Category: 1-HeadlineNews

Ever since California legalized cannabis in 2016, the state’s weed market has become a multi-billion dollar industry. It’s estimated to be the largest legal market of its kind in the world. But whenever you get that much money anywhere; well, you’re gonna get political corruption.

Today, our investigation into how illegal moves around marijuana are plaguing city halls across the state. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times investigative reporter Adam Elmahrek

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$250,000 cash in a brown paper bag.’ How legal weed unleashed corruption in California

Legal Weed, Broken Promises: A Times series on the fallout of legal pot in California

Would this California town have become so pro-cannabis if not for a councilwoman’s pot industry ties?

Housing L.A.’s homeless population has unsurprisingly proved to be a herculean task. With tens of thousands of people on the streets, it’s become a top issue for this year’s mayoral election in November. But until now, neither candidate — Congresswoman Karen Bass and real estate developer Rick Caruso — had offered specifics on the type of housing they would create, where it would be or how much it would cost.

So we asked. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times reporters Ben Oreskes and Doug Smith

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Bass and Caruso have talked big on homelessness. Now they’re offering some details

Can Bass or Caruso solve the L.A. homeless housing crisis? Here are their divergent plans

Bass, Caruso sling mud over USC scholarship, alleged hacks and homelessness fixes

Sometime soon, NASA plans to launch a powerful new rocket. The launch is part of an ambitious quest to get people back to the moon for the first time in half a century — and just maybe, even further.

Today, why the U.S. and its partners are determined to go back to the moon and the role politics plays when we reach for the stars. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times business reporter Samantha Masunaga

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NASA’s return to the moon is delayed again after scrub because of fuel leak

Column One: 50 years after Apollo 11, the moon’s allure still resonates

Readers remember the Apollo 11 moon landing, 50 years later

California voters legalized cannabis in 2016, and one of the issues that was supposed to be solved was the violence and environmental wreckage associated with the drug’s illegal trade. But that hasn’t happened.

Inside California’s famed “Emerald Triangle,” a region north of San Francisco known for its weed, there’s an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 illegal cannabis farms alone. The under-the-radar cultivation is messing with once-peaceful communities. Today, we get into this issue. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times investigative reporter Paige St. John

More reading:

Legal Weed, Broken Promises: A Times series on the fallout of legal pot in California

Nobody knows how widespread illegal cannabis grows are in California. So we mapped them

The reality of legal weed in California: Huge illegal grows, violence, worker exploitation and deaths

A Los Angeles Times analysis found that thousands of short-term Airbnb rentals are in California’s most hazardous fire zones. But the company does not provide warnings or evacuation information to guests when they make a reservations, and some customers say the company’s refund policy adds to the potential dangers.

Today, as climate change threatens so many aspects of our lives, are even our vacations not safe anymore? Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times reporters Ben Poston and Alex Wigglesworth

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In California’s high-risk fire country, Airbnb offers guests no warning or escape plan

Is your vacation rental in a risky wildfire zone? What you need to know

California fires are burning faster, hotter, more intensely — and getting harder to fight

Street takeovers. Street races. Burnouts. They’re the latest manifestations of car culture in the region — cousins to the drag races, lowrider cruises, V-dub love-ins and other gear-head gatherings that’ve gone on here for decades. But what you’re seeing right now — a lot of people say the scene feels different. And some people say the film franchise “Fast & Furious” is to blame.

In a region where car culture is king and stunts are all over social media, residents, politicians and law enforcement have had enough. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times reporter Nathan Solis

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Inside L.A.’s deadly street takeover scene: ‘A scene of lawlessness’

19 cars seized, 27 arrested in illegal street takeover in Pomona

LA Times Today: Dangerous street takeovers take a deadly toll on L.A.

There’s a Gold Rush right now happening in Wyoming — for wind. Billionaire developers are putting up wind turbines to help power California and turn the American West, long a place where fossil fuels ruled, into a green energy powerhouse.

But not everyone is happy. Today, we get into the challenges around what’s planned to be the largest wind farm in the country. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times energy reporter Sammy Roth

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Read our “Repowering the West” series here

This power line could save California — and forever change the American West

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Mexico president Andrés Manuel López Obrador came into office promising to get the military off the streets. Instead, he’s more than doubled their numbers. He claims there’s just no other way to handle Mexico’s narco-violence.

Today, we look at Mexico’s delicate dance with its military. It’s an institution that’s among the most trusted in the nation, and potentially its most dangerous. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times Latin America correspondent Kate Linthicum

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Mexico’s president vowed to end the drug war. Instead he’s doubled the number of troops in the streets

Mexico’s military gains power as president turns from critic to partner

Mexico sent in the army to fight the drug war. Many question the toll on society and the army itself

For her role as Shauna in “Yellowjackets,” Melanie Lynskey has an Emmy nomination for lead actress in a drama series. 

Today, we've got another episode from our sister podcast "The Envelope." Lynskey joins host Yvonne Villarreal to dish on how this year has helped her feel more empowered and less underestimated, arriving at a place of self-love after struggling with an eating disorder, and why now is the time for ferocious female characters. She also busts out her Drew Barrymore impression and gets a brief, adorable visit from a special guest. Read the full transcript here. 

Host: Yvonne Villarreal 

Guest: Melanie Lynskey

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‘Yellowjackets’ star Melanie Lynskey is celebrating her Emmy nod by ... buying a fridge

‘Yellowjackets’ creators break down ‘heartbreaking’ finale — and your fan theories

Sebastian Stan, Melanie Lynskey and more discuss teaching directors about acting

Millions of Americans who attended college could have their debt completely canceled or reduced under a plan announced by President Joe Biden last week. But the move is unsurprisingly stirring debate among the right and left, but for completely different reasons.

Today, we talk about how this announcement might impact the midterms. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times national reporter Arit John

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For many with student loans, the interest hurts the most. This congressman would know

Student loan forgiveness: Everything you need to know

Why Californians with student loans will gain massively from forgiveness plan