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The LA Local

Your TL;DR for what's happening in SoCal. Get caught up in less than ten minutes every afternoon on The LA Local. From culture to crime to politics to the offbeat, Jonathan Serviss and the KNX News team have you covered.
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Episodes

L.A. County Sheriff's Department likely been using defective DNA test kits

A major oopsy at the L.A. County Sheriff's Department involving faulty DNA test kits. Can state regulators speed up utility repairs in the fire-devastated areas of Altadena and Pacific Palisades while also tackling the complicated and expensive process of burying power lines? And in case you haven't heard, it's Dodgers Opening Day. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 28, 202515 min

Did the Dodgers strike out by accepting a White House invite?

The Dodgers are heading to the White House, and the reaction from fans has been divided. West Hollywood is the pickpocketing capital of the world, and how much of the L.A. Olympics will actually be held in L.A.? The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 26, 202510 min

Death penalty back on the table: L.A. County DA

What do immigration authorities want with IRS records for illegal immigrants? President Trump signed an executive order that seemed to be aimed squarely at how California runs its elections. And Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman announced Tuesday that the death penalty is back on the table. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 26, 202513 min

23andMe: Concerns over user data after bankruptcy

Millions trusted companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com with their DNA, seeking insights into their ancestry and health. While genetic testing has undeniably yielded positive results, even leading some to find long-lost relatives, the recent 23andMe bankruptcy raises serious concerns about where all that data will land. We delve into the implications of this bankruptcy, exploring the benefits and the risks of entrusting your most personal data to these companies. The L.A. Local is sponsored by ...

Mar 25, 202514 min

'May the traffic gods be with you': Post-Palisades fire traffic woes

If you've been battling the post-Palisades fire traffic nightmare at the 101-405 interchange, you're not alone. When you live and work in Southern California, traffic is one of the biggest determining factors of how your day will go. On Today's L.A. Local, we commiserate with daily commuters and hear from a Caltrans expert. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 22, 202513 min

Is this the end of the US Dept. of Education?

President Trump announced that he intends to do away with the US Department of Education. Vaccination rates for California's kindergarten-age children are heading in the wrong direction. And NCAA March Madness has arrived. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 21, 202517 min

L.A. faces $1 billion budget gap

The city of L.A. is in for a massive budget deficit next fiscal year. The UC system is facing funding cuts of their own, and what does Jackie Robinson have to do with DEI? The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 20, 202514 min

Gov. Newsom is sending CEOs burner phones programmed with his direct number

Gavin Newsom is sending disposable cell phones to California CEOs with a note saying to give him a call - what's that about? And we're bringing you a story you'll hear only on KNX News about several dozen heartbroken swimmers and divers at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after their sports programs were unceremoniously canceled. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 19, 202511 min

Violent crime drops in L.A.

The good news: crime is down in L.A. The bad news: the city is going broke. Plus, the Dodgers take over Tokyo, and we chat with an L.A. Marathon runner. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 18, 202515 min

FIRED FEDS: Voices of the government layoffs

Hear from Southern California-based federal workers who lost their jobs from the DOGE cuts and are now dealing with a lot of uncertainty for their careers, their families and their futures. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 15, 202545 min

Someone is shooting crows dead in L.A.

Someone has been shooting crows out of the sky in Los Angeles, and neighbors want them caught. A small tornado caused havoc early this morning in Pico Rivera. Federal government employees get their jobs back, for now, thanks to a ruling here in California. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 13, 202510 min

What is Gov. Newsom's podcast really about?

The first few guests on Gavin Newsom's new podcasts have been some die-hard members of the MAGA movement. What does it mean? One Republican analyst says it's a sign he's NOT running in 2028. Plus, no one seems to want to take responsibility for the failure to send evacuation alerts to western Altadena, where all the fire deaths occurred. And the region preps for another potentially damaging storm. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 12, 202511 min

Bass denies office is in 'disarray'

Following a new poll that isn't pretty for Mayor Bass, she sits down with us for a an interview about the challenges facing her administration and her response to the fires. The latest bust seizes enough fentanyl to kill everyone in L.A. and Orange Counties. The race for governor has a new entry. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 11, 202510 min

DA hands Menendez brothers a big setback

L.A. County DA Nathan Hochman says he won't support the Menendez brothers' release from prison - a major setback just weeks before the resentencing hearing. One juror holds out, and the Orange County judge who admitted to shooting his wife dead will need a new trial. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 10, 202510 min

L.A. County sues SoCal Edison over Eaton Fire

L.A. County is the latest to sue the power company, claiming its equipment started the Eaton Fire. The family of the cinematographer who died on the set of Rust is not happy about Alec Baldwin's new TV show. More questions about the mayor's rationale for firing LAFD Chief Crowley. And all eyes are on the eagles at Big Bear and their new chicks. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 06, 202510 min

After impassioned defense, fire chief stays fired

The L.A. City Council upholds the mayor's firing of LAFD chief Kristin Crowley after she speaks out publicly for the first time. We dig into how it went down and what it means for the future of the fire department, Mayor Bass, and public safety in Los Angeles. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 04, 202511 min

An hour on hold with 911 in Los Angeles?

