L.A. Life - Golden State

The subway I have been waiting for my entire L.A. life

Metro’s D Line extension is not just functional. It’s the fruition of the dream of rail transit spanning nearly the length of one of the most heavily traveled transportation corridors in the U.S.

By David L. Ulin

/ 18 May 2026

The subway I have been waiting for my entire L.A. life

What these L.A. City Council candidates want to do with MacArthur Park

Media attention and growing anger by residents has turned the park, long a hotbed of crime and drug use, into a major political issue. I asked the Council District 1 candidates about it.

By Paul Thornton

/ 12 May 2026

What these L.A. City Council candidates want to do with MacArthur Park

LACMA brilliantly reimagined the museum-going experience. But it still must correct a flaw.

The radically redesigned museum should take one more radical step when it reopens to the public on May 4: Make it free for Los Angeles County residents in recognition of their $125 million investment.

By Oscar Garza

/ 1 May 2026

LACMA brilliantly reimagined the museum-going experience. But it still must correct a flaw.

Goodbye Southwest Airlines, hello Southworst

I got my first bitter taste of the remade carrier last week. With bag and seat fees, Southwest’s private-equity overlords have stripped the once-beloved airline of everything that made it special.

By Paul Thornton

/ 9 Apr 2026

Goodbye Southwest Airlines, hello Southworst

Sweltering in your rental this week? You can thank the California Legislature for that

California has repeatedly failed to enact cooling standards for rental housing. That's unacceptable in a warming world – but thankfully, L.A. leaders are finally stepping up.

By Paul Thornton

/ 20 Mar 2026

Sweltering in your rental this week? You can thank the California Legislature for that

Should Los Angeles' City Council get bigger for better representation? Let voters decide

The size of L.A.'s council was set in 1925, when the city was much smaller and less diverse. Voters deserve the chance to decide if Los Angeles has outgrown its 15 districts.

By Jim Newton

/ 5 Mar 2026

Should Los Angeles' City Council get bigger for better representation? Let voters decide

Conquering the godawful LAX 'horseshoe'

Changes are coming to LAX that probably won’t fix traffic on the two-level road to the terminals. Here’s what you can do now to avoid some of the headache.

By Paul Thornton

/ 26 Feb 2026

Congestion pricing can save LAX – and the rest of L.A. too

Use the notoriously traffic-choked "horseshoe" at LAX as a proving ground for congestion pricing. If Angelenos like what they see (and they very likely will), perhaps they'll warm to it for other roads in the area.

By Paul Thornton

/ 10 Feb 2026

Congestion pricing can save LAX – and the rest of L.A. too

Want to protest the assault on American democracy? Boycott the World Cup

I was excited to see players from my family's home country suit up on American soil. That was before Trump's latest assault on American democracy.

By Paul Thornton

/ 30 Jan 2026

Want to protest the assault on American democracy? Boycott the World Cup

Why Altadena renters feel left out of fire relief

Many Eaton fire survivors who rented their homes want to return to Altadena. Unless they get more help, the community that's rebuilt will look vastly different from the Altadena that was lost.

By Elizabeth Aguilera

/ 23 Jan 2026

Why Altadena renters feel left out of fire relief

What the LAPD could teach ICE about good policing

The principles that guided the Los Angeles police away from ignominy and back toward honor after the Rodney King beating are lost on federal authorities in their zeal to punish undocumented migrants.

By Jim Newton

/ 22 Jan 2026

What the LAPD could teach ICE about good policing

No, Trump won't be able to drill off California's coast

The administration wants new drilling off the 1,100-mile coastline. Fat chance: This is probably illegal and faces overwhelming backlash.

By David Helvarg

/ 13 Jan 2026

No, Trump won't be able to drill off California's coast