From immigrant roots to celebrities, how LA became a soccer city

Los Angeles is hosting eight matches for this year’s FIFA World Cup. Today, LA is home to three professional soccer teams and one of the biggest soccer youth organizations in the nation, but did you know its history with soccer goes back over a century? With the world cup at our doorstep, LAist cor…

The World Cup is more than just soccer. How it’s a flash point for politics, the economy and ICE for host cities like LA

The stakes are high for this year’s FIFA World Cup. For the first time in the tournament's history, 48 national teams will compete across 16 cities. That includes Los Angeles. And despite the sport’s biggest names battling it out on the field, high ticket prices, ICE’s role at the games, and other …

Voter Game Plan Part 5: Your last chance to cram before the June 2 primary

If you still haven’t voted and need some help, listen to this encore of the first episode in our Voter Game Plan series – LAist Community Engagement Senior Producer Brianna Lee previews the key races and answers burning questions on navigating the primary election. And be sure to check out all the …

Voter Game Plan Part 4: What you need to know about the key Orange County races

In the fourth installment of our Voter Game Plan series, we cover a number of hotly contested primary races in Orange County. These include races for jobs that determine how the county spends billions of taxpayer dollars, to another that oversees the county’s education system, serving nearly a half…

Voter Game Plan Part 3: The primary races for LA mayor and LA County sheriff heat up

The stakes are high for two of the most high profile local races on the June primary ballot. The L.A. mayor and L.A. County sheriff are hugely influential positions, and the incumbents in each race face crowded fields of challengers. LAist Civics and Democracy correspondent Frank Stoltze breaks dow…

Voter Game Plan Part 2: Voting for judges is one of your toughest ballot tasks. What to consider when making your choices

Traffic ticket disputes. Child custody cases. Theft. Voters decide which Los Angeles and Orange County superior court judges rule on these kinds of cases and other daily issues that directly affect how we live. Though multiple local judges are up for a vote on the June primary ballot, finding infor…

Voter Game Plan Part 1: What you need to know about the June primary elections

All month long on Imperfect Paradise, we’re bringing you a special series devoted to the June primaries. Whether you’re voting for L.A. mayor, the school board or superior court judge, we'll help you make an informed vote. To kick off the series, LAist Community Engagement Senior Producer Brianna L…

Inside a Southern California church, where Muslims, Jews, and Christians all pray

Although religion is an inescapable element in conflicts around the world and a polarizing topic here at home, one place of worship in Pasadena, California, is defying religious labels. Amid the crosses and stained glass windows depicting the life of Christ, the First United Methodist Church shifts…

'Astronomical' LA28 Olympics ticket prices have shocked fans. But could a more expensive games benefit taxpayers?

Despite an initial promise that LA Olympic events would start at $28, tickets for the games are costing fans hundreds to thousands of dollars. LAist Olympics reporter Libby Rainey joins us to discuss why the ticket prices are so expensive, what they can tell us about the money behind the games and …

Big Bear Valley’s ‘royal couple’ Jackie and Shadow & their emotional journey to parenthood

The famed Big Bear bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow have become a global internet sensation. Tens of thousands of fans tune in to watch every season as the couple expands their family. LAist Reporter and resident Jackie & Shadow expert Makenna Cramer discusses the recent mating season and the la…