Dakota Smith

LA28 Olympics Committee backs embattled Casey Wasserman over Epstein files As Casey Wasserman faces growing fallout over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the leaders of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced Wednesday that it had reviewed Wasserman's past conduct and determined he should continue to serve as chair of LA28.

LA28 Olympics Committee backs embattled Casey Wasserman over Epstein files

How Casey Wasserman entered Epstein's orbit: Bill Clinton, a trip to Africa and Ghislaine Maxwell Newly-released risque emails with Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime confidant of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, threatens Casey Wasserman's role overseeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Games.

Wasserman said Sunday his participation in a 2002 Clinton-led Africa trip was the only time he met Epstein. "I never witnessed anything inappropriate, I did not speak to, see him or communicate with him ever again." www.latimes.com/business/sto...

Sex trafficking in L.A. made worse by California law, Republican candidate for governor says California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton on Monday visited a notorious sex-trafficking corridor in South L.A. and vowed to rescind a law that decriminalized loitering, a measure critics say end...

Sex trafficking in L.A. made worse by California law, Republican candidate for governor says
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Foul-mouthed, brash and savvy: What to know about ex-Newsom aide tangled in a corruption probe Dana Williamson, Newsom's former chief of staff, made friends and enemies in Sacramento with her abrasive style and passion for policy.

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

Challenges to Pelosi part of broader movement to replace the Democratic Party's old guard Rep. Nancy Pelosi's most serious primary challenge in decades is not just a local political moment, but a prominent example of a generational reckoning underway in the Democratic Party.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Former Rep. Katie Porter expresses remorse about her behavior in damaging videos Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter, under fire for recently emerged videos showing her berating a reporter and swearing at an aide, expressed remorse for her behavior on Tuesday in her fi...

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

Trump claims Democrats want to use federal funds to give undocumented residents healthcare. That’s misleading Contrary to Republican assertions, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program or Medicare, or coverage through the Affordable Care Act, though California ...

Undocumented immigrants and healthcare: Parsing through the rhetoric about who is covered and who is not. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Election ballots mailed on Nov. 4 may not be counted, state officials warn Changes to the United States Postal Service mean that some ballots mailed on election day may not be postmarked the same day.

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

In abrupt turnabout, Mayor Karen Bass withdraws her bill to overhaul L.A.'s mansion tax Bass had pushed for the bill to rewrite Measure ULA in the final days of the legislative session, only to reverse course, saying she needed more time

Well, that was fast

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

Commentary: With recent advances, it's 'a very exciting time' for dementia researchers Study suggests exercise, diet and engagement can improve cognition for those at risk of dementia. A team of experts will explain recent advances at three upcoming L.A.-area conferences.

Lopez: With recent advances, it's 'a very exciting time' for dementia researchers

The San Fernando Valley gets another shot at the L.A. Olympics The San Fernando Valley will host several sporting events during the 2028 Olympics.

The San Fernando Valley turned its back on the '84 Olympics. Valley politicians want representation this time. www.latimes.com/california/n...

They call themselves 'trashers.' Together, they’re cleaning L.A.'s streets — and finding friendship Chatsworth resident Jill Mather runs one of the largest volunteer cleanup groups in the city. The group offers a sense of community that keeps volunteers coming back.

L.A.'s streets are filthy. This incredible group of seniors is cleaning them up. www.latimes.com/california/s...

L.A. City Councilman Curren Price to face new corruption charges, sources say Prosecutors are expected to file additional charges against City Councilman Curren Price this week. He was first accused in 2023 of embezzlement, perjury and violating state conflict of interest laws for votes on city business that could have financially benefited his wife.

Prosecutors are expected to file additional charges against City Councilman Curren Price this week. He was first accused in 2023 of embezzlement, perjury and violating state conflict of interest laws for votes on city business that could have financially benefited his wife.

Trump officials are reopening old immigration cases, even for dead people. 'They don't do their homework,' lawyers say Attorneys and their clients are racing to submit opposition to the legal actions. In one case, the government sought to recalendar proceedings against a man who was dead.

Earlier this year, we learned immigration attorneys were scrambling to respond to a flurry of requests from DHS to recalendar old cases - some as old as '06. In some, ppl had died - or their attorneys.
with @racheluranga.bsky.social and @missdakotasmith.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...

