The Los Angeles
Government
Santa Monica Library facing deep-cleaning demands after alleged discovery of E. coli, fecal matter
Calls are growing for a deep cleaning of Santa Monica’s main library after an outside organization allegedly found fecal matter and E. coli on tables, computer keyboards and other surfaces....
Already battered by waves, Long Beach prepares for possibility of more high surf
Thirteen homes along the Long Beach Peninsula have already been red-tagged following lashings by powerful waves and the city is bracing for the possibility of another round of high tides that could cause even more damage to an already vulnerable coastline. Parts of the boardwalk ...
What to do if you make a mistake on your ballot
Ballots are out to California voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election. (Megan Garvey / LAist) It’s time to vote in the California 2026 midterm election — which includes your chance to decide who’ll be the state’s next governor. If you’re a registered California voter, your ba...
Bass, Raman to face off in only live televised LA mayoral debate
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (left) and L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman. (Myung J. Chun (left) and Genaro Molina (right) / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Topline: Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and her challenger, City Councilmember Nithya Raman, are scheduled to face off i...
Will LA County get control over homelessness programs as LAHSA exits?
A critical decision on whether to give Los Angeles County control of key administrative functions for regional homelessness programs will be up for a vote Tuesday. Los Angeles Continuum of Care general membership is expected to meet Tuesday afternoon to potentially designate the ...
Karen Bass and Nithya Raman: continuity or change in the Los Angeles mayoral race
The race for Los Angeles mayor is entering its final stretch. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is fighting to hold on to the job for another four years, while Nithya Raman is looking to tap into the frustration of many voters to lead the city she has represented as a councilmember for ...
Maxine Waters poised to become oldest member of Congress despite GOP challenge in CA-43
Being older than former President Joe Biden is unlikely to deter Rep. Maxine Waters from seeking reelection to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. Waters, who turned 88 in August, received four times as many votes as her Republican challenger, Cristian Morales, in...
November elections: school measures on LA County ballots
On November 3, residents in several cities across Los Angeles County will vote not only for the next governor, but also on measures tied to school bonds for 14 districts. School districts will place bond measures on the ballot to raise funds for school improvements, school progra...
Measure AT: Should Inglewood collect more revenue from SoFi Stadium, major venues?
Inglewood voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to eliminate an annual cap on admissions tax revenue from major entertainment venues, including SoFi Stadium, and establish a new tax structure that could generate millions of dollars in additional revenue for the city. Measure AT or th...
After losing ground with Latino voters, Democrats are turning to influencers for help
Democrats are trying to rebuild trust among Latino voters, and turning to content creators for help. Above, Spanish language voting stickers which read "He Votado Hoy" ("I Voted Today") at a Philadelphia polling place in 2019. (Matt Rourke / AP) Democrats lost the 2024 elections ...
What issues are you most interested in hearing about in the LA mayoral debate?
Incumbent Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman will meet Tuesday for a live one-hour debate in the race for Los Angeles mayor. The commercial-free debate, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52, is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., will focus on topics shaping the future the city, inclu...
Republican Steve Hilton leans on cheeky ads, voter discontent in long-shot campaign for governor
Hilton has tried to walk a fine line, appealing to the 6 million Californians who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 while avoiding the president's brand.
L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has strong opinions. But they often change
'One day she's yes, the other day she's no,' Councilmember Heather Hutt said of L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, who endorsed Mayor Karen Bass' reelection campaign and then ran against her....
Agents search Rep. Omar's home in criminal probe as she vows she won't ‘be silenced'
Federal agents on Monday searched the home of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a startling escalation in a criminal investigation that brings renewed focus to the frequent target of Trump administration derision in the final weeks of her reelection bid. The search of the Minnesot...
Heavy surf, red-tagged homes, a battered boardwalk: Long Beach confronts costly climate reality
Long Beach is working to secure its historic boardwalk and protective bulkhead, putting up sandbags and rebuilding a berm to stop water intrusion.
How the GOP weaponized trans issues and left Democrats searching for a strategy
For the second election cycle in a row, the rights of transgender people have taken center stage politically, despite their accounting for only about 1% of the U.S. population and many voters identifying other issues as far more important....
Long Beach boardwalk splinters as remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel threaten waterfront homes
Eight Long Beach Peninsula homes were marked unsafe as the remnants of Rachel damaged the boardwalk and sent waves breaching the seawall.
GOP candidates face backlash as workers squeezed out of jobs by Trump's tariffs
Nelson Vandermeer voted Republican for decades but balked at supporting President Donald Trump , fearing that the Republican’s plan for tariffs on imports would hurt workers more than help. Last year, Vandermeer’s premonition came true in a very personal way. The 62-year-old lost...
