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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

ICE agent party poopers forcing cancellations of SoCal summer events

Coming up on today's Local: A man arrested in Huntington Park seemed to be poised to go on some kind of criminal spree dressed as an ICE agent ... Republicans in Congress keep the pressure on the city of Los Angeles ... masked up ICE agents, already operating with the charm of Joseph Stalin's secret police, are now forcing the cancellation of summer events around Southern California ... and we'll explain a complicated but important Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship.

Jun 28, 202511 min

L.A. County supervisor calls ICE raids "racist"

An L.A. County supervisor is calling the ICE raids "racist." Also, no, the gas prices are not jumping that high. But California could get a boost in efforts to build housing. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 27, 202514 min

ICE agents refusing to show ID during raids is causing problems

ICE agents consistently refusing to show identification during their immigration raids is proving problematic, and there was a big court ruling on insurance coverage for hard-to-see smoke damages. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 26, 20259 min

Financial headaches continue in the city of L.A.

The Los Angeles city budget cannot catch a break. Also, are ICE agents deporting the worst of the worst when it comes to criminal immigrants? One expert is saying 'no.' And home prices in Southern California came down...but don't get too excited. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 25, 202516 min

VP Vance rips state and local leaders during L.A. visit. Mayor Bass hits back

The United States Vice President comes to Los Angeles and lies through his teeth about what's gone down in the city over the last couple of weeks; Mayor Karen Bass responds. The Dodgers finally weigh in on the ICE raids in their city, and it's a little underwhelming. And California's autonomy to set its own environmental policies takes a beating from President Trump and the Supreme Court. L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 21, 202519 min

The L.A. Dodgers and Lakers are now under one ownership group

The Dodgers' ownership group bought the Lakers for $10 billion. Can they inject some of their winning ways into a somewhat stagnant franchise? Meanwhile, the Dodgers' silence over ongoing ICE raids in L.A. has grown deafening. L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 19, 202516 min

The Downtown L.A. curfew has been lifted, but will it last?

The Downtown L.A. curfew has ended, but the legal challenge to President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to the city lives on. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has joined Substack, and the City of Carson is attempting to ban fireworks... good luck with that. L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 18, 202515 min

LAPD sued by advocacy group for targeted violence against journalists at protests

LAPD's chief is being sued for the systemic targeting of journalists with violence at protests. The Republican National Committee attempts to explain why Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York deserve special treatment in immigration enforcement, and the unintended consequences of L.A. County's so-called "mansion tax." L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 17, 202522 min

More Marines headed to L.A. ahead of protests this weekend

About 200 Marines are expected to be in Los Angeles on Friday to secure federal buildings. This comes as No Kings Day protests are expected this weekend. Also, we'll get an update on the Port of L.A., and beginning Friday, you can drink outdoors in Santa Monica. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 13, 202510 min

CA vs. Trump: Where could this contentious relationship lead?

Hear from a Downey church pastor who watched in shock and horror as ICE agents snatch up a man right near her congregation's parking lot, Wednesday. And we will examine what was once considered an easily dismissible conspiracy theory: Are we headed for a slow-motion breakup of the United States? The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 12, 202515 min

Curfew issued in downtown L.A. after another day of protests

City leadership takes steps to lock down downtown L.A. while Trump continues to throw gasoline on the fire. California loses a round to Trump in court, and we take a look at the origins of the tough new ICE tactics where cruelty is the point. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 11, 202522 min

Marines deploy to L.A. amid immigration raids, protests

After a tense weekend of immigration raids, protests, and riots in downtown Los Angeles, the Marines are en route to America’s second-biggest city. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 10, 202521 min

ICE agents arrest dozens of people in raids across L.A.

ICE raids in the Westlake area and downtown L.A. Friday were met with efforts to stop agents dressed for warfare from making arrests. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 07, 202511 min

Musk vs. Trump: A battle of egos that could affect us all

Elon Musk vs. President Donald Trump: It's not necessarily a Southern California story, but when two of the most consequential people in the world have a full-fledged meltdown for all to see, the implications are just too big to ignore. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 06, 20258 min

Pali High's resilient class of 2025 graduates at the Hollywood Bowl

It's a bittersweet night for Pali High's graduating class of 2025 as they celebrate commencement at the Hollywood Bowl, a backup plan to their usual football field ceremony, which was destroyed in the devastating January fires. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 05, 202513 min

Temperatures and prices are going up. Guess which isn't expected to cool down

Thunderstorms in Southern California in June are a harbinger of more extreme weather to come our way this summer. The Trump administration is revoking guidance telling U.S. hospitals to provide emergency abortions. And some expert predictions on when tariffs might make life more expensive for all of us. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 04, 202510 min

Disney cuts hundreds of workers, many based in L.A.

