KCRW’s departing reporter Anna Scott talks about the gains and setbacks in housing and homelessness — after eight years covering the beat.  Zach Galifianakis talks about the nonprofit Comedy Gives Back, reflects on his own Hollywood career, and explains why comedy is tougher than dramatic acting.  To mark Greater LA’s last show, we re-air part of the first-ever episode, in which Steve Chiotakis visits a giant car shredder between the Ports of LA and Long Beach.

When you hear the word “clown,” you probably picture a hacky kid’s entertainer. Well, a group of super-talented LA-based performers are trying to change that. The Broad’s “LA Intersections” is an upcoming festival-style exhibit of the music and spoken word scenes of LA. Punk rocker Keith Morris speaks to the importance of LA music history. Gathering around the table for a meal can ease America’s loneliness crisis, says Natasha Feldman, author of “The Dinner Party Project.”

A convenience store in Skid Row is changing hands from the community-oriented Korean American family that runs it — to a Black-led nonprofit. “Existencia,” a new work by the experimental performance troupe Diavolo, explores the chaos and community that resulted from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. In an era of “hurriquakes,” heat waves, and fires, The Academy Museum screening series “Beware the Elements! Natural Disasters on Film” looks at the real-world implications of disaster films.

Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran have transformed their Venice home into The Mosaic Tile House, a living artistic tapestry reflecting their love story. Kate Berlant wants audiences to know that her semi-autobiographical show, “KATE,” is theater, not stand-up. It begins on Jan. 17 at the Pasadena Playhouse. At Regen Projects in Hollywood, Catherine Opie’s exhibition, “harmony is fraught,” features over 60 photographs of LA spanning three decades.

Food journalist Mona Holmes discusses how the LA restaurant scene fared in 2023 and anticipates dining trends for the new year. In response to complaints about customer service and mass transit safety, Metro is hiring hundreds of people to offer warm welcomes and help to passengers. The Autry Museum’s “Reclaiming El Camino” details the hardships Native populations faced under European settlement, and highlights Indigenous resistance.

At an East Hollywood bar, a once-a-month comedy show features four men competing for the heart of a bachelorette, as the host whips out jokes and games. “Renewing the Dream: The Mobility Revolution and the Future of Los Angeles” is a new book about how LA is developing alternatives to getting around by cars.

Last winter’s rains accelerated a slow landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes, leading to cracked homes and trail damage at a popular reserve. What will El Niño do? David Duchovny isn’t just an actor — he’s a musician, director and author. His latest novella, “The Reservoir,” is set in the early days of COVID in NYC. An OC congressional race in the upcoming elections could tip the political scales in the U.S. House of Representatives.

For people experiencing homelessness, it can be tough to stay in touch with friends and family. The nonprofit Miracle Messages aims to make it easier. Las Fotos Project teaches photography to young women and gender expansive youth from communities of color. And they don’t just use phone cameras. Underdog Community Project is a mutual aid group of volunteers and trained veterinarians who help unhoused Angelenos keep their pets happy and healthy.

TransparentSea Farm in Downey produces nearly 1 million shrimp a year. That’s great for some of LA’s top seafood restaurants, but how do the prawns feel?In sleepy Sierra Madre, an uptick in bears has spurred the city to declare the animal a “public safety threat.” But locals and officials aren’t sure how to handle the ursine explosion.You often can’t tell cats what to do, much less put leashes on them and take them on walks. But that’s just what LA Times writer Lila Seidman did, and continues to do.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood Sign. It’s been at the center of scandals, PR stunts, and more during its time perched up on Mount Lee. In 1978, the Hollywood Sign was in a sad state, so rock legend Alice Cooper spent $27,000 to buy an “O” to honor his friend Groucho Marx. Other celebs followed. Artist Zach Fernandez marked California’s marijuana legalization by turning the Hollywood Sign into “Hollyweed.” It was tough to pull off due to security around the sign.

Year after year, a Fullerton theater sells out a camped-up comedy about Santa Claus on Mars. The stage show is based on a 1964 B-movie. At least 15 productions of “A Christmas Carol” exist in SoCal, and each theater adds a twist to the play. Vendors at DTLA’s Piñata District say people from as far as New York go there to buy supplies like corn husks and nativity scenes for Christmas.

Since 1925, members of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club have been meeting bright and early to sing songs, solve puzzles, and eat ham and eggs. In 2024, a new California law will establish a retirement fund for mixed martial arts fighters. A similar law has been in place for boxers since the early 1980s. U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Lesly Gonzalez works 10-hour days leading up to Christmas. Does the heavy workload dampen her holiday spirit?