Mandatory evacuations in place for parts of Long Beach Peninsula hit by strong surf
As Long Beach continues bracing for another round of powerful waves, the city’s mayor is warning the worst may still be ahead. The damage from the last round of high tide was still visible on the peninsula Saturday. Sand covered parts of the boardwalk and nearby streets. Crews sp...
FCC considers allowing more political robocalls before midterms, including those created with AI
The Federal Communications Commission is considering a request to loosen rules on political robocalls, including those with AI-generated voices.
Why one small stretch of Long Beach keeps getting pounded with damaging waves
Locals and members of the media fill the boardwalk as king tides slam the wooden bulkhead on the Peninsula in Long Beach, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 (Thomas R. Cordova / Long Beach Post) Long Beach is famously surrounded by a breakwater to protect its harbor, but that massive barrier...
Nithya Raman touts record on homelessness, calls for greater city oversight in interview with ABC7
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman says her approach to leadership is needed to address the city's homelessness crisis and restore public trust in government....
Long Beach orders evacuations, fast-tracks plans to rebuild beach as waves pound the Peninsula
Neighbors move sandbags to help protect a home off the boardwalk as a wave hits the bulkhead on the Peninsula in Long Beach on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (Thomas R. Cordova. / Long Beach Post) Long Beach ordered some residents on the Peninsula to evacuate Friday night as Tropical Stor...
Trump's proposed memorial arch faces lawsuit from Virginia county board
President Donald Trump’s planned Triumphal Arch faces a new lawsuit from the Arlington County Board in Virginia, according to the Associated Press.
High-speed rail board limits CEO contract authority after $600,000 travel scandal
Ian Choudri, chief executive officer of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, speaks during a special board meeting at the California Natural Resources Agency in Sacramento on Oct. 9, 2026 (Fred Greaves / CalMatters ) The board that oversees the California High-Speed Rail Aut...
Lopez: They were homeless, but turned their lives around. Here's how they did it
As mayoral election day nears, four people talk about how they escaped homelessness.
Weather whiplash: SoCal gets a huge cooldown, some rain and more coastal damage
Waves crest sand berms and flood the boardwalk along the Long Beach Peninsula on Friday. (Megan Garvey / LAist) Topline: Southern California is in for a dose of rain this weekend from Tropical Storm Rachel, plus a cooldown, right on the heels of the latest sweltering heat wave. T...
Margaret Hamilton, who led a software team for NASA's Apollo program, dies at 90
Margaret Hamilton, a groundbreaking computer scientist who led the team that created the onboard flight software for NASA’s moon-bound Apollo program, has died....
How California insurance commissioner candidates Jane Kim and Ben Allen measure up
CalMatters reporter Levi Sumagaysay, center, moderates a conversation between insurance commissioner candidates Jane Kim, far left, and Ben Allen, far right, during the “Can California Fix Its Insurance Crisis? (Fred Greaves / CalMatters) Bernie Sanders. Jane Fonda. There’s some ...
Lawsuit accusing O.C. Board of Education trustee of choking neighbor dismissed
A neighbor accused an Orange County Board of Education trustee of attacking and choking him after a road rage incident in 2023. A lawsuit against the trustee was dismissed earlier this year....
GOP vs. GOP: Who will win California Congressional District 40?
Next month, voters in Congressional District 40, which stretches across eastern Orange County and into the Inland Empire, will decide which Republican will represent them in Congress: Young Kim vs. Ken Calvert. The battle for District 40 has taken a few interesting turns since la...
Bass defends LAPD chief, addresses homeless concerns as mayoral campaign enters final weeks
Mayor Karen Bass addressed the LAPD's role in immigration enforcement operations and highlighted her administration's efforts to address homelessness.
‘Hometown hero' Russell Westbrook honored at LA City Council
A hometown hero who came back and gave back to the community that raised him: that’s how retired NBA star Russell Westbrook was described Friday when the Los Angeles City Council honored him. The LA native was presented with a certificate during a ceremony at LA City Hall. Counci...
Evacuation order issued for some beachfront homes as damaging surf slams Long Beach
Some beachfront homes in Long Beach are under an evacuation order as powerful waves caused damage to properties and the boardwalk Friday ahead of a weekend that might bring continued high surf , strong winds and rain. The evacuation order is in effect for homes on Seaside Walk be...
'We're at our wit's end.' Carmel-by-the-Sea homes got addresses for the first time. Voter confusion ensued
Carmel-by-the-Sea recently got numbered street addresses for the first time in its 110-year history. All residents were told to re-register to vote.
