LA Times - 05 May 2024

$3.66 DESIGNATED AREAS HIGHER © 2024 WST SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 latimes.com “C ome with me,” Tiffany Haddish says, walking out her front door. I’ve barely had the chance to say hello before she’s heading down the sidewalk. I trail behind, fumbling around in my bag for a recording device as she explains that there’s an open house she wants to check out before we sit in her Crenshaw home and discuss her new book of autobiographical essays — or anything else. Haddish doesn’t sleep on local real estate opportunities. She’s deeply invested in South L.A., spiritually and financially. She already owns about a dozen properties in the area, many of which she rents out to organizations that house foster youths, and she plans to open a grocery store nearby that will give the community access to healthier food choices and offer programs on financial literacy. She has two houses on this boulevard alone — one she sleeps in, one she works in — but neither needed the kind of work that is obviously required to make livable the for-sale property she walks into on this Sunday afternoon. There are dark stains permeating the carpets, miss- [See Haddish, A6] Kayla James For The Times Tiffany Haddish isn’t about to sleep on opportunity — or insults Who are the people shaping our culture? In her column, Amy Kaufman examines the lives of icons, underdogs and rising stars to find out — “For Real.” WITH AMY KAUFMAN A fter a hard day’s work, Cameron Gordon sometimes finds a bit of solace as he lounges on the gurney in his yard, surveying a patchwork of weeds, potted plants, garden beds and a hose that meanders across the dirt. This is where his struggle to navigate the housing crisis has left him: living by day on an 18,000-squarefoot lot in Sun Valley, pulling weeds, watering trees — and then leaving at night as he searches for a safe place to sleep. Gordon’s strange — and quintessentially L.A. — odyssey started when he found he couldn’t afford an apartment and came to realize a home was whatever you can squeeze into. A studio. An accessory dwelling unit. A camper. Gordon bought an ambulance. Emblazoned with bright red paint, his boxy service vehicle has found a new purpose after being decommissioned. Storage shelves once lined with trauma kits now hold cooking utensils. The bench has been turned into a bed. So, if you see Gordon winding through the city, he’s not transporting a victim. He’s avoiding a parking ticket. “It works for my lifestyle,” he said. “It has thick walls [and] good insulation for the weather. I’d rather live for free in my ambulance than pay for a house I can’t afford. That’s what it actually means to be stuck.” CAMERON GORDON on a lot he bought in Sun Valley in 2022. It’s legal for him to work on the land but not to live on it full time. He plans to build a home on the property and park his ambulance on it in the meantime. Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times COLUMN ONE Cameron Gordon’s long fight for a place to live He bought an ambulance to sleep in and a vacant lot, where a loophole allowed him to create a hillside oasis By Jack Flemming [See Gordon, A5] Hurricane, Hulk and a recording Hope Hicks and other key witnesses took the stand in Trump’s hush money trial. NATION, A4 Clippers facing big questions too They enter important offseason after being eliminated by Dallas in first round. SPORTS, D1 An oral history of Weezer’s debut L.A. band revisits the Blue Album ahead of a 30th anniversary tour. CALENDAR, E4 Weather Clearing. L.A.Basin: 71/52. B10 For the latest news, go to latimes.com. Printed with soy inks on partially recycled paper. By many measures, downtown Los Angeles’ newest apartment tower is over the top with such gilded flourishes as stone tiles from Spain lining the elevator cabs and hand-troweled Italian plaster on interior walls. Hummingbirds have somehow found the fruitladen trees decorating the outdoor lounge on the 41st floor. For Stuart Morkun, the developer who oversaw construction of the recently completed Figueroa Eight skyscraper, it was the porte cochere, where residents leave their cars with valets, that really stood out. The travertine used to build it was mined from the same quarry outside Rome that supplied stone for the Colosseum, New York City’s Lincoln Center and the Getty Museum. “That’s when I knew we were crazy,” he said. The decision by Mitsui Fudosan America, the Japanese real estate company that owns Figueroa Eight, to spend as much as $350 million to build an ultra highend residential tower in downtown L.A. might at first seem to be a risky gamble. After all, L.A’.s homelessness crisis is on stark display on many downtown streets, and glitzy office towers looming nearby are dealing with low occupancy and falling values as law firms, financial service companies and other businesses that filled them before the pandemic have reduced space or departed altogether. In fact, the decision to go big on Figueroa Eight, which opened last month, reflects an unusual disconnect playing out in the neighborhood: While downtown as a place to work still struggles to find its footing post-lockdown, downtown as a residential center is thriving. It boasts a large stock of housing in fancy new high-rises and converted historic buildings at rents that are well below those on the popular Westside. The developers of Figueroa Eight declined to say how many of its 438 units they’ve rented out so far, but said leases are on track with projections and that the tower is attracting strong interest. Downtown’s urban feel drew attorney Leslie A. Ridings, an L.A. native who enjoyed living in New York while he attended college. “Downtown Los Angeles is kind of the only game in town, right?” said Ridings, who lives in a high-rise at 8th and Olive streets. “It’s the only ‘city’ in the city. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got.” Luxury rentals thriving as office life fades The debut of an ultra high-end residential tower reflects an odd divide in downtown. By Roger Vincent [See Downtown, A7] The UCLA police chief is facing increasing scrutiny over what three sources told The Times was a string of serious security lapses before a mob attacked a pro-Palestinian student encampment last week. But the chief, John Thomas, late Friday rejected those allegations and said he did “everything I could” to provide security and keep students safe during a week of strife that left UCLA reeling. On the morning before Tuesday night’s attack on the encampment, Thomas assured university leadership that he could mobilize law enforcement “in minutes,” according to the sources. It took three hours to actually bring in enough officers to quell the violence. Days earlier, campus leadership had directed Thomas to create a safety plan that would protect the UCLA community after the encampment was put up last week and began drawing PRESSURE MOUNTS ON UCLA POLICE CHIEF Sources say there were serious security lapses leading up to Tuesday night’s campus violence. By Teresa Watanabe [See UCLA, A9] SACRAMENTO — In May 1969 a National Guard helicopter hung over the campus of UC Berkeley, spraying protesters with what The Times then described as “heavy clouds of tear gas.” It was the sixth consecutive day of campus demonstrations over plans to develop the land known as “People’s Park.” An ambitious governor who would go on to become president had called in 2,300 National Guard troops and hundreds of Highway Patrolmen. They brought shotguns, rifles and bayonets. The problems, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan said in a feisty televised interview, all started because universities “let young people think they Newsom quiet on campus upheaval State lawmakers rush to craft legislation in response to protests over the war in Gaza. By Laurel Rosenhall and Mackenzie Mays [See Newsom, A9] Are encampments on borrowed time? Student protesters on campuses say they will remain until demands are met. CALIFORNIA, B1 Getbreakingnews, instantly. 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A2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM PERSPECTIVES We’ve all come to recognize that committee hearings conducted by the Republican House majority are almost invariably clown shows featuring spittleflecked posturing by members intent on displaying their ignorance to an appreciative crowd. Wednesday’s hearing by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic was a crystalline example of the genre. It was designed around the grilling of Peter Daszak, the head of EcoHealth Alliance, which oversees international virus research funded by federal agencies. The members scraped along rock bottom, but the most telling moment may have been this exchange between Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and Daszak. Asked to explain an apparent (but not real) discrepancy in a progress report EcoHealth submitted to the government, Daszak started to answer, but a theatrically fulminating Griffith cut him off. “I can give you the answer to your question,” Daszak said. “I’m going to answer it for you!” Griffith shot back, then outrageously accused Daszak of lying. Daszak didn’t get a chance to reply. The whole session, more than three hours, went that way. The members kept peppering Daszak with questions about abstruse matters of science and the grant-making process, only to rudely cut him off when he tried to respond. They misquoted him to his face, misrepresented his work, and spouted cocksure inanities showing with every word that, scientifically speaking, they have no idea what they’re talking about. Ideally, congressional hearings should be factfinding efforts. This was nothing of the kind. It was an opportunity for posturing by politicians intent only on smearing Daszak and EcoHealth on the pretext of getting to the bottom of the pandemic’s cause. How do we know this? From the fact that hours before the hearing even began, the subcommittee released a report calling on the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services to “immediately commence suspension and debarment proceedings against both EcoHealth and Dr. Daszak” — in other words, permanently cut them off from federal funding. One more thing about this ludicrious cabaret act: The Democratic committee members, who should have been standing up for science and scientists, did the opposite by throwing Daszak under the bus. In his opening statement, ranking member Raul Ruiz (D-Indio) attacked the GOP majority’s preposterous position that the U.S. government funded research that created the virus responsible for COVID-19. But he accepted its position that Daszak “sought to deliberately mislead” government regulators. Ruiz’s statement was echoed by other Democrats, including Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.). Perhaps they hoped that by allowing Daszak to be drawn and quartered, they might persuade the Republicans to climb down from their evidence-free claims about government complicity in the pandemic’s origins. Their hearts didn’t seem to be in it, though; they talked as if their main concern was that EcoHealth was spending government funds. They all seemed to be reading from the same ChatGPT script, the key phrase of which was: “poor steward of the taxpayers’ dollars.” Nothing about EcoHealth’s significant achievements in public health. That makes the Democrats’ performance all the more shameful and cowardly. They’re knowingly participating in a flagrantly fictitious smear campaign. Let’s examine the background of this display of partisan grandstanding. Fundamentally, it’s part of a disreputable campaign to demonize responsible scientists such as Anthony Fauci, who retired in 2022 as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and was one of the most respected virologists and public health professionals in the world. Republican leaders and the right wing have tried to turn Fauci into a sinister figure by advancing the absurd proposition that he somehow played a role in creating COVID-19 and spreading it worldwide, and that he masterminded the nation’s anti-pandemic policies, even though he had zero authority to do so. Daszak has come in for more than his share of character assassination. Social media posts referring to him have included the image of a guillotine. As the pandemic developed, Daszak told the committee in his opening statement Wednesday, “our organization, staff, and even my own family were often targeted with false allegations, death threats, breakins, media harassment and other damaging acts.” One recent post on X (formerly Twitter) said “the Daszak family should be shot down.” Daszak says he has asked X to cancel the abusive, anonymous account, without success. What’s the purpose of this campaign? The attack on the credibility of science and scientists has arisen because validated scientific findings about global warming and the origins of COVID-19 cause economic and political discomfort to Big Business and knownothings who believe that undermining science will advance their political careers. (I’m looking at you, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) An essential tenet of the right-wing position on COVID-19 is that the virus escaped from a Chinese laboratory, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Superficially this is an alluring theory, since the initial outbreak occurred at a wildlife market in that city. But there is absolutely not a speck of evidence for that theory, and scientific research overwhelmingly indicates that the virus reached humans via a spillover from infected wildlife — the path followed by countless viral outbreaks over human history. Anyway, the WIV isn’t exactly near the market — it’s miles away on the far side of the Yangtze River, in a city as densely populated as Los Angeles, with almost three times L.A.’s population, and a huge regional transportation and commercial hub. That brings us back to EcoHealth, which was founded in 1971 and has long been an essential clearinghouse for funding for research into “emerging disease threats to the U.S.,” as Daszak said in his opening statement. That has included providing funds for the WIV and other research in China, where viruses capable of jumping into the human population — as did SARSCoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19 — are commonly found in bats, and where a vigorous, illicit trade in wildlife brings millions of humans into direct contact with potential disease carriers. EcoHealth’s relationship with Chinese research institutions was open and aboveboard, and its funneling of U.S. grants to those institutions was explicitly approved by the NIH and HHS. EcoHealth was long considered a gold-plated research organization. An internal memo prepared at the NIH for a Fauci news conference in January 2020 described EcoHealth as one of “the biggest players in coronavirus work” and Daszak as one of “the world’s experts in ... nonhuman coronaviruses” such as SARS-CoV-2. As I’ve reported, EcoHealth’s useful and productive role in virological research began to unravel at a news conference on April 17, 2020, when a reporter from a right-wing organization mentioned to then-President Trump that the NIH had given a $3.7-million grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Trump, sensing an opportunity to show a strong hand against China and advance his effort to blame the Chinese for the pandemic, responded: “We will end that grant very quickly.” The NIH terminated the full EcoHealth grant one week later, prompting a backlash from the scientific community, including an open letter signed by 77 Nobel laureates who saw the action as a flagrantly partisan interference in government funding of scientific research. The HHS inspector general found the termination to be “improper.” The NIH reinstated the grant but immediately suspended it until EcoHealth met several conditions that were manifestly beyond its capability, as they involved its demanding information from the Chinese government that it had no right to receive. The EcoHealth grant was finally restored in May 2023. By then, EcoHealth no longer had a relationship with WIV, which had been barred from receiving any NIH funds. Still, at the time I celebrated the end of a Trump-inspired three-year shutdown of field work to examine how viruses move from rural wildlife to humans. Unfortunately, that was premature. Since then, Daszak told me, the NIH has continued to erect bureaucratic barriers preventing EcoHealth from accessing funds under the grant, in effect freezing its ability to work. At Wednesday’s hearing, the GOP tried to pretend that the decision to terminate the grant was all the NIH’s idea. “This was not ended by the president of the United States,” declared Mitchell Benzine, counsel to the subcommittee’s Republican majority. Benzine has a suspiciously short memory. According to documents that the subcommittee itself made public, on Jan. 5 this year, Benzine himself elicited closed-door testimony from Lawrence Tabak, a top NIH official, that after that 2020 news conference “[Trump Chief of Staff] Mark Meadows called the Office of General Counsel at HHS, who then called Dr. Tabak, who then called Dr. [Michael] Lauer, who was instructed to cancel the grant.” Can’t get a much more direct line from Trump to the NIH than that. (Lauer is an NIH functionary who has been a key figure placing the bureaucratic obstacle course before EcoHealth; my request for comment from him and Tabak was met with a nocomment from the NIH.) Wednesday’s hearing largely recapitulated the attacks on EcoHealth that have been floating in the right-wing fever swamp for four years now. They include a litany of minor bureaucratic snafus, such as a grant progress report that missed a deadline (Daszak said the problem was a glitch in an NIH web portal that prevented it from being submitted on time). One key assertion is that EcoHealth was funding “gain of function” research at the Wuhan Institute. “Gain of function” is a widely misunderstood term that has become a shibboleth for proponents of the lab-leak hypothesis, who use it as an all-purpose symbol of sinister behavior, like “critical race theory” or “DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion). Technically speaking, gain of function is a method of modifying a pathogen in the lab to gauge its infectiousness in humans, the better to develop countermeasures such as vaccines. The right wing claims that such research in China funded by the NIH and EcoHealth created SARSCoV-2, which then escaped into the wild. There’s no evidence that the Wuhan lab did anything like that, and experienced virologists have questioned whether it’s even technically possible to have created the SARS2 virus given today’s level of knowledge. The U.S. government placed a moratorium on gain-of-function research from 2014 through 2017 to allow for the development of best-practice protocols. The NIH explicitly confirmed to EcoHealth that the studies it was funding didn’t qualify as gain of function under its own definition. That didn’t stop the committee members from wasting long swaths of their session accusing Daszak of secretly funding such experiments. The attacks on EcoHealth appall scientists and public health experts who know that the organization’s work in identifying potential pandemic sources and crafting responses has never been more important. Agricultural authorities are dealing with the spread of a bird flu virus into cattle herds, another case of species-to-species, or zoonotic, viral transmission. Given the bipartisan attacks against it, whether EcoHealth can avoid being cut off from all government funding is an open question. But that only underscores the supine irresponsibility with which Democrats have bought into the right wing’s attack on the organization and its crucial work. “We now have zoonotic threats emerging at an accelerating cadence,” says Peter Hotez, a molecular virologist who is dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “This is a time when we need to be doubling down and expanding our global virus surveillance networks,” Hotez told me. “By making up allegations, they’re undermining the work of EcoHealth and other organizations committed to understanding how viruses are jumping from animals to humans. We’re creating incredible vulnerability for ourselves. They’re damaging our national security. That to me is unforgivable — that they’re willing to jeopardize national security for political expedience.” Hiltzik writes a blog on latimes.com. Follow him on Facebook or X, @hiltzikm, or email michael.hiltzik @latimes.com. Undermining efforts to avert the next pandemic REP. MORGAN Griffith (R-Va.), left, shown in 2020, was recently curt with virology expert Peter Daszak. Greg Nash Associated Press Republicans and Democrats do a bipartisan hit job on EcoHealth Alliance. MICHAEL HILTZIK

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May/June 2024 Scan for Tickets Photo: Ethan Gulley Firebird & Serenade Pasadena Civic Auditorium May 11 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center May 25 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm Royce Hall at UCLA June 1 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm Firebird Possokhov|Stravinsky Serenade Balanchine|Tchaikovsky 2023/2024 SEASON THE WORLD MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials said three bodies have been found in the same remote stretch of Baja California where two Australian brothers and their American friend went missing last week while on a surf trip. The bodies were recovered south of the city of Ensenada, according to a statement from the state prosecutor’s office. The statement did not confirm the identity of the dead, but it said authorities discovered the bodies while searching for the missing men. Three people who were being questioned in the case have been arrested and charged with kidnapping, the statement said. The disappearance of Callum Robinson, 33, his brother Jake, 30, and friend Carter Rhoad, 30, triggered a massive search involving local authorities, the FBI and the Mexican marines. It’s highly likely that the bodies are those of the three foreigners, the news outlet Milenio reported Saturday afternoon, citing Baja California state’s chief prosecutor, María Elena Andrade Ramírez. She told Milenio that there is evidence that the killings were part of a robbery of truck parts, the outlet reported. The men were outdoor enthusiasts who crossed from the United States into Mexico last month to explore Baja California’s renowned surf breaks. Callum Robinson, a highlevel lacrosse player, documented the trip on social media, showing himself and his brother, a doctor, and their friend sipping coffee on the beach, befriending street dogs and relaxing in a hot tub. Rhoad, from Atlanta, founded an online apparel company in San Diego, according to his Facebook profile. According to a social media post made by the Robinsons’ mother, Debra Robinson, the group was supposed to check into an Airbnb in Rosarito Beach last weekend after camping for several days on a remote stretch of beach south of Ensenada. But they never checked in. The last time their relatives heard from the men was April 27. Authorities searched near the town of Santo Tomás, where the men had been camping. They first located their tents and the burned-out remains of the white Chevrolet pickup the men were traveling in. Authorities did not provide information about where exactly they found the bodies. Baja California’s rugged coastline has long drawn surfers and other tourists from north of the border. But in recent years, the state has contended with some of the highest rates of violence in Mexico. Bodies found in search for missing Baja tourists OFFICIALS work at the site where three bodies were found near La Bocana Beach in Ensenada, Mexico. Guillermo Arias AFP/Getty Images The dead may be two Australian brothers and American friend who went missing on surf trip, officials say. By Kate Linthicum WASHINGTON — A top U.N. official has warned that hard-hit northern Gaza was now in “full-blown famine” after more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe Israeli restrictions on food deliveries to the Palestinian territory. Cindy McCain, the American director of the United Nations World Food Program, became the most prominent international official so far to declare that trapped civilians in the most cut-off part of Gaza had gone over the brink into famine. “It’s horror,” McCain told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview to air Sunday. “There is famine — fullblown famine — in the north, and it’s moving its way south.” She said a cease-fire and a greatly increased flow of aid through land and sea routes were essential to confronting the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. There was no immediate comment from Israel, which controls entrance into Gaza and says it is beginning to allow in more food and other humanitarian aid through land crossings. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombardment and ground attacks, according to Gaza’s local health officials. The figure does not differentiate between combatants and noncombatants, but officials say that twothirds of the victims have been women and children. The war erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, abducting about 240 people and killing around 1,200. Israel says militants hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. Israeli strikes early Saturday on Gaza killed at least six people. Three bodies were recovered from the rubble of a building in Rafah and taken to Abu Yousef al Najjar hospital. A strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed three people, hospital officials said. On Saturday, a delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo as Egyptian state media reported “noticeable progress” in cease-fire talks with Israel, though an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war in Gaza. Egyptian and U.S. mediators have reported signs of compromise in recent daysbut chances for a ceasefire deal remain entangled with the key question of whether Israel will accept an end to the war without reaching its stated goal of destroying Hamas. Egyptian state Al Qahera news said Saturday that a consensus has been reached over many of the disputed points but did not elaborate. Hamas has called for a complete end to the war and withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, played down the prospects for a full end to the war. The official said Israel was committed to the Rafah invasion and it will not agree in any circumstance to end the war as part of a deal to release hostages. The proposal that Egyptian mediators had put to Hamas sets out a threestage process that would bring an immediate, sixweek cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Famine in northern Gaza already ‘full-blown,’ top U.N. official warns PALESTINIANS receive food in Rafah in January. A cease-fire and additional aid are essential to confronting the famine in northern Gaza, a U.N. official says. Hatem Ali Associated Press associated press

A4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM THE NATION David Ellison profile: In the April 28 Section A, a story about tech scion and media mogul David Ellison gave former ICM agent and CEO Jeff Berg’s first name as Jim. FOR THE RECORD for me.” The immediate effect of the “Access Hollywood” story was so intense, Hicks recalled, that it took attention away from an actual storm. Hurricane Matthew was dominating the news cycle when Hicks was contacted about the forthcoming story. That didn’t last long. “The ‘Access Hollywood’ tape pushed the hurricane off the news?” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo asked. “Yes,” Hicks replied. Was Trump the target in extortion? Trump may be a criminal defendant, but an element of his defense came into view this past week when one of his lawyers suggested Trump might actually have been a victim. Attorney Emil Bove implied during a notably tense cross-examination that his client had been effectively targeted for extortion by Keith Davidson, a crucial witness and the lawyer who negotiated hush money deals for two women, porn actor Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, claiming to have had sexual encounters with Trump. Trump denies it. Bove name-dropped a gaggle of celebrities he suggested had been coerced over the years into paying Davidson’s clients eye-popping sums to suppress WASHINGTON — Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime advisor to the former president. Jurors heard a potentially pivotal piece of evidence — a 2016 recording of Trump discussing a plan to buy a Playboy model’s silence — as well as testimony about the wrestler Hulk Hogan and hurricanes, literal and figurative. Outside the jury’s presence, Trump was fined for running afoul of a judge’s gag order. Additional sanctions could await the presumptive Republican nominee for president. A look at some of the highlights from the past week: Political hurricane vs. actual hurricane Hope Hicks, a onetime Trump confidant who for years was central in his orbit, described in detail a seminal moment of the 2016 campaign: The Washington Post’s disclosure of a 2005 “Access Hollywood” recording in which Trump boasted about grabbing women’s genitals without their permission. Hicks acknowledged being “concerned, very concerned” when a reporter reached out to her for comment before breaking the story. “I had a good sense to believe this was going to be a massive story and that it was going to dominate the news cycle for the next several days,” Hicks testified. “This was a damaging development.” The recording, made public just days before a debate with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, is relevant to the case because prosecutors believe it helps explain the frenetic efforts by Trump and allies in the campaign’s remaining weeks to try to suppress any additional harmful stories that might arise. In fact, in the aftermath of the tape’s release, Hicks said she asked Michael Cohen, Trump’s then-lawyer and personal fixer, to hunt down a rumor of another potentially damaging recording. “There was no such tape regardless,” Hicks said, “but he sort of chased that down harmful videos or stories, including Charlie Sheen. Davidson acknowledged he had faced an FBI investigation, but was never charged, for allegedly attempting to extort Hogan to head off the release of the professional wrestling star’s sex tape. By 2016, Bove suggested, Davidson was well-versed in the concept of squeezing celebrities such as Trump. “And you did everything that you could to get as close to that line as possible in these negotiations without crossing it, right?” Bove asked. “I did everything I could to make sure my activities were lawful,” Davidson replied. ‘What do we got to pay for this?’ The prosecution’s key witness, Cohen, has yet to testify — and Trump might never at all — but their voices were played in the courtroom in perhaps the most vivid piece of evidence so far. Prosecutors played aloud a September 2016 recording that Cohen made of himself briefing the then-presidential candidate on a plan to buy McDougal’s silence with a $150,000 payment. McDougal was prepared to come forward with her account of an extramarital affair with Trump, a disclosure Trump and his allies were determined to prevent in the final days of the election. “What do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?” Trump can be heard saying at one point. They discuss whether the payment should be done with cash or check. Then the recording cuts out. Though the existence of the recording surfaced in the summer of 2018, its disclosure to the jury was a dramatic moment meant to establish that the hush money payment was done with Trump’s knowledge. He appeared visibly irritated as the recording was played. Jurors seemed riveted. Cohen is portrayed as ‘some jerk’ The recording was hardly the only time Cohen surfaced in court over the past week. When he did, it was generally in a negative light. Davidson said his introduction to Cohen came in 2011 when Davidson was told that he needed to return an angry call from Cohen over a blog post related to Daniels and Trump. Davidson said Cohen was described to him by Daniels’ talent manager as “some jerk” who has been “very, very aggressive and threatened to sue me.” When Davidson called Cohen and introduced himself, “I was just met with, like, a hustle barrage of insults and insinuations and allegations. That went on for quite a while.” Davidson also recounted a memorable phone conversation with Cohen one month after the 2016 election in which the Trump attorney sounded “depressed and despondent” and complained about being passed over for a role in the new Trump administration. “He said something to the effect of: ‘Jesus Christ. Can you [expletive] believe I’m not going to Washington,’ ” Davidson described Cohen as saying. “ ‘After everything I’ve done for that [expletive] guy. I can’t believe I’m not going to Washington. I’ve saved that guy’s [expletive] so many times, you don’t even know.’ ” The uncharitable characterizations may help Trump’s team in its efforts to undermine Cohen’s credibility. But they could also help prosecutors distance themselves from Cohen, subtly indicating to jurors that he is not a teammate but rather someone who simply has information. Possibility of jailing Trump gets floated An issue throughout the trial is what to do about Trump’s outside-of-court comments. He repeatedly has maligned witnesses and suggested bias on the jury — all despite a judge’s gag order meant to bar him from verbal tirades against key players in the case. Trump was assessed a $9,000 fine — $1,000 for each of nine separate gag order violations that the judge identified. Prosecutors later requested an additional $4,000 penalty for what they said were additional breaches of the order. Yet it remains unclear what, if anything, Judge Juan M. Merchan can do in the event of continued violations. Merchan floated the possibility of jail, an unprecedented outcome for a former American president. That also would risk inflaming Trump’s base as he pursues the presidency and would further upend the 2024 White House race. Trump’s attorneys insist he needs some leeway to be able to respond to relentless criticism, including from witnesses, and that his candidacy means he’s the subject of nonstop news media coverage. Merchan seemed unpersuaded, but jail, for now at least, seems to be no one’s desired outcome. “Because each of these statements was made before the Court held the Defendant in contempt for violating this order nine previous times, and because we prefer to minimize disruptions to this proceeding, we are not yet seeking jail,” prosecutor Chris Conroy said. Tucker writes for the Associated Press. Hurricanes, Hulk Hogan and a heinous recording Crucial witnesses, including Hope Hicks, testified in the second week of Trump’s hush money trial. DEFENSE lawyers this past week suggested former President Trump may have been an extortion victim. Charly Triballeau Associated Press By Eric Tucker WASHINGTON — President Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people Friday, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and actor Michelle Yeoh. Biden said at the White House that the award is “the nation’s highest civilian honor” and that this year’s recipients are “incredible people whose relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity and hope have kept faith in a better tomorrow.” Clarence B. Jones, one of the recipients, said in an interview that he thought a prankster was on the line when he answered the telephone and heard the person on the other end say they were calling from the White House. “I said, ‘Is this a joke or is this serious?’ ” said Jones, 93. The caller swore it was serious and said they were calling with the news that Biden wanted to recognize Jones with the medal. He said in an interview that he felt “very touched” after he digested what the caller had said. Jones was honored for his activism during the civil rights movement. The lawyer provided legal counsel to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and helped write the opening paragraphs of the “I Have a Dream” speech that King delivered at the Lincoln Memorial at the 1963 March on Washington. The White House said the recipients made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.” The 10 men and nine women hail from the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, science and religion. Three medals were awarded posthumously. Seven politicians were among the recipients: former New York mayor and philanthropist Michael R. Bloomberg; U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.); former Sen. Elizabeth Dole (RN.C.); climate activist and former Vice President Al Gore; Biden’s former climate envoy, former Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.); the late former Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.); and Pelosi, the Democratic congresswoman from San Francisco and the only female speaker of the House. Biden in his remarks acknowledged that Clyburn’s endorsement in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary helped him score a thundering win in South Carolina, powering him to his party’s nomination and ultimately the White House. Bloomberg mounted a short-lived bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. In addition to representing North Carolina in the Senate, Dole served as Transportation secretary and Labor secretary and was president of the American Red Cross. She now leads a foundation supporting military caregivers. Biden noted Pelosi’s legislative achievements and her actions during the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and said that “history will remember you, Nancy, as the greatest speaker of the House of Representatives.” Evers received posthumous recognition for his work more than six decades ago fighting segregation in Mississippi in the 1960s as the NAACP’s first field officer in the state. He was 37 when he was fatally shot in the driveway of his home in June 1963. His daughter, Reena, who was 8 when her father was killed, accepted his medal. Yeoh made history last year by becoming the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for lead actress for her performance in “Everything, Everywhere All at Once.” Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States, who died in 1953, was also honored. Another recipient, Judy Shepard, co-founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation, named after her son, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who died in 1998 after a brutal homophobic attack. The other medal recipients were: 8 Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who founded and runs Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention and rehabilitation program based in Los Angeles. 8 Phil Donahue, a journalist and former daytime TV talk-show host. 8 Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history. 8 Opal Lee, a civil rights activist best known for pushing to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Biden did so in 2021. 8 Ellen Ochoa, the first Latino woman in space and the second female director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. 8 Jane Rigby, an astronomer who is chief scientist of the world’s most powerful telescope. She grew up in Delaware, Biden’s home state. 8 Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers and the first Latino woman to lead a national union in the U.S. The union backed Biden in 2020 and has endorsed his reelection bid. In 2022, Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 people, including gymnast Simone Biles, the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and gun control advocate and former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. In 2017, President Obama presented Biden, his vice president, with the medal. Superville writes for the Associated Press. President Biden awards Medal of Freedom to 19 CIVIL RIGHTS activist Opal Lee hugs President Biden during a ceremony Friday at the White House. Alex Brandon Associated Press Three receive civilian honor posthumously as he celebrates those who have ‘kept faith in a better tomorrow.’ By Darlene Superville Home Delivery and Membership Program For questions about delivery, billing and vacation holds, or for information about our Membership program, please contact us at (213) 283-2274 or membershipservices@ latimes.com. You can also manage your account at myaccount.latimes.com. Letters to the Editor Want to write a letter to be published in the paper and online? E-mail [email protected]. For submission guidelines, see latimes.com/letters. Readers’ Representative If you believe we have made an error, or you have questions about our journalistic standards and practices, our readers’ representative can be reached at readers.representative @latimes.com, (877) 554-4000 or online at latimes.com/readersrep. Advertising For print and online advertising information, go to latimes.com/mediakit or call (213) 237-6176. 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LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 A5 Call Andrew Morris for your free in-home appraisal Third-Generation Family Owned FREE VALUATIONS FROM MAY 5th - MAY 11th • Sell with immediate payment, or by auction • STEWART AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES SELL YOUR ART & JEWELRY FOR THE BEST PRICES TIME TO DOWNSIZE? BEVERLY HILLS • 310-275-5565 ORANGE COUNTY • 949-497-0868 812 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 • e-mail us at [email protected] Gordon may actually be one step ahead of stuck, as he plots an uncanny journey from the fringes of Los Angeles to a path to homeownership. But the path is still littered with o T m bstacles. exas in 2018, arriving the way any do: with wide eyes and shalGordon, 30, moved here from b low pockets. He drove out for a songwriting convention in Hollywood and realized it’d be cheaper to sleep in his car than pay for a hotel room. “I thought I was so smart. Like I’d invented sleeping in your car,” Gordon said. He planned to spend only a few weeks here, but when the conference was over, he just stayed. A few weeks in, he drove past a downtown parking lot full of ambulances. Crammed into his car, he looked into buying one to live in. At a bankruptcy auction a few days later, he spent his life savings — $15,000 from his days as a roofer — on three ambulances. Two of them were lemons, requiring more work to fix than he’d anticipated, but the third was good enough to drive around and sleep in. He spent his afternoons parked on city streets and playing guitar in his newly fashioned home, and one day a director approached him to ask whether the ambulance was a film car. He was hoping to rent it for an upcoming project. Gordon’s business model immediately took shape: Sleep in the ambulance at night and rent it out to film and television shoots during the day. He bought a domain name, ambulancefilmrentals.com, and quickly mastered the art of search engine optimization. If you Google “ambulance rental,” Gordon’s site will be among the top results. “I called every ambulance rental company in North America pretending to be a movie producer and asked for their rates to see how much I should charge. Then I made a spreadsheet and gave it to clients to pretend like I knew what I was doing,” Gordon said. The business quickly took off as he rented his ambulance to multiple films, including “The Gray Man” starring Ryan Gosling and “Doula” with Chris Pine. Today, he charges $1,100 to $1,400 per day and even offers himself as an actor if the project needs an ambulance driver. “It can be a package deal: the ambulance and the driver,” he said. “I even bought an EMT outfit.” Gordon spent the first few months of ambulance life popping around beach communities: Venice, Santa Monica, Playa del Rey. But the city of Los Angeles prohibits storing vehicles on public streets. Cars parked for more than 72 hours risk being ticketed or towed, even if there are no signs posted. So Gordon kept moving. Eventually, he discovered a dog park in Valley Village without any signs prohibiting parking for a certain amount of time, so he’d post up there, playing guitar, practicing yoga and chatting up the locals. At night, he’d park the ambulance in the surrounding neighborhoods, always driving away by morning to avoid annoying the residents. Gordon is affable and easygoing, hugging his visitors and laughing during every conversation. He’s quick to crack a joke while describing his often-tenuous living situations. At the dog park, he turned strangers into fast friends, joining regulars for dinner and even serving as a pallbearer at one of their funerals. “It’s not for everyone, but it’s a good life. I sleep in my car, meet up with friends for adventures and avoid the weight of bills and finances,” he said. “Carefree. Stressf p A ree.” eople living in a vehicle in Los ngeles County. In 2023, the Los Gordon is one of thousands of b Angeles Homeless Services Authority estimated there were 3,918 cars, 3,364 vans and 6,814 RVs being used as a dwelling — 14,096 vehicles and 9% higher than the year before. It’s a trend the city of Los Angeles is keeping a close eye on. Last year, Mayor Karen Bass told The Times, “We have not resolved the RV issue yet. But we absolutely will because it’s a very serious issue.” Solutions are elusive. Two years ago, the L.A. City Council lifted a moratorium on towing oversize vehicles used as homes, but the city doesn’t have enough trucks capable of removing RVs or enough space to store them. What’s more, RVs — and ambulances — are mobile. If a vehicle is parked illegally, it can simply drive away when city officials show up. With money flowing in from his rental business and no rent to pay, Gordon invested heavily in stocks and cryptocurrency. When the market boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, he found himself with just enough money to buy an empty piece of land in Sun Valley for $65,000 in 2022. The plot was zoned as RE40, a residential designation. But since there was no house on it, he couldn’t officially live there. But Gordon had a plan: He would eventually build a home on the property and park his ambulance on it in the meantime. He regarded his purchase as a legitimate move toward homeownership and a way to get himself off the streets at night. He vowed to tackle the problems — the lack of a house; that the lot was far too hilly to build on; that he can’t legally sleep on a property that doesn’t have a certificate of occupancy — as they p s c hutting down the film industry ame. roperty, the actors’ strike began, A year after he bought the b for roughly four months. Gordon found himself without an income. So he spent his days working the land. He first flattened the hillside lot, breaking up dirt with a pickax and moving it until it was even enough to plant trees and park his ambulance. The process took months. “I’d wake up, work, eat, talk to my neighbors, work more and then sleep,” he said. Then the fines started to roll in. The Los Angeles Municipal Code prohibits occupying vacant land without a certificate of occupancy, and L.A. County also prohibits recreational vehicles from being occupied as a residence on any private property, according to the Department of Regional Planning. Since Gordon was working and storing his belongings on the property, he quickly racked up fees, noncompliance issues and inspector visits regarding open-air storage of his stuff and unauthorized RV storage. “You’re met with resistance when you try to upgrade your life,” Gordon said. “The moment you have any money, the city tries to take it.” So Gordon dug into the Municipal Code and found a loophole. The section of the code that outlines certificates of occupancy says, “No vacant land shall be occupied or used, except for agricultural uses.” If he used the land agriculturally, he’d be allowed to store equipment there and stave off the string of fines. So he planted apple trees, nectarine trees, grape vineyards and a vegetable garden, turning the once-empty lot into an oasis. He also set up an outdoor lounge — a shade structure, as it’s defined in the Municipal Code — with string lights and a pop-up gazebo. Solar panels charge a battery that he uses for electricity, which runs appliances such as a pan, a kettle and a small refrigerator. He stashes a portable toilet in the ambulance. On days when he’s not renting out the ambulance, he spends time farming, smoking weed and enjoying the fruits of his labor. The hillside plot takes in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The gurney that rolls out of the ambulance makes for an excellent chaise longue. At night, he drives off. It’s legal for him to work on the land but not to live on it full time. His latest inspection went well; the city approved his setup. After paying around $1,500 in fines and inspection fees over the last two years, they finally stopped rolling in. Gordon is happy with the strange life he’s built for himself; he maintains the property with his girlfriend, Susie, and their two dogs, Brody and Gizmo. The next step will be obtaining building permits and site plans, which will bring its own set of hurdles. “I just want to take it at my own pace. I want to build a house when my business grows and it becomes manageable,” he said. “Until then, I don’t want someone knocking on my door every month with a $300 fee.” He sees himself as many Angelenos do: in the gray area between homelessness and homeownership. Enough money to get by, but not enough to ever have the picture-perfect California singlefamily home. One more person with a dream of putting down roots in one of the priciest real estate markets in the country. “I can’t buy a million-dollar home, but I can buy a $100,000 piece of land,” he said. “I just need to figure out where to go from there.” A strange and quintessentially L.A. journey CAMERON GORDON sees himself as many Angelenos do: in the gray area between homelessness and homeownership. Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times [Gordon, from A1]

A6 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM ing ceiling tiles, an enormous window above the toilet that opens to the hallway for no discernible reason. “How many developers came through here today?” Haddish asks the real estate agent, who confirms that about 90% of the visitors have been investors. Most have estimated it needs around $300,000 worth of renovations. But the sellers want a regular buyer. “I’m a regular buyer!” she says. “I got my first house here for around $600,000, but that was in 2015. And now this is what, $1 million?” The agent shakes his head. “More?” she asks, incredulous. The 1,548-square-foot abode is in fact listed for $1.1 million, he says. She is aghast but continues surveying the space. There are kumquats and lemons growing in the backyard, which she likes. “I’d need to do another movie,” she says, mulling it over. By the end of the week, she has a tentative plan: Get a few of her friends to help her buy the place, then put the property in a trust, fix it up and rent it out for a reasonable price. “I mean, if you want to get in on this, you are more than welcome to join,” she tells me over the phone from San Antonio, where she is, appropriately, giving a paid keynote for the Texas Apartment Assn. And the thing is, she’s totally serious. Because that is who Tiffany Haddish is. Someone who divulges the details of her real estate portfolio in lieu of exchanging pleasantries. One of maybe three celebrities on Earth who will answer any question, no matter how intimate. A comedian who has bared her open wounds — homelessness, domestic violence, rape, miscarriage — and used them as material. Her latest book, “I Curse You With Joy,” out May 7, is even more raw than her first: She goes from describing how she located her G spot to revealing that when she was 7, her mother got “Satan’s fire” in her eyes and hissed: “You wouldn’t even be here if [your dad] didn’t rape me.” So when she says she’s been working with a therapist to learn how to set better boundaries — be more mindful of her own limitations — I believe her. It’s a decision she came to after her inability to draw lines started to threaten not just her career but her sanity. Since her star-making turn in “Girls Trip” seven years ago, headlines about Haddish have shifted from anointing her as Hollywood’s next big thing to predicting her downfall after a series of scandals. It started with a 2019 alcohol-fueled disaster, when Haddish was so inebriated at a New Year’s Eve show in Miami that she forgot her jokes and fans walked out in protest. Then, in 2022, she was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of driving under the influence after police received a call about a driver who was allegedly asleep at the wheel. She was similarly detained this past November, when Beverly Hills cops found her asleep in her badly parked car and charged her with her second DUI. She’s never had a problem with alcohol, she insists. The issue was exhaustion and pushing herself past her limits. Just before her 2023 arrest, she’d spent the day cooking and then serving food to 2,000 people at the Laugh Factory. Afterward, she went to her family’s house to share some leftovers when she got a call that more food was needed elsewhere. She could have — should have, she says she knows now — sent it in an Uber. Instead, she drove herself, even though she’d been up since 5 a.m. and was exhausted. (Her blood-alcohol level that night was 0.03% and the DUI charge was later dismissed; she ultimately pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving violation.) For those who know Haddish, this tracks. Shermona Clark, a friend since ninth grade, says, “It was like nothing for us” when their friends heard Haddish fell asleep in her car. “It was like, that’s what she do. She’ll pull over and go to sleep in the car,” Clark says. “We’d ask her why she was driving, tell her it wasn’t safe. She’s always done that. Go, go, go. “She always wants to prove that she’s not a quitter,” Clark adds. “That she’s gonna make it, that she’s smart and talented. We all know that already. But there’s something in her where she just can’t see it like we do.” But at 44, Haddish says she’s legitimately trying to slow down. Not take every job she’s offered, stop doing so many favors, sleep more. “If I say I can’t do something, I can’t do it. I feel way more comfortable saying that now,” she says. “I can’t bend backwards no more. I’m not built for it.” Not everyone is convinced. “She ain’t slowing down,” says Clark, laughing. “What does ‘chill’ mean? ‘OK, I’m not gonna take on 11 projects, just 10?’ She always wants to prove that she’s not a quitter — that she’s gonna make it, that she’s smart and talented. We all know that already. But there’s something in her where she just can’t see it like we do.” If you’ve been training yourself to keep pushing and tough things out for four decades, it becomes endemic to your personality. When Haddish got hugely, suddenly famous in 2017, so too did the story of her challenging upbringing. Growing up in South L.A., her home life was unstable. Haddish’s father had left the family when she was 3; five years later, her mother was in a car accident and suffered such serious brain damage that she started physically and verbally abusing her children. Haddish and her four younger half-siblings ended up in foster care. When Haddish was 15 and living in a group home, she landed a spot in a free comedy camp at the Laugh Factory, where she was mentored by Richard Pryor. Still, she struggled for years to make ends meet. She was homeless and living out of her 1995 Geo Metro before she started getting roles in TV series such as “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “The Carmichael Show” beginning in 2013. When “Girls Trip” came out she was 37, and the media turned her into a sort of rags-to-riches, never-give-up poster child. She hosted “Saturday Night Live” and won an Emmy for it, landed the cover of Time’s 100 issue, took home a Grammy for narrating her New York Times bestselling memoir. She headlined a movie with Kevin Hart, voiced characters in all the big animated kids films, hosted MTV award shows. “And then, all of a sudden, it almost felt like, ‘OK, now you too famous,’ ” says Lil Rel Howery, who has been close with Haddish since they met while competing on “Who’s Got Jokes?” in 2006. “People love underdogs until you become, I guess, a top dog.” There has definitely been a palpable vibe shift surrounding Haddish. It’s not that she doesn’t still get work — in the last year she’s appeared in Disney’s “Haunted Mansion,” the last season of “The Afterparty” on Apple TV+ and filmed a role in the forthcoming “Bad Boys” sequel. But she’s no longer one of those beloved stars everyone seems to root for. Some of that is due to a disturbing lawsuit that was filed and then dismissed within the span of three weeks in 2022. In a legal complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, an anonymous young woman claimed that Haddish and fellow comedian Aries Spears had “groomed” her and her younger brother to engage in sexually suggestive comedic sketches when they were minors. Haddish and Spears denied this, and less than a month later the Jane Doe asked a judge to dismiss the case and released a statement recanting the accusation. “My family and I have known Tiffany Haddish for many years,” it read, “and we now know that she would never harm me or my brother.” But the damage to Haddish’s reputation had been done. The deal she made for “I Curse You With Joy” in 2020 “went sour,” as did a second one; the publishing houses “got scared,” she says. “Scared of me, scared it wouldn’t do well. ‘Oh, she’s a problem. She’s too controversial.’ ” Haddish says she was preparing to self-release the project, but it eventually found a home at Diversion Books. It will arrive on shelves a couple of months after her latest controversy — a February trip to Israel, which she announced via Instagram video from a first-class airline seat. After reconnecting with her father as an adult, Haddish learned that she had Jewish roots in Eritrea. She dived into the religion, joining the Stephen Wise Temple and being bat mitzvah’d at age 40. In the video, she said she was embarking to Israel for the first time on a self-funded trip to “learn and see with my own eyes.” But fans did not respond well to news that she was heading to the country in the midst of the war with Hamas. “Insecure” star Amanda Seales said on Patreon that she was so “disturbed” by the trip that she would end her friendship with Haddish, declaring the comedian didn’t “have the backbone to stand on what is right.” To her closest friends, the prolonged backlash has been troublesome — and baffling. “Because everybody was kissing her a—” after “Girls Trip,” says Howery, the “Get Out” star. “Then the jealousy started with other actors and stuff. They’re like, ‘How is she winning?’ Everybody was cheering her on for being herself, and then that’s the same thing that people got mad about. ‘She’s doing too much!’ But she’s been doing too much.” The foster kids Haddish works with through her nonprofit She Ready Foundation get especially upset about hate they see directed toward her online. “They cry to me, like, ‘Stop being famous! I want you to quit!’ ” she says. “They said it hurts their feelings to see what people say about me.” After the open house, Haddish and I have returned to the home she uses as an office. She bought it last year for $1.6 million — a totally redone threebedroom with subway tile backsplash, soaking tub and solar panels. It’s modern and sparse, lacking personal details save for a random, small canvas on the wall that she made in a Sip ’n’ Paint class she bought off Groupon a few years back. Haddish grabs an apple off the kitchen island, eats it and then clutches the core in her hand for half an hour, rather than throw it out and disrupt her thoughts about getting trolled. Comments about her online have gotten so negative that last year, she began blocking certain phrases on Instagram, including “setback,” “pedo” and “not funny.” She hired a digital forensics analyst to research where her death threats were coming from — 75% were created by robots in Malaysia and Iran, which made her feel better. She also created a fake Instagram account where an alter ego named Sarah will go in and “destroy” anyone hating on her by deploying details from their personal lives. “I’ve learned how to find people’s information — like I pull up the credit report, police records. You can do that for $1.99,” Haddish says. “Sometimes, I get so mad that I’ll get they phone number and I’ll just call them.” She registers the disbelief on my face. “Oh, I have called people, honey,” she says. “They be shocked that I called. They’ll be like, ‘I can’t believe you even saw that.’ You did a whole video, b—! You made a full, five-minute video! On the internet, people think they can just say whatever and you not gonna say anything. I try my best not to, but I’m a human being.” Many of the comments pertain to the lawsuit, she says. Haddish doesn’t feel it’s affected her career — plenty of folks still approach her to fan out in the airport, she says — but she has noticed an attitude adjustment from some people in the industry. Recently, she says, someone “of status” approached her and asked: “ ‘Is your mental health OK? Your name is always in the headlines. You said this, you said that. All I see is people attacking you.’ It’s like, ‘Oh, don’t get too close to Tiffany. I’m going to get attacked too.’ ” Her mental health is perfectly fine, she says. Not that there haven’t been moments she’s questioned it. Usually when she’s on her period, suffering from such bad menstrual cramps that she often passed out. For years, doctors shrugged off her pain, suggesting that she take birth control pills or eat less acidic foods. Haddish recounts the words of one relative — “We used to be out in the fields having babies and working right after.” A woman who complained about her period, Haddish was told, was lying, weak, just trying to get sympathy. So she started to think maybe she was mentally ill. Then, last year, a doctor finally diagnosed endometriosis. The chronic disease also explained why she’d suffered eight miscarriages — something a prior OBGYN had misattributed to the shape of her uterus. Until last year, she kept the losses from almost everyone. “I’d call her and say, ‘How’s your day?’ and she might start talking about work,” recalls Selena Martin, who has been Haddish’s best friend since seventh grade. “And I’m like, ‘OK, that’s nice. But how are you doing?’ In track, our coach used to call us odd names if we were running slow, like ‘hamburger.’ So I’ll ask, ‘No, how’s old hamburger doing?’ ” Even as she was miscarrying, Haddish kept quiet, showed up to work, went onstage. She saw the way people talked about pregnancy loss — how they treated women who went through it like pariahs. “I remember Gabrielle Union talked about having a bunch of miscarriages, and it was like, ‘Gabrielle Union can’t hold a baby,’ ” she says. She didn’t want to hear that. Tried to be remain positive. This was just God’s birth control, she told herself, God’s way of telling her she was with the wrong man. “Shame on you, Tiffany,” she admonishes herself now. “I didn’t want to be a quitter. Because my body was quitting. People have no idea what it feels like to have your soul falling out of your body. Because that’s what it feels like. My soul is like, ‘Oh, man. We was gonna grow that.’ You ever plant anything and then it f— dies and you really want it to live? You try to play cool, like it ain’t that bad. But it is.” There are procedures Haddish could have to help her endometriosis — laparoscopic surgery to remove scar tissue. But she refuses. Years ago, she says, she had an abortion under anesthesia and she liked the feeling of the drugs so much that she’s scared that if she had access to them again, she’d develop an addiction. She reasons with herself that menopause is probably only five years away and she finds ways to cope with the pain — marijuana helps a lot, though she’s been sober since Thanksgiving, when the judge in her ongoing Georgia DUI case instituted regular drug and alcohol testing after the Beverly Hills arrest. She says she plans to abstain from drinking even after the case is wrapped up, especially because she’s noticed a discernible difference in her pain over the last few months. And she’s decided that she doesn’t want to have kids. “I would hate to give birth to someone who looks like me, knowing they’re going to be hunted or killed,” she writes in “I Curse You With Joy.” “I don’t want the stress of worrying every time my Black baby goes to school or goes to hang out with their friends that they they could end up dead.” Growing up three miles away near 54th and Western, she was in gang territory. The park she hung out at was infamous for drive-by shootings and filled with police. When she was 13, she says, she watched a boy in her friend group get beaten to death by the cops. “You see s— like that? That don’t go away,” she says, her voice turning quiet and heavy. “You develop this underlying narrative of: ‘Are we being hunted?’ And people always tried to take advantage of me, even when I Tiffany Haddish: an ‘underdog’ and ‘too famous,’ but never a quitter [Haddish, from A1] Kayla James For The Times “Sometimes I get so mad [at internet trolls] that I’ll get they phone number and I’ll just call them. On the internet, people think they can just say whatever and you not gonna say anything. I try my best not to, but I’m a human being.”