An affordable housing developer got $114 million from Gov. Newsom’s Homekey program. Now, with little to show for it, legal and financial problems are mounting.  Federal labor regulators are looking to forcibly reopen six Los Angeles area Starbucks locations, and labor researcher Saba Waheed says it just might happen. For many in the Latino community, the act of making and eating tamales offers a sense of togetherness during the holiday season.

Since October, the robotaxi company Waymo has been offering driverless rides in Los Angeles. Greater LA’s Steve Chotakis tried one out for himself. KCRW also looks at safety concerns of these vehicles, and Waymo’s head of city policy and government affairs shares the company’s future plans.

LA aficionados Patt Morrison and Fritz Coleman discuss where and how Angelenos can experience winter holiday charm despite the temperate weather.  Musician Arturo Sandoval discusses what makes a Christmas song “swing,” his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie, and his December 23 show at Disney Concert Hall.

The Fairfax District’s Diamond Bakery, iconic to generations of Jewish Angelenos, closed this month after 77 years. Its recipes will live on. David Edward Byrd designed some of the most iconic psychedelic concert posters during the 1960s and 70s. “Poster Child” is a new book that looks at his personal journey and many posters. At Lisson Gallery, Hugh Hayden’s new exhibition features strange, surreal sculptures and photographs placed in bathroom stalls. It runs through January 13, 2024.

As people look for eco-friendly solutions to non-recyclable wrapping paper, furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping packages in cloth, is becoming more widely adopted. Gifts for loved ones don’t have to be expensive or brand new. Consider buying from your local thrift store, upcycle an imperfect and pre-loved item, or make something by hand. And to further cut down on holiday waste, KCRW offers tips for sustainable decorations and the holiday dinner menu.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court, a new mental health program, opened in LA on December 1 to uncertainty, conflicting concerns, and high hopes. This fall, a new major is available at UCLA’s campus: Disability Studies. The aim is to decrease stigma, highlight ableism, and create a more accessible world. After six years in Anaheim, Japanese baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani will play for the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a 10-year, $700 million contract.

A composting program at The Wesley School helps the planet, with an added benefit: teaching kids to be hopeful about participating in climate action. The nonprofit Street Symphony will turn Skid Row into a music festival and community resource fair on December 10 for its Re/Sound Festival. A new exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum showcases the work of the trailblazing photographer “Kali,” whose psychedelic prints of SoCal life weren’t appreciated until long after her death.

The one-day Cal State LA faculty strike is the third of four planned statewide this week. Sunset’s bright purple Cafe Tropical, which shut down suddenly last week, was known for its excellent Cuban food and its role as a safe haven for those in recovery. From a zookeeper he met on Twitter to musician Phoebe Bridgers,Brandon Stosuy’s latest book features 115 essays, poems, and stories on sadness and crying.

The San Gabriel Mountains are the largest open public space in Los Angeles, but some of the range’s most popular spots are covered in piles of trash. SoCal is experiencing more droughts, wildfires, and rising sea levels — but UCLA’s Alex Hall believes LA can still be turned into one of the world’s most sustainable megacities by 2050. The OC Hall of Fame’s class of 10 includes a range of artists, athletes, and developers. Some of the inductees’ ties to the county are loose, at best.

In a town like LA that takes its food scene seriously, local chefs say coming together and breaking bread has taken on new meaning as the war in Gaza continues. Musician and photographer Henry Diltz captured rock history magic while hanging out with CSN&Y in the 1960s, and he’s sharing it all in his new photography book.

Want to contribute on Skid Row? Missions need your help, and not just in December. The Mutual Aid LA Network provides a central hub where Angelenos looking to help can find the best volunteer opportunity for them. Paula Poundstone has been making people laugh for over 40 years through her stand-up, writing, and podcasting. The Angeleno is performing in Long Beach this Saturday.

Homeschooling has long been common for religious families and those with aversions to public school, but the pandemic seems to have widened its appeal. A new law asks California schools to incorporate media literacy lessons into English, math, science, and social studies curriculums. Los Angeles-based artist Kelly Akashi reflects on her Japanese American family history during World War II for an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

Vanessa Anderson says grocery stores are “anthropological treasure troves” — which is why she’s trying to visit every single one in LA. Curator Anuradha Vikram talks about AI’s integration into labor and art, what the tech means for creativity, and the implications of widespread data scraping. During the 1980s, ACT UP LA advocated for greater awareness of the AIDS epidemic. Now the organization is collecting 100 testimonies from its former members.