Disney has laid off several hundred workers, many of whom are based in Los Angeles. The first of the Big Bear celebrity eaglets takes flight, overhauling California's reviled and revered environmental regulation law. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Jun 03, 202513 min

A fight for the soul of California's Democratic Party is underway

California Democrats gather for their convention this weekend, facing political headwinds. We get an update on our local celebrity bald eagle couple and their growing babies, and your guide to getting out and about in SoCal on this muggy and warm weekend. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 31, 202514 min

Will.i.am shares words of wisdom with Pali High grads

The graduates of Palisades Charter High got a Q&A with one of the biggest pop stars in the world. Meanwhile, some Altadena grads got stiffed by a limo company on prom night. Buckle up, this one is an emotional rollercoaster. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 29, 20259 min

Trump weaponizes Title IX against trans athletes in CA

The Trump administration wields Title IX against California over transgender athletes competing in high school sports. And no tacos for Trump! The columnist who coined the term 'TACO Trade' worries that his joke might have been too effective. L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 29, 202515 min

Is President Trump preparing to withhold L.A.'s fire FEMA funds?

Is President Trump preparing to stiff the city of Los Angeles over promised federal aid for the January fires? Southwest Airlines goes from scrappy hero underdog to evil soulless airline, and all it took were checked bag fees. The transgender athlete debate arrives here in California, and Malibu is slowly but surely coming back to life. L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 28, 202517 min

How beautiful is Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, really?

How beautiful is the Trump administration's Big Beautiful Bill, really? We turn to a highly regarded conservative economist for some insight. And as a palate cleanse, we'll give you a rundown of all the fun things you can do in SoCal this Memorial Day weekend. L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 24, 202513 min

5 months after the Palisades Fire, PCH is finally reopening

PCH reopens to traffic tomorrow five months after the Palisades Fire devastated the area. The fight over how to close L.A.'s billion-dollar deficit is already getting bitter, and summer blockbuster season is upon us, but after years of disruptions in Hollywood, are things back to normal? The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 22, 202515 min

L.A. Zoo elephants moved to Tulsa in the middle of the night

How does a pair of 10,000-pound elephants simply disappear from an L.A. Zoo exhibit overnight? The National Weather Service starts shutting down 24/7 forecasting at several key offices in California, and before speed cameras arrive in Los Angeles next year, we get a preview of their (heartless) effectiveness up in San Francisco. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 22, 202519 min

Will Mayor Bass' directive bring film and TV productions back to L.A.?

Mayor Karen Bass is hoping to clear the way for Hollywood to bring film and TV production back to L.A., but the industry isn't so sure she's on the right track. Pasadena is tightening up its leash laws for dog owners, and the World Cup is coming to Los Angeles. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 21, 202515 min

ICE gets creative to work around L.A.'s sanctuary city law

The Feds think they have a way to circumvent Los Angeles's sanctuary city law. A new community basketball court opens in memory of L.A.'s favorite adopted son, Kobe Bryant, and his daughter, Gigi. New research suggests people living near golf courses are at higher risk of Parkinson's disease. And the motive behind this weekend's Palm Springs car bombing is coming into focus. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 20, 202513 min

Medi-Cal coverage for popular weight loss drugs is on the chopping block

Does a federal judge have the power to halt an American president's agenda if that agenda tramples on core constitutional rights? Medi-Cal coverage for popular weight loss drugs is on the chopping block, and almost 20,000 USC Trojans are graduating; we hear one grad's remarkable story. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 16, 202516 min

'Trump Slump': Gov. Newsom blames President Trump for CA's projected $12B budget deficit

Housing in SoCal isn't just one of the most unaffordable markets in the country; it's among the most expensive in the world. Things are about to get boozy at a Santa Monica landmark, and Gov. Newsom is blaming President Trump for the state's projected $12 billion budget deficit, calling it the "Trump Slump." The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

May 15, 202514 min
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