Greater LA

Project Roomkey, a statewide effort to place medically vulnerable unhoused people in hotel rooms during the pandemic, is scheduled to close at the end of September. In Los Angeles, more than 9,000 people have gone through the program. Was it a success or a failure?

Manufacturing jobs in California have migrated overseas in a race to the bottom on wages and regulations. It’s been happening for years. But now many industries face a new challenge: They depend on access to cheap endless water, and California's future looks increasingly dry. Textile factory owners are among the first to ask: Will we adapt or quit?

El Segundo has roughly 16,000 residents, and nearly three-fourths of them are white, according to the 2019 Census. It was once a sundown town, where signs made people of color know they were not welcome after dark, including those who worked within city limits. A new documentary called “Black in Mayberry” confronts the racist past and present of the city, through personal stories of more than a dozen Black residents.

Most of California is in a drought emergency, but Southern California has largely been spared. LA homeowners are watering green, manicured lawns while some Northern Californians have seen their wells run dry. So why are local reservoirs here still mostly full?

Roughly 53% of LA County residents are fully vaccinated, but cases and hospitalizations are rising. As the Delta variant spreads, people ages 18-29 are being hit hardest. Virologist and immunologist Paula Cannon attributes this spike to unvaccinated individuals, and pediatrician Dr. Leila Bozorgnia says it’s much more of a wildcard to get a COVID-19 infection than a COVID-19 vaccination.

More than a dozen children died in the last five years while in the custody of LA’s Department of Children and Family Services. A two-part investigation by reporter Deepa Fernandes looks into the story of 1-year-old Joseph Chacon, whose death left his mother with unanswered questions.

Getting a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine usually means leaving the house, but not always. LA County has teamed up with  home care specialists to vaccinate residents who are unable to easily leave their homes. “We can come to you,” says registered nurse Savannah Becker. “We can educate, provide that support, and demystify any misinformation they may have heard about the vaccine.”

A rise in violent crime in the City of Los Angeles, including homicides, is making for an ominous summer forecast. Fernando Rejón, executive director of the Urban Peace Institute, says the past year led to a convergence of many key issues, including a national reckoning with law enforcement and systemic racism. That coupled with the large loss of life, mental health issues, and isolation of the pandemic led to more anxieties, tension, and ultimately, violence. Gang intervention workers like Tina Padilla are out in the hardest hit neighborhoods to head off violence before it erupts. “We are out there trying to promote peace … trying to prevent a mother from losing their child,” she says. 

LA’s nightclubs are back, ushering in a “Roaring 20s” momentum. As venue promoters and operators clamor to meet booming demand, they must also navigate challenges around hiring and training staff, competing with other venues, and relying on club goers to be careful with coronavirus safety, especially as the Delta variant spreads.

It has become a seasonal tradition in California: Homes burn down, then we hear stories of resilient fire victims promising they’ll rebuild and recover. But many people who lost their homes to wildfires years ago still haven’t rebuilt, or have chosen not to, after discovering how difficult and long the process can be.