Greater LA

School board elections affect LA Unified’s half-million students, and powerful players spend big bucks on their chosen candidates. Who are they? What began as a protest of Mahsa Amini’s death has grown to over a month of political outcry within Iran and around the world. Iranians in LA are especially vocal. About two weeks are left to vote in the midterm elections. Democrats from LA are getting involved in politics in Orange County and are pitting themselves against each other.

Olvera Street is an LA tourist attraction that’s been around for 92 years. When it turns 100, will any of its legacy businesses still be here? After meeting Cesar Chavez in the 1970s, Father Luis Olivares adopted a more radical ministry, and made his La Placita church the heart of the sanctuary movement in SoCal. The Tellez family’s Aztec dance group, In Tlanextli Tlacopan, has been performing at Olvera Street every Sunday for two decades — to share and preserve their culture.

New LA City Council President Paul Krekorian says he supports having more members on the council and creating an independent redistricting commission. Identity politics is almost inevitable in LA, says writer Jay Caspian Kang, but it’s important to appeal to people beyond race and consider all backgrounds, including socioeconomic. Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am grew up in Boyle Heights, and this Friday, he’ll be performing at the half-time show during the East LA Classic.

A congressional race unfolding in Riverside County between longtime GOP incumbent Ken Calvert and political newcomer Will Rollins, a Democrat, has experts saying the path to the U.S. House majority could run through California’s 41st District. Kid Congo Powers has played with The Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and co-founded The Gun Club. He discusses his new book “Some New Kind of Kick.” The MacArthur Foundation named Martha Gonzalez as one of this year’s fellows. She talks about being an “artivista” and using music to keep her energy replenished.

A sports betting proposition on the November ballot is raising questions about the long-term consequences for card rooms and the cities where they operate. Kroger announced last week that it’s in talks to buy Albertsons, which would bring a lot of SoCal supermarket chains under one umbrella, in a $24 billion deal. What would that mean for local shoppers? The OC sheriff’s department used jailhouse informants in an illegal way, and the district attorney’s office hid evidence. Federal authorities have released a damning 63-page report.

Former City Council President Nury Martinez attacked LA’s large Oaxacan community in a leaked recording. Oaxacan Angelenos share their reactions and how they want local government to make amends. LA County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan explains where you can submit your completed ballot — and how to track it — for the November 8 election. Rebecca Morris’ vibrant work is displayed in a 21-year retrospective at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Lindsay Preston Zappas talks about Morris’ process and inspiration.

In recently leaked audio, three LA City Council members made racist remarks when discussing how to gerrymander District 4, which is represented by Nithya Raman. What’s her way forward? Eunisses Hernandez will soon fill the LA City Council seat occupied by Gil Cedillo. She talks about her responsibility as a Latina woman in local politics. ​​The California Fish and Game Commission once again delayed the vote on whether to list the western Joshua tree as endangered. Its fate won’t be decided until next year.

Kourtney Turner co-hosts the “Holding Kourt” podcast with her husband, the Dodgers’ third baseman Justin Turner. She talks about her love for baseball and her nonprofit work. In “Common Ground: Multifamily Housing in Los Angeles,” Frances Anderton tracks a history of housing centered on shared space.

After racist audio involving LA City Council members was leaked, Angelenos must make their feelings clear about whether the involved parties should keep their seats, says former member Jan Perry. The opening of LA’s first new light-rail line in 10 years raises hopes for new investment – and fears of gentrification – in historically underserved South LA.

The Pebble Plains ecosystem, found only in the San Bernardino Mountains, survived six ice ages and human development. Now it’s facing its biggest threat. Girls’ flag football is now an official high school sport in SoCal, thanks to a vote by the California Interscholastic Federation’s southern section. It’s the fastest-growing version of the sport globally, says Paula Hart Rodas from CIF. This Sunday, CicLAvia will close seven miles of roads to cars. The route goes through Echo Park, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and Boyle Heights. There will be food trucks, water refill stations, bike parking, and more.