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Today: November 10, 2025
Today: November 10, 2025
Sowjanya Pedada

Sowjanya Pedada

Staff Writer

Sowjanya is a passionate writer and an avid reader. She holds an MBA in Agribusiness Management and now works as a content writer with the LA Post. She loves to play with words and hopes to make a difference in the world through her narratives. Apart from writing, she is interested in reading fiction novels and doing craftwork.

Latest From Sowjanya Pedada

Local

Pet hotel safety alert: Wag Hotels pays $150K for neglect

A pet hotel chain with facilities in the Bay Area and Southern California will pay $150,000 to settle allegations that it mistreated animals and failed to report dog bites as required by law. Wag Hotels, which operates day care and boarding facilities, faced a consumer protection lawsuit filed in August by district attorneys from San Francisco, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County. The complaint alleged the business neglected pets in its care, according to officials. The lawsuit followed a San Francisco Chronicle investigation that uncovered allegations of inadequate animal care and employee training that resulted in animal neglect. The

Pet hotel safety alert: Wag Hotels pays $150K for neglect
Environment

America’s grid is under strain — can rooftop solar panels be the solution?

As extreme weather events and rising electricity demand put increasing pressure on the U.S. power grid, rooftop solar panels are emerging as a potential solution. With utilities spending tens of billions of dollars on upgrades, decentralized solar systems could help households generate and store energy, while easing strain on the grid. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, rooftop systems could theoretically provide nearly half of the electricity residents in many states use annually, and as much as 74% in California. Paired with home battery storage, these systems allow homeowners to store excess energy for evening use or during outages,

America’s grid is under strain — can rooftop solar panels be the solution?
Lifestyle

Itchy skin? Try this instead of scratching

Scientists have found that rubbing or gently stroking itchy skin provides better relief than scratching, according to recent research that could change how people respond to this common irritation. A 2020 study led by Tasuku Akiyama, an associate professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, demonstrated that stroking the skin of mice prevented itch signals from reaching the brain. The research showed that stroking sent a counter-signal that inhibited the uncomfortable sensation. “Once you start scratching, sometimes you can’t stop,” Akiyama said. “It’s called the ‘itch-scratch cycle.’ If you can resist it,

Itchy skin? Try this instead of scratching
Entertainment

Lights, camera, Newport! Film festival returns for its 26th year

The Newport Beach Film Festival returns for its 26th edition, running from October 16 to 23, featuring over 350 films and representing 32 nations. Organizers will present more than 100 feature-length films and 250 short films at several theaters in Newport Beach, according to the festival’s website. The annual event draws thousands of attendees and ranks among the nation’s premier luxury lifestyle film festivals. “As we celebrate our 26th year, this lineup unites the season’s most exciting films with visionary filmmakers from around the world,” said Gregg Schwenk, chief executive officer and executive director of the Newport Beach Film Festival,

Lights, camera, Newport! Film festival returns for its 26th year
Lifestyle

Why everyone is talking about retinol — and you should too

Retinol, a vitamin A-based compound, has emerged as one of the most versatile ingredients in skincare, offering benefits that range from reducing acne to minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. New York-based dermatologist Rachel Nazarian describes retinol as a “multitasking superhero” supported by decades of scientific research. The ingredient works by accelerating cell turnover to reveal smoother skin beneath the surface, which can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles while enhancing collagen and elastin production. While many associate retinol with anti-aging, Nazarian recommends it to patients of all ages dealing with hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and acne. The compound reduces sebum production

Why everyone is talking about retinol — and you should too
Local

The clock is ticking on LA’s senior nutrition programs

Organizations providing meals to older adults in Los Angeles are preparing to reduce services by approximately 30% when temporary federal appropriations end Sept. 30. This change could eliminate daily food access for thousands of seniors. ONEgeneration, which operates seven locations in the San Fernando Valley, distributes approximately 800 meals each day but anticipates reducing that figure to between 500 and 600, Chief Executive Officer Karen Hauss told LA Public Press. The organization has stopped accepting new participants in its home delivery service and recently denied assistance to a 101-year-old woman who lives by herself. The funding crisis follows the December