A young boy was found dead in a Panorama City dumpster. His mother's ex is accused of killing him Brycson Gaddis, 20, has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the killing of a 5-year-old boy whose body was found in a Panorama City dumpster on July 12.

When he allegedly killed his ex's son, Brycson Gaddis had:
- an active warrant for his arrest
- absconded from electronic monitoring
- dodged a carjacking charge b/c an L.A. D.A. wasn't ready for a hearing.
w/@summerrlin.bsky.social & @missdakotasmith.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...

Fears of racial profiling rise as Border Patrol conducts 'roving patrols,' detains U.S. citizens Border Patrol agents on 'roving patrol' arrest U.S. citizen on assault charges. Fear of widespread racial profiling gains momentum as Home Depots and car washes raided.

"Gavidia said the agents who questioned him in Montebello never returned his Real ID." www.latimes.com/california/s...

L.A. Councilmember Lee breaks silence on infamous Vegas trip, ethics allegations Over and over, John Lee, who was then Englander’s chief of staff, denied accepting gifts or breaking city laws. Under grilling by an city ethics enforcement officer, Lee described stuffing $300 into t...

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

I know coyotes are a dime a dozen in this town but it’s still weird to see one in Grand Park in the middle of the afternoon

She ran the L.A. animal shelters. Why couldn't she fix the problems? In an interview with The Times, Staycee Dains said she felt powerless to solve entrenched problems that included severe understaffing and employees who mistreated or neglected animals.

Former Animal Services head alleges she witnessed workers mistreating and neglecting animals, but wasn't able to fire problem employees. www.latimes.com/california/s...

After the Eaton fire, Altadena dirt was sent to Tujunga. Then came the backlash Tujunga residents are outraged over a hauling operation in their neighborhood. L.A. County officials contend the soil is safe and say more storm debris will be trucked in.

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

Slaying of 13-year-old boy devastates L.A. immigrant community: 'We can't trust anyone' The killing of a 13-year-old boy and criminal charges against his trusted soccer coach have profoundly shaken this Latin American immigrant community in Los Angeles.

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

Thrilled to announce that I'm moving on from the City Hall beat to cover the San Fernando Valley. Send me tips, gripes and dog park recommendations: dakota.smith@latimes.com

Bass aides warned of fire risk before Ghana trip, city emails show w/ @davidzahniser www.latimes.com/california/s...

Feds won't test soil after L.A. wildfire cleanup, potentially leaving contamination behind In the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires, Army Corps officials are saying that excavating six inches of topsoil is enough to rid properties of contamination.

The federal government is skimping on soil testing to protect families from hazardous pollution in the wake of the L.A. fires, seemingly to speed up rebuilding: www.latimes.com/environment/...

Escape from the Palisades: Split-second decision making, confusing responses A deep analysis of the Palisades fire evacuation paints a chaotic scenario: As the fire roared toward homes, major escape routes were gridlocked before the first evacuation orders were given

A deep analysis of the Palisades fire evacuation paints a chaotic scenario: As the fire roared toward homes, major escape routes were gridlocked before the first evacuation orders were given
www.latimes.com/california/s...

L.A. wildfire coverage shows why local TV news matters in a crisis The city's reporters and anchors with roots in the community go beyond the call of duty in a time of devastation and loss.

www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Should the L.A. City Council still be informing the public by bulletin board? On Tuesday, the council drafted and posted a flurry of proposals for same-day voting — so many that they were buried under one another on a City Hall bulletin board.

DWP scandal update: Paul Paradis, who took $2.2 million kickback and then secretly wore a wire for the FBI, was released early from prison this week. He's expected to testify in upcoming CA State Bar proceedings. And more City Hall news: www.latimes.com/california/n...

L.A. officials stop use of disappearing Google Chats, citing Palisades fire Los Angeles officials on Tuesday abruptly stopped a longstanding policy allowing employees to communicate using Google Chat messages that were automatically deleted after 24 hours.

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

Firefighter union rallies behind LAFD chief, denounces unsigned attack on her performance The union defended Crowley after a letter claiming to be from retired and active LAFD chief officers assailed the chief over her agency's wildfire response.

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

How climate change worsened the most destructive wildfires in L.A. history The California fires erupted amid extremely dry conditions. UCLA scientists say extreme heat linked to climate change was a factor in the fires' intensity.

Without climate change, the L.A. fires would have been “somewhat smaller and less intense,” early research from UCLA finds: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social