Headlines From The Times

When it rains, it pours, and when it pours after a long dry spell, water can become dangerous. Fire-scarred lands see mudslides devastate homes. Parched soil can’t absorb the rain that comes. Water, water everywhere, and California is still on the brink.Today, we reconvene our Masters of Disasters to discuss how too much rain after a drought can be bad. And who knew the term "mudslide" could be so controversial?More reading:Threat of mudslides returns to California after devastating fires. How do they work?California rains break all-time records, spurring floods and mudslidesOctober’s torrential rains brought some drought relief, but California’s big picture still bleak

Last month, In-N-Out Burger made national news when health officials in San Francisco shut down one of its restaurants. The company’s sin: refusing to comply with a law that requires restaurants to ask customers for proof of COVID-19 vaccination. An In-N-Out spokesperson described the mandate as “intrusive, improper and offensive” — and suddenly, the burger chain became a flashpoint in the country’s culture wars. Today, we talk about this beloved company with L.A. Times reporter Stacy Perman, author of the best-selling 2009 book “In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules.”More reading: Column: What In-N-Out’s vaccine standoff reveals about the California dream Inside In-N-Out Burger’s escalating war with California over COVID-19 vaccine rules ‘We refuse to become the vaccination police’: In-N-Out Burger, and other restaurants defy COVID mandates

Over the last few years, Leyna Bloom has been the first in many categories. In 2017, she became the first trans woman of color to grace the pages of Vogue India. In 2019, she became one of the first trans women to walk Paris Fashion Week. And most recently, she broke barriers again as the first trans cover model for Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue.On this crossover episode with our sister podcast “Asian Enough,” Bloom talks about her ties to ballroom, her Black and Filipina identity and reuniting with her mom after decades apart.More reading:How Leyna Bloom became the first transgender actress of color to star in a film at CannesSports Illustrated Swimsuit goes bold: Megan Thee Stallion, Naomi Osaka, Leyna BloomReview: Luminous performances elevate trans romance ‘Port Authority’

In 2011, a group of Muslims in Orange County sued the federal government, alleging that the FBI violated the constitutional rights of Muslims by spying on them solely because of their religion. The feds denied the allegations, but they also said they couldn't disclose why they had spied on this community. To do so, according to the government, would reveal state secrets. Now the lawsuit is before the U.S. Supreme Court, and the feds want it dismissed. Today, we hear from L.A. Times reporter Suhauna Hussain, who is covering the case. We'll hear from some of the plaintiffs and Muslim activists. And we'll also hear from Craig Monteilh, the self-admitted FBI informant in the center of all this. More reading: Supreme Court skeptical of FBI’s claim in monitoring of Orange County MuslimsColumn: In Orange County case, the U.S. is hiding behind claims of ‘state secrets’From the archives: Man says he was FBI informant

This fall, a commemoration in downtown Los Angeles marked the 150th anniversary of when a mob lynched 18 Chinese men and boys — one of the biggest such killings in American history. The recent memorial comes in a year when many similar remembrances have bloomed across the United States. Anti-Asian hate crimes have soared during the pandemic, but that has also spurred an interest in learning the long, and long-hidden, history of such bigotry. More reading: History forgot the 1871 Los Angeles Chinese massacre, but we’ve all been shaped by its violenceL.A.'s memorial for 1871 Chinese Massacre will mark a shift in how we honor historyThe racist massacre that killed 10% of L.A.’s Chinese population and brought shame to the cityWhite residents burned this California Chinatown to the ground. An apology came 145 years later

Marijuana use is now ubiquitous in mainstream culture — even Martha Stewart’s into CBD products thanks to her good pal Snoop Dogg. Despite this, the federal government classifies basically all cannabis-related products as illegal. That stands in the way of things like medical research. Can California, which sparked a revolution 25 years ago with the legalization of medical marijuana by voters, push the federal government to legalize marijuana once and for all? More reading: California changed the country with marijuana legalization. Is it high time for the feds to catch up?Thousands of California marijuana convictions officially reduced, others dismissedEditorial: What legalization? California is still the Wild West of illegal marijuana

