series celebration. The 37‑mm “skip‑trace” launcher was fired from roughly 145 feet—well beyond LAPD policy that mandates close‑range use—causing a hard‑foam...
A Gas that Causes Climate Change Is Bubbling Out of Reservoirs
Environmental groups, including Friends of the River and Patagonia, have petitioned the California Air Resources Board to require dams and reservoirs to report methane emissions, a greenhouse gas the state currently does not track. EPA data shows flooded lands emitted...
Iran War Helped Freeze L.A.'s Housing Market. Some Hope Ceasefire Will Bring More Sales
The Iran‑War‑driven surge in mortgage rates pushed Los Angeles’ housing market into a deep freeze, with only 3,072 homes sold in January—the lowest monthly total in three years. Rates climbed to 6.46%, sidelining first‑time buyers and extending median listing times to...
Coachella Looks Like Fun and Glamour for Influencers. Behind the Scenes, They Fiercely Strategize
Coachella 2026 has become a high‑stakes arena where influencers treat the festival like a content‑creation boot camp. Creators such as Sam Mintesnot hustle for brand invitations, often securing passes just days before the event. YouTube streams the festival across seven...
LAUSD Strike Preparations: Where Families Can Find Free Food, Childcare and Other Help
Facing a potential strike by three unions representing about 70,000 LAUSD employees, the district warned schools could close as early as Tuesday. To mitigate the impact on families, LAUSD has organized 30 free grab‑and‑go meal sites, multiple fresh‑produce markets, and...
L.A. Officials Raise Alarms over Crippling Olympic Costs: 'Bankruptcy Cannot Be the Legacy'
Los Angeles officials are pressing LA28 for a binding contract that guarantees the organizing committee will cover any excess costs the city incurs for policing, transportation, sanitation and other services during the 2028 Olympic Games. The Games are projected to...
Karen Bass Seeks Council Approval of $360-Million Allocation for Affordable Housing
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Ysabel Jurado are seeking City Council approval for a $360 million allocation to fund affordable‑housing projects. The money would support 80 developments, creating 1,528 new units and repairing more than 2,500 existing affordable homes....
Three Unions Unite in Massive LAUSD Strike Threat: What's at Stake for Workers, Families
Three Los Angeles school‑district unions—UTLA, SEIU Local 99 and AALA—have formed an unprecedented alliance that could shut down LAUSD if any two walk out. The coalition represents roughly 70,000 of the district’s 83,300 employees, spanning teachers, administrators, bus drivers and custodial staff....
For 40 Minutes, the Greatest Solitude Humans Have Known
During Artemis II’s lunar flyby, the four‑person crew spent 40 minutes behind the Moon, completely out of radio contact with Earth. Commander Reid Wiseman and his teammates watched the far side with the naked eye, a first for humans, while sharing...
Owners Keep Thousands of San Diego Homes Vacant Despite High Rents. They Could Soon Be Taxed
San Diego voters will decide on a vacant‑home tax that would hit roughly 5,000 empty properties with an $8,000 fee in the first year, rising to $10,000 and adding a $4,000 surcharge for corporate owners. The city’s budget office estimates...
PG&E Is Overcharging Californians to Keep Diablo Canyon Open, Report Alleges
A new UC Santa Barbara white paper alleges Pacific Gas & Electric overstates costs to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open, creating a $658.6 million shortfall on the $1.4 billion state loan. The report finds that mandatory customer fees are unnecessary; removing...
San Bernardino Police Slammed Handcuffed Teen to the Ground, Lawsuit Alleges
Eighteen‑year‑old Erin Cowser has filed a lawsuit against the San Bernardino Police Department, alleging that an officer violently slammed her to the pavement while she was handcuffed, causing a concussion and facial injuries. Body‑worn camera footage captured the incident and contradicts...
For More than 30 Years — Day in, Day Out — He's Chronicled California. One Paragraph at a Time
Jack Kavanagh’s Rough & Tumble, a one‑man California political news aggregator, has delivered daily paragraph‑style summaries for more than 30 years, drawing about 1.1 million page views a year from readers worldwide. The site eschews graphics and opinion, offering only headlines and concise analysis,...