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 A7 didn’t have nothing. I see these helicopter parents worried about they child, and I get it, because there are a lot of predators out here.” She starts to cry, apologizes. This is a topic she particularly hates talking about — at 17, she explains, she was raped by a police cadet on the night of her homecoming dance. She was going to delve into it in “I Curse You with Joy,” but when she went to record the audio version, she found the experience too painful and cut the pages. The incident dramatically affected how Haddish viewed men. In the years following it, she attempted to take her sexuality into her own hands. She slept with men freely, spoke unabashedly about her exploits. “I Curse You With Joy” is filled with graphic details of her sex life, including an oral sex tutorial and her preference for a “smedium” penis — something she says she established after intercourse with an extremely well-endowed man sent her to the hospital with a tilted uterus. She thought sex of her own volition would empower her. If she was the pursuer, she’d be taking something from the man. “But I was hurting myself the whole damn time,” she says now. “You’re really just kind of raping yourself. You’re giving up a piece of your spirit. I feel different, a little less, every time.” In her comedy, and in her life, Haddish talks a lot about how closed off she is to relationships. Her last serious one was with rapper-actor Common; that ended after two years in 2021. Since then, she says she’s adopted a new policy: Nine months and then she’s out. She’ll go on Bumble, but never Raya. No more celebrities. “All the famous guys I used to think, ‘Oh, I would love to do it to him,’ I know them now and I’m like, ‘No,’ ” she says. “I used to really want Henry Cavill. I think he’s so hot. But I met him and he was so awkward. It was like, ‘This would be weird. I should be talking to him about Dungeons & Dragons. Maybe he’d be more comfortable.’ “Or,” she adds, “maybe he’s just never had a Black woman be like, ‘What’s up? What’s your credit score? Do you like spaghetti? I’ll cook for you. Are you afraid of South-Central or not?’ But he’s still beautiful.” Clark, who met Haddish when they were bused to El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills, isn’t buying this supposed stance on monogamy. “Oh, she wants to be in a relationship,” says Clark. “I think it would be really, really good for her to be in a healthy — key word — relationship. She keeps that young, 20-year-old girl in her mind when she’s talking about it onstage, but really, deep down she’s such a relationship girl.” Haddish says she has other things to work on first, like fixing her sleep routine. She used to get between two and three hours a night. Her fatigue got so bad that sometimes she even fell asleep during sex. And not always in the missionary position. She jumps up and gets on her hands and knees to imitate how it’s possible to be on top and still drift off with your head resting on someone’s chest. So there’s the sleep thing — she’s getting between five and eight hours a night now. No more drinking. Exercising more frequently, cooking with the vegetables in her garden. Continuing to invest in her neighborhood. Coming to terms with her family. Haddish’s mother now lives with one of her half-sisters in Inglewood after being institutionalized. Haddish takes their relationship “day by day,” she writes in her book. “I love her, but whew, it is still hard.” If I met her mother, Haddish says, I wouldn’t notice anything off at first. But after a few hours, she’d start talking to herself, or turn swiftly argumentative. Haddish clings to the “glimmers of her — of my mommy” — the woman she knew before the accident. “And I miss her. But it’s not the same.” Still, her mother’s admiration is the carrot that’s always dangling. “Am I doing all this, working myself to the bone, just for my mom’s approval?” she writes in “I Curse You With Joy.” “You know what? Kinda.” There was a moment, recently, when Haddish brought her mom over to see a large home she’d just invested in. She watched as her mother took in the property, impressed. “She goes, ‘I’m proud of you,’ and that was awesome. That was the best feeling in the world to hear that,” Haddish says. “At the end of the day, all you want is your mommy and daddy to be proud of you. Well, my daddy dead now. And I think she is proud.” HADDISH, center, hosts Netflix show “Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready,” featuring comics April Macie, left, Marlo Williams, Aida Rodriguez, Flame Monroe, Tracey Ashley and Chaunté Wayans. Myung J. Chun Los Angeles Times “If I say I can’t do something, I can’t do it. I feel way more comfortable saying that now. I can’t bend backwards no more. I’m not built for it.” For more of Amy Kaufman’s in-depth profiles of today’s icons, scan this code to download the L.A. Times mobile app. Downtown has about 90,000 residents, a slightly higher population than Santa Monica or Santa Barbara, said Jessica Lall, head of real estate brokerage CBRE’s downtown office. They live in 47,000 residential units, most of which are apartments rented at market rates. But for a variety of reasons, most of L.A.’s downtown residents don’t work there. It is an unusual reality not seen in many other big cities that decouples the apartment market from the fate of the millions of square feet of offices for rent in the area because residential landlords do not rely on office workers to fill their units. The pandemic has had a dramatic, far-reaching effect on downtown that exposed the dual realities of its real estate. Office buildings emptied first by government decree and later by choice as remote work grew acceptable to corporate America. Apartment occupancy downtown took a dip early in the pandemic and then bounced back as tenants decided it was an acceptable place to live even if they worked elsewhere. The successes and struggles of Brookfield, a Canadian real estate company that owns residential and office properties downtown, illustrate this stark divide. Little more than 15% of the tenants in downtown apartments owned by Brookfield worked in nearby office buildings before the COVID-19 pandemic, managing director Mike Greene said, and the percentage today is about the same. Occupancy in Brookfield’s nearly 2,400 downtown units fell to nearly 80% early in the pandemic, he said, but soon rebounded to about 95%, where it remains. Office landlords only dream of such occupancy figures. CBRE reported that just 65% of downtown office space was spoken for in the first quarter of this year. Brookfield, meanwhile, which also owns offices through a separate entity, is among downtown landlords that have defaulted on office building loans in recent months and lost their properties to their lenders. Property owners and retail businesses such as shops and restaurants have lamented the loss of office workers on the streets, as well as the swelling number of homeless people since the pandemic began. The disappearance of workers and the businesses they supported threatened to undo decades of work by developers and city officials to build downtown’s financial district into a residential destination. Business leaders in the early 2000s were painfully aware that downtown L.A. lacked the vibrancy of other big cities because it had so few residents, but was stuck in a chicken-and-egg situation: People didn’t want to live there because it lacked restaurants, grocery stores and other typical city-life amenities, but merchants didn’t want to set up shop because few lived there. The stalemate began to break around 2000 with an ordinance that made it easier to redevelop obsolete office buildings into housing. Downtown L.A.’s revival continues The relocation of the Lakers, Clippers and Kings pro sports teams to the new downtown arena then known as Staples Center brought thousands of sports and music fans and led a wave of development south of the financial district. Decades of efforts to add rail service and thousands of apartments and condominiums helped create a more vibrant downtown that was taking on the flavor of other big cities before the pandemic. The revival of downtown has persisted for several reasons. One is that it boasts a large amount of fairly new housing — a result of downtown being zoned for dense development, which means the path to construction approval can be easier than it is in other parts of the city. A city-approved development plan calls for downtown to accommodate 20% of the city’s projected housing growth between now and 2040, Lall said. Downtown has already accounted for nearly 30% of all new multifamily units built in Los Angeles since 2004, according to CBRE. Part of downtown’s appeal is also its price, at least compared with the Westside’s choice rental markets. “If you compare Santa Monica and Marina del Rey, it’s 38% more expensive to live there than it is to live downtown,” Lall said. And as downtown apartment landlords hustle to get their buildings leased, they can be generous with movein incentives, such as periods of free rent and moving allowances for signing a lease. Figueroa Eight is clad in brushed aluminum, stainless steel and lightly tinted glass. Other deluxe highrises such as Brookfield’s nearby Beaudry and Atelier apartment towers are also wrapped in metal and glass with tall tinted windows. “I think Figueroa Eight is a very nice building, of quality, which is also good for our city,” said architect Richard Keating, who is not involved with the building. “Often in places where the weather is benign, you end up building cheaper buildings because you don’t have to defend against the winter in Chicago or New York. So then we get high-rises built with stucco, which I frankly think there should be a law against.” The building’s L.A.- based architect, Scott Johnson of Johnson Fain, has worked in Japan and says there is a different mind set in the country about real estate development. “So much of American construction is more speculative in nature,” he said, where developers focus on limiting construction costs, filling a building with tenants and then selling it. “The Japanese are fundamentally not like that” and hold property long-term. Upmarket apartment complexes have dramatically ramped up their amenities such as dog runs, golf simulators and maid service in recent years to attract and retain tenants. And coming out of the pandemic lockdown, Mitsui Fudosan America and other landlords have pivoted to making their buildings friendly to tenants who work from home. There is dedicated coworking space for people who want to work outside their apartments without leaving the building and other lounging spots such as poolside cabanas and outdoor spaces where tenants can set up a laptop. “People’s day-to-day surroundings are becoming more important,” Morkun said, now that they’re not spending every workday away from home. Luxury apartment landlords are also going beyond offering tenants alternative spaces to work by trying to give them the chance to drop their memberships in gyms and social clubs such as SoHo House because the building has alternatives for working out and entertaining. That may encourage them to spend more on rent, Morkun said. Figueroa Eight’s indoor and outdoor “fitness studio” includes free classes and a hot-yoga room. Socializing zones include a poolside lounge with an outdoor bar, fire pits, grilling stations and the 41st-floor Sky Lounge with entertaining areas including a bar and dining room looking out on the skyline. There is also an outdoor hammock garden if you prefer to relax alone. The Beaudry has a bocce ball court, putting green, golf simulator and poker game room among its tenant lures. Tenants’ top desires are pretty simple, though, Morkun said. His company’s research showed “what people care about are pets, parking, a fitness center and storage in their units.” Landlords are bending over backward to accommodate pets. Morkun said his building has downtown’s largest dog run, which tenants may want to use late at night instead of taking their pooches down to the sidewalk. “Either you solve the Fido problem or everyone is going to walk away saying, ‘It’s a beautiful building and we’d love to live here, but ....’ ” The completion of Figueroa Eight marks the end of a construction boom, landlords said, which could help keep occupancy high in existing buildings. Over the last decade, an average of more than 2,000 new apartment units have hit the downtown market each year, Brookfield’s Greene said. But with the recent delivery of the Beaudry and Figueroa Eight, “the delivery pipeline sort of falls off a cliff.” With construction costs and interest rates deemed high by developers, he said, “we don’t expect new projects breaking ground in a meaningful way until something shifts.” Luxury rentals rise as office life fades downtown [Downtown, from A1] ARCHITECT Scott Johnson, left, and developer Stuart Morkun shoot pool at the newly opened Figueroa Eight apartments in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. Photographs by Brian van der Brug Los Angeles Times THE 41-STORY tower is part of a boom in residences filled with amenities for renters working from home.

A8 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 WST LATIMES.COM WASHINGTON — Israel has briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks. The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the U.S. administration’s view that moving forward with fullscale attacks in Rafah would put too many Palestinian civilians at risk and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from President Biden and other western officials. The Biden administration has said there could be consequences for Israel should it move forward without a credible plan to safeguard civilians. Some 1.5 million Palestinians have sheltered in Rafah as the Gaza Strip has been ravaged by the war that began Oct. 7 after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 peopleand taking about 250 hostages. Israel’s airstrikes and ground attacks have killed more than 34,000 people in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The United Nations humanitarian aid agency has said hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza would be “at imminent risk of death” in a Rafah assault. The border city is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid. The officials added that the evacuation plan the Israelis briefed was not finalized, and both sides agreed to keep discussing the matter. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday that no “comprehensive” plan for a potential Rafah operation has been revealed by the Israelis to the White House. The operation has been discussed, however, during recent calls between Biden and Netanyahu, as well as during recent virtual talks with top Israeli and U.S. national security officials. “We want to make sure that those conversations continue, because it is important to protect those Palestinian lives — those innocent lives,” Jean-Pierre said. The revelation of Israel’s continued push to carry out a Rafah operation came as CIA Director William Burns arrived Friday in Egypt, where negotiators are trying to seal a cease-fire accord between Israel and Hamas. Hamas is considering the latest proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release put forward by U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who are looking to avert the Rafah operation. They have publicly pressed Hamas to accept the terms of the deal that would lead to an extended cease-fire and an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails. Hamas said it will send a delegation to Cairo in the coming days for discussions on the offer but has not specified when. Israel and its allies have sought to increase pressure on Hamas on the hostage negotiation. Signaling that Israel continues to move forward with planning for a Rafah operation could be a tactic to nudge the militants to finalize the deal. Netanyahu said last week that Israeli forces would enter Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas’ last stronghold, regardless of whether a truce-for-hostages deal is struck. His comments appeared to be meant to appease his nationalist governing partners, and it was not clear whether they would have any bearing on an emerging deal with Hamas. Israel has briefed the U.S. on its plan for Rafah White House officials maintain that such an operation would put too many Palestinian civilians at risk. associated press JACKSON, Miss. — Israel-Hamas war demonstrations at the University of Mississippi turned ugly when one counterprotester appeared to make monkey noises and gestures at a Black student in a raucous gathering that was endorsed by a far-right congressman from Georgia. “Ole Miss taking care of business,” Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins wrote Friday on the social platform X with a link to a video showing racist jeers. Collins did not respond to multiple requests for an explanation of what he meant. The taunting brought sharp criticism on and off campus. “Students were calling for an end to genocide. They were met with racism,” James M. Thomas, a sociology professor at the University of Mississippi, wrote Friday on X. The Rev. Cornell William Brooks, a former president of the NAACP and professor at Harvard University, wrote on X that a white man mocking a Black woman as a monkey “isn’t about ‘Stand With Israel’ or ‘Free Palestine.’ This is protest as performative racism.” Collins, a first-term congressman, posted several social media messages criticizing campus protests against Israel’s war on Gaza. Nobody was arrested during the demonstration Thursday at the University of Mississippi, where hecklers vastly outnumbered antiwar protesters. According to a count by AP, more than 2,400 arrests have occurred on 46 campuses nationwide since April 17. The student newspaper, the Daily Mississippian, reported that about 30 protesters gathered on the Oxford campus, calling themselves UMiss for Palestine. Videos and photos showed the protesters in a grassy area near the main library, blocked off by barriers erected by campus security. They chanted, “Free, free Palestine,” and carried Palestinian flags and signs with slogans including, “Stop the Genocide” and “U.S. bombs take Palestine lives.” Student journalist Stacey J. Spiehler shot video that showed campus police officers and the dean of students standing between antiwar protesters and hecklers. After the Black woman protesting the war had what appeared to be a heated exchange with several white hecklers, one of the men made the monkey gestures and noises at her. About 76% of the university’s students were white and about 11% were Black in 2022-23, the most recent data available on the school’s website. University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce said the school is committed to people expressing their views. He said some statements made on campus Thursday were “offensive and unacceptable.” In another statement Friday, Boyce said that one “student conduct investigation” had been opened and university leaders were “working to determine whether more cases are warranted.” “To be clear, people who say horrible things to people because of who they are will not find shelter or comfort on this campus,” he said. Pettus writes for the Associated Press. Politician praises heckling of Gaza protesters, racist jeer By Emily Wagster Pettus WELCOME TO THE OPEN ROAD OF FREEDOM MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. Management reserves the right to change or cancel promotions and events at any time without notice. Must be 21 or older. Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER. ©2024 Chumash Casino Resort. Forget your worries of the day. And turn any drive into a stress-free getaway. Earn entries now for a chance to win a BMW 330i orashare of $55,000 in Slot Free Play. 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LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 A9 had the right to choose the laws they would obey, as long as they were doing it in the name of social protest.” Reagan was unapologetic in his response to protests on the campus, which was also home to large demonstrations against the Vietnam War. He called student protests “orgies of destruction.” Almost exactly 55 years later, California campuses are again overwhelmed by student uprisings and police crackdowns, including violent clashes last week at UCLA. This time, over the Israel-Hamas war. And another ambitious California governor is responding with a very different approach. Gov. Gavin Newsom has lingered in the background as universities grapple with student protests, which have led to at least 200 arrests at UCLA, three injuries at UC Berkeley and forced classes to move online at Cal Poly Humboldt. While he’s met privately with law enforcement officials and university leaders, Newsom has yet to speak to the news media about the unrest. He directed the state’s office of emergency services to support police response on campuses when requested by local agencies but did not activate the National Guard. He took to social media last week to condemn the violence at UCLA, with a written statement saying, “The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism or lawlessness on campus.” On Thursday, hours after the arrests at UCLA, Newsom posted a video promoting expanded national monuments that showed him at a creek beneath the trees on a sun-drenched hillside — a move seen by some as tone-deaf. For a governor who is rarely shy about grabbing the spotlight on controversial issues, including new abortion restrictions and mass shootings, Newsom’s response to the campus upheaval has been noticeably low-key. Reagan and Newsom are political opposites and led California at very different times. In many ways, their divergent responses to campus unrest reflect how they presented themselves to the voters who elected them. Reagan, a Republican, ran for office during an earlier period of campus protests and had promised to “clean up the mess at Berkeley.” Newsom, a Democrat, campaigned as a champion for legalizing marijuanaand gay marriage, and supported ending California’s decadesold tough-on-crime policies. But the responses also reflect different political eras and highlight the complexities posed by the IsraelHamas war, particularly for Democrats. “Reagan’s moves fit the political environment and the political dynamic of the time,” said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a retired professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at USC. “Newsom understands that if he [gets] out front, he risks alienating, at this point in time, critical constituencies he doesn’t have to.” Young people, progressives, people of color and Jewish voters are all important constituencies for Democrats, Bebitch Jeffe said, but the party is split over President Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. The divisions have created an opening for Republicans, even in Sacramento where they lack power. That didn’t stop GOP leaders from calling a news conference in the state Capitol last week to call for cutting state funding for administrators at campuses where protests turned violent, and rescinding Cal Grant scholarships from students engaged in criminal acts. “It’s unacceptable that our governor has largely said very little about this and taken very little action to quell what has been going on on our campuses,” Assembly leader James Gallagher (RYuba City) said Thursday. Some Democrats have been raising alarms about the climate on California campuses for months. In a letter in November, a month after Hamas attacked Israel, members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus called for “immediate action” from University of California President Michael V. Drake and California State University Chancellor Mildred García to protect Jewish students from what they called an “explosion of antisemitism.” Newsom, too, sent the university leaders a letter then, calling on them to do more to stop threats against students who were “targeted because of a Jewish, Arab, or Muslim identity.” He wrote that “some faculty have inflamed the discourse with violent rhetoric. This is unacceptable and demands action.” In March, well before the protests had reached the level of violence they did this past week, the Jewish caucus introduced a bill that would require California college leaders to adopt policies “prohibiting violence, harassment, intimidation and harassment” specifically when it comes to any events that “call for or support genocide.” Democrats leading the legislation have emphasized that they aren’t trying to limit free speech, but the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the bill, saying it goes further than federal laws that already do not protect hate speech or violence under the 1st Amendment and that it could allow universities to “silence a range of protected speech based on viewpoint alone.” Sen. Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco), who is a coauthor of the campus bill and signed the letter to university leadership, said he supports the right to protest, especially on college campuses. But what’s happening now “crosses a line,” he said. “What’s different here is in addition to the protest, we have the targeting harassment of one specific group of students — Jewish students,” he said. “I want them to be able to protest the war in Gaza and to call for a cease-fire and to call for peace. … That’s healthy. But you have some people who are going well beyond that and saying antisemitic things, and it is undermining what they’re actually protesting for.” The governor has taken quiet actions in recent weeks by convening Jewish and Muslim leaders, publishing a plan to combat antisemitism and communicating with Palestinian American communities about Islamophopia. He has said he supports Biden’s call for a cease-fire in Gaza. Newsom has no direct authority over California’s public universities but does exert influence as an ex officio member of the UC regents and the Cal State Board of Trustees. That gives him some responsibility for what happens on campus, said Bill Whalen, a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institute who was a speechwriter for GOP Gov. Pete Wilson. “The governor technically is the landlord of these operations,” Whalen said. “Even if he’s behind the scenes, you would hope that he is very active.” But the politics within the Democratic Party make it difficult for him to be too forceful, Bebitch Jeffe said. Newsom is supporting Biden’s reelection campaign while also navigating divisions among Democratic voters who are torn over U.S. support for Israel. “If you’re Gavin Newsom and you don’t know whether it will help or hurt you, just leave the battlefield,” Bebitch Jeffe said. “And that’s apparently what he’s done.” IN RESPONSE to student protests over the closure of People’s Park in 1969, Gov. Ronald Reagan called in the National Guard to restore order at UC Berkeley. Ted Streshinsky Photographic Archive/Getty Images Years after Reagan took on Berkeley, Newsom lays low [Newsom, from A1] agitators, the sources said. The chief was told to spare no expense to bring in other UC police officers, offer overtime and hire as many private security officers as needed to keep the peace. But Thomas did not provide a plan to UCLA leadership — even when he was again asked to do so after skirmishes broke out April 28 between Israel supporters and pro-Palestinian advocates at dueling rallies. The account of Thomas’ actions leading up to the attack Tuesday night was provided by three sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. Internal calls are growing for the chief to step aside, as University of California President Michael V. Drake initiates an independent review of UCLA’s response, the sources said. Thomas, in an interview with The Times on Friday night, disputed the account as “just not true.” He said he advised leadership from the beginning not to allow an encampment, since it violated campus rules against overnight camping, and he feared it could lead to problems as he assessed other protests sweeping the country. But university leadership decided to allow the tents “as an expression of students’ 1st Amendment rights,” he said, and directed that police not be included in any security plan. Under the university system’s community safety plan, police are deployed as a last resort — guidance developed after UC Davis police pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters in 2011, setting off a firestorm of controversy and an internal review that changed campus practices. As a result, Thomas said, he developed a plan that relied on private security and made sure to alert the Los Angeles Police Department of the need to respond immediately should problems arise. The private security guards, who were not authorized to make arrests, were instructed to contact UCLA police if needed. Thomas said he provided daily briefings to campus leadership on the situation, the number of resources and the response protocol and assigned roles for those deployed. However, sources said Thomas failed to deliver on direction to provide a written safety strategy outlining the response and preparation for various scenarios — such as a rally, skirmishes or violence — with the mandate to do what was necessary to keep the community safe. Thomas acknowledged telling leadership that it would take just minutes to deploy police forces but said he was referring to a general response — not a force large enough to handle crowds of the size that clashed that night. But three sources confirmed he was directly asked how long it would take for outside law enforcement to quell any violence. The campus police chief reports to Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck, who oversees the UCLA Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management and other campus operations. Beck did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Thomas acknowledged that as altercations began to erupt at the encampment, campus leadership changed direction and authorized him to supplement UCLA police and private security with increased external law enforcement, saying overtime would be paid. He could not recall exactly when that occurred but said he immediately contacted the LAPD and L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to secure their assistance. However, he said, the LAPD told him there was a problem with the payment system between the city and state, so the arrangements “couldn’t be done by the time of the attack.” On the night of the attack, Thomas said, he was home watching the Dodgers game when he was alerted to the problems by Beck. He said he immediately called the LAPD’s West L.A. station and asked the watch commander to deploy resources. Then he called UCLA’s watch commander and instructed him to call in mutual aid assistance from law enforcement with the cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica, as well as sheriff’s deputies. Thomas said he arrived on campus shortly before midnight and found that 19 officers from UCLA, the LAPD and three of the mutual aid agencies had arrived but had not moved in to quell the violence. When he asked why, he said, an LAPD lieutenant told him the force was too small. Thomas said he asked why they couldn’t go in with the forces they had, and the lieutenant told him he was directed to wait. It took more than 90 minutes for sufficient forces to arrive and intervene. Thomas said it usually takes an hour or even two to amass “mobile field forces” large enough — 50 officers or more from all over the city — to handle situations like the melee at UCLA. “I did everything I could to increase the police presence that we couldn’t provide because of our small department,” he said, adding that he was not ready to step aside or resign. UCLA declined to comment about Thomas’ account. The police chief’s remarks offered the first responses to key questions, including when officials decided to bring in help from other agencies and whether help could have arrived sooner. Outside police forces generally do not enter the campus without the university’s approval, since it functions as an independent municipal entity, although it is on state land. Chancellor Gene Block has described the attack in a statement as “a dark chapter in our campus’s history” and said the university was “carefully examining our own security processes in light of recent events.” A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for answers to explain “the limited and delayed campus law enforcement response at UCLA.” The Times reported Thursday that the UCLA Police Department had asked other campuses for additional police officers five days before the attack. The reporting was based on documents the paper reviewed and information from the head of the UC police officers union.Only a few on-duty UCLA police officers were on hand to protect the encampment Tuesday night. Questions are being raised as to why Thomas did not increase the number of UC police that night after being directed to use whatever resources were needed to keep the community safe. The mutual aid requests made April 25 and 26 — which would have provided UCLA with more officers as they dealt with the camp and a dueling area erected by pro-Israel activists — were both canceled. Thomas said he made the requests because the university was tentatively planning to take down the encampment, but he canceled them when that plan was delayed. The responsibility to call for mutual aid through the UC Systemwide Response Team — a group of about 80 officers across the 10 campuses — has to be made by the host university’s chief of police, according to the UC police procedures manual. Thomas said he did not make any additional request after that because there was no specific reason at the time, but he directed his watch commander to do so immediately after learning about the attack, which he said was a “spontaneous” event. Critics are asking why he did not make another request sooner, after specific instances of physical altercations on April 28 and 29. The union issued a statement this week placing the responsibility for the UC police response in the hands of “campus leadership,” saying the strategic direction was controlled by administrators. The three sources, however, said direction to prepare a plan with enough officers to ensure safety was given to Thomas multiple times. The attack began Tuesday about 10:30 p.m., when a large group of agitators — some wearing black outfits and white masks — arrived on campus and assaulted campers, ripped down barricades, hurled objects at the encampment and threw firecrackers into the area. Campers, some holding lumber and wearing goggles and helmets, rallied to defend the site’s perimeter. Some used pepper spray to defend themselves. Several were injured, including four Daily Bruin student journalists. Thomas told the Daily Bruin his officers came under attack while helping an injured woman and had to leave. Law enforcement sources said it took time for the LAPD, California Highway Patrol and other agencies to mobilize the large number of officers needed. A larger force began moving into the area after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and fully contained the situation after 3 a.m. UCLA declared the encampment unlawful Tuesday and asked participants to leave or face possible discipline. The next day, the campus called in police, who dismantled tents and arrested more than 200 protesters in clashes that lasted for hours. Several protesters were injured. The UC Board of Regents held a closed-door meeting Friday to discuss the campus protests. UCLA top cop accused of security lapses PROTESTERS and counterprotesters brawl Tuesday at UCLA. Campus Police Chief John Thomas has said, “I did everything I could to increase the police presence” and that he’s not ready to step aside or resign. Etienne Laurent AFP / Getty Images [UCLA, from A1]

A10 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM BUSINESS It’s a good time to be in the sports business, and no one knows that better than the NBA. In the coming weeks, the league is expected to announce a new game-changing multiyear media rights pact that reportedly will more than double its annual fees from TV and streaming outlets to $6 billion annually after the 2024-25 National Basketball Assn. season. The deal has the potential to shake up the future of the current media landscape, as two streaming platforms are said to be in the running for exclusive games. The ongoing talks also could result in the loss of an NBA TV package for Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT, which has made the league a cornerstone of its programming for more than three decades. Amazon Prime Video is expected to get an exclusive package of games. It would be the second major sports property for the tech giant, which has the rights to NFL “Thursday Night Football” and will stream its first exclusive playoff game next season. Although streaming services have drawn users with high-quality original programs and movies, live sports are the most efficient ways to attract massive audiences and build scale. Amazon’s bid coincides with its aggressive push into the TV advertising marketplace. The deep-pocketed Amazon, buoyed by its online retail business, has been able to spend aggressively for sports (it’s paying $1 billion a year to the NFL for Thursday games). Meanwhile, legacy media companies are under pressure to deal with rising costs while managing the declining revenues and profits for their traditional TV businesses. Amazon is expected to come away with a significant package, though Walt Disney Co. will probably retain the rights to the NBA Finals. One of the crown jewels of TV sports, it would continue to air on broadcast network ABC. Disney’s ESPN also would continue to carry regular-season and playoff games. Disney reportedly would pay $2.6 billion a year, up from $1.5 billion in the current deal that runs through the 2024-25 season. Retaining the NBA would further solidify ESPN’s future as it prepares to offer its channels through a new streaming service aimed at consumers without a pay TV subscription. The plan is to make the direct-toconsumer version of ESPN available in 2025. The wild card in the NBA talks is the entry of Philadelphia cable giant Comcast Corp., which reportedly has made a $2.5-billion bid for a package of games for streaming service Peacock and broadcast network NBC. If Comcast succeeds at the expense of Turner, it would be a significant blow to the latter’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, especially from a public image standpoint. Warner Bros. Discovery’s stock has declined by 40% during the last year. The popular “Inside the NBA” — with co-hosts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith — has helped define TNT’s identity over the years. (Barkley has already said he has the option to leave TNT if the network loses the NBA.) Representatives for the NBA and the media companies all declined to comment. Comcast’s offer appears to be aimed at boosting Peacock, which has struggled to reach profitability despite steady subscriber growth. The streaming platform, which has 34 million subscribers, has proved its ability to handle large live audiences. Its presentation of an NFL playoff game in January peaked at 16.3 million concurrent viewers. A Comcast deal also would return the NBA to NBC, which held the league rights from 1990 to 2002 and brought the championships of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls to living rooms across the country. The network also carried the league’s games from 1954 to 1962. NBC reportedly is offering to carry two prime-time NBA games a week, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the bid. Such a commitment demonstrates just how much traditional TV networks desire live sports, which have been a bulwark in the battle to retain viewers and advertising dollars. Network audiences for scripted comedies and dramas have greatly diminished, as viewers now prefer to watch them on demand through streaming platforms. Viewers still have to make an appointment to view live sports, enhancing their value in the streaming age. If Comcast lands the NBA, NBC could have live sports in prime time several nights a week, as it already carries “NFL Sunday Night Football” and Big Ten college football on Saturdays. “It’s indicative of the fact that sports draws a major audience unlike any other programming,” said Lee Berke, president of LHB Sports, Media & Entertainment. NBC is hardly alone. Companies with broadcast networks and TV stations are all looking at adding live sports to their lineups, as the habit of watching shows in real time becomes a relic of the past. If Turner loses the NBA, questions probably would be raised over Warner Bros. Discovery’s role in a planned joint venture with Disney and Fox Corp. The three companies announced in January that they are launching a streaming platform, carrying linear channels such as ESPN, TNT and Fox Sports. Turner has the NHL, Major League Baseball and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. But the NBA was a significant piece of its offering. Without it, Warner Bros. Discovery could end up with a smaller stake in the venture, according to people familiar with the discussions. There also could be longterm ramifications for Warner Bros. Discovery’s carriage arrangements with cable and satellite operators, who pay fees to carry its channels. The company would have to negotiate its next round of deals without offering the NBA at a time when such talks are increasingly contentious. Pay TV operators are battling to keep costs down as their customer base continues to shrink every year. “WBD’s management has disclosed that a decent number of network carriage agreements are up for renewal next year making this a key focus for investors in the days ahead,” analysts at the New York firm MoffettNathanson wrote in a research report for clients. The report noted that TNT commands around $2.6 billion in subscriber fees, accounting for 30% of Warner Bros. Discovery’s revenue from pay TV providers in the U.S. People familiar with the NBA discussions say there is a chance that the league could put together a fourth package of games to accommodate both Comcast and Turner. But that would complicate life for the consumer looking for the next tip-off in an already fragmented media environment. “When you offer up your games on four or five national outlets, it makes it more difficult for the fans to find out where the games are on,” Berke said. AMAZON Prime Video is expected to get an exclusive package of NBA games. It would be the second major sports property for the tech giant, which has the rights to NFL “Thursday Night Football.” Jason Behnken Associated Press How the NBA’s next TV deal could disrupt the media landscape The league is expected to make major move into streaming while possibly snubbing TNT in favor of NBC and Peacock By Stephen Battaglio Ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station has almost become routine — but not for Boeing and not on Monday, when after years of delay it’s finally set to launch two crew members to the orbiting platform on a crucial test flight. The Arlington, Va., aerospace giant was awarded a $4.2-billion contract in 2014 to build and operate a spacecraft to service the station, while El Segundo rival Space X received $2.6 billion to do the same. Both were given out under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, established to have U.S. companies taxi astronauts to the station. The stakes are particularly high for Boeing. Since 2020, SpaceX completed its crewed test flight and has ferried eight operations crews to the base — while Boeing has managed only two unmanned flights, including one that docked remotely in May 2023. Boeing has long-standing and historic ties to the aerospace industry in Southern California — the Apollo command and service modules were built at North American Aviation’s plant in Downey. Its current operations include a satellite facility in El Segundo. Boeing’s new Starliner capsule was scheduled to launch with a crew last summer, but a problem was discovered with its parachute system and the use of flammable tape in the craft, amile of which was removed. It was just the most recent of several delays. Starliner, with crew members strapped in, is set to blast off at 7:34 p.m. Pacific time at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. If the weather doesn’t cooperate or other minor issues arise, it could fly the next day or later in the week. After the delays and a reported $1.5 billion in cost overruns the company had to absorb, analysts say it’s crucial that the mission goes well. That’s especially true, given Boeing’s already battered reputation, after two crashes of its 737 Max 8 jets and a door plug that blew out of a 737 Max 9 flight this year on its way to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County. “It’s very important for [Boeing’s] desire to be relevant to NASA, relevant to manned space flight and for confidence internally to turn around and execute a program that’s had problems,” said Ken Herbert, a Boeing analyst at RBC Capital Markets. “This could be a big win for Boeing, if they can successfully pull this off, just in light of all the bad news they get from every other part of the business.” The capsule is designed to be reused 10 times, similar to SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule that services the station. It will be launched from an Atlas V rocket, a reliable workhorse built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Starliner should take about 26 hours to reach the station, which orbits at roughly 17,500 mph. The flight plan calls for NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams to spend a minimum of eight days testing the docked Starliner capsule, before climbing back inside and returning to Earth as soon as May 15. Unlike SpaceX’s capsule, which splashes down on water, Starliner will deploy giant air bags and touch down on land in one of four possible locations in the Southwest — a system the Russian space program has used since its inception. Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County is a contingency landing zone. Assuming the flight is a success, Boeing would be cleared to fly Starliner on regular flights carrying cargo and astronauts, where it would stay docked for six months and provide NASA with a second, redundant American craft to reach the station, a longtime goal. The 15-feet-in-diameter capsule, shaped like a Hershey’s Kiss, can carry up to seven astronauts without cargo or fewer with it. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed confidence in the flight despite problems Boeing has experienced with its commercial aircraft. “Understand that anytime you fly in space, it’s risky business, but we don’t fly, until we — NASA — are satisfied that it is as safe as possible,” he told The Times. A Boeing spokesperson declined to respond to requests for comment. Mark Nappi, manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, said at a news conference Friday, “I have never felt readier on any mission that I have ever participated in. ... We are where we are supposed to be at this point.” NASA contracted with SpaceX and Boeing after being forced to rely solely on the Russian space program to resupply and send crews to the station after the space shuttle program ended in 2011. A longer-term issue for Boeing is that it has taken so long to certify Starliner that it might only service the station for its contracted six missions before the lab is sent back to Earth in 2031 in a controlled descent, where it will burn up in the atmosphere. Initially assembled in 1988, it is now the size of a football field and some pieces are expected to land in the far reaches of the ocean. NASA wants to focus its resources on planned missions to the moon and deep space through its Artemis program, and the Russians aren’t interested either, said aerospace analyst Marco Caceres of Teal Group. “The Russians have certainly expressed their desire not to continue their presence for no more than another 10 years,” he said. Although the station includes modules from multiple countries, NASA and the Russian program were its primary constructors, including a core power module the Russians sent up on the very first launch. Nearly 4,000 scientific studies have been conducted on the station, and now NASA is funding and supporting the development of commercial space stations where it can lease space to conduct science as needed. That includes Orbital Reef, a planned station by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin aerospace company. NASA expects that Boeing and SpaceX will service those stations, and Boeing has said it has plans to launch Starliner to ferry astronauts to the station, which is still in its early development stages. Nappi said Friday that the company will “have time to make those decisions.” Even if the Starliner flight goes flawlessly, NASA will continue to send astronauts to the station on Russia’s Soyuz craft, given the country’s key role in building and continuing to operate the station. Nelson said that aside from Russia’s operational role, it is important for the two space programs to maintain good relations despite tensions over the war in Ukraine, noting that each country has personnel embedded in the other’s mission control operations. He recalled how that relationship began when an Apollo capsule docked with a Russian Soyuz craft in a historic test project started amid the Cold War. “This cooperation in space has been going in genuine success ever since Gen. Tom Stafford and Gen. Alexei Leonov came across that threshold docked in space in 1975,” he said. “There has been no evidence we have any problem. It is steady as you go.” Boeing to send astronaut crew to space station Monday After years of delay put aerospace giant behind SpaceX, firm’s Starliner capsule will ferry pair into orbit. By Laurence Darmiento

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 A11 NEW YORK — Mortgage rates, credit card rates, auto loan rates and business loans with variable rates will probably maintain their highs, with consequences for consumer spending, after the Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has “greater confidence” that price increases are slowing to its 2% target. The central bank kept its key rate at a two-decade high of roughly 5.3%, where it has been since August. What does this mean for borrowers? Credit card rates are at or near all-time peaks, and mortgage rates have more than doubled in recent years. According to LendingTree, the average credit card interest rate in the U.S. is 24.66%, unchanged from last month, though it has risen for 24 of the last 26 months. “That isn’t likely to fall anytime soon, despite the Fed taking its foot off the gas,” said Matt Schultz, a LendingTree credit analyst. “That’s likely the unfortunate reality for the next several months.” In the battle against credit card debt, 0% balance transfer cards “are still your best weapon,” according to Schultz, but “they’re getting harder to get, and their fees are rising.” With delinquencies and debt totals increasing for consumers, some banks are becoming hesitant about taking on transferred balances, he said, meaning consumers need good credit to get approval. What’s in store for savers? Yields on savings accounts and certificates of deposit have been hovering at high levels, thanks to the Fed’s increased interest rates, according to Ken Tumin, a banking expert and founder of DepositAccounts.com. That said, “several banks have been lowering deposit rates [with the] expectation that the Fed will start cutting rates at some point this year.” Certificate of deposit rates have been the first to fall, and a few online banks have also started lowering online savings account rates. Ally Bank dropped its rate to 4.25% from 4.35%, and Discover to 4.25% from 4.30%. Even so, most online banks held their online savings account rates steady in 2024, and several online banks still offer yields of 5.25%. The highest online yield is 5.55%. The average online 1-year CD yield was 4.94% as of April 1, according to DepositAccounts.com. Tumin says “brick-andmortar bank deposit rates continue to be slow in their movement higher,” noting that while average rates have gone up sharply in the last year, “they are still very low compared to online rates.” The average savings account yield for all banks and credit unions, of which the vast majority are bricksand-mortar, was 0.52% as of April 24. What about mortgages? The Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, but it does influence them. The bond market, inflation and other factors contribute to the high mortgage rates consumers are facing. The average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage recently rose to above 7% for the first time since November. Jacob Channel, senior economist at LendingTree, notes that mortgage rates can shift even as the Fed holds its benchmark rate steady, and that consumers should consider many economic data points before deciding to take on a mortgage. “Even in the face of relatively steep mortgage rates and high prices, now could still be a good time to buy a home,” he said. “Timing the market is virtually impossible. ... In that same vein, there are a lot of people who won’t be able to buy until the market becomes cheaper.” High shelter and rent costs have contributed to steep inflation in recent months. A Bankrate study found that renting is cheaper than buying a typical home in all 50 of the largest U.S. metro areas. As of February, the typical monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home in the U.S. was $2,703, while the typical monthly rent was $1,979. That’s a gap of nearly 37% between the costs of buying and renting. “While it would be nice if the Fed could fix everything on its own, it probably can’t, at least not without causing a great deal of weeping and gnashing of teeth,” Channel said. What’s the outlook for auto loans? Although vehicle prices steadied through late 2023 and early 2024, high interest rates on auto loans will linger for those with weak credit profiles, Bankrate Chief Financial Analyst Greg McBride predicts. Borrowers with stronger credit may see more competitive rates, but the Fed’s decision will continue to make loans expensive, even if vehicle prices decline. The average car loan hasn’t been this pricey since 2008. McBride predicts that five-year loan rates on new cars will reach an average of 7%, and four-year loans on used cars will reach 7.5% by the end of 2024. In the last year, borrowers have faced expensive monthly payments due to high interest rates, and auto loan delinquency reached its highest rate in nearly 30 years. The average monthly car loan payment was $738 for new vehicles and $532 for used ones in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to credit reporting agency Experian. New vehicles cost an average of $47,218 in March, according to Kelley Blue Book — a price that, combined with high interest rates, pushes many buyers out of the market for new cars. Lewis writes for the Associated Press. PERSONAL FINANCE What does the high interest rate mean for you? VEHICLE PRICES have steadied since late 2023, but high interest rates on auto loans will linger for those with weak credit profiles, a Bankrate analyst predicts. The average car loan hasn’t been this pricey since 2008. Justin Sullivan Getty Images The Federal Reserve is choosing not to make cuts, a decision that will ripple across the U.S. economy. By Cora Lewis Dear Liz: I have an adult daughter by a previous marriage who has no savings or retirement funds. I want to change my living trust to ensure that my daughter receives only a monthly amount similar to my required minimum distribution from my IRA, plus half of our paid-off house after my wife and I pass away. Do I need a trust attorney? Answer: Restricting access to an inheritance might be necessary, but few adults would be happy about being put on an allowance. Unhappy heirs may be more likely to challenge an estate plan, so you should get expert advice if you want your wishes to prevail. Even if your daughter is amenable, you still need an estate planning attorney’s help to craft the trust that doles out the money. Understand that inherited IRAs typically must be drained within 10 years. (The exceptions are for surviving spouses, minor children, and survivors who are disabled, chronically ill or no more than 10 years younger than the account owner.) If the beneficiary is a trust, the distributions don’t have to be paid out to your daughter, but any amount retained by the trust will typically be taxed at a higher rate. Plus you’ll have to find someone to manage the trust, said Burton Mitchell, a Los Angeles estate planning attorney. Your choice for the trustee is important, as they will have to deal with your daughter for the rest of her life, Mitchell said. Also, you may need to reconsider how you own your house if you want to ensure half goes to your daughter. Typically couples own property jointly, and the surviving spouse automatically inherits the other’s share. If you want to bequeath your half of the property to someone other than your spouse, you may need to change the ownership structure to that of “tenants in common.” You’ll need to think this through carefully because such a change would have legal, tax and practical implications that you’ll want an attorney to thoroughly explain. For example, if a house is in your wife’s name and she dies before you, she could leave it to someone other than you, Mitchell said. The house could be sold and you might need to find somewhere else to live. Conversely, if you die first, your wife could be forced to move if your daughter insisted on selling the house. In other words, achieving what you want may be a lot more complicated and have more potential repercussions than you might imagine. Talking with an experienced estate planning attorney can help you better understand your options. Can our DIY labor lower capital gains? Dear Liz: My husband remodeled all of the bathrooms in our home. We have receipts for the materials we purchased so that we can reduce our capital gains when we sell our home. Can we claim my husband’s time as labor costs for the home improvements? Answer: No. You can add the cost of the improvements to your tax basis, which will be deducted from the sale amount to determine your potentially taxable capital gains. But you can’t add to your tax basis the value of your own labor, or any labor for which you didn’t pay. Is my wife’s private pension at risk? Dear Liz: My wife worked in the private sector for 30 years and paid into Social Security before starting her current job in the public sector. She will get a small pension from this job when she retires. It’s our understanding that the windfall elimination provision won’t apply to her since she contributed to Social Security for 30 years. Is that correct? Will she also be able to receive her small pension? Answer: Yes and yes. The windfall elimination provision normally applies to people who receive pensions from jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security. This provision can reduce, but not eliminate, their Social Security benefits. However, it doesn’t apply to people who have 30 or more years of “substantial earnings” from jobs that paid into Social Security. What’s considered “substantial” varies by year; in 2024, it’s $31,275. Liz Weston, Certified Financial Planner ® , is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Write to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604; or via the “Contact” form at asklizweston.com. MONEY TALK Consider potential outcomes when estate planning AN ELDERLY couple walk in Brussels. A man who wants to limit his daughter to a monthly sum from his IRA after he dies should see an estate planning attorney. Francisco Seco Associated Press Arranging for your survivors to inherit what you intend can be complicated, with unexpected pitfalls. 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A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. To appear in this table, call 773-320-8492. Int Chking Money 3 mo 6 mo 12 mo 18 mo 24 mo 36 mo 60 mo Acct Mkt Acct CD CD CD CD CD CD CD Institution Min Min Min Min Min Min Min Min Min Phone / Website LA Times Deposit & Loan Guide ADVERTISEMENT Check rates daily at www.rateseeker.com/savings-rates Community Commerce Bank NA NA 3.56 4.07 5.33 5.22 4.91 4.80 4.49 NA NA 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 909-450-2050 Equal Housing Lender - Member FDIC www.ccombank.com Tustin Community Bank 0.05 1.26 1.26 1.51 5.12 2.02 2.02 2.02 2.02 100 50,000 2,500 2,500 100,000 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 714-730-5662 12 Month CD Available For New Money Only www.tustincmtybank.com TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FEATURE, CALL SALES DEPARTMENT @ 773-320-8492 Check rates at www.rateseeker.com/savings-rates