At USC, hundreds of students have been protesting university officials and so-called Greek life itself over the last month after a series of drugging and sexual assault allegations that the school kept quiet about for weeks. It's the latest scandal to hit the school, and some of the loudest criticism has come from an unexpected source: fraternity and sorority members. Today, we talk to L.A. Times higher education reporter Teresa Watanabe about the matter. And a USC student who's a proud sorority sister tells us why she's pushing for change.More reading: USC students protest toxic Greek life after fraternity suspended for alleged drugging, sexual assaultUSC’s ‘Greek experience’ under fire even as fraternities gain in popularity post-pandemicUSC admits to ‘troubling delay’ in warning about fraternity drugging, sex assault reports

In this crossover episode with our cousin podcast “Asian Enough,” hosts Suhauna Hussain and Johana Bhuiyan speak with sociologist Anthony Ocampo. He’s spent his career studying the intersection of race, gender and immigration, which guided his groundbreaking book “The Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race.”Today, Ocampo also speaks about another facet of his work: what it means to be brown and gay in Los Angeles. And he reflects on Filipino nurses’ role in battling the coronavirus in the United States.More reading:Filipino American trailblazers speak truth to Hollywood through jokes and rhymesHow the Philippines’ colonial legacy weighs on Filipino American mental healthFilipino-led micro-businesses blossom in the pandemic at L.A.'s Manila District

Skateboarding is a mainstay of California street culture, from San Diego to San Francisco and beyond. It’s so popular that L.A. County filled outdoor skateparks with sand earlier in the pandemic so no one could grind on them.But during the pandemic, skateboard sales surged — and communities long marginalized from the sport are now making their own spaces.Today we talk to reporter Cerise Castle, who’s covering and participating in this rise, and skateboarders from various parts of America — including Washington, D.C., and the Navajo Nation — tell us why they skate.More reading:Skating can be a bridge in L.A. These 3 crews show how bonds form on four wheelsSkateboarding improves mental health, helps build diverse relationships, USC study saysFrom the archives: Skateboarders in urban areas get respect, and parks

Less than 4% of Los Angeles’ firefighters are women — a number that, despite the mayor’s goals, has inched up only slightly in recent years. Many of the female firefighters say their ranks are so small because of a hostile, sexist culture pervading the Los Angeles Fire Department.Today, we talk about what women in the LAFD have been dealing with, including trash in their lockers, feces on bathroom floors and nasty remarks from co-workers they need to trust with their lives. We talk to L.A. Times City Hall reporter Dakota Smith, who has covered this hazing culture, and we also hear from Stacy Taylor, a retired battalion chief who pushed for better treatment during her 26 years in the department.More reading:Women say they endure ‘frat house’ culture at L.A. Fire Department. ‘The worst of my life’Female firefighters, civil rights advocates call for LAFD chief’s removalFirefighters sue over city of L.A.'s vaccine mandate

Every year, people in the American West die from scorching temperatures. Experts fear that the number of deaths is undercounted — and, that as the climate continues to heats up, the death rate is going to rise.Officially, California says 599 people died due to heat exposure from 2010 to 2019. But a Los Angeles Times investigation estimates the number is way higher: about 3,900 deaths.Today we talk to Tony Barboza and Anna M. Phillips, who, along with Sean Greene and Ruben Vives, spearheaded the L.A. Times investigation. We discuss why their count is so different from the state's, who's most vulnerable to the heat and how to protect yourself. More reading:Heat waves are far deadlier than we think. How California neglects this climate threatClimate change is supercharging California heat waves, and the state isn’t readyPoor neighborhoods bear the brunt of extreme heat, ‘legacies of racist decision-making’

The Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California is Mexico’s premier wine country, a lush valley that makes Napa seem as gorgeous as a parking lot.But a lot of development is coming to the Valle — and many locals aren’t happy.Today, we travel to this beautiful, contested space with two experts. Javier Cabral is the editor of LA Taco and wrote about a recent anti-development protest there. Javier Plascencia, a pioneering chef, has seen Valle grow and wants the world to come in — in a sustainable way.More reading:Is Valle de Guadalupe over? The fight to protect Mexican wine country10 things to know about Chef Javier PlascenciaBaja is making a lot more great wine than you might think