Urban falconer Adam Baz has carved out an interesting career for himself and his four birds of prey in a city with a lot of pigeons and crows to chase.Rob Bisel has earned eight Grammy nominations for engineering, producing, and writing songs for SZA's album “SOS.” He talks about collaborating with the artist.Ownership of the Bolsa Chica Mesa, a six-acre plot of land just north of Huntington Beach, was transferred to native Tongva and Acjachemen tribes after ancient remains were found.

Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest times of year for professional pie bakers. The hours are long and the payoff is big. We’ve all got family holiday traditions. Three KCRW listeners share their favorite unusual Thanksgiving celebrations. This holiday weekend is a perfect time to hike around LA due to cooler temperatures and red-orange autumn foliage. Cris Hazzard, aka The Hiking Guy, shows you where to go.

Honeybees have long been the face of the “Save the Bees” campaign, but according to bee researchers at UC Irvine, they aren’t the only bees who need help. Zach Phillips, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s “Bug Guy,” takes KCRW on a walk around the grounds to get some sights and sounds. UCLA scientists say the way ants build their nests might help humans improve traffic and transportation logistics.

Larry Li was inspired to create “Ask Your Ma About ‘89” after learning a harrowing story about how the Tiananmen Square protests affected his family. Free drinks, female attention, and fabulous parties are some of the upsides for super good-looking men in LA. But that’s not the whole story. Germans founded Anaheim in 1857. Chinese immigrants then built much of the city and developed a bustling Chinatown district. Today, few remnants of Anaheim’s historic Chinatown remain.

By 2035, LADWP plans to provide all power without coal or gas — just hydroelectric, geothermal, hydrogen, solar, and wind. They also vow no harm to low-income ratepayers. One workshop in Downtown LA has been tuning, restringing, and repairing broken instruments for LAUSD students for six decades. It’s among the last of its kind. Jeff Boynton, a Highland Park native and lifelong artist, is a “circuit bender,” making music by toying with the circuitry of old electronic devices, like children’s toys.

Now that both the SAG and WGA strikes are over, how are below-the-line workers in Hollywood faring?  Following big wins for SAG-AFTRA and WGA, members of IATSE — the union representing below-the-line workers — are preparing for their own negotiations. A new exhibit at LACMA is displaying more than 150 creations of textile art and modern abstraction that span over a century.

A book club that started at a Venice library in the 1990s spent almost three decades reading “Finnegans Wake.” Singer Engelbert Humperdinck’s new documentary premieres tonight in Hollywood, focusing on his career spanning more than 70 years. For 17 years, LA Skins Fest has been offering a platform for Indigenous filmmakers from around the world to showcase their stories.

Metro is doubling the number of public bathrooms on train lines from three to six. Despite the urgent need, some commuters are complaining that they require a phone to use. The fire in Tustin’s WWII Navy blimp hangar is still smoldering a week after it ignited. Schools and parks are closed due to asbestos in the ash and smoke. In “Keys to the Kingdom,” an eight-part audio documentary, co-hosts Matt Gourley and Amanda Lund highlight the lives of people who work as theme park characters.

Weeks after the end of cash bail for non-violent and non-serious crimes, reformers and LA Superior Court say the system is working. But the change has its critics. For the past year, researchers at UCLA have been working to understand hate — one of our most complex emotions — by way of neuroscience, sociology, social media, music studies, and more. Comedian Alex Edelman has brought his one-man show, Just For Us, to LA for a limited run. It explores antisemitism, microaggressions, and so much more.

After 188 days, some good news in Hollywood. The Screen Actors Guild negotiators have unanimously approved an agreement with the studios. In “If You Would Have Told Me,” John Stamos talks about his Orange County childhood, Hollywood career, and fame's ups and downs.

Since July, the state of Texas has sent nearly 1,000 asylum seekers to Los Angeles by bus. Local faith-based and non-religious groups are welcoming them. In 2016, Highland Park’s Judson Studios took on a years-long effort to create the world’s largest stained glass window. It’s chronicled in the new documentary Holy Frit. You often can’t tell cats what to do, much less put leashes on them and take them on walks. But that’s just what LA Times writer Lila Seidman did, and continues to do.