A12 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM/OPINION HOW TO WRITE TO US Please send letters to [email protected]. For submission guidelines, see latimes.com/letters or call 1-800-LA TIMES, ext. 74511. OPINION EDITORIALS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Chairman Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong News: Executive Editor Terry Tang • Managing Editor Hector Becerra • Editor at Large Scott Kraft • Deputy Managing Editors Shelby Grad, Amy King, Maria L. La Ganga • Assistant Managing Editors John Canalis, Steve Clow, Angel Jennings, Iliana Limón Romero, Samantha Melbourneweaver, Craig Nakano, Ruthanne Salido, B.J. Terhune • General Manager, Food Laurie Ochoa • Opinion: Editorials Editor Mariel Garza • Op-Ed Editor Susan Brenneman • Business: President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Argentieri • Chief Human Resources Officer Nancy V. Antoniou • Chief of Staff; Head of Strategy and Revenue Anna Magzanyan • Chief Information Officer Ghalib Kassam • General Counsel Jeff Glasser • V.P., Communications Hillary Manning FOUNDED DECEMBER 4, 1881 A Publication P olicing and prosecuting for profit contradicts reasonable notions of justice and fairness, yet it’s allowed in most U.S. states. Using a process known as civil asset forfeiture, law enforcement agencies seize private property that they claim was somehow involved in a crime. And they may keep it — even if the owner is never criminally charged. This abusive practice has become a key source of funding for some police and sheriff’s departments. Many of the constitutional rights to which Americans are entitled in criminal proceedings do not apply in civil forfeiture cases. The standard of proof is far lower than “beyond a reasonable doubt.” The government need not prove guilt, and in fact people who try to get their property back must prove their innocence — if they can afford to. They have no right to counsel, which means they have to pay a lawyer out of their own pocket. The asset forfeiture system is so egregious that a wave of reform has swept the nation in recent years. In California, the government now at least has to prove that the owners knew their property was involved in a crime, even if they aren’t the ones who committed it. But there’s still a perverse incentive to seize property. California police agencies get to keep 65% of everything they grab if they win a civil forfeiture action in court. Prosecutorial offices get 10%. An additional 1% goes to a fund controlled by the state prosecutors association. It’s a recipe for abuse, and in some states it’s far worse. Consider Indiana. It’s the only state in the U.S. that allows elected prosecutors to contract out civil asset forfeiture cases to private lawyers. The contractors get a substantial cut of whatever they win, and nothing if they lose, so they have every incentive to grab as much property as possible. But unlike government prosecutors, they are unhindered by a responsibility to seek justice. Their only task is to win. It should go without saying that financial gain should play no part in a district attorney’s decision to prosecute a case or a police agency’s decision to enforce the law. Other states that once had Indianastyle private-prosecuting-for-profit schemes gave them up long ago. In 2012, for example, a Georgia appeals court called that state’s contracting-out practices “repugnant,” and the Legislature outlawed them. But it’s different in Indiana, where wellconnected private attorney Joshua Taylor holds the local prosecutor’s forfeiture contracts in 20 of the state’s 92 counties. In 2021, Taylor went after $6,096 belonging to then-21-year-old Amya Sparger-Withers, who was at the time facing marijuana charges. Unlike many forfeiture targets, though, Sparger-Withers fought back. With the help of the Institute for Justice, a libertarian-oriented public interest law firm, she filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the state’s for-profit prosecution system. She lost in federal trial court but is now appealing to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The case has support from a broad spectrum of the legal community who are righteously outraged at this government overreach (masquerading as a lawsuit by a private lawyer) against a legally innocent citizen. Progressive district attorneys have also signed on to a brief filed by Fair and Just Prosecution, including Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón, Contra Costa County Dist. Atty. Diana Becton and more than 50 other current and former prosecutors and law enforcement leaders. They support the long-established principle that prosecutors are more than just lawyers whose clients happen to be the government, and must meet higher standards of justice. The fight to defend that principle against ominous pushback from the conservative legal and policing establishment is a strong undercurrent in Sparger-Withers’ case. That pushback can be seen in the impeachment of Philadelphia Dist. Atty. Larry Krasner by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2022 and the Florida governor’s removal of Hillsborough County state attorney Andrew Warren — and numerous other efforts — for seeking what the elected prosecutors considered the most just result in cases, instead of doing all they can to secure convictions and the toughest possible sentences. The same type of pushback is evident in the Indiana federal judge’s opinion in Sparger-Withers’ case. He remarked with obvious disdain about “many a sermon on prosecutors’ noble disinterestedness.” He asserted that historically “there was no belief that the prosecutor had any special duty to justice in the abstract, apart from his role as one side’s advocate in an adversary system.” But he also noted that the Supreme Court wrote in a 1935 opinion that the proper goal of prosecutors “is not that [they] shall win a case but that justice shall be done.” It’s an ancient principle with deep roots. The American system of justice is a remarkable achievement, although not flawless. While laden with injustices it is embedded in a larger system of democratic representation and civil rights that ensures an ongoing process of reform. Sparger-Withers’ suit is in that reform tradition. Arguments before the 7th Circuit are expected later this year, and they will be closely watched. At stake are due process for Indianans and the rights of all Americans to a legal system in which elected prosecutors are expected to seek justice rather than profit for their agencies or their cronies in private law practice. Indiana’s private, for-profit asset forfeiture scheme P resident Biden’s move Thursday to expand two national monuments in California is unquestionably good news for our climate and environment. One proclamation will increase the size of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by nearly one third, adding more than 105,000 acres of mountains and foothills above communities from Sylmar to Monrovia that were left out when President Obama first designated the area in 2014. The other will add 13,696 acres to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California to protect Molok Luyuk, or Condor Ridge. But Biden shouldn’t stop there. His administration should build on these conservation efforts and extend monument status to three other ecologically rich California landscapes with deep significance to Indigenous tribes. The most significant proposal would create Chuckwalla National Monument on more than 600,000 acres of federal land near Joshua Tree National Park stretching from the Coachella Valley to the Colorado River. Another would establish the 200,000- acre Sáttítla Medicine Lake Highlands National Monument near Mt. Shasta. The third would designate Kw’tsán National Monument on 390,000 acres in Imperial County along the border with Mexico and Arizona. Protecting those lands would put California closer to its goal of conserving at least 30% of land and coastal waters by 2030. With Thursday’s proclamations adding 120,000 acres, California now has about 24.5% of its land conserved under its “30x30” initiative, according to the state. But there’s still 5 million more acres to go. And it’s hard to see a realistic path to achieving that without increasing protections on large swaths of federal land. “We believe the time is now,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, who attended the White House ceremony Thursday where Biden signed the national monument expansions alongside tribal leaders, conservation groups and elected officials. With nearly half of California’s land owned by the federal government, “there’s no way we’re going to hit 30x30 without enhanced conservation measures, enhanced protections on federal lands,” Crowfoot said in an interview. Biden has now invoked the Antiquities Act 10 times during his presidency to designate and expand national monuments. The 1906 law has been used hundreds of times by presidents of both parties to establish or expand protections in places as breathtaking and beloved as the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Joshua Tree. This authority conferred by the act allows him to bypass Congress, and the Republican-controlled House that is unlikely to advance legislation to protect these areas. With the November election on the horizon, it would be prudent for Biden to act on the three remaining California proposals within the next few months and cement his legacy by conserving more land during his first term than any other president since Jimmy Carter. Boosting federal protection isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s in humanity’s self-interest to set aside wild open spaces that provide an outlet for public recreation, help keep the air and water clean, preserve rare species and provide a protective buffer as we experience the worsening effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. Doing so would set the state and nation on a more sustainable path and leave behind a conservation legacy that will yield benefits generations into the future. Two down. Three more to go Biden expanded two California national monuments. But there are additional worthy proposals. MILLARD FALLS is part of the expansion of California national monuments. Mel Melcon Los Angeles Times Say it: First, do no harm Re “Arizona Senate votes to repeal the state’s 1864 abortion law,” May 2 Republican legislators, repeat after me, even if you have to do it in the privacy of your home: I am sorry. Like so many Americans, I thought that abortion surgery was entirely elective. I had no idea that so many confirmed pregnancies do not result in a live birth, and that many women need surgery in order to preserve their fertility or ensure they never reach death’s door. I regret that I did not meet with board-certified obstetricians and gynecologists to educate myself before I introduced or supported antiaborton legislation. I now realize that my law degree, or my experience in running a business, does not make me an expert on everything. I will work toward correcting this. And, the next time I get sworn into office, I will quietly add part of the oath that all physicians take: First, do no harm. Diane Scholfield Vista, Calif. Re “Getting care after miscarriage,” letters, May 1 In some states with strict bans on abortion, sick pregnant women are being refused medical care because hospitals or physicians fear legal consequences or even jail. This makes me think about one of the basic principles of medicine: Do no harm. The late Rep. Elijah Cummings is said to have remarked, “The cost of doing nothing is not nothing.” When sick pregnant women are turned away by healthcare providers and nothing is done to help them, there are multiple costs: certainly physical and emotional trauma to women and their families, but there is also a cost to the entire community. Why would any doctor practice in a state that could force them to harm patients by withholding treatment? Melanie Hinson, MD San Pedro Protests are not antisemitic Re “Why is Israel singled out?” letters, May 2 In questioning the motives of protesters, one letter writer lists several instances of other governments’ misconduct in the form of persecution of Indigenous populations and, in Russia’s case, launching a war against Ukraine. Although these are all causes worthy of protest, they are irrelevant to the Israeli-Hamas conflict. This is an example of the “whataboutism” pseudoargument that tries to dilute or distract from the legitimate examination of a particular issue. In expressing a concern that Israel has been “singled out” for criticism, the implication is that this criticism is driven by antisemitism. After all, what other reason would there be for focusing on the Israeli government’s misconduct in the Gaza Strip to the exclusion of all these other instances of bad government? Indeed, the pro-Israeli lobby seeks to dismiss criticism of Israel’s brutal siege of Gaza as antisemitic. It is not. It is Israel’s extremist political leadership that is the target of global condemnation right now. Andrew Spathis Los Angeles :: As a Jew and a baby boomer, I am distressed, saddened and worried about the campus protests over the war in Gaza. I too might be joining these protests if it weren’t for a few inconvenient truths. Namely: 8 Hamas started this conflagration with a murderous rampage and the taking of civilian hostages. 8 Hamas continues to fight from bunkers while willingly placing Gazans in the line of fire. 8 Hamas continues to delay additional hostage releases and a cease-fire agreement. I would ask the protesters this: If your parent, child or sibling were one of the hostages, what would you want Israel to do to free them? Should Hamas get a “get out of jail free” card? Mark Warmbrand San Diego I have lately read a few letters to the editor that ask why the college students do not protest other countries doing terrible things or Hamas. The question is really very simple to answer. The students have no ability to have any effect on those other countries or Hamas. It is our country that has supplied aid and weapons to Israel. The first demand of the protesting Columbia students is this: “Divest all of Columbia’s finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine.” Alex Magdaleno Camarillo :: So it is all about hostages. Pro-Palestinian protesters attempt to hold American universities hostage until they divest from Israel. Hamas is holding their Israeli hostages until Israel ceases to exist. And we are all being held hostage by fanatics and fundamentalists. Barry M. Dank Palm Desert ABORTION RIGHTS supporters rally in Phoenix after the state Supreme Court ruled an 1864 abortion ban could take effect. That law has since been repealed. Gina Ferazzi Los Angeles Times LETTERS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 A13 OP-ED A mong the core Israeli national narratives that have been fractured by the Hamas terror attacks and months of war and violence is the notion that Israel’s ethos on firearms differs from that of the United States. Both countries can be characterized as gun-centric democracies, but according to the Israeli narrative, the U.S. is a land of too many guns and too few laws, while Israelis “trust their state, and don’t fear each other.” A common refrain emphasizes that in Israel, bearing arms isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. After Oct. 7, in a shockingly fast turnaround, that privilege became, if not a right, an imperative. In changing Israel’s relationship with firearms, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is also changing the nation in ways that could have profound and lasting implications. Ihave spent more than a decade collaborating with Israeli public health scholars and safety activists to better understand how a country with many guns could see only a fraction of U.S. civilian gun deaths. Partner shootings, homicides, gun suicides, accidental shootings and mass shootings have been remarkably low in Israel in part because the government banned assault rifles for private citizens and issued handgun permits only after an extensive vetting process. Effective gun laws reinforced social cohesion. If Americans carry guns based on individualized notions of self-protection, Israelis consider gun ownership a shared responsibility, and when gun policy comes up, they will explicitly say they “don’t want to be like the U.S.” But like many national narratives, Israel’s gun scripts are partly myth. Armed settlers in the West Bank have recklessly intimidated and harassed Palestinians. A robust contraband arms market flourishedin smaller cities, and the victims of those guns were overwhelmingly Arab citizens of Israel. Still, American researchers like me could view Israeli’s gun safety efforts as a model of successful public policy. Now that model is at risk. Hamas’ kidnapping and slaughter of Israelis represents a catastrophic failure of state protection. It has tapped into deep national fears about being Jewish, vulnerable and exposed. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — an incendiary Jewish supremacist once expelled from army service because of radicalism — has seized the moment. Prior to the Hamas attacks, he tried to weaken gun permit regulations and ease carry rights, but his arguments failed to gain traction. Now, however, he and his allies have managed to fast-track legislation that has generated an unprecedented spike in armed Jewish civilians. “Carry a Gun, It’s a Life-saver: Ben-Gvir and His Wife Boast of Dramatic Expansion in Israelis Carrying Weapons” read a headline in Haaretz on Oct. 22. Within a week of the attack, the Netanyahu government was purchasing and distributing thousands of firearms. Contentious Knesset oversight committee meetings detailed how dozens of unqualified people — including Ben Gvir’s personal staff appointees — had been granted temporary authority to approve gun license applications. In March, according to Haaretz, Ben-Gvir celebrated the issuance of 100,000 new permits in five months. :: It’s understandable that gun sales to civilians spike in times of peril. Guns provide real protection in some instances, and the promise of protection in others. And yet, gun safety and security are never as straightforward as the NRA’s “good guys” versus “bad guys” binary makes it seem. Armed civilians rarely prevent crimes such as mass shootings. Potential security benefits to arming civilians are often counterbalanced by risingeveryday gun-related injury and death. Gun ownership can make people wary of governments and regulations, and gun politics can also be tribalizing, divisive, even antidemocratic. After the death of George Floyd and amid the pandemic in 2020, people’s fears, sometimes fed by conspiracy theories, pushed gun sales to record highs. Gun sellers could exploit white anxiety about Black violence and the anxieties of Black and Latino populations as well. Meanwhile, pro-gun courts in the U.S. have been overturning firearm safety laws put in place by state or local legislatures and voters. The Middle East represents a profoundly different context. But Netanyahu’s government is doing more than responding to the traumatic chaos of the Hamas attacks by adopting U.S. gun laws: Ben Gvir’s gun policies paper over security lapses, weaken trust in democratic institutions, exacerbate divides and will do little to make anyone safer. For instance, Israeli data show that shockingly few terror attacks are stopped by civilians with guns, and yet the government insists otherwise. Armed civilians, said Netanyahu, “save lives.” He initially shrugged off an incident in which a “hero” armed civilian, who had indeed stopped a deadly terrorist attack, was then himself shot to death in the chaos. “We might have to pay prices,” Netanyahu said, “but that’s life.” It’s likely that disproportionate numbers of the newly distributed guns are ending up in the hands of supporters of Netanyahu’s conservative/religious coalition. Armed Jewish security squads have formed in mixed cities where both Jewish and Palestinian Israeli citizens live. Violence against Palestinians has escalated in the West Bank, where members of Jewish settler groups have long been allowed to carry weapons, while Palestinians have not. :: What does it mean for Israel to so rapidly adopt American-style armed individualism? In conversations last fall, Israeli Jewish and Palestinian clinicians, journalists, gun safety advocates and academics told me they’d been shattered by the Hamas attack and the plight of hostages. They understood their countrymen’s desire for firearms. At the same time, no one could believe how many guns were flooding in. “People we never imagined are lining up for permits and carrying guns,” one activist said during a group Zoom conversation. Others on the call chimed in. “My husband.” “My grocer.” “My father-inlaw.” “Me.” Being “like the U.S.” emerged as a source of disquiet. One activist who lives in a Tel Aviv suburb spoke as sirens rang in the background. How long after the Gaza war ends, he wondered, “will it take until we see our first Americanstyle mass shooting?” An ER doctor told a story about bickering neighbors holding up guns mid-argument. She asked a question that months before would have been unimaginable: “Do you think U.S. gun safety groups might be willing to take up our cause?” The “gun drive is running roughshod over democratic procedures,” a leading peace activist said, with “rising authoritarianism” and “a trajectory of increasingly violent police responses against antiwar protesters.” Later, as the human catastrophe in Gaza spiraled, another activist asked, “What violence is being done in our name?” By January, with protests against the war accelerating, a journalist wondered whether disarmament would be possible, with Israelis “under siege, not just by our enemies but also by the supposedly liberal, modern people in the West who we thought we were part of.” Would it be possible to imagine or “do peace”? :: The proliferation of guns in Israel that began as a response to an external threat has become an enforcer of expansive internal agendas. “I don’t really think Ben-Gvir wants Israelis to feel safe,” a Palestinian Israeli lawyer explained. “He wants settlers and crazies to intimidate others.” The gun safety movement is mobilized in opposition, but however its efforts evolve, the decisions Israel has already made about guns could go a long way toward shaping the future of the nation. Perhaps the country will overturn Ben-Gvir’s disastrous gun policies and begin the hard work of countering their polarizing health, social and political effects. Such an approach would require regional stability, and the renewal of what Haaretz calls “the contract between state and citizen.” Or Israel could remain a fortress, its people adopting “stand your ground” self-defensiveness and arming themselves in ever more anticipation of real and speculative threats. If I’ve learned anything from studying gun politics in the U.S., it’s that an armed and internally divided nation is less able to negotiate, effectively legislate or meaningfully compromise. Jonathan M. Metzl (@jonathanmetzl) directs the department of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt University and is the author, most recently, of “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms.” This article was produced in partnership with Zócalo Public Square. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Israelis have begun arming themselves the American way NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, center left, hands out assault rifles in Ashkelon, Israel, on Oct. 27. Menahem Kahana AFP/Getty Images A catastrophic failure of state protection generated an unprecedented surge in civilians obtaining guns. By Jonathan M. Metzl When did it become fashionable to diminish the accomplishments of Vietnam Warera protesters by accusing them of inflated self-regard and delusions about what their activism accomplished? In my view, the situation in the Mideast is more nuanced and complex than the United States’ involvement in Vietnam ever was. Israel’s horrific response notwithstanding, I fear that many proPalestinian student activists are naively unwilling to confront the role that Hamas and its allies have played in the conflict. But telling students that their agitation is pointless or merely performative because some folks have doubts about the effectiveness of the anti-Vietnam War movement is just wrong. “Those students didn’t shorten that terrible war,” wrote New York Times columnist Nick Kristof about the protesters of the late 1960s. “Instead, they probably prolonged it.” “The nostalgic champions of the campus protests of the ’60s would have Americans believe they were a heroic success, stopping the Vietnam War,” wrote Jonah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times. “But what they actually helped achieve was Richard Nixon’s election and seven more years of war.” There is certainly some truth there. Americans chose Republican Richard Nixon over Democrat Hubert Humphrey in 1968, at a time when urban uprisings and all kinds of political turbulence had exhausted voters. The Democratic Party was in disarray after President Lyndon B. Johnson declined to run again, Robert Kennedy was assassinated and the peace candidate, Eugene McCarthy, failed in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination at the party convention. Nixon, after all, famously courted that “silent majority” of presumably politically moderate Americans. But Nixon also promised to end the Vietnam War, which a solid majority of the public had soured on after the Tet Offensive in early 1968. But blaming antiwar protesters for Nixon’s decision to protract of the war in his misguided search for “peace with honor” and with his clandestine bombing of Cambodia is unfair. And using that conclusion to critique today’s student protesters, who have upended college campuses with their pro-Palestinian protests and encampments, trivializes the precious American right to protest peacefully. After Nixon was elected, the antiwar movement gained a legitimacy that led to real change. In response to a spate of civil disobedience, including organized draft card burnings, Nixon acknowledged that the deeply unpopular draft had to end. By 1972, a year before the Paris Peace Accords ended America’s role in the war, more U.S. men had filed for conscientious objector status than were actually drafted. Some estimates suggest as many as 100,000 young men left the country rather than fight in a morally indefensible conflict that had exacted a terrible cost in American and Vietnamese blood and treasure. Veterans like John Kerry, a Navy Swift boat commander horrified by what he’d seen and experienced in Vietnam, came home and campaigned against the war. How could anyone deny the effect Vietnam Veterans Against the War had on public sentiment? In early 1971 in Detroit, the group convened the Winter Soldier investigations, a three-day event where Vietnam veterans testified about atrocities that they had both witnessed and inflicted. And later that year, Kerry became the first Vietnam vet to testify on Capitol Hill. “Each day,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the spring of 1971, “someone has to give up his life so that the United States doesn’t have to admit something that the entire world already knows, so that we can’t say that we have made a mistake. How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” Here are some other ways antiwar protesters of that era helped change this country for the better: Since the founding, the voting age in this country was 21. The idea that you could kill or die for your country but not have a voice in its politics finally became untenable during the Vietnam War. Barry Maguire’s 1965 hit song, “Eve of Destruction” — “You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’” — helped crystallize the issue, and the 26th Amendment was ratified on July 1, 1971. Americans’ faith in their government was forever shaken by the release of the Pentagon Papers, purloined and made public by Daniel Ellsberg, the onetime military analyst turned antiwar activist, and the New York Times and the Washington Post. The leaked portion of the Defense Department report revealed to the public that the government had systematically lied about the war for years to the public and to Congress. As someone whose family was active in the antiwar movement, and who was present as a child when Los Angeles police officers attacked antiwar protesters outside the Century Plaza Hotel in 1967, I recognize my own bias here. Will the current protest movement have an effect on American foreign policy and President Biden’s support for Israel’s devastating and disproportionate retaliation for the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas? Perhaps, like the Vietnam War protests of the last century, there will be short-term backlash followed by long-term positive change. Claiming the protests are misguided, or doing more harm than good, is presumptuous in the extreme. @robinkabcarian PRO-PALESTINIAN protesters at an encampment at UCLA recently. The movement against the Vietnam War had far-reaching and complicated effects on politics and policy. Michael Owen Baker For The Times Youth protests did good in the ’60s. They may do so today too ROBIN ABCARIAN It’s become fashionable to diminish Vietnam-era demonstrations by claiming they got Richard Nixon elected. That’s misleading.

A14 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM OPINION BOOKS & IDEAS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “P eople aren’t history,” scoffs Adela, vice secretary of the Ministry, whose work is shrouded in secrecy and subterfuge. This retort comes late in Kaliane Bradley’s debut novel, “The Ministry of Time,” but it’s a telling line. Its dismissal of individual lives reveals the novel’s stakes. If people aren’t history, what is? This is a disturbing statement to come out of the mouth of a highranking British bureaucrat. For a book that could also be easily described as witty, sexy escapist fiction, “The Ministry of Time” packs a substantial punch. Of late, many critically acclaimed books embrace mystery and absurdity in a way that both suspends and expands conventionally held notions of time. Hilary Leichter’s “Terrace Story,” National Book Critics Circle award winner Lorrie Moore’s “I Am Not Homeless If This Is Not My Home,” Ali Smith’s “Companion Piece,” National Book Award winner Justin Torres’ “Blackouts” and Marie-Helene Bertino’s “Beautyland,” among others, forge poignant, bracing emotional connections. Their playfulness reveals possibilities and perspectives that might be lost in a novel bound by factchecked 21st century reality. After all, in a world where nothing feels normal, fiction that embraces a disregard for physics and convention mirrors our new upside-down quotidian life. To this end, Kaliane Bradley proves that it’s possible to address imperialism, the scourge of bureaucracy, cross-cultural conflict and the paranoia inherent in a surveillance state through her utterly entertaining novel. “The Ministry of Time” begins with a sixth-round job interview for an undisclosed position. The unnamed narrator is caught off guard when “the interviewer said my name, which made my thoughts clip. I don’t say my name, not even in my head. She’d said it correctly, which people generally don’t.” For the narrator, who “plateaued” as a “translator-consultant” in the Languages department of the Ministry of Defense, this top-secret job that pays three times her current salary is worth the mystery. Soon the work is disclosed. The narrator, whose mother immigrated to the United Kingdom from Cambodia, will be working closely with people who might bristle at the term “refugees.” She’s now part of the Ministry of Expatriation working with one of five “expats” scavenged from the past. Confident in her storytelling, Bradley sweeps away the details of how and why time travel exists in the novel. “All you need to know is that in your near future, the British government developed the means to travel through time but had not yet experimented with doing it.” With that, from the jump, readers and characters alike are asked to take a leap of faith as the narrator assumes the role of a “bridge” between an “expat” and modern life. The larger purpose of her work is elusive to her as well, but, in short, the narrator is tasked to be the roommate of an explorer named Commander Graham Gore who died on a doomed Royal Navy Arctic exhibition in 1847. He’s mannered, understandably jumpy, but also rather sexy for someone who died close to 200 years ago. Will this be an odd sort of meet-cute, or is something more chaotic afoot? Buckle up, the ride has just begun. Juggling notions of “hereness” (the present) and “thereness” (the past), the novel’s five expats come to grips — or not — with the fact that they have been snatched from the past. The ministry selected individuals who were on the point of death so that their departures from the past would in no way rupture their historic timelines. But how would they affect the present? The bridges take notes, and medical examinations are de rigueur, but these collected data are merely passed along without much in the way of analysis. The expats and bridges adjust to life together in a largely amusing fashion, sharing lovely homes provided by the ministry, visiting pubs, learning about the very existence of cinema. Music streaming services are a hit, but, generally speaking, the expats find it hard to accept the scale of modern life. Whether this is due to some physical mutation created by the process of time travel or if it’s merely the challenge of cultural displacement for people “loose as dust in narrative time,” true fissures begin to surface. In a manner that feels wholly unsurprising to the reader, suspicions arise as to the nature of the project. Why exactly is there a need for secrecy and what are the particulars about this ability to time travel that we’re asked to tacitly accept? Tensions also flare between the narrator and another bridge, Simellia, who are the two people of color in this tightly knit circle. The specter of imperialism looms and informs a certain tension between the narrator and Gore. Yet, as a green bureaucrat, happy to rise in the ranks, she confronts Simellia, saying, “You signed up for this job… [knowing], as much as I did, that what we were doing was world-changing. That’s what you wanted, remember? Do you think the world changes by being asked politely? Or do you think there has to be risk?” But this brash confidence begins to waver. The narrator recognizes, “Every time I gave Graham a book, I was trying to shunt him along a story I’d been telling myself all my life.” Then she notes that the ministry “fed us all poison from a bottle marked ‘prestige’ and we developed a high tolerance for bitterness.” While the book does assume some obvious postures of university-level post-colonial theory and language, it moves past these more cliched moments by focusing its attention on the characters. A tight narrative rich with witty banter, cutting observations and interspersed passages from Gore’s doomed expedition also keep the novel taut. “Maybe I was tired of stories, telling them and hearing them,” muses the narrator. Curiously, while she made languages her profession (hence her tendency to consider that “the great project of Empire was to categorize: owned and owner, coloniser and colonised, evolué and barbarian, mine and yours”), her antagonistic younger sister became a writer. Finding herself falling in love with Gore, the narrator becomes the story, upending history. As the story’s momentum builds into that of a spy thriller, Bradley pulls off a rare feat. “The Ministry of Time” is a novel that doesn’t stoop to easy answers and doesn’t devolve into polemic. It’s a smart, gripping work that’s also a feast for the senses. An assassination, moles, questions of identity and violence wreak havoc on our happy lovers and the bubble they create in London. Yet our affection for them is as fresh and thrilling as theirs is for one another, two explorers of a kind, caught in a brilliant discovery. Bradley has written an edgy, playful and provocative book that’s likely to be the most thought-provoking romance novel of the summer. Check your history: That’s no small feat. Lauren LeBlanc is a board member of the National Book Critics Circle. When surveillance paranoia and time travel collide By Lauren LeBlanc Kaliane Bradley proves imperialism, the scourge of bureaucracy and cross-cultural conflict can be utterly entertaining in ‘The Ministry of Time.’ The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Avid Reader Press W hether it’s first love or obsessive love or family love, May’s new releases have a lot to say about that which makes the world go ’round. However, if you’re disinclined to pick up a love story, there’s also a memoir inspired by U.S. Founding Fathers, a great beach read set on Cape Cod and the autobiography of a self-titled “feminist punk.” Happy reading! NONFICTION First Love: Essays on Friendship By Lilly Dancyger Dial Press: 224 pages, $28 (May 7) Dancyger, who has written insightfully about women and anger (“Burn It Down”) and her parents’ addiction (“Negative Space”), turns to the friendships that have sustained her. From childhood to adolescence and on to adulthood, the author’s intense bonds with other women, based on commonalities as varied as kinship, substance abuse or caregiving, place these essays integrating personal experience and cultural allusions alongside Leslie Jamison’s work. Throne of Grace: A Mountain Man, an Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West By Bob Drury and Tom Clavin St. Martin’s Press: 368 pages, $30 (May 7) Jedediah Smith might be one of the most important, and one of the most overlooked, 19th century explorers in our nation’s history. Authors Clavin and Drury, who last wrote “Blood and Treasure,” about Daniel Boone, are correcting that oversight. Here they use Smith’s own journals, among other resources, to capture the adventures of a man who was the first white settler to see much of the territory between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, as well as parts of Mexico. The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning By A.J. Jacobs Crown: 304 pages, $30 (May 7) Father of the stunt memoir (“The KnowIt-All”) Jacobs examines those we call our Founding Fathers in an endeavor that has the indefatigable author wearing a tricorne hat, battling Redcoat reenactors and delivering quill-written missives to strangers. He challenges assumptions about some truths we have long held to be self-evident. Oh, wait, that’s the Declaration of Independence. Time to read this book! Love Is a Burning Thing: A Memoir By Nina St. Pierre Dutton: 320 pages, $28 (May 7) Her mother set herself on fire once, then discovered transcendental meditation. As she chased enlightenment, she moved the author and her brother all over California — until setting another fire that would result in tragedy. As St. Pierre faces her parent’s mental illness, she also investigates how and why people who lose their place in society often turn to extremes of spirituality, as well as how deep compassion can help them find real peace. Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk By Kathleen Hanna Ecco: 336 pages, $30 (May 14) Hanna, the former Bikini Kill frontwoman and co-founder of the Riot Grrrl movement, starts with her difficult childhood and traces its influences into her future actions like “Girls to the Front” and lyrics about gender-based violence. She survived Lyme disease, married the Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz and became a parent. Along the way, her views have changed, but her honest, funny and raw voice has not. FICTION Shanghailanders: A Novel By Juli Min Spiegel & Grau: 288 pages, $28 (May 7) Unspooling backward from an imagined 2040 to 2014, this novel shows a Chinese family coping with 21st-century pressures and pleasures across three continents. The Yangs — father Leo, mother Eko and eldest daughters Yumi and Yoko — will interact with the “baby” of the family, Kiko; a long-suffering nanny, or ayi; and a cab driver, in chapters that spiral back to a denouement as sophisticated and affecting as Leo, “a real Shanghai man.” Housemates: A Novel By Emma Copley Eisenberg Hogarth: 352 pages, $29 (May 28) Eisenberg’s fiction debut feels like a swim in a heated pool after a long journey. Bernie and Leah, Philadelphia housemates, embark on a road trip west in order to claim some photography materials from Bernie’s onetime academic mentor. En route, the women meet all manner of characters and discuss all kinds of topics, eventually (some readers will say inevitably) falling in love with each other. They’ll never bore each other, or readers. Blue Ruin: A Novel By Hari Kunzru Knopf: 272 pages, $28 (May 16) Kunzru’s novel ends a trilogy speaking to current problems of racism, right-wing politics and inequality. Struggling artist Jay is delivering groceries during the global pandemic. Not feeling well, he seeks shelter with an ex-girlfriend. Alice, whose husband was Jay’s art-school frenemy, hides Jay in a barn. But isolation of all kinds, including economic, ups the dramatic ante, and the three “friends” must contend with their choices. Exhibit: A Novel By R.O. Kwon Riverhead Books: 224 pages, $28 (May 28) Kwon, who tackled obsessive faith in her debut, “The Incendiaries,” and obsessive intimacy in the anthology “Kink,” coedited with Garth Greenwell, here explores the landscape of obsessive desire between the married woman Jin Han and the ballet star Lidija Jung. The author elegantly uses Jin’s belief that she is cursed by an unquiet spirit as a means of expressing the torment Jin feels being divided between safety and ecstasy. The Winner: A Novel By Teddy Wayne Harper: 320 pages, $30 (May 28) The author sees this novel as a departure from his usual work. But readers will see that even if “The Winner” has a more propulsive plot, it ties in with Wayne’s novels “Kapitoil” and “The Great Man Theory” as it also centers on socioeconomics. Conor O’Toole lands a job as a tennis pro in a wealthy community near Cape Cod and thinks he’s living a dream, juggling affairs with two women — until he hits a metaphorical foul shot. 10 books to add to your reading list in May By Bethanne Patrick Los Angeles Times

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 A15 OPINION BOOKS & IDEAS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C olm Tóibín is hardly known for “hooks,” but he certainly has one here. The author, who’s specialized in the novelized lives of repressed literary masters with elaborate prose styles — Henry James in “The Master,” Thomas Mann in “The Magician” — returns in “Long Island” to his other register, the deceptively simpler storytelling of ordinary lives, and to the familiar territory of his enormously popular book, the 2009 novel “Brooklyn” (later made into an equally popular film starring Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson). Ah, that hook. Eilis Fiorello, née Lacey, answers the door of her Long Island home to find a stranger who tells her that her husband, Tony, a plumber, “did a bit more than was in the estimate … and his plumbing is so good that [the man’s wife] is to have a baby in August.” As soon as the child is born, the man says, he will deposit it on the Fiorellos’ doorstep. The problem, among others, is that Eilis will not have the baby in her house either. “What is plot in a novel?” Tóibín has said. “An action that has consequences, which must not be predictable.” What makes “Long Island” especially rich — and doubly suspenseful — is that, along with fallout from Tony’s infidelity, the story is haunted by the consequences of actions taken at the heart-twisting conclusion of “Brooklyn.” You don’t have to have read “Brooklyn” to enjoy “Long Island,” but because the new novel revisits the scenes, characters and complications of the earlier one, knowing the first makes reading the second that much more affecting. In “Brooklyn,” having impulsively and secretly married the Italian American Tony, 18-year-old Eilis returns to Ireland upon her sister’s death and falls for a local barman, Jim Farrell, only to have to go back to Brooklyn, leaving the bewildered Jim, when a gossip discovers her marriage. It is some 20 years later when the cuckold appears on Eilis’ doorstep, and in the interim she has built what flashbacks suggest is a happy life, living with Tony and their two nowteenage children in an enclave on Long Island, close by Tony’s brothers and parents. Having made her position on the quandary known to Tony — choose the baby or her — Eilis goes home to Ireland to stay for a while with her 80-year-old mother, a sharp, self-contained woman with definite ideas and a clear grudge against her daughter for leaving her alone all those years ago. In Enniscorthy, Eilis, of course, reencounters Jim, who has recently taken up with her oldest friend, Nancy, five years a widow. What will Tony do? What about his family, living in each other’s pockets as they do? Will Eilis and Jim rekindle their romance? If so, what does that mean for Nancy? The tension of not knowing is intense, for the reader as well as the characters, who seem as uncertain as we are about their next moves. The suspense is amplified by the way Tóibín deftly balances the story between the forces of secrecy and revelation. Eilis tells no one, including her mother, about her predicament. Jim and Nancy tell no one about their relationship. Eilis’ mother and daughter are both silent on the pieces of the puzzle that have come into their possession. Against all this withholding, gossip — never-ending, omnipresent — relentlessly works away. Sometimes it’s deliberate, even malicious, but mostly it’s a matter of all of Enniscorthy, like the Fiorello family in their cul-de-sac on Long Island, living in longtime, complicated juxtaposition to each other’s lives. They are all in the same story, in a sense that transcends the narrative of a novel. “Sure, everyone knows everything,” as one of Eilis’ brothers tells another. Even the withholding of gossip has a place in the plot. “I made a decision early in life not to be a gossip,” Eilis’ mother tells her. “And it has always stood to me.” Meanwhile, what she could’ve said might have changed everything. The characters in “Long Island” are constantly cautioning themselves not to say anything, for fear of upsetting that fine balance that exists in intimacy as much as in community. But not saying is an act with consequences, too — one that Tóibín, a master of his art, exploits to exquisite effect at the end, leaving us to wonder, yet again, what’s next. Ellen Akins is a freelance editor and the author of five works of fiction. Bound by the tension between secrecy and revelation ‘Long Island’ is especially rich because its characters are haunted by actions at the heart-twisting conclusion of Colm Tóibín’s preceding novel, ‘Brooklyn.’ By Ellen Akins Long Island by Colm Tóibín Scribner Book Co. E rnesto Londoño’s engrossing and unsettling new book, “Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics,” is part memoir, part work of journalism. It tells of how Londoño sought relief from depression with mind-altering drugs. It also investigates the current fad of “medicinal” psychedelics as a treatment for those struggling with depression, trauma, suicidality and other conditions. Like other psychedelic enthusiasts, Londoño — a journalist who reported in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan and served as the New York Times’ Brazil bureau chief — wants us to like psychedelics. They relieve him of depression and suicidality. He then continues to “trip” to engage in self-exploration: Escape reality, journey into himself and return with an expanded view of the world. Calling street drugs and hallucinogenics such as psilocybin, MDMA/ecstasy, LSD and ayahuasca “medicine” is problematic. Psychedelic psychiatry has had a resurgence in the past decade, though only among a minority of medical professionals. Mainstream psychiatry largely abandoned psychedelics by the 1970s, for a variety of reasons. The renewed interest in psychedelics as a treatment seems to arise more from hope than science — a wish that medicinal psychedelics will be effective because our current treatments are inadequate. Antidepressants known as SSRIs and other approaches are often ineffectual, but that doesn’t mean psychedelics, which can be damaging to many in acute distress, should be tried. Londoño is more balanced in discussing the benefits and dangers than Michael Pollan and others. Pollan’s bestselling book-turnedNetflix series “How to Change Your Mind” proselytizes medicinal psychedelics in a way that “Trippy” thankfully doesn’t. Londoño brings a healthy dose of skepticism. Psychedelics aren’t romanticized with examples of the counterculture movement of the 1960s or hyped by listing celebrities currently using them. The author often questions how much of what he’s part of is “a cult” and if what he’s taking is “voodoo,” not medicine. “Trippy” is a fascinating account of the world of medicinal psychedelics. We attend psychedelic retreats in the Amazon and Latin America. We drink ayahuasca, a syrupy, foul-tasting psychoactive tea that induces vomiting and hallucinations. Ayahuasca calls back “memories” — some real, others false — that participants take as the cause of their emotional ill health. We visit a ketamine clinic, where Londoño feels a “blissful withdrawal,” retaining “strong powers of perception” but losing “any sense of being a body with limbs that can move at will.” We watch MDMA (a German pharmaceutical from 1912 now best known as the street drug called ecstasy or molly) being administered at a veterans hospital to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. At a “treatment center”/church/spiritual refuge in Austin, Texas, we witness tobacco being blown into a man’s nostrils, extract from an Amazonian plant squirted into his eyes, and toad venom burned into his forearms under the guise of spiritual salvation. Unlike the unbridled enthusiasts, Londoño exposes the predatory nature of the psychedelic industry and how it exoticizes the use of hallucinogens as Indigenous medicines. We’re privy to some scandals in this field, specifically sexual abuse and harassment and taking advantage of vulnerable people looking for help. It’s an engaging memoir of one man’s experiences with psychedelics. Londoño’s little asides, like when he’s talking about meeting the man who would become his husband, endear him to us: “I saw the profile of a handsome man visiting from Minnesota for the weekend. He was a vegetarian and veterinarian. Swoon!” But as a work of mental health journalism, “Trippy” isn’t, as the book jacket suggests, “the definitive book on psychedelics and mental health today.” Much is overlooked and left out. Londoño fails to stress that these treatments best serve the “worried well,” those struggling with relatively mild complaints, but can be extremely unsafe for those with serious mental illness, meaning severe dysfunction. Such a person has typically been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder with suicidality, posttraumatic stress or schizophrenia. They can’t hold a job or live independently, often for years. Most people Londoño interviews in “Trippy” seek “bliss,” not lifesaving measures to give them a chance at basic functioning. The retreats are less mental health centers than gatherings of spiritual seekers. Full disclosure: I read “Trippy” with an open mind and as someone who spent 25 years in the American mental health system with serious mental illness. Those years passed the way they do for so many: a string of hospitalizations endured, countless therapeutic modalities tried, numerous mental health professionals seen and myriad psychiatric medications taken (yes, in the double digits). “Medicinal” psychedelics never came up as a potential treatment. I recovered before fringe psychiatry’s renewed interest in psychedelics became a fad in the past decade. It’s unsettling that Londoño doesn’t mention the recovery movement and what we know can lead to mental health recovery. He doesn’t mention the five Ps, which are based on the four Ps that Thomas Insel, former head of the National Institute of Mental Health, writes about in “Healing: Our Path From Mental Illness to Mental Health.” To heal, we need people (social support), place (a safe home), purpose (meaning in life), payment (access to mental health care) and physical health (a clean diet and, ironically, no drugs or alcohol). Londoño fails to explore whether his recovery had as much to do with the changes he made as a result of his first treatment/trip as with psychedelics themselves: changes in diet, renewed purpose, finding love, moving into a new home, leaving his stressful job. If two centuries of psychiatric research has taught us one thing, it’s that there is no magic bullet for mental health recovery. The book’s most compelling explorations into psychedelics as mental health treatments come when Londoño discusses their use in treating trauma, particularly that which war journalists and veterans experience. He also explores the pervasiveness of mental health issues and the particular challenges LGBTQ+ people can face. “Trippy” raises seminal questions we need to be asking as the psychedelic industry reaches further into mental health treatment: What is “medicine” and what is an illicit drug? Are we trying to treat those in crisis or simply help anyone escape the suffering that’s part of the human experience? Should we continue to try more and more extreme treatments? Or should we finally pay attention to and change systemic issues that are the root cause of so much mental and emotional distress? Sarah Fay is the author of the bestselling memoirs “Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses” and “Cured.” A PSYCHEDELICS BELIEVER BUT NOT A ZEALOT A reporter’s memoir explores psychiatry’s renewed flirtation with drugs such as LSD and ecstasy By Sarah Fay Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics by Ernesto Londoño Illustration by Jim Cooke Los Angeles Times; photo via Getty Images

A16 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 WST LATIMES.COM Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on its wanted list, Russian state media reported, citing the Interior Ministry’s database. Zelensky and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, were on the ministry’s list of people wanted on unspecified criminal charges. Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk, who is commanding Ukraine’s ground forces in the war against Russia’s invasion, was also on the list. Russian officials did not immediately clarify the allegations. Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet, reported Saturday that both Zelensky and Poroshenko had been listed since at least late February. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the reports of Zelensky’s inclusion as evidence of “the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda.” Russia’s wanted list includes scores of officials from Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries. Among them is Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of NATO and European Union member Estonia, who has fiercely advocated for increased military aid to Kyiv and stronger sanctions against Moscow. Russian officials have said Kallas is wanted over efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments to Red Army soldiers in the Baltic nation. Fellow NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have also pulled down monuments widely seen as an unwanted legacy of Soviet occupation. Russia has laws criminalizing the “rehabilitation of Nazism” that include punishing the “desecration” of war memorials. Also on Russia’s list are cabinet ministers from Estonia and Lithuania, as well as the International Criminal Court prosecutor who last year prepared a warrant for President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges. Moscow has also charged the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, with what it deems “terrorist” activities, including Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian infrastructure. The Kremlin has sought to link Ukraine’s leaders to Nazism, though the country has a democratically elected Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust, and despite the aim of many Ukrainians to strengthen the country’s democracy, reduce corruption and move closer to the West. Moscow named “de-Nazification, de-militarization and a neutral status” of Ukraine as the key goals of what it calls a “special military operation” against its southern neighbor. The claim of “de-Nazification” refers to Russia’s false assertions that Ukraine’s government is heavily influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups — an allegation derided by Kyiv and its Western allies. The Holocaust, World War II and Nazism have been important tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russia’s war in Ukraine. World War II, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people, is a linchpin of Russia’s national identity, and officials bristle at any questioning of the USSR’s role. Some historians say this has been coupled with an attempt by Russia to retool certain historical truths from the war. They say Russia has tried to magnify the Soviet role in defeating the Nazis while playing down any collaboration by Soviet citizens in the persecution of Jews, along with allegations of crimes by Red Army soldiers against civilians in Eastern Europe. Moscow puts Ukraine’s president and NATO officials on wanted list Kyiv says unspecified charges show Russia’s ‘desperation’ in war. associated press VANCOUVER, Canada — Canadian police said they arrested three suspects Friday in a Sikh separatist leader’s slaying in June that became the center of a diplomatic spat with India, and are investigating possible ties between the detainees and the Indian government. Three Indian nationals in their 20s, identified as Kamalpreet Singh, Karan Brar and Karampreet Singh, were arrested in Edmonton on Friday morning in the slaying of 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was shot down by masked gunmen outside Vancouver, police said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked a diplomatic feud with India in September when he said that there were “credible allegations” that India was involved in Nijjar’s death. India had accused Nijjar of links to terrorism, but angrily denied involvement in the slaying. In response to Trudeau’s allegations, Indian officials told Canada last year to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats from the country. Tensions remain but have somewhat eased since. The three suspects had been living in Canada as nonpermanent residents, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Mandeep Mooker said Friday at a news conference in Toronto. “We are investigating whether there are any ties to the government of India,” Mooker said. Assistant Police Commissioner David Teboul said Canadian authorities are speaking with counterparts in India. “I would characterize that collaboration as rather challenging,” he said. “It’s been very difficult.” The three men were expected to be transported to British Columbia by Monday to face charges of firstdegree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Nijjar, an Indian-born citizen of Canada, was a plumber and also a leader in what remains of a oncestrong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. But he had denied allegations of ties to terrorism. A bloody decade-long Sikh insurgency shook north India in the 1970s and 1980s, until it was crushed in a government crackdown in which thousands of people were killed, including prominent Sikh leaders. Gillies and Morris write for the Associated Press. Times staff contributed to this report. 3 arrested in slaying of Sikh separatist A BANNER outside a Sikh house of worship in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey, Canada, honors separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was slain in June. Darryl Dyck Associated Press Possible ties between India government and suspects investigated. By Rob Gillies and Jim Morris ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE INDEPENDENT LIVING HOME CARE There’s a perfect place for your mom or dad. And we’ll help you find it. We know that finding the right senior care for your mom or dad is a big decision. That’s where A Place for Mom comes in. Our senior living advisory service ensures you’ll get a full understanding of all the options in your area based on your loved one’s care needs and budget. You’ll get more than just expert advice and recommendations. You’ll also get peace of mind. Start the conversation with one of our expert Senior Living Advisors today. Our service comes at no cost to your family. 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Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rankings are based on the 12-month period ending June 30 of the year prior to publication and selected by SHOOK Research, LLC from a pool of nominations as indicated in the methodology. The rankings may not be representative of any one client’s experience and are not indicative of the inancial advisor’s future performance. For more information, see www.stifel.info/award-disclosures. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com CONGRATULATIONS Joshua M. Glass Managing Director/Investments (310) 824-8080 [email protected] 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2100 Los Angeles, California 90067

