LAist

12/31/2025

The Trump administration will resume garnishing wages from student loan borrowers in default in early 2026, the U.S. Education Department confirmed to NPR.

About 5.5 million borrowers currently are in default. They haven't risked wage garnishment since the beginning of the pandemic, when policymakers...

12/31/2025

Tools that power artificial intelligence devour energy. But attempts to shield regular Californians from footing the bill in 2025 ended with a law requiring regulators to write a report about the issue by 2027.

If that sounds pretty watered down, it is.

A new law orders regulators to study the cost impacts of fast-growing, energy-hungry AI data centers.

12/31/2025

Most bills in the California Legislature are barely talked about in public before lawmakers take action, often after secret negotiations with lobbyists.

But a handful of controversial proposals broke through the usual rushed process, drawing hours of testimony and intense public lobbying from some of the state’s most powerful organizations.

California lawmakers only spent just a few minutes discussing in public the hundreds of bills they introduced. But these 10 had hours of intense...

12/31/2025

The U.S. is forecast to add a lot less power from renewables than analysts previously expected.

Over the past year, the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans have waged a sweeping campaign against renewable energy, throwing a fast-growing industry into turmoil.

The U.S. is forecast to add a lot less power from renewables than analysts previously expected.

12/31/2025

🔗 More details: https://ow.ly/pr1p50XQvR6

California students are likely to see fewer cell phones and more gender-neutral bathrooms next year as new state education laws go into effect.

➡️ Read on for more new laws that will affect California schools.

✍️ Diana Lambert | EdSource
📸 Juliana Yamada/AP

12/31/2025

🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/H3tK50XQvLV

In 2025, California became the frontline of a federal playbook for more militarized immigration enforcement.

California expects further interior enforcement, additional legal battles over sanctuary laws, funding, and renewed attempts to expand detention capacity.

✍️ Wendy Fry | CalMatters
📸 Larry Valenzuela/CalMatters/CatchLight Local

12/31/2025

🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/r2Cp50XQvtK

Days after 2025 began, two fires scorched through Los Angeles neighborhoods, the most destructive in California’s history.

But California found pushing its climate agenda forward to be an uphill battle this year: Ambitious climate goals faced a hostile federal government economic pressures.

✍️ Alejandra Reyes-Velarde | CalMatters
📸 Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

12/31/2025

🔗 More details: https://ow.ly/4JqS50XQvnr

A federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, known as Richard LA on TikTok, where he posts content on local breaking news.

Judge Fernando M. Olguin ruled on Saturday that the government violated Parias’ constitutional rights by not allowing him to speak to his lawyers before trial.

✍️ Jordan Rynning
📸 U.S. District Court, Central District of California

12/30/2025

For more than a century, the Rose Parade has delighted audiences across Southern California with its colorful, elaborate floats and fanfare.

The parade will celebrate its 137th year when floats begin traveling through Pasadena at 8 a.m. Jan. 1, 2026. This year's theme is "Magic in Teamwork," and Magic Johnson is the Grand Marshal.

🔗 See more photos: https://ow.ly/wPyj50XQtkN
✍️ Elizabeth Robinson and Megan Garvey

12/30/2025

🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/N1zb50XQsKA

Before the 2026 Rose Parade, marching bands from across the country, Mexico, and Japan showcased "The Magic in Teamwork" at Bandfest.

The 250-member Tournament of Roses Honor Band included musicians from 62 local high schools and Pasadena City College, performing songs like "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "We're All in This Together."

✍️ Mariana Dale
📸 Mariana Dale

12/30/2025

To start the year, LAist reporters like Erin Stone were out in the streets to cover the devastating L.A. wildfires. To close out 2025, Southern California just got walloped by a record-breaking storm. Whether there are fires, floods or any other important weather and climate updates, LAist is there to cover them. We take pride in ensuring that communities have the latest information to stay safe and help their local environments thrive.

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12/30/2025

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