Greater LA

The Hollywood Bowl celebrates its centennial this July. KCRW looks at its origin story and legacy in LA. Listeners also share their favorite experiences there. Plus, at Craft Contemporary, a new exhibit includes portraits of farm workers that are drawn onto cardboard boxes, and another features quilts that reference a 1960s LGBTQ magazine.

Greater LA’s special series closely looks at changing neighborhoods across Southern California. Episode two of “Born & Razed” focuses on Oxnard. That’s where  Cola Boyy , a musician and activist, is from. He released his debut album “Prosthetic Boombox” in 2021, and he filmed much of the music video for the song “ Penny Girl ” in Oxnard. 

Many gas stations in LA are charging over $6 per gallon for regular unleaded gas. AAA says the national average is $4.86 . Why are Southern Californians paying so much more? LA will ban the construction of new gas stations — to try to relieve climate change. That’s if a new proposal from LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz passes. Angel City FC is LA’s first women’s pro team since the LA Sol disband...

LGBTQ teens can have a good time in a safe space at the annual Santa Monica High School Queer Prom without the fear of experiencing hate or discrimination. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade set a new precedent in the United States. Does that mean other rights are at stake, too? A local hospitality company is restoring Tail o’ the Pup, an iconic hot dog stand in West Hollywood. I...

LA has been preparing for more traveling patients seeking abortions. Meanwhile, anti-abortion advocates plan to now focus on states like California where the procedure remains legal. KCRW asked listeners for personal thoughts on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Here are some of their responses. Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano describes how his experience in Cathol...

The Pride Poets hotline writes custom, on-the-spot, free poems for anyone who dials in. This year, its creative team took more than 200 calls. In his debut novel, “Cookies and Milk,” author Shawn Amos – son of the entrepreneur behind Famous Amos cookies – finds joy from a troubled childhood.

New drought restrictions limit millions of Southern Californians to watering their yards once or twice weekly. Cemeteries are looking for ways to avoid turning brown. The state committed $1.5 billion for wildfire prevention and forest health in 2021. The California Newsroom investigated how Cal Fire has been spending that money. It finds the department wanting in key areas. Before the U.S. Capitol...

One LA family morphed their weekly Black Lives Matter protests into a racial equity and wellness movement that’s drawing hundreds to a park for yoga and fellowship every week. California might’ve been a slavery-free state on paper when it joined the Union in 1850. But it turned out that people remained enslaved for years afterward. Juneteenth is a day for honoring Black freedom. Whether you love h...

More new moms in LA are deciding to eat their placentas. But why? And what’s the best way to do it? Patricia Krenwinkel, a follower of Charles Manson who was found guilty in the murders of Sharon Tate and others, has been recommended for parole by a California panel. Mariachi Arcoiris is the first LGBTQ+ mariachi band in the world. Its founder talks about representing both the LGBTQ+ community and...

Rufus Wainwright will play at The Ford Theatre in LA on June 14 to perform songs from his new album: “Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Records.” Zipper merging means switching lanes late — fully using both lanes and taking turns moving over when the lane ends. It’s gained endorsements from 34 states, but remains a controversy in California.

For generations, Catholic schools have represented a pathway to the middle class for immigrants. But thousands have closed, the latest in Boyle Heights. A feud between PIMCO founder Bill Gross and neighbors involving a large glass sculpture and the Gilligan’s Island theme song was finally settled. Maybe. This year’s list of 50 best bars in North America includes three from LA: Genever in Historic...

Local atheist volunteers started taking down illegally posted religious signs in public places less than a year ago. Now their plunders and crowdsourced maps are gaining traction. Republicans are attempting to retake control of the House of Representatives, and November will bring several closely-watched races for LA and OC seats.  This week, KCRW’s Young Creators Project is highlighting the work...

Record inflation means the prices Angelenos pay for locally-made food are headed in one direction — up. Businesses that serve the budget-conscious really notice. And looking to November, Rick Caruso and Karen Bass both say they’re in good positions to win as LA mayor, while political watchers say Alex Villanueva will have a tough fight to remain sheriff.