CALIFORNIA S UNDAY , MAY 5 , 2024 :: L ATIMES.COM/CALIFORNIA B After police forcibly removed pro-Palestinian encampments at two universities last week, college leaders across California are grappling with how to move forward with protests on other campuses. The high-profile law enforcement operations that cleared a massive camp at the heart of UCLA and evicted protesters at Cal Poly Humboldt who had occupied buildings were in some ways unique. Elsewhere, the camps and other protests have been smaller and less disruptive. But pro-Palestinian protesters calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza at other California campuses have vowed to continue their encampments. And that puts university leaders in a tough spot. College presidents at places such as USC, UCLA and Columbia University who have supported the arrests of students have faced a swift backlash from some. Yet the camps have been a source of controversy, especially if they interrupt campus operations. Some officials have said they are willing to allow the encampments to remain as long as A PROTESTER waves a Palestinian flag to show solidarity with a pro-Palestinian encampment nearby last week at UC Irvine. Gina Ferazzi Los Angeles Times What now for encampments? Campus protesters say they plan to remain resolute on demands THE GAZA Solidarity Encampment was created Wednesday on the campus of Cal State L.A. The group’s organizers vow to remain until their demands are met. Myung J. Chun Los Angeles Times By Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Ashley Ahn and Hannah Fry [See Encampments, B4] A trio of crimes involving Democratic lawmakers has put the spotlight back on public safety in the Golden State, an issue on which experts warn the party’s candidates could be vulnerable in November. In the span of a week, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was the victim of a burglary at Getty House in Windsor Square, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) had his suitcase stolen out of his car in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a plainclothes police officer protecting San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan was punched by a pedestrian during a television interview. All three incidents were ready-made fodder for Republican critics who often lambaste California’s approach to public safety. They have also renewed concerns that how California voters think about crime could affect some Democrats in swing districts in November. “Voters are thinking: You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Darry Sragow, a longtime Democratic strategist. “Adam Schiff isn’t safe, Karen Bass isn’t safe — if they’re not safe, who is?” Property and violent crime rates in California both rose during the COVID-19 pandemic but remain far below the peaks of the 1980s and 1990s. When it Crime may be crucial issue in election By Laura J. Nelson [See Crime, B7] Schiff, Bass break-ins put spotlight on public safety and could hurt Democrats politically. Once music fans file out of the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio at the end of the Stagecoach and Coachella festivals, the work begins for charitable organizations that turn the discarded clutter — more than 24 tons of it strewn throughout the 642- acre property — into a benefit for the needy. Among the things left behind on the festival grounds are clothing, camping gear, dry foods and other goods that community organizations pick up by the truckload to help benefit the lowincome and unhoused people they serve. Many out-of-town festival attendees leave behind folding tables or camping chairs because they fly into Southern California and purchase what they need for the weekend but can’t carry the items onto a plane when they leave, said Lupe TorresHilario, director of operations at the Galilee Center, a nonprofit that fulfills food, clothing and basic needs for disadvantaged children, families and farmworkers in the East Coachella Valley. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival ran April 12-14 and April 19-21. The Stagecoach Country Music Festival ran April 26- 28. For the last five years, the Galilee Center has sent two trucks to the Stagecoach festival and four to the Coachella festival the day after the festivities end. Volunteers and Galilee Center staff split up among the campsites to find left-behind items or ask attendees who are packing up their campsites whether they After big concerts, detritus plays encore Charity groups reuse festival-goers’ items left at Stagecoach, Coachella SLEEPING BAGS, pillows and bedding are piled up in a camping area Monday after the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times By Karen Garcia [See Surplus, B6] Matt Clark needed to return five pairs of steel-toed work boots that he ordered from Amazon, so he packaged them up in a big box — along with the family cat. Now, the family has a tale with a tail, all about the journey of Galena, a 6-year-old short-haired feline who traveled nearly 630 miles inside the sealed package from her home in Lehi, Utah, to an Amazon warehouse in Riverside in early April. Clark’s wife, Carrie, said Galena loves to play in boxes, hide and hunt. She is known to be quiet. But nobody expected her to become a stowaway. “Unfortunately, she’s not the kind of cat who makes noises, so she wasn’t speaking up for herself,” she said. Galena’s accidental journey started April 10, when Matt Clark put the five boxes of boots in a 3-foot-by-3-foot package. The Clarks suspect Galena jumped into the box when Matt walked away to get a pair of scissors and tape to seal it. Matt did not inspect the box because he had already placed the boots inside. He sealed it up and took the large package to the local UPS store, which handles Unpack this tale of a cat in a box A Utah feline is accidentally sealed in an Amazon package and sent to Riverside. By Karen Garcia [See Galena, B2] Bill Maher said last week on his HBO talk show that pro-Palestinian student protests on college campuses are what happens when “activism merges with narcissism.” The Atlantic columnist David Frum referred to protesters like the UCLA students who were violently attacked by a mob of counterprotesters as “bananaallergy revolutionaries.” During Tuesday night’s tactical police response to Columbia University students taking over a building on campus, author Judith Miller tweeted: “Hey Columbia protesters! If you’re so proud of what you’re doing, why are you covering your faces?” Mocking student protesters has become a fun and easy pastime since they began marching and camping out in opposition to Israel’s ongoing military incursions in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. All critics and jeering old folks need is a platform (cable TV, Instagram, a tattered soapbox) to discredit the movement as the performative act of feckless snowflakes and spoiled children. The protective gear of the “gluten-free warriors” is a form of Mocking the protesters was fun — until it wasn’t [See Ali, B4] LORRAINE ALI NEWS AND CULTURE CRITIC

B2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM O h-so-many millennia ago, the Palos Verdes Peninsula arose like Aphrodite, beautiful and dripping wet, from the sea. All right, so it didn’t happen exactly that way. The inexorable wonderworkings of geology — with a fanciful nod to Poseidon, the god of earthquakes and oceans — created that stunning headland that juts its chin out into the Pacific from Los Angeles County. And geology has had a hand in its recent slip-sliding dangers too. (Poseidon: Don’t blame me, mortals!) As the winter rains finally make their way to wherever it is they go for the summer, the peninsula can tally its casualty list from the last eight or nine months. Principally and most recently, the luminous Wayfarers Chapel, a national historic landmark, Lloyd Wright’s marvel of wood and glass in Rancho Palos Verdes, has always seemed to hover above the sea. Now it’s been sidling tragically toward it: It is closed, and probably unlikely to reopen in the same place ever again. A couple of months ago, houses in Rancho Palos Verdes were red-tagged. The landslide system at Portuguese Bend has been hitting the accelerator. As the Rancho Palos Verdes mayor, John Cruikshank, has mournfully described it, the land “used to move inches a year; now it is moving feet a year.” Last year, 10 houses in Rolling Hills Estates descended catastrophically into a canyon. No place in the spectacular 4,000-plus square miles of Los Angeles County — desert, mountains, seashore, hills and basin — has been unaffected by what I’ll call “the late deluge,” but in the heights of the PV Peninsula, it was dramatic and costly. The place that looks like an eternal fortress turns out to have feet of clay — and I mean that literally, as you will see. The human history of the peninsula has been abbreviated, compared with its geology. Native Americans built their villages across this promontory, and Malaga Cove has been a settlement for at least seven millennia. On Oct. 8, 1542, 50 years less four days after Columbus made landfall in the New World, a Portuguese explorer whose name was rendered in Spanish as Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sighted the PV Peninsula. Perhaps he deserves the title “the father of smog,” for he called the place “the bay of smokes,” probably from the signal fires the Native Americans built atop the headland. A couple of centuries or so later, the peninsula became part of a Spanish land grant, and the demesne of Manuel Dominguez as his Rancho San Pedro. Later, in Mexican California, another grandee family, the Sepulvedas, became masters of the land, now renamed Rancho Palos Verdes. A whaling station briefly operated here, and by the 20th century, the cattle that once grazed the promontory had long vanished, but the people kept coming. Around World War I, an influential financier named Frank Vanderlip visited the place and was so struck by its beauty that he began a plan to acquire and develop the peninsula, a kind of Newport of the Pacific, a California version of the Rhode Island community where Gilded Age magnates built seafront “cottages” of marble and gilt. Vanderlip built his own magnificent estate, Villa Narcissa, in the 1920s. Some years ago, I was a guest for lunch there, the plus-one of an English friend who had been invited by Vanderlip’s grande dame daughter-in-law Elin. In the 1930s, the locals staged fox hunts and hunt balls and other fashionable gatherings, yet it wasn’t until after the next World War that the peninsula truly filled up, with more modest houses in spectacular settings. The houses are still modest, certainly by comparison to the metabolically overwrought mansions of Beverly Hills and West L.A., but now the prices, like the views, are spectacular. The supporting cast over the years has run to Marineland (now closed), aggressively territorial surfer gangs, feral peacocks, and the inevitable golf courses, one of them Donald Trump’s. That’s a Twitter-short summation of the human history. For the geo-genealogy that’s begetting the fractious Palos Verdes Peninsula of today, I consulted Kevin Coffey, a lecturer in earth, planetary and space sciences at UCLA. Coffey lives on the peninsula and rejoices in having its real-life science right out his door: “The Palos Verdes Peninsula is unique in its geology in many ways. And in other ways it’s the geology we have throughout much of Los Angeles, but it’s unique in how it’s been uplifted, in how we can see it all.” Where Los Angeles is now, there was just ocean. The L.A. County Natural History Museum’s L.A. Underwater exhibit takes us back 90 million years to the life of underwater L.A. So the ocean, and not space aliens, explains why ancient whale parts have turned up in Lincoln Heights and Mt. Washington, once the contours of the seabed. Even after the peninsula shook off those ages of immersion, about a million years ago, give or take a few centuries, it was for a very long time still an island, like its nearby relative, Santa Catalina. A sleeve of water separated it from the continent. Only 75,000 or 100,000 years ago did that water channel silt in and fill up, and lo, the promontory was wedded to the mainland. One thing about the PVP that delights Coffey is that it is composed of all three kinds of rock — sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. If you were to slice it like a cake, this is what you’d find: At the top there is, like frosting on a cake, shale mud, Altamira Shale, the sedimentary legacy of those seabed millennia. These layers have mouth-watering names that sound like expensive paint colors or elaborate pastries: Valmonte Diatomite, San Onofre Breccia, and the PV specialty, Malaga Mudstone. Combined, it’s “some number of hundreds of feet deep,” says Coffey, which sounds immense to us but in geologic terms is about as thick as nail polish, and all basically mud that piled up on the ancient seafloor and got compacted and turned into rock. The base layer of the PV cake is Catalina schist. We are all living on the Catalina schist, which is a great name for a rock band. It’s the sturdy metamorphic rock that underlies the Los Angeles Basin, “the bedrock of this whole area,” Coffey says. It’s way down there, under our gardens and freeways, and the one place on the mainland that you can see it bare as a newborn babe is in Palos Verdes, at a nature preserve and canyon known as the George F. (Who was George F. to be so immortalized? No one knows for sure — the Daily Breeze suggested that it was either a mistranscription of the name of early land tycoon George S. Bixby, or named for George F. Vickery, a way-back San Pedro rancher.) But sneaking through the sedimentary layers like a nest of snakes are the slippery bands that are responsible for a good bit of what’s falling away: volcanic ash. Now if you were awake in high school science class, you’re thinking, igneous rock: volcanic lava. Solid stuff, so solid that an Icelandic architect has been suggesting using lava as building material. Volcanoes some distance away from here left behind some sturdy volcanic rock, but also this spoor of volcanic ash that drifted underwater before the PV Peninsula became itself. Volcanic ash is quite different from lava, so light it can be blown around. Underfoot and underground, it is fickle. When it’s wet, it turns into what Coffey calls a “slimy clay” that can turn as slick as a water slide. And on Palos Verdes, says Coffey, this is what it does: When water percolates through the frosting of shale, the part that Coffey calls the “sedimentary veneer” from those underwater eons, and then hits these deposits of volcanic ash, the veneer can start slipping like Buster Keaton on a banana peel, and take with it anything that’s sitting atop it. Oh, and then there were the earthquakes. Much of Southern California finds itself near that bump-and-grind intersection of the North American and Pacific plates, whose borderland we know as the San Andreas fault. That’s a strike-slip fault, the seismic action you get is when these plates slide past each other. But when a fault itself bends, you get serious plate-to-plate contact, the kind of quakes that shoved the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains into being (I’m thinking of the uplift as a geologic push-up bra). The PV Peninsula is a good ways away from the San Andreas, but L.A. is still fringed with a network of smaller, related faults — some of them as jagged and dramatic as the silhouette of a lightning strike. It’s those that helped to shape the peninsula, squeezing the land into sinuous bends and folds and tilts. By comparison, says Coffey, “if you go to Torrance, Carson, under your feet are the same rocks of the Palos Verdes Peninsula — they’re just still down there because nothing happened to push them up.” Landslides have been happening on the peninsula since it became land, so there’s nothing novel in the perils of the last year. The Portuguese Bend area, Coffey notes, is “so old it has been through multiple ice ages.” These cycles get the earth to sliding when it’s wet, and then stop it or slow it down when the land dries out. What’s new to the recipe is what we humans have added to it: the weight of houses and roads, and the water from landscape irrigation and septic systems PV Peninsula cities put into the ground. But just now, the late spring weather forecast for temperatures and precipitation thereabouts looks hearteningly like the dramatic peninsula itself: high and dry. Palos Verdes slides cover much historical ground WAYFARERS CHAPEL, a historic landmark, has always seemed to hover above the sea. Now it’s closed and will probably not reopen in the same place ever again. Katie Falkenberg Los Angeles Times A mix of human and geological factors has made the peninsula beautiful and perilous. PATT MORRISON Amazon shipping, Carrie Clark said. That evening, the Clarks and their two daughters noticed Galena wasn’t anywhere in the house. For the next seven days, the family searched the home for her multiple times. They checked their neighborhood, nearby communities and the Jordan River, which runs behind their home. Clark said the family even enlisted friends and extended family in the search for Galena. All that week, the distraught Clark family wept over their lost cat. They had started to give up hope when they got a text message and phone call from an out-ofstate veterinary office on April 17. The person on the line said they had scanned Galena’s microchip and found the Clarks’ information. Their cat was in California. “I was in shock. I didn’t believe her,” Clark said. The veterinarian passed the phone to Brandy Hunter, an Amazon Warehouse worker in the customer returns department in Riverside who helped rescue Galena. “We adore Brandy, and we’re going to be forever grateful for what she did for our cat,” Clark said. Hunter could not be reached for comment. In a three-part Facebook post, Hunter said a coworker called her to say that they found a cat inside a return package. The adhesive on one of the box’s seals had come unglued, allowing for more airflow for Galena. “My co-worker didn’t know what to do, so naturally ... she called me, the crazy cat lady,” Hunter wrote on Facebook. Hunter packed up her cat carrier, a blanket, food and water, and drove to work to catch Galena. She took her to the vet the next day. The post said Galena did not hesitate to get into Hunter’s carrier. She drank water but would not eat. “We’re really pleased Brandy was able to help Galena reunite with her family,” said Alisa Carroll, a spokesperson for Amazon. Clark and her husband booked a flight to California the next day to reunite with their furry family member. “It was like a rescue mission and we got to have this big reunion with Galena and meet [Hunter],” Clark said. Other than mild dehydration and a little weight loss, Galena was healthy. Cat is shipped along with steel-toed boots [Galena, from B1] CARRIE Clark, Brandy Hunter and Galena. Carrie Clark

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 B3 CITY & STATE Brimming with wildlife and offering panoramic views of San Francisco Bay, César Chávez Park welcomes visitors who might never suspect this stretch of shoreline was built atop a municipal landfill. But beneath the sprawling grasslands and charming hiking trails, decomposing waste continues to generate methane gas. That’s why the city of Berkeley operates an underground system that collects this flammable gas and torches it at a large mechanical flare near the center of the park. In recent years, environmental regulators have grown increasingly concerned that this equipment has fallen into disrepair and released landfill gases. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has fined Berkeley after finding explosive levels of methane leaking from at least two cracked gas collection wells in the park. Both have since been repaired. As the landfill has experienced power outages and equipment breakdowns, the air district also suspects methane is migrating underground toward another bustling area. The agency warns that ignitable levels of methane have been observed in shallow soil surrounding a nearby hotel and the Berkeley Marina. “Methane there could explode under the right conditions such as a passerby dropping a lit cigarette on a still day,” air district attorney Joel Freid said at a public meeting in February. Yet there have been no evacuations or closures in that time, as officials have insisted there is no public safety risk. Berkeley officials and city contractor SCS Engineers also contend that the landfill is not the source of the high methane concentrations near the hotel, saying it could be produced naturally. In the last year, Berkeley officials and the air district have sparred over whether the landfill-turned-park should upgrade its pollution controls. The outcome will hinge on new testing, as state and local regulators have recently called on Berkeley to investigate the source of the methane and take steps to thoroughly inspect its pollution control system for leaks. “We are working closely with regulators to ensure that any errors in operations do not occur again,” said Matthai Chakko, a spokesperson for the city. “This includes regular testing, sampling and stringent safety protocols to ensure the system’s integrity. “The park continues to be a thriving, safe area for dog walkers, kite fliers and those bringing family for walks.” Across California, aging landfills have presented communities with myriad problems,as these sites have struggled to control flammable methane emissions and toxic air pollution. Berkeley Landfill, closed more than 30 years, highlights the long-lasting health and safety risks associated with landfills, especially as communities have sought to reuse this land to build schools and parkland. Given the risks, Dr. David Carpenter, founder of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany, questions why public officials would convert former landfills into public spaces at all. “It’s outrageous. It’s like Love Canal all over again,” said Carpenter, referring to the industrial dump in Niagra Falls, N.Y., that was disastrously turned into a neighborhood in the late 1970s. “It’s land that nobody else wants. And it gets used for public purposes, like parks and schools.” About 1.5 million tons of waste, including industrial debris from a steel mill, were dumped over the years into the now-decommissioned Berkeley Landfill. Like other municipal dumps, it generally consists of layers of compacted waste and soil that eventually was sealed with a layer of clay. Similar to oil and gas companies, landfill operators drill and construct a network of deep wells that extract gases produced by decomposing organic waste, such as food scraps. These wells must operate long after a site is closed to prevent gases from migrating to unwanted areas. But in recent years, the air district has become concerned with the condition of the Berkeley landfill’s equipment and maintenance. It issued at least 14 air quality violations in 2023. Most notably, in July, air district inspectors smelled a “rotten egg” odor emanating from a gas well. As they opened the well and attempted to gauge methane concentrations, their monitoring device “flamed out,” indicating explosive levels of methane, according to Bay Area AQMD air quality specialist Grace Leung. Stephen Harquail, a Portland, Ore.-based landfill manager for SCS Engineers, placed a cone on the well to mark it, Leung said. But the leaky well was not repaired for a week. Meanwhile, the air district said, the public had full access to the park. Air district inspectors also found that duct tape and foil had been used to regulate airflow on the landfill flare. And Harquail couldn’t find five of the landfill’s 42 wells, which may have been buried by construction or groundskeeping. He told the inspectors he has occasionally used a pickax to try to unearth them. “He told me it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Leung said at an air district meeting in February. “He doesn’t know where they are.” Harquail did not respond to requests for comment. Since 2019, the gas control system, flare system and gas wells have gone off-line for periods of hours to several days, often because of power outages. In that time, soil probes around the nearby DoubleTree hotel have regularly detected methane above 5%, the minimum threshold to ignite. At least two readings have been higher than 80%. A spokesperson for the hotel could not be reached. Commercial natural gas for heating and cooking is typically 85% to 95% methane gas. “That is a significant concern from a safety perspective,” said Seth Shonkoff, director of the Oakland-based nonprofit research group PSE Healthy Energy. “Unless there’s some sort of subsurface migration of methane to the surface, you should not see that level of that magnitude, ever.” Shonkoff also noted that methane, including in landfill gas, is often commingled with other toxic air contaminants, including benzene, for which there is no safe level of exposure. “The science on landfill gas composition is relatively young, so there’s a lot to learn,” he said. “But we do know that methane is a solvent, meaning that a variety of chemicals can be intermixed and be dissolved into it.” After more than 40 years, Martin Nicolaus can still remember how bleak Berkeley’s shoreline looked when a human-made peninsula jutting into San Francisco Bay served as the city’s municipal dump. Nicolaus, a longtime Bay Area resident, was stunned by the bottleneck of truck traffic, the expansive field of rancid garbage and the multitude of pests it attracted. “There were just mobs of rats and gulls shrieking overhead, grabbing whatever it might be edible there,” said Nicolaus, who is now president of the Chavez Park Conservancy. “It was a lively scene.” But shortly after the cityowned landfill was ultimately closed in 1990, the grounds underwent a dramatic transformation. Berkeley officials embarked on an ambitious plan to convert the former waste site into the present-day park. The 90 acres of open space evolved into a popular destination, known for hiking trails and scenic views. It is home to an assortment of community events, including guided walks and an Easter egg hunt. It’s also brimming with native grasses, wildflowers and myriad bird species. One creature that may be making matters worse, though, is ground squirrels. They have been burrowing warrens underground across the park’s peninsula, including near the flare station, heightening concerns about potential gas leaks and spills of contaminated liquids. But the city met stiff opposition to trapping or exterminating the rodents. Nicolaus said the air district statements are alarmist. He has expressed concerns over how extensive repairs might disrupt the decades of habitat restoration work. “Ground squirrel burrows are all over the park,” Nicolaus said. “You couldn’t probably find a square 10- yard area in the parkway that doesn’t have a ground squirrel burrow in it. But are they going to chew through a plastic pipe? And, no, I don’t think so.” The city has contended that the landfill is producing significantly less methane since its closure. They say it’s not enough gas to continuously operate the gas collection system and flare. The air district, however, argues that leaky equipment is releasing landfill gases into the environment, which is why there’s much less methane being collected. Another worry is oxygen. Oxygen levels around 20% — about the same concentration as in Earth’s atmosphere — have been measured deep inside some of Berkeley’s gas wells, indicating a leak or malfunction, according to the air district. Landfills typically try to keep oxygen levels to less than 5%, because higher levels can speed up decomposition, produce heat and raise the risk of an underground landfill fire. Berkeley has been ordered to fly a drone over Chávez Park and neighboring areas to search for leaks. It has also been called on to conduct an analysis comparing the landfill gas and the underground methane near the hotel and marina to determine whether they’re from the same source. If the gas is traced back to the landfill, the city will be required upgrade its gas collection system. Replacing the entire system is expected to cost $2 million. But even if another source is responsible for the methane, the city must still find a way to abate hazardous conditions and protect people visiting the hotel and marina. “If I had the option to stay or walk somewhere else,” Shonkoff said, “I would probably exercise that option.” Beneath an idyllic spot, a methane threat VISITORS ENJOY a late afternoon stroll along the shoreline at César Chávez Park in Berkeley. Beneath the sprawling grasslands and charming hiking trails, decomposing waste continues to generate methane gas. Paul Chinn San Francisco Chronicle Regulators have found explosive levels of the gas at a popular park in Berkeley. By Tony Briscoe When San Diego County Supervisor Terra LawsonRemer first saw the Coast Runner milling machine being marketed as some stateof-the-art product for creative people in California, she was livid. Despite its chill name and the retro colors splashed on its side, the Coast Runner was clearly just a rebranded Ghost Gunner — a desktop machine the state outlawed in 2022 for its ability to turn simple slabs of metal into homemade components for untraceable ghost guns, including AR-15s, AK-47s and semiautomatic pistols, LawsonRemer said. “The idea that you could take the same exact product that is designed to kill people, put a different packaging on it, and suddenly it’s not lethal and not illegal? That is just offensive,” Lawson-Remer said. On Thursday, San Diego County sued the manufacturer of both devices, Defense Distributed, asking a state court to declare the Coast Runner illegal under California law and to order the Texas company to stop selling and marketing it in the state. “The ‘Coast Runner’ is in fact the Ghost Gunner with a new coat of paint,” the lawsuit argues. “It has the same internal designs, the same features, and is being marketed for the same purpose: the illegal production of untraceable ghost guns.” Defense Distributed — which was co-founded by the controversial and outspoken gun rights activist Cody Wilson, an early player in the world of 3-D-printed firearms — dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded in a statement to The Times. “Defense Distributed observes California law to the very letter,” the company said. “Even when it’s obviously illegal and doomed to fail Constitutional review.” The county’s lawsuit, which it filed with the support of the gun control advocacy organization Giffords Law Center, is the latest salvo in a pitched battle between California authorities, who have identified ghost guns as a major threat to public safety, and Defense Distributed, which has said its milling technology is “as easy as 3-D printing” and brings “milling to the masses.” Defense Distributed previously argued in its own lawsuit that California’s law blocking gun-making milling machines is unconstitutional, but a judge rejected that argument and the company withdrew its claim. Computer numerical control, or CNC, milling machines — which usually cost a few thousand dollars — are devices that guide drills to produce intricate and precise mechanical parts from slabs of metal. Such machines have turned otherwise complex manufacturing into a household hobby. Although the tools can be used to make parts for cars or bicycles and a range of other items, they have also made it easier to create high-quality frames and receivers for ghost guns. Such firearms lack serial numbers, which are attached to commercially produced weapons and can help authorities investigate crimes. It is unclear how many homemade or ghost guns exist in the state, or the country, but experts believe the number is huge. A 2023 report by the state’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention found the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement in connection to a crime in California jumped from 26 in 2015 to more than 12,000 in 2022. State legislatures and courts across the country have been wrestling with how and whether such firearms can be regulated. A Biden administration rule changing the federal definition of a firearm to include unfinished parts such as frames and receivers — such as those made by milling machines — is under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, Defense Distributed sued California over a law that made it illegal for anyone without a federal license to manufacture guns to “sell, offer to sell, or transfer a CNC milling machine that has the sole or primary function of manufacturing firearms” to anyone in the state. The law also requires Californians to have a federal license to purchase or possess such a machine or to use one to make gun parts. The company acknowledged in previous court filings that its Ghost Gunner machine was used to produce unserialized parts for ghost guns. But it argued it also was the “modern-day manifestation” of age-old firearm milling techniques that had “never before been regulated in American history,” and that enforcement of California’s law should be blocked as unconstitutional under the “history and tradition” test that the Supreme Court set for assessing modern gun laws in a landmark 2022 decision. In late 2022, after a federal judge broadly rejected that argument on the grounds that the 2nd Amendment did not extend to the manufacturing of firearms without a license, the company agreed to drop its lawsuit. San Diego County argues that the company set about building the Coast Runner as an end run around the same state law it failed to overturn in court — ostensibly on the grounds that the machine is not primarily for the production of guns. Online advertising for the Ghost Gunner is heavily focused on firearms — on the machine’s ability to make them cheaply, quickly and at home with parts that have no identifiable markings. In one video, men make guns as women dance to electronic dance music. Ads for the Coast Runner are far more circumspect. A video talks about its design features and its ability to make “perfect metal parts,” but largely avoids specifics. The county argues the Coast Runner is still primarily geared toward the production of firearm parts, and that Defense Distributed has been on “an aggressive marketing campaign for the device” — including with its own booth at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas, an industry event where the Coast Runner was flagged as one of the “hottest new products” on the gun market. The county accuses Defense Distributed of badfaith business practices aimed at obscuring the fact that the Ghost Gunner and the Coast Runner are nearly identical, which it said the company has acknowledged elsewhere. It pointed to language originally on the official Ghost Gunner website and later on multiple other sales websites — including one operated by Defense Distributed — informing people purchasing the Ghost Gunner in California that they would be receiving the Coast Runner instead. Billy Clark, a senior litigation attorney with Giffords, called Defense Distributed “major bad actors in the gun industry,” and said the company’s products are arming “people who would otherwise be prohibited from having guns.” He said the company “has adopted a too-cute-byhalf marketing and sales approach that invokes a retro ‘cool’ vibe, when what they are doing is selling a product that is specifically designed to make guns in the home.” Lawson-Remer, the county supervisor, said “companies that profit off of death and destruction are going to continue making money unless we stand up and fight back.” That’s what the lawsuit is about, she said. “These kinds of tactics, these aggressive marketing tactics around ghost gun manufacturing, [are] what we are seeing more and more of — and what we really need to be on guard against,” she said. Times criminal justice editor Keegan Hamilton contributed to this report. Texas firm is accused of ploy to dodge ghost gun ban San Diego County suit says company just renamed machine that mills weapons parts. By Kevin Rector

