L.A. Times - Religious News

UFOs on Catalina? Latest trove from feds detail spooky — yet, unverified — history

Grace Toohey — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:29:21 GMT

Catalina Island is the site of four unverified reports of unidentified flying objects from the 1940s and 1950s, according to the latest tranche of records released by the Trump administration on unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Metrolink suspends iconic coastal route due to high tides

Karen Garcia, Summer Lin — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:54:11 GMT

Metrolink temporarily suspends service on the Pacific Surfliner in South Orange County due to forecasted high tides.

Mayor Karen Bass outpaces challenger Nithya Raman in fundraising for the Nov. 3 runoff

David Zahniser, Melissa Gomez, Sandhya Kambhampati — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:21:55 GMT

Although Bass brought in more money, Raman had a larger amount socked away for the final push ahead of the Nov. 3 election, according to reports filed this week.

After decades of false starts, the 1914 Hotel Clark finally reopens in downtown L.A.

Christopher Reynolds — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:52:18 GMT

Since the 1990s, the Beaux-Arts hotel has been called 'zombie building' because of its idleness. But with the Olympics coming and changes happening downtown, its owner believes now is the time to welcome guests in again.

Mediator to decide whether Nick Reiner's trust fund can pay for defense in murder case

James Queally — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:15:25 GMT

Nick Reiner's fight to access more than half a million dollars in trust fund money to defend himself against allegations he murdered his parents last year will now go before a mediator.

'His wheels weren't hot enough': California police bust $54,000 Hot Wheels thief

Summer Lin — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:08:46 GMT

Colton police arrested a man Thursday suspected of stealing $54,000 worth of Hot Wheels cars, according to authorities.

ICE agents tackle and injure U.S. citizen student with disabilities, local officials say

Andrea Castillo — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:08:06 GMT

The student was walking to school when he was stopped by ICE agents, who badly injured him, school officials said.

Backers of billionaire tax plan to attack Newsom in early presidential primary states

Seema Mehta — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

The ad, funded by backers of the wealth tax, castigates Newsom for opposing Proposition 40, the ballot measure that would impose a 5% tax on California billionaires' assets.

How a clash between Inglewood leaders and SoFi Stadium operators hit the ballot

Sam Farmer — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Ballot measures regarding billboards and ticket sales highlight a protracted dispute between Inglewood and its NFL team the Rams.

Trump ramps up fraud investigations of immigrants as election approaches

Andrea Castillo — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The White House is turning anti-fraud initiatives into a central weapon in its efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration.

The millions spent by California billionaires against Prop. 40 is about 0.07% of their wealth

Sandhya Kambhampati, Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The $293 million spent by California billionaires to oppose Proposition 40 is about 0.07% of their estimated wealth.

He didn't think he'd ever be a lawyer. Now, he might be L.A.'s next city attorney

James Queally — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

L.A. County prosecutor John McKinney burst into the city attorney's race earlier this year, becoming part of a historic primary upset of incumbent Hydee Feldstein Soto. If he wins this November, he'll complete a lifelong underdog story that began with a tough upbringing in New Jersey.

The man facing murder charge in death of man near Costco gas pumps is a rabbi, records show

Iris Kwok — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Wednesday that it received a call Tuesday night about a man struck by a vehicle near the gas pumps at the Costco in Camarillo.

Many Latinos are done with Trump. The shift is especially striking in Texas

Ana Ceballos — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Latino voters are souring on the GOP, fueled by frustration over rising costs and the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.

Inside Marissa Roy's Bollywood-bumping, group-project bid to become L.A.'s city attorney

Sonja Sharp — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Critics say candidate Marissa Roy, 34, lacks the 'gravitas' to be L.A. city attorney. Supporters see a chance to turn the role into a progressive champion of Angelenos.

Man kills his teenage ex-girlfriend then shoots himself, authorities say

Richard Winton, Iris Kwok — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:19:25 GMT

A teenage girl was killed at a home in Arcadia. The shooting suspect fled and tried to take his own life in Pasadena, officials said.

Supplement sold at gas stations blamed for California man's opioid overdose

Karen Garcia — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 01:47:51 GMT

Public health officials in San Francisco reported a death associated with MGM-15, a lab-created and modified form of 7-OH.