California Kids Are Going without Vision Care, and the Problem Is Getting Worse
Vision problems are rising among California children, yet only 16% of Medi‑Cal‑covered school‑age kids received a comprehensive eye exam between 2022 and 2024, down from 19% eight years earlier. The decline is statewide, with rural counties such as Colusa falling...
Two Days in the Office a Month? L.A. City Attorney Candidates Tussle over Telework
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto enforces a three‑day‑in‑office rule for most staff attorneys, while challenger Marissa Roy argues for a two‑days‑per‑month schedule modeled on the state attorney general’s office. The dispute has split the city attorneys union, which filed an...
The Loophole that Keeps a Trump Loyalist Serving as L.A.’s Top Federal Prosecutor
Bill Essayli, a Trump loyalist, remains Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor by holding the title of “first assistant U.S. attorney,” a loophole that bypasses Senate confirmation. A federal judge ruled he cannot act as an interim U.S. attorney, but the...
Gas Is $10 a Gallon at a Big Sur Station. The Owner Explains Why His Prices Can't Go Higher
Owner Leo Flores of Gorda by the Sea, the only gas station for miles along Highway 1 in Big Sur, is charging $9.99 per gallon because the pump software caps prices at $10. The station runs on diesel generators that consume five to six gallons...
2 U.S. Aircraft Downed as Iran War Escalates; Both Pilots Rescued, One Crew Member Missing, Officials Say
Two U.S. combat aircraft – an F‑15E fighter and an A‑10 attack jet – were shot down over Iran, prompting a rescue that saved one pilot while a crew member remains missing. Iran credited a newly deployed air‑defense system for...
A SoCal Native Is Set to Pilot NASA’s Lunar Mission — and Become the First Black Person to Reach the...
NASA’s Artemis II mission, slated for launch in early 2026, will send a crew on a lunar flyby—the first human trip around the Moon in half a century. Victor Glover, a Southern California native and veteran Navy test pilot, will serve...
Should We Be Investing in Stocks After Retirement?
Retirees with substantial real‑estate income often wonder if a 90% stock allocation is prudent. Financial planner Liz Weston advises maintaining some equity exposure for inflation protection but cautions against excessive concentration, recommending a balanced mix that includes bonds or annuities...
After COVID, Raids and Other Blows, DTLA Is Hurting. But 'Mr. Downtown' Believes It Will Rise Again
Hal Bastian, known as “Mr. Downtown L.A.,” warns that downtown Los Angeles is still reeling from COVID‑19, civil unrest and recent federal raids, leaving roughly half of the pre‑pandemic 500,000 office workers absent and vacancy rates climbing above one‑third of commercial...
16 Ways to Experience L.A.’s Electric Literary Scene This Spring
The Walter siblings’ monthly reading series, Essays, has evolved from a modest backyard gathering in March 2024 to a flagship event at Echo Park’s Hunt Vintage, regularly attracting over 150 attendees. The show emphasizes personal storytelling over punchy jokes, tapping into...
Four-Story Buildings Allowed in some Single-Family Zones Under L.A.'s Plan to Delay SB 79
Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to upzone 55 single‑family and low‑density neighborhoods, permitting four‑story, 4‑16 unit buildings. The measure is designed to delay the statewide SB 79 upzoning requirements until 2030, offering a modest density increase compared with the...
This Rail Line Would Get You to the Grove, the Beverly Center and Cedars-Sinai. Is It L.A.'s 'Missing Link'?
Los Angeles Metro is poised to vote on a 9.7‑mile underground extension of the K Line from Crenshaw/Expo to Hollywood, adding nine stations and a tenth at the Hollywood Bowl. The project, projected to cost $11‑$15 billion, could raise daily ridership...
A Shirtless Man Appeared in Her Elderly Mother's Room. What the Camera Showed Next Was Disturbing
Volunteer piano player Jonathan Michael Alvarado was arrested after a Ring camera captured him inside an elderly resident’s room at La Mirada Heights senior living facility, where he allegedly raped a woman with dementia. The victim’s daughter filed a civil...