Over the next two weeks, leaders from nearly 200 countries are gathering in Glasglow, Scotland, for a United Nations climate summit known as COP26. They’ll tell us what we’ve heard before: that scientists have warned about rising oceans, sinking cities, famines and millions of refugees if we don’t dramatically reduce carbon emissions. Officials will tell us we all need to act ASAP. But the fate of humanity really rests with a handful of countries.Today, we’re gathering our panel of correspondents from across the globe – L.A. Times Beijing bureau chief Alice Su, Seoul correspondent Victoria Kim, Singapore correspondent David Pierson and Mexico City correspondent Kate Linthicum – to focus on a few crucial countries in the fight against climate change and why it’s been so difficult for them to reduce their emissions.More reading:G-20 summit fails to bridge divides on pandemic and climate changeThe Amazon is still burning. Can U.N. summit in Glasgow address such climate failures?What U.S.-China tension means for fighting climate change

For decades, late October meant one holiday in American popular culture: Halloween. But over the past couple of decades, more and more people are also marking another fall festival: Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.Today, we get into how this Mexican holiday took hold in the United States: its history, its customs, how it’s different here from the way it’s observed in Mexico. We talk to L.A. Times culture reporter Daniel Hernandez, who has written extensively about the subject. And we talk to Alexis Meza de los Santos, a mexicana who grew up in Kentucky and has seen Día de los Muertos spread across the South.More reading:Contribute to our digital Día de Muertos altarHere’s the story behind Día de Muertos altars — and how you can build oneTamales, salt and bread ‘bones’: How foods are central to Day of the Dead

On Oct. 11, 1985, Palestinian American activist Alex Odeh opened the door to the Orange County offices of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. He served as its West Coast regional director. The moment he turned the doorknob, a bomb went off. Thirty-six years later, his assassination remains officially unsolved, but his family thinks the United States government knows more than it wants to admit.Decades after Odeh’s killing, Hugh Mooney, one of the first police officers on the scene, has begun speaking about what he heard and saw. Today, we hear from him and talk with TimesOC reporter Gabriel San Román, who has followed the investigation into Odeh’s killing for more than a decade. We’ll also hear from Odeh’s daughter Helena and the voice of Odeh himself.More reading:Amid new revelations, Alex Odeh’s assassination remains unsolvedAnswers sought in 1985 slaying of Palestinian activist Alex OdehL.A.-Born JDL man a suspect in ’85 slaying of Alex Odeh

Vigils from Southern California to Albuquerque were held last weekend to mark the death of Halyna Hutchins. The up-and-coming cinematographer was working on the film “Rust,” a Western that featured Alec Baldwin as an actor and producer. Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to figure out how Baldwin was handed a gun with a live round despite being assured it was safe.Today, we talk about the fatal incident. We check in with L.A. Times reporters Wendy Lee and Meg James — who cover the business of entertainment — about what happened on that set, whether the tragedy could lead to workplace safety changes in the film and television industry, and whether the clash between unionized crew members and Hollywood producers is about to flare up all over again.More reading:Search warrant reveals grim details of ‘Rust’ shooting and Halyna Hutchins’ final minutes‘Rust’ crew describes on-set gun safety issues and misfires days before fatal shootingLack of gun safety killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust.’ How did this happen?