B4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM they stay small, orderly and positive. UC Riverside on Friday struck a deal with protesters to end their camp in exchange for concessions. But many campuses have not indicated how tolerant leaders will be. At least 25 people were arrested early Tuesday at Cal Poly Humboldt. The same night at UCLA, a large group wearing black outfits and white masks attacked pro-Palestinian protesters, hurling objects and attempting to tear down barricades surrounding the encampment. The violence prompted criticism over the university’s handling of the protests. By Thursday, more than 200 had been arrested after police moved onto UCLA’s Westwood campus to push protesters out and begin dismantling the camp. Police also have arrested students at USC amid protests over the war. Encampments remain in full swing at California campuses including UC Irvine, Occidental College, Sacramento State, San Francisco State and others. At least two other Southern California colleges — Chapman University and Cal State L.A. — joined the movement last week. Students at Cal State Long Beach held a rally Thursday but have said there are no plans for an encampment. UC Riverside Administrators and proPalestinian student organizers reached an agreement to end an encampment on the Riverside campus. The camp, which has been up since Monday, will be removed by Friday night. The college has agreed to form a task force to explore removing its funds from UC systemwide investments to manage them in a “financially and ethically sound” manner, according to the agreement. “It has been my goal to resolve this matter peacefully and I am encouraged by this outcome — which was generated through constructive dialogue,” Chancellor Kim Wilcox said in a statement. “This agreement does not change the realities of the war in Gaza, or the need to address antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination; however, I am grateful that we can have constructive and peaceful conversations on how to address these complex issues.” UC Irvine Student representatives met with UC Irvine leadership last week to discuss whether the university would agree to their demands for divestment from companies with ties to Israel and weapons manufacturers in exchange for an end to the campus encampment. But the talks were not fruitful, according to student organizers. UC Irvine leaders proposed a meeting between the student organization and college representatives to discuss UCI Foundation’s investments if protesters agreed not to have any other encampments or rallies on campus — including at commencement — a student organizer said in a video posted Thursday to Instagram. The student protesters declined. Campus police handed out citations last week leading to escalated tensions between officials and protesters. However, the university has not made any moves to dismantle the encampment. UCI spokesperson Tom Vasich said Friday that officials are “looking to engage in productive conversations with the organization’s student leaders to find a solution.” UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said in a statement that administrators had reached out to students in “the existing illegal encampment” and have asked them to move. The space they have occupied is in an area where classes are taught and research is conducted, Gillman said. “We hope that our students and other affiliates do not insist on staying in a space that violates the law, violates our policies and disrupts our mission,” he said. Occidental College Despite the unrest at other colleges, student protesters at Occidental College say they plan to continue their encampment until their demands are met. But they have developed evacuation plans to keep students safe if violence occurs. “We have identified certain buildings to hide in just in case counterdemonstrators do arrive, and certain points on campus to regroup,” said Matthew Vickers, a co-organizer of the encampment. Vickers said he’s confident that any threats made to the camp will not come from school administration, as the university told organizers it has no plans to call in police. “Concerns [of safety] are mostly quelled,” he said. “The atmosphere remains pretty joyous and relaxed; however, [safety] is definitely something people are considering.” Negotiations are ongoing with the administration on their demands, which include an emergency trustee meeting to vote on halting investments in Israel funding and a statement from the college recognizing the genocide and calling for a cease-fire, Vickers said. Cal State L.A. Students at Cal State L.A. on Wednesday formed an encampment in the campus quad. Students for Justice in Palestine said in a statement that their demands include the university calling for a cease-fire in Palestine, a promise not to suspend or discipline any protesters, a commitment to an investment audit and pulling all tuition money from any funds related to Israel, and a vow to engage in a boycott of partnerships with universities or institutions that “invest in, support and legitimize the Zionist regime.” “We demand a fully funded, free CSULA and CSU system that is not beholden to Zionist and imperialist private donors,” the group said in a statement. Organizers vowed to remain on campus until demands are met. Representatives for Cal State L.A. did not respond to a request to comment Friday. In a statement last week, the Cal State University’s Office of the Chancellor wrote that it “does not intend to alter existing investment policies related to Israel or the Israel-Hamas conflict.” Chapman University Roughly 30 students at the private university in Orange formed a tent encampment Thursday in a grassy area between Memorial Hall and Wilkinson Hall. Duran Aziz, a member of Students for Justice in Palestine, told KABC-TV the group was looking for Chapman “to divest now from companies that profit off the genocide in Gaza.” The encampment at Chapman does not have barricades around it, and the only people allowed to sleep on campus are students. “It’s really very open, and people can come and go,” said Molly Thrasher, Chapman’s director of public relations. “It’s peaceful, and the dialogue between the administration and students is very open,” Thrasher added. “It’s respectful. What we’re seeing at other campuses, it’s just not how it’s unfolding here at Chapman.” Pitzer College The encampment at Pitzer College in Claremont, which has a student population of just over 1,200,has not seen significant pushback from the college, according to a student organizer. The camp consists of about 35 tents and roughly 40 students. “The atmosphere is really joyful,” said senior Sophie McClain, an organizer of the encampment. “We’ve been really lucky that we’ve had limited to no repression from the college.” Bella Jacobs, another organizer, said the Board of Trustees has agreed to disclose portions of the school’s military investment in Israel, a topic that has been at the center of discussions across many campuses. “The students have done their research, and we know that disclosure and divestment takes time and commitment,” Jacobs wrote in a letter to Don Gould, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Our demands are an invitation to live up to Pitzer’s core values.” The students plan to stay at the encampment on Commencement Plaza or “find other creative ways of demonstrating” until they can negotiate their demands with administration, according to the letter. USC At USC, where Los Angeles police arrested 93 people on suspicion of trespassing April 24 as they cleared an encampment at the center of campus, a reestablished campsite was set up last weekend. The encampment at Alumni Park has grown to at least 40 tents and roughly 50 people, according to student organizers. Despite the arrests, students said there’s not a strong police presence surrounding the camp, aside from a few campus safety officers. Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe and intern Jenna Peterson contributed to this report. Are the encampments living on borrowed time? USC STUDENTS on Friday at an encampment established last weekend in the campus’ Alumni Park. It had grown to at least 40 tents and about 50 people, according to organizers. Students say the police presence surrounding the camp is limited to a few campus safety officers. Michael Blackshire Los Angeles Times [Encampments, from B1] dress-up. Their safety measures — encampment barricades and self-manned medical tents — are seen as ploys for attention. They’re called cowards for covering their faces with masks and goggles. But these actions weren’t just for show. UCLA’s proPalestinian demonstrators did need to shield and defend themselves when a violent mob of pro-Israel counterprotesters attacked their encampment. Video shot by The Times, other media outlets and witnesses show counterprotesters in black attire and white masks ripping down barricades, beating people with batons and poles and screaming racial epithets. Campers were dragged, kicked and pummeled by the predominantly male mob Tuesday night and Wednesday morning while police and campus security stood by for three hours before responding. Law enforcement eventually cleared the counterprotesters, who reportedly included members of nonstudent organizations. No arrests were made. But 24 hours later, more than 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested when UCLA called in a massive police presence to clear the student encampment. “What we’ve just witnessed was the darkest day in my 32 years at UCLA,” David Myers, a professor of Jewish history who is working on initiatives to bridge differences on campus, told The Times. “Why didn’t the police, UCPD and LAPD, show up? Those in the encampment were defenseless in the face of a violent band of thugs. And no one, wherever they stand politically, is safer today.” The optics, at best, discourage free speech on campus and encourage violent reprisal from those who disagree with the message. Recent weeks have seen police summoned by USC, UCLA and Columbia to quash largely peaceful student rallies and clear encampments, while racial slurs, verbal threats and violent attacks perpetrated against antiwar protesters have not been treated with the same seriousness or urgency. Fox News naturally took the “good vs. evil” theme a step further when describing the protest movement as a Trojan horse for nefarious anti-American operations. “A lot of them seem to be the same type of protester we saw during the George Floyd protest,” anchor Trace Gallagher said of Columbia and the NYPD’s tactical response last week. “They have changed the chants. It’s a new location and a lot of the same crowd that moves into these things.” His guest went on to say that the protesters are “targeting the American system and using the Palestinian cause to piggyback their nonsensical, glazed-over beliefs in order to start mass anarchy.” Delegitimization is a classic tactic in the debate over who has the higher moral ground. But it shouldn’t matter: All peaceful protesters — on and off campus — need to be protected, regardless of where they stand on the war. Watching footage of the violence at UCLA last week was chilling, and there are sure to be more dangerous clashes if the safety of protesting students is mocked as unnecessary, or colleges continue to treat them as the threat. Their right to safely exercise free speech has to be protected. Cynical agitators like Maher will always leverage incendiary moments for ratings and clicks. But tucking one’s opposition to the protest movement into a flippant screed against Gen Z isn’t just obnoxious, it’s dangerous. It feeds a harmful narrative that their need for protection is make-believe, that they’re a whining, pampered generation we should ignore or, worse, allow others to target while we watch from the sidelines. 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LATIMES.COM S WST SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 B5 Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form six ordinary words. Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon. PRINT YOUR ANSWER IN THE CIRCLES BELOW Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble SALYCS PSOXEE CCURHH NARYTT GARJAU REFTER THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved. Your exclusive guide to SoCal real estate listings. Advertise Today LA Times Classified (800) 234-4444 Newport Beach Note 4.1 Million 1st, 11%, 65% LTV, On the Water, 6 other notes Available 714 585 4016 hardmoneyloans2009@ hotmail Real Estate Loans PRORealEstate Disposal.COM $$$ OFFER 48 HR 1-800-699-0972 Real Estate Services Historic Bakersfield CocktailLounge For Sale $150,000.00 for Business Only. Includes Liquor License, all new Electrical and Plumbing and all Inventory. 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You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to fileawritten response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff.Aletter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk forafee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web Site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. іAVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decider en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion. Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDARIO despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presenter una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corteymas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dineroybienes sin mas advertencia. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Los Angeles Superior Court 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Los Angeles, California 90012 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Timothy L. Norton 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste 500 Manhattan Beach, California 90026 310-706-4134 Date: (Fecha) July 6, 2022 David W. Slayton Clerk (Secretario) C. Cortez Deputy (Adjunto) Legal Notices FLORIDA GETAWAY! DIRECT INTRACOASTAL VIEWS! 2 BED 2 BATH PENTHOUSE CONDO WITH PRIVATE OCEAN ACCESS! COMPLETELY RENOVATED! TURNKEY! PRIME LOCATION ON PALM BEACH ISLAND! $570,000 JACQUELINE SALVATO, WATERS EDGE REALTY OF THE PALM BEACHES, 561- 706-0503 brk Out of State 16 Units Great unit mix Westmont pride of ownership $3,457,000 Principal only David 562.318.6241 [email protected] brk 6 Units Compton pride of ownership $1,295,000 Principal only David 562.318.6241 [email protected] brk HOMES FOR SALE LA COUNTY SOUTHEAST Southeast including Long Beach Palos Verdes Bluff Beautiful Home on large lot Magical Ocean Views Desert Pacific Properties DRE 01420416 / 02198860 Claire Harvey 760.636.3501 agt HOMES FOR SALE LA COUNTY SOUTH BAY FOR SALE Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION OF CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of a public online auction sale of Personal Property that will be conducted at 11am on May 15, 2024 via a zoom conference call arranged by Brian Testo Associates, Auctioneer. The Personal Property ofLegal Notices RFP HVAC Replacement and Maintenance Green Dot Public Schools CA is accepting proposals for HVAC Replacement. RFP is available at ca.greendot.org/rfp Bids Wanted CABIN IN THE WOODS Beautiful 1.9 acres, 20 miles to Yosemite. Lofty pine, oak, lilac & creek on cul-de-sac. Quaint 1482’ home, 400’ guest house, semi furnished. Vacation/rental/retirement. Call for video, no agents $505K (559) 683-2707 Pp HOMES FOR SALE VACATION PROPERTIES $695,000 JUST REDUCED SELLER MOTIVATED 4 BEDROOM, 4 BATH HOME WITH 2 CAR GARAGE. MOTHER-IN-LAWS QUARTERS, PROPERTY HAS 2 CAR CARPORTS. 24’X 36’ WORKSHOP, 10’X 12’ STUDIO, SHE SHOP OR ??? ALONG WITH SEVERAL STORAGE BUILDINGS. ROOM FOR HORSES OR RV. PROPERTY IS ON 3 ACRES IN BEAUTIFUL SMITH VALLEY, NEVADA. SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS WITH A POPULATION OF 1710. THERE IS NO STATE TAX AND NO WATER BILL! SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PEACE AND QUIET, THIS IS YOUR NEXT HOME. TONY 818-398-3411 Pp Out of State BOXER European boxer puppies waiting for you at deutscheboxers.com 4355580196 Dogs PETS To advertise your pets, log on to placeanad.latimes.com/pets-for-sale MARKETPLACE Sr EDI Data Integration Engr III (Corona, CA). Serve as global architect for expansion into global mkts for EDI & B2B initiatives. Bachelor’s (or foreign equiv) CIS, IT, Engg. or rel plus 5 yrs exp. in the offered position or position in CIS, IT or Engg. Job reqs incl exp w/ SAP functional / technl config personnel. Salary: $136,500.00/yr. Apply by email: Monster Energy Company Attn: Sharlene Porche at Sharlene.Porche@ monsterenergy.com Architectural Drafter (LA, CA) for QDG Inc. estab ARCH design goals with clients. Prep images & concept mater. Bring concepts to 2D & 3D rep. Asst w/ field measure&site eval. Asst PM w/ zoning, planning & permit sets & corrections. Coord drawing sets from prof. consuls & provide suggs. Track proj tasks. Monitor const. progress, conduct site inspec. to ensure compl. w/ design specs. Reqs U.S. Masters in Arch. Prof in AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup, Enscape, Adobe Suite. FT $75k/ yr. Resume to Viqui Aguilar, 3055 Wilshire Blvd, #1110, LA, CA 90010 Market Research Analyst (Job Site: L.A., CA), DNJ Apparel Corp. B.A. req’d. Salary: $48k/yr. Mail Resume to 1517 Mateo St. L.A., CA 90021 ITS Business Intelligence Analyst sought by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. Master’s or equiv plus 2 yrs rel exp. (Job ID R9017, $93,246/yr) Apply at https://lmu.wd1.mywork dayjobs.com/Careers Enter R9017. ANALYST Budget Analyst Forecast Analyze &Manage budgets., MS in Business Administration, Accounting or related field. Sal based on exp., CV to Can-Sail Fulfillment Center LLC., 13828 Mountain Ave, Chino, CA 91710 (JC4) Sr. Security Anlyst -MS/ equiv & courswrk in Web Systs Dvlpmnt, Systs Anlysis & Dsgn, Infor. Systm Principls, Enterpris DB Mngmnt, Data Anlytics for Infor. Systs, & Enterprise Architectur & Integration. $127,504/yr. Travel/reloc req’d. Send résumé w/JC# to Saviynt, Inc. 1301EEl Segundo Blvd, Ste D, El Segundo, CA 90245 Admin Exec w/ bach deg and atlst1yr exp Admin, Bus or rel Lgl wk auth CV to Great Financ’l Serv Corp 6914 Canby Ave., Reseda CA 91335 Admin Asst w/ bach deg and atlst 1 yr exp in Bus or rel Lgl wk auth CV to Rockpoint Funding LLC 8200 Wilshire blvd LA, CA 90211 Admin Asst w/ bach deg and atlst 1 yr exp in Bus, Mgmt or rel Lgl wk auth CV to AM3 Corp 1149 Appleton Rd Simi Valley CA 93065 Staff Accountant: Req’d: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Econ., or rel. Mail Res.: Golden Cross Tax Service Inc, 1722 Desire Ave. #203, Rowland Heights, CA 91748 Staff Accountant Foumberg Juneja&Co PC in SoCal seeks 1 f/t Staff Accountant oversee accounting, financial statements& tax report. 58kto76k p/y Mail resume Emy Olson 16311 Ventura Blvd Suite 1180, Encino, CA 91436 Senior Staff Accountant Support month & year-end close processes, lead audits to ensure compliance, identify accounting benchmarks, execute planned metrics. Ability to interpret tax laws & GAAP, use Microsoft Office & Google Suite. $68,000/yr. BS in Econ & Accting or related & 2 yrs related exp. Apply to Tanja Guske, Shiphawk, 925 De La Vina Street, #300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Bkkpg, Acctg w/ bach deg and atlst 1 yr exp Acctg, Bus or rel Lgl wk auth CV to SDVA Mrktg Grp 530 E Newmark Ave Monterey Pk CA 91755 Employment PHLEBOTOMY CLASS Allied Professional Institute 562-808-2152 www.apiedu.net Vocational Schools fered for sale is owned or was held by CHOL ENTERPRISES INC., a California Corporation and located within the Globe Theater, 740 South Broadway, Los Angeles. The Personal Property will be sold in one lot. The Personal Property offered for sale will be sold further to Code of Civil Procedure Section 1174(e) - (m); Civil Code Section 1990(a)- (c); Civil Code Section 1993 et. Seq.; Commercial Code Sections 9601, 9609(a) and 9613; and Code of Civil Procedure Section 697.510(a) et. Seq., by 740 BROADWAY LLC,aCalifornia Limited liability company (“740”) to satisfy the costs of storage of the Personal Property and a Judgment Lien in favor of 740. Foracomplete list of the Personal Property offered for sale, other terms of sale and registration requirements visit www.btesto.com or call Brian Testo at (818) 592-6592 x 101 or email [email protected] Legal Notices Thai Cooks 1 yr exp Resume JTT Enterprise 8782 Grant Cir Buena Park CA 90620 Thai Cooks 1 yr exp Resume Good Seeds Group LLC 14435 Ventura Bl Sherman Oaks CA 91413 AOKI & QRD, Inc. (dba: Aoki no Chuuka) seeks a Cook (Japanese food). 2 yrs of exp. as a Cook (Japanese food) is req’d. Worksite: Costa Mesa, CA. Salary: $42,453/ year. Job position: 2. Send resume: AOKI&QRD, Inc., 1525 Mesa Verde Dr. E #112, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Attn: Ms. Aoki Western Alliance Bank seeks IT Supervisor II in Thousand Oaks, CA. Lead department and information technology projects. Remote work opportunity available for position. Salary $109,436.25 - $148,060.80 per year. For full info & how to apply, visit: bit.ly/wab100 IT Proj Mgr w/ bach deg and atlst 2yrs exp in Civ Eng, IT or rel Lgl wk auth CV to Midland Contrctr. 7902 Woodley Ave Van Nuys CA 91406 CHEMICAL ENGINEER: Conduct tests, monitor eqpt & processes, design control systems & production process. $76,981/yr in South El Monte, CA. Mail Resume: La Placita Botanas Mexicanas Inc, 10846 Central Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733 Chef for Italian pizzeria. Mail to Guido’s Pizza & Pasta, 14556 Polk St., Sylmar, CA 91342. Caregiver (Cerritos, CA) Assist residents with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, grooming, using the bathroom, exercising, meals & meal preparation, & housekeeping. HS diploma or equivalent required. Mail resume to Yearling Board and Care, Attn: HR, 11439 Yearling Circle, Cerritos, CA 90703 Cabinetmaker for Signature Kitchen Design, Inc. Read blueprints. Build /install custom wood cabinets. Use CNC machines & tools to cut/ shape wood.Custom painting/staining .Jobsite/intvws Lynwood.12 months exp. as a custom cabinetmaker/ carpenter & valid CDL. Email resume to ghiwa@ocremod el.com Liminex, Inc., dba GoGuardian seeks Business Intelligence Analyst in El Segundo, CA: Provide tactical & strategic intelligence to biz decisionmakers (BDMs) within Sales, Product, Finance or People teams. Telecommuting an option. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+1 yr. exp. Salary: $123,596.40 - $142,135.86 per annum. Submit resume w/ ref. to: Req.#: 21-9712 at: ATTN: Joseph Lisuzzo, jobs@ goguardian.com. Business Development Specialist (Los Angeles, CA) to conduct mkt analyses, dvlp new business opportunities & make sales presentations for performance mktg company. Req: 2 yrs same or rltd exp. Salary: $84k- $100k/yr. Resumes: Spike Up Media, LLC, [email protected]. Broadcasting Operations Manager needed in Los Angeles, CA: Please send resume to KBS America, Inc., 625 S. Kingsley Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90005. Rate of Pay: $66498/Year. Blackhawk Filmsseek a Head of Audio Restoration to supervise all steps of the film restoration process using a laser Interface scanner for 35mm optical soundtracks. Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000 Qualified Applicants should mail resume (no emails/calls/walk-ins) to Attn: Jocylyn Topolski, 2710 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 Junior Attorney; Woodland Hills, CA. Meet w/ clients, draft legal docs, briefs, legal memorandum, motions, legal correspondence for parties, for court or government counsel. Perf legal research, analysis of laws & provide legal advice. Prep clients for court hearings, exams. Collect, eval evidence such as psychological evals & other health-related records. Establish legal strategies, represent clients in & out of court; Present negotiations. Assess legal outcomes; Apply existing laws; Determ whether events comply w/ laws & regulations. Reqs; Juris Doctor Degree or its foreign edu equivt + 12 mos exp in the job duties or rel legal position. Must be a member of any State Bar in the U.S. Mail res: Magic Law Group Inc. Attn: Hamid Kohanfars, 21731 Ventura Blvd, Unit 205, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. Attorney, Securities (Los Angeles, CA) Represent int’l&dom. issuers, inv. banks, SPACs, PE firms in conn. w/ transact. incl. IPOs, direct listings, follow-on & secondary eq. offerings, inv.-grade & high-yield debt offerings, bus. combs.&related PIPE transact., LBOs, and liab. mgmt. transact., such as tender offers, exch. offers, consent solicitations. Provide lgl & strat. advice, reg. guidance to clients contempl. or particip. in these transact. $310,000 per year. Req’mts: JD or foreign equiv., CA Bar,2yrs exp in position or 2 yrs alt occup exp performing complex capital markets transaction outside advisory legal duties. In lieu of a JD or foreign equiv., an LLM or foreign equiv. is acceptable. In lieu of a JD or foreign equiv. or an LLM or foreign equiv., a Canadian JD is acceptable. Email resume/ ref’s to Kendall.Howes@ lw.com. Latham & Watkins LLP. Employment GERMAN SHEPHERD Pups AKC. OFA cert’d. $2500.00 [email protected] 909.557.4593 Dogs Electrical Engineer2sought by Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Newbury Park, CA: design, develop analog and RFIC for mobile handset applications. Salary: $108,451 - $135,400/yr. Resumes to: Angela.Ho@skyworksinc. com. Ref: CA0424BP. Director of SEO&ASO sought by Betfair Interactive US LLC in Los Angeles, CA to be responsible for SEO&ASO strategy formulation. Contribute heavily to growth of business’s online marketing campaigns & work closely w/ content departments & Director of Search Marketing in developing/ implementing appropriate online marketing strategies for business’s websites, blog sites, pages. Minimum of Bachelor’s or foreign equivalent degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science/Engineering, or rltd +4yrs exp in job offered or rltd occupations required. Interested candidates should send resume by email to Ashley.Gyscek@ fanduel.com. Ref job code H5715-00015 ($205,150k/ year). Director of Systems and Mission Architecture sought by Rocket Lab USA, Inc. w/ Master’s, or equiv, plus 3 yrs of rel exp. $220K/yr. Send resume to: Daniel Murillo, People&Culture Business Partner, Rocket Lab USA, Inc., 3881 McGowen Street, Long Beach, CA 90808 or email people&culture@ rocketlabusa.com UX Designer (Los Angeles, CA): Plan, coordinate, execute user research. Telecommuting permitted per company policy. Salary: $89,375.44/year. Resumes: Jennifer Balerno, Senior Lead, Global Mobility & Immigration, 1211 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 CallisonRTKL, Inc. seeks the following position in Los Angeles, CA. Senior Designer (89176): w/ prelmnry drctn frm the Dirctr of Interiors, prtcpte&lead in pre-dsgn, prgrmmng, dsgn docs, constr docs, pln check rspnse, and constr admin for dmstc & intrntl projs. Salary: $60k to $96k / year. To apply, visit: https://www.jobpostingto day.com (reference job ID 89176). DESIGNER Experience Visualizer Experience Visualizer. WET seeks Experience Visualizer to create concept presentations, perspective illustration drawings, paintings and digital media renderings. Need Bachelor of Fine Arts. Work in Sun Valley CA. EOE. To apply email resume to: [email protected] Freehold Group, Inc. seeks a Designer in Los Angeles. At least a Master’s degree in architecture, interior design, or a closely reltd field; Knowl of architectural design, environmental sys,& project mgmt basics; Proficiency in Revit, Rhino,&Photoshop; Strong digital presentation skills. Email res:brendan@ freeholdgrp.com, 3476 E Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023. $71,011.00/Yr. AR Designer, 3D (4) Multiple Openings sought by Snap Inc. (Santa Monica, CA) *Hybrid work permitted - Snap practices a “default together”approach & expects team members to work in Santa Monica ofc at least 80% of time (avg 4 days/wk). Create new, optimized AR exps for Snap strategic partners. Base salary: $167,523-$171,000/ yr. Eligible for discretionary performance-based bonus award. Eligible for equity in form of RSUs. Our Benefits: https://careers.snap.com/ benefits. Email Resume: [email protected]. Ref. Job Code #ARD3D4- SM-0424. EOE. Dental Lab Technician (Anaheim, CA). Construct and repair dentures. Associate’s degree in Dental Lab Technology. $49026/yr. Resumes to: Five Star Dental Laboratory Inc., 1210 N. Jefferson St., #D, Anaheim, CA 92807 Amgen Inc.; Senior Manager Data Management; Thousand Oaks, CA; Collaborate with Brand Marketing, Value and Access, and Global Contracts and Pricing teams to build and prioritize analytics and insights plan in support of brand strategy. May telecommute. Supervises direct reports. Interested candidates email resume to Tal [email protected]. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job #20516.714. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $163,846.00 – $211,510.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https://careers. amgen.com/life-at-amgen/ benefits/. DATA ENGINEER Tencent America LLC has job opp. in Los Angeles, CA: Data Engineer. Dsgn & dvlp data pipelines & warehouses for video game event systms. Salary: $119,384 to $129,384 per year. To apply email resumes referencing Req. #TRB79 to [email protected] Dimensional Funds Advisors LP has openings in Santa Monica, CA. *Senior Associate, Associate Investment Analytics and Data (multiple) [DFLP-CA23-SAIAZ] – Manage data from acquisition through distribution, driving analysis on portfolio management; prepare and present analysis of data sets, data selection & data manipulation. (Salary: $115,000 – $210,135). Resume to [email protected] & specify Job ID# in the subject line. Company provides standard benefits, including medical, 401K, disability coverage, wellbeing benefits, among others. EOE. Employment Staff Equipment Engineer sought by Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Newbury Park, CA: Oversee installation, modification, maintenance of manufacturing equipment. Salary: $119,538 - $210,600 /yr. Resumes to: Angela.Ho@ skyworksinc.com. Ref: CA0324VA. Amgen Inc.; Specialist Software Engineer; Thousand Oaks, CA: Orchestrate multiple website releases per day while ensuring alignment to global security and compliance standards. May telecommute. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@amgen. com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job # 20516.3489.6. Job type: Full Time position. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $124,628.00 - $158,227.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life-atamgen/benefits/. Amgen Inc.; Principal Software Development Engineer; Thousand Oaks, CA; Lead architect for Amgen end-to-end cloud architecture and security design. May telecommute. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@ amgen.com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job #20516.3676. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $165,894.00 – $208,289.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life-atamgen/benefits/. Motivo Engineering, LLC in Gardena, CA seeks a Mechatronics Engineer to dsgn and fabricate wire harnesses. No trvl, no WFH. Salary: $94661 a year. Send CV: [email protected] Manager, Data Engineering sought by GoodRx, Inc. in Santa Monica, CA.: implement systems to catch bugs and monitor data quality. Salary: $139,235 - $271,000 per year. Telecom. allowed. Email resumes: jobs@ goodrx.com. Job Code: CA0324CY. CarParts.com, Inc. seeks Lead Data Engineer in Torrance, CA: Developing modern data architecture approaches; implement data ingestion pipelines; manage cloud platforms to meet key business objectives. Salary: $197,600/yr. Send resumes to Jane Moussa: jmoussa@ carparts.com Experian Information Solutions, Inc. in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking to fill the position of Sr. Big Data Engineer to optimize data delivery, automate manual processes, re-design infrastructure for improved scalability and identify, design and implement data ingestion, data delivery process improvements. May telecommute. Pay range for this role is $164,819.00- $169,377.00, with actual pay based on work location, jobrelated skills, experience and education. Role incl. variable pay and comprehensive benefits. Send resumes and benefit inquiries to Amy Harmon, HR, via email at amy.harmon@experian. com. Must reference job code: 20596.537 Engineer. Venice, CA. MS in Elect. & CE, EE, or rel.+1yr. exp. in ML & DL algorithms for classification, regression & clustering, Python, AWS & PyTorch/other DL frameworks to develop & deploy image, lidar & radar-based perception for SDV. Motional AD Inc. F/T. 100% remote permitted. SR: $140000/yr. -$206000/yr. Benefits: https://motional. com/careers. CV to J. Curley at [email protected] & ref. Job#6358. No calls. No Agents. No visa sponsorship. Consumerinfo.com, Inc. in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking to fill the position of Development and Operations Engineer Senior for designing and implementing common framework solutions in a cloud based environment. May telecommute. Pay range for this role is $136,575.00-$169,377.00, with actual pay based on work location, job-related skills, experience and education. Role incl. variable pay and comprehensive benefits. Send resumes and benefit inquiries to Amy Harmon, HR, via email at amy.harmon@experian. com. Must reference job code: 20596.373 DATA ENGINEER: Woodland Hills, CA & various Unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.: Anlyz dsgn Spec, dvlp, test&dply data integ proces. Creat funcl & tech doc like data integ archt flws, source to trgt mapngs, ETL specs docs, run books, & test plns. Dvlp sclbl data piplins u/ clud data tech. Bld KPI dshbrd&atomtn rprts. Mig ETL Piplins from SQL Server to AWS. Perf data colectn, proflng, valdtn, clensng, anlys, & rprtng. Skills req’d: Informatica, Unix, Netezza, Cloud SQL, Redshift, Snap logic, GCP, Big Query, & MicroStrategy. Bachelor’s in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) w/5 yrs exp in job off’d or rltd occup isreq’d. Mail resume: HR, Agilisium Consulting, LLC. 6200 Canoga Ave, Ste 315, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Genies Inc. seeks Art Director. Hybrid role/work from home and2days in Los Angeles, CA office. Live w/I commuting distance. Provide critical artistic feedback. Lead prototyping and research initiatives. Use 3D software. Bachelors +3 yrs exp. Salary: $160,000/yr. email resume & cvltr to : Genies, Attn: A. Gosch at [email protected]. Ref 2024BM. Employment HOW TO PLACE AN AD ADVERTISING POLICIES For Los Angeles Times advertising terms and conditions go to: www.latimes.com/about/la-ads-terms-20181105-htmlstory.html Self-service 24/7: latimes.com/placead Contact us by phone 24/7: 800-234-4444 swer: An ASSY CL EXPOSE CHURCH RANT TY AR GU JA RRET FE to el av tr y e da on y ma ns ma u H her et g f to s i em st y olar s r s he ot we — OR H F AC RE S TAR S THE Miami Stunning SW residence with 4 bdrs, 2.5 bath, an office, located in a very quiet and safe neighborhood with a huge backyard and pool. with greatschools. It is within walking distance of a new YMCA, Lifetime Fitness, Mega Publix Grocery and the beautiful Falls Shopping Center. Joe Pinsker 305-439-4516 Rentals Other Areas Borgo di Vagli,Cortona, Italyrental, one-bedroom with sleep sofa, June 1-15, 1,000 dollars per week. clubborgodivagli.com 949 482 8449 Rentals Vacation Financial Advisor, Strategy and Transactions (S&T) Capital Transformation - (Valuation Modeling & Economics - Financial Modeling) (Manager) (Multiple Positions), Ernst & Young U.S. LLP, Los Angeles, CA. Analyze financial information to forecast business conditions and develop financial analytics solutions for tax planning; financial accounting; investment appraisal; and mergers and acquisitions including integrations and divestitures. Domestic and regional travel required up to 75% to meet client needs. Employer will accept any suitable combination of education, training, or experience. $180,005.00 per year. For complete job description, list of requirements, and to apply online, go to: ey.com/en_us/careers and click on “Careers - Job Search”, then “Search Jobs” (Job #-1500401). Fashion Designer (LA, CA) Create fashion designs for fabrics and textiles. Bachelor’s in Fashion related. $52978/yr. Resumes to:SW Textile Inc., 3440 E 14th St, LA, CA 90023 Equipment Engineer (Goleta, CA): For thin film processing equipment for semiconductor mfg, provide h/w & process spprt during acceptance of cluster tools at customer sites. Up to 75% trvl to Asia for onsite customer support. Bachelor’s in Mech or Sys Engg or rltd +2years’ exp in the job or rltd req. Resumes: Advanced Modular Systems, Inc., [email protected]. Water Resource Engineering Professional Associate sought by Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc, Irvine, CA: Supports planning/ design for water/wastewater projects. Salary: $129,064 - $161,000 / year. Apply at https://careers.jacobs.com/. Req #SOU0004FP. ZipRecruiter, Inc. seeks Software Engineer III in Santa Monica, CA to dzn, implmt, & deploy cloud-based technol for critical proj. Reqs. Master’s degree or foreign equiv in Computer Sci, Comp Eng’g or rel. field. Coursework must incl. Software Dzn, Database Mgmt Sys, AI, & Oper Systems. Pos’n HQ’d in Santa Monica, CA&allows for telecommuting from various unanticipated worksites t/o U.S. Salary fr. $121,222 to $162,500/yr. Email resume: [email protected]. Senior Systems Engineer: $123,000 - $127,000 per year. Send resume to Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046 Senior Product Engineer sought by Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Newbury Park, CA: Work on RF Front end modules for cellular applications. Salary: $108,451 - $167,900 / yr. Resumes: Angela.Ho@ skyworksinc.com. Ref: CA1223PM. Senior Engineer (Cloud, Tools, Apps & Test): BS in CS, Comp. ENGR or rel. + 2 yrs. Prof. exp. Use Node.JS, modern web stack, Angular, React, JavaScript, TypeScript to build Machine Learning infrastructure. F/T. Motional AD Inc. May 100% remote within US to Venice, CA. $102544/yr.-$200100/yr. Benefits: https://motional. com/careers. CV to [email protected] & ref. Job#6167. No calls/ agents. No visa sponsorship. Senior Data Engineer II (Los Angeles, CA) - 1661, Inc. dba GOAT. Work closely w/ analysts, product mgrs, engineers & bus. partners to define & build new pipeline features & ensure reliability, availability & accuracy of data. May work remotely anywhere in the U.S. Must pass co’s standard tech’l test. $164,819-$216,000/yr. Apply online at https://www. goatgroup.com/ Process Engineer 2 sought by Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Newbury Park, CA: sustain semiconductor production processes, equipment. Salary: $100,381-$135,400/yr. Resumes to: Angela.Ho@ skyworksinc.com. Ref: CA1223SV Employment Consumerinfo.com, Inc. in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking to fill the position of Software Development Engineer II for designing, developing, building, testing and deploying web tier applications; Utilize programming skills to develop data products for businesses and consumers. May telecommute. Pay range for this role is $121,222.00-$128,597.00, with actual pay based on work location, job-related skills, experience and education. Role incl. variable pay and comprehensive benefits. Send resumes and benefit inquiries to Amy Harmon, HR, via email at amy. harmon@ expe rian.com. Must reference job code: 20596.332 Senior Software Engineer for Los Angeles Capital Management LLC in Los Angeles, CA, to support technology tools & on-going design, development&production of firm’s proprietary investment models. Requires: Bachelor’s in comp sci., elect. eng., or rel. field (accepts foreign educ equiv.) +5years experience as a software engineer developing software applications in a financial services environment or a Master’s in same fields + 3 years of experience as stated. Partial telecommute available, must reside within reasonable commuting distance of the LA office. Submit resume to [email protected]. Reference Position#25. Salary: $177,029.00 - $180,000.00. Amgen Inc.; Senior Data Engineer; Thousand Oaks, CA: Collaborate with lead architect, Business Subject Matter Experts, and Data Scientists to architect data solutions. May telecommute. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@ amgen.com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job # 20516.3668.8. Job type: Full Time position. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $124,933.00 - $158,726.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life-atamgen/benefits/. Associate Pastor, Family Ministry: Laguna Hills, CA location. CA SB 1162 Pay scale: $49.5k/yr. Send resume to: Crossline Community Church, 23331 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653. Attn: M. Hilde. Hi-Shear Corporation dba Lisi-Aerospace has an opening for Accounting Manager in Torrance, CA. Job duties include: Develop and analyze operational reports to advice and support company’s strategy and growth. Manage operational data and ensure data integrity and accuracy. Position permitted to work from home one day per week and reports to the company’s office. Salary: $140,130 to $154,143 per year. To apply, email resume to [email protected]. Mustreference job 22103.1.1 Fin. Quant Analyst: Energy Sector (Santa Monica, CA) Evaluate Infra.: Assess feasibility, profit., Analyze Oil&Gas Inv.: Predict trends., Support Oil Ops: Optimize prod., Mng Hedging, Portfolios: Implement strats., Review Renew. Energy Proj.: Assess viability. Evaluate Solar & Battery Systems: Analyze perf. Assess Water Infra. Props.: Project sustainability. Build Fin. Models: Predict perf. Generate Inv. Ideas: Analyze data, $69,992. EDUC: MS in Energy/Global Affairs, Spec. in Energy Policy/rltd + 18 mos. Exp. in Job /Oil & Gas Analyst. Send CV: Grade 6 Oil, 1223 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1050, Santa Monica, CA 90403 Innovative Partnerships Group (dba IPG360) seeks Director of Finance & Operations in Los Angeles, CA. Must have Master’s in Business Admin, Finance, or closely related field; 5 years of accounting and finance experience, incl experience creating financial and budget sensitivity models; demonstrated proficiency with accounting and financial reporting systems, cost control, budgeting, accounting, and applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; and superior knowledge of Excel. Pay scale: $223,704. Email resume and cover letter to jheng@ ipg360.com Employment

B6 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 WST S LATIMES.COM have anything to donate. “When they do [want to donate] they sometimes hand us a canopy still open and we’ll close it, pack it up and put it in our truck,” Torres-Hilario said. The festivals attract different types of fans: Coachella attendees rely primarily on tent camping and car camping while Stagecoach fans often arrive in RVs, she said. There are fewer discarded items after Stagecoach because people pack up their RVs and leave, Torres-Hilario said. Galilee Center also often gets calls from event sponsors who want to donate tables, chairs and throw rugs. This year, the center gathered 48,480 pounds of donations from Coachella. The total for items collected after Stagecoach hasn’t been calculated yet. Last year, Goldenvoice, the music festival promoter that puts on Coachella and Stagecoach, donated 34.6 tons of materials from Coachella and Stagecoach. Most of the donated items are put in the Galilee Center’s thrift store to be sold; the proceeds go toward the organization’s programs. The funds are used for programs that offer assistance with rent and utility bill assistance and to purchase items such as diapers for infants, protein drinks for seniors and food to replenish the center’s distribution program. Clothing and furniture vouchers given to low-income individuals and families can be used at the center’s thrift store to pay for items recovered from the music festivals. Left-behind cots and sleeping bags often are given to unhoused people for free, Torres-Hilario said. “Some of it is trash and we throw it away, but for the most part, a lot of the stuff is in good condition that I could easily grab from Coachella and hand it over to a family in need,” she said. In addition to Galilee, nonprofit organizations that have partnered include Martha’s Village and Kitchen and the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. Martha’s Village and Kitchen serves unhoused and impoverished people in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County. The nonprofit gets calls for donation dropoff or pickup during and after the event, said Alexandra Vargas, its spokesperson. When a client graduates from the organization’s residential program into their own home, items from the thrift store can be used to furnish their house. The Coachella festival also benefits the needy when music fans visit the Indio thrift story operated by Martha’s Village and Kitchen during “Thriftchella,” an annual sale event that offers deals such as five pieces of clothing for $1. Often festival-goers who buy in bulk at the thrift store bring back items to donate that they didn’t use during the festivals or can’t take with them on on the way home. “Things like that help us with our revenue because whatever we make from the thrift store, that funds everything we do,” Vargas said. Surplus food from the festivals also helps support charitable organizations. Each day of the festivals, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission rolls a food truck to the festival grounds to pick up leftover food from all the food booths to be served as meals at the mission, said Scott Wolf, its development director. “We serve anywhere between 700 and 1,000 meals a day here at the Rescue Mission, so the foods that are donated by Goldenvoice goes a long way to assisting us with serving those meals,” Wolf said. Whether it’s donations or “Thrift-chella,” Vargas said she feels like the total amount donated to her group from the festivals has increased in recent years. She said she isn’t sure if it’s because of influencers spreading the word about the donations or it’s just an increase in awareness. “Throughout the years it’s been more of a benefit for our community,” she said. Martha’s Village and Kitchen’s client population is 55% families and children who receive services such as daycare with a fee that’s income-based, shelter and an emergency food pantry. Packaged food donations particularly help keep the pantry stocked, “especially because the cost of groceries has increased so much with inflation,” Vargas said. The donations are greatly needed, she said, because the lines at the food pantry have been growing longer over the past year. Concert clutter donated MANY OUT-OF-TOWN festival-goers leave camping gear and other items they buy for a weekend and can’t take on the flight home, the leader of a nonprofit says. Photographs by Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times WORKERS drain a swimming pool Monday after the Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. [Surplus, from B1] Amgen Inc.: Specialist IS Architect; Thousand Oaks, CA: Develop artifacts such as business capability maps, application portfolio health and lifecycle analytics to assist business and IT leaders with technology investment planning, and streamlining and rationalizing the IT enablement process. May telecommute. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@ amgen.com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job #20516.3433. Job type: Full Time position. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $116,510.00 - $155,432.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life - atamgen/benefits/. Consumerinfo.com, Inc. in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking to fill the position of Senior Software Engineer to interact with the Product Owner, Business Analyst, and the Solutions Architect to better understand the business needs and implement the same into a functional design and application development. Develop Microservices/ Batch Processes using C#.Net, ASP.NET Core, and various AWS Services. May telecommute. Pay range for this role is $177,029.00- $202,276.00, with actual pay based on work location, jobrelated skills, experience and education. Role incl. variable pay and comprehensive benefits. Send resumes and benefit inquiriesto Amy Harmon, HR, via email at amy. [email protected]. Must reference job code: 20596.526 Consumerinfo.com, Inc. in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking to fill the position of Data Scientist Analyst Senior to develop machine learning algorithms with huge data sets to solve challenging business questions. Pay range for this role is $126,875.00-$144,028.00, with actual pay based on work location, job-related skills, experience and education. Role incl. variable pay and comprehensive benefits. Send resumes and benefit inquiriesto Amy Harmon, HR, via email at amy. [email protected]. Must reference job code: 20596.534 Amgen Inc.; Data Scientist; Thousand Oaks, CA: Perform high quality data analyses supporting cross-functional product teams, projects and programs to enable enhanced understanding and characterization of the benefit-risk profile of medicinal and combination products; May telecommute. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@ amgen.com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job # 20516.3280.11.Job type: Full Time position. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $143,314.00- $169,083.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life-atamgen/benefits/. Amgen Inc.; Data Scientist; Thousand Oaks, CA: As Business Owner of the Marketing Data Hub (MDH), lead and oversee operations of the MDH Platform including regular enhancements to support business needs. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@ amgen.com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job # 20516.3416. Job type: Full Time position. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $114,897.00 - $133,310.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life-atamgen/benefits/. Employment M A R K E T P L ACE JOBS latimes.com/placead To place an ad call 1.800.234.4444 Underwriter in Woodland Hills, CA for wholesale insur. agency. Req: Bach. in Fin./ Econ./reltd. Fin. field + 6 mos of exp. Salary: $68,500/ yr. Mail CV: Gorst & Compass Insurance, 5850 Canoga Ave., #650, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Tech Expert Risk (Woodland Hills, California): Code hedging and valuation frameworks in C++, C#, and Python. Apply and promote software development best practices to encourage the design of correct, performant, and flexible code. Document code structures and create unit/regression tests. Work closely with Operationsto ensure successful system operations. Perform financial engineering. Develop production quality code. Perform programming in Python and C#. Req’s Bachelor’s deg.+2 yrs. exp. Salary Range: $82,400.00 - $148,300.00 per year. Email resume to michelle. visconti@ corebridgefinancial.com or mail resume to American General Life Insurance Company. Ref# D62AIGCA, Attn: Michelle Visconti, 30 Hudson Street, Floor 19, Jersey City, NJ 07302. No phone calls. Andrade Gonzalez LLP seeks an Insurance Coverage Associate in Los Angeles, CA. Qualified applicants must have a JD or LL.M Degree & a CA bar license, plus 1 year of exp. Salary: $152,000- $180,000/year. Send resume to: pcastro@andradefirm. com ITS Business Process Automation Programmer & Analyst sought by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. Master’s or equiv plus 2 yrs rel exp. (Job ID R9018, $110,000/yr) Apply at https://lmu.wd1.my workdayjobs.com/Careers enter R9018. HR Generalist needed by DJI Technology in Burbank, CA. Create personnel evaluation programs w/ implementations of interviewing techniques; recruit candidates through var channels; coord w/ all levels of employees to address & resolve employee relations issues; provide guidance on hr issues & employment law issues; prfrm employee relations functions; prfrm data anlss on personnel data; dvlp employee welfare programs; prfrm audits & compliance functions. Req. Bach’s in HR, SHRM-CP, knowl of DEI, EEO,&ADA, skills in HR data analytics, Tableau, Excel, SharePoint. Salary $65,021- 80,000/yr. Send resume to [email protected] ref job#393108. Gonsalves & Santucci, Inc. dba The Conco Companies has opening for Project Manager in Los Angeles, CA. Coordinate concrete construction including submitting & coordinating project schedules, pay applications, change orders, submittals & approvals,&RFIs. $91,229.00 to $114,566.00/yr. Email resume to jfraser@conconow. com. Ref. #5 Amgen Inc.; Operations Manager; Thousand Oaks, CA: Develop, design and participate in the execution of programs and initiatives such as continuous process improvements, project scenario planning to support the strategy of Operations Department, which includes developing, executing, and managing work plans for the development of latestage and commercial molecules; May telecommute. Interested candidates email resume to Talent-Mobility@ amgen.com. Must reference, Attn: Talent Mobility Job # 20516.3113.9. Job type: Full Time position. The annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $108,000.00 - $132,000.00 per year. Also, this position offers stock, retirement, medical, life and disability insurance and eligibility for an annual bonus or for sales roles, other incentive compensation. For more details visit https:// careers.amgen.com/life-atamgen/benefits/. Employment Manager, Int’l Research (Culver City, CA) – Lead mktg/content research capabilities of team & determine title position for global B2B sales/greenlight est. Leverage data sources to create/optimize tailored resch insightsto create Mktg decks for new series/library content/custom pkgs. Use resch data to support Int’l sales. Produce resch-based evals of potential content to inform distrib valuation. Determine IP or talent appeal of greenlight produced Films/TV series/3rd pty acqs. Create in-depth strategic analyses to determine perform of key content genres/ selection/talent appeal/distrib of current titles. Lead integration of 3rd pty data sources to automate/scale exist analytical proc leveraged in Mktg/Content Strategy resch. Provide insights into content preferences of consumers globally & bus strategies of clients/competitors. Anticip. base salary w/i stated range of $95,826- $118,375/yr. 40 hrs/wk. Req: Master’s in Comm Mgmt, Bus, Mktg Resch +1 yr exp in job offrd or in analytics w/i TV or digital mediums; in alternative Bachelor’s in Comm Mgmt, Bus, Mktg Resch +5 yrs post-bach exp in job offrd or in analytics w/i TV or digital mediums. Email resume to: pando@spe. sony.com, Ref: MGRRES01. Sony Pictures Television, 10202 W. Washington Blvd, Cohn 1-1207, Culver City, CA 90232. Allows some WFH flexibility, schedule apprvd by mgr. Must be able to work onsite as req’d. Principals only. US work auth req’d if hired. EOE. LOGISTIC IMC Logistics LLC Manager of Logistics Engineering Develop, design, & implement industrial&logistic engineering methods & procedures to enhance the efficiency & effectiveness of drayage & storage services. Bachelor Degree in Industrial Eng., Industrial Eng. Tech., or Mechanical Eng. reqd. (foreign edu. equivalent acceptable). Also reqd. is 12 months of employment exp. as an Operations Engineering Manager or Process Engineering Manager. $103,000.00 per year is the wage for this position. Place of employment at IMC Logistics LLC, 550 W. Artesia Blvd., Compton, CA 90220. Send resume to: IMC Logistics LLC-Sabrina Fields, VP of People Strategies & HR, 1305 Schilling Blvd. W., Collierville, TN 38017. JOB Auto mechanic diagnose, adjust, repair and service autos. HS/GED and 2 yrs exp. req. Send resume to MyCar, Inc. Western Ave. Glendale, CA 91201 U.S. Equity Product Specialist, HSBC Bank USA N.A., Beverly Hills, CA. Full time employment, Mon – Fri, 40hrs/ week, Pay range: $177,000 to $187,000/yr. Responsible for generating investment ideas and promoting them to internal and external audiences (Investment Counsellors, Relationship Managers, and clients). Up to 30% domestic travel required. Employer will accept any suitable combination of education, training, or experience. TO APPLY: Visit https://mycareer.hsbc.com, Requisition ID #0000K3GW. At HSBC, our overall goal is to provide a competitive Total Reward Package, with an appropriate mix of fixed pay, and variable pay, as part of an employee’s overall total compensation and benefits. Variable pay generally takes the form of discretionary, annual awards (sometimes referred to as a “bonus”). CallisonRTKL, Inc. seeks the following position in Los Angeles, CA. Interior Designer (74366): Under suprvision of a licensd architct/dsgn director, prtcpate&assist in pre-dsgn, prgrmming, dsgn docs, construct docs, plan check respnse,&construct admin for projs ranging in size. Salary: $60K to $96K / yr. To apply, visit: https://www. jobpostingtoday.com referencing Job ID (74366). Employment Senior Manager, HR Operations & Strategic Projects sought by LYMI Inc. dba Reformation in Vernon, CA. Job duties incl: Dsgn, evaluate, & advise on organizational systems & related prgms to enhance employee satisfaction & organizational performance&support employee needs in multiple countries. Dsgn, plan, & implmt int’l HR prgms & policies. Conduct annual compensation reviews & dvlp prgms & processes for employee relations, talent acquisition, & HR reporting analytics. Conduct data analysis for use in discussions w/ sr. mgmt regarding critical topics such as attrition, diversity & inclusion, & hiring strategy. Implmt & configure new HR systems & conduct existing HR system maintenance & upgrades. Must be willing to work remotely. Candidates must have at least a Master’s deg in Organizational Psychology, HR, or a related field & at least 2 yrs of professional exp working in HR mgmt. Must have at least 2 yrs of exp working in multiple areas of HR mgmt, incl talent acquisition & retention, learning & dvlpmt, compensation, system implmtn, & reporting. Must have at least 2 yrs of exp analyzing employee retention trends & creating monthly exit analyses for executives using survey & interview data. Must have at least 2 yrs of exp administering compensation prgms (incl bonus, merit, LTI,&commission prgms) & prep’g reports to support compensation decisions. Must have at least 2 yrs of exp creating training & edu materials to facilitate employee onboarding & drive user adoption for new processes. Must be proficient in ChartHop, Greenhouse, G Suite, SAP SuccessFactors, & Workday. Must be willing to work remotely. Annual Salary: $125,611. Please send resumes to kelly.rewporter@ thereformation.us. Manager, External Audit Generalist (Mult Pos), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Los Angeles, CA. Prvd clnts with bus advce on tech acct & fin reprtng stndrds, proactvly idntfyng&artclting emrgng tech issues. Req Bach’s deg or foreign equiv in Bus Admin, Acct, Econ, Tax or rel + 5 yrs post bach’s progressive rel work exp; OR a Master’s deg or foreign equiv in Bus Admin, Acct, Econ, Tax or rel +3yrs rel work exp. Cert Req: U.S. CPA license or foreign equiv. 80% telecommtng permitted. Mst be able to commute to designated local office. Domestic &/or int travel up to 60% req. Salary: $110,000/ yr. Please apply by sending your resume to US_PwC_Career_ R [email protected], specifying Job Code CA3948 in the subject line. GoElite, Inc. seeks Lodging Manager. Salary $102,814/ yr. Master’s in Hospitality or related req’d. Assist int’l students with housing. Work site: Pasadena, CA. E-mail resume to: [email protected]. Commercial Senior Manager sought by Betfair Interactive US LLC in Los Angeles, CA to assess new investment ideas & build business cases to support decision process. Minimum of Bachelor’s degree or foreign equiv in Statistics, Genetics, Human-Computer Interaction, or rltd + 2 yrs exp in job offered or rltd required. Also required: 2 yrs exp: working in risk & trading (customer intelligence focused); advanced understanding of business principles/understanding the levers; w/ SQL, Tableau; in online businesses/ecommerce; in Understanding different components of P&L; in Understanding fundamentals of online marketing. Also required:1yr exp: direct work in commercial analytics. Interested candidates send resume by email to Ashley.Gyscek@fanduel. com. Ref job H5715-00038 ($124k to $186k/year) Employment VP of Ops: rPlanet Earth Los Angeles, LLC in Vernon, CA: Direct leadership team managing company ops in all aspects of PET recycling & plastic mfg, incl support functions of quality, prod dev, purchasing, eng, maint., finance, HR,&sales & mktg. Must have 7 yrs exp. in job offered or in an exec. Leadership role in high-tech PET-recycling & plastic pckg and mfg industry. Resume to recruitment@rplanetearth. com. Ref job code VPO-RPE2. Salary: $265,000. Copy Solutions Inc. in Alhambra CA seeks 1 f/t Operation Specialist for optimizing the efficiency and value of business operation. 77k p/y Mail resume to: HR, 919 S Fremont Ave., Suite 398, Alhambra, CA 91803 Office Clerk: Answer calls, sort mail,&other basic office tasks. 2 years exp. required. Salary range: $51k - $58k. Mail resume to New Dimension General Construction, Inc. 208 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Placentia, CA 92870. SICONS, LLC dba Simplified IT Consulting in Woodland Hills, CA is seek’g a Client Alignment Specialist to provide strategic IT roadmaps & to dvlp&implmnt custom solut’ns to clients’ complex apps prblms, systm admin issues, or netwrk concerns. Sary: $77,293/yr. No trvl; no telecomm. Send resumes to: [email protected]. Medical Technologist, multiple positions. Providence St. John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA. Analyze lab specimens; perform specimen analyses related to Hematology, Blood Bank, Chem, Immunochem, &/or Microbio. Wage range: $45.66 -$72.27. See: https://www. providenceiscalling.jobs/ jobs/ ?q=272975&r=25&page=1 Truck Mechanic, Ontario CA: Inspect truck, ident probl use compress gauge&comp diagn device. Perf rout prevent maint&repair steer mech brake, tire&wire. Use power&hand tool/prec instr: pneum wrench, lathe, weld equip, jack&hoist. Test drive veh&syst, adjust repaired syst to meet manuf specificat. Prep DOT relev forms. Sal $58,656/yr. HS+2 yr exp Truck Mechanic. Fax res Titan Trans Logistics Inc 6572324400 Senior Business Managers: Futronics (NA) Corporation. in Pasadena, CA. Evaluate Futronics’ marketing strategies and campaign effectiveness to enhance target market growth and brand visibility. MS/MA in Marketing, Bus., Admin., or related. $110,000/yr. Res to 225 S Lake Ave, Ste 800, Pasadena, CA 91101 Performance Marketing Specialist is sought by NAVER Z USA INC (Los Angeles, CA) Dvlp mktg strategies, plan advtg campaigns, etc. Reqmts: Proficient in data analytics s/ware: Excel, Google Analytics, Looker, Amplitude, Final Cut Pro X. Strong content mktg & data analysis skills.ABach’s deg in Communication or mktg. Annual salary $47,195. Apply to NAVER Z USA INC, 5700 Wilshire Blvd Ste 220, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Marketing Specialists: Req. Any BA/BS Wage:$48,000/ YR Mail resume: Toolipis Creative, Inc. 1521 E Orangethorpe Ave #A Fullerton, CA 92831 Japanese restaurant seeks a Marketing Specialist in Los Angeles, CA. Bachelor in MKTG, BUS or rltd. req. Frm $47,195/yr. Send resume to Peace Dining Inc., 333 S Alameda St #314, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Attn: HR Market Research Analyst: Apply by mail only Sunstar67, 616 S. Westmoreland Ave., 1 Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90005, attn. CEO Production Manager. Req’d: Associate’s degree in Fashion Design, Design or related. Wage: $60,549. Mail Resume: EESOME, INC. 2701 S Broadway, LA, CA 90007 Employment Restaurant Manager: Two yrs of wk exp req’d. Wage: $76,357/Yr. Mail resume to: Jang Enterprise, Inc., 3930 Broadway Place, Long Beach, CA 90037, Attn:J. Lee. Quality Assurance Engineer II, Audible, Inc., Culver City, CA. Lead the testing of large-scale systems, create test plans, test cases, & drive continuous improvements to the QA processes. Position reports into Culver City, CA office; however, telecommuting fromahome office may be allowed. $113,900 - $160,000/year. Multiple positions. Apply online: www. amazon.jobs. Job Code: ADBL114. Project Manager (Civil Engineering) for commercial real estate co.@$38,189/yr. Mail to Excel Property Management Services, Inc., 9034 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 Parsons Transportation Group Inc. has an opening foraProject Manager in Pasadena, CA, for small to medium-sized transportation engineering projects to ensure on-schedule completion within or below budget and in accordance with contractual obligations. May telecommute. Position requires Professional Engineering registration in DC, Maryland and Virginia. $169,362.01 to $210,600.00 Apply online at jobs.parsons.com. Must reference job 11863.140.15 / R153333. ZipRecruiter, Inc. seeks Product Designer in Santa Monica, CA to dev & test layouts, interfaces, functionality, & nav menus to ensure compatibility & usability across browsers & devices. Reqs. Bachelor’s degree or foreign equiv in Communication Design, Product Design or rel. field. Coursework must incl. Business Models&Enterprise Strategy, Web/Mobile Product Design, Digital Dialect, Brand Strategy, and Advanced Motion Graphics. Pos’n will be HDQTR’D in Santa Monica & allows for telecom from various unanticipated worksites t/o the U.S. Salary fr. $132,500 to $155,000/yr. Email resume: [email protected] . DAY PORTER (SEVERAL POSITIONS): Change trash liners in common area, trash receptacles, pick up in planters, dust widow sills, remove trash throughout the property and perimeter of parking lot. Salary $16.00 per hour. Send Resumes to job location: Maintenance, Inc, 1352 E Edinger Ave Santa Ana, Ca 92705 Chief Pilot @ Alder Law, Burbank, CA. Operate multiengine King Air aircraft as pilot in command. 100% travel to various domestic & int’l regions. $220k/yr. Apply: [email protected]; Subj line: Job ID# CP5823. PARALEGAL F/T, BA in law, legal studies, jurisprudence, or related. Mail resume: Atoyan Law APC, 3800 Barham Blvd, Ste 311, Los Angeles, CA 90068 Operations Manager needed by Saint-Gobain Glass Corporation to work in Huntington Beach, CA. Lead production and quality team to achieve excellence in safety, compliance, quality, performance metrics, and people development while cultivating customer intimacy. Direct Reports: 3 Individuals (1 Production Leader; 1 Quality Supervisor; and 1 Quality Incoming Technician). Salary Range: $99,000 to $139,000. Interested candidates should send resumes to Saint-Gobain Glass Corporation, HR - Job Code 1271, 7301 Orangewood Ave Garden Grove, CA-92841. Troy Designs has openings for Operations Managers in LA, CA. Reqs US bach/foreign equiv. Plan/organize/ manage jewelry & fashion. Handle acquisitions & trades. Review/modify business strategies, profit/loss, tax reqs. Oversee warehouse system & create scripts to manage shipments/billing of orders. Use skills in QuickBooks/SAP/Oracle. Send resume to troydesigns.jobs@ outlook.com w/ ref #2024- 19 & ref this ad Employment Don’t let the phone stop ringing Advertise with LA Times Classified LA Times Classified (800) 234-4444 Test Engineer 1 sought by Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Irvine, CA: Test plan development, HW/SW implementation from device specifications. Salary: $79,934 - $98,800 /yr. Resumes to: Angela.Ho@skyworksinc. com. Ref: CA0324KS. Import Mgr - Direct & coordinate imports of Japanese products & sales to US clients, direct conversion of products from Japanese to American standards to ensure efficient operation. Min Req:2yrs of exp as Import Mgr, Ops Mgr, or Sales Mgr & fluency in Japanese language (must be able to read, write & speak). Job Site: Long Beach, CA. Mail resume to: Tokiwa Tusho Company, 2382 E Artesia Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90805, Job #304IM, Attn: Yoichiro Masuda Software Engineer III sought by Iteris Inc. in Santa Ana, CA for s/ware product engg, architecture, dsgn, implmtn, & testing. Req.: MS/for equiv +1yr. exp. *Telecommuting permitted* Salary: $121,222 to $133,222 /yr. Resumes to: Ariel Abellon, aabellon@ iteris.com, Ref: AB-24. Manager III, Software Development, Audible, Inc., Culver City, CA. Manage SW dev team tasked w/ building or solving complex software problems, often at the architectural level & influence other teams that overlap in business/technology areas. Position reports into Culver City, CA office; however, telecommuting from a home office may be allowed. $220,626 - $250,200/year. Multiple positions. Apply online: www.amazon.jobs Job Code: ADBL127 Lead Seamstress needed by BriMar Couture in LA, CA to provide support to tailors & seamstresses for advanced alternations/patterning requests. Reqs: 4 yrs. exp. in the job offered, or as a Mgr. or head of Pattern-making & Tailoring. Must have these skills & ability: garment construction, able to resize a dress or re-pattern; hand sewing as embroidery & lace repair; ability to use Industrial machines: Single needle, overlock, serger, blindstitch; & ability to handle rush alterations done in less than 24 hours turn around. Salary $55K - $70K. Send resume to BriMar Couture at brielle@ galialahav.com. Manager, Salesforce Consulting (Mult Pos), PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services LLC, Los Angeles, CA. Assist clients leverage Salesforce technology to enhance their customer experiences, enable sustainable change, and drive results. Req Bach’s deg or foreign equiv in Info Sys, Infrmtcs, Comp Sci, IT, Engg or rel, + 5 yrs of postbach’s, prgrssv rel wrk exp.; OR a Master’s deg or foreign equiv in Info Sys, Infrmtcs, Comp Sci, IT, Engg or rel,+3 yrs of rel wrk exp. Must have Any 1 or more of the following Salesforce.com certs: Certified Administrator, Certified Developer, Certified Sales/Service Consultant, Marketing Cloud Developer, or Marketing Cloud Administrator. 80% telecmmtng prmttd. Mst be able to cmmute to dsgntd local offc. Domstc &/or int trvl up to 80% req. Salary $143,000/ yr. Please apply by sending your resume to US_PwC_Career_Recrui t [email protected], specifying Job Code CA4120 in the subject line. Employment IT: ADP Technology Services, Inc. seeks a Lead Application Developer at our Costa Mesa, CA loc. responsible for partic. in SDLC, incl. plan, constr., test, rvws,&demos. Bach’s deg. in Comp Sci., Comp. Engg., Info. Sys., or a rel. field+6 yrs of rel. exp. reqd. ADP will accept a Master’s deg + 4 yrs rel. exp. 2 yrs. of exp. must incl.: Java; J2EE; JMS; SOA; OOAD; OOP; Websphere App Server; Eclipse IDE, IntelliJ; React; Server-side app frwks, incl. JSP, Servlet, Springboot; Cold Fusion; ORMs, incl. Hibernate, AWS; Restful & SOAP-based web services, incl. JSON&XML; Unit testing frwks, incl. Junit&Jest; SQL Data Store– Oracle, MYSQL; JSCAPE MFT. Annual base salary range for this position is $177,029 to $210,200. To apply, please respond to req. 250934 at http://jobs.adp.com. Alternatively, applicants may mail their resume to the following address referencing req. 250934: 1 ADP Blvd., MS 248, Roseland, NJ 07068. Lead Product Management and Development needed by DIRECTV, LLC in El Segundo, CA [and various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.; may work from home] to manage the product development process for large, complex products/ services and enhancements. Our Lead Product Management and Development’s earn between $177,029 - $192,050 yearly. DIRECTV, LLC offers amazing benefits from health insurance to tuition reimbursement and paid time off to discounts on products and services. Apply at https://jobs.directv.com/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R240100. Technical Analyst II for L.A. Care Health Plan in Los Angeles, CA to serve as technical & business process SME for business domains. Req: Bachelor’s or foreign education equiv. in Comp Sci, Electronic Engg. or rltd field &5yrs exp as Analyst or rltd role, or Master’s&3yrs exp. Telecommuting role – can be performed anywhere in the U.S. Salary range: $91,536-$151,034; offered salary: $138,195. Submit CV to [email protected]. Ref job title. KPMG LLP, Manager, Tax (Mult. Pos.), Los Angeles, CA. Provide bus. & intangible asset valuations for M&As, fin. reporting, tax & regulatory compliance, restructuring&re-org., corp. svcs.&mgmt. planning purposes. Req’ts Incl.: Master’s deg. or foreign equiv. in Fin. Engg., Comp. Fin., Fin. Math., Acc., Bus. Admin., Econ., or rel. field, &2yrs of rel. work exp.; or Bach’s deg. or foreign equiv. in Fin. Engg., Comp. Fin., Fin. Math., Acc., Bus. Admin., Econ., or rel. field, & 5 yrs of post-bach’s, progressive rel. work exp. Travel to various locs throughout the US req’d up to 10%. Travel to various int’l locs req’d up to 5%. Employer will accept any suitable combo of edu., training, or exp. Salary: $123,240 - $248,900/yr. Apply online at https://www. kpmguscareers.com/jobsearch&type req.#111685 in the keyword search box for Experienced Professionals. Please contact [email protected] if you have difficulty applying. If offered employment, must have legal right to work in the U.S. EOE. KPMG offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. No phone calls or agencies please. KPMG, an equal opportunity employer/disability/veteran. KPMG maintainsadrug-free workplace.©2024 KPMG LLP,aDelaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Employment Your exclusive guide to SoCal real estate listings. Advertise Today LA Times Classified (800) 234-4444 Journalist. Req’d: BA in Journalism, Comm., or rel. $42,994/year. Mail resume: LA Woori Broadcasting, Inc., 690 Wilshire Pl. Ste 303, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Veterinarian, FT (W. Hollywood, CA) $225000+. VCA Inc. anita.campbell@vca. com TRANSLATOR Legal translator - Law Office of Muky Dai, San Marino Resume and cover letter to [email protected] Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.) has the following positions in Los Angeles, CA: Software Engineer, Android: Research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for user interfaces, infrastructure, and/or tools supporting applications on Android using the Android SDK. (ref. code REQ-2404- 135754: $215,813.00/year to $240,240.00/year). Software Engineer: Research, design, develop, build and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for large distributed components that run applications. (ref. code REQ-2404-135884: $139,659/year - $158,400/ year). Individual pay is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus or equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base salary, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta at this link: https:// www.metacareers.com/ facebook-life/benefits. For full information & to apply online, visit us at the following website http://www. metacareers.com/jobs & search using the ref code(s) above. Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.) has the following positions in Los Angeles, CA: Software Engineer (Product): Develop, design, create, modify, and/ or test software applications or systems for various products or software services. (ref. code REQ-2404-135721: $213,876/year to $240,240/ year). Product Manager: Lead the ideation, technical development, and launch of innovative Meta AR/VR software products from product definition and planning through production, release and end of life. (ref. code REQ-2404-135499: $335,592 - $374,000). Individual pay is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus or equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base salary, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta at this link: https:// www.metacareers.com/ facebook-life/benefits. For full information & to apply online, visit us at the following website http://www. metacareers.com/jobs & search using the ref code(s) above. Nail Technician: Apply nail polish or add decorative elements to nails. Req. CA Nail Technician License. Mail resume: BUTTERCUP BY HARU LA CORP, 2707 W Olympic Blvd, Ste. 102, LA, CA 90006 Employment

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 B7 comes to campaigns, though, what the statistics show is less important than how voters feel, Sragow said. Crime is “definitely one of the top issues on voters’ minds right now,” said Mark Baldassare, survey director of the Public Policy Institute of California, or PPIC, a nonpartisan think tank that regularly surveys Californians about their views on public policy issues. The economy, homelessness and housing affordability are still top concerns, Baldassare said, but the share of likely voters who are concerned about crime appears to be growing. In December, the PPIC found that 8% of likely voters described “crime, drugs and gangs” as the most important issue facing the state. Two months later, 12% of likely voters said that crime was the most important issue for Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to address in 2024. Those numbers are particularly high among voters who described themselves as independents: In February, 17% of likely independent voters said crime was the most important issue, up from 8% in December. “The thing about crime is, it doesn’t take much — it just takes one or two things that people notice and makes them scared,” Baldassare said. Recent high-profile attacks, including the shooting of an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department deputy stopped at a traffic light in West Covina, and a spate of stabbings on the L.A. Metro system, can leave uneasy Californians wondering “whether everything is falling apart,” Sragow said. The job of Democratic candidates, Sragow said, will be “to address how people feel, that people have to feel safe when they walk outside.” Republican challengers, he said, will try to make a case for tough-on-crime policies, crafted subtly enough to try to appeal to “disaffected independents, and maybe some Democrats.” Some of that tough-oncrime talk is coming from Democrats too. A shift in how state lawmakers in Sacramento are talking about public safety is proof that crime is “clearly a vulnerability” for Democrats in tight races, said Rob Stutzman, a Republican strategist. He said voters’ concerns over crime probably won’t make a difference in the Senate race, where polling shows Schiff with a commanding lead over Republican challenger Steve Garvey. But, Stutzman said, those concerns could make a difference in more competitive districts, including the handful of California swing seats for Congress that could help decide control of the House of Representatives in November. “The pendulum is swinging, and it’s dragging them with it,” Stutzman said of Democrats. Democrats are a ripe target, given that the party has a firm grip on political power in California. Democrats hold every statewide office and control both chambers of the state Legislature. Republicans have not won a California statewide election since 2006, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won reelection and Steve Poizner became insurance commissioner. Registered Democrats also outnumber Republicans by almost 2 to 1 in the state. Newsom has sent dozens of California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland and to Bakersfield this year in an attempt to address rising crime rates. The governor said this week that authorities in Kern County, home to Bakersfield, have made 211 arrests, recovered 127 stolen vehicles and seized four firearms in the first six weeks of the CHP enforcement effort. A package of bills from Assembly Democrats, endorsed by Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), are designed to address retail theft by, among other proposals, allowing restraining orders to keep people who steal away from certain stores and letting prosecutors aggregate the value of thefts across multiple incidents in determining criminal charges. The “root cause of so much of the chaos and decay” is Proposition 47, Yolo County Dist. Atty. Jeff Reisig said in a post on the social platform X. California voters approved the ballot measure in 2014 to reclassify some felony drug and theft offenses as misdemeanors and to raise, from $400 to $950, the amount for which theft can be prosecuted as a felony. “Many friends and family who live and work in the urban core of our big cities no longer feel safe even walking to lunch,” Reisig said after the scuffle involving the San José mayor’s security detail on live television. The attack, he said, was “more stark evidence that California’s urban centers have been turned into dangerous places.” He said he hoped voters would get the chance to reform Proposition 47 in November. Mahan and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, both Democrats, have endorsed an effort to increase criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers and repeat organized retail theft rings, as well as provide mandatory treatment for drug users. High-profile crimes put Democrats on spot LAPD OFFICERS patrol Getty House, the official residence of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, on April 22, a day after a man broke into it. That and other crimes involving Democratic lawmakers have become fodder for Republicans who mock California’s approach to public safety. Jason Armond Los Angeles Times POLICE investigate the shooting of a deputy. Robert Gauthier L.A. Times [Crime, from B1] Download the app. Discover more of The Times. Use your camera to scan the QR code. Tap the link when it appears to be directed to your device’s app store. Hit download and start exploring.