Almost a year after forming a union, performers at Medieval Times have been unable to win a contract. Such delays are common — new unions can go years without progress. The Florentine Codex contains over 2,500 pages of text and images detailing Nahua civilization from the Indigenous perspective. It’s available digitally thanks to UCLA and the Getty. In Santa Ana, a recall election to oust progressive Jesse Lopez is moving forward, despite being flagged for legal issues and a possible lawsuit from the councilmember should she lose.

One in four cars sold in California is now electric. EV drivers say switching saves money and the planet. Gas drivers are worried about running out of power. John Densmore, known as the Doors’ drummer, is out with a new book called The Doors: Unhinged Jim Morrison’s Legacy Goes on Trial. Amateur perfumers and nature lovers Jack Kelly and Natalie Coffen lead “scent saunters” through Griffith Park and Franklin Canyon Park. Enjoy the wild smells of LA!

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is home to dozens of feral cats, peacocks, turtles, and fowl that provide visitors with an “antidote to death.” Where did they all come from? Rick Castro has been photographing since 1986. A new show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery highlights decades of his queer, fetish, and fashion images. LA bakeries are preparing “pan de muerto,” a traditional Mexican “bread of the dead” that’s eaten to celebrate Día de los Muertos.

Elmer McCurdy had a troubled life and died in a shoot-out. His body got embalmed, became part of a traveling crime museum, then was bought by an amusement ride operator. LA’s Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, and urban legend claims that it wouldn’t exist without a twisted 18th-century curse.  Sometimes called the “Pagan version of Halloween,” Samhain is a time to soothe and be soothed by the “unquiet spirits” of ancestors past. 

California is investing millions to change the way kids eat at school. Learn how one SoCal program is turning kids on to fresh produce, one watermelon at a time. The Where Has All The (affordable) Housing Gone? exhibit at the Beyond Baroque Gallery in Venice features photography, poetry and a giant map to examine the policies that led to the removal of nearly 1,500 rent-controlled units in the beachside neighborhood. Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto of the “Cannabis Cafe Bill,” West Hollywood lounge PleasureMed is reimagining the way users can experience cannabis, dining, and sex positivity.

Rent-stabilized tenants in LA could see an increase in February as high as 7%. Landlords say it’s necessary to keep up with expenses. The Museum of Latin American Art hosts its annual Día De Los Muertos festival on Oct. 29. This year’s theme, Hecho con Amor, celebrates the diversity of Latin American cuisine. The nonprofit ActiveSGV’s ArroyoFest will shut down six miles of the 110 freeway from Lincoln Heights to South Pasadena for cyclists and pedestrians on October 29.

NewGround promotes relations and dialogue between Jews and Muslims in Los Angeles. The group calls itself “a convener.” running trainings and classes promoting interfaith engagement. LA is in the height of spooky (and spider) season, so the Nature Nexus Institute is holding a “Spooky Critter Crawl” to highlight some of the city’s creepiest residents. An LA start-up is tackling a problem that developed in tandem with the invention of polyester: how to divert clothes from the landfill when you’re done wearing them.

The Actors’ Gang’s new show, “Methusalem,” is directed by Brent Hinkley. He and fellow co-founder Tim Robbins discuss the show and the group’s legacy. Measure J requires LA County to allocate funds to incarceration alternatives and community/youth programs, instead of police. Some community groups say they still haven’t seen the money.

Each week on KCRW’s The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast, hosts Caleigh Wells and Candice Dickens-Russel answer a listener’s environmental question and give advice on how they can help the planet. As SoCal looks to fall and winter, scientist predictions say El Niño weather patterns will bring heavy rains, but climate change is making it tricky to predict. In 1973, Knott’s Berry Farm became the first theme park to transform itself completely for the Halloween season. Since then, many other parks, in SoCal and beyond, have followed its lead.  

Spine-tingling thrills, oddities, and costumes. A handful of small businesses in Burbank are keeping things scary beyond Halloween. The three co-directors of the 1980 parody film “Airplane!” recount their careers’ humble origins and the movie’s “endearing” comedy legacy. LA-based engineering and design nonprofit Miyamoto Relief is hosting “The Night of 1000 Drawings,” which raises money for reconstruction in Kyiv.

LAUSD student absences soared during the pandemic. Slowly, in large part due to school attendance counselors’ tireless work, kids are returning to class. Tom Morello, a political activist and Rage Against the Machine guitarist, is partnering with a nonprofit to launch music programs at schools across the country. Alex Da Corte’s solo exhibition, The Daemon, transforms the Matthew Marks Gallery into a 1960s house with a conversation pit and a splash of surrealism.