'Sled Head': Lawsuits Against USA Bobsled/Skeleton Allege Permanent Brain Damage From the Sports
Former U.S. bobsledders have filed new lawsuits claiming USA Bobsled/Skeleton knowingly hid the sport’s risk of permanent brain injury, a condition they label “sled head.” The complaints detail chronic symptoms such as memory loss, migraines and neurodegenerative disease, and add...
Bill Cosby Loses Civil Sex Assault Lawsuit in Los Angeles County; Faces $19-Million Judgment
An LA County civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting former waitress Donna Motsinger in 1972, awarding her $19.25 million in damages. The verdict follows Cosby’s earlier criminal conviction, which was overturned in 2021 after he served...
Jet Collides with Fire Truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport. 2 Pilots Killed
An Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire‑truck on LaGuardia’s runway during a landing attempt, killing both pilots and injuring roughly 40 passengers and crew. The fire‑truck had been cleared to cross the runway to respond to a separate...
As Malls and Department Stores Fade, California's Ross and Other Discounters Are Booming
Bargain retailers are thriving as malls and department stores shrink, with Ross Dress for Less leading the charge. Ross announced a plan to open 110 new stores this year, following 90 openings last year, and reported record 2025 sales of...
California Used Faulty DUI Tests for Nearly 10 Years, State Justice Department Says
California’s Department of Justice discovered that for nearly ten years it relied on faulty urinalysis kits from Andwin Scientific, which lacked adequate sodium fluoride to prevent sample fermentation. An audit revealed that only 0.07% of DUI cases – about 97...
Rep. Eric Swalwell's Private AI Company Raises Money, Questions
Rep. Eric Swalwell co‑founded Findraiser, an AI‑driven platform that scans campaign fundraising data. Dozens of Democratic campaigns, including Swalwell’s own congressional and gubernatorial bids, have paid the firm for its services. The company is close to profitability, valued between $100,001...
LAUSD Teacher and Service Worker Unions Announce Massive April 14 Strike if No Deal Reached
Los Angeles Unified School District’s two largest unions – teachers and Service Employees International Union Local 99 – announced a joint strike set for April 14 if a new contract isn’t reached. The walkout would involve roughly 60,000 teachers, counselors, nurses, bus...
For Disabled Fliers, Hope Took Wing. Then Trump Returned to Office
Former Paralympian Seth McBride, paralyzed after a ski accident, highlights the daily hurdles wheelchair users face when flying, from missing equipment to unsafe handling. The Biden administration issued rules obligating airlines to assume liability for damaged or delayed wheelchairs and...
Long COVID Leaves Thousands of L.A. County Residents Sick, Broke and Ignored
Long COVID remains a hidden crisis for thousands of Los Angeles County residents, despite the official end of the COVID‑19 public health emergency. Patients like Elle Seibert and Lawrence Totress describe debilitating fatigue, cardiac issues, and cognitive impairment that have stripped...
Turning the Altadena Fire Into a Civil Rights Crusade: Was Discrimination Against Black Residents at Play?
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump announced he is collecting evidence for a federal discrimination lawsuit against Los Angeles County over its response to the Eaton fire in Altadena. The suit alleges that county officials delayed or limited assistance to predominantly...
Oil Prices Are Skyrocketing, but This Is Why Companies Won't Rush to Drill in California
Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel, but California producers are unlikely to accelerate drilling. The state’s aging, heavy‑crude fields require higher capital and energy than lighter shale plays elsewhere, making new wells uneconomical without sustained price strength. Analysts...
California Sues over Trump Demand for College Race, Test Score and GPA Admissions Data
California and 16 other Democratic states have sued the Trump administration over a new Education Department rule that forces colleges to report detailed race, gender, GPA and test‑score data for applicants, admits and enrollees by March 18. The policy is presented...
California DACA Recipient Sues Trump Administration over Her Deportation
Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a 42‑year‑old DACA recipient, was deported to Mexico in February 2026 despite holding active DACA protection. Her attorneys filed a federal lawsuit demanding her immediate return, arguing the removal violated due process because she never...
Hailing Rides to and From LAX Could Get More Expensive Under New Proposal
Los Angeles World Airports is set to vote on raising rideshare access fees at LAX from $4 to $12 for the central terminal area and to $6 for the upcoming Skylink people‑mover. The fee hike, the first in a decade, aims...