Violent winds hit San Clemente just days after destructive wildfire, powerful waves

Grace Toohey, Andrew J. Campa — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:15:49 GMT

Winds that topped 50 mph whipped through a San Clemente golf course Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of tree carcasses.

Gay dad who punched 'MAGA influencer' over child molestation claim won't face charges

James Queally — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:15:21 GMT

Los Angeles County prosecutors will not file criminal charges against a man who punched a self-described "MAGA influencer" earlier this year. David Vulin, who was out with his infant son and husband in West Hollywood, reacted after the streamer suggested gay men were likely to molest their children.

Judge limits election-related immigration stops amid broader legal war ahead of midterms

Kevin Rector — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 21:00:40 GMT

An unprecedented election war is playing out between the Trump administration and California in federal court, with a slate of cases proceeding at breakneck speed ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Teen girls listed teacher and student targets for planned Riverside County school shooting, officials say

Summer Lin — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:46:36 GMT

Two teenage girls who were arrested on suspicion of plotting a mass shooting at a Riverside County high school had a list of intended targets, according to authorities. Revenge was the motivation.

Jurors in Palisades arson retrial may be barred from weighing evidence of LAFD missteps

Brittny Mejia — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:33:55 GMT

Jonathan Rinderknecht, who stands accused of igniting a small New Year's Day blaze that prosecutors say later became the devastating Palisades fire, is facing a second federal trial after jurors deadlocked earlier this year on prosecutors' first effort to convict him of arson.

SoCal resident was watching porn when she caused fatal crash in Utah, prosecutors say

Fedor Zarkhin — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:52:18 GMT

A search of the driver's phone revealed she had opened a pornographic website minutes before she caused a deadly crash, according to court documents.

5 more Orange County parents charged in e-motorcycle crackdown

Suhauna Hussain — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:41:16 GMT

Parents whose children were illegally speeding or driving illegally on public streets have been charged in a crackdown by Orange County prosecutors.

SoCal man fatally poisoned foster mother with fentanyl to steal her identity, D.A. says

Summer Lin — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:11:22 GMT

A San Diego County man has been charged with murder for fatally poisoning his 65-year-old foster mother before stealing her identity, prosecutors say.

California mayor accused of stalking a hairdresser she thought was an ICE agent

Hailey Branson-Potts — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:41:20 GMT

The mayor of the Central Valley town of Kerman has been accused of harassing a man she mistook for an ICE agent.

Feds, Bonta clash over credit for cases alleging billions of dollars in healthcare fraud

Sonja Sharp, Andrew J. Campa — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:14:14 GMT

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles and California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta held dueling news conferences Thursday, with each touting their efforts to crack down on medical providers accused of needless surgical procedures, sham addiction treatment program, bogus hospice care and other alleged schemes.

Three rescued from rushing waters in the San Fernando Valley amid heavy rainfall

Grace Toohey — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:56:00 GMT

Three people were rescued from water rushing through the Pacoima Wash on Thursday morning in the San Fernando Valley. A possible fourth victim was confirmed safe, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Self-driving Tesla hits and kills 71-year-old pedestrian on California freeway

Suhauna Hussain — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:32:28 GMT

A man walked into the path of a Tesla on Interstate 80 in Vallejo and died from his injuries, California Highway Patrol said.

Severe turbulence hits L.A.-bound flight from Hawaii, injuring 4 flight attendants

Summer Lin — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:45:40 GMT

Four flight attendants were injured on a United Airlines flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles on Wednesday night after the plane experienced turbulence.

Twenty years after California's landmark climate law, the state is not on track to meet its targets

Hayley Smith — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:00 GMT

California is only about halfway to its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goal, according to the state's latest inventory, released in September.

Behind Elon Musk's plans for a mega-merger of SpaceX and Tesla

Laurence Darmiento, Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Musk said that aerospace firm SpaceX and EV carmaker Tesla were considering a tie-up, confirming speculation that what would be the biggest corporate merger ever is a real possibility.

A political bogeyman has emerged in L.A.'s election: Ousted D.A. George Gascón

James Queally — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

George Gascón has disappeared from public life. But critics are trying to tie the unpopular ex-prosecutor to candidates Nithya Raman and Marissa Roy.