B8 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM Shareamemory To sign a guest book please go to latimes.com/guestbooks Chandler Brinkman Tuck July 19, 1979 - December 22, 2023 “He was one of my favorite people ever!” is what everyone who knew Chandler Tuck says when hearing of his passing—and for the first time in history they aren’t just being kind. Chandler, the world’s favorite person, died on December 22, 2023 in Los Angeles. Everyone who had the luck of being in his orbit describes him as hilarious, brilliant, creative, kind, and loving. Chandler was a dog-lover, doting uncle, and a gifted writer. He inspired and encouraged others in their creative endeavors, yet, unfortunately, died with hundreds of his own stories, poems, and raps untold--a tragic loss for fans of dark humor everywhere. Chandler likely had crippling FOMO over missing his celebration of life at the Magic Castle, but was undoubtedly there in spirit making dark quips, witty remarks, and referencing obscure movie quotes over our shoulders. He was also probably very late. Nobody could sum up a weekend with friends into a hysterical and poignant limerick like Chandler. He would lift one’s spirits after a breakup by composing a poem about the ex, crystallizing their flaws in a hilarious and insightful take-down. He commemorated his loved one’s birthday’s by creating punny animal memes in the style of ironic humor he so acutely nailed. Chandler was a clown. No really! He could juggle while riding a unicycle. He won Halloween every single year--once even convincing a gaggle of hopeful models that he was Terry Richardson and photographing them with a broken camera. If you’re wondering whether it was before or after Terry Richardson was cancelled--it was after--even funnier! Chandler graduated from Clear Lake High School (TX), and attended St. Edward’s University in Austin. He eventually made Los Angeles his forever home alongside his best friend and sister, Corbett Tuck, and his cousin, Hillary Hedges Croll. The trio spent their twenties climbing 120 stairs to their house--it was worth it for the panoptic view of LA! They also had amazing quads. Chandler worked in music management with an impressive roster of musicians before switching to the more creative field of editing, content producing, and animation. His quick, wry sense of humor earned him the coveted role of tweeting as the characters for a wildly popular comedy TV show—a side-hustle only he was born to do. Chandler is survived by his mother, Pamela Brinkman Tuck and her partner Barry Tillman(La Porte, TX);his father, Joseph Grady Tuck III and his wife Robin(Bastrop, TX); his step-father, David Ritter(Virginia);his older sister Corbett Tuck, her husband Leigh Whannell, and their children Sabine, Jones, and Wren(Los Angeles); and his younger sister Hailey Tuck (Bastrop, TX). He is also survived by his many aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends who are devastated by this unfathomable loss. He is preceded in death by his brother Joseph Grady Tuck IV and his beloved dog, Bella. Jean Bailey Archer August 13, 1929 - April 27, 2024 Jean Bailey Archer, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, died peacefully in Santa Barbara on April 27, 2024. Jean graduated from Marlborough School and received a Bachelor’s Degree from UCLA In 1951, she married Richard Archer, with whom she shared 53 wonderful years until his death in 2005. Jean strongly believed in her civic duty. While living in Los Angeles, Jean was a member of the Junior League, a Docent for children’s tours at LACMA, and on the Child Care Leadership Team at Community Bible Study. After moving to Santa Barbara, Jean was a member of the Music Academy of the West Ladies Auxiliary, Birnam Wood Golf Club Board, Garden Club of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Auxiliary Board. Jean is survived by her three children: Kathy Hampar (Gary), Pam Blom (John) and John Archer (Pam). She is also survived by ten grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Jean will be remembered for her love of family, friends, church, and community. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jean Archer to Montecito Covenant Church, 671 Cold Spring Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Obituaries Placeapaid notice latimes.com/placeobituary Search obituary notice archives: legacy.com/obituaries/latimes Honor a life To place an obituary ad please go to latimes.com/placeobituary Don’t let the story go untold. placeanad.latimes.com/obituaries In partnership with Share your loved one’s story. To place an obituary ad please go online to: latimes.com/placeobituary or call 1-800-234-4444 Jack C Flynn May 16, 1927 - 2024 Jack Cramer Flynn, (USS Chicago WWII) professor/ teacher has departed this world after 96 years, passing away peacefully at his Pasadena home. Survived by his wife Jackie of 77 years, 4 kids (Terry, Thomas, John, Kathleen) & 9 grandkids with 6 great-grand kids, in his ever-expanding family. A celebration/wake is being held at the VA Cemetery in West L.A. on May 16th at 1pm, 950 S. Sepulveda Blvd Los Angeles. Gary O. Concoff June 28, 1936 - April 28, 2024 Gary O. Concoff, 87, of Los Angeles, California, passed away on April 28, 2024, after a prolonged illness. Born June 28, 1936, to Evelyn and Nathan Concoff, Gary played centerfield at Los Angeles High School and went on to study Accounting at UCLA and received a JD from Harvard Law School. In 1962, Gary returned to Los Angeles where he began a successful career in Entertainment Law which remained his passion for the next five decades. His broad knowledge spanned topics including litigation, corporate law, bankruptcy, intellectual property, accounting, and personal service agreements. He adeptly guided his clients through the risks inherent to their business and creative endeavors. He was among the first to recognize and develop the field of international co-production. Gary was generous in sharing his time and knowledge with subsequent generations of Entertainment Attorneys including his instrumental roles in founding and nurturing the growth of the UCLA Entertainment Symposium. He took particular pride in the many successes of those he mentored. Also in 1962, Gary met the love of his life, Jean Fogelman. They were married the following year, a loving union that lasted the 62 years until his death. They had two children, Cory and Andy. Gary valued love for his family above all else. First as a son and brother, and later as a husband, father, and grandfather, Gary delighted in spending time with his family, reminiscing at Sunday gatherings, and providing earnest and sage guidance and encouragement. Those of us lucky enough to benefit from Gary’s love felt cherished, supported, and empowered. He loved supporting the interests of his sons and grandchildren, attending their games, recitals, and other performances. With the family home aptly situated beyond the centerfield fence, he was a prominent contributor to the Golden Age of Rustic Canyon Park Sports. Gary was an avid supporter of UCLA athletics and an ardent fan of the San Francisco Giants. Gary is survived by Jean, sons Cory and Andy, Andy’s wife Simone, grandchildren Eden, Sydney, and Quintin, as well as his sisters Laurie and Robbi and their families. To contact the family with messages or for information regarding the Celebration of Gary’s life, please contact [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the UCLA Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund / giveto.ucla. edu (the Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund can be accessed via the “FIND FUNDS” tab on the GIVE TO UCLA website). Stories live on. Tell theirs. placeanad.latimes.com/obituaries Share your loved one’s story. In partnership with Laura Goldstein May 22, 1976 - April 15, 2024 Our beloved daughter and sister, Laura Goldstein, passed away Monday April 15, 2024. Laura attended Curtis School, was a very proud alumnus of Westlake School for Girls, and continued on to graduate from HarvardWestlake School. She got her degree at Boston University. Laura was an avid reader, had a passion for cooking, and she loved Geology and Geography. She entered the working world in public relations, but soon found that her calling was to be an educator. She obtained her teaching credential and became a teacher with the Los Angeles School District, where she taught for over twenty years. She truly wanted to make a difference in a child’s life and was very dedicated to her students. She loved teaching and taught at Broadway Elementary School, a Title One school, for many years before moving on to Canyon Elementary School. She was a wonderful teacher, loved by her students and often requested by the parents. She was given the more challenging students, but she never minded and she cared for them and grew to have a special bond with them. She was a gentle soul, sweet, kind and generous of spirit. She was a loving person with a warm and beautiful smile and a great sense of humor. She was a big sister to her two younger siblings. They were a set of three girls; we were a tightknit family of 5. Her passing has left an emptiness in our hearts that will never be filled. She will be missed by her parents Betty and Fred; her sisters, Liz and Melissa; their spouses, Chris and Joe; her niece Beckett, nephews Jay and Curren; her Aunties and cousins; her dear long time Westlake School friends; her colleagues and many other friends whose lives were touched by her presence. Her passing is a terrible loss for us all. In honor of her passion for education and her love for dogs, donations can be made to: Children’s Science Program in Memory of Laura Goldstein Friends of Robinson Gardens 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Wags and Walks - https:// www.wagsandwalks.org/ donate-la We thank the many committed doctors and nurses at UCLA Medical Center who so valiantly tried to save her. May she join her grandparents who loved her as deeply as she loved them. A bright ligh t extinguished....A beautiful life gone to soon. To place an obituary ad please go online to: latimes.com/placeobituary or call 1-800-234-4444 Julian Kivowitz Mount Sinai Mem Parks - H. Hills 800-600-0076 www.mountsinaiparks.org Paul Alan Joseph March 9, 1936 - March 8, 2024 Paul Alan Joseph passed away peacefully on March 8th, 2024, one day before his 88th birthday. P a ul w a s b o r n i n Inglewood, CA to Isaac and Mary Joseph on March 9th, 1936. He graduated from Inglewood High school in 1953, went on to attend UCLA, eventually earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State LA in 1958 and a CPA certificate in 1960. He was a member of the Zevin Descendants, a large family of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia. Paul led an incredible life of adventure and held many exciting careers. He was a partner and practicing accountant with Joseph and Friedman, CPA’s in the 1960’s. He was the executive producer of 6 feature films with his company Creative Entertainment in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. He worked in Vienna, Austria and managed trade agreements with emerging markets in Eastern Europe in the ‘90’s. He operated a mortgage brokerage in the early 2000’s, sold reverse mortgages in the 2010’s and ended his career as a consultant here in Oxnard. His business prowess led him to 37 countries around the world, and he always enjoyed connecting with people from different backgrounds. Paul loved his family, his Porsches, his airplanes and his fishing trips to Baja California. He was proud to come from a family of intellectuals and to be interested in the world. His stories were famous, his humor was witty and his kindness unmatched. He will be greatly missed. Paul is survived by his 4 children, Andrew, Lisa, Adam and Nicholas, his “jack” daughter Kelly, his grandson David and his many nieces, nephews and extended family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Commemorative Air Force Museum of Camarillo or donating blood to The American Red Cross. Share a memory To sign a guest book please go to latimes.com/guestbooks Marilyn Rosensweig November 4, 1935 - April 28, 2024 M a r i lyn Dickst e i n Rosensweig died peacefully at the age of 88 on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Marilyn, the daughter of Essie and Ben Dickstein was born in Los Angeles and attended LA High. At age 16 Marilyn met the love of her life William “Bill” Rosensweig. Marilyn was a fabulous wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a successful travel agent way into her eighties. Marilyn and Bill traveled the world but most importantly enjoyed spending time with their family. Marilyn was not only beautiful outside but inside too and will be missed by all. She is survived by her children Linda, Robert, Allison, Richard and Jamie, her grandchildren, Rachel, Kailey and Benny and her brother David Dickstein. Memorial services will be private and a celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held in the near future. Donations in Marilyn’s memory can be made to the Concern Foundation. Marilyn Rosensweig Mount Sinai Mem Parks - Simi Valley 800-600-0076 www.mountsinaiparks.org Gaye Wilcox Rehder May 4, 1944 - April 26, 2024 Gaye Wilcox Rehder, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and adventurer, passed away on April 26, 2024, at the age of 79. Born on May 4, 1944, in Seattle, Washington, Gaye lived life with unmatched zest and courage. As a TWA flight attendant for over 30 years, she explored every corner of the globe, visiting all seven continents and amassing countless stories and experiences. Her boundless curiosity and love for learning made her a true citizen of the world. She dedicated numerous years to volunteering with the Los Angeles Orphanage Guild Juniors and other charitable organizations, embodying her commitment to compassion and service. Gaye’s warmth, wit, and laughter brought joy to all who knew her, leaving an unforgettable impression on everyone she met. A passionate reader and writer, Gaye’s insights graced the pages of the Los Angeles Times, where she published several letters to the editor and Op-Eds, sparking conversations and challenging perceptions. Gaye leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and curiosity. She is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Bill, her sons Erik (daughter-in-law Hilary) and Michael (daughter-in-law Samantha), and her cherished grandchildren, Caroline, Will, Charlie, Braden, and Jocelyn. Gaye’s adventurous spirit and kindness will continue to inspire those who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. To place an obituary ad please go online to: latimes.com/ placeobituary or call 1-800-234-4444 Stories live on. Tell theirs. placeanad.latimes.com/obituaries In partnership with Share a memory To sign a guest book please go to latimes.com/guestbooks To place an obituary ad please go online to: latimes.com/placeobituary or call Ms. Phillips 1-800-528-4637 Ext. 77242 Stephen Edward Rubin February 27, 1943 - February 25, 2024 Stephen Edward Rubin died on February 25 due to an injury from a fall at his home in Boonville, California. He was 80. Steve, a polio survivor since childhood, had a long and productive life as a talented musician, D.J. of a weekly radio jazz program, Music Director of a Public Radio Station, and gifted artist. He is survived by his wife Sandra Mendelsohn Rubin, his brother Michael, his sisters-in-law Susan Goldman Rubin and Lynn Hope Hassan, and five nephews.

LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 B9 When you use Facebook Messenger these days, a new prompt greets you with this come-on: “Ask Meta AI anything.” You may have opened the app to send a text to a pal, but Meta’s new artificial-intelligence-powered chatbot is tempting you with encyclopedic knowledge that’s just a few keystrokes away. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has planted its home-grown chatbot on its Whatsapp and Instagram services. Now, billions of internet users can open one of these free social media platforms and draw on Meta AI’s services as a dictionary, guidebook, counselor or illustrator, among many other tasks it can perform — although not always reliably or infalliably. “Our goal is to build the world’s leading AI and make it available to everyone,” said Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive officer at Meta, as he announced the chatbot’s launch recently. “We believe that meta AI is now the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.” As Meta’s moves suggest, generative AI is making its way into social media. TikTok has an engineering team focused on developing large language models that can recognize and generate text, and they’re hiring writers and reporters who can annotate and improve the performance of these AI models. On Instagram’s help page it states, “Meta may use [user] messages to train the AI model, helping make the AIs better.” TikTok and Meta did not respond to a request for comment, but AI experts said social media users can expect to see more of this technology influencing their experience — for better or possibly worse. Part of the reason social media apps are investing in AI is that they want to become “stickier” for consumers, said Ethan Mollick, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who teaches entrepreneurship and innovation. Apps like Instagram try to keep users on their platforms for as long as possible because captive attention generates ad revenue, he said. At Meta’s first-quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg said it would take some time for the company to turn a profit from its investments in the chatbot and other uses of AI, but it has already seen the technology influencing user experiences across its platforms. “Right now, about 30% of the posts on Facebook feed are delivered by our AI recommendation system,” Zuckerberg said, referring to the behind-the-scenes technology that shapes what Facebook users see. “And for the first time ever, more than 50% of the content people see on Instagram is now AI recommended.” In the future AI won’t just personalize user experiences, said Jaime Sevilla, who directs Epoch, a research institute that studies AI technology trends. In fall 2022, millions of users were enraptured by Lensa’s AI capabilities as it generated whimsical portraits from selfies. Expect to see more of this, Sevilla said. “I think you’re gonna end up seeing entirely AI-generated people who post AIgenerated music and stuff,” he said. “We might live in a world where the part that humans play in social media is a small part of the whole thing.” Mollick, author of the book “Co-intelligence: Living and Working with AI,” said these chatbots are already producing some of what people read online. “AI is increasingly driving lots of communication online,” he said. “[But] we don’t actually know how much AI writing is out there.” Sevilla said generative AI probably won’t supplant the digital town square created by social media. People crave the authenticity of their interactions with friends and family online, he said, and social media companies need to preserve a balance between that and AI-generated content and targeted advertising. Although AI can help consumers find more useful products in the daily lives, there’s also a dark side to the technology’s allure that can teeter into coercion, Sevilla said. “The systems are gonna be pretty good at persuasion,” he said. A study just published by AI researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne found that GPT-4 was 81.7% more effective than a human at convincing someone in a debate to agree. While the study has yet to be peer reviewed, Sevilla said that the findings were worrisome. “That is concerning that [AI] might like significantly expand the capacity of scammers to engage with many victims and to perpetrate more and more fraud,” he added. Sevilla said policymakers should be aware of AI’s dangers in spreading misinformation as the United States heads into another politically charged voting season this fall. Other experts warn that it’s not if, but how AI might play a role in influencing democratic systems across the world. Bindu Reddy, CEO and co-founder of Abacus.AI, said the solution is a little more nuanced than banning AI on our social media platforms — bad actors were spreading hate and misinformation online well before AI entered the equation. For example, human rights advocates criticized Facebook in 2017 for failing to filter out online hate speech that fueled the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. In Reddy’s experience, AI has been good at detecting things such as bias and pornography on online platforms. She’s been using AI for content moderation since 2016, when she released an anonymous social network app called Candid that relied on natural language processing to detect misinformation. Regulators should prohibit people from using AI to create deepfakes of real people, Reddy said. But she’s critical of laws like the European Union’s sweeping restrictions on the development of AI. In her view it’s dangerous for the U.S. to be caught behind competing countries, such as China and Saudi Arabia, that are pouring billions of dollars into developing AI technology. So far the Biden administration has published a “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights” that offers suggestions for the safeguards that the public should have, including protections for data privacy and against algorithmic discrimination. It isn’t enforceable, though it hints at legislation that may come. Sevilla acknowledged that AI moderators can be trained to have a company’s biases, leading to some views being censored. But human moderators have shown political biases too. For example, in 2021 The Times reported on complaints that pro-Palestinian content was made hard to find across Facebook and Instagram. And conservative critics accused Twitter of political bias in 2020 because it blocked links to a New York Post story about the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop. “We can actually study like what kind of biases [AI] reflects,” Sevilla said. Still, he said, AI could become so effective that it could powerfully oppress free speech. “What happens when all that is in your timeline conforms perfectly to the company guidelines?” Sevilla said. “Is that the kind of social media you want to be to be consuming?” ‘Ask AI’ bot could be just a beginning Meta’s introduction of generative technology on platforms has some questioning the future. By Jireh Deng MIRROR IMAGE S Myung J. Chun Los Angeles Times Harrison Tuggle, 2, and his father, Jack, walk Saturday along a reflecting pool at downtown’s California Plaza on the way to music lessons at Colburn School. Sunday is expected to be sunny and breezy. Get Jamming with L.A. in a Jar Learn how to preserve fruit throughout the seasons in Southern California with a new zine filled with helpful tips and easy-to-use recipes by L.A Times Food. Order your copy by scanning the QR code or go to shoplatimes.com/lainajar to shop now.

B10 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM Pressure: L Low C H High Warm Front old Front Jet Stream Trough –0 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100+ Rain T-storm Snow Ice Temps ◗ ▲ Monterr Monterrey 95/72 Chihuah Chihuahua 93/61 Los Angeles 71/52 Washington Washington 69/65 New York 56/53 Miami 86/75 Atlanta Atlanta 84/66 Detroit 72/48 Houston 80/73 Kansas City 66/57 Chicago 64/47 Minneapolis 70/50 El Paso 90/64 Denver 79/44 Billings 68/46 San Francisco 62/49 Seattle 55/46 Toronto 66/45 Montreal Montreal 55/49 Winnipeg Winnipeg 64/46 Monterrey 95/72 Chihuahua 93/61 Los Angeles 71/52 Washington 69/65 New York 56/53 Miami 86/75 Atlanta 84/66 Detroit 72/48 Houston 80/73 Kansas City 66/57 Chicago 64/47 Minneapolis 70/50 El Paso 90/64 Denver 79/44 Billings 68/46 San Francisco 62/49 Seattle 55/46 Toronto 66/45 Montreal 55/49 Winnipeg 64/46 Good Moderate Unhealthful for: Sensitive people All Not Available South Coast Air Quality Management District forecasts air quality Air quality Today in Southern California Today in North America 5-day forecasts High/low temperatures are average forecasts for entire zone. L.A. Basin Valleys Beaches Mountains Deserts Surf and sea POINT CONCEPTION TO MEXICO California cities* Tides Almanac UV index Sun and moon L.A. Outer Harbor, in feet. County Height Period Direction Temp Saturday Downtown readings Minutes to burn for sensitive people Temperature Los Angeles Fullerton Ventura* Today’s rise/set May 7 May 15 May 23 May 30 Los Angeles Co. Orange Co. Ventura Co. VENTURA CO. LOS ANGELES CO. RIVERSIDE CO. SAN BERNARDINO CO. SANTA BARBARA CO. SAN DIEGO CO. ORANGE CO. Santa Barbara Ventura Oxnard Ojai Camarillo Santa Paula Westlake Village Woodland Hills Santa Monica Torrance Long Beach Newport Beach Santa Ana Laguna Beach San Clemente Mission Viejo Irvine Oceanside Escondido Poway Ramona San Diego Temecula Hemet Palm Springs Fullerton Chino Riverside Ontario Pomona/ Fairplex San Bernardino Yucca Valley Hesperia Whittier Hills UCLA Simi Valley Chatsworth Burbank Monrovia Santa Clarita L.A. Downtown Key: Su sunny; Pc partly cloudy; Cy cloudy; Fg foggy; Prcp precipitation; Dr drizzle; Hz hazy Sh showers; Ts thunderstorms; R rain; Sn snow; Sf snow flurries; I ice; Rs rain/snow; W windy; Tr trace. Notes: National extremes exclude Alaska and Hawaii. * - data estimated. Saturday’s readings as of 2 p.m. U.S. cities City Hi Lo Prcp. Hi Lo Sky City Hi Lo Prcp. Hi Lo Sky World City Hi Lo Prcp. Hi Lo Hi Lo City Hi Lo Prcp. Hi Lo Hi Lo City Hi Lo Prcp. Hi Lo Hi Lo Sun 6:00a/7:40p 5:59a/7:39p 6:03a/7:45p Moon 4:25a/5:16p 4:23a/5:14p 4:29a/5:20p Lots of sun 71/53 Partly sunny 72/56 Sunny 73/55 Sunny 75/57 Sunny 74/53 Mostly sunny 78/53 Sunny 79/54 Sunny 78/55 Mostly sunny 66/51 Partly sunny 69/54 Mostly sunny 66/56 Mostly sunny 67/56 Warmer 61/42 Partly sunny 64/38 Sunny; cool 60/33 Sunny 62/33 Warmer 89/62 Mostly sunny 92/67 Sunny 92/66 Sunny; warm 94/67 Clearing Clouds, then sun Clouds, then sun Windy and colder Not as warm Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Today Inner waters: Wind westerly at 10-20 knots with wind waves around 4 feet. Mixed swell west 5-6 feet and southwest at 2 feet. Surf zone: The risk for strong rip currents is moderate at the S.B. County beaches and high elsewhere. Santa Barbara 2-4’ 6 sec W 56 Ventura 3-6’ 6 sec W 55 Los Angeles 3-6’ 6 sec W 60 Orange 3-6’ 6 sec W 60 San Diego 3-6’ 6 sec WNW 63 Today 7:58a 4.6 Hi 1:59a 0.2 Lo 8:10p 6.0 Hi 1:49p 0.3 Lo Mon. 8:53a 4.5 Hi 2:46a -0.5 Lo 8:42p 6.4 Hi 2:25p 0.7 Lo High/low 66/60 66/60 61/52 Normal high/low 73/57 76/56 69/50 High/low a year ago 66/52 66/52 60/48 Record high/date 93/1987 93/2018 91/1953 Record low/date 44/1899 50/1999 40/1964 24-hour total (as of 2 p.m.) 0.00 0.00 0.00 Season total (since Oct. 1) 22.02 16.49 24.61 Last season (Oct. 1 to date) 28.02 21.22 26.82 Season norm (Oct. 1 to date) 13.86 11.44 15.75 Humidity (high/low) 77/64 92/60 96/74 Precipitation Los Angeles Fullerton Ventura* Las Vegas, 25 Los Angeles, 25 Phoenix, 10 San Francisco, 25 71/52 68/48 68/52 48/29 79/55 65/48 66/44 64/49 63/49 68/44 69/48 67/47 70/48 68/55 73/54 67/56 65/54 65/49 68/47 64/43 64/47 66/53 61/40 64/43 66/49 70/52 69/55 68/52 72/51 72/53 71/46 64/43 79/55 66/45 71/52 68/51 68/48 68/46 68/43 68/49 71/50 63/38 69/47 68/48 67/46 66/44 Forecasts by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2024 High 95 in Plant City, Fla. Low 11 in Daniel, Wyo. Saturday Today Saturday Today Albany 73 53 -- 56 51 R Albuquerque 78 50 -- 82 49 W Anchorage 51 40 .01 50 39 Cy Aspen 62 25 .05 61 26 W Atlanta 77 64 .07 84 66 Ts Austin 82 69 .01 80 70 Ts Baltimore 56 51 .41 69 64 R Boise 71 49 .02 53 40 Sh Boston 53 47 -- 54 47 Sh Bufalo 76 57 Tr 67 50 Sh Burlington, Vt. 72 59 Tr 54 50 R Charleston, S.C. 84 69 Tr 83 69 Ts Charlotte 72 69 .86 81 66 Ts Chicago 81 47 -- 64 47 Pc Cincinnati 75 63 .57 78 59 Ts Cleveland 74 59 .20 74 51 Ts Columbia, S.C. 79 71 .20 82 66 Ts Columbus 75 66 .35 79 58 Ts Dallas/Ft.Worth 81 67 .18 77 69 R Denver 65 31 -- 79 44 W Detroit 71 56 .03 72 48 Ts El Paso 87 60 -- 90 64 Su Eugene 51 47 1.53 56 46 R Fort Myers 90 69 .14 90 70 Pc Hartford 72 44 -- 54 49 R Honolulu 84 72 .11 84 73 Sh Houston 84 68 .04 80 73 Ts Indianapolis 81 62 -- 74 55 Cy Jacksonville, Fla. 86 66 -- 88 68 Cy Kansas City 63 57 .42 66 57 Cy Knoxville 78 64 .33 83 64 Ts Las Vegas 87 70 -- 68 51 Pc Louisville 82 68 .13 83 64 Ts Medford 48 42 1.04 59 42 Sh Memphis 79 66 .06 81 66 R Miami 85 74 .06 86 75 Pc Milwaukee 71 46 .14 61 46 Pc Minneapolis 61 47 .32 70 50 Su Nashville 77 67 1.00 86 65 Ts New Orleans 86 71 -- 85 73 Ts New York 63 49 .03 56 53 R Norfolk 64 56 .02 73 66 Ts Oklahoma City 72 62 .07 70 60 R Omaha 65 47 1.07 70 54 Cy Orlando 87 68 .16 88 69 Pc Philadelphia 57 48 .20 64 58 R Phoenix 95 71 -- 86 61 Su Pittsburgh 65 64 .74 79 62 Ts Portland, Ore. 52 51 1.23 56 48 R Providence 62 43 -- 51 48 Sh Raleigh/Durham 80 67 .47 76 65 Ts Reno 63 54 .24 54 36 Pc Richmond 64 55 .04 71 64 Ts St. Louis 85 61 .50 75 62 Ts Salt Lake City 79 41 -- 57 39 R Acapulco 87 72 -- 87 72 Su Amsterdam 63 45 .50 62 49 Pc Athens 72 61 .11 74 54 Su Bangkok 100 88 .01 102 85 Su Barcelona 69 54 -- 69 58 Pc Berlin 72 52 .04 67 47 Cy Cabo San Lucas 86 66 -- 85 68 Cy Cairo 88 66 -- 81 65 Su Dubai 99 79 -- 94 77 Su Dublin 54 50 .65 61 43 Pc Havana 88 68 -- 90 70 Sh Ho Chi Minh City 99 83 .08 95 82 Ts Hong Kong 83 77 .71 86 79 Ts Istanbul 63 54 .13 66 49 Su Jerusalem 75 57 -- 71 54 W Johannesburg 75 50 -- 76 54 Su Kuala Lumpur 91 78 .04 93 77 Ts Lima 71 66 -- 73 66 Pc London 63 48 -- 63 47 Fg Madrid 75 48 Tr 69 52 W Mecca 105 72 -- 101 73 Hz Mexico City 91 60 -- 89 61 Su Montreal 66 48 .18 55 49 R Moscow 57 28 .22 51 33 Sh Mumbai 94 79 -- 95 83 Hz New Delhi 104 81 -- 105 82 Hz Paris 59 43 .14 64 53 Sh Prague 68 48 -- 68 48 Pc Rome 67 46 -- 70 50 Pc Seoul 81 49 .28 67 57 R Singapore 88 79 1.27 91 81 Cy Taipei City 84 71 -- 88 74 Pc Tokyo 81 63 -- 80 68 Cy Vancouver 62 54 .03 58 47 R Vienna 72 52 .01 76 50 Cy Seattle 55 51 .26 55 46 R Tampa 88 73 .04 88 74 Pc Tucson 90 59 -- 89 53 W Tulsa 78 67 .01 69 63 R Washington, D.C. 57 53 .90 69 65 R Wichita 68 52 .19 69 59 Cy SATURDAY’S EXTREMES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES Anaheim 68 53 Tr 71 50 72 52 Avalon/Catalina 59 47 -- 57 48 61 50 Bakersfield 73 46 -- 67 44 71 49 Barstow 85 50 -- 69 45 82 52 Big Bear Lake 59 31 -- 48 29 61 42 Bishop 75 40 -- 63 35 76 40 Burbank 64 51 -- 68 49 73 53 Camarillo 67 54 -- 69 48 71 50 Chatsworth 63 48 -- 68 48 73 53 Chino 67 50 -- 71 46 76 50 Compton 66 56 -- 71 54 72 54 Dana Point 66 56 -- 65 51 67 54 Death Valley 93 78 -- 79 77 90 81 Del Mar 68 58 -- 61 52 63 52 Escondido 68 55 -- 64 43 72 46 Eureka 49 40 1.86 55 43 56 41 Fallbrook 67 54 .06 65 44 71 47 Fresno 69 46 Tr 66 47 71 49 Fullerton 68 54 -- 72 53 72 53 Hemet 69 51 -- 64 43 74 46 Hesperia 66 46 -- 62 39 74 47 Huntington Beach 67 57 -- 68 55 65 57 Idyllwild 64 38 -- 51 41 66 49 Irvine 65 55 -- 70 52 71 54 L.A. D’ntown/USC 67 53 -- 71 52 71 53 L.A. Int’l. Airport 65 55 -- 68 53 68 54 Laguna Beach 64 55 -- 65 54 66 57 Lancaster 65 44 -- 60 43 74 49 Long Beach 70 57 -- 73 54 72 54 Mammoth Lakes 47 21 .01 41 17 52 20 Mission Viejo 65 52 Tr 66 49 70 52 Monrovia 65 51 .10 71 50 72 53 Monterey 58 46 .53 58 44 60 48 Mt. Wilson 52 35 Tr 43 40 52 49 Needles 95 65 -- 81 56 84 60 Newport Beach 66 56 -- 67 56 67 59 Northridge 66 49 Tr 70 48 75 53 Oakland 56 47 .72 62 48 63 49 Oceanside 68 57 .02 68 47 69 51 Ojai 61 45 -- 66 44 71 50 Ontario 67 51 -- 68 48 72 50 Palm Springs 91 56 -- 79 55 89 62 Pasadena 64 52 -- 69 48 70 51 Paso Robles 59 40 -- 65 39 73 43 Redding 54 45 1.33 64 46 70 46 Riverside 67 49 Tr 66 45 75 46 Sacramento 55 43 .56 66 43 70 46 San Bernardino 69 52 -- 67 46 74 50 San Diego 66 61 -- 66 53 68 54 San Francisco 57 48 .94 62 49 64 50 San Gabriel 66 53 -- 72 51 72 52 San Jose 60 47 .60 64 46 67 49 San Luis Obispo 62 47 Tr 64 46 68 49 Santa Ana 67 57 Tr 69 55 71 58 Santa Barbara 66 49 -- 65 48 67 48 Santa Clarita 65 47 -- 68 43 74 49 Santa Monica Pier 66 54 -- 68 52 66 51 Santa Paula 65 47 -- 68 44 71 48 Santa Rosa 56 41 .82 65 41 67 42 Simi Valley 63 47 -- 68 46 72 48 Tahoe Valley 48 23 .15 40 21 52 22 Temecula 67 52 .01 64 43 74 47 Thousand Oaks 62 48 -- 67 46 70 47 Torrance 65 57 -- 68 55 68 54 UCLA 64 52 -- 68 51 70 52 Van Nuys 65 50 -- 71 48 75 53 Ventura 60 52 -- 64 49 63 49 Whittier Hills 66 55 .02 72 51 74 52 Woodland Hills 66 48 Tr 70 48 74 51 Wrightwood 59 36 -- 50 39 60 47 Yorba Linda 65 51 .01 69 47 72 51 Yosemite Valley 56 27 .23 47 23 57 25 Sat. Today Mon. Sat. Today Mon. Sat. Today Mon. Drying out; deserts windy: Rain and snow showers will linger across the mountains early Sunday as an upper-level low moves east away from the state. Some sunshine will also return in the afternoon. Winds will be strong and gusty in the deserts, with the potential for blowing dust. Heading into the workweek, a warming trend will take place with much sunnier conditions in many areas. Strong winds in the Intermountain West: A strong storm system will push inland through the west Sunday, bringing strong gusty winds to a large portion of the western U.S. Meanwhile, flooding will be possible from storms across eastern Texas and Oklahoma. When the for-profit Art Institutes operated by Education Management Corp. shut down in the wake of fraud and illegal recruiting allegations, they left thousands of former students saddled with debts amassed in overpriced courses of study — until this week. On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced that it was canceling $6.1 billion in student loan debt for people enrolled at any Art Institute from January 2004 through October 2017 — 317,000 former students in all, nearly 42,000 of whom are in California. Education Management, known as EDMC, operated multiple Art Institute branches in California, including in Hollywood, Santa Monica and San Bernardino. “This institution falsified data, knowingly misled students, and cheated borrowers into taking on mountains of debt without leading to promising career prospects at the end of their studies,” the White House wrote in a statement. “We will never stop fighting to deliver relief to borrowers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring the promise of college to more Americans.” Abel Hernandez, 44, of San Francisco exemplifies the damage caused by EDMC’s tactics. Hernandez said he enrolled at the Art Institute of San Francisco in the summer of 2005, studying media arts and animation, hoping that one day he would work for a studio giant such as Pixar or Nickelodeon. But tuition became expensive; within three years he saw it jump from $300 a month to $750. “They told me they had a job placement of 82% and promised high-paying jobs, but it turns out a lot of the job placements they had, for example, if your degree was in fashion or video game design, they would consider [retailers] H&M or GameStop as part of your industry,” Hernandez said in a phone interview. “They lied about the cost of tuition and forced you to take on more loans. “They would keep telling me to keep taking on more loans. They would say: ‘You’re not prioritizing your education.’ ” Hernandez said it got to the point that he couldn’t afford it and dropped out of school in the spring of 2008. He would later learn about the for-profit college company’s questionable tactics after a series of investigations and settlement agreements, including one in 2015 for $95 million over fraud allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice. In that lawsuit, U.S. officials accused the parent company of operating its network of schools like a “recruitment mill” by paying admissions personnel based on the number of students they enrolled, a violation of federal law. U.S. officials said that meant the company had falsely obtained $11 billion in state and federal aid from 2003 through 2011. The U.S. Department of Education, which independently reviewed evidence that the attorneys general of Iowa, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania obtained in their own lawsuits against EDMC, said the company misled students by claiming that more than 80% of graduates obtained employment related to their fields of study. It also said the company displayed inaccurate average salaries. Now defunct, EDMC sold or closed many of its campuses after the 2015 settlement. The final eight campuses were shut down last year. EDMC’s demise did nothing to help former students such as Hernandez, however. Struggling under the weight of more than $70,000 in loans he obtained from the Art Institute of San Francisco, he saw his credit score dip so low that he couldn’t borrow money or pass a credit check, forcing him to live with his parents. The debt left Hernandez feeling like he was just surviving day to day. So when he received an email Wednesday that the Biden administration had canceled student loan debt for people who attended the Art Institutes, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude. “All I could do was scream and cry because I was so shocked and so relieved. I felt free,” he said. “I’ve had this hanging over my head for so long that I had forgotten what it was like not to have that debt.” The total amount of student debt relief approved by the Biden administration now comes to almost $160 billion for nearly 4.6 million borrowers, according to the Education Department. That amount, the White House said, includes $29 billion in debt relief for 1.6 million borrowers whose colleges cheated them or closed abruptly. Federal law gives the Education Department authority to cancel federal student loan debt for students who are defrauded by their college or trade school. Some critics of Biden’s moves on student debt say they’re not fair to taxpayers or to the students and families that made financial sacrifices to pay off their loans. Supporters of loan forgiveness counter that insufficient disclosures by colleges, poorly designed loan programs and inept servicing led many borrowers into debt traps. “I do appreciate what [Biden] has done for us,” Hernandez said. “I took out these loans during the Bush II years; Obama didn’t help me, Trump didn’t help me, but Biden came through for me.” Hernandez said that since receiving the notice on Wednesday he’s heard from other classmates who said they too got the same email. “It’s a good time for us all who have been scammed by this school.” Loan debt canceled for Art Institutes’ students PEOPLE walk by the Art Institute of Philadelphia in 2015. The Biden administration is canceling $6 billion in loans for former students of the for-profit system. Matt Rourke Associated Press By Ruben Vives Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday proclaimed a state of emergency to help fund badly needed repairs of roads battered during this year’s storms, including scenic Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which was blocked by millions of pounds of debris. The governor’s action comes two weeks after California Department of Transportation officials said the massive landslide that covered Topanga Canyon Boulevard with mud and rocks in March would not be cleared until fall, “if all things go well.” The proclamation enables Caltrans to request funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which could cover up to 100% of the repairs, according to the governor’s office. It would also help state officials secure federal aid for other roads damaged by torrential rains, including a portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur that crumbled and fell into the ocean. “Storms in March caused significant damage to critical parts of our transportation infrastructure — impacting not only traffic for our communities, but also hurting small businesses and workers,” the governor said in a statement. “The state is working overtime to complete repairs as safely and as quickly as possible, and I have signed a state of emergency proclamation which will help ensure that we receive critical federal funding to help impacted communities bounce back from these devastating storms.” Much of California was drenched with storms in early 2024. Southern California saw more than a year’s worth of rain in just a few weeks, causing mudslides and floods. On Topanga Canyon Boulevard, officials said, the landslide left about 80,000 cubic yards of debris covering the road around milepost 1.8. Residents have been forced to make hours-long detours, and local businesses have lost revenue, according to the governor’s office. Because of the instability of the slope and water that continues to seep out, Caltrans officials on April 18 said clearing the road would require crews to remove the dirt from the top of the 300- foot slide. Workers plan to work their way down the mass of debris to keep more dirt and boulders from sliding from the hill. When a portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur crumbled on Easter weekend, the road closure stranded tourists and locals. This week, twice-a-day convoys resumed along one lane of the damaged section to allow residents, workers and visitors to enter and exit the area. The emergency declaration also covers storm-damaged roads in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity and Ventura counties, the governor’s office said. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the work must be completed within 270 days, but extensions can be requested. Federal funds could pay for damaged roads By Salvador Hernandez Newsom proclaims state of emergency to secure funds for storm repairs.

