Dan Ross

LA Mayor Karen Bass and the CAO are asking the city's general managers to propose cuts from each department amounting to 5%, for the next fiscal year, 2026-2027.

The instructions were delivered as part of a 66-page budget instruction memo dated Oct. 6.

These three LA community libraries are filling gaps in the public health system Independent libraries say neighbors know what they need better than some charities and public systems, and they’re responding with services and community spaces.

These three LA community libraries are filling gaps in the public health system.

Independent libraries say neighbors know what they need better than some charities and public systems, and they’re responding with services and community spaces.

HISA's Fatality Stats: A Look Under the Hood Earlier this month, the Association for Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) issued a 28-page report assessing the effectiveness of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) after three yea...

“But as you said, California and New York are doing it, so at least in some jurisdictions it's permissible" - my dive @thetdn.bsky.social into discrepancies between the way different parties collect equine fatality stats, and a way to resolve these problems in the future:

Ask a Scientist: How Do We Solve California’s Water Shortage Crisis? We don't have to choose between economic prosperity and environmental health—we can have both if we do things right.

Ask a Scientist: How Do We Solve California’s Water Shortage Crisis? #cawater blog.ucs.org/mrama-poccia...

Black and Latino children in LA still hit hardest by asthma, new report shows Metro LA, South LA, and the South Bay are among communities hit the hardest. Advocates said the findings are “not surprising.”

A new report shows that Black and Latino children in LA are still hit hardest by asthma. Metro LA, South LA, and the South Bay are among communities most impacted, advocates said the findings are “not surprising.”
lapublicpress.org/2025/10/la-a...

Mountain View encampment residents confronted a progressive council member's staffer on why he ordered a sweep that drew heavy police presence, why there wasn't shelter.

Another told @thelareporter.bsky.social the sweep felt like a burglary. She said it was "heartbreaking, for no reason."

How indigenous practices can help protect forests The Post followed cultural burning practices, an Indigenous tradition now permitted under California law and used to help protect forests from wildfires.

Painting with fire: How indigenous practices can help protect forests #cawater www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...

🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 6: Introducing interviews at your local doughnut shop

This week, The Doughnut Shop Interviews debuts, Austin Beutner's social media lets cat out of bag, progressive council office orders CARE+ that draws big LAPD presence
thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...

The Doughnut Shop Interviews: Chatting about the future of LA politics over French cruller and apple fritter For the first interview in this series, The LA Reporter talked to Raymond Meza, chair of the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, about the citizen panel’s effort to help rewrite the Los Angeles cit...

The Doughnut Shop Interviews: Chatting about the future of LA politics over French cruller and apple fritter
thelareporter.la/p/the-doughn...

DWR: California’s groundwater data collection and understanding of subsidence expands with launch of NASA-ISRO satellite From the Department of Water Resources: Monitoring the sinking of land surface in California, called subsidence, requires immense amounts of data to track changes in surface levels over multi-year per...

California’s groundwater data collection and understanding of subsidence expands with launch of NASA-ISRO satellite #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2025/10/09/d...

The Clippers promised progress. Inglewood's Black community paid the price A federal investigation exposed a shady deal, but it has bigger ramifications for one of LA’s disappearing Black enclaves

The Clippers promised progress, Inglewood’s Black community paid the price.
A federal investigation exposed a shady deal, but it has bigger ramifications for one of LA’s disappearing Black enclaves.
lapublicpress.org/2025/10/ingl...

Prop 50: What you need to know before the Nov. 4 election If approved by voters, the ballot measure would change California’s congressional maps through 2030 in order to favor Democrats in future elections.

The Statewide Special Election is less than a month away, LA!

Here's our explainer on Prop 50: What you need to know before the Nov. 4 election.

If approved by voters, the ballot measure would change California’s congressional maps through 2030 in order to favor Democrats in future elections.

SJV WATER: Ruling in groundwater case out of Kings County could have far-reaching effects By Lois Henry, SJV Water Appellate court justices heard arguments Tuesday in the highly watched dispute over whether the state exceeded its authority when it placed the Tulare Lake subbasin on probati...

Ruling in groundwater case out of Kings County could have far-reaching effects #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2025/10/08/s...

California's Zone Zero fire rules clash with LA's desperate need for shade Homeowners in fire hazard zones may have to remove bushes, hedges and flowers within five feet of their houses — even as extreme heat becomes more dangerous.

California’s Zone Zero fire rules clash with LA’s desperate need for shade.

Homeowners in fire hazard zones may have to remove bushes, hedges and flowers within five feet of their houses — even as extreme heat becomes more dangerous.

Delays, cost overruns slow Metro’s plan to complete 8-mile gap in LA River path The transit agency said part of a new $1 billion corridor in the path connecting Long Beach and San Fernando Valley could be ready in five years

Delays, cost overruns slow Metro’s plan to complete 8-mile gap in LA River path.

The transit agency said part of a new $1 billion corridor in the path connecting Long Beach and San Fernando Valley could be ready in five years.

DWR releases new fact sheet on the impacts of land subsidence From the Department of Water Resources: The Department of Water Resources (The Department, DWR) has released a factsheet on the impacts of land subsidence in California. This factsheet builds on the i...