The clock is ticking on LA’s senior nutrition programs
Environment|Local

Why California’s trucks may never look the same again

California exceeded its clean truck adoption goals in 2024, with zero-emission vehicles capturing nearly 23% of new medium- and heavy-duty truck sales, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. The state recorded sales of 30,026 zero-emission trucks, buses, and vans last year, establishing a new benchmark for commercial vehicle electrification. Sales performance exceeded the state’s minimum target by more than twice in 2024. California’s commercial zero-emission vehicle market has grown steadily, with total sales exceeding 57,000 units since 2021. The upward trend marks four years of consecutive growth in the sector. “Clean trucks accounted for nearly a quarter of all new truck sales

Why California’s trucks may never look the same again
Political

USDA ends food insecurity survey — what it means for Americans

President Donald Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture announced recently it will terminate a three-decade food insecurity survey, describing it as “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous.” The USDA’s official announcement stated that the report “failed to present anything more than subjective, liberal fodder” and claimed trends in food insecurity “have remained virtually unchanged.”  The cancellation follows Trump’s summer signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, legislation that broadens SNAP work requirements and is projected to eliminate food assistance for approximately 2.4 million Americans.  The USDA’s implementation guidance for SNAP provisions indicates that the legislation expands SNAP work requirements from ages

USDA ends food insecurity survey — what it means for Americans
Local|Environment

Salton Sea’s white gold rush: promise or peril?

Environmental advocates have launched a legal challenge against what they consider inadequate environmental oversight of a proposed lithium extraction facility near the Salton Sea. Comite Civico del Valle and Earthworks submitted arguments to the Fourth District Court of Appeal last week, seeking to overturn a superior court’s earlier dismissal of their environmental concerns, according to the CalMatters report. The organizations claim that officials failed to properly assess the potential harm from air pollution, water consumption, hazardous materials, and impacts on tribal lands at the proposed Hell’s Kitchen mining site. “The project would create a high-water demand in an arid desert

Salton Sea’s white gold rush: promise or peril?
Health|Environment

Wildfire smoke is becoming America's next silent health crisis — Experts warn

Wildfire smoke contributes to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the U.S., according to a new study published in Nature that warns the toll could increase significantly by mid-century as climate change intensifies fire activity. The research, led by Minghao Qiu, a climate and public health scientist at Stony Brook University, found that smoke exposure levels could reach two to three times current averages within decades. The study analyzed climate change, wildfire patterns, and smoke transport across North America. “The numbers are quite striking,” Qiu said. By 2050, annual smoke exposure could match levels seen during 2020, one of

Wildfire smoke is becoming America's next silent health crisis — Experts warn
Local

Can California and Brazil rewrite the future of clean energy?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an expanded climate partnership with Brazil during Climate Week, establishing new cooperation on clean energy, pollution reduction, and economic opportunities before the United Nations Global Climate Change Conference that Brazil will host in November. Newsom met with a Brazilian delegation headed by Environment Minister Marina Silva to sign a memorandum of understanding that expands California’s existing climate partnership with 21 Brazilian states, which was established earlier this year. “By strengthening our partnership with Brazil, California is reaffirming a simple truth: global challenges require global cooperation,” Newsom said. “We can work together to cut harmful pollution,

Can California and Brazil rewrite the future of clean energy?
Local

Wildfires devastated homes — This law is changing the game

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that mandates lenders provide mortgage payment deferrals lasting up to one year for homeowners facing financial difficulties due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Assembly Bill 238 establishes mandatory legal standards for mortgage assistance and builds upon earlier voluntary commitments the state negotiated with lenders in January, the governor’s office announced. The new law applies to borrowers affected by the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, and related disasters that triggered the state’s emergency declaration issued on Jan. 7. Financial institutions must provide payment relief to qualifying homeowners who demonstrate economic hardship due to the