Hundreds of thousands of sailors worldwide are stuck on cargo ships far longer than they’d intended, with few chances to contact the outside. Usually ports offer opportunities for a break, but most of these sailors haven’t had access to COVID-19 vaccines, so they’re not allowed to set foot in the United States.Today, L.A. Times Business reporter Ronald D. White takes us to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s largest. A huge backlog of cargo ships is waiting offshore for a turn to unload merchandise. Meanwhile, the crews aboard are going nowhere fast — and there’s basically no internet access, no visitors, no nice restaurant food delivery. They’re trapped.More reading:They’ve been stuck for months on cargo ships now floating off Southern California. They’re desperateWhen will supply chains be back to normal? And how did things get so bad?A tangled supply chain means shipping delays. Do your holiday shopping now

Shea Serrano is beloved in the sports, movie and music worlds for his wickedly funny essays and podcasts on everything from Selena to the Houston Texans, Jay-Z to Jason from “Friday the 13th.” And yet his journalism is probably the least impressive part of the guy who’s probably the nicest cholo nerd in the world.His latest book, “Hip-Hop (and Other Things),” is dropping tomorrow, Oct. 26. We talk about Shea’s unlikely entry into journalism, why Mexicans are perfect, why representation matters — and why, again and again, without question, he pays for fans’ utility bills and college classes.More reading:Hip-Hop (and Other Things)Q&A: Shea Serrano ponders life and more in ‘Movies (and Other Things)’Here are the songs they play at a middle school danceA story about Tim Duncan

Disabled people get pregnant and give birth at the same rates as nondisabled ones. But their outcomes are often far worse — for reasons that can’t be explained by anatomical difference or medical complexity — and modern medicine has largely turned its back on them.L.A. Times Metro reporter Sonja Sharp has experienced the discrimination firsthand, and she’s reported on the issue as well.Today, she speaks with Dr. Marie Flores, a physician who uses a wheelchair and is trying to become a mother, and Dr. Deborah Krakow, the chair of UCLA’s obstetrics and gynecology department, about how our society treats the intersection of pregnancy and disability. She also shares her own story and describes why she sees disabled motherhood as a radical act.More reading:Disabled mothers-to-be face indignity: ‘Do you have a man? Can you have sex?’Video: How disabled mothers are neglected by modern medicineThree lessons from disabled mothers

Twenty-one years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that national adult cases of syphilis had reached their lowest levels ever, and entirely eliminating the disease among newborns seemed to be within reach.But syphilis cases have risen dramatically over the last decade for both adults and infants — even though the disease is curable, and even though we could protect babies by getting pregnant people tested and treated in time.Today, L.A. Times public health reporter Emily Alpert Reyes discusses this disturbing trend, what it says about our society and how to get the fight against congenital syphilis back on track. We also hear from someone who had a stillbirth because of syphilis and wants everyone to learn from her story.More reading:The number of babies infected with syphilis was already surging. Then came the pandemicTwo crises in one: As drug use rises, so does syphilis1,306 U.S. infants were born with syphilis in 2018, even though it’s easy to prevent

Nearly half of imports in the United States go through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. They're the largest in the U.S., but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there's a humongous backlog of ships stuck at sea, making imported goods more expensive. The wait to unload cargo is so bad at the ports of L.A. and Long Beach that President Biden is taking action. Today, we're going to discuss the backup's repercussions with three L.A. Times reporters who cover the ports, the global market and the White House.More reading: Biden will announce expanded operations at Port of Los Angeles as supply chain crunch continuesNews Analysis: Ahead of holidays, Biden tries to untangle supply chain messPort truckers win $30 million in wage theft settlements

This month, comedy legend Dave Chappelle released his latest stand-up Netflix special, called "The Closer." It immediately drew criticism for jokes widely viewed as transphobic, and it has created turmoil behind the scenes at Netflix. But there’s also been a backlash to the backlash, by fans who say social justice warriors just want to cancel Chappelle. One group is particularly well positioned to have insights on the controversy: LGBTQ comedians. Today, we hear from three.More reading:What LGBTQ+ comedians really think of Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special Netflix’s Dave Chappelle PR crisis has been years in the makingNetflix takes a hit over fallout from Dave Chappelle special

