A city of culture in Los Angeles County
Betye Saar has died at 99 in Los Angeles, capping a career spanning more than six decades. A central figure in the Black Arts Movement, Saar transformed found objects into powerful symbols of Black liberation, with landmark works such as The Liberation of Aunt Jemima and Black Girl’s Window. Her work gained broader recognition in the 2010s with major museum solo shows.
LA County firefighters have concluded after 18 months of review that an out-of-service electrical tower sparked a wildfire that killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes, with investigations tying the ignition to electrical arcing. The report notes high winds and heat as factors, while the utility faces lawsuits over evacuation warnings and water resources.
The Scotsman has gathered insights from two fringe interviews, revealing inspirations, challenges and hopes as Edinburgh’s festival mood shifts. The artist reflects on 1996 schoolyard moments shaping life choices, while a fellow performer highlights upcoming shows and personal passions. The conversations capture a moment of renewal after a long absence from the Fringe.
Laws passed in California and the US Congress have strengthened claims to artwork looted during the Holocaust. Two lawsuits have been filed in Los Angeles—one against the Norton Simon Museum for Cranach’s Adam and Eve, and another on behalf of the late Dinah Gottliebova Babbitt’s heirs for watercolors from Auschwitz—arguing for restitution.
Trump has announced new fuel-economy standards, reversing Biden-era rules intended to spur electric-vehicle adoption. The move reduces the fleetwide target, with specifics still to be released. Analysts say the change could reshape automaker strategy and consumer costs. The details remain forthcoming.
Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan face conspiracy to commit child abuse charges after 15 of the 16 children in their Arcadia home were removed last year. Investigators describe the home as a facility with surveillance and alleged multiple abusive incidents.