Some Angelenos haven’t seen their families since 2019. They share why they’re excited to go home for the holidays. Inflation rose nearly 7% from last year and most businesses have passed their price hikes on to customers. What happens when those consumers can’t afford more? Black workers are underrepresented in the hospitality industry. One man is trying to change that.

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough made two big promises in October: To house 40 homeless veterans living at the high-profile Veterans Row encampment in West LA by November, plus another 500 veterans in LA County by December 31. Now VA officials say they’ve fulfilled those promises, but their success depends on how you define “housing” and “Los Angeles.” Outdoors for All is a new initiative aiming to expand access to nature in California. The state has budgeted $1 billion for it, says California’s Natural Resources Agency. And in Huntington Beach — the only city in Orange County in which the city attorney is not appointed by council — council members want the right to get a second legal opinion.

If you’re skeptical about gathering with unvaccinated family members over the holidays, a clinical psychologist offers suggestions to help avoid uncomfortable confrontations. The Pasadena Model Railroad Museum in El Sereno features hand-made miniature mountains, lakes, train stations and towns. Its next open house is December 18-19, 2021. Kevin Goetz’s new book, “Audience-ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love,” explains how focus groups watch a rough cut of a new film and give their honest opinions so directors and studios can not just salvage their blunders, but possibly turn them into hits.

LA city officials are responding to a rise in violent crime, and news headlines are painting a dramatic picture. But what are the real numbers versus public perception, and how does that play into the politics of crime? LA District Attorney George Gascón is facing a lot of resistance and a second recall attempt. There’s no evidence that his policies are tied to any rise in crime, but if some voters think that’s the truth, the recall will succeed, says The New York Times’ Jennifer Medina.

The so-called king tide shows what high tides will look like as sea level continues to rise. That’s why teams of volunteers and scientists flocked to the California shoreline to capture photos of the highest tide of the year as it crept up beaches and crashed onto sidewalks, staircases, and oceanfront balconies. The rising sea levels are making hundreds of the state’s toxic sites prone to flooding, and many communities of color live near these areas.  COVID-19 concerns continue for air travelers this holiday season as variants of the virus continue to spread.

Malibu was the private domain of one woman 100 years ago. A champion land preservationist and the scourge of squatters and railroad men, May Rindge fought the longest court battle in California history in an attempt to keep coastal Malibu all to herself. She lost it all in the end, but in a sense, she also won. Greater LA’s regular contributors also sum up 2021 when it comes to dining, art, and Orange County, and share their wishes for the new year.

“Safe Sleep Village” in Rampart Village is LA’s first ever city-funded homeless encampment. It opened this year, providing shelter and services without the typical restrictions. But it didn’t stay full, and now the pilot program’s ending. Some cities are trying to curb California’s new “duplex law” that takes effect in 2022, though proponents say it will provide relief for the state’s homelessness crisis. And Eater LA reporter Mona Holmes talks about two new restaurants featuring cannabis or hemp-infused menu items.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that 250,000 to 750,000 coyotes exist statewide. They’ve been adapting to urban life and have become increasingly tolerant — and less afraid or respectful — of their human neighbors. KCRW gets tips on what to do if a coyote gets too close to you or your home. In “Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir,” actress Sharon Gless reveals stories behind her rise to fame, struggles with alcoholism, and reconciling with family expectations.

Car dealerships are benefiting from the global supply chain issues that are hurting many other businesses. Most dealerships are seeing record profits despite significantly reduced inventory. A research scientist and professional skier react to a new report projecting snowless winter seasons in the Western U.S. in the not-so-distant future. An art exhibition at Kayne Griffin in Mid-Wilshire spotlights artist Hank Willis Thomas’ textiles, which blend American flags with prison uniforms to question the phrase “land of the free.”

Christmas tree shoppers have to dig a little deeper in their pockets this year for the perfect tree, or settle for one that doesn’t quite reach the ceiling. That’s due to supply chain problems and drought. Meanwhile, a local tree farmer and a home decor business are having to adapt. On the second season of the “Lost Hills” podcast, a mother and son from Malibu drowned off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in 1981. The husband has been in prison for their murder. Did he do it? And at Mater Dei High School, a football player suffered a traumatic brain injury and a broken nose in a hazing incident. The family says the school tried to minimize the situation and didn’t cooperate with a police investigation.