Los Angeles • Investigative Journalism
To enter the program, defendants must plead guilty and waive their right to a jury trial. If they cannot pay for treatment, judges may order supervised work for government agencies or nonprofit organizations in lieu of certain costs.
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That mindset became painfully clear during HEART LA’s involvement in the case of Elliot Haas, a homeless Los Angeles resident whose dog, Luna, became the center of a legal dispute after members of an animal rescue organization removed the dog. Haas maintained he never consented to Luna being taken, while the rescue group disputed that account. Before the litigation could be resolved, Luna was euthanized after being adopted by another family.
By Stephen Oduntan
For much of the 20th century, discriminatory housing practices—including racially restrictive covenants and redlining—limited where Black Angelenos could live. As thousands of African Americans arrived in Los Angeles during the Second Great Migration, many settled in neighborhoods surrounding Crenshaw, helping transform the corridor into one of the nation's most important centers of Black homeownership, entrepreneurship and civic life.
By Stephen Oduntan
The runoff is historically significant. No incumbent Los Angeles mayor has been forced into a runoff election since 2005, when Mayor James Hahn was pushed into a head-to-head contest and ultimately lost to Antonio Villaraigosa.
By Stephen Oduntan
The mayor’s vulnerabilities have opened the door for challengers looking to capitalize on voter frustration over homelessness, public safety, City Hall leadership and the city’s response to the devastating 2025 Palisades fire. $
By Stephen Oduntan
“South Central is mostly Black and Latino, and when we think about culturally competent providers, they aren’t always available,” Elhawary said. “In a community like ours, we’re still facing significant barriers—not only to health care services, but especially mental health services.”
By Stephen Oduntan
But documents reviewed by LA Focus show concerns over billboard blight in Inglewood long predate WOW Media, the Rams, the Clippers, SoFi Stadium and even Mayor James T. Butts Jr.
By Stephen Oduntan
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stephenoduntan@ymail.com →
Los Angeles County supervisors rejected a community appeal and allowed a controversial Windsor Hills condominium project to move forward, despite residents raising concerns about safety, infrastructure and environmental risks.
By Stephen Oduntan