Tall, bushy, spiny and fragrant, the pinyon pine is a beloved feature of the Mountain West — and not just for its beauty. The tiny piñon nuts in the tree’s cones are so good, people in the region have eaten them every fall for countless generations. But as climate change continues to affect the United States, something terrible is happening. The piñon harvest is getting smaller and smaller.Today we go to New Mexico, where the pinyon is the state’s official tree. We talk to Axios race and justice reporter Russell Contreras, who’s based out of Albuquerque and has an up-close view of the piñon’s slow disappearance. And a native New Mexican — Tey Marianna Nunn, director of the Smithsonian Institution's American Women’s History Initiative — tells us about the nut and tree’s cultural importance.More reading:Op-Ed: Pinyon and juniper woodlands define the West. Why is the BLM turning them to mulch?Locally foraged piñon nuts are cherished in New Mexico. They’re also disappearingPine nut recipes: From small seeds, inspiration

The Black Panther Party, a Black power political organization, was founded exactly 55 years ago in California’s Bay Area and grew into a nationwide group that pushed for housing, food equity, education and self-protection. Several famous figures emerged from the group, including Eldridge Cleaver, Angela Davis and Huey P. Newton.But history often overlooks those who do not serve in dynamic roles or who perform tasks away from public view. These people do the thankless but crucial work that keeps organizations running. Barbara Easley-Cox was one of these people.Today, Easley-Cox recounts what she experienced as a Black Panther, from California to Algeria to North Korea and beyond.More reading:Decades before Black Lives Matter, there were the Black Panthers in OaklandOpinion: 1969 SWAT raid on Black Panthers set the tone for police race problemsBobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver tell Cal State Fullerton audience about militancy, civil rights work

California requires each publicly traded company based in the Golden State to have at least one woman on its board of directors and, soon, at least one nonwhite or LGBTQ person. That’s because of a pair of laws mandating diversity at those high levels — laws that are having effects nationwide.Today, we examine the topic with L.A. Times national reporter Evan Halper. We also talk with Dr. Maria Rivas, who has served on several boards and frequently found herself the only woman or person of color there.More reading:California outlawed the all-white-male boardroom. That move is reshaping corporate AmericaColumn: California’s controversial law requiring women on corporate boards is back in the crosshairsNewsom signs law mandating more diversity in California corporate boardrooms

Wildfires across the American West this summer spewed out smoke full of particulates that darkened skies, created unnaturally beautiful sunsets and boosted health risks far and wide. This problem has been getting worse as the years go by. So how will we move forward?Today, we convene our monthly Masters of Disasters panel — L.A. Times air quality reporter Tony Barboza, wildfire reporter Alex Wigglesworth and earthquake and COVID-19 reporter Ron Lin — to talk about what makes wildfire smoke special, how to protect yourself and what the future might be. We also discuss reasons to be optimistic. And no, we’re not apologizing for the corny jokes. You’re welcome.More reading:Wildfire smoke now causes up to half the fine-particle pollution in Western U.S., study findsWildfire smoke may carry ‘mind-bending’ amounts of fungi and bacteria, scientists sayAs ‘diesel death zones’ spread, pollution regulators place new rules on warehouse industryHow to keep the air in your home clean when there’s wildfire smoke outside

It’s been about a week since a big oil spill hit the Southern California shoreline near Orange County. Tar sullied sensitive wetlands. Birds and fish died. Miles of beaches were closed. The L.A. Times newsroom has produced dozens of stories trying to understand what happened, and what we’ve found so far isn’t pretty: aging offshore oil platforms and pipelines — being bought up by companies that have a history of safety violations.Today, we speak to L.A. Times investigative reporter Connor Sheets about the causes of the so-called Huntington Beach oil spill. And an environmental activist — Center for Biological Diversity oceans program director Miyoko Sakashita — describes what she found when visiting Southern California’s offshore drilling platforms in 2018.More reading:Full coverage: the Huntington Beach oil spillCalifornia attorney general launches investigation into Orange County oil spillFederal regulation of oil platforms was dogged by problems long before O.C. spillHow much would it cost to shut down an offshore oil well? Who pays?