The Aetna Street Collective came together three years ago to advocate for a tight-knit unhoused community facing harassment and street sweeps. Scribble, a Highland Park-based nonprofit, launched on Oct. 3 to provide affordable therapy, music shows, game nights, tai chi classes, and more. Neighborhoods historically cut off from government-backed home loans continue to suffer the consequences. That includes smaller and less diverse bird populations. 

Three women in LA share their reasons to forgo parenting: more freedom, more travel, and more time to focus on their careers and passions. What’s up with the Dodgers? Despite winning 100 games during the regular season, again, the Dodgers’ were eliminated in the first round, again. Along Beach Boulevard, from Rosecrans to Orangethorpe, is Buena Park’s Koreatown, a name that’s only been official for a few weeks.

Unhoused Angelenos in temporary shelters will get priority for many city-funded affordable housing units — under policy shift enacted by Mayor Karen Bass. UCLA Professor Justin Torres’ new novel, Blackouts, is a “socratic dialogue” between an unnamed narrator and a dying man. It’s also a finalist for the National Book Award. Big Bear’s Oktoberfest has been running for 53 years, attracting locals and people from all across SoCal for revelry, beer, and the chicken dance.

A new exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center details the story of one Jewish family’s fight to reclaim art that was stolen by Nazis. Walter Mosley is known for writing crime novels. But his latest book, Touched, is science fiction. It involves the Big Bang and threats to the planet. One of the laws that Gov. Newsom recently signed will give fast food workers higher wages, more on-site safety, and their own council. Meanwhile, he said cannabis cafes violate smoke-free workplace protections.

LA has large populations from both the Israeli and Palestinian diaspora, and many are reeling from Hamas’ attacks near the Gaza strip and the Israeli government’s retaliation. As burglaries and robberies rise at LA’s cannabis shops, owners double down on security measures. The Made in LA biennial features 39 local artists from various neighborhoods and backgrounds. Some of the work centers on quotidian scenes of domestic life.

The South Central Run Club is using the sport to build up community and wellness in the neighborhood. A year ago, three LA City Council members had an insiders’ talk about how to control Los Angeles’ redistricting. The racist audio was leaked, decimating trust in local government. Sacred Places Institute is a community-based organization working to protect land and water that once belonged to Indigenous tribes in California.

Vernon, an industrial city with a population of just 222, is poised to add up to 874 new units of housing. This weekend at The Ford theater, The Milk Carton Kids will host the LA Folk Festival, where “misfits” and folk musicians can connect. At Burbank’s IKEA, an art residency inspires people to get creative with furniture, monkey wrenches, and maybe even meatballs.

This past weekend, tenant advocates, labor unions, workers, and renters marched in Downtown LA to demand good wages, better employee benefits, and housing security. Curators Diana Nawi and Pablo José Ramiréz traveled across LA to put together the Hammer Museum’s biennial show, Made in LA. It features works by 39 local artists.

In the latest season of her podcast “The Dream,” skeptical journalist Jane Marie investigates the legitimacy of the life coaching industry. For the last 50 years, Robert Sanchez (a.k.a. Pnutman) has been a vendor at Dodger Stadium. He shares how he got the job, and climbed the ranks from selling soda to peanuts — and even pizza.  The Tom of Finland Foundation will be holding an Art & Culture Festival this weekend at SoHo Warehouse. All art shown will nod to founder Tom of Finland’s erotic work.

Two El Sereno residents opened a market to give their neighbors access to affordable and healthy food, plus a sense of community. For just 12 days, Hadestown is returning to Los Angeles – the city where two producers began to develop the original album into a hit musical. Jordan Brandman was a former Anaheim City Council member who resigned amid scandal and eventually became a whistleblower. He died over the weekend.

A new, three-year collective history project from the nonprofit Clockshop is gathering stories and memories from rapidly changing communities along the LA River. The iconic Roxy Theatre turned 50 this month. Neil Young kicked off the anniversary celebrations, and Rickie Lee Jones will keep them going with a performance in October. Artist Jane Tsong’s Underflow LA is a project is showcasing underground river sounds from across the city.