S S UNDAY , MAY 5 , 2024 PORTS :: L ATIMES.COM/SPORTS D Get the latest on the field and of. Scan the QR code to download the app. NBA PLAYOFFS :: CLIPPERS VS. DALLAS GAME 6: DALLAS 114, CLIPPERS 101 | MAVERICKS WIN FIRST-ROUND SERIES, 4-2 UCLA FOOTBALL Spring has Bruins feeling good So far, new coach DeShaun Foster has pushed all the right buttons to generate excitement again. D3 CLIPPERS Young broadcaster blazing his path Carlo Jiménez, one of the few Latinos on English broadcasts, completed his first season on radio. D4 LAKERS Options emerging for new coach Team can go a number of different ways, from former candidates to up-and-coming assistants. D5 DALLAS — Steve Ballmer leaned over from his baseline seat and shook hands with a reporter walking by, the Clippers owner appearing somber after watching his team get eliminated from the playoffs with a 114-101 loss in Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Arena. A few minutes later, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Ballmer walked into the locker room and spoke to the players. Along with president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, Ballmer has a lot of decisions to make about the future of the franchise as it prepares to move into its new arena, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, next season. Most of the questions will center on the health of Kawhi Leonard, contract extensions for Paul George and Lue and whether the Clippers re-sign James Harden. So Ballmer’s decision to talk to players after their season-ending loss meant “a lot” to the team, Lue said. “You have the seventh-, eighth-richest man in the world and he’s a real fan. Like, he’s a real fan. Like, he treats us like family,” Lue said. “He actually genuinely cares about each individual and we’ve seen that time and time again. So, when you have an owner that really respects who you are, not as a basketball player, but a perDecision time for ousted Clippers Questions for Leonard, Lue, George, Harden loom following first-round exit THE CLIPPERS’ Paul George and the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic share an embrace after Dallas’ 114-101 victory in Game 6 on Friday night. Glenn James NBAE By Broderick Turner [See Clippers, D4] LOUISVLLE, Ky. — The margin was a nose, but the smiles were a mile wide. In one of the closest finishes in almost 30 years, Mystik Dan won Saturday’s 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. The horse was generally overlooked by most, but he ran a smart race on the rail and poked his head in front in the final strides and held off Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the blanket finish. It also completed a rare double for trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez, who also won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday with Thorpedo Anna. It was only the fourth time that has been done. “That was the longest few minutes in my life I’ve spent waiting for them to hang the dang number up,” Hernandez said. McPeek was effusive in KENTUCKY DERBY Mystik Dan’s win picture perfect He rides rail to edge Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a photo finish FROM REAR, Mystik Dan, with jockey Brian Hernandez, Forever Young and Sierra Leone cross the finish line almost simultaneously at Churchill Downs. Kiichiro Sato Associated Press By John Cherwa [See Derby, D3] Joc Pederson might not remember the full trade package. But the former Dodgers slugger won’t soon forget the first time he saw Andy Pages’ swing. A couple of months ago, while watching a Dodgers spring training game, Pederson took immediate notice of Pages, the club’s top outfield prospect. Coming away so impressed, Pederson texted some old friends in the club’s front office. “I said, ‘That’s different,’ ” recalled Pederson, now a designated hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks. “That was the first time I’d ever seen him. ... It just looked right.” What Pederson didn’t realize then, and was only reminded of recently: Pages was once almost traded by the Dodgers, reportedly part of a nixed 2020 deal that would have sent Pederson, Ross Stripling and a thenteenage Pages to the Angels. “I had no idea,” Pederson said, somewhat stunned, “that kid was in the trade.” Four years later, it’s a trade that never happened for the Dodgers that just keeps on giving. Pages not only stayed with the organization after the trade fell apart — the result, largely, of impatience from Angels owner Arte Moreno — but is now blossoming in his first season. Since being called up on April 16, the 23-year-old was batting .333 with three home runs and 11 RBIs before Saturday. He had a nine-game hitting streak that had raised his on-base-plusslugging percentage to .921. He produced his best A real keeper for thankful Dodgers Once almost traded to the Angels in 2020, rookie Pages wowing Roberts, teammates. By Jack Harris [See Dodgers, D7]

D2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM/SPORTS SUN MON TUE WED THU 5 6 7 8 9 DODGERS ATLANTA 1 SNLA MIAMI 7 SNLA MIAMI 7 SNLA MIAMI Noon SNLA ANGELS at Cleveland 10:30 a.m. BSW at Pittsburgh 3:30 BSW at Pittsburgh 3:30 BSW at Pittsburgh 9:30 a.m. BSW KANSAS CITY 6:30 BSW, FS1 GALAXY at Seattle 3:45 FS1, Apple TV LAFC at Las Vegas* 7:30 ANGEL CITY MAY 12: VS. HOUSTON, 4:30 P.M., BSW SPARKS: Friday at Phoenix (preseason), 7 p.m. PDT Shade denotes home game. *-U.S. Open Cup PRO CALENDAR TIME EVENT ON THE AIR AUTO RACING Noon NASCAR Cup, AdventHealth 400 TV:FS1, FOXD 12:45 p.m. Formula One, Miami Grand Prix TV: 7, ESPND BASEBALL 10:30 a.m. Angels at Cleveland TV: BSW R: 830, 1220 10:30 a.m. Detroit at New York Yankees TV: MLB 11 a.m. Boston at Minnesota TV: ESPN+ 1 p.m. Atlanta at Dodgers TV: SNLA R: 570, 1020 1 p.m. Baltimore at Cincinnati TV: MLB 4 p.m. San Francisco at Philadelphia TV: ESPN, ESPND BASKETBALL 10 a.m. NBA playoffs, Game 7, Orlando at Cleveland TV: 7 BOWLING 9 a.m. PBA playoffs, Round 2 TV:FS1 COLLEGE BASEBALL 11 a.m. Pittsburgh at Notre Dame TV: ACC Noon Utah at Oregon TV: Pac-12 Oregon 1 p.m. Washington at Arizona State TV: Pac-12 Arizona 1 p.m. Mississippi at Auburn TV: SEC COLLEGE BEACH VOLLEYBALL 8 a.m. NCAA tournament, championship, USC vs. UCLA TV: ESPN COLLEGE LACROSSE 7 a.m. Women, America East championship, Binghampton at Albany TV: ESPNU 9 a.m. Men, ACC championship, Duke vs. Notre Dame TV: ACC 9 a.m. Men, Patriot League championship, Boston vs. Navy TV: CBSSN 10 a.m. Men, Ivy League championship, Pennsylvania vs. Princeton TV: ESPNU COLLEGE SOFTBALL 9 a.m. Georgia at Mississippi State TV: SEC 10 a.m. Texas A&M at Florida TV: ESPN2 10 a.m. Ohio State at Michigan TV: Big Ten Noon UCLA at Arizona State TV: Pac-12 Noon Washington at Utah TV: Pac-12 Mountain Noon Oregon State at California TV: Pac-12 Bay Area Noon Indiana at Northwestern TV: Big Ten 1 p.m. Oklahoma State at Oklahoma TV: ESPN2 2 p.m. Oregon at Stanford TV: Pac-12 GOLF 10 a.m. PGA, CJ Cup Byron Nelson, final round TV: Golf, Peacock 10 a.m. LIV Golf, Singapore, Day 3 (delay) TV: 5 Noon PGA, CJ Cup Byron Nelson, final round TV: 2, Paramount+ Noon PGA Champions Tour, Insperity Invitational, final round TV: Golf, Peacock HOCKEY 8 a.m. IIHF U18 World Championships, gold-medal game, U.S. vs. Canada TV: NHL 1 p.m. NHL playoffs, second round, Game 1, Carolina at New York Rangers TV: ESPN 4 p.m. NHL playoffs, first round, Game 7, Vegas at Dallas TV: TBS, TruTV HORSE RACING 11 a.m. America’s Day at the Races TV:FS2 Noon America’s Day at the Races TV: BSSC LACROSSE Noon NLL, semifinal, Game 2, San Diego at Albany TV: ESPNU 2:30 p.m. NLL, semifinal, Game 2, Toronto at Buffalo TV: ESPNU PRO FOOTBALL 10 a.m. UFL, Arlington at Michigan TV: 11 1 p.m. UFL, San Antonio at D.C. TV: 11 RUGBY 9 a.m. MLR, Chicago at New England TV:FS2 SOCCER 7:15 a.m. Spain, Vigo vs. Villarreal TV: ESPN+, ESPND 8:30 a.m. England, Liverpool vs. Tottenham TV: Peacock, Telemundo 8:30 a.m. Germany, Frankfurt vs. Leverkusen TV: ESPN+ 9 a.m. Italy, AC Milan vs. Genoa TV: Paramount+ 9:30 a.m. Spain, Valencia vs. Alavés TV: ESPN+, ESPND 10 a.m. NWSL, Houston vs. Kansas City TV: 2, Paramount+ 10:30 a.m. Germany, Heidenheim vs. Mainz TV: ESPN+ 11:45 a.m. Italy, Rome vs. Juventus TV: Paramount+ Noon Spain, Rayo Vallecano vs. Almería TV: ESPN+ Noon Spain, Sevilla vs. Granada TV: ESPN+ 3:45 p.m. MLS, Galaxy at Seattle TV:FS1, FOXD, Apple TV R: Galaxy stream 6 p.m. Mexico, Pachuca vs. Necaxa TV: TUDN TENNIS 6:30 a.m. Madrid Open, WTA doubles final TV: Tennis 9:30 a.m. Madrid Open, ATP singles final TV: Tennis TRACK AND FIELD 4 p.m. World Athletics Relays, Day 2 TV: CNBC TODAY ON THE AIR FORMULA ONE DRIVERS run a Saturday sprint race to tune up for the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday. Wilfredo Lee Associated Press SPORTS EXTRA For late coverage of Dodgers, Angels, Lakers and Clippers games and more, see our daily digital eNewspaper. Subscribers get free access to an exclusive “Sports Extra.” View it on your phone, tablet or computer at latimes.com/enewspaper. Is it possible to love the Lakers but wish LeBron would take his tired act elsewhere? It is so tiresome to see LeBron blame someone else for the team’s failure. To be unhappy with every coach the Lakers have had. To run down the court berating referees all game long for either calling a foul on him or not calling a supposed foul against him. And using leverage to get handpicked teammates (Russell Westbrook) who are fine with other teams just not with his. It’s getting to be a difficult process to pay for his talents for the Lakers to stay successful, particularly when they are not. Bob Goldstone Corona del Mar :: LeBron, please leave. Take your “it’s all about me” elsewhere. Quit holding Los Angeles hostage to your outsized ego and let us have our Lakers back. Kip Dellinger Santa Monica :: I understand why Darvin Ham and the coaches were fired by the Lakers. What I can’t understand is why GM Rob Pelinka, who kept Talen Horton-Tucker and let Alex Caruso walk away, and who traded Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious CaldwellPope for Russell Westbrook, has not. Richard Raffalow Valley Glen :: Darvin Ham was never the problem. It was never his team; it was LeBron James’ team. The problem is the owners. Just like the Angels, the Lakers are ham-strung (pun intended) by ownership that has no idea what it’s doing. Arte Moreno and Jeanie Buss need to sell their teams to owners with a demonstrated understanding of what it now takes to win championships. In the Lakers’ case it no longer has to do with Jerry Buss’ past genius but with his progeny’s current incompetence. Tom Stapleton Glendale :: My father introduced me to the Lakers when I was a kid back in 1968-69 and I’ve been catching as many games as possible since then. Fast forward: Granted LeBron is an incredible basketball player and does special things in the community, no question. However throughout the years watching his immature antics and displays when he doesn’t agree with a call is disgusting, embarrassing and is a poor act for a leader. If the Lakers give this guy the maximum contract extension, then I’m not going to care about catching all the games and if the Lakers sign his kid, I’ll be gone until they are gone. Sorry Dr. Buss, Kobe, Chick and all the true Lakers greats. Paul D. Ventura Mission Viejo :: It’s the little things that win championships: making free throws, limiting the opponent’s second-chance points, boxing out, limiting turnovers, hitting wideopen shots, making shots in crunch time. The Nuggets did all of these things. The Lakers did not. Season over. Dave Ring Manhattan Beach :: OK, so I’m used to getting results a day late, but is there any reason why The Times had three Lakers stories in Wednesday’s paper, but nothing about what happened in their Game 5 loss Monday night? In a game where neither team led by more than two points in the last nine minutes, there was nothing about two huge offensive rebounds by Denver in the last two minutes, nothing about getting burned by Jamal Murray again? Seriously, how many times do we need to read that LeBron hasn’t decided if he’s taking $51 million next season? Steve Horn Glendale Could the King win Clippers a crown? Memo to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer: 1–LeBron wants his coach to be Ty Lue. 2–LeBron loves living in L.A. 3–LeBron’s family wants to live in L.A. 4–LeBron wants to win another NBA championship, something he can’t do with the Lakers. Solution: The Clippers should sign LeBron and Ty Lue to long-term contracts. Also, the Clippers should use a second-round draft pick to select Bronny. LeBron and Leonard and the other Clippers will win an NBA title in 2025. Harley Frankel Santa Monica Extra cynical With the Dodgers’ record in extra-inning games over the last few years, I make the following recommendation. If the score is tied after nine innings, forfeit the game and move on. The extra rest would be more beneficial than the off chance that they might win. Mike Schaller Temple City Fix Kings too ... The two Stanley Cup championship teams have disappeared in the rearview mirror. Kings fans have now suffered through a lengthy rebuild and what we have received is a team that, if it can manage to get itself into the playoffs, will not survive the first round. Being a great player does not transfer to being an effective manager or judge of talent. Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake were great players but, after having ample time, they have not put together a team that is competitive. It’s time for a change. Anyone know what Dean Lombardi is doing these days? Jeff Davine West Hills :: The Kings’ playoff failure was surely the third strike for GM Rob Blake and president Luc Robitaille. Their trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois was a disaster as he more closely resembled the Invisible Man than the dynamic rising star they hoped he would be. It’s time to change the guard and plan a new course for the future. Mike Gamboa Buena Park ... and the Angels Every year I write a letter to The Times when the Angels are out of the playoffs. This year it is early. The curse of Rex Hudler lives on! The Angels have not won a playoff game since the Angels canned their popular announcer. Arte, you fired the wrong guy. You should have canned yourself. Scott Bryant Pahrump, Nev. :: Mike Trout’s season might not be over but his time with the Angels should be. The Angels should trade him to the Phillies, a team that would welcome him and is near where he grew up. They should do so for a bundle of farm prospects. Wish that they could do the same with Anthony Rendon but no one would want him. Jack Wishard Los Angeles :: From 2021 through the end of this season, the Angels will have paid Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout a combined $281 million. That’s got to be one of the worst returns on investment in the history of baseball. And Angels fans thought the Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols deals were bad. Bob Kargenian Yorba Linda Ink stain New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has fulfilled his promise to ink a “15-0” tattoo on his arm if Michigan went all the way last season. I guess “3 years of probation for recruiting violations” wouldn’t fit. Steve Ross Carmel Spring has sprung Just another spring in Southern California (sigh). Oilers eliminate the Kings. Nuggets eliminate the Lakers. Angels well below .500. Dodgers clinch the NL West. Nick Rose Newport Coast :: The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used. Email: [email protected] LETTERS Lakers fans blame James, Buss too The San Diego Padres acquired two-time batting champion Luis Arráez from the Miami Marlins along with nearly $7.9 million on Saturday for four prospects. First baseman Nathan Martorella, outfielders Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee, and right-hander Woo-Suk Go were dealt to the Marlins for the second baseman, who won the 2022 American League batting title with Minnesota and the 2023 National League crown with the Marlins. Since his big league debut in 2019, Arráez leads all players with a .324 average. He has hit over .300 in four of his five seasons and became the first player to win a batting title in both leagues in consecutive seasons. “It’s really amazing — that guy is a baller,” San Diego slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. said Friday night. “He’s probably the closest to Tony Gwynn right now, so looking forward to seeing him in our lineup. ... The guy’s a pure hitter and I can’t wait for him to help us.” San Diego began Saturday 41⁄2 games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers. A two-time All-Star, Arráez was hitting .299 with eight doubles, one triple, five RBIs and 22 runs scored in 33 games. He’d hit safely in 17 of 21 games after beginning the season with a .234 average over his first 12. Philadelphia All-Star shortstop Trea Turner will miss at least six weeks because of a left hamstring strain. ... Pablo López struck out eight in six innings, Max Keplerhomered and Minnesota extended its winning streak to 12 games with a 3-1 win over Boston. ... Anthony Rizzo hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run third inning, and the New York Yankees beat Detroit 5-3. ... Nico Hoerner hit his first leadoff home run, Christopher Morel hit his third homer in as many games and the Chicago Cubs beat Milwaukee 6-5. ... Pinch-hitter Jack Suwinski singled home the winner with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Pittsburgh over Colorado 1-0. ... Kevin Gausman pitched 51⁄3 scoreless innings, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer in his return from the injured list, and Toronto beat Washington 6-3. ETC. UCLA defends volleyball title The top-seeded UCLA men’s volleyball team defended its national championship with a four-set win over No. 2 Long Beach State in Walter Pyramid. The Bruins won their 21st NCAA title in program history, completed their first repeat bid since 1996 and handed Long Beach State its first loss in the Pyramid this season, winning 25-21, 25-20, 29-27, 25-21. The Beach were 19-0 at home. Senior Ethan Champlin was named NCAA tournament most outstanding player after leading the Bruins with 15 kills and six blocks in the championship match. — Thuc Nhi Nguyen The top-seeded USC beach volleyball team swept Loyola Marymount and Cal Poly to reach the NCAA tournament final against UCLA, which beat Louisiana State in the semifinals. Las Vegas Aces All-Star guard Jackie Young signed a contract extension through 2025. ... Caitlin Clark scored a team-high 21 points in her WNBA preseason debut with Indiana on Friday, but missed a potential tying three in the final seconds of a 79-76 loss to Dallas. Brooks Koepka shot a seven-under 64 to lead by three strokes after the second round of LIV Golf in Singapore. ... Jake Knapp, a first-time PGA Tour winner this year from UCLA, went into this weekend leading the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by one shot after a second consecutive seven-under 64 on Friday. Kris Kim, a 16-yearold amateur playing on a sponsor exemption, became the youngest player in nine years to make the cut in a PGA Tour event. Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year’s final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open after a third-set tiebreaker. Topranked Swiatek beat No. 2 Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) for her third title of the season. The 22-year-old became the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012. Max Verstappen tied Alain Prost’s record with his sixth pole-winning run to open a Formula One season, this one in Miami. Sydney Leroux and Clair Emslie both scored in the first half and Angel City FC held on for a 2-1 victory at Utah on Friday night, its third win in four games. Leroux scored on a header in the 29th minute and Emslie doubled the lead with a penalty kick in the 41st. THE DAY IN SPORTS Padres acquire All-Star Arráez TOP-RANKED IGA SWIATEK avenged last year’s loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final. Bernat Armangue Associated Press staff and wire reports Times poll We asked readers of our Sports Report newsletter two Lakers-related poll questions. The results: Should the Lakers fire Darvin Ham? After 4,778 responses 8 No ............................56.6% 8 Yes ...........................43.4% Should LeBron James return next season, or should he and the Lakers part ways? After 3,377 responses 8 Part ways ................59.2% 8 Remain ...................40.8%

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 D3 If there was a College Football Playoff for the offseason, DeShaun Foster would have his team in contention. Name an aspect of program-building — assembling a staff, getting buy-in from players, recruiting, engaging fans, soliciting name, image and likeness dollars — and UCLA’s new coach has nailed it in his first months on the job. Foster has rejuvenated the fan base, not to mention a roster that mostly has remained intact because of the belief in its coach. He’s courted donors in a way that his predecessor was unwilling to do. He’s aggressively pursued high school recruits in addition to transfers, who had formed the core of the team in recent years. He’s built a buzz around a faded brand that hasn’t gone to a major bowl game in a quarter of a century. Can these early wins vault the Bruins to success in their inaugural Big Ten season? Impossible to say. But it’s apparent that Foster will take on challenges as fearlessly as he did defenders when he starred at running back for his alma mater’s last Rose Bowl team. Here are four takeaways from UCLA’s first spring practice under Foster: A dynamic offense UCLA’s offense put up plenty of points under Chip Kelly but often had a stubbornly predictable feel, particularly on fourth downs and short-yardage situations. What the Bruins have shown in their first weeks under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is a more versatile approach that appears to emphasize protecting the quarterback. Among the plays the team ran were a variety of screen passes and rollouts that minimized the possibility of sacks while getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly. Barring the arrival of a veteran quarterback, Ethan Garbers clearly has established himself as the one who will take the season’s first snap. He’s found a reliable rhythm throwing to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Logan Loya and Rico Flores Jr. Keegan Jones is pushing T.J. Harden for the designation as the top running back, showing more explosiveness and pass-catching ability out of the backfield. The offensive line is in flux with at least three transfers yet to arrive on campus. The hope is they can solidify what was the team’s biggest weakness last season. An electric vibe There was sometimes yelling, leaping and cheering before the first practice drill. It was all part of one-onone competitions Foster instituted to get his players in the mood for football. The entire team would gather around the combatants to take sides, with the winner swarmed by joyous teammates. Another tradition was unveiled with the debut of Friday Night Lights, an evening football practice with a festive feel that drew a few thousand fans, donors and recruits. Foster also brought the spring showcase back to the Rose Bowl for the first time in nearly a decade, fans given the opportunity to greet players with the revival of the Bruin Walk from a parking lot into the stadium. That’s not to say Foster was more focused on fun than football. “My No. 1 thing each practice is how hard are we competing?” Foster said. “Are these guys really leaving it out there on the field? Are they trying to get better daily?” Real go-getters Some days there were more high school recruits than fans watching practice, a sign of renewed interest in the team among local prospects. Earlier this spring, Foster estimated the team had hosted more than 2,000 recruits. A few gave oral commitments immediately after Friday Night Lights. “It was so good that people wanted to jump in the boat,” Foster said, “so I was pretty impressed.” Foster and his staff have appeared to trumpet commitments with simultaneous video tweets featuring the school and Southern California hot spots. Those videos have gotten significant airtime considering the Bruins’ ability to land five transfers since the portal opened last month, providing an infusion of veterans at positions of need. Tackle Reuben Unije (formerly of Houston and Louisville) and interior offensive lineman Alani Makihele (Nevada Las Vegas) could start immediately and tight end Bryce Pierre (Arizona State) could get plenty of playing time alongside returners Moliki Matavao and Jack Pederson. Punter Brody Richter (Northern Arizona) and long snapper Travis Drosos (South Alabama) are the latest transfers to commit. A few holes left The team is so thin at edge rusher that it regularly has used linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo in that spot, capitalizing on his combination of speed and power. More help will arrive once Miami transfer Collins Acheampong recovers from an injury and Johns Hopkins transfer Luke Schuermann gets on campus for fall training camp. The Bruins also lost two offensive linemen — Bruno Fina and Benjamin Roy Jr. —to the portal, nearly offsetting any gains in depth. They could use a few more proven players at the position. Earlier this spring, the Bruins had as many tight end coaches (one) as available scholarship players at the position after injuries to Pederson and Hudson Habermehl. They could use at least one more tight end besides Pierre given Bieniemy’s apparent fondness for plays that incorporate two tight ends. Other positions of need include defensive back, running back and quarterback. UCLA TAKEAWAYS Foster and Bruins have a spring in their step By Ben Bolch NEW COACH DeShaun Foster put smiles on the faces of his UCLA players and the thousands of others in attendance at the Bruins’ spring showcase at the Rose Bowl last month. Recruits and alumni are pleased. Meg Oliphant Los Angeles Times part were successful. Last year there was a severe spike in fatalities including two horses on Derby Day. The track eventually had to stop racing and move the meet to Ellis Park, which is also owned by Churchill Downs. No singular cause for the fatalities was ever discovered. There is also the ongoing saga of Churchill Downs vs. Bob Baffert. The Hall of Fame trainer was suspended for two years after provisional 2021 winner Medina Spirit tested positive for legal medication, but not legal on race day. Baffert was thought to be coming back this year, but Churchill unexpectedly added at least one more year to his suspension. Churchill said Baffert did not show enough contrition and didn’t take responsibility for the positive. On the eve of this year’s entry deadline, Amr Zedan, one of Baffert’s owners, sued Churchill Downs to try to get his horse Muth into the Derby. The litigation failed on both the district and appellate level. It would have been a circus like none other if Baffert had won the case and showed up at Churchill Downs sucking up all the oxygen from what the track was hoping would be the celebration surrounding its 150th running of the race. And for insiders, there was the looming potential change of the television landscape. Since 2001 the Kentucky Derby has been on NBC but the contract was set to expire after next year. Fox has made a big push to get into the racing scene and outbid NBC for the Belmont, which it did for the first time last year. It also purchased 25% of NYRA Bets, the advance deposit wagering arm of the New York Racing Assn. But, on Saturday afternoon, it was announced that a deal had been reached to keep the Derby at NBC until 2032. All in all, a pretty good week for Churchill and an even better one for McPeek and Hernandez. his praise for Hernandez. “Brian did an amazing job,” McPeek said. “He’s just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey. He’s probably one of the most underrated riders in the business. But not anymore.” Mystik Dan paid $39.22 to win. The 3-year-old colt found his way into the Derby with a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby and a win in the Southwest Stakes, both at Oaklawn. Mystik Dan probably will have a rematch with the Arkansas Derby winner, Muth, in two weeks at the Preakness. Fierceness, the favorite, finished 15th, proving he might well be a “bounce” horse, meaning he runs well every other race. The race was also a coming-of-age party for Japanese horses. Forever Young finished third and T O Password was fifth. The final order of finish was Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone, Forever Young, Catching Freedom, T O Password, Resilience, Stronghold, Honor Marie, Endlessly, Dornach, Track Phantom, West Saratoga, Domestic Product, Epic Ride, Fierceness, Society Man, Just Steel, Grand Mo the First, Catalytic and Just a Touch. Track officials were hoping to avoid the distractions that came with the last few Derbies and for the most Mystik Dan rides rail to win the Derby in photo finish MYSTIK DAN, right, with Brian Hernandez up, edges Forever Young, center, and Sierra Leone at the finish. Jeff Roberson Associated Press A FEATHERY HAT is on display as a woman walks through the grounds of Churchill Downs on Saturday. Charlie Riedel Associated Press A LARGE HAT displays which Kentucky Derby this is as a woman sits in the stands and awaits the start. Brynn Anderson Associated Press A WOMAN is silhouetted against the sky over Churchill Downs before the start of the Kentucky Derby. Charlie Riedel Associated Press ‘Brian did an amazing job. He’s just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey. He’s probably one of the most underrated riders.’ —Kenny McPeek, Mystik Dan trainer, on jockey Brian Hernandez [Derby, from D1]

D4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM/SPORTS Friday’s late box MAVERICKS 114, CLIPPERS 101 CLIPPERS Min FG-A FT-A OR-T A P T George..............42 6-18 4-4 2-11 5 3 18 Tucker ...............20 3-5 0-0 2-2 0 5 8 Zubac ...............37 6-11 5-8 4-11 1 5 17 Harden..............43 5-16 6-7 0-7 13 1 16 Mann................38 5-9 2-2 5-6 3 5 14 N.Powell ............35 6-14 6-8 0-4 0 4 20 Westbrook ...........9 2-7 2-3 1-1 1 1 6 Coffey .................8 1-1 0-0 1-2 0 1 2 Plumlee ..............1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Boston Jr. ............1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Brown .................1 0-0 0-0 1-1 0 0 0 Hyland ................1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 34-82 25-32 16-45 23 26 101 Shooting: Field goals, 41.5%; free throws, 78.1% Three-point goals: 8-31 (Tucker 2-3, Mann 2-4, N.Powell 2-6, George 2-10, Hyland 0-1, Westbrook 0-1, Harden 0-6). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 2. Blocked Shots: 2 (George, Harden). Turnovers: 9 (Tucker 3, George 2, Mann 2, Harden, Zubac). Steals: 4 (Harden 2, George, Westbrook). Technical Fouls: None. DALLAS Min FG-A FT-A OR-T A P T Jones Jr. ............36 3-5 0-0 2-5 2 3 6 Washington........34 4-9 2-4 2-5 2 2 14 Gafford .............22 5-8 3-3 4-6 0 3 13 Doncic ..............43 9-26 9-11 1-7 13 5 28 Irving ................42 11-19 3-5 1-6 4 3 30 Lively II .............24 3-3 4-8 5-9 3 4 10 Green ...............21 3-5 0-0 3-4 1 3 7 Exum ..................7 1-3 0-0 0-1 1 1 2 Kleber.................5 1-3 1-2 0-1 0 0 4 Hardy..................1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Lawson ...............1 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 D.Powell ..............1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 40-83 22-33 18-45 26 24 114 Shooting: Field goals, 48.2%; free throws, 66.7% Three-point goals: 12-36 (Irving 5-9, Washington 4-8, Green 1-3, Kleber 1-3, Doncic 1-10, Exum 0-1, Jones Jr. 0-1, Lawson 0-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 4 (Irving 2, Doncic, Jones Jr.). Turnovers: 9 (Doncic 5, Gafford, Irving, Jones Jr., Washington). Steals: 6 (Irving 2, Washington 2, Doncic, Lively II). Technical Fouls: None. CLIPPERS.................... 26 26 20 29— 101 DALLAS ....................... 34 18 35 27— 114 A—20,625. T—2:35. son and who you are, that means a lot. Not just putting you on a basketball court and saying, ‘OK, you work for me.’ Like, he really genuinely cares about each individual. He cares about the wins. He’s fired up. He’s passionate about it. And, so, that’s what I love the most about Mr. Ballmer. He treats everyone as equals.” The Clippers again had to play without Leonard, who missed his fourth game in the series because of inflammation in his right knee. He played 68 games during the regular season but missed the final eight with the knee issue. He played in Games 2 and 3 against the Mavericks but was limited. Leonard didn’t make the trip to Dallas for Game 6. “The times he was around, he was very frustrated,” George said. “You could see it on him. He wanted to be out there. He wanted to be with us. But like we said, it was more staff keeping him back, noticing that he wasn’t himself, to protect him. So he was ready to lace it up and give whatever he could. So I know it was frustrating for him not to be able to be out there with us.” Leonard signed a threeyear extension worth about $152 million that starts next season. But George hasn’t signed an extension. He has a player option for next season at $48.7 million. The most the Clippers can offer George is a four-year extension worth up to $221 million, and that would be contingent upon him opting out of the last year of his deal. After struggling through a six-for-18 night, George was asked if he could view himself being with the Clippers long term alongside Leonard and Harden. “Yeah, if it works that way,” George said. “Absolutely.” The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic reportedly will make a run at George if he is unable to work out a deal. The most either team could offer George is a four-year deal worth about $212 million. “I’m not even focused on that yet,” George said. “I got a lot to kind of digest myself, so I haven’t even got to that yet. Look forward to kind of going back, just letting everything kind of decompress. Talk to my family, be around family support and then address the next step. But I’m not just there yet.” Harden will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Acquired by the Clippers in a trade with Philadelphia in October, Harden earned $35 million this season but couldn’t help them advance past the first round, shooting five for 18 in the finale. He was asked about his future. “I don’t even know,” Harden said. “You’re asking me a question that I don’t have the answer to. I haven’t even thought about it.” The Clippers expect Lue to be the coach for a “long time” and the plan is to look at getting him a contract extension, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. Lue was asked if he hopes to get an extension, leading him to talk about his fondness for Ballmer, Frank, general manager Trent Redden, assistant general manager Mark Hughes and president of business operations Gillian Zucker. “I hope so,” Lue said. “I didn’t come here to bounce around, go all over the place. Mr. Ballmer, Lawrence, Mark, Trent, Gillian, they all have been great to me. This is where I want to be and hopefully they feel the same way. I haven’t had a better experience since I’ve been here. Mr. Ballmer showed me a lot of different things that [I] wouldn’t be privy to if I wasn’t here. ... So, just having a great relationship with the owner, the front office, it’s great. And, so, I would love to be here long term.” When the Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham on Friday, Lue’s name surfaced as a potential candidate for the job, one he was offered five years ago, but the sides couldn’t reach an agreement. “Yeah, I don’t really have a comment on that,” Lue said when asked about the Lakers coaching rumors. “I mean, it’s great to be wanted. You know, that’s a really good feeling. But like I said, I want to be here and hopefully we’re able to solidify that.” Decision time for Clippers after elimination THE CLIPPERS’ Norman Powell drives to the basket, splitting Mavericks defenders Maxi Kleber and Dante Exum in Game 6. Powell scored a team-high 20 points off the bench but the Clippers were eliminated. Photographs by Jeffrey McWhorter Associated Press THE CLIPPERS’ James Harden drives against Dallas’ Kyrie Irving in the first half. Harden struggled and finished with 16 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. [Clippers, from D1] Carlo Jiménez, a young broadcaster inspired by his family, completed his first season as the Clippers’ new voice on KLAC-AM (570) radio. Jiménez, 23, is a 2023 USC graduate. He earned the Jim Nantz Award, which recognized him as the nation’s most outstanding college sports broadcaster, and made a formidable leap to calling Clippers games soon after wrapping up classes. He replaced Noah Eagle, who moved to NBC Sports during the summer. “I am very grateful to the Clippers, and big credit to Noah Eagle, who blazed that path,” said Jiménez, who had visited only four other states before getting the job that has taken him all over the country. Jiménez’s debut season has featured surreal moments, such as when he was in Portland for a game against the Trail Blazers and paused to realize what he was experiencing. He couldn’t believe he was going to be broadcasting an NBA game. “It’s a massive opportunity, whether you’re 22, 42, or 62. He instantly had all my respect because he knew it was a great opportunity,” said Brian Sieman, Bally Sports’ experienced Clippers play-by-play broadcaster. “He appreciates the opportunity and is a hard worker. He is at practices every day, he is at all the shootarounds, he is very well prepared, and he is a wonderful young man.” Jiménez is among the few Latino play-by-play announcers in the NBA on English-language broadcasts. He grew up in the Bay Area and is proud of his Mexican roots because the path his family forged in this country was full of challenges. At age 4, his grandfather, Francisco Jiménez, immigrated from Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. He was a farmworker who moved several times to pursue work during grape, strawberry and cotton harvests. When Francisco was 8, his family was deported to Mexico. They returned legally soon after and settled in Santa Maria. At age 13, Francisco worked as a janitor with his brother to support his family. Those were “survival mode” days for the Jiménezes, Francisco said. However, he earned a scholarship from Santa Clara that changed his life. He earned a degree in Spanish Studies in 1966. Francisco went on to Columbia, where he earned his master’s and doctorate in Latin American literature. Francisco has been a professor at Santa Clara for 40 years and is the author of four books: “The Circuit,” “Reaching Out,” “Breaking Through” and “Taking Hold.” These books, which have also been translated into Spanish, relate to his experiences as an immigrant. The series has been featured among the American Library Assn. Booklist’s 50 best young adult books of all time. “When I hear my grandfather’s story, I hear about him and his sacrifice. I was incredibly proud to have the last name Jiménez because my grandfather sacrificed so much,” Carlo Jiménez said. “I mean, being two generations away and having this opportunity, who would have thought? It’s something I never take for granted.” The 81-year-old author and professor said he learned much from his family’s sacrifices, which helped him understand the importance of faith, hope and respect. “These are values that I instilled in my children and grandchildren,” said Francisco Jiménez, whose love of sports was nonexistent until his grandson began broadcasting games. Today, he texts Carlo every time he hears him on the radio. Two of Francisco’s sons are college professors. Carlo’s dad, Francisco Jiménez Jr., is a professor at Santa Clara and works on a program that helps first-generation college students. Tomas Jiménez, Carlo’s uncle, is a professor at Stanford. Carlo’s grandfather, the author of several children’s books translated into Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Persian and Spanish, has urged his family members to use their education to improve their communities and be generous to others. “When I got this job, my grandpa told me to make sure you got to give back, you got to teach, you got to help,” said Carlo, who participated in a program at USC that helped feed the homeless. Carlo’s passion for broadcast work and desire to give fans a behind-thescenes look at his life helped him build a strong social media presence, with more than 169,000 followers on TikTok and 143,000 on Instagram. He had many of those followers before the Clippers hired him. During NBA games, several young people approach him to say hello and tell him they follow him on TikTok or Instagram. During Jiménez’s first season, his experienced colleague Sieman advised him to be careful with social media and remember his place on the team. “One piece of advice that I told him is that when we’re on the road, I know you have a lot of followers on your social media. You are going to be incredibly popular with the Clippers, but we are the last rung on the ladder on the totem pole. So when we go on that trip, we let everybody else grab food first; we get to the back of the plane and mind our own business,” Sieman said. “Be humble is what I told him, and it was not an issue with him at all because he’s a good person.” Jiménez started training for the role in high school, broadcasting many games, including the Bellarmine College Preparatory basketball varsity team’s contests. After mainly sitting on the bench as a member of the junior varsity basketball team, he would quickly change into his suit and tie to broadcast the varsity team’s games. “I found that, yes, I love playing basketball, but I looked forward more to broadcasting that varsity game than watching the JV game from the bench,” recalled Jiménez. He estimates he called about 80 games a year at USC, including soccer, baseball and basketball. He also served as sports director for the Trojans’ KXSC-FM (104.9) station. “For somebody who had never called a game in an arena bigger than high school gyms with maybe 200 people at most, and then there’s 60,000 people at the Coliseum, you’re like, ‘Oh, my goodness,’” Jiménez said. He is a fan of Joe Davis, the Dodgers’ play-by-play announcer, because of his storytelling skills. Jiménez has also learned much from Kevin Dana of the Santa Cruz Warriors. “Kevin taught me that this business is about meeting people, being nice and building relationships,” said Jiménez, whose goal is to be someone fun to work with, help people and work hard. Jiménez says he wants other young people to know they can achieve their dreams, just as he did as a recent graduate anxious to get his first job. He draws on the lessons from his grandfather, who figured out a way to rise from life as a farmworker to a career as a distinguished professor and author. “If a young person is trying to do this, I want them to know that it can be done; you can do it, no matter your background, your situation,” Jiménez said. This story was first published in Spanish via Los Angeles Times en Español. Jiménez quickly blazes trail with Clippers Team’s radio voice, only 23, is among few Latino play-by-play announcers on English-language broadcasts By Eduard Cauich CARLO JIMÉNEZ graduated from USC just a year ago and already has earned a reputation from his media colleagues as a hard worker who is well prepared. Jill Connelly Los Angeles Times en Espanol

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 D5 WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND 4 Clippers vs. 5 Dallas Mavericks win, 4-2 Gm 1 Clippers 109, Dallas 97 Gm 2 Dallas 96, Clippers 93 Gm 3 Dallas 101, Clippers 90 Gm 4 Clippers 116, Dallas 111 Gm 5 Dallas 123, Clippers 93 Gm 6 Dallas 114, Clippers 101 SEMIFINALS 1 Oklahoma City vs. 5 Dallas Gm 1 Tuesday, 6:30, TNT Gm 2 Thursday, TBA, ESPN Gm 3 Saturday, 12:30, Ch. 7 Gm 4 May 13, TBA, TNT Gm 5 May 15, TBA, TNT* Gm 6 May 18, 5:30, ESPN* Gm 7 May 20, 5:30, TNT* 2 Denver vs. 3 Minnesota Gm 1 at Denver, late Gm 2 Monday, 7, TNT Gm 3 Friday, 6:30, ESPN Gm 4 May 12, 5, TNT Gm 5 May 14, TBA, TNT* Gm 6 May 16, 5;30, ESPN* Gm 7 May 19, TBA* * if necessary Times PDT, p.m. unless noted EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND 4 Cleveland vs. 5 Orlando Series tied, 3-3 Gm 1 Cleveland 97, Orlando 83 Gm 2 Cleveland 96, Orlando 86 Gm 3 Orlando 121, Cleveland 83 Gm 4 Orlando 112, Cleveland 89 Gm 5 Cleve. 104, Orlando 103 Gm 6 Orlando 103, Cleveland 96 Gm 7 Sunday, 10 a.m., Ch. 7 SEMIFINALS 2 Boston vs. Cleveland/Orlando Gm 1 Tuesday, 4, TNT Gm 2 Thursday, 4, ESPN Gm 3 Saturday, 5:30, Ch. 7 Gm 4 May 13, 4, TNT Gm 5 TBA, TNT* Gm 6 TBA, ESPN* Gm 7 TBA* 2 New York vs. 6 Indiana Gm 1 Monday, 4:30, TNT Gm 2 Wednesday, 5, TNT Gm 3 Friday, 4, ESPN Gm 4 May 12, 12:30, Ch. 7 Gm 5 May 14, TBA, TNT* Gm 6 May 17, TBA, ESPN* Gm 7 May 19, TBA* NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Paolo Banchero and the rapidly maturing Orlando Magic are growing up fast in the NBA playoffs. The 21-year-old All-Star forward scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter Friday night, helping one of the NBA’s youngest teams overcome Donovan Mitchell’s 50 points and hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103- 96 to force a decisive Game 7 in their first-round series. Three nights after scoring a career postseason-best 39 in a one-point road loss that left the Magic on the brink of elimination, Banchero put his team on his back and carried it to its biggest win in years. Franz Wagner had 26 points and Jalen Suggs made six three-pointers and finished with 22 points for the Magic, who pulled away in the closing minutes, with Banchero hitting a threepointer that put Orlando ahead for good at 92-89. “We’ve definitely learned a lot through this series, seeing what works and what doesn’t work,” Banchero said. “Knowing what we have to do to win a game.” Mitchell was magnificent for Cleveland, scoring all of his team’s 18 points in the fourth quarter. Darius Garland added 21, but ultimately the Cavaliers were unable to overcome poor three-point shooting (seven for 28). Game 7 is Sunday in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers won Games 1, 2 and 5 and clearly play better than on the road, where they’ve dropped seven straight playoff games since a LeBron James-led Game 7 victory at Boston in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals. “I’m excited. It’s a do-ordie situation, so we’ll have to put together another special effort,” Banchero said, looking ahead to Sunday. The Cavaliers haven’t won a postseason series since 2018. The Magic, in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are seeking their first series win in 14 years. “Our guys will be ready for the moment,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’ve been really good at home.” Orlando improved from 22 wins in 2021-22, its first season under coach Jamahl Mosley, to 34 last year and 47 with a Southeast Division title this season. “Being on the road for Game 7, the ability to come together and continue to grow each game, I think that’s what this group is looking forward to,” Mosley added. “It’s not going to be easy, nor do we want it to be easy. The harder it is, the better we will be.” Orlando took Games 3 and 4 by a combined 61 points, yet came out Friday night with a slightly different look, inserting forward Jonathan Isaac into the starting lineup and shifting Wagner from forward to guard to put four 6-foot-10 players on the floor at the same time. With center Jarrett Allen out for the second consecutive game because of a bruised rib, the Cavaliers slid forward Evan Mobley to center and started Marcus Morris Sr. after the 34-yearold came off the bench to score 12 points and elevate Cleveland’s level of physicality the previous game. The Cavaliers trailed 53- 49 at the half and were fortunate the deficit wasn’t larger, considering they had misfired on 13 of 14 threes. With Mitchell and Garland seemingly driving to the basket at will, Cleveland converted 22 of 32 shots inside the arc and wound up shooting 50% (23 for 46) before the break to stay close. They finally heated up from long range in the third quarter, with Mitchell and Max Strus making threes in a 17-4 surge to begin the period. The Magic trailed by as many as nine before closing within 78-73 heading into the fourth quarter. Mitchell finished 22 for 36 from the field, including three for nine on threepoints attempts. He scored Cleveland’s final 22 points. “We did a great job of staying together and we were all locked in, but ultimately we didn’t end up with the victory,” Mitchell said. Notes Dallas big man Maxi Kleber could miss the rest of the playoffs because of a thirddegree dislocation of the AC joint of his right shoulder, according to reports. ... The NBA fined guard D’Angelo Russell $25,000 for verbally abusing an official shortly after the Lakers were eliminated by Denver last week. ... Darius Morris, a former Windward High standout who played for both the Lakers and Clippers, died at 33. No cause was announced. NBA PLAYOFFS Magic forcing Cavaliers to pull together at home associated press PAOLO BANCHERO of Orlando scored 27 points on Max Strus and Cleveland to help force Game 7. John Raoux Associated Press The Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham after two seasons, both of which had unarguable successes but ended with the Lakers losing to Denver in the playoffs. The team reached the Western Conference finals in Ham’s first season and won the in-season tournament in his second. But inconsistent lineups and too much experimentation with personnel combined with a lack of locker room support led to frustration. Whatever the cause, the future is what matters most. Who will the Lakers turn to next? The established candidates There’s an assumption in some NBA circles that the Lakers, as they’ve been prone to doing, will turn hard toward the other direction after deciding the road they were traveling was the wrong one. In the past, they replaced an outsider in Mike D’Antoni with an insider in Byron Scott. They replaced Scott, an experienced coach, with Luke Walton, who was getting his first head coaching job. After Walton, they went with someone more experienced in Frank Vogel, after talking with other experienced coaches such as Monty Williams and Tyronn Lue. And after Vogel, they hired another first-time coach — Ham. So if the Lakers are going to zig after they zagged (no, not Gonzaga’s Mark Few), where could they look? Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson was a finalist for the job two summers ago and impressed some in the front office during the Lakers’ last coaching search. Former Portland coach Terry Stotts has been high on the team’s wish list on multiple occasions, and the Lakers once tried to hire him as a lead assistant, according to people familiar with the situation not authorized to speak publicly. Lue, of course, would be a primary target should he become available (and probably the same for Dallas coach Jason Kidd), but Lue has a job coaching the Clippers, and could get a contract extension soon. Mike Budenholzer, Ham’s former boss in Milwaukee and Atlanta, is expected to fetch the biggest coaching contract this offseason should he take a new job. Other former coaches who have lead bench roles around the NBA include Scott Brooks and James Borrego. The redo The Lakers could buck their hiring trends and again try to find an established assistant coach ready to take on an elevated role. Denver’s David Adelman has had a front-row seat for the Lakers’ issues with the Nuggets and has fans inside the Lakers’ front office. Minnesota assistant Micah Nori is about to take on a prominent role after Timberwolves coach Chris Finch suffered a knee injury in his team’s sweep against Phoenix. Boston assistant Charles Lee worked with Ham in Milwaukee and has been regarded as a top coaching prospect and a top candidate in Charlotte. Celtics assistant Sam Cassell has interviewed for top jobs as well. Dallas’ Sean Sweeney also is seen as a strong future coach, and Mavericks assistant (and former Laker) Jared Dudley is very close with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Miami’s Chris Quinn is also highly thought of in NBA circles. Going this route again — while acknowledging there is no time for a learning curve with James and Davis anchoring the core — probably isn’t the ideal option. But, it could end up being the best one if the Lakers don’t find an attractive candidate with experience. The wild card One name that has had some steam is JJ Redick, a former player turned TV analyst. Redick, whose name surfaced in regard to the Charlotte opening, is a strong enough basketball mind in James’ book that the two partnered for a podcast about on-court strategy. But Redick, 39, never has coached. And again, the Lakers are entering a period of real urgency. JJ REDICK, left, has never coached, but the 39-year-old could be a wild-card candidate for the Lakers’ coaching job. Redick, a former player turned TV analyst, and LeBron James host a podcast on basketball strategy. Phelan M. Ebenhack Associated Press Lakers could go a number of ways in their coaching search KENNY ATKINSON, an assistant at Golden State, was a finalist for the Lakers’ coaching job in 2022. Rick Bowmer Associated Press By Dan Woike Jevon Porter, 20, has three older brothers, three potential role models. Like him, all three are basketball players. Michael Porter Jr., 25, is locked in, pursuing a second consecutive NBA title with the Denver Nuggets. He’s in the second year of a fiveyear, $179.3-million contract, a key cog on arguably the best team in the NBA. Jontay Porter, 24, is locked out, issued a lifetime ban from the NBA on April 17 for violating the league’s gambling policy. The NBA said an investigation revealed the Toronto Raptors backup center disclosed confidential information to bettors and limited his participation in at least one game to influence prop bets. Coban Porter, 22, is locked up, sentenced to six years in a Colorado prison April 19 for killing 42-yearold Uber driver Katharina Rothman while driving drunk. Porter, who played basketball for one season at the University of Denver, pleaded guilty to felony charges of vehicular homicide-DUI and vehicular assault-DUI. In the family’s latest chapter, Jevon was arrested last Saturday in Boone County, Mo., at 1:31 a.m. on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The 6-foot-11 forward played the last two seasons at Pepperdine and recently transferred to Loyola Marymount. “We are aware of recent reports and are gathering information about the matter,” Loyola Marymount said in a statement. The brothers are four of Michael and Lisa Porter’s eight children, and the common thread through all 10 family members is basketball excellence. Michael played at the University of New Orleans, was an assistant coach under Lorenzo Romar at Washington and was director of player development at Missouri. He currently runs a travel program sponsored by Michael Jr. called MPJ Elite. Lisa (Becker) Porter played basketball at Iowa after averaging an astonishing 58.7 points a game at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High. The oldest Porter children, Bri and Cierra, played at Missouri. The youngest boy is Isaak, who played at Father Tolton Catholic High in Columbia, Mo., and the youngest girl is Jayda, a sophomore star at Columbia Rock Bridge High. The actions of Jontay, Coban and Jevon somehow haven’t had a negative impact on the play of Michael Jr., who averaged 22.8 points and 8.4 rebounds in the firstround playoff series win over the Lakers that began just days after Jontay was banned from the NBA and Coban was sentenced to prison. When Jontay was under investigation in the gambling scandal, his older brother vouched for his integrity. “I know what type of dude he is and I know he’s excited to play basketball and I highly doubt he would do anything to put that in jeopardy,” Michael Jr. said. Yet the NBA investigation found that Jontay revealed information about his own health to a sports bettor ahead of a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings. The information also was given to another bettor, who placed an $80,000 parlay bet that Porter’s stats would be lower than forecast. Porter played three minutes, left the game because of an illness, and if not for the investigation, the bet would have paid $1.1 million. Michael Jr. also spoke highly of Coban during his sentencing hearing in a Denver court, describing him as a high achiever who deeply regretted his actions. “I truly don’t think I’d be in the position I am today as a professional basketball player without a brother like Coban pushing me every day,” Michael Jr. said. “He would get up earlier than me, work out harder than me. “I know it’s not often that a big brother looks up to a younger brother, but that is how it was for me. “As the oldest brother in the family — I wish it was me and not Coban.” Coban, who had a blood alcohol level of 0.19 — more than twice the legal limit — according to police records, expressed remorse while addressing Rothman’s family in court. “It wasn’t an accident,” he said. “I chose to drink and chose to drive home. ... Nothing I say is going to change anything I did — or make any of you feel better. All I can really say is that I’m sorry. I hope whatever comes with sentencing brings you all a little bit of peace.” Less than two weeks later, Jevon was arrested. He was released on summons and is expected to appear in Boone County court at a later date. Tough time for Porter’s brothers JEVON PORTER, left, was arrested on suspicion of DWI, days after Jontay Porter, center, was banned by the NBA and Coban Porter was sentenced to prison. Associated Press Their problems have been public during Nuggets star’s playoff run but he’s played on. By Steve Henson