Nearly a century ago, government officials pushed a Black family from their beachfront property in the Southern California city of Manhattan Beach. Now, in what could be a landmark in this nation’s efforts to correct past injustices to African Americans, the land is being returned to the family’s descendants.Today, we have an update to our June episode about the fight over Bruce’s Beach. And we hear from the historians, family members and grass-roots organizers who championed this cause for years until it could not be ignored. We also speak with L.A. Times environmental reporter Rosanna Xia about her work, which amplified the story of Bruce’s Beach to the world.More reading:Newsom signs bill to return Bruce’s Beach to Black familyOp-Ed: Bruce’s Beach will be returned to my family. I hope our fight will help othersEditorial: Beyond Bruce’s Beach is the tarnished American dream for Black AmericansManhattan Beach was once home to Black beachgoers, but the city ran them out. Now it faces a reckoning

Milwaukee is in the grips of the worst violence in its modern history. There were 189 killings there last year — the most ever recorded, almost twice as many as the year before.It’s not just Milwaukee. The nonprofit Council on Criminal Justice looked at 34 U.S. cities and found that 29 had more homicides last year than in 2019. What has caused this surge? How is it affecting members of the hardest-hit communities?Today, Los Angeles Times national correspondent Kurtis Lee takes us to Milwaukee’s north side to explore the neighborhood’s history and present and to hear from community members: victims’ families, as well as a pastor, a retiring police detective and a funeral home director. He also reflects on how it feels to be a young Black man covering the deaths of so many young Black men.More reading:On the front lines of the U.S. homicide epidemic: Milwaukee faces historic violenceA year like no other for L.A. crime: Homicides surge, robberies and rapes dropOp-Ed: Homicide rates are up. To bring them down, empower homegrown peacekeepers

Nursing is a tough job in good times, and the COVID-19 pandemic made it a lot tougher. Within a few months of the start of the pandemic, U.S. healthcare workers reported high rates of anxiety, frustration, emotional and physical exhaustion and burnout.Now we’re a year and a half in. We’ve got vaccines, but the Delta variant still poses a big threat. So how are nurses holding up?Today, nurses tell us about their experiences and how they’re coping, personally and professionally.Host: L.A. Times utility journalism reporter Karen GarciaMore reading:Nurses have had a tough year (and then some). You can learn from their resilience Op-Ed: As a doctor in a COVID unit, I’m running out of compassion for the unvaccinated. Get the shotTracking the coronavirus in California

To Project Roomkey’s architects, the program was a no-brainer. Thousands of hotel rooms were empty because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And there were thousands of people who lacked homes and seemed especially vulnerable to the coronavirus. The plan to put the people in the empty rooms and pay the hotel owners seemed to solve two problems at once.Sounds easy, right? But in practice, not so much. The program helped some people but certainly not everyone.Today we examine Project Roomkey — its promises, achievements, shortcomings and future. We talk to L.A. Times reporters Benjamin Oreskes and Doug Smith, who have covered the program from the start. We also talk to Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, the head of a nonprofit that helps people transition out of homelessness.More reading:L.A. had a golden opportunity to house homeless people in hotels — but fell short of its goalL.A. County won’t expand program to shelter homeless people in hotelsFederal aid allows L.A. to extend hotel-room rentals for homeless people

Rules against jaywalking are rarely enforced, but in many places, when someone does get a ticket, it's more likely than not a person of color — and the penalty is steep.Jaywalking tickets disproportionately affect communities of color in California’s biggest cities. Critics say that’s because of systemic racism, and state lawmakers want to address the disparity. A bill currently awaiting the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom, known as the Freedom to Walk act, would get rid of penalties for pedestrians who try to cross the street when it’s safe, even against a red light.Today we talk to state Assemblymember Phil Ting, who introduced the bill. And walking advocate John Yi discusses getting from Point A to Point B with convenience and dignity.More reading:Editorial: Trying to cross the street shouldn’t be a crimeO.C. deputies argued over whether to stop Kurt Reinhold before fatally shooting him2018 Op-Ed: Cars are running over people left and right. So why is LAPD targeting pedestrians and not drivers?