Last weekend, about 1,000 people gathered at the LA International Ukulele Festival in Torrance to celebrate the little instrument with a big following. Yunte Huang’s final book in his Rendezvous with American History trilogy focuses on the remarkable life of Chinese American actress Anna May Wong. The LA Public Library has acquired thousands of unpublished celebrity pictures by John Verzi. They were auctioned off to the library after the postal worker’s death in 2018. 

The Pizza Strike Fund is a grassroots effort to feed Hollywood writers and actors. Volunteers have delivered over 2,500 cheesy and meaty pies to picket lines since May. Nick Offerman is best known as an actor (Parks and Recreation), but he’s also an author. His latest book, Where the Deer and the Antelope Play, is coming out in paperback. For 15 years, the Hola México Film Festival has been bringing the best of Mexican cinema to Los Angeles. Now they’re celebrating with a big quinceañera party. 

The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP after months of strikes. What does that mean for SAG-AFTRA? The LA Unified school board is voting on a policy that could prevent charter schools from moving onto the campuses of some traditional public schools. Mooncakes are traditionally eaten to celebrate the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the key holidays in Chinese culture. Here’s where you can buy them in LA. 

Beit T’Shuvah, a Jewish rehab facility, teaches people how to bake challah as a form of community building. The experience has special meaning during the High Holy days. As fall begins, LA will see big restaurant openings, including a world-renowned taquero and venues by Michelin-starred chefs. This week, renowned bass player Stanley Clarke began a three-year residency at the BroadStage. He gave SMC students a master class, and will perform on September 23.

The Vintage Synthesizer Museum draws keyboard fans to Highland Park for classes, vibey sound baths, and a chance to play on its rare synth collection. A lucrative industry has formed around moving rent-controlled tenants out of their homes. A new investigation from LA Public Press looks into it. Analia Saban’s new show, “Synthetic Self,” explores technology and global warming-related anxiety. It’s located at two LA galleries: Sprüth Magers and Tanya Bonakdar. 

John Waters talks about his exhibit at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and his boundary-pushing films. High school students from Boyle Heights built a hydrogen-powered race car and competed against teams from all over the world over the weekend. How did they fare? Rashaad Newsome’s new exhibit “Hands Performance” explores the history of queer Black cultural expression and how it’s shaping the future.

After facing discrimination and loss, Sara Reyes found temporary refuge at the HOPE house, a transitional program run by The TransLatin@ Coalition. More than a quarter of TV shows and films had queer representation in 2022, according to GLAAD. With Hollywood at a standstill, will that momentum continue? Julio Aranas came to the U.S. at age 8 without papers and now is a successful real estate agent. Gustavo Arellano says the American dream is an immigrant mindset.

Surf culture has an aggressive side, especially at premiere destinations like Topanga Beach. Some folks are working to change that. The novel “California Golden,” set on the sandy beaches of 1960s Malibu, shows what happens when a trailblazing surfer neglects her two daughters. Black walnut trees are essential in LA’s ecosystems and indigenous cultures. Some residents are pushing to preserve and repopulate them.

Heat is a year-round problem for some indoor workers in SoCal. State and federal officials have proposals to require AC access and cool water on the job. Over the past decades, hundreds of public housing units in LA have been demolished or sold to private developers. Why? The community journalism site KNOCK LA investigated. This weekend, the Academy Museum will debut newly restored versions of the iconoclastic filmmaker Gregg Araki’s cult 1990s trilogy.

If signed into law, a new bill would make it legal to possess small doses of naturally occurring psychedelics. At Occidental College, “The Iridescence of Knowing” is an exhibit showcasing works made on Tongva land by generations of artists.

Orange Unified School District is the latest in the state to require schools to notify parents if students come out as transgender. What’s driving these policies? With 18,000 seats, the now 30-year-old Honda Center has been home to the Anaheim Ducks hockey team and hosted concerts by Gwen Stefani and others. Kristin Hersh has been a frontwoman for the bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave. Her solo work is an acoustic departure for the indie darling.

Can Watts — the community famous for its political organizing and trucemaking — come together in the face of renewed violence? The owner of NoHo Printing and Graphics is now suing the LAPD for damages — more than a year since the department’s SWAT team destroyed his shop.

Food waste is part of any restaurant business. An increasingly popular app helps connect the leftovers — for a cheap price — with Angelenos who aren’t too picky. LA’s first bus route opened in 1923. A century later, the system still provides essential transportation to many Angelenos. For the first time since 2012, renowned text artist Jenny Holzer is back in LA – and her new LED pieces feature AI-generated text.

