Los Angeles County Reports Record High in Flea-Borne Typhus Cases Los Angeles County Public Health says flea-borne typhus reached an all-time high in 2025, with 220 reported cases, up from 187 in 2024. The county also said nearly 9 in 10 identified patients required hospitalization, highlighting how serious the illness can become if it is not diagnosed and treated early. According to the county, people are often exposed in or around their homes when infected fleas are carried

L.A. Homeless Program Faces Scrutiny After 40% of Participants Return to the Street A new Los Angeles Times report says about 40% of participants in Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program had returned to unsheltered homelessness by December 2025, raising new questions about the long-term results of one of the city’s most visible anti-homelessness efforts. The program has spent more than $300 million since launching in December 2022 and has moved about 5,800 people indoors, mos

San Francisco Mayor Sends 127 Layoff Notices to City Workers San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has sent layoff notices to 127 city employees across 18 departments as part of a broader effort to eliminate 500 positions in city government. According to NBC Bay Area, the layoffs are tied to the city’s worsening budget outlook and a wider push to cut costs before the financial situation gets even worse. Lurie said the move is meant to address a budget deficit that could rise to $

California Politicians Focus Too Much on School Spending and Not Enough on Reading Results This CalMatters commentary argues that California leaders are too quick to celebrate rising education spending without paying enough attention to whether students are actually improving, especially in reading. Columnist Dan Walters points to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest budget proposal, which would raise K-12 spending to $27,418 per student including federal funds, and contrasts that with

Oakland Nonprofit Buys Apartment Building to Offer Teachers Affordable Rent An Oakland nonprofit is trying a different approach to the teacher housing crisis by buying an existing apartment building and converting it into below-market housing for educators and school staff. Oakland Fund said it purchased a 33-unit building on Claremont Avenue through its Rooted program for $12.6 million, using a mix of city and private funding. Leaders behind the project said rents will be c

Sharks in the Bahamas Test Positive for Cocaine, Caffeine and Painkillers, Study Finds A new study found that sharks near Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas had measurable traces of human drugs in their blood, including cocaine, caffeine, acetaminophen and diclofenac. Researchers tested 85 sharks across five species and found detectable levels of at least one of those substances in 28 animals, or about one-third of the sample. The researchers say the findings add to growing evid

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Hitting Child’s Father With Car During Domestic Dispute, Bodycam Shows This video appears to show police bodycam footage from a chaotic domestic disturbance involving a woman, her child’s father, and another woman inside and outside a shared residence. Based on the footage and dialogue in the clip, officers respond to reports that a woman allegedly assaulted another woman inside the home, damaged property, and then struck the child’s father with

Super Mayor Under Fire in Atlanta Over Residency Claims The video centers on Tiffany Henyard, the former Dolton, Illinois mayor, now facing scrutiny in Fulton County, Georgia, over whether she meets residency requirements for a local commission race. The broader issue is whether her move from Illinois to Georgia happened early enough to legally support her candidacy. One of the biggest points raised is the timeline. Fulton County election officials said Henyard submitted a le

Bay Area Police Accused of Dumping Homeless Man After Violent Encounter Caught on Video A controversial police incident in the Bay Area has drawn widespread attention after bodycam footage revealed San Leandro officers detaining a homeless man, using force during the encounter, and ultimately abandoning him miles away in Oakland. According to reports, the situation began when officers approached the man under unclear circumstances, leading to a physical struggle. During the a

Pig Semen Molecule Could Revolutionize Chemotherapy Delivery for Eye Cancer ⸻ Scientists have developed an experimental treatment using microscopic particles derived from pig semen to deliver chemotherapy directly to the back of the eye—an area that is typically very difficult to reach. The study, tested in mice, targeted retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer that primarily affects young children. Researchers used naturally occurring “exosomes” from pig semen, which are capable o