We’re doing another crossover episode with our sister show, “Asian Enough.” Today, hosts Jen Yamato and Tracy Brown are joined by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, the breakout star of Netflix’s hit coming-of-age comedy “Never Have I Ever.” She talks about her Tamil roots, her high school self, her bond with Mindy Kaling and what it’s like getting mega-famous overnight — during a pandemic.More reading:You’ll want to learn the name Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. She’s Netflix’s next teen star‘Never Have I Ever’s’ heroine can be surprisingly cruel. Here’s what’s behind it‘Never Have I Ever’ is the L.A. immigrant tale I never thought I’d see on TV: My own

Trust Women Wichita is a clinic in Kansas that has long been a lightning rod in the abortion wars. Its former director, George Tiller, was assassinated in 2009 by an antiabortion extremist, and the clinic closed for years because of that.Since it reopened in 2013, the clinic slowly became known as a place for people from across the Midwest and South who want to end their pregnancies and must travel hundreds of miles. Now, with Texas passing one of the most sweeping antiabortion laws in the country, Trust Women Wichita is busier than ever.Today, L.A. Times Houston bureau chief Molly Hennessy-Fiske takes us to this abortion clinic. She talks to women who came from far away to get an abortion, staffers who feel their work is more important than ever — and antiabortion activists who are counting on even more restrictive laws to effectively shut down Trust Women Wichita.More reading:For many Texans, it’s a long drive out of state for abortionOp-Ed: What it’s like operating a Texas abortion clinic nowThe new Texas abortion law is becoming a model for other states

Lighting, cameras, sound props, costumes, editing and so much more: About 60,000 workers with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees — IATSE for short — are among the most forgotten of Hollywood’s magic makers. And now, citing unfair working conditions, they might go on strike. What does that mean for them? And what does it mean for people who like watching movies, TV shows and streaming services?Today we talk to L.A. Times entertainment industry reporter Anousha Sakoui, who has been following the issue. And a crew member — Marisa Shipley, who's also vice president of IATSE Local 871 — tells us about her own working conditions and why she’s anxious about the future of her job and her colleagues’ careers.More reading:Hollywood union calls for strike authorization vote by crew workersCelebs rally for IATSE: ‘Now is the time to speak for the people who make it possible’War of words escalates between producers group and crews union

Bagels and lox, pastrami on rye and maybe a dollop of sour cream or applesauce on your latkes: The Jewish deli is a staple of American city life, and it’s delicious. But over the last decade, icons of the genre, from New York to Los Angeles, have shut down — even as the food itself has become more popular. So why are the delis disappearing?Today we’re looking at the Jewish deli. It’s always been a nexus of tradition and assimilation, old country and new, with rugelach for dessert. Our guests: The Foward national editor Rob Eshman and Mort & Betty's chef and curator Megan TuckerMore reading:In search of perfect pastrami: Your guide to the Jewish delis of Los AngelesOn Greenblatt’s Deli’s last night, guests waited for one final tasteThe deli capital? It’s L.A.

Pudgy Penguins, Bored Apes and CryptoKitties — a Noah’s Ark of nonfungible tokens — are the latest trend for people trying to get rich and engage with art in a new way. NFTs might be a fad, but there’s a multibillion-dollar market for them.Today, L.A. Times business reporter Sam Dean gives us a crash course in what exactly NFTs are and how to think about whether they’re worth your money. And NFT collectors Cooper Turley and Tim Kang tell us why they think the digital tokens could change our lives even if we don’t buy them.Also: An update about last week’s episode “Our nation’s Haitian double standard.”More reading:$69 million for digital art? The NFT craze explainedWho can sell a Wonder Woman NFT? The guy who drew her or DC Comics?How NFTs could affect sports

Today, a crossover episode with our L.A. Times cousin podcast “Asian Enough.” Hosts Tracy Brown and Jen Yamato interview novelist Min Jin Lee about leaving her legal career to write books, expressing Asian pride at a time of hate crimes, dealing with people whose stances you dislike, and working to change the world five minutes at a time.The author also blows the hosts’ minds with her perspective on dealing with the pain of casual racism. “Min Jin, you’re giving me, like, a lifetime of therapy here.”More reading:Welcome to ‘Asian Enough,’ Season 2Violence has Asian Americans questioning how far they have really come in their American journeyHigh School Insider column: Exploring my Korean identity — A follow-up to Min Jin Lee’s ‘Pachinko’Op-ed: Coronavirus reminds Asian Americans that our belonging is conditional