DWR releases new fact sheet on the impacts of land subsidence #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2025/10/06/d...

ASPEN JOURNALISM: Report takes aim at Colorado River water managers’ inaction Recommendations call for no new dams or diversions By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism In a new report, a group of nonprofit environmental organizations are calling for a change in mindset for Colora...

Report takes aim at Colorado River water managers’ inaction #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2025/10/03/a...

Incredibly important reporting on City Hall and other local politics by @reporterliz.bsky.social through @thelareporter.bsky.social. Highly recommend subscribing:

LA County launches relief fund for small businesses reeling from ICE raids The Small Business Resiliency Fund offers cash assistance for rent, payroll, inventory, and other costs, with priority given to communities most affected by immigration raids.

LA County launches relief fund for small businesses reeling from ICE raids.

The Small Business Resiliency Fund offers cash assistance for rent, payroll, inventory, and other costs, with priority given to communities most affected by immigration raids.

The AI data center boom comes to Vernon While nationwide, neighborhoods have fought to keep the electricity- and water-hungry data centers away, Vernon is welcoming another data center, seemingly without opposition.

The AI data center boom comes to Vernon.

While nationwide, neighborhoods have fought to keep the electricity- and water-hungry data centers away, Vernon is welcoming another data center, seemingly without opposition.

How a Network of Nonprofits Enriches Fundraisers While Spending Almost Nothing on Its Stated Causes ProPublica identified a group of connected political nonprofits — with names like American Breast Cancer Coalition and National Coalition for Disabled Veterans — that appear to be funneling more than ...

ProPublica identified a network of at least 10 political nonprofits that raised more than $33M on the promise of supporting admirable causes, but that spent little on activities that could be construed as having a political purpose.

(Published June 2024)

SJV WATER: Kern County supervisor predicts “death of SGMA” after groundwater bill is tabled By Lois Henry, SJV Water A pair of bills that arose out of the ongoing fight over groundwater in eastern Kern County’s desert have come to very different conclusions – one awaiting the Governor’s sign...

Kern County supervisor predicts “death of SGMA” after groundwater bill is tabled #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2025/09/30/s...

USC officials weighed halting sexual assault investigation if professor left — emails reveal The professor — accused by multiple students — agreed to retire early if the Title IX investigation was dropped. Then one student sued.

USC officials weighed halting sexual assault investigation if professor left — emails reveal.

The professor — accused by multiple students — agreed to retire early if the Title IX investigation was dropped. Then one student sued.

Here's the signed document from Erroll Southers taking the oath of office dated yesterday, after many declined to comment on his appointment to the LAPD oversight panel, with some saying they didn't believe that it had happened. cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2...

The LA Reporter, Issue 4: How to beat the mass extinction blues News from an LA Reporter. This week, that includes the under-the-radar appointment of a controversial LAPD commissioner pick, proposed cuts to parks and the public defenders office, and a way to beat ...

The LA Reporter, Issue 4: How to beat the mass extinction blues

This week, there's the under-the-radar confirmation of a controversial LAPD commissioner, proposed cuts to the public defenders office, and a way to beat back the mass extinction blues.
thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...

A 700% APR Lending Business Tied to Dr. Phil's Son Is Dividing an Alaska Tribe Tribal lender Minto Money has boosted the economy of its Alaska town. But some tribal members are appalled by the millions it's made off desperate borrowers -- much of which, lawsuits allege, has gone to outsider Jay McGraw, son of Dr. Phil.

Two lawsuits allege that Jay McGraw, son of Dr. Phil, is the “principal beneficiary” of tribal lender Minto Money.

CreditServe, a company that McGraw plays a key role in, controls the operation while “the Tribe is merely a front,” the suits said.

(Published May w/ @adn.com)

HISA Budget Q&A With Lisa Lazarus: "Bringing Them Into The System Will Make A Huge Difference" The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's proposed 2026 budget has been out for its mandatory public comment period and is now before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The topline comes out to just...

I don't think there's much space to cut costs and still be able to deliver what we're required to deliver" - my Q&A @thetdn.bsky.social with HISA CEO, Lisa Lazarus, on operational costs, digging into some of the industry's common criticisms of the organisation's budget:

World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life Scientists call for renewed global effort to curb fossil fuels as seven of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed

Scientists have found that acidity had crossed a critical threshold for marine life.

“Even if the diagnosis is dire, the window of cure is still open. Failure is not inevitable; failure is a choice. A choice that must and can be avoided.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...

These LA backyard farms could help remake the U.S. food system Urban agriculture could address hunger on a large scale with the right support.

These LA backyard farms could help remake the U.S. food system.
Urban agriculture could address hunger on a large scale with the right support.
lapublicpress.org/2025/09/la-f...

Hundreds of Eaton fire area homes still have high lead levels in soil, new testing shows A local coalition steps in to help provide education and soil remediation support.

Hundreds of Eaton fire area homes still have high lead levels in soil, new testing shows. A local coalition steps in to help provide education and soil remediation support.

lapublicpress.org/2025/09/eato...