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Today: July 24, 2025
Today: July 24, 2025

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Sen. Allen halts controversial Wildfire Bill until 2026

Sen. Ben Allen announced he will pause Senate Bill 549 until 2026, following a tense committee hearing over legislation that would have allowed Los Angeles County to establish a Resilient Rebuilding Authority for wildfire recovery efforts. The bill had been scheduled for consideration after California lawmakers met to discuss the measure that would enable property tax funding for acquiring fire-damaged properties. Allen, whose district includes Pacific Palisades, cited concerns over governance, transparency, and local control as reasons for the delay. “When we first introduced SB 549, we knew that it would be difficult to pull together a framework that would

Sen. Allen halts controversial Wildfire Bill until 2026
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California schools report more homeless students but officials say that is a good sign

California public schools identified 230,443 homeless students in the 2024–25 school year, a 9.3 % increase from the prior year, according to state data. Much of the rise reflects improved methods for identifying students facing housing instability, according to a CalMatters analysis. Statewide, school officials and advocates attribute most of the rise to enhanced identification practices, including wider training under the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and changing wording such as “families in transition” instead of “homeless,” to reduce stigma and encourage disclosure. In Kern County, this shift helped boost the count by about 10 % to 7,200 students last year, enabling more access to transportation, tutoring,

California schools report more homeless students but officials say that is a good sign
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How Americans are living the plot of 'A Day Without a Mexican' in L.A., 21 years later

Federal immigration raids have transformed daily life across Los Angeles, creating scenes that mirror the premise of a 2004 satirical film that imagined California without its Latino residents. The vibrant fashion district on Ninth Street has grown quiet, church attendance has declined, and numerous community events have been canceled as undocumented Latino residents opt to stay home rather than risk detention. The current reality echoes “A Day Without a Mexican,” an independent film created by Yareli Arizmendi and her husband, Sergio Arau, which depicted the chaos that would ensue if Mexicans suddenly vanished from California. “Life imitates art,” said Arizmendi,

How Americans are living the plot of 'A Day Without a Mexican' in L.A., 21 years later
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Not every student needs college—and LA schools are listening

School districts nationwide are expanding trade-focused curricula as administrators recognize the growing interest among students in skilled labor careers over traditional university tracks. Los Angeles Unified operates an Earn & Learn program, enrolling 160 participants in summer sessions that cover aviation mechanics, construction work, healthcare roles, and technical maintenance. Students receive $1,000 payments while completing practical training modules. The program, which initially began as a pilot project, now faces enrollment demand exceeding its capacity. District leadership advocates for diverse post-graduation pathways beyond traditional college enrollment. “Not every student wants to go the college route. Not every student needs to do

Not every student needs college—and LA schools are listening
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Your favorite L.A. restaurant may not survive this crisis

Immigration enforcement operations across Los Angeles County triggered a crisis in the restaurant industry, with some establishments reporting revenue drops of up to 25% since federal agents began conducting raids in June. The operations forced undocumented workers to miss shifts out of fear of arrest, while customers avoided dining out in affected neighborhoods. Since June 6, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested at least 1,600 immigrants across Southern California in operations targeting factories, car washes, Home Depot parking lots, and other locations where undocumented workers congregate. The enforcement actions created widespread fear in immigrant communities, disrupting daily commerce

Your favorite L.A. restaurant may not survive this crisis
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A turning point? What LA’s drop in homelessness really means

Authorities reported a substantial reduction in unsheltered homelessness across Los Angeles County on July 14, with officials crediting coordinated efforts to move people indoors. “Reducing homelessness is now a trend in LA City and county,” said Paul Rubenstein, LAHSA’s deputy chief external relations officer. “Our leaders came together to bring people inside and their efforts are paying off.” The agency’s February tally recorded 72,308 people living outdoors across the region, representing a reduction of roughly 4% from 2024 levels, according to the L.A.Times. The improvements follow intensive encampment clearing operations paired with immediate housing offers. Karen Bass, Mayor of L.A.,

A turning point? What LA’s drop in homelessness really means
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Cities with the most expensive homes in California

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in California using data from Zillow.

Cities with the most expensive homes in California
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Cities with the most expensive homes in the San Diego metro area

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in the San Diego metro area using data from Zillow.

Cities with the most expensive homes in the San Diego metro area
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Cities with the most expensive homes in the Santa Rosa metro area

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in the Santa Rosa metro area using data from Zillow.

Cities with the most expensive homes in the Santa Rosa metro area
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Cities with the most expensive homes in the Stockton metro area

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in the Stockton metro area using data from Zillow.

Cities with the most expensive homes in the Stockton metro area
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How gas prices have changed in Vallejo in the last week

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Vallejo using data from AAA.

How gas prices have changed in Vallejo in the last week
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Will a new state agency fix California’s broken housing system?