Wildfires devastated homes — This law is changing the game
Health|Local

Four States, One Voice: Unified Vaccine Plan Unveiled

Four western governors unveiled joint winter immunization guidelines as new federal leadership implements changes to national health agencies that have raised questions among medical professionals. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green released coordinated advice for seasonal COVID-19, flu, and RSV shots through their newly formed West Coast Health Alliance. The move follows recent administrative shifts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the President Donald Trump administration. Alongside the regional announcement, Newsom enacted Assembly Bill 144, granting California the authority to develop immunization policies based on independent

Four States, One Voice: Unified Vaccine Plan Unveiled
Local

“No more silence”: sex abuse bill targets teacher misconduct

California lawmakers have passed legislation that would create new tools to combat sexual abuse in K-12 schools, including a statewide database to track employee misconduct and mandatory training programs for educators and students. Senate Bill 848, known as the “Safe Learning Environments Act,” was authored by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democrat from Alhambra, in response to widespread cases of educator sexual misconduct across the state. This sex abuse bill has been sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk after passing both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan support as California grapples with an estimated $3 billion in civil claims related

“No more silence”: sex abuse bill targets teacher misconduct
Local

Anonymous prescriptions: California’s bold answer to abortion bans

California lawmakers have sent legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom that would allow health care providers to prescribe abortion drugs anonymously, marking the latest effort to shield doctors from legal action by states with abortion restrictions. Assembly Bill 260 passed the state Senate on Sept. 9 and the Assembly on Sept. 10, and now sits on Newsom’s desk, according to multiple news reports from KTLA. The measure would allow pharmacists to dispense mifepristone and other abortion medications without listing the names of the patient, prescriber, or pharmacy on the label. Data from the Society of Family Planning shows that the mifepristone-misoprostol

Anonymous prescriptions: California’s bold answer to abortion bans
Environment

The Disappearing Coast: L.A.’s Battle with the Ocean

Los Angeles County beaches face ongoing erosion from climate change and coastal development, prompting officials to approve a new program that will transport surplus sand from construction projects to restore five popular coastal areas. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved the Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Program in July to address ongoing coastal erosion that has already reduced beach width at several locations. From 2002 to 2022, Zuma Beach in Malibu narrowed by an average of 3.5 feet, while Point Dume Beach lost 40 feet of width, according to the 2023 L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors Coastal

The Disappearing Coast: L.A.’s Battle with the Ocean
Local

Seven years later, Camp Fire recovery shows scars in schools

Seven years have passed since the devastating Camp Fire swept through Paradise. Yet, the mountain community’s schools continue to face significant academic challenges despite successful physical reconstruction efforts, illustrating how natural disasters create lasting educational impacts. The 2018 wildfire ranks among the deadliest in U.S. history, claiming 85 lives and destroying over 18,000 structures, including the majority of the town’s educational facilities. Although new construction has emerged and local businesses like an ice cream shop have reopened near the reconstructed high school, student achievement levels remain far below pre-disaster benchmarks. District records show 154 school closure days during the 2018-19

Seven years later, Camp Fire recovery shows scars in schools
Crime

Santa Monica reels as sexual abuse claims spark financial meltdown

Santa Monica declared fiscal distress on Sept. 9 as the city grapples with over $229 million in sexual abuse settlements stemming from decades-old claims against a former police dispatcher who died by suicide in 2018, according to CBS Los Angeles reporting. The settlements relate to sexual abuse by Eric Uller, a former city dispatcher who targeted children primarily in Latino communities throughout the city and served with the Police Activities League after-school program for decades, according to court records detailed in a L.A. Times investigation. Uller was arrested and charged in 2018, but died by suicide in November 2018 before

Santa Monica reels as sexual abuse claims spark financial meltdown
Technology

Can ChatGPT parental controls prevent another heartbreak?

