| Arizona to limit groundwater pumping in hard-hit area - Los Angeles Times |
| For years, the water table has been dropping beneath thousands of acres of desert farmland in western Arizona, where a Saudi-owned dairy company has been allowed to pump unlimited amounts of groundwater to grow hay for its cows.
But the company and other landowners in the area will now face limits under a decision by state officials to impose regulation.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday that her administration is acting to “crack down on the out-of-state special interests that are pumping our state dry while Arizona families and farmers suffer.”
Fondomonte, part of the Saudi dairy giant Almarai, is by far the largest water user in the area, using dozens of wells to to irrigate alfalfa that it ships overseas to the Middle East.
After conducting a review, the state Department of Water Resources designated the Ranegras Plain area, located 100 miles west of Phoenix, as a new “active management area” to preserve the groundwater.
This isn’t the first time the Democratic governor and her administration have used this approach to curb excessive pumping in a rural areas. In January 2025, her administration similarly established a new regulated area to limit agricultural pumping around the city of Willcox in southeastern Arizona.
Hobbs pointed out that some residents’ wells have gone dry as water levels have plummeted in the Ranegras Plain, and that the land has been sinking as the aquifer is depleted.
“Unlike politicians of the past, I refuse to bury my head in the sand. I refuse to ignore the problems we face,” Hobbs said Monday in her state of the state address. “We can no longer sit idly by while our rural communities go without help. They deserve solutions and security, not another decade of inaction and uncertainty.” [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-21 |
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| LA County declares Robert Vargas Day to honor prolific muralist – Daily News |
| The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously declared Jan. 24 Robert Vargas Day, honoring the legendary Boyle Heights artist and muralist whose works cover multiple building facades in the L.A. area, including his recent “From the Ashes” work honoring the fire-ravaged Altadena community. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Daily News. 2026-01-13 |
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| Eastside communities, officials condemn ICE detentions on first day back to school | LAist |
| Elected officials, school leaders and community advocates condemned federal immigration enforcement across Eastside neighborhoods on Monday, as families returned to school following the Los Angeles Unified School District’s winter recess. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| After a record year, the Port of Long Beach prepares for growth - Los Angeles Times |
| Despite a year of trade volatility and unprecedented tariffs, the Port of Long Beach handled a record amount of cargo in 2025 and expects growth to accelerate.
Under the leadership of a new chief executive, Noel Hacegaba, the second-busiest port in the U.S. plans to invest to be ready to double the cargo it processes by 2050. That’s also the year the port is hoping to achieve zero carbon emissions.
“We have 24 years to figure this out and ensure we can handle double our capacity,” Hacegaba said.
The forecast predicted the Port of Long Beach will handle the equivalent of 20 million containers in 2050, up from 9.8 million containers last year. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| Los Angeles sidewalk vending cart giveaway program |
| Los Angeles County and city officials Monday launched a $2.8 million program to provide more than 280 health-code-compliant food vending carts for sidewalk vendors. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| Los Angeles clashes with the state over ‘Zone Zero’ regulations - Los Angeles Times |
| As the state continues multiyear marathon discussions on rules for what residents in wildfire hazard zones must do to make the first five feet from their houses — an area dubbed “Zone Zero” — ember-resistant, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to start creating its own version of the regulations that is more lenient than most proposals currently favored in Sacramento.
Critics of Zone Zero, who are worried about the financial burden and labor required to comply as well as the detrimental impacts to urban ecosystems, have been particularly vocal in Los Angeles. However, wildfire safety advocates worry the measures endorsed by L.A.’s City Council will do little to prevent homes from burning.
“My motion is to get advice from local experts, from the Fire Department, to actually put something in place that makes sense, that’s rooted in science,” said City Councilmember John Lee, who put forth the motion. “Sacramento, unfortunately, doesn’t consult with the largest city in the state — the largest area that deals with wildfires — and so, this is our way of sending a message.”
Tony Andersen — executive officer of the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is in charge of creating the regulations — has repeatedly stressed the board’s commitment to incorporating L.A.’s feedback. Over the last year, the board hosted a contentious public meeting in Pasadena, walking tours with L.A. residents and numerous virtual workshops and hearings. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| LA County Supervisors to ICE: Keep off county property, parking lots, parks – Daily News |
| While Los Angeles County cannot stop ICE agents from sweeping across the county and arresting undocumented immigrants and in some cases, U.S. citizens, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to prohibit federal agents from using county properties, such as parking lots and parks, to stage and process raids and arrests. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Daily News. 2026-01-13 |
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| Community Speak-Out on 4th and Central Mega-Mall - Rafu Shimpo |
| The 4th and Central mega-mall is a massive $2 billion development planned for the southeast edge of Little Tokyo. It spans 7.5 acres and is designed as a mixed-use complex, with 10 buildings originally proposed from 6 to 44 stories.