Legendary Hollywood recording studio is up for sale

Roger Vincent — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Founder of legendary Hollywood recording studio plans to sell

Hiltzik: The Arizona-Nevada-California water war is heating up, and all three states will end up parched

Michael Hiltzik — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Arizona and Nevada are claiming their rights to water from the Colorado River, but there simply isn't enough to meet their demands.

Arellano: In Trumpworld, dogs who commit voter fraud aren't as bad as immigrants

Gustavo Arellano — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

What's disgusting about federal claims regarding illegal voters is that the portrait of this country's biggest election scofflaw hangs in every federal courthouse.

Rain triggers flooding, erosion concerns across SoCal. Could it stomp out fire season?

Alex Wigglesworth — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The rain falling across Southern California won't bring an end to the region's fire season just yet, experts say. But it's creating plenty of issues while it's here.

Preschool, transitional kindergarten deliver big: 11 months ahead in reading, 8 in math

Emily Woodruff — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:59:00 GMT

Children who were part of California's transitional kindergarten expansion scored ahead on reading and math in third and fourth grades, researchers found.

Your guide to the California Congressional District 34 race: Gomez vs. Gonzales-Torres

Dakota Smith — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:25:03 GMT

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez — who faces a U.S. House investigation over alleged sexual assault and harassment, but denies wrongdoing — is running for reelection against Angela Gonzales-Torres, who is backed by Democratic Socialists of America.

Neighbor who allegedly fed a coyote involved in attack on toddler could be charged

Summer Lin, Fedor Zarkhin — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 01:44:46 GMT

A resident who allegedly fed a coyote in Atwater Village for months may now face a criminal charge after a toddler was bitten in the neighborhood.

Delivery worker found dead in trunk of Tesla. Suspect assumed aliases to evade police, officials say

Iris Kwok — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:38:29 GMT

Manuel Salceda, 39, has been charged with murder in the death of Javier Becerril Jr., whose body was found in the trunk of a Tesla in July.

Mexican Mafia member found dead in California state prison cell

Matthew Ormseth — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:31:46 GMT

Richard Buchanan, a reputed member of the Mexican Mafia from San Diego, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Kern Valley State Prison, authorities said Wednesday.

Fugitive child sex offender found dead in a California riverbed, officials say

Suhauna Hussain — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:37:14 GMT

Authorities had been searching for Merle Wakefield, 69, for nearly a month after he cut off his GPS monitor in San Diego and fled.

Son fatally stabs elderly parents and family dog in Westminster double homicide, police say

Summer Lin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:03:43 GMT

A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after his parents and their family dog were found stabbed to death in Westminster, authorities said.

A California immigrant and a Nevada group, joined by top Democrats, sue over federal election probes

Kevin Rector — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:18:39 GMT

The lawsuit accuses Trump and his administration of using "shoddily compiled lists of supposed noncitizens" and "coercive threats" against state officials to assert federal control over the midterms.

Two teenage girls spent months plotting a mass shooting in Riverside County, officials say

Summer Lin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:34:04 GMT

Two teenage girls have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a mass shooting at Corona High School in Riverside County, authorities said.

New storm moves into Southern California: What to expect

Andrew J. Campa — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:43:31 GMT

Scattered rain showers are expected to arrive in Southern California between Wednesday and Thursday.

Examining Becerra's quarter of a century in Washington

Ben Wieder — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In his more than 25 years in Washington, Xavier Becerra built important alliances and amassed power on Capitol Hill, but had some stumbles along the way.

Lopez: Disney built the monorail in a year. LAX's people mover, almost 8, hasn't left the station

Steve Lopez — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Years of delays for the SkyLink people mover at LAX have led to finger-pointing, litigation and a grand jury probe into how a $1.9-billion project has become a $3.3-billion boondoggle.

California woman makes history by swimming state's 900-mile length. El Niño added its own challenges

Iris Kwok — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Catherine Breed, 33, swam about 900 miles from Oregon to Mexico from July to October.

After their 13-year-old died in an e-motorcycle crash, they're facing charges

Andrew J. Campa — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:02:22 GMT

Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer announced charges for a Santa Ana couple whose 13-year-old son died after hitting a pole in Garden Grove on his e-motorcycle.

Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 131 election

Jon Regardie — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:50:16 GMT

Donna Tryfman and David Ross are competing for the Superior Court Judge Office 131 seat. Here's what you need to know about the race.

Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 87 election

Jon Regardie — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:48:00 GMT

Anthony "A.J." Bayne and David DeJute are competing for the Superior Court Judge Office 87 seat. Here's what you need to know about the race.

Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court Judge Office 65 election

Jon Regardie — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:46:29 GMT

Justin Allen Clayton and Anna Slotky Reitano are competing for the Superior Court Judge Office 65 seat. Here's what you need to know about the race.

Some GLP-1 injections recalled due to 'lack of assurance of sterility'

Karen Garcia — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:53:13 GMT

Apothecary Pharma, a compounding pharmacy, voluntarily recalled 22 vials of Tirzepatide injections due to a "lack of assurance of sterility," according to the official announcement.

Feds tease new 'batch' of noncitizen California voters as L.A. slams previous list

Kevin Rector — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:39:12 GMT

Filings in the Justice Department's lawsuit accusing California officials of facilitating election fraud reveal new details about the underlying investigations.

Storms descend on Southern California, raising risk of dangerous surf, flooding, debris flows

Andrew J. Campa — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:18:19 GMT

The National Weather Service Los Angeles-Oxnard office is estimating a 30% to 40% chance of thunderstorms with widespread minor flooding and debris flow concerns in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Huge crack along PCH near Laguna Beach will take at least $4 million to fix, officials say

Summer Lin — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:25:16 GMT

Caltrans has secured millions in emergency funding to fix the large crack in the slope below Pacific Coast Highway near the Moro Beach section of Crystal Cove.

Mistakenly getting a duplicate mail ballot is not unheard of. But in this tense election season, the outcry is outsized

Hailey Branson-Potts — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:59 GMT

Thousands of voters in a Central Valley town received two ballots in the mail, the result of a printing error. But in this tense political climate, even straightforward election mistakes are magnified.

Rick Caruso has 'extreme concern' over Raman, but declines to endorse in mayor's race

Itzel Luna — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:02:33 GMT

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso declined to endorse either incumbent Mayor Karen Bass or challenger Nithya Raman in the Nov. 3 runoff election.

Feds hold back an additional $1.2 billion in California Medicaid reimbursements

Ana Ceballos — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:33:02 GMT

In May, the administration held back $1.3 billion in Medicaid funds over concerns about hospice and in-home care programs. Now it's deferring $1.2 billion more.

Un avión se estrelló al caer sobre una calle en California. Dos adultos y un niño sobrevivieron

Kailyn Brown — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:14:45 GMT

Una avioneta en la que viajaban tres personas se estrelló el sábado en una carretera de San José, lo que provocó un pequeño derrame de combustible y un atasco de tráfico. Los pasajeros sufrieron heridas leves.

Homeboy Industries helps launch plan for LA28 Olympic merchandise

James Rainey — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The LA28 Olympic organizing group plans to combine with L.A.-based businesses to sell Olympic merchandise. The Homeboy Industries gang intervention nonprofit is an initial partner.

Almost $1 million in rare sports and Pokémon cards stolen from FedEx truck in Santa Ana

Steve Henson — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:24:18 GMT

Police have made no arrests or recovered any cards, which had been graded by Professional Sports Authenticator and were being shipped back to collectors nationwide.

Chabria: Why Trump's attack on California voting is false — and even a bit funny

Anita Chabria — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Federal prosecutors announced voter fraud charges against 28 Californians. State Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said the small number shows "there is no widespread voter fraud."

East San Fernando Valley light rail line gets underway — five years behind schedule

Colleen Shalby — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Construction on Metro's East San Fernando Valley light rail project will begin this week. Service is targeted for 2032.

Horvath backs Raman in mayor's race, giving her a strong ally in the Valley and Westside

David Zahniser — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The endorsement from L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath could help mayoral candidate Nithya Raman push back on claims that she struggles to work well with other politicians.

Residents fight for anti-camping zone at 6th Street Bridge park

Alejandra Molina — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:23:00 GMT

Residents on both sides of the L.A. River have raised concerns for months about the possibility of homeless encampments forming once the 6th Street Bridge park opens.

