Exclusive

L.A. Material publishes original reporting about politics, culture and power in Los Angeles. Find all of our exclusives here.

Exclusive

Sep 15, 2026

L.A. Said It Canceled Bogus Street Sweeping Tickets. Often, It Didn’t

The Department of Transportation said late Monday night that it would audit its street sweeping citations in response to questions from L.A. Material.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Sep 11, 2026

The 28-Year-Old Who Ran L.A. on 9/11

When the towers fell, L.A.'s mayor was out of town and then-City Council President Alex Padilla found himself in charge.

Julia Wick

Exclusive

Sep 8, 2026

Can Anyone Save USC?

After a decade of public crisis — and untold private drama — the university has an unlikely new leader. Can Beong-Soo Kim turn USC around?

Tomo Chien, +1

Exclusive

Sep 8, 2026

Full Transcript: President Beong-Soo Kim on USC's Future

It’s been a decade of turmoil at USC. Can Kim move the university forward?

Tomo Chien, +1

Exclusive

Sep 3, 2026

When We Were Google

A former reference librarian at the L.A. Central Library on the wonders of a bygone L.A. job.

Glen Creason

Exclusive

Sep 1, 2026

How L.A. Politicians Use ‘Behested Payments’ to Deliver Millions to Pet Causes

The little-known fundraising tool that lets elected officials solicit donations from corporations, unions and wealthy backers.

Matt Hamilton

Exclusive

Aug 31, 2026

L.A.’s Most Powerful Publicist Might Be This Drive-Thru Restaurant

The Rick’s sign has become the ultimate way to announce a life event for a growing subset of Angelenos.

Jennifer Swann

Exclusive

Aug 27, 2026

Why Is the UCLA Leader In Charge of the School's Reputation Suing the UC Regents?

The redacted legal filing centers on a report prepared by an outside law firm that specializes in workplace investigations.

Julia Wick

Exclusive

Aug 26, 2026

On the Ballot This November: Can L.A. Sell Asphalt?

For nearly 80 years, the city of L.A. has run an asphalt plant. Now it wants to make money off it — but voters must approve.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Aug 24, 2026

My Quest to Find the Best Movie Theater Bar in Los Angeles

21 bars in seven days. Can they possibly be great? Can they even be good?

Eric Misitzis Mennel

Exclusive

Aug 20, 2026

L.A. Healthcare Giant Pays Millions to One Family, Sparking IRS Complaint

AltaMed — pivotal to healthcare for the poor in L.A. — employs six members of the CEO’s family.

Matt Hamilton

Exclusive

Aug 19, 2026

Nithya Raman's Campaign Has A New Adviser: Controversial Political Firm Fight Agency

Fight Agency, which was celebrated for its work on behalf of New York Mayor Mamdani and criticized for its role in the campaign of disgraced Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, will advise Raman’s bid to unseat Mayor Karen Bass

Matt Hamilton

Exclusive

Aug 18, 2026

Guess Who’s Snapping Up Storefronts in El Sereno?

The owners of DTLA’s Grand Central Market have bought six parcels on Huntington Drive. Brands like Echo Park-based Canyon Coffee are moving in.

Tomo Chien, +1

Exclusive

Aug 15, 2026

How the Inaugural LA Jazz Festival Fell Apart

The festival promised John Legend, Janelle Monáe and more than a hundred events across Los Angeles. Instead, it was canceled on the day it was supposed to begin. How organizer Martin Ludlow’s 15-year vision came crashing down.

Julia Wick

Exclusive

Aug 12, 2026

USC is Eyeing the JPL Contract

It’s the latest development in the high-stakes scramble to determine the future of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Aug 11, 2026

The Corruption Saga Dividing L.A. Politics

Mark Ridley-Thomas may soon go to prison for bribery. Has he been wronged?

Matt Hamilton

Exclusive

Aug 10, 2026

The Most Thankless Gig in L.A. City Government

Serving on the all-volunteer health commission, which meets every month and writes up reports — but oversees nothing, and advises no one.

Robert Greene

Exclusive

Aug 6, 2026

A Silver Lake Love Story

An oral history of the Silversun Pickups’ era-defining indie rock classic “Lazy Eye.”

Pablo Goldstein

Exclusive

Aug 5, 2026

Nikki Finke's Last TOLDJA

Hollywood’s most-feared journalist wrote a book before she died. Her estate is now shopping the manuscript.

Matt Hamilton

Exclusive

Aug 4, 2026

Who Wants to Be the Most Powerful Person in Los Angeles County?

2028 is a long way off. But a shadow battle for L.A. County CEO is already brewing.

Julia Wick

Exclusive

Aug 3, 2026

The Untold Story of the West Hollywood Coyote Condo

Behind the viral howls and news-chopper footage is a decade-long saga of eviction, bulldozed gardens, and promised housing that never came.

Degen Pener

Exclusive

Jul 30, 2026

The Neglected Crown Jewel of LAX

LAX’s Theme Building was once a bright symbol of LA’s Space Age Future. What happened?

Dave Schilling

Exclusive

Jul 29, 2026

How a Wildly Popular Bread Roll Embodies a Koreatown in Flux

Out of Ordi’s cute, buttery breads represent the many ways in which K-town now resembles modern Seoul — global, contemporary and cool.

Giaae Kwon

Exclusive

Jul 28, 2026

Permit Application Filed to Rebuild Boyle Heights Cold Storage Warehouse

The application was submitted six weeks after the fire, as residents continue to endure foul odors, vermin and disruption from rotting food at the site.

Julia Wick

Exclusive

Jul 27, 2026

“Protected by Ghost Town”

A private company has cleared dozens of homeless encampments in Venice — with persistence, cash payments, and a team that includes former gang members. Clients love them. The people they move do not.

Hayes Davenport