There will be hundreds of spaces for offices and stores, a public green space and about 1,600 housing units. The law requires 16% be some combination of extremely-low and low-income rental and condos units. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| L.A. County moves to carve out 'ICE-free' zones following immigration raid violence - Los Angeles Times |
| After escalating incidents of violence involving federal agents taking part in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, officials are looking to create “ICE-free” zones in L.A. County.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to bar immigration enforcement officers from county-owned spaces.
Lindsey Horvath, the District 3 supervisor, announced the motion to establish county property as “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-free” zones, prohibiting agents from staging, processing or operating in those areas.
“Los Angeles County will not allow its property to be used as a staging ground for violence caused by the Trump administration,” Horvath said at the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting.
The motion instructs county counsel to draft an ordinance for board consideration within 30 days. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| Contributor: How I broke free of cannabis, and you can too - Los Angeles Times |
| Just because marijuana is now a legalized, ubiquitous $32-billion business that’s outpacing alcohol to become America’s drug of choice doesn’t mean it’s good for you. The 21-year-old pot emporium clerk advising you which gummies to take for insomnia is not a physician or licensed pharmacist. While doctor-prescribed THC and CBD medicines help patients with debilitating illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS and pediatric seizure disorders, a new review of other cannabis uses found little evidence of benefits.
Unfortunately, studies on its long-term effects show the perils of rising dependence. The easier pot is to obtain, the sicker we’re getting. Regular users experience more delusions and psychosis, an increase in heart attacks and strokes and a higher risk of death. People hooked on marijuana were 10 times more likely to die of suicide, and accidental poisoning is also increasing. Most recently, UC San Diego Medical School researchers studied genetic reasons why nearly 30% of pot users will develop cannabis use disorder, Drug dependencies rarely decrease without intervention; they’re more likely to grow and spiral out of control.
Although I used pot daily for two and a half decades, I was sure it wasn’t hurting me. I had a spouse and two jobs, I argued. Yet addiction is an impulse disorder characterized by lack of awareness and denial, with insidious symptoms, so you might not realize you have a problem. In truth, I was stuck in a self-destructive cycle, unable to advance my teaching career, publish a book after trying for seven years, or get close to my husband, who hated me stoned.
After a substance abuse specialist helped me quit, I experienced surprising upsides being marijuana free. Giving it up improved my relationship with my mate, friendships, and focus, enhanced my professional life, led me to triple my income and increase charity donations. I became more authentic and empathetic (albeit more intense and emotive.) [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| Altadena Groundbreaking Launches New Long-Term Eaton Fire Recovery Center – Pasadena Now |
| Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger joined CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), U.S. Representative Judy Chu, Anthem, the Los Angeles County Development Authority and community partners on Saturday, January 10 to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Center for Community, a new long-term recovery hub for Eaton Fire survivors in Altadena, according to a press release. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| LA County supervisors move forward with ‘ICE-free zones’ plan – NBC Los Angeles |
| The Los Angeles County board of supervisors moved forward Tuesday with plans for an ordinance that would create "ICE-Free zones" in LA County. [Article] |
| by , KNBC Los Angeles. 2026-01-13 |
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| Newsom plans crackdown on corporate homebuying in California – Daily News |
| Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for a crackdown on institutional investors buying up homes in the state during a speech Thursday, Jan. 8, following a similar announcement by President Donald Trump.
Newsom plans on saying he will work with local legislators to target private equity and hedge fund investors buying homes in California, particularly corporate entities buying at scale, the governor’s office said in an email.
“The fact is that large investors are purchasing homes faster than families can buy them,” the governor’s office said. “The governor believes that working families shouldn’t be competing with large, well-capitalized investors.”
Newsom’s announcement follows a similar measure floated on Wednesday by Trump, marking a rare convergence for the two political rivals. The president said he would ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes in an effort to address housing affordability.