KNX News contributor and the host of 'L.A. in a Minute,' Evan Lovett, had his home burglarized over the weekend - and had to wait on hold for an hour before the LAPD was dispatched. Evan got a call from Mayor Bass, and we wanted to know what she had to say. Plus, the fired fire chief gets ready to fight for her job back before the City Council as text messages come to light shedding light on the response to the Palisades Fire. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 04, 202511 min

Ex-LAFD chief set to appeal firing before City Council

A grudge match between the mayor and the ex-fire chief will come to a head at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Immigration agents start their long anticipated deportation raids in L.A., and more details emerge on Gene Hackman’s mysterious death. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Mar 01, 202513 min

Gene Hackman dies under mysterious circumstances

Hollywood lost one of its all-time greats under mysterious circumstances. A high-stakes City Council meeting tomorrow night will decide the former fire chief's fate, and with egg prices hitting record highs, why not rent your own chicken? The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Feb 28, 202511 min

Wildfire cleanup hits key early milestone

On today’s L.A. Local podcast: the EPA is done with phase one of the wildfire cleanup – what does that mean? The Santa Monica Sears building may be getting a 2nd life, and one of our crankiest colleagues was trapped in the traffic nightmare on the 101 this morning. We let him vent.

Feb 27, 202513 min

PM UPDATE: Mayor Bass explains to KNX News why she fired LAFD Chief Crowley

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass had said she would wait for investigations into the Palisades Fire to play out before making any major decisions. She spoke exclusively with KNX News' Craig Fiegener about what changed. Riverside's Sheriff talks with KNX about what he wants to do if he becomes California's next Governor. And there's a deal between President Trump and Ukraine's President Zelensky; we dig into what it means.

Feb 26, 202517 min

Bass defends fire chief's firing as backlash builds

Mayor Bass speaks exclusively with us as fractures grow deeper at City Hall over the firing of Chief Crowley. An LAFD inspector speaks with us about how the fire department got to its current state, and says the mayor's rationale makes no sense. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Feb 26, 202514 min

PM UPDATE: Mayor Bass facing more fire-related controversy

Steve Soboroff, appointed to lead the Pacific Palisades rebuilding effort, is criticizing L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for controversy over his pay. Loved ones of the woman murdered and stuffed in a sleeping bag on Santa Monica beach are still seeking justice. And a news website is up and running to help keep track of spending to help homeless people in California.

Feb 25, 202516 min

D.A. says sex abuse should play into Menendez decision

The L.A. County DA still hasn't announced his full stance on the Menendez Brothers case, but now says evidence of sexual abuse should factor into the judge's decision. Rumors of large-scale ICE raids in LA did not come to pass, and activist groups claim to have disrupted a few federal law enforcement actions. Mayor Bass is taking heat following her decision to fire the LAFD chief on Friday. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Feb 24, 202510 min

PM UPDATE: Mayor Bass fires LAFD Chief Crowley

The latest on Mayor Karen Bass's firing of L.A. City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and the possible political fallout. L.A. County DA Nathan Hochman says he will reject a motion filed by attorneys for Erik and Lyle Menendez for a new trial. Meanwhile, in Orange County, DA Todd Spitzer is calling for Chile to be removed from the U.S. visa waiver program, arguing migrants are exploiting the system.

Feb 22, 202517 min

Bass fires the fire chief, sparking new firestorm

Mayor Karen Bass has suddenly fired LAFD chief Kristin Crowley after criticism intensified of the mayor's response to the fire disaster. We dig into the mayor's reasoning and its implications for her administration - and also get the response of the firefighters' union which says the chief was fired for speaking the truth. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Feb 21, 202519 min

PM UPDATE: L.A. mayor faults fire chief for missed weather warning before firestorm

There are suddenly a lot more dangerous toxins in the air after last month's fires. Mayor Bass is now blaming L.A. City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley for not warning her about the weather forecasts ahead of the fires. Starting tonight at midnight, Metro will close the Van Nuys Metro G Line station, parking lot, and nearby bike path for three years for a bridge project.

Feb 21, 202523 min

LAFD says it likely can't get to your home in time

The city fire department says in a new report it can't get to most homes within the recommended 4 minute response time. The transportation secretary visits L.A. and says our high speed rail project isn't going to happen. Californians get a temporary reprieve on gas prices. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Feb 21, 202512 min
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