Ellen Garrison Jackson Clark was the granddaughter of a freed man who fought in the Revolutionary War. She grew up educated and refined in Concord, Mass. Her mother was friends with families of some of America’s greatest thinkers, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. So how did she end up in an unmarked grave near Los Angeles for 129 years?Today, L.A. Times features writer Jeanette Marantos brings you the extraordinary story of how amateur historians nationwide got together to find Clark’s final resting place — and finally got her a tombstone.More reading:She was the Rosa Parks of her day. So why was she in an unmarked grave for 129 years?How we got the story of Ellen Garrison Jackson Clark and her courageous, unsung lifeLA Times Today: The ‘Rosa Parks of Concord MA,’ discovered in an unmarked grave in Altadena

Note: This episode mentions thoughts of suicide. Over the last month, the population of Del Rio, Texas, has jumped by half. The reason: refugees, many of them Haitian, have arrived and set up a tent city under a freeway overpass. They’re hoping for a chance to live in the United States, but the Biden administration isn’t so welcoming.This isn’t anything new for Haitians. For decades, the U.S. has treated them far differently than other migrants from the Western Hemisphere.Today, we go to the Del Rio camp and hear from Haitians who are staying there. And we dive into this refugee double standard that has immigration activists comparing President Biden to Donald Trump. Our guest is L.A. Times Houston bureau chief Molly Hennessy-Fiske. More reading:U.S. begins removing Haitian migrants, but they continue to flock to Texas borderConfined to U.S. border camp, Haitian migrants wade to Mexico for suppliesHaitian migrants pour out of U.S. into Mexico to avoid being sent back to Haiti

Latinos have long hidden in plain sight in U.S. society. Some do it to lessen the racism they might face from non-Latinos. But there’s another type of whitewashing that’s even more disturbing. It’s when Latinos downplay their distinct identities among themselves or suppress the visibility of fellow Latinos.Today we talk about the phenomenon of Latino erasure, who does it, why it happens and how it persists. We’ll focus on Culture Clash, the pioneering Chicano comedy troupe. This summer, two of its members “came out” as Salvadoran, not Mexican. Our guests: L.A. Times arts columnist Carolina A. Miranda and Culture Clash members Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza. More reading:Watch “The Salvi Chronicles”For me, being Latino means living between two worldsOp-Ed: Why did so few Latinos identify themselves as white in the 2020 census?

Right now, migrant camps are popping up on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. They’re filled with people who escaped dire circumstances in their home countries and seek a chance at officially living in the United States. But the Biden administration is telling these people, much like in the Trump years: Better luck next time.Today, we launch the first in a two-part series on these camps. We start in Reynosa, Mexico, where about 2,000 Central Americans wait for their U.S. amnesty cases to be heard. Later this week, we’ll head to Del Rio, Texas, where more than 16,000 Haitians have gathered — and are currently getting deported. L.A. Times Houston bureau chief Molly Hennessy-Fiske explains the situation. More reading:Biden vowed to close a border migrant camp, then a worse one emerged under his watchSupreme Court rules Biden may not end Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policyWhat’s next for the ‘Remain in Mexico’ immigration policy?

This month, Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalized abortion in the country. Argentina legalized abortion last December, becoming one of just three countries in Latin America to fully allow it.Today, we talk about the slow liberalization of abortion rights in Latin America at a time that state governments in the United States have chipped away at access. It’s a dramatic flip of circumstances. L.A. Times Mexico City bureau chief Patrick McConnell and L.A. Times Latin America correspondent Kate Linthicum discuss what we can learn from the situation. More reading:Across Latin America, abortion restrictions are being loosenedMexico Supreme Court rules abortion is not a crimeArgentina legalizes abortion, a move likely to reverberate across Latin America