July 2026
Happy Birthday, America! You’ve weathered another rough year
War, inflation and presidential grifting mark an Independence Day best put in the past. But America has made it through worse times, which lends perspective and offers hope for better times ahead.
Are three City Council meetings a week too much? L.A. voters will decide
The council sidelined a long list of charter reform proposals. But one key idea will make it to the ballot: reducing the number of council meetings.
Noncitizen voting was gaining steam in L.A. Then fears of Trump backlash scuttled the plan
Some critics said the proposal lacked much-needed specifics, while others worried it would endanger the very people it was designed to help.
Facing setbacks and resistance, Trump presses bid to reshape elections on multiple fronts
President Trump has spent months waging an unusually aggressive campaign to reshape how states run elections.
Forest Service firefighters can now wear breathing masks for some work on the fire line
Experts say waiting for the perfect breathing gear has left firefighters exposed to dangerous smoke
Boyle Heights blaze choked L.A. with astronomical soot pollution
The warehouse fire exposed residents to worse smoke and soot than the 2025 Los Angeles fires
More money and patience could help California’s vote count. A little duct tape, too
A $40-million infusion for election workers and new technology may help speed tabulations. The bigger problem is the political pyromaniac in the White House and pundits who abet his arson.
After Trump axed federal employees running climate site, thousands crowdfund its comeback
Federal employees axed during waves of cuts by the Trump administration have fought back against the dismantling of a key climate science website.
Bill to ban sex offenders from running for office fails in California Senate committee
State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) voted against AB 2753, which would have banned sex offenders from running for office. The vote failed 2-1-2 in committee.
Trump administration sues California over ‘Glock ban’ law targeting machine gun pistols
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing California over a state law that took effect Wednesday restricting sales of pistols that can be illegally converted into machine guns with a device called a ‘Glock switch.’