California is poised to create its first standalone state housing agency, as Gov. Gavin Newsom formalizes a plan to split the existing Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two separate entities. The California Housing and Homelessness Agency (CHHA) will focus exclusively on housing, homelessness, and civil rights. At the same time, the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency (BCSA) will oversee business and consumer regulation. The new CHHA is scheduled to become active July 1, 2026, following legislative approval and the dissolution of the current agency. The reorganization took effect when the Legislature allowed the proposal to proceed past

Will a new state agency fix California’s broken housing system?
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Communities buried in waste as strike escalates coast to coast

A labor standoff that originated in Boston has spread to Southern California, where thousands of sanitation workers are walking off the job in solidarity, resulting in trash collection delays throughout multiple counties.   Approximately 450 Republic Services employees began a strike on July 1 in the Boston region against the second-largest trash and recycling company. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has expanded the action, with workers in California communities across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties joining the effort alongside Bay Area facilities. West Coast workers are not conducting formal strikes but are supporting Boston colleagues by refusing to report

Communities buried in waste as strike escalates coast to coast
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A city of millions, just 14 bathrooms, and a growing crisis

Advocates for the homeless say the city has ignored years of requests for basic sanitation services while directing millions toward encampment enforcement operations that destroy belongings without solving underlying issues. Municipal leaders maintain just 14 public bathrooms across a population of 4 million people and recently eliminated mobile hygiene services worth $4 million to fund CARE+ clearance activities, which consume $70 million annually from city budget, according to the Los Angeles Public Press. Jennifer, who resided in a Sepulveda Basin encampment during 2018, organized community members to petition then-Mayor Eric Garcetti for waste disposal containers. Her group collected resident signatures

A city of millions, just 14 bathrooms, and a growing crisis
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A court just changed how immigration enforcement works in California

A federal judge temporarily barred the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security agents from conducting “roving patrols” targeting individuals in Southern California without reasonable suspicion, ruling that the current enforcement tactics violated constitutional protections and undermined civil‐rights safeguards. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi‑Mensah Frimpong granted the temporary restraining order on July 11, citing a “mountain of evidence” showing agents stopped people based solely on appearance, language, or location — practices she said infringed on Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures and Fifth Amendment rights to due process. Frimpong’s 52‑page order bars ICE and DHS

A court just changed how immigration enforcement works in California
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How Prop. 187 reshaped California’s political landscape

California has undergone a dramatic transformation in its approach to immigration since voters passed Proposition 187 in November 1994. Authored by the then Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and dubbed the “Save Our State” initiative, Prop. 187 would have barred undocumented immigrants from using public schools, non-emergency health care and publicly funded social services. Despite winning approval from 59% of voters—carrying 51 of 58 counties, including L.A. by 8 percentage points—it never took effect after being struck down as unconstitutional. Crucial to this evolution is Senator Alex Padilla, 26 at the time and fresh from earning an engineering degree at MIT, whose political awakening came

How Prop. 187 reshaped California’s political landscape
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Vance at Disneyland: Protesters clash with policy, not family fun

Vice President JD Vance recently visited Disneyland in Anaheim, California, with his family, drawing more than 100 protesters near the theme park entrance to voice opposition to the President Donald Trump administration’s immigration policies. The demonstrations occurred as federal immigration raids continued across Southern California. Around 100 to 150 demonstrators gathered on Harbor Boulevard near the Disneyland entrance on the evening of July 11, and a crowd of protesters formed again the next day. The demonstrations continued on July 12 with crowds forming again near the Grand Californian Hotel, where Vance was reportedly staying with his family. Protestors also gathered

Vance at Disneyland: Protesters clash with policy, not family fun
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How gas prices have changed in Chico in the last week

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Chico using data from AAA.

How gas prices have changed in Chico in the last week
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How gas prices have changed in San Diego in the last week

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in San Diego using data from AAA.

How gas prices have changed in San Diego in the last week
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How gas prices have changed in Bakersfield in the last week

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Bakersfield using data from AAA.

How gas prices have changed in Bakersfield in the last week
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How gas prices have changed in Fresno in the last week

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Fresno using data from AAA.

How gas prices have changed in Fresno in the last week
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Sheriff's deputies uncover $1 million in alleged stolen goods operation

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detectives seized $1 million in cash and allegedly stolen merchandise from two downtown L.A. stores suspected of operating as fences for organized retail theft rings. The February raids targeted Quickmart and Big Apple, convenience stores owned by a married couple accused of buying and reselling shoplifted goods. Detective Yesenia Olvera, who led the investigation, said deputies found allegedly shoplifted items, including shaving cream, sunscreen, and mouthwash, during the raids. The stores were under surveillance after plainclothes detectives observed customers entering with shopping bags already full and leaving empty-handed, sometimes counting cash. The store owners, Khaled

Sheriff's deputies uncover $1 million in alleged stolen goods operation
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Turning pain into profit? Not in this city anymore.

Municipal leaders have outlawed bus companies from operating sightseeing excursions through neighborhoods where wildfires caused widespread destruction earlier this year. The move reflects a broader national conversation about the ethics of disaster tourism. In the past, U.S. cities, especially in California, grappled with similar tensions after major catastrophes. Following the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, officials imposed nightly curfews and restricted public access to devastated areas to protect residents’ privacy and ensure safety. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans officials faced community backlash against disaster tours through flood-damaged neighborhoods. Tours were eventually limited, and residents began advocating for more

Turning pain into profit? Not in this city anymore.
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California bills aim to close loopholes in pet sales after puppy mill investigation

California lawmakers introduced three bills designed to shut down the state’s underground puppy mill pipeline by targeting dog brokers, strengthening online pet-sale oversight, and expanding consumer protections. The moves respond directly to a Los Angeles Times investigation, revealing widespread fraud and abuse involving brokers who imported truckloads of designer pups from large-scale breeders in other states. Senate Bill 312, authored by Sen. Tom Umberg (D‑Santa Ana), requires dog importers to electronically file certificates of veterinary inspection with the California Department of Food & Agriculture within 10 days. These documents must then be made publicly accessible.  Pet sellers would be mandated to

California bills aim to close loopholes in pet sales after puppy mill investigation

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