Grace Toohey

How grand plans to restart oil drilling off Santa Barbara’s coast hit California’s green wall A Texas company wants to drill for oil off Santa Barbara County's coast. Experts say its path to oil sales is looking more and more challenging.

My latest on the offshore oil battle in Santa Barbara:

The company trying to resurrect 3 rigs wants to pivot from contentious pipelines, but it keeps hitting more legal + regulatory hurdles in CA.

Experts say the situation casts doubt on the project’s future:
www.latimes.com/california/s...

In the biggest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history, some claim they were paid to sue Seven people told The Times they were paid to sue L.A. County over sex abuse, raising questions about whether some claims that led to a record $4-billion settlement may have been colored by the promis...

Read this story, you won't regret it.

WILD findings about the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history, and it's not what you think

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Texas firm proposes major change in California offshore oil project amid mounting troubles Sable Offshore Corp. is looking to pivot away from a fraught network of pipelines that have faced increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny in California.

The latest in a controversial plan to bring offshore oil back near Santa Barbara: the Texas-based firm pushing the project is considering a move that could avoid further California regulation -- after it's amassed lengthy legal and regulatory hurdles
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Aftermath of late summer storm includes destroyed homes, a closed highway and a child death Last week's storm dumped inches of rain on the San Bernardino County mountains and foothills and unleashed a torrent of mud, rocks and trees, particularly in burn scars near Oak Glen and Forest Falls.

Aftermath of late summer storm includes destroyed homes, a closed highway and a child death

'The original slow food people': Why this California tribe spent $500,000 on a global food gathering Sacramento this week will host Terra Madre Americas, an international food event affiliated with the "slow food" movement, which originated in Italy.

'The original slow food people': Why this California tribe spent $500,000 on a global food gathering

via @sleavenworth.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Company faces criminal charges as it seeks to restart California offshore oil operation A Texas company is trying to restart a controversial oil operation off Santa Barbara County’s coast. It now faces criminal charges alleging it violated environmental laws.

A Texas company is trying to restart an oil operation off the California coast. It now faces criminal charges alleging it knowingly violated environmental laws. @grace2e.bsky.social @latimes.com www.latimes.com/environment/...

Charlie Kirk was killed in their town. Residents refuse to be consumed by hate In Orem, Utah, where conservative star Charlie Kirk was assassinated, family, faith and patriotism run deep. How can this city move forward?

No one wants their town overrun with media after political violence.

And while the people of Orem, Utah, were heartbroken and shocked (and many angry), most were still gracious and warm.

Here’s my dispatch from this conservative, faithful city:
www.latimes.com/california/s...

'I lost me': How frontotemporal dementia changed a mind and a marriage A Westlake Village man living with frontotemporal dementia has something few people with the condition do: the ability to describe his disease.

‘I lost me’: How frontotemporal dementia changed a mind and a marriage

By @corinnepurtill.bsky.social @latimes.com www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Here's how SoCal's intensifying heat wave could set temperature records, even overnight The system’s length and strength will be compounded by some offshore winds, which will help keep any marine influence at bay and keep temperatures high, even overnight.

SoCal's worst heat wave this year kicked off HOT, but tonight may feel worse.

“The entire L.A. Basin...[is] not getting below the low 70s,” @weatherwest.bsky.social said. High overnight temps are "hugely consequential from a human health & ...wildfire perspective.”
www.latimes.com/california/s...

He was delivering strawberries in L.A. when Border Patrol stopped him. 'The wrong place at the wrong time' Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios was delivering strawberries to a tearoom in Little Tokyo when Border Patrol agents massed nearby where Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding a news conference. Minguela ended u...

Last week, Border Patrol agents massed outside of a @governor.ca.gov news conference. They wound up arresting Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios, a strawberry delivery driver with no criminal record and just there to drop off fruit to a tea room.

This is his story

www.latimes.com/california/s...

He was delivering strawberries in L.A. when Border Patrol stopped him. 'The wrong place at the wrong time' Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios was delivering strawberries to a tearoom in Little Tokyo when Border Patrol agents massed nearby where Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding a news conference. Minguela ended u...

Another masterful story from @brittnymejia.bsky.social on the recent immigration raids.

So many heartbreaking details, but can't get over how this fruit delivery driver was detained for days w/ no change of clothes, yet friends weren't allowed to bring him socks
www.latimes.com/california/s...

'A land that our ancestors walked': L.A. County tribe wins land back for the first time For the first time in centuries, a piece of ancestral territory belongs to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. While small, the half-acre lot serves as a space for the tribe to hold ceremonies an...

For the first time in centuries, the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, an LA County-based tribe, has a piece of their ancestral territory.

Beautiful story on the land transfer from @nohaggerty.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...

Southern California faces 'trio of impactful hazards' this week: Extreme heat, fire risk and thunderstorms Extreme heat across the U.S. Southwest will build on Wednesday and is expected to last for several days. In Southern California, there are major fire and health concerns.

Southern California faces 'trio of impactful hazards' this week: Extreme heat, fire risk and thunderstorms

Central Valley homeowners are watching property values sink with the land Chronic groundwater depletion has caused the land to sink in parts of California's Central Valley. New research shows home values are also declining in areas where it's a known problem.

In parts of the San Joaquin Valley, the land has been rapidly sinking as groundwater is drained to supply farms. New research shows that sinking communities are now also seeing lower home values. @grace2e.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com

Palestinians in Gaza held a funeral procession on Monday for journalists for the Al Jazeera network who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday. Here's what we know about them. nyti.ms/4mJMa2J

Canyon fire explodes to nearly 5,000 acres; thousands evacuated in L.A., Ventura counties Firefighters have reached 25% containment against the fast-moving Canyon fire, which exploded to nearly 5,000 acres late Thursday, forcing thousands to evacuate.