D6 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM/SPORTS NATIONAL LEAGUE West W L Pct. GB L10 DODGERS 21 13 .618 — 8-2 San Diego 17 18 .486 41 ⁄2 4-6 San Francisco 15 18 .455 51 ⁄2 5-5 Arizona 14 19 .424 61 ⁄2 3-7 Colorado 8 24 .250 12 3-7 Central W L Pct. GB L10 Milwaukee 20 11 .645 — 6-4 Chicago 19 14 .576 2 5-5 Cincinnati 16 16 .500 41 ⁄2 4-6 St. Louis 15 17 .469 51 ⁄2 6-4 Pittsburgh 14 19 .424 7 2-8 East W L Pct. GB L10 Philadelphia 22 11 .667 — 7-3 Atlanta 20 10 .667 1 ⁄2 6-4 New York 16 16 .500 51 ⁄2 4-6 Washington 16 16 .500 51 ⁄2 6-4 Miami 9 25 .265 131 ⁄2 3-7 AMERICAN LEAGUE West W L Pct. GB L10 Seattle 17 15 .531 — 6-4 Texas 17 16 .515 1 ⁄2 5-5 Oakland 16 17 .485 11 ⁄2 7-3 Houston 12 20 .375 5 5-5 ANGELS 12 20 .375 5 3-7 Central W L Pct. GB L10 Cleveland 20 12 .625 — 4-6 Kansas City 20 13 .606 1 ⁄2 7-3 Minnesota 18 13 .581 11 ⁄2 10-0 Detroit 18 14 .563 2 6-4 Chicago 6 26 .188 14 3-7 East W L Pct. GB L10 Baltimore 21 11 .656 — 6-4 New York 21 13 .618 1 5-5 Boston 18 15 .545 31 ⁄2 5-5 Tampa Bay 15 18 .455 61 ⁄2 3-7 Toronto 15 18 .455 61 ⁄2 2-8 STANDINGS Through Friday Today’s games Dodgers vs. Atlanta .............................. 1 p.m. Angels at Cleveland ....................... 10:30 a.m. Colorado at Pittsburgh .................... 10:30 a.m. Toronto at Washington .................... 10:30 a.m. Detroit at New York (AL) .................. 10:30 a.m. New York (NL) at Tampa Bay ............ 10:30 a.m. Seattle at Houston .............................. 11 a.m. Texas at Kansas City ............................ 11 a.m. Boston at Minnesota ........................... 11 a.m. Chicago (AL) at St. Louis ................. 11:15 a.m. Milwaukee at Chicago (NL) .............. 11:15 a.m. Miami at Oakland ................................ 1 p.m. Baltimore at Cincinnati .......................... 1 p.m. San Diego at Arizona ............................ 1 p.m. San Francisco at Philadelphia ................ 4 p.m. BASEBALL : FRIDAY FLASHBACK DODGERS 4, ATLANTA 3 (11 INNINGS) Atlanta AB R H BI Avg. Acuña rf 5 1 2 1 .258 Albies 2b 5 0 1 0 .323 Riley 3b 5 1 2 1 .242 Olson 1b 4 0 0 0 .198 Ozuna dh 4 0 0 0 .310 d’Arnaud c 4 0 0 0 .267 Williams 0 1 0 0 --- Tromp c 0 0 0 0 .233 Harris cf 3 0 0 0 .287 Arcia ss 3 0 1 1 .268 Kelenic lf 3 0 0 0 .290 Duvall lf 1 0 0 0 .213 Totals 37 3 6 3 Dodgers AB R H BI Avg. Betts ss 5 0 0 0 .363 Ohtani dh 3 1 1 1 .336 Freeman 1b 5 0 1 0 .288 Smith c 4 1 1 1 .351 Muncy 3b 3 0 0 0 .235 T.Herndz lf/rf 5 1 1 1 .252 Pages rf-cf 5 0 4 1 .333 Outman cf 1 0 0 0 .171 K.Hrdz lf/2b 2 0 0 0 .229 Lux 2b 2 0 1 0 .190 Rojas 2b 2 0 0 0 .275 Taylor lf 0 1 0 0 .078 Totals 37 4 9 4 Atlanta 100 000 010 10 _ 3 6 0 Dodgers 001 100 000 11 _ 4 9 1 Walks—Atlanta 1: Harris 1. Dodgers 5: Ohtani 2, Smith 1, Muncy 2. Strikeouts—Atlanta 8: Acuña 1, Riley 1, Olson 1, Ozuna 1, d’Arnaud 2, Kelenic 1, Duvall 1. Dodgers 8: Ohtani 1, Freeman 2, Muncy 1, T.Hernández 2, Outman 1, K.Hernández 1. E—Freeman (2). LOB—Atlanta 5, Dodgers 10. 2B—Freeman (10). HR—Riley (3), off Stone; Acuña (2), off Hudson; T.Hernández (7), off Morton. RBIs—Riley (17), Acuña (8), Arcia (10), Smith (25), T.Hernández (23), Ohtani (20), Pages (11). SB—Ohtani 2 (7). SF—Arcia. Runners left in scoring position—Atlanta 2 (Riley, Kelenic); Dodgers 2 (Smith, Muncy). RISP—Atlanta 0 for 5; Dodgers 4 for 8. Runners moved up—Albies 2, Harris. GIDP—Rojas, Lux. DP—Atlanta 2 (Arcia, Olson; Arcia, Albies, Olson). Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Morton........................6 5 2 2 2 5 98 3.50 Bummer ......................1 1 0 0 0 1 11 4.76 Minter.........................1 0 0 0 2 1 20 2.40 Jiménez.......................1 1 0 0 0 1 15 1.93 Iglesias, BS, 8-10 .........1 1 1 0 0 0 12 2.03 Chavez, L, 1-1.............. 1 ⁄3 1 1 0 1 0 14 1.54 Dodgers IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Stone .........................6 5 1 1 1 5 86 4.06 Kelly, H, 8....................1 0 0 0 0 0 14 4.85 Hudson, BS, 1-3...........1 1 1 1 0 1 27 3.60 Phillips........................1 0 0 0 0 1 11 0.66 Vesia ..........................1 0 1 0 0 1 11 1.65 Grove, W, 1-1...............1 0 0 0 0 0 15 6.16 IBB—off Minter (Smith), off Chavez (Muncy). HBP—Morton (Outman). U—Nestor Ceja, Todd Tichenor, Cory Blaser, Manny Gonzalez. T—3:00. Tickets sold—50,859 (56,000). ANGELS 6, CLEVELAND 0 Angels AB R H BI Avg. Schnuel 1b 4 2 3 1 .250 Rengifo 2b 5 0 2 0 .330 Ward lf 3 0 0 1 .271 Calhoun dh 4 1 3 0 .750 O’Hoppe c 4 1 1 1 .266 Adell rf 4 0 0 0 .273 Adrnza 3b 3 1 0 0 .222 Moniak cf 4 1 2 3 .164 Neto ss 4 0 0 0 .229 Totals 35 6 11 6 Cleveland AB R H BI Avg. Kwan lf 3 0 2 0 .356 Giménez 2b 4 0 0 0 .280 Ramírez dh 4 0 0 0 .233 J.Naylor 1b 3 0 1 0 .263 Brennan rf 3 0 0 0 .244 a-Laurno rf 1 0 0 0 .151 Freeman cf 4 0 0 0 .189 B.Naylor c 4 0 1 0 .179 Arias 3b 4 0 1 0 .254 Rocchio ss 3 0 1 0 .222 Totals 33 0 6 0 Angels 001 410 000 —6 11 2 Cleveland 000 000 000 —0 6 0 a-flied out for Brennan in the 8th. Walks—Angels 2: Schanuel 1, Adrianza 1. Cleveland 2: Kwan 1, J.Naylor 1. Strikeouts—Angels 7: Ward 1, O’Hoppe 1, Adrianza 2, Moniak 1, Neto 2. Cleveland 8: Giménez 1, J.Naylor 1, Freeman 1, B.Naylor 2, Arias 3. E—Neto (2), Soriano (2). LOB—Angels 5, Cleveland 8. 2B—Calhoun (1), O’Hoppe (5). HR—Schanuel (3), off Bibee; Moniak (2), off Bibee. RBIs—Schanuel (11), O’Hoppe (11), Moniak 3 (7), Ward (24). CS—Rengifo (1). SF—Ward. Runners left in scoring position—Angels 2 (Adrianza, O’Hoppe); Cleveland 4 (Giménez 2, Arias, Laureano). RISP—Angels 2 for 6; Cleveland 0 for 4. Runners moved up—Calhoun, Adell. GIDP—Neto, Kwan. DP—Angels 1 (Rengifo, Neto, Schanuel); Cleveland 1 (Rocchio, Giménez, J.Naylor). Angels IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Soriano, W, 1-4 ............6 5 0 0 1 3 88 3.77 Garrett ........................1 0 0 0 0 2 11 0.00 Suarez ........................2 1 0 0 1 3 41 9.00 Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Bibee, L, 2-1................5 8 6 6 1 4 91 4.46 Herrin .......................1 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 2 24 0.63 Gaddis........................ 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2.87 Strzelecki.....................2 3 0 0 0 1 28 0.00 Inherited runners-scored—Gaddis 1-0. WP—Bibee. U—Ryan Wills, Carlos Torres, Charlie Ramos, Jeremie Rehak. T—2:41. Tickets sold—19,698 (34,788). MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 1 Milwaukee AB R H BI Avg. Frelick rf 3 0 0 0 .243 b-Chourio rf 2 1 1 0 .212 Contreras c 4 1 1 1 .341 Black 1b 3 0 0 0 .300 Wiemer lf 0 0 0 0 .174 Sánchez 1b 0 0 0 0 .208 Adames ss 4 1 1 1 .277 Bauers lf 3 0 1 1 .197 Hoskins dh 4 0 0 0 .229 Turang 2b 4 0 2 0 .317 Dunn 3b 2 0 1 0 .231 a-Ortiz 3b 2 0 1 0 .273 Perkins cf 4 0 0 0 .264 Totals 35 3 8 3 Chicago AB R H BI Avg. Hoerner 2b 4 0 2 0 .279 Tauchman rf 4 0 0 0 .276 Happ lf 4 0 2 0 .221 Morel 3b 4 1 1 1 .210 Busch 1b 4 0 2 0 .271 Swanson ss 4 0 0 0 .224 Mervis dh 3 0 0 0 .115 Amaya c 3 0 1 0 .210 Crow-Arm cf 3 0 0 0 .259 Totals 33 1 8 1 Milwaukee 000 000 030 —3 8 0 Chicago 000 001 000 —1 8 0 a-popped out for Dunn in the 7th. b-singled for Frelick in the 8th. Walks—Milwaukee 2: Black 1, Bauers 1. Strikeouts—Milwaukee 12: Frelick 1, Contreras 1, Black 2, Adames 1, Bauers 2, Hoskins 2, Turang 2, Dunn 1. Chicago 5: Hoerner 1, Morel 1, Busch 1, Mervis 2. LOB—Milwaukee 7, Chicago 5. 2B—Busch (6), Hoerner (9). 3B—Ortiz (2). HR—Morel (6), off Ross. RBIs—Contreras (26), Adames (22), Bauers (13), Morel (18). SB—Black (1), Chourio (6), Contreras (3), Adames (5), Bauers (2). Runners left in scoring position—Milwaukee 5 (Hoskins, Adames, Chourio, Perkins, Dunn); Chicago 3 (Mervis 2, Amaya). RISP—Milwaukee 3 for 9; Chicago 0 for 5. Runners moved up—Swanson. Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Ross...........................6 6 1 1 0 4 86 4.65 Peguero, W, 4-0............1 1 0 0 0 0 10 3.38 Payamps, H, 4..............1 1 0 0 0 0 10 3.09 Megill, S, 2-2 ...............1 0 0 0 0 1 11 1.17 Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Wesneski...................6 1 ⁄3 3 0 0 2 8 90 0.54 Lovelady, H, 1...............1 0 0 0 0 1 15 0.00 Alzolay, L, 1-4, BS, 3-8.. 1 ⁄3 4 3 3 0 1 32 5.54 Brewer ......................1 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 24 4.15 Inherited runners-scored—Brewer 1-0. WP—Brewer. U—Nick Mahrley, Hunter Wendelstedt, John Tumpane, Marvin Hudson. T—2:37. Tickets sold—33,557 (41,363). BALTIMORE 3, CINCINNATI 0 Baltimore AB R H BI Avg. Hendersn ss 4 0 2 0 .279 Rutschman c 4 1 1 1 .308 O’Hearn dh 5 1 2 2 .307 Mntcstle 1b 5 0 2 0 .295 Santandr rf 4 0 0 0 .207 Mullins cf 4 0 0 0 .204 Westburg 3b 3 0 0 0 .300 Kjerstad lf 2 0 1 0 .222 McKna lf 0 0 0 0 .667 Mateo 2b 4 1 1 0 .267 Totals 35 3 9 3 Cincinnati AB R H BI Avg. India dh 4 0 0 0 .212 DeLaCruz ss 4 0 2 0 .288 Steer lf 3 0 0 0 .246 Stephnsn c 3 0 0 0 .221 Encrncn 1b 3 0 0 0 .190 Candlrio 3b 3 0 0 0 .188 Espinal 2b 3 0 0 0 .183 Fraley rf 2 0 0 0 .283 Maile 1 0 0 0 .159 Martini rf 0 0 0 0 .184 Fairchild cf 2 0 0 0 .185 Benson 1 0 0 0 .204 Totals 29 0 2 0 Baltimore 000 000 300 —3 9 0 Cincinnati 000 000 000 —0 2 0 Walks—Baltimore 5: Henderson 1, Rutschman 1, Westburg 1, Kjerstad 2. Strikeouts—Baltimore 8: Mountcastle 2, Mullins 3, Westburg 1, Kjerstad 1, Mateo 1. Cincinnati 8: India 1, De La Cruz 1, Steer 2, Maile 1, Fairchild 2, Benson 1. LOB—Baltimore 10, Cincinnati 2. 2B—Rutschman (5), Mountcastle (8), De La Cruz (7). HR—O’Hearn (5), off Pagán. RBIs—Rutschman (19), O’Hearn 2 (11). SB—De La Cruz (19), Mountcastle (2), Mateo (5). Runners left in SP—Baltimore 6 (O’Hearn, Kjerstad, Mountcastle, Santander 2, Mullins); Cincinnati 2 (Encarnacion-Strand, Stephenson). RISP—Baltimore 2 for 13; Cincinnati 0 for 4. Runners moved up—Henderson, Stephenson. Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Irvin, W, 3-1 ..............6 1 ⁄3 2 0 0 0 4 72 2.86 Cano, H, 8 .................. 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2.16 Coulombe, H, 7 ............1 0 0 0 0 1 15 2.77 Kimbrel, S, 8-11...........1 0 0 0 0 3 16 2.92 Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Greene .....................5 2 ⁄3 5 0 0 4 5 109 3.12 Cruz ........................... 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 6 4.50 Pagán, L, 2-2............... 2 ⁄3 4 3 3 0 0 26 5.54 Wilson ........................ 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 3 3.86 Farmer ........................2 0 0 0 1 1 24 3.06 Inherited runners-scored—Cano 1-0, Cruz 2-0, Wilson 1-0. WP—Greene. U—Mike Muchlinski, Jansen Visconti, Paul Clemons, Andy Fletcher. T—2:34. Tickets sold—25,861 (43,891). COLORADO 3, PITTSBURGH 2 Colorado AB R H BI Avg. Tovar ss 5 0 2 0 .266 Doyle cf 5 0 1 0 .296 McMhn 3b 5 1 2 1 .319 Díaz dh 4 1 2 0 .300 Montero 1b 4 1 1 1 .214 Blackmn rf 4 0 1 0 .219 1-Cave rf 0 0 0 0 .233 Rodgers 2b 4 0 1 1 .237 Beck lf 4 0 0 0 .200 Stallings c 4 0 2 0 .364 Totals 39 3 12 3 Pittsburgh AB R H BI Avg. McCtchn dh 4 0 0 0 .179 Reynolds rf 3 1 0 0 .242 Hayes 3b 4 0 0 0 .254 Cruz ss 4 1 1 2 .240 Tellez 1b 3 0 1 0 .209 a-Joe 1 0 0 0 .280 Triolo 2b 4 0 2 0 .227 Suwinski lf 3 0 0 0 .163 Bart c 2 0 0 0 .206 Taylor cf 2 0 0 0 .247 Totals 30 2 4 2 Colorado 000 003 000 —3 12 0 Pittsburgh 000 000 002 —2 4 0 a-struck out for Tellez in the 9th. 1-ran for Blackmon in the 8th. Walks— Pittsburgh 2: Reynolds 1, Taylor 1. Strikeouts—Colorado 9: Tovar 2, McMahon 2, Rodgers 2, Beck 3. Pittsburgh 12: McCutchen 1, Reynolds 1, Hayes 1, Cruz 1, Tellez 1, Joe 1, Triolo 2, Suwinski 1, Bart 2, Taylor 1. LOB—Colorado 9, Pittsburgh 4. 2B—Díaz (5). HR—McMahon (5), off Pérez; Cruz (4), off Beeks. RBIs—McMahon (19), Montero (11), Rodgers (8), Cruz 2 (10). Runners left in scoring position—Colorado 4 (McMahon, Doyle, Montero, Díaz); Pittsburgh 2 (McCutchen, Bart). RISP—Colorado 2 for 7; Pittsburgh 1 for 4. Runners moved up—Blackmon, Hayes. GIDP—Suwinski. DP—Colorado 1 (Rodgers, Tovar, Montero). Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Quantrill, W, 1-3.........7 2 ⁄3 3 0 0 0 9 99 4.31 Bird, H, 3.................... 2 ⁄3 0 1 1 2 1 25 5.87 Beeks, S, 1-2............... 2 ⁄3 1 1 1 0 2 10 2.81 Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Pérez, L, 1-2 ..............5 1 ⁄3 8 3 3 0 4 88 3.15 Stratton ....................1 2 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 3 36 2.76 Holderman...................1 1 0 0 0 1 15 1.17 Nicolas .......................1 2 0 0 0 1 25 0.00 Inherited runners-scored—Bird 1-0, Beeks 1-1, Stratton 1-1. HBP—Quantrill (Bart). U—Dan Merzel, Stu Scheuwater, Doug Eddings, Mark Carlson. T—2:36. Tickets sold—20,646 (38,753). PHILADELPHIA 4, SAN FRANCISCO 3 San Fran. AB R H BI Avg. Lee cf 5 0 1 0 .248 Wade 1b 3 0 2 0 .333 Flores 1 0 0 0 .236 Soler dh 4 0 0 0 .205 Conforto lf 4 0 1 0 .250 Bailey c 0 1 0 0 .278 Murphy c 3 0 1 0 .121 Chapman 3b 3 1 0 0 .220 Yastrzmski rf 4 0 0 0 .227 Estrada 2b 4 0 2 2 .239 Ahmed ss 3 1 1 0 .242 Totals 34 3 8 2 Phila. AB R H BI Avg. Schwarbr dh 4 1 0 0 .205 Turner ss 3 1 2 0 .343 Sosa ss 1 0 1 0 .286 Harper 1b 1 1 0 0 .231 Bohm 3b 4 1 1 1 .358 Realmuto c 3 0 0 0 .239 Marsh lf 4 0 1 2 .265 Castllnos rf 4 0 0 0 .180 Stott 2b 4 0 1 0 .226 Rojas cf 4 0 0 0 .230 Totals 32 4 6 3 San Francisco 020 000 100 —3 8 2 Philadelphia 003 100 00x —4 6 1 Walks—San Francisco 4: Wade 1, Bailey 1, Chapman 1, Ahmed 1. Philadelphia 4: Harper 3, Realmuto 1. Strikeouts—San Francisco 11: Lee 1, Wade 1, Flores 1, Conforto 1, Murphy 1, Chapman 2, Yastrzemski 3, Ahmed 1. Philadelphia 10: Schwarber 1, Turner 1, Bohm 1, Realmuto 1, Marsh 3, Castellanos 2, Rojas 1. E—Chapman 2 (5), Sosa (3). LOB—San Francisco 8, Philadelphia 8. 2B—Estrada (7). RBIs—Estrada 2 (16), Bohm (31), Marsh 2 (19). SB—Marsh (4), Turner (10), Stott (6). Runners left in scoring position—San Francisco 6 (Yastrzemski, Estrada, Flores, Soler 2, Conforto); Philadelphia 5 (Rojas, Stott 2, Realmuto 2). RISP—San Francisco 2 for 11; Philadelphia 2 for 8. San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Hicks, L, 2-1 ................4 4 4 2 4 3 88 1.89 Hjelle..........................2 0 0 0 0 4 28 3.38 Jackson.......................1 1 0 0 0 0 16 6.23 Ta.Rogers.....................1 1 0 0 0 3 19 3.97 Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Nola ...........................4 4 2 2 4 4 89 3.32 Strahm, W, 2-0.............1 0 0 0 0 2 15 1.38 Domínguez, H, 4...........1 0 0 0 0 1 18 8.74 Kerkering, H, 2 .............1 3 1 1 0 0 20 1.17 Hoffman, H, 4 ..............1 0 0 0 0 3 15 1.20 Alvarado, S, 6-6 ...........1 1 0 0 0 1 12 3.95 U—Brian Walsh, Adam Hamari, Edwin Moscoso, D.J. Reyburn. T—3:00. Tickets sold—40,888 (42,901). WASHINGTON 9, TORONTO 3 Toronto AB R H BI Avg. Springer rf 4 0 0 1 .205 Guerrero 1b 4 0 1 0 .232 Bichette ss 4 0 0 0 .198 Turner dh 4 0 1 0 .296 Jansen c 3 1 1 0 .273 Schneider lf 3 1 1 0 .254 Varsho cf 4 1 1 2 .227 Kinr-Falfa 2b 3 0 1 0 .253 Biggio 1 0 0 0 .216 Clement 3b 2 0 1 0 .273 Vogelbach 1 0 0 0 .130 Totals 33 3 7 3 Wash. AB R H BI Avg. Young cf 2 1 1 0 .311 Winker rf-lf 3 1 1 0 .250 Abrams ss 5 1 1 1 .280 Senzel 3b 4 0 2 1 .250 Menses 1b 5 0 2 1 .229 Ruiz dh 5 0 1 0 .155 Call rf-cf 3 1 1 0 .385 Vargas lf 2 1 1 0 .310 Rosario rf 0 0 0 0 .086 Adams c 3 2 1 0 .224 Lipscmb 2b 2 0 0 0 .260 García 2b 1 2 1 3 .300 Totals 35 9 12 6 Toronto 030 000 000 —3 7 2 Washington 001 000 44x —9 12 1 Walks—Toronto 2, Washington 5. Strikeouts—Toronto 6, Washington 7. E—Kiner-Falefa (1), Clement (1), Lipscomb (4). LOB—Toronto 7, Washington 8. 2B—Guerrero (6), Schneider (5), Varsho (7), Jansen (4), Vargas (7), Young (5), Senzel (2). 3B—Clement (1). HR—L.García (2), off Swanson. RBIs—Varsho 2 (16), Springer (6), Abrams (18), L.García 3 (14), Senzel (10), Meneses (14). SB—Springer (4), Call (1). SF—Springer. S—Clement, Rosario. Runners left in SP—Toronto 5 (Varsho 2, Turner, Guerrero 2); Washington 4 (Ruiz 2, Lipscomb 2). RISP—Toronto 2 for 10; Washington 4 for 13. Toronto IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Kikuchi........................6 6 1 1 1 7 100 2.72 Swnsn, L, 0-2, BS, 0-1 ..0 2 3 3 1 0 8 18.00 Mayza......................... 1 ⁄3 2 1 1 0 0 14 6.35 Pop............................ 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 9 0.00 Cabrera ...................... 2 ⁄3 2 4 0 3 0 28 6.00 Richards ..................... 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 4 3.68 Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Corbin.........................6 6 3 3 2 3 92 6.45 J.Barnes, W, 2-0 ...........1 0 0 0 0 1 12 1.50 Harvey, H, 11 ...............1 1 0 0 0 1 15 2.65 Floro...........................1 0 0 0 0 1 12 0.57 U—Rob Drake, Jonathan Parra, John Libka, James Hoye. T—2:49. Tickets sold—22,856 (41,376). TAMPA BAY 10, N.Y. METS 8 New York AB R H BI Avg. Nimmo lf 4 1 1 0 .217 Marte rf 4 0 0 1 .265 Lindor ss 4 1 1 2 .208 Alonso 1b 4 0 1 1 .220 Martinez dh 4 0 0 0 .269 McNeil 2b 4 1 1 0 .245 Taylor cf 4 2 2 0 .288 Baty 3b 4 2 3 4 .271 Nido c 3 1 1 0 .227 Stewart 1 0 0 0 .200 Totals 36 8 10 8 T.B. AB R H BI Avg. Y.Díaz 1b 5 0 2 2 .219 Pardes dh 3 1 0 0 .283 Rmírz rf 5 1 3 0 .270 Palacs rf 0 0 0 0 .310 Arozrna lf 2 2 1 1 .145 Rosrio 2b 5 2 3 2 .309 Cabllro ss 3 2 2 0 .276 Jackson c 3 0 0 1 .000 DeLuca cf 4 1 1 3 .250 Mead 3b 4 1 1 1 .218 Totals 34 10 13 10 New York 030 040 001 — 8 10 0 Tampa Bay 035 101 00x —10 13 0 Walks—New York 1: Nimmo 1. Tampa Bay 6: Paredes 2, Arozarena 3, Caballero 1. Strikeouts—New York 9: Nimmo 3, Marte 1, Lindor 1, Martinez 1, McNeil 1, Taylor 1, Baty 1. Tampa Bay 7: H.Ramírez 1, Jackson 3, DeLuca 1, Mead 2. LOB—New York 3, Tampa Bay 7. 2B—Taylor (4), Lindor (7), Alonso (4), Nimmo (6), Caballero (6), Mead (2). HR—Baty (2), off Civale; Baty (3), off Adam; Arozarena (4), off Núñez. RBIs—Baty 4 (13), Marte (14), Lindor 2 (17), Alonso (16), DeLuca 3 (3), Mead (5), Y.Díaz 2 (13), Rosario 2 (15), Jackson (1), Arozarena (10). SB—DeLuca (1), Caballero (9). CS—Caballero (5). SF—Marte, Jackson. Runners left in SP—New York 2 (Marte, Martinez); Tampa Bay 1 (Rosario). RISP—New York 4 for 7; Tampa Bay 7 for 12. New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Quintana, L, 1-3.........2 2 ⁄3 10 8 8 1 2 65 5.20 Núñez.......................2 1 ⁄3 1 1 1 1 3 30 4.26 López..........................1 2 1 1 2 0 23 2.25 Young .........................2 0 0 0 2 2 37 0.00 Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Civale .......................4 2 ⁄3 6 7 7 1 5 77 6.14 Armstrong, W, 1-1 ......1 1 ⁄3 2 0 0 0 2 18 3.45 Maton, H, 8 .................1 0 0 0 0 1 19 6.94 Kelly, H, 2....................1 0 0 0 0 0 11 3.38 Adam, S, 2-3 ...............1 2 1 1 0 1 16 1.80 U—Bruce Dreckman, Tom Hanahan, Clint Vondrak, Mark Wegner. T—2:46. Tickets sold—19,077 (25,025). N.Y. YANKEES 2, DETROIT 1 Detroit AB R H BI Avg. Greene lf 4 1 3 0 .274 Canha rf 5 0 1 0 .264 Pérez cf 2 0 0 0 .286 Meadows cf 0 0 0 0 .100 Carpenter dh 1 0 0 0 .266 Vierling dh 1 0 0 0 .279 Keith 2b 2 0 0 1 .156 b-Ibáñez 2b 1 0 0 0 .318 Torkelson 1b 4 0 0 0 .212 McKstry 3b 3 0 0 0 .213 Báez ss 4 0 0 0 .183 Rogers c 4 0 1 0 .172 Totals 31 1 5 1 New York AB R H BI Avg. Volpe ss 3 0 1 0 .264 Soto rf 4 0 0 0 .320 Judge cf 3 1 1 0 .200 Verdugo lf 3 1 1 0 .271 Stanton dh 4 0 1 1 .224 Trammell 0 0 0 0 1.000 Rizzo 1b 3 0 1 1 .256 Torres 2b 3 0 1 0 .220 Wells c 2 0 0 0 .179 Cabrera 3b 3 0 0 0 .245 Totals 28 2 6 2 Detroit 000 001 000 —1 5 0 New York 000 000 002 —2 6 1 Walks—Detroit 7: Greene 1, Pérez 2, Carpenter 2, Keith 1, McKinstry 1. New York 5: Volpe 1, Judge 1, Verdugo 1, Rizzo 1, Wells 1. Strikeouts—Detroit 4: Canha 1, Torkelson 1, Báez 1, Rogers 1. New York 9: Volpe 1, Soto 1, Judge 1, Verdugo 1, Stanton 3, Cabrera 2. E—Wells (2). LOB—Detroit 10, New York 7. 2B—Stanton (6). RBIs—Keith (7), Stanton (17), Rizzo (17). SB—Judge (2), McKinstry (1). Runners left in scoring position—Detroit 7 (Báez, Carpenter, McKinstry 2, Vierling 2, Pérez); New York 2 (Verdugo, Cabrera). RISP—Detroit 0 for 7; New York 2 for 5. Runners moved up—Pérez, Canha 2. GIDP—Keith, Soto, Torres. Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Olson..........................5 2 0 0 2 5 88 2.70 Faedo, H, 2 ...............1 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 4 26 2.57 Chafin, H, 5................. 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 11 1.50 Miller, H, 3...................1 0 0 0 1 0 19 2.93 Foley, L, 2-1, BS, 9-10...0 4 2 2 0 0 11 2.63 New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Stroman....................5 1 ⁄3 3 1 1 5 3 90 3.41 Hamilton ...................1 1 ⁄3 2 0 0 0 1 16 2.65 González ...................1 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 21 2.31 Santana, W, 2-0 ...........1 0 0 0 1 0 17 3.68 U—Alan Porter, Ryan Blakney, Edwin Jimenez, Jim Wolf. T—2:44. Tickets sold—37,386 (47,309). KANSAS CITY 7, TEXAS 1 Texas AB R H BI Avg. Semien 2b 4 1 1 0 .255 Seager ss 4 0 2 1 .229 Lowe 1b 4 0 0 0 .286 García rf 4 0 1 0 .291 Carter lf 3 0 1 0 .225 J.Smith 3b 4 0 0 0 .304 Jnkwski dh 4 0 1 0 .222 Knizner c 4 0 1 0 .133 Taveras cf 2 0 0 0 .224 Totals 33 1 7 1 Kan. City AB R H BI Avg. Garcia 3b 4 1 2 0 .234 Witt ss 4 1 1 1 .318 Psqntno dh 3 1 1 1 .224 Perez 1b 4 1 1 3 .351 Massey 2b 3 0 2 0 .250 Fermin c 4 0 0 0 .216 Melendez lf 3 0 1 0 .177 Blanco lf 1 1 0 0 .217 Renfroe rf 3 1 1 1 .155 Isbel cf 4 1 2 1 .231 Totals 33 7 11 7 Texas 001 000 000 —1 7 0 Kansas City 000 010 60x —7 11 0 Walks—Texas 2: Carter 1, Taveras 1. Kansas City 4: Garcia 1, Pasquantino 1, Massey 1, Renfroe 1. Strikeouts—Texas 10: Semien 2, Seager 1, Lowe 1, García 1, Carter 1, J.Smith 2, Jankowski 1, Taveras 1. Kansas City 4: Garcia 1, Pasquantino 1, Fermin 1, Isbel 1. LOB—Texas 7, Kansas City 6. 2B—Semien (8), Carter (6), Massey (2). HR—Renfroe (3), off Lorenzen; Perez (8), off Ureña. RBIs—Seager (9), Renfroe (11), Isbel (9), Witt (19), Pasquantino (15), Perez 3 (30). SB—Blanco (6), Witt (10). Runners left in scoring position—Texas 4 (Carter, Jankowski, Semien 2); Kansas City 2 (Witt, Fermin). RISP—Texas 1 for 6; Kansas City 4 for 6. Runners moved up—Lowe, García. GIDP—J.Smith, Fermin, Perez. DP—Texas 2 (Seager, Semien, Lowe; Seager, Semien, Lowe); Kansas City 1 (Witt, Perez). Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Lorenzen .....................6 4 1 1 3 3 86 3.52 Winn, L, 0-1 ................ 1 ⁄3 4 4 4 0 0 24 4.91 Ureña ......................... 2 ⁄3 2 2 2 1 0 14 4.35 Rodríguez ....................1 1 0 0 0 1 18 9.00 Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Singer.........................6 4 1 1 0 8 105 2.45 Schreiber, W, 3-0..........1 2 0 0 2 1 23 0.59 Zerpa..........................1 1 0 0 0 1 15 2.03 Selby ..........................1 0 0 0 0 0 9 0.00 Inherited runners-scored—Ureña 2-2. U—Bill Miller, Malachi Moore, John Bacon, Chad Whitson. T—2:24. Tickets sold—25,690 (38,427). HOUSTON 5, SEATTLE 3 Seattle AB R H BI Avg. Rojas 3b 4 0 3 0 .338 Rodríguez cf 4 0 1 0 .270 Polanco 2b 4 1 1 1 .183 Haniger rf 3 0 0 0 .211 Raleigh c 4 0 0 0 .208 France 1b 3 0 0 0 .245 Garver dh 3 0 0 0 .138 Raley lf 3 1 1 0 .224 b-Urías 1 0 0 0 .143 Moore ss 3 1 1 2 .203 Totals 32 3 7 3 Houston AB R H BI Avg. Altuve 2b 4 1 1 1 .348 Tucker rf 3 0 0 0 .283 Alvarez dh 3 1 1 0 .246 Bregman 3b 3 0 1 1 .204 Peña ss 3 1 0 1 .325 Diaz c 4 1 2 0 .291 Singleton 1b 4 0 0 0 .255 Loperfido lf 2 0 2 0 .364 a-Meyers cf 1 1 0 0 .222 Dubón cf-lf 3 0 0 1 .282 Totals 30 5 7 4 Seattle 001 020 000 —3 7 1 Houston 000 100 40x —5 7 0 a-walked for Loperfido in the 7th. b-struck out for Raley in the 9th. Walks—Seattle 3: Haniger 1, France 1, Garver 1. Houston 5: Tucker 1, Alvarez 1, Bregman 1, Peña 1, Meyers 1. Strikeouts—Seattle 9: Polanco 3, France 1, Garver 2, Raley 1, Urías 1, Moore 1. Houston 5: Tucker 1, Alvarez 1, Peña 1, Singleton 1, Meyers 1. E—Raleigh (2). LOB—Seattle 5, Houston 7. 2B—Alvarez (4). HR—Polanco (5), off Blanco; Moore (2), off Blanco. RBIs—Polanco (13), Moore 2 (6), Peña (13), Dubón (14), Altuve (12), Bregman (11). SB—Altuve (7). SF—Dubón. Runners left in scoring position—Seattle 1 (Raleigh); Houston 3 (Peña 2, Diaz). RISP—Seattle 0 for 3; Houston 2 for 6. Runners moved up—Peña, Singleton. DP—Rodríguez. DP—Houston 2 (Peña, Singleton, Peña; Peña, Altuve, Diaz, Tucker, Diaz, Tucker). Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Kirby...........................6 4 1 1 0 3 88 3.76 Thornton, H, 3.............. 1 ⁄3 1 2 2 1 0 16 2.70 Speier, L, 0-1, BS, 0-1 .. 1 ⁄3 1 2 2 3 0 23 2.45 Bolton ........................ 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 12 1.74 T.Miller ........................1 1 0 0 0 1 14 2.08 Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Blanco ........................6 5 3 3 2 6 94 2.09 Martinez, W, 2-2 ...........1 0 0 0 0 0 5 1.96 Pressly, H, 4.................1 2 0 0 0 1 17 5.27 Hader, S, 3-4 ...............1 0 0 0 1 2 22 5.93 Inherited runners-scored—Speier 2-2, Bolton 3-1. WP—Pressly. U—Adrian Johnson, Quinn Wolcott, Junior Valentine, Ramon De Jesus. T—2:36. Tickets sold—33,796 (41,000). MINNESOTA 5, BOSTON 2 Boston AB R H BI Avg. Ja.Duran cf 4 1 1 0 .261 Devers 3b 3 0 2 2 .300 O’Neill lf 4 0 0 0 .294 Abreu rf 4 0 0 0 .298 Cooper 1b 4 0 0 0 .100 Smith dh 4 0 0 0 .125 Grissom 2b 3 0 0 0 .000 McGuire c 2 1 0 0 .255 Rafaela ss 3 0 1 0 .195 Totals 31 2 4 2 Minnesota AB R H BI Avg. Kirilloff lf 4 1 0 0 .247 Margot lf 0 0 0 0 .182 Julien 2b 2 0 1 2 .222 Jeffers c 4 0 1 2 .298 Kepler rf 3 0 1 0 .255 Correa ss 4 0 1 0 .269 Larnach dh 3 0 1 0 .368 Martin dh 1 1 0 0 .222 Santana 1b 4 0 1 0 .184 Castro cf 3 2 2 0 .282 Miranda 3b 3 1 0 0 .298 Farmer 3b 0 0 0 0 .136 Totals 31 5 8 4 Boston 000 000 020 —2 4 1 Minnesota 001 000 40x —5 8 1 Walks—Boston 1: Devers 1. Minnesota 4: Julien 2, Kepler 1, Miranda 1. Strikeouts—Boston 13: Ja.Duran 1, Devers 1, O’Neill 3, Abreu 3, Cooper 1, Smith 2, Rafaela 2. Minnesota 7: Kirilloff 1, Jeffers 2, Correa 2, 1-A.Martin 1, Miranda 1. E—McGuire (3), Correa (2). LOB—Boston 4, Minnesota 7. 2B—Devers 2 (7), Castro (9), Jeffers (9). RBIs—Devers 2 (10), Julien 2 (14), Jeffers 2 (21). SB—Julien (2). CS—Rafaela (3). S—Castro. Runners left in scoring position—Boston 3 (Cooper 2, O’Neill); Minnesota 4 (Correa 2, Santana, Kepler). RISP—Boston 1 for 5; Minnesota 2 for 10. Runners moved up—Kirilloff, Larnach. GIDP—Larnach. DP—Boston 1 (Grissom, Rafaela, Cooper). Boston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Houck, L, 3-3...............6 6 4 4 2 5 99 2.18 Uwasawa.....................2 2 1 1 2 2 43 2.25 Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Paddack, W, 3-1...........6 2 0 0 1 6 83 4.78 Jax, H, 5......................1 0 0 0 0 3 11 1.93 Sands......................... 2 ⁄3 1 2 2 0 1 12 3.14 Thielbar ...................... 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 7 7.11 Jh.Duran, S, 2-2 ...........1 0 0 0 0 2 11 0.00 Inherited runners-scored—Uwasawa 2-2, Thielbar 2-2. HBP—Sands (McGuire). U—Emil Jimenez, Lance Barksdale, Angel Hernandez, Nic Lentz. T—2:21. Tickets sold—24,488 (38,544). ST. LOUIS 3, CHICAGO WHITE SOX 0 Chicago AB R H BI Avg. Lopez 2b 4 0 1 0 .207 Pham cf 3 0 0 0 .333 Jiménez dh 4 0 0 0 .225 Sheets rf 4 0 0 0 .255 Vaughn 1b 3 0 1 0 .196 Benintendi lf 3 0 0 0 .195 DeJong ss 3 0 0 0 .208 Maldnado c 3 0 1 0 .113 Shwmake 3b 3 0 0 0 .149 Totals 30 0 3 0 St. Louis AB R H BI Avg. Donovan lf 4 0 0 0 .215 Contreras c 3 2 3 0 .281 Gldschdt 1b 3 1 0 0 .224 Arenado 3b 4 0 2 3 .279 Burleson dh 3 0 0 0 .260 a-Fermín dh 0 0 0 0 .333 Winn ss 4 0 0 0 .279 Nootbaar rf 4 0 0 0 .174 Gorman 2b 3 0 0 0 .185 Siani cf 3 0 1 0 .182 Totals 31 3 6 3 Chicago 000 000 000 —0 3 1 St. Louis 200 010 00x —3 6 0 a-walked for Burleson in the 8th. Walks—Chicago 1: Pham 1. St. Louis 3: Contreras 1, Goldschmidt 1, Fermín 1. Strikeouts—Chicago 6: Sheets 2, DeJong 2, Maldonado 1, Shewmake 1. St. Louis 7: Donovan 1, Goldschmidt 2, Arenado 1, Nootbaar 1, Gorman 1, Siani 1. E—DeJong (4). LOB—Chicago 4, St. Louis 7. 2B—Vaughn (6), Contreras (9), Arenado 2 (8). RBIs—Arenado 3 (16). SB—Lopez (2), Winn (5), Contreras (2). Runners left in scoring position—Chicago 3 (Lopez, Jiménez, DeJong); St. Louis 4 (Siani, Winn, Goldschmidt, Burleson). RISP—Chicago 0 for 5; St. Louis 1 for 6. Runners moved up—Benintendi, Burleson. Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Keller, L, 0-1..............4 2 ⁄3 5 3 3 2 5 102 4.26 Shuster.....................3 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 1 2 55 0.93 St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Gray, W, 4-1.................7 3 0 0 1 6 94 0.89 Romero, H, 11 .............1 0 0 0 0 0 13 1.62 Helsley, S, 11-12 ..........1 0 0 0 0 0 8 1.59 Inherited runners-scored—Shuster 1-0. WP—Keller, Gray. PB—Contreras (1). U—Ben May, CB Bucknor, Alex MacKay, Dan Iassogna. T—2:21. Tickets sold—34,010 (44,494). SAN DIEGO 7, ARIZONA 1 San Diego AB R H BI Avg. Profar lf 3 1 0 0 .333 Azocar lf 1 0 0 0 .300 Tatis rf 5 2 3 3 .246 Crnwrth 1b 5 1 3 1 .279 Machdo dh 4 2 1 2 .250 Bogrts 2b 5 0 1 0 .216 Merrill cf 4 0 1 1 .269 Campsno c 4 0 1 0 .267 Kim ss 4 0 0 0 .211 Wade 3b 4 1 2 0 .246 Totals 39 7 12 7 Arizona AB R H BI Avg. Smith rf 4 0 0 0 .200 Gurriel lf 4 0 0 0 .238 Marte 2b 3 0 1 0 .308 Walker 1b 3 0 0 0 .269 Pederson dh 3 1 1 0 .318 Suárez 3b 3 0 1 1 .235 Moreno c 3 0 0 0 .229 Carroll cf 3 0 0 0 .192 Alexander ss 3 0 0 0 .299 Totals 29 1 3 1 San Diego 000 430 000 —7 12 0 Arizona 000 010 000 —1 3 0 Walks—San Diego 2: Profar 1, Machado 1. Strikeouts—San Diego 9: Profar 1, Tatis 2, Cronenworth 1, Machado 1, Bogaerts 1, Kim 2, Wade 1. Arizona 10: Smith 1, Gurriel 1, Marte 2, Walker 1, Pederson 1, Moreno 1, Carroll 2, Alexander 1. LOB—San Diego 7, Arizona 1. 2B—Merrill (4), Bogaerts (4), Cronenworth 2 (9), Marte (12), Pederson (7). HR—Tatis (7), off Cecconi; Cronenworth (6), off Cecconi; Machado (5), off Bowman. RBIs—Tatis 3 (20), Cronenworth (25), Merrill (13), Machado 2 (18), Suárez (19). Runners left in scoring position—San Diego 6 (Azocar, Bogaerts 3, Merrill, Kim); Arizona 1 (Walker). RISP—San Diego 3 for 12; Arizona 1 for 2. Runners moved up—Bogaerts, Profar, Machado. GIDP—Moreno. DP—San Diego 1 (Bogaerts, Kim, Cronenworth). San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Cease, W, 4-2............6 2 ⁄3 3 1 1 0 8 102 2.55 Estrada.....................1 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 17 0.00 Brito ...........................1 0 0 0 0 1 9 4.11 Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Cecconi, L, 1-2 ..........4 1 ⁄3 5 6 6 2 4 85 4.96 Bowman....................1 2 ⁄3 2 1 1 0 0 30 5.40 Martinez......................2 4 0 0 0 4 41 1.12 McGough.....................1 1 0 0 0 1 15 6.00 Inherited runners-scored—Bowman 1-1. WP—Cecconi, Martinez. U—Alex Tosi, Dan Bellino, Phil Cuzzi, Tony Randazzo. T—2:36. Tickets sold—31,976 (48,359). OAKLAND 3, MIAMI 1 Miami AB R H BI Avg. Myers rf-lf 3 0 1 0 .429 De La Cruz lf 3 0 0 0 .255 Bethancrt c 0 0 0 0 .028 Bell dh 3 0 0 0 .181 Anderson ss 4 0 1 0 .223 Chisholm cf 4 0 1 0 .230 Rivera 1b 4 0 0 0 .217 Lopez 2b 2 0 0 0 .235 a-Gordon 2b 2 1 1 0 .176 Bruján 3b 4 0 3 1 .298 Fortes c 2 0 0 0 .131 b-Sánchez rf 2 0 0 0 .231 Totals 33 1 7 1 Oakland AB R H BI Avg. Ruiz cf 3 0 1 1 .256 c-Bleday cf 1 0 0 0 .236 Nevin rf-1b 3 0 0 0 .313 Toro 2b 4 1 2 0 .274 Butler rf 0 0 0 0 .185 Rooker dh 3 1 1 2 .211 Davis 1b 3 0 0 0 .185 Brown lf 0 0 0 0 .184 Langeliers c 3 0 0 0 .165 Schmn lf/2b 3 1 1 0 .148 Hernaiz ss 2 0 0 0 .154 Harris 3b 3 0 0 0 .000 Totals 28 3 5 3 Miami 000 000 001 —1 7 1 Oakland 000 210 00x —3 5 0 a-grounded out for Lopez in the 7th. b-flied out for Fortes in the 8th. c-grounded out for Ruiz in the 8th. Walks—Miami 2: Myers 1, De La Cruz 1. Strikeouts—Miami 10: Myers 2, Bell 1, Anderson 1, Chisholm 2, Rivera 3, Fortes 1. Oakland 9: Ruiz 2, Nevin 2, Toro 1, Langeliers 1, Schuemann 1, Harris 2. E—Anderson (4). LOB—Miami 8, Oakland 3. 2B—Bruján 2 (3), Schuemann (1), Toro (6). 3B—Chisholm (1). HR—Rooker (6), off Weathers. RBIs—Bruján (3), Rooker 2 (15), Ruiz (6). SB—Bruján 2 (2). S—Hernaiz. Runners left in SP—Miami 5 (Lopez, J.Sánchez, Fortes, Anderson 2); Oakland 2 (Langeliers, Nevin). RISP—Miami 0 for 7; Oakland 1 for 6. GIDP—De La Cruz. DP—Oakland 1 (Hernaiz, Toro, Davis). Miami IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Weathers, L, 2-3...........6 5 3 3 0 5 99 4.54 Cronin.........................2 0 0 0 0 4 21 1.69 Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Sears, W, 2-2.............6 1 ⁄3 4 0 0 1 6 95 3.89 Adams, H, 8 ................ 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 8 1.74 Kelly, H, 2 ................... 2 ⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 16 2.95 Erceg, S, 2-3 .............1 1 ⁄3 2 1 1 0 3 28 1.93 Inherited runners-scored—Adams 1-0, Erceg 2-0. HBP—Weathers (Nevin), Erceg (Bell). U—Brian Knight, Ryan Additon, Chris Guccione