$50K reward offered amid search for suspect in deadly South LA hit-and-run
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Thursday evening announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the driver who struck and killed an 83-year-old pedestrian in South Los Angeles and fled the scene. Akil Saud Batani-Khalfani, of Los Angeles, was walking eas...
City of LA will establish a fund to clean the 6th Street Bridge
Cyclists ride across the Sixth Street Bridge in Los Angeles in 2022. (Trevor Stamp / LAist) The city of Los Angeles will establish a fund to clean the 6th Street Bridge, where trash and other waste often pile up on pedestrian walkways. In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the City Cou...
Emotion spills over as USS Abraham Lincoln returns home after grueling 321-day deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego after its crew spent 321 days away. At least eight members attempted suicide amid reports of poor conditions on board....
Shooting involving ICE agents near the Bronx, Mayor Mamdani says 'abolish ICE'
Mayor Zohran Mamdani says that an ICE agent reportedly shot a New Yorker in a neighborhood near the Bronx earlier today.
High swells are hitting Long Beach again, and weekend rain is on the way thanks to another hurricane
A man stands on the boardwalk as he watches waves slam the wooden bulkhead that protects homes on the Peninsula in Long Beach on Sept. 28, 2026. (Thomas R. Cordova / Long Beach Post) This story first appeared on Long Beach Post . After weeks of stifling heat , Long Beach is prepa...
Infamous hoarder house surrounded by trash in Fairfax District draws new action from Los Angeles mayor's office
Trash has again piled up outside a notorious Fairfax home, prompting court action as neighbors question whether the problem will ever be resolved.
What’s the oldest thing you have that’s still in commission?
What's an old item you still use? (Yuriy Gluzhetsky / iStockphoto) A sense of purpose : Whether it's sentimental, useful or just never out of style, we all have that one item that has stuck with us through thick and thin. Listeners of AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news show, shared...
Inglewood mayoral challengers weigh in on video billboards and transparency; Butts skips forum
Mayoral candidates, from left, Fre’Drisha Dixon, Joseph Soto, Arturo Martinez, Gloria D. Gray, and Raina Carrillo, at the Inglewood Mayoral Candidate Forum held at Inglewood Unified High School on Oct. 7, 2026, in Inglewood (Gary Coronado / The LA Local) Inglewood Mayor James But...
Will Rep. Jimmy Gomez weather misconduct probe in reelection bid?
Congressman Jimmy Gomez has faced a number of younger, more aggressive challengers for the 34th Congressional District, but this year, he is seeking a sixth term in Congress while facing a House Ethics Committee investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. In August, the Hou...
Trump announces $90 payments for seniors on Medicare ahead of midterm elections for premium costs
President Donald Trump is promising more payments to voters just ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections — this time, to seniors for Medicare premiums.
Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel approved for parole again
The decision faces a 120-day review by the Board of Parole Hearings, followed by a 30-day window for the governor to approve or deny the release.
Who will be Los Angeles' next city attorney?
The race to become Los Angeles’ next city attorney pits two Democratic candidates with different priorities on public safety and consumer protections. Marissa Roy advanced to the November runoff after winning 43.1% of the vote in the June primary. John McKinney finished second wi...
LA County Measure E: Will voters give more authority to Ethics Commission
A proposal to strengthen the independence of Los Angeles County’s ethics oversight system is on the November ballot. Measure E would restructure the county’s existing Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance into a more independent ethics oversight system. Under the meas...
LA County Measure A: How to settle labor disputes with public safety workers
Los Angeles County voters will decide next month whether to change how labor disputes involving public safety employees are resolved. If LA County Measure A passes, labor disputes involving unions that represent employees such as sheriff’s deputies, district attorney investigator...
L.A. County Celebrates Departments, Community Partners for Public Service Programs
October 7, 2026 Media Contact: pio@bos.lacounty.gov Los Angeles County Celebrates Departments, Community Partners for Innovative Programs and Over $425 Million In Savings and Benefits LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission honored doze...
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 splashes down off L.A. coast after 100-million-mile orbital journey
A nearly eight-month stint aboard the International Space Station came to a splashing end for NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 on Thursday, when their recovery vessel safely splashed down off the coast of Los Angeles....
LA City Council votes to ban weed and smoke shops from selling laughing gas
A pedestrian is walking past City Hall in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Topline: The L.A. City Council voted Wednesday to ban tobacco and cannabis shops from selling nitrous oxide, a drug often called laughing gas or...