Some good news: the fire that exploded last night to 5K acres in Ventura & north LA County is now 25% contained.

But officials say conditions remain hot and dry, with potential for extreme fire growth.

W/ Clara Harter
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Fast-growing brush fire forces evacuations in Ventura County amid scorching heat wave The fire was initially reported around 30 acres, but within minutes that estimate jumped to 409 acres.

Within minutes, a brush fire in eastern Ventura County (near Piru) exploded to 400 acres. Evacuations underway.

Officials had warned the current heat wave could elevate fire risk
www.latimes.com/california/s...

California is on pace for its worst wildfire year in recent memory, and SoCal is mostly to blame The Gifford fire straddling a rural stretch of the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county line continued to grow Monday, reaching 65,000 acres and 3% containment. Officials warn an upcoming heat wav...

More than halfway through the year, California is on pace to have more fires and significantly more acreage burned than last year, @grace2e.bsky.social reports: www.latimes.com/california/s...

California fires are burning, incoming heat wave could make things worse A widespread and prolonged heat wave is expected to intensify fire concerns across California over the next few days, as temperatures rise and landscapes further dry out. Already, several fires are bu...

Yesterday, I reported that 2025 has seen CA's worst start to wildfires in years.

And that data doesn't yet include the Gifford fire (in rural SLO/SB counties), which just became CA's largest of the year at 82K acres.

Now, a heat wave could make things worse.
www.latimes.com/california/s...

A Times investigation: As west Altadena burned, L.A. County fire trucks stayed elsewhere Vehicle locator data obtained by The Times show that most L.A. County fire trucks didn’t shift into west Altadena until long after fire ravaged the area. How much of the town could have been saved, re...

"West Altadena was burning, and no one was there to save it."

Rebecca Ellis' deeply-reported story confirms what countless residents have told us since Jan: there were no firetrucks in west Altadena as the fire shifted there (or helping residents evacuate...)
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Is it finally time to ban new homes in the Rancho Palos Verdes' landslide zone? After almost two years of unprecedented landslide damage in the Portuguese Bend area, city officials want to permanently ban new development in the area.

There are 132 empty lots in this picturesque corner of the Palos Verdes peninsula -- where there's also been unprecedented landslide movement the past 2 years.

Rancho Palos Verdes officials want to ensure no new homes will be built on those lots.
www.latimes.com/california/s...

L.A. on pace to see lowest homicide total in nearly 60 years as killings plummet Experts say the city and other parts of the country may be in the midst of the sharpest decline in killings in history — one that can’t be attributed to any single factor.

Los Angeles is on pace to have its lowest count of homicides in nearly 6 decades.

From Libor Jany, @latimes.com

www.latimes.com/california/s...

This story from my colleague Ruben Vives is somehow heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

An LA community came together to support one of the teenagers taking over his parent's street vendor stands: www.latimes.com/california/s...

In Pasadena, a community comes together for a 14-year-old street vendor Chris Garcia began selling tamales on behalf of his mother, a legal resident who was caught up in an immigration sweep two weeks ago at Villa Parke in Pasadena.

Children of street vendors are taking over for their parents amid the immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Story from Ruben Vives @latimes.com

'We want answers.' Families hold vigil after seven found dead in fireworks factory explosion The Ramos family has been holding a vigil near the site of a fireworks facility explosion where authorities uncovered seven bodies. The family still has no answers about the cause of the explosion or ...

The family of three Latino men who likely died in a fireworks warehouse explosion hold a quiet vigil. They're waiting for answers, for confirmation that their loved ones are gone.

Reporting with @jessicagarrison.bsky.social @grace2e.bsky.social for @latimes.com

Most nabbed in L.A. raids were men with no criminal conviction, picked up off the street The Trump administration claimed the sweeps were aimed at criminals, but data shows otherwise.

Important analysis and context from @racheluranga, who's doing tireless work covering the immigration raids across SoCal

www.latimes.com/california/s...

She called 911 to report domestic abuse. Then Houston police called ICE on her. The woman’s case is a worst-case scenario, according to advocates worried about the worsening state of domestic violence in the Houston region.

Houston police called ICE on a woman who called 911 to report domestic abuse by her ex-husband.

The only reason she didn't get deported is because ICE said there was no one to take custody of her kids, according to the police report. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

'A tragic day on Lake Tahoe': How a sudden storm left 8 boaters dead Hundreds of boats were out across Lake Tahoe on Saturday when the weather took a dramatic turn. Winds picked up and waves became dangerous, capsizing several boats.

In about an hour, winds at Lake Tahoe on Saturday went from ~5 to 40 mph, per NWS. Temps dropped almost 20 degrees. Waves grew rapidly, hitting 7 to 10 feet. At one point, it snowed.

How a dramatic shift in weather left 8 boaters dead, & dozens more needing rescue:
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Hats off to Maya Lau for holding power to account here.

“If LASD’s actions are left unredressed,” according to the complaint, “journalists in Los Angeles will be chilled from reporting on matters of public concern out of fear that they will be investigated and prosecuted.”

"I am bringing this lawsuit not just for my own sake, but to send a clear signal in the name of reporters everywhere: we will not be intimidated. The Sheriff’s Department needs to know that these kinds of tactics against journalists are illegal.” --Former @latimes.com reporter Maya Lau

👏 👏