As COVID rises, a restaurant server in Burbank says customers are pressuring her to remove her mask, but she doesn’t qualify for health insurance due to work limited hours. In the volunteer-run West Adams bookstore called All Power Books, neighbors receive food, clothes and community. Now they face an uncertain future. This week, KCRW’s Young Creators Project is highlighting the work of two visual...

Wildfire-prone communities can earn better insurance coverage and discounts if they work to prevent wildfires. But it takes time and money that some poorer places don’t have. The LA County sheriff’s race has been confusing for many. KCRW goes over the nine candidates, their endorsements, and policies. In the primary election, Orange County will elect new local supervisors, and members to the State...

For its 100th anniversary, the secluded San Simeon retreat of publisher William Randolph Hearst is celebrating architect Julia Morgan with a new tour. Actor Pepe Serna has appeared in “Scarface,” “Man from Reno,” “The Jerk,” and more. A documentary about him, “Pepe Serna: Life is Art,” will premiere at the Latino Film Festival in LA on June 4. The new exhibition called “Your Perfect Plastic Heart”...

The LA Phil’s festival, “Power to the People!,” focuses on the role that artists play in advancing social change. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel says he wants people to be “united by the message of art.” LA’s favorite cougar, P-22, has risen to fame over the last decade or so. Miguel Ordeñana first caught him on camera roaming Griffith Park in 2012.

Southern California bird rescues are dealing with an influx of sick or injured brown pelicans. No one knows why, but many birds appear to be starving. Water restrictions are set to take effect on June 1 for many Southern Californians. They apply to lawns, swimming pools, car washing, and more. KCRW breaks down the rules. Shorten showers to five minutes, don’t let the faucet run while brushing your...

Days after the school shooting in Uvalde, KCRW checks in with two LA teachers. They say they’ve come up with their own plans to protect students, but things could go awry during a real incident. The Tayo Help Desk is a virtual platform with COVID-19 resources that all Filipinos can use. People can also dial 800-899-5090 if they want to speak with someone for help.

Southern Californians are struggling with anxiety and depression as they process the aftermath of recent mass shootings and racist attacks in Texas and New York. And on a different note, an Indian pizza parlor and sports bar recently opened in Silver Lake. Pijja Palace is “full of vibe with really great food,” says Eater LA’s Mona Holmes.

Dancers at a North Hollywood strip club say owners and security guards don’t keep them safe. What do they want workplace safety to look like? The monarch butterfly population has been dwindling over the years, so the Monarch Fellowship has decided to take things into their own hands to save the species in California. Karla Benavides went from trying to save some cash as a new mom to becoming a cou...

A new coffee shop in Long Beach brings together community, coffee, and job skills under one roof. The business aims to help house insecure families. It is challenging enough finding an affordable apartment to rent in LA. It’s even harder to find one that is both affordable and has a refrigerator. But why? The sale of Angel Stadium of Anaheim has been paused due to a federal investigation into Anah...

Parents and teachers describe changed relationships with school as the 2021-2022 academic year ends. For many, the new normal was difficult after COVID-19 fractured the educational system. Actor Dennis Hopper and his wife, Brooke Hayward, became the nexus of art and film during 1960s LA. They’re the focus of a new book called “Everybody Thought We Were Crazy.”

Business is booming for a maker of the prefab homeless shelters known as tiny homes. Can a company banking on homelessness also help alleviate it? A newly installed arch over Beverly Boulevard, designed by Eliseo Silva, proudly welcomes people to Historic Filipinotown. It’s titled “Talang Gabay: Our Guiding World.” Kevin Beasley’s new art exhibition in LA features mixed media that explores the Bla...

To prevent small businesses from being priced out of Boyle Heights, a nonprofit is buying commercial property and offering tenants a share in ownership. On May 15, a gunman entered a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods, killing one person and injuring five others. How are SoCal’s Taiwanese and mainland Chinese American communities processing what happened? In LA, more than 2500 species were identifie...