OpenAI will implement parental controls for ChatGPT within a month, allowing parents to monitor teen accounts and receive alerts when the system detects signs of distress, the company announced following a lawsuit over a California teenager’s suicide. The artificial intelligence company said parents will be able to link their accounts to their teens’ ChatGPT usage, disable features like memory and chat history, and get notifications during moments of “acute distress.” The changes come after the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine filed suit in late August, claiming ChatGPT contributed to their son’s death by suicide in April. According to the lawsuit

Can ChatGPT parental controls prevent another heartbreak?
Uncategorized

Rotten food, rats, and rising deaths: Inside L.A.’s jail crisis

State Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County, alleging constitutional violations and cruel treatment of detainees in the nation’s largest jail system. The legal action targets L.A. County, its Sheriff’s Department, and County Correctional Health Services, claiming systemic failures to ensure basic humane conditions and adequate healthcare for those in custody. “We can’t wait any longer,” Bonta said during a downtown news conference. “We need comprehensive reform and we need it now.” County detention facilities house roughly 14,000 people daily. State investigators found appalling conditions, including rodent and insect infestations, broken sewage systems, and unsafe

Rotten food, rats, and rising deaths: Inside L.A.’s jail crisis
Health

Valley fever surge shocks Riverside — is climate change to blame?

Valley fever cases in Riverside County have increased by 58% compared to the same period last year, with 322 confirmed cases as of July 31, according to Riverside University Health System officials. Riverside County confirmed 465 cases in 2024. The 2025 case count represents nearly two-thirds of last year’s total with several months remaining in the year. The county’s increase in valley fever cases reflects a broader trend across California, where nearly 12,500 cases were reported in 2024, the highest on record for the state. Construction workers represent the largest occupational group affected by the respiratory disease, according to Wendy

Valley fever surge shocks Riverside — is climate change to blame?
Environment|Health

It’s not just a smell — the Salton Sea is poisoning the air

Toxic air emissions from the Salton Sea are sickening residents in nearby communities, with hydrogen sulfide levels regularly exceeding state safety standards, new UCLA research shows. UCLA scientists measured the foul-smelling gas at dangerous concentrations around California’s largest inland lake. Monitoring equipment detected levels above the California Air Resources Board’s 30 parts per billion limit for 243 hours from May through September 2024, as reported by CalMatters. The Latino Policy & Politics Institute at UCLA published two reports examining how decomposing organic material in the polluted lake releases hydrogen sulfide into surrounding areas. The research connects water contamination to air

It’s not just a smell — the Salton Sea is poisoning the air
Local

Turning the tide: California energy deal brings cleaner, cheaper power

Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders unveiled a comprehensive energy package aimed at lowering power costs for California residents, preventing gasoline price spikes, and reducing harmful emissions. The bipartisan agreement encompasses several bills that would boost rebates on electric bills, create regional energy partnerships, and maintain California’s carbon reduction program until 2050. “After months of hard work with the Legislature, we have agreed to historic reforms that will save money on your electric bills, stabilize gas supply, and slash toxic air pollution — all while fast-tracking California’s transition to a clean, green job-creating economy,” Newsom said. Senate President pro Tempore

Turning the tide: California energy deal brings cleaner, cheaper power
Education

Families fight back and win in historic LAUSD settlement over remote learning

More than 250,000 Los Angeles Unified School District students will receive free tutoring, summer school, and other academic support under a landmark settlement that resolves a five-year legal battle over the district’s pandemic remote learning policies. The agreement, announced on Sept. 3 in L.A. County Superior Court, ends a class-action lawsuit that accused the nation’s second-largest school district of providing inadequate online education that disproportionately harmed low-income students and students of color. Under the terms, 100,000 students performing below grade level will receive 45 hours of intensive one-on-one tutoring each year through 2028. The settlement affects students who were enrolled

Families fight back and win in historic LAUSD settlement over remote learning
Health

Is creatine the next big health supplement — or just another trend?

Creatine supplements have drawn growing attention beyond bodybuilding, sparking renewed interest from Social media influencers, with claims ranging from muscle development to cognitive and metabolic benefits. Scientific research, however, shows well-established effects in exercise performance while evidence for other uses remains preliminary. The supplements help boost athletic performance by providing rapid energy bursts that allow athletes to complete extra repetitions during weightlifting or maintain strength longer during endurance activities, explains Abbie Smith-Ryan, who teaches exercise and sports science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Analysis of 35 research studies demonstrated that men who combined creatine supplementation with resistance

Is creatine the next big health supplement — or just another trend?

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