Workers throughout Hollywood are weighing the pros and cons of AI, which could disrupt careers of everyone from makeup artists to lighting techs to animators. UCLA’s Labor Center hosted a summer boot camp for future organizers, further cementing Los Angeles as the vanguard of the new labor movement. Last Thursday, the ACLU won a lawsuit against Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer to disclose the racial data of cases he prosecuted.

Surveys show Angelenos have ambivalent opinions about the LAPD. But the local government keeps giving the department more money. Guatemala last week elected Bernardo Arévalo as president. His campaign centered on anti-corruption and political reform. What do Guatemalan Angelenos think of him? From September 2 to 23, the American Cinematheque is hosting weekly screenings of films that feature public transit in LA, including “Speed” and “The Italian Job.”

SoCalGas wants to expand gas storage capacity again at the site of the largest methane leak in U.S. history. Porter Ranch residents beg the state to say no. LA’s universal basic income pilot program “BIG: LEAP” provided a life-changing safety net for many Angelenos. What happens when that money goes away?

Black fans of electronic dance music say they love raves for the mentality of peace, love, unity, and respect. But they wish the scene were more diverse. Is the tide turning? In her forthcoming book, journalist Rosanna Xia explores how rising tides might inspire Californians to rethink their relationship with the sea. In “Time’s Mouth,” author Edan Lepucki follows three generations of Californians who’ve dealt with inherited trauma and more.

A new air quality rule requires the biggest commercial ovens in SoCal to become fully electric. It’s the first industrial regulation of its kind in the U.S. Alianza Nacional de Campesinas and Polo’s Pantry are giving household products, water, and food to SoCal farmworkers who are struggling, especially after Tropical Storm Hilary. As a tribute to the anniversary of Ruben Salazar’s death, Orange County is recognizing August as Chicano Heritage Month. What does that designation mean?

This weekend would have been jazz musician and spiritual leader Alice Coltrane’s 86th birthday. Her family celebrates and remembers her legacy. The extinction of large, Ice Age mammals coincided with the arrival of humans, according to researchers who studied bones from the La Brea Tar Pits and Lake Elsinore. Black Restaurant Week is back and bigger than ever, focusing on diverse offerings of LA’s Black-owned eateries, food trucks, and coffee shops.

Pico Boulevard is home to dozens of Oaxacan businesses. Now, less than a year after an LA City Councilmember disparaged Oaxacans, locals want city recognition. In her new book, “Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millenial LA,” Kate Flannery gives an insider's look at the problematic rise of scandal-plagued American Apparel. The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery’s annual showcase of mid-career grant recipients returns for the first time since the pandemic.

Many of Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes crew members support actors and writers striking, but they feel left out of the conversation as they’re struggling financially. With school back in session, two LAUSD teachers discuss the challenges they’re facing, like students losing social skills and skipping classes. ParaCliffHangers aims to adapt rock climbing experiences so people of all physical abilities can participate.

In a win for Mayor Karen Bass, LA’s City Council voted 12-2 to purchase the Mayfair Hotel in Westlake and convert it to transitional housing. A new podcast by journalist Sonari Glinton examines how broken systems allow some criminals to get away with the unthinkable.

LA’s iconic hillside stilt houses have been destroyed in many disaster movies, but in real life, they offer residents a thrilling perch in the clouds. As the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes roll on, animal actors are finding themselves with a lot of time on their paws. Their handlers are trying to figure out how to get by.

Southern Californians have donated lots of supplies to help those displaced by the Lahaina fire. Shipping containers are full, but there are other ways to help. Ivy Pochoda’s latest novel, “Sing Her Down,” focuses on two formerly incarcerated women making their way to and through LA in the early days of the COVID pandemic. Art historian Thuy N.D. Tran aims to shed light on a lost “golden era” of South Vietnamese modernism by piecing together collective memories from the diaspora.

With COVID slightly up in LA, residents are wondering about masking up again and getting boosted. John Eastman, a former Chapman Law School dean, faces nine counts in an indictment accusing him of designing the plan to reverse Joe Biden’s presidential victory. An ecologist, an urban planner, a conservationist, and a filmmaker spent six days exploring all 51 miles of the LA River — even the sections without paths.

Los Angeles Unified has opened a new grade to all 4-year-olds called universal transitional kindergarten. Who’s enrolling, and why are some choosing not to? AP African American Studies became an official course at Dorsey High School in Crenshaw last year, and soon it’ll expand to the rest of LAUSD. Schools around the state are feeling the effects of climate change. Now, after heavy parental lobbying, LAUSD plans to “green” 30% of all its campuses by 2035 to create more shade.