Trump and Newsom have clashed on issues issues ranging from education to immigration, with the California governor emerging as one of the president’s top antagonists. Their nearly simultaneous rebukes of corporate homebuying show how institutional landlords have quickly risen to be a favored political punching bag for both Democrats and Republicans. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Daily News. 2026-01-13 |
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| In 2025, the US suffered a billion-dollar disaster every 10 days | LAist |
| Last year began with the costliest wildfires in American history, as a series of blazes tore across Los Angeles for nearly all of January. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| L.A. County women’s jail inmates allege sexual abuse by guards - Los Angeles Times |
| Both women say it happened in a blind spot in a dark stairwell.
There — out of view of Century Regional Detention Facility’s many security cameras — they claim a jailer sexually assaulted them while they were handcuffed.
The two women, whose names are being withheld because The Times generally does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault, spoke in phone calls from the jail in Lynwood, where they remain incarcerated. They claim male jail staffers forced them to engage in oral sex, groped and ogled them and offered clean water and other basic supplies in exchange for sexual acts.
When the women came forward and filed reports, they say, they were met with retaliation, including long stretches of solitary confinement in an area known as “the hole.”
In response to questions about the allegations, the L.A County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement to The Times listing a wide range of efforts it said it has undertaken to prevent sexual misconduct by employees and probe inmate complaints.
“The Department takes all allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and violations of Department policy extremely seriously and they are investigated thoroughly and objectively,” the statement said. “The Department maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual abuse or harassment within its facilities.” [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| Fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance | AP News |
| Fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year, new federal data shows, as expiring subsidies and other factors push health expenses too high for many to manage.
Nationally, around 800,000 fewer people have selected plans compared to a similar time last year, marking a 3.5% drop in total enrollment so far. That includes a decrease in both new consumers signing up for ACA plans and existing enrollees re-upping them. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| Before-after photos: Altadena and Pacific Palisades turning green - Los Angeles Times |
| As victims of last January’s firestorm continue to fight to rebuild and recover, the bigger picture may provide a sense of hope. The latest satellite images reveal a healing landscape.
A year after the Eaton and Palisades fires, winter rains have restored green to the landscape in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, charred trees have shown new growth, and structures have begun to take the place of rubble piles.
Satellite images from Vantor, a commercial firm that specializes in geospatial data, show the changes in the two communities over the first year of recovery — some man-made, some the result of nature.
The image below shows a striking contrast in the mountains surrounding Pacific Palisades, which were charred in the Palisades fire and have been replenished by rain. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| LAFD ‘never had a chance’ in Palisades: What new chief says about facing future disasters | LAist |
| Take accountability and move forward.
Those were the two points Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore hit repeatedly when speaking with LAist’s Larry Mantle this week. [Article] |
| by , . 2026-01-13 |
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| Latest Altadena bear squatter is gone — for now. Why it won't be the last - Los Angeles Times |
| A week after a 550-pound bear was evicted from under an Altadena home, another Altadena resident about a mile away reported a bear taking up residency under that home’s floorboards.
Animal control officers from Pasadena Humane confirmed that a bear was living under an Altadena house Sunday but could not be sure if the latest bear squatter was the same bruin from the earlier incident.
As of Tuesday, the latest bear tenant was no longer under the house, a spokesperson from Pasadena Humane confirmed.
“Unfortunately this time of year, it’s often hard to get bears from under houses because they’re looking for shelter,” said Kevin McManus, public relations and communications director at Pasadena Humane. “So they’re gonna cozy up wherever they think is an adequate shelter for them.” [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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| Los Angeles debates controversial 'Zone Zero' policy in the wake of the 2025 wildfires - Los Angeles Times |
| After the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed thousands of homes in Los Angeles County, residents are debating whether a new state requirement to clear flammable material around homes — potentially including shrubs, plants and grass — is actually effective and worth the disruption to urban ecosystems.
Studies looking at recent, destructive wildfires in California have found that removing flammable material within the first five feet of the home, dubbed “Zone Zero,” provides a meaningful reduction in the risk of a wildfire destroying a home.
However, some Los Angeles County residents and ecologists argue the research is preliminary and point to anecdotal evidence of healthy vegetation actually shielding homes from embers.
The state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is currently debating whether to allow some healthy vegetation in the final form of the requirements, which won’t take effect for existing homes until 2029 at the earliest and will only apply to areas with very high fire hazard. [Article] |
| by , Los Angeles Times. 2026-01-13 |
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