California residents accused by feds of voter fraud react with shock, confusion and anger

Brittny Mejia, Kevin Rector — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:52:59 GMT

Several green card holders arrested in a Trump administration crackdown on alleged California voter fraud appeared in court Monday, with some saying they had no recollection of ever registering to cast ballots.

'Help me!' Videos of ICE violently detaining man who says he's U.S. citizen spark outrage

Clara Harter, Suhauna Hussain — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:45:40 GMT

Videos of a Long Beach resident screaming that his arm is broken and begging for help as he is pinned to the ground by immigration agents have sparked outrage in the community.

Woman riding e-bike dies in Huntington Beach after crashing into street curb

Summer Lin — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:02:43 GMT

Another e-bike rider was killed in a collision over the weekend in Huntington Beach, marking the second time in months an e-bike rider was killed in the coastal city.

Nicolas Cage battles sinkhole that threatened his Malibu home

Jack Flemming — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 19:50:41 GMT

After a sinkhole swallowed his driveway in September, Nicolas Cage has received permits to remove debris and guard the home from further damage brought by tropical storms.

High-end sports car spontaneously ignites in police storage after crash that killed O.C. influencer

Salvador Hernandez — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:59:14 GMT

The wreckage of a 2019 McLaren involved in the fatal crash that killed two people in Orange County spontaneously caught fire while in storage.

Months of coyote complaints end with a toddler bitten and an animal euthanized

Fedor Zarkhin — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:26:12 GMT

A coyote captured and euthanized by state wildlife officials in Atwater Village was confirmed to be the one responsible for a recent attack on a 16-month-old child, after months of residents seeing it in the neighborhood, officials said.

1 killed, 6 wounded in weekend shooting in Riverside County

Summer Lin — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:55:16 GMT

One person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting over the weekend in Riverside County, according to authorities.

California creates first tribal-led marine protected areas

Lila Seidman — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

California wildlife regulators have made the state's first 'underwater parks' in an effort spearheaded by tribes. It's a win for Indigenous stewardship but a loss for fishers who warn they'll suffer an economic hit.

Cooler temperatures, possible rain headed for Southern California

Hailey Branson-Potts — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:48:28 GMT

Cooler temperatures and a chance of rain is on tap for Southern California, forecasters say.

Becerra's muted gubernatorial campaign comes to life in homestretch

Seema Mehta — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

After months publicly absent from the campaign trail, Democrat Xavier Becerra has increased public appearances and begun airing television ads as mail ballots reach California voters.

Why an ambitious 300-mile trail in Northern California distresses some Native Americans

Lila Seidman — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California's 307-mile Great Redwood Trail promises economic renewal and scenic wonder — but some Native Americans fear the project will erase sacred history.

Serial rapist and cosmetics heir is free. San Gabriel Valley community is outraged, mayor says

Suhauna Hussain — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 01:32:20 GMT

The release of convicted serial rapist Andrew Stuart Luster on parole is garnering outrage in the San Gabriel Valley community where he reportedly lives.

Airplane crushed after nosediving onto California street. Somehow, 2 adults and a child survive

Kailyn Brown — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 23:46:55 GMT

A small plane carrying three people crashed onto a San Jose roadway Saturday, causing a minor fuel spill and traffic jam. The passengers sustained minor injuries.

LAPD responds to two stabbings, unruly crowd near Crenshaw street festival

Kailyn Brown — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 21:27:26 GMT

Los Angeles police responded to reports of two stabbings near the Taste of Soul festival on Saturday, and issued an hourslong citywide tactical alert.

Southern California fires ease as Santa Ana winds die down. But rain could bring new risks

Hayley Smith — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 16:58:57 GMT

Southern California firefighters gain ground on the Norte, Bryson and Henderson fires as Santa Ana winds ease, but incoming rain brings its own risks.

'He's everywhere': This California Republican wants to make his party relevant again

Dakota Smith — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a conservative from San Diego County, has become a prominent voice for state Republicans. His vehicle this election is Proposition 39, the voter ID measure.

Mayoral candidate Raman was once a firm 'no' on the Olympics. She remains a skeptic

James Rainey — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Mayor Karen Bass is a big booster of the '28 Summer Olympics in L.A.; challenger Nithya Raman? Not so much.