LA Observed

LA Observed

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4 min

The week's top stories in LA media, politics and culture.

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Warner Music just moved its employees to a new home in an old factory building in the Arts District.

Friends, family and fans continue to mourn the loss of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot and killed over the weekend outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles.

The L.A. County Coroner’s Office has concluded that a man who died at the home of a prominent Democratic donor in West Hollywood overdosed on crystal meth.

Before former Governor Jerry Brown left office, last year, he put his pen to a couple, new transparency laws.  Both have to do with public access to internal police investigations and…

Think of Santa Monica and there are a number of things that come to mind: an idyllic, beachside setting; a tech-saturated economy; a bastion of liberal politics.

Those who cast their ballot in the LA Unified School Board election at a local school or church likely did so for the last time.

It’s the team that’s had to deal with a geography and identity crisis for years, with some of the most supportive fans in Major League Baseball. The L.A.

A landmark bill signed by then-Governor Brown last year is intended to make records of police misconduct available to the public.

More from KCRW

Critics review the latest film releases: “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Echo Valley,” “Materialists,” and “Prime Minister.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The latest film releases include How to Train Your Dragon, Echo Valley, Materialists, and Prime Minister.

from Weekend Film Reviews

Musical visionary Brian Wilson’s family announced on Wednesday that the Beach Boys’ co-founder died at 82.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Latest

Serve peaches on your favorite scone or pound cake with whipped cream, or stuff them with crumbled cookies and chocolate. Stone fruit also pairs well with fresh or briny cheeses.

Summer means stone fruit. Use them for pies, scones, salsa

Serve peaches on your favorite scone or pound cake with whipped cream, or stuff them with crumbled cookies and chocolate. Stone fruit also pairs well with fresh or briny cheeses.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A TV reporter from Kansas City hears about the brazen newspaper raids over in Marion.

27: Who’s Behind the Raids? A Mystery in Marion (Part Two)

A TV reporter from Kansas City hears about the brazen newspaper raids over in Marion.

from Question Everything

From the vaults: Reporter Peter Gilstrap lives every audiophile’s dream — chatting with Brian Wilson about the goats from the “Pet Sounds” album cover.

Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and the ‘Pet Sounds’ goats (2016)

From the vaults: Reporter Peter Gilstrap lives every audiophile’s dream — chatting with Brian Wilson about the goats from the “Pet Sounds” album cover.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Culture critic Carolina Miranda weighs in on a retrospective of Diane Arbus’ photography at Zwirner gallery, and a Wende Museum exhibition about mass surveillance in former East…

Photography’s transformation into fine art, surveillance during Cold War

Culture critic Carolina Miranda weighs in on a retrospective of Diane Arbus’ photography at Zwirner gallery, and a Wende Museum exhibition about mass surveillance in former East…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

High school student Ashley E. shares her love for the sights and sounds of Boyle Heights – with a special shoutout to her favorite taco stand.

Love Letters to LA: Boyle Heights

High school student Ashley E. shares her love for the sights and sounds of Boyle Heights – with a special shoutout to her favorite taco stand.

from KCRW Features

Kenny Scharf has painted mischievous-looking cartoons on about 300 cars, most of them in LA.

Boring car that needs help? In comes painter Kenny Scharf

Kenny Scharf has painted mischievous-looking cartoons on about 300 cars, most of them in LA.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Pachy Garcia grew up in Puerto Rico and was influenced by the Caribbean’s reggae and dub sounds. Now he lives in LA and is out with his fifth album.

Reggae and dub artist Pachyman embraces the 1-man band

Pachy Garcia grew up in Puerto Rico and was influenced by the Caribbean’s reggae and dub sounds. Now he lives in LA and is out with his fifth album.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Unhoused people lack safe bathroom access—an issue of public health, safety, and basic dignity we can no longer ignore.

Toilets Prevent Disease—If You Can Find One

Unhoused people lack safe bathroom access—an issue of public health, safety, and basic dignity we can no longer ignore.

from Second Opinion