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CA kids learning to read may finally get hooked on phonics
EducationIn the 1990s, a reading strategy called “balanced literacy” took over CA public schools. The problem? Kids didn’t learn to read. Now, phonics is making a comeback.
Developer bungles Newsom’s affordable housing program
Housing & DevelopmentAn affordable housing developer got $114 million from Gov. Newsom’s Homekey program. Now, with little to show for it, legal and financial problems are mounting.
Aetna Street encampment residents say ‘Inside Safe’ hasn't worked as promised
HomelessnessThe Aetna Street Collective came together three years ago to advocate for a tight-knit unhoused community facing harassment and street sweeps.
Bear boom hits Sierra Madre, not all locals are warm and fuzzy about it
AnimalsIn sleepy Sierra Madre, an uptick in bears has spurred the city to declare the animal a “public safety threat.” But locals and officials aren’t sure how to handle the ursine explosion.
Joshua Tree: History, weirdness, short-term rentals dilemma
EnvironmentBorn in Mississippi but drawn to the West, Minerva Hamilton Hoyt was behind the push to make Joshua Tree a special place on the map.
How recycling works — and its limits
Climate changeWhat daily climate questions do you have? Help with the recycling bin was by far the most common response. Here are some answers.
Tortilla Tournament, Week 1 Results: March of the Masas
Food & DrinkA tortilla so bad it should be launched into outer space on a rocket? We tasted it so you don't have to.
From basic to baroque, here's the best (and the worst) in tortilla package design
Food & DrinkTortilla packages don't generally get the same design love as potato chips but with this year's Tortilla Tournament contenders, the tide may be turning.
Hear from sick neighbors of the infamous Castaic landfill
EnvironmentResidents want a nearby landfill — where a chemical reaction is happening underneath — to shut down to preserve their health. Months later, it’s still operating.