Born in Mississippi but drawn to the West, Minerva Hamilton Hoyt was behind the push to make Joshua Tree a special place on the map. The millions of people who visit Joshua Tree have an abundance of vacation rentals to choose from — but that also means challenges to the local community. For eight years, Ken Layne has been keeping desert wanderers company with his esoteric musings about the lore, legends, and landscape of the Mojave — via his periodical and radio show Desert Oracle.

As the Hollywood writers’ strike drags past 100 days, the financial pain is widespread for business owners and tradespeople who need production to earn a living. In 2021, LA passed a law to ban tenant harassment, which can be used to displace tenants from their rent controlled units. But the city has done little to enforce it. The LA Art Book Fair returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art this weekend. It’s the first time the fair is being held in-person since 2019.

TransparentSea Farm in Downey produces nearly 1 million shrimp a year. That’s great for some of LA’s top seafood restaurants, but how do the prawns feel? Goats are being used more often to clear vegetation and prevent wildfires. But some say the immigrant workers who manage them 24/7 aren’t getting a fair deal. You can help the Natural History Museum count bats and learn more about their roosting behaviors in urban Los Angeles.

Outside SoFi stadium, fans who didn’t have tickets to Taylor Swift’s concert still find a way to sing, dance, and exchange friendship bracelets. In a new podcast, two Amoeba Music staffers share their discoveries about favorite albums from the iconic record store’s collection. Anaheim’s former political leaders Harry Sidhu and Todd Ament are alleged to have been involved in a “potential criminal conspiracy,” according to a new report. 

This is the year of extravagant “revenge weddings,” and members of the nupital party are paying the price in money, time, and emotional energy. Chicano Batman, often known as “LA’s house band,” will perform at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend for the first time. You can head to El Segundo to hear a 13-piece big band while dancing the night away at the sixth annual Summer Swing Nights, which runs August 4, 5, and 6.

Students in Ramona Gardens, one of LA's most polluted neighborhoods, are helping create a green space that will act as a barrier between homes and the freeway. When it comes to climate questions, KCRW listeners wanted the most help with recycling. Here’s a list of what you can and can’t recycle, plus the bottom line on plastic bags. Koreatown’s Beverly Hot Springs is a spa fed by natural hot springs. A developer has bought it and plans to build housing units and retail in its place. 

What daily climate questions do you have? Help with the recycling bin was by far the most common response. Here are some answers. Paul Reubens, famously known as Pee-Wee Herman, died from cancer on July 30. Friends and collaborators remember the joy he brought to many lives.

Eviction filings in LA County are at their highest level in recent years. An August 1 deadline for some indebted renters could mean even more tenants forced out. With the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes lingering into summer, more actors and writers need economic aid. The World Harvest Food Bank has teamed up with comedian Kristina Wong to help. If the Anaheim Angels want to hold on to star player Shohei Ohtani, they’ll likely have to pay more — and win more. 

LA’s hotel workers, actors, writers, and Teamsters are all throwing their weight behind striking workers in a way that hasn’t been seen in town for decades. Some of the world’s best surfers will compete at the U.S. open in Huntington Beach starting this weekend. The nine-day festival includes freestyle motocross, concerts, family-friendly activities, and giveaways. Spiral croissants are having a moment on the food scene in LA and all over Instagram. One baker in Pasadena is bringing her own Iranian flavors into the mix.

Amid climate change, shade is increasingly important — and so is the question of who can access and control it. On July 21, the Santa Barbara News Press filed for bankruptcy, leaving employees, creditors, and the community wondering what happened to the over 150-year-old paper. In separate exhibitions, artists Suchitra Mattai and Acaye Kerunen create powerful images of their ancestors and their visions of the future — by weaving colorful fabrics, fibers, and textiles.

In sleepy Sierra Madre, an uptick in bears has spurred the city to declare the animal a “public safety threat.” But locals and officials aren’t sure how to handle the ursine explosion. Henry Hoke’s latest novel, “Open Throat,” was inspired by LA’s own big cat P-22 and Nick Cave’s song “Hollywood.” It’s told from the perspective of a mountain lion. Sick sea lions have washed up on beaches due to a toxic algae bloom. San Pedro’s Marine Mammal Care Center is keeping visitors out to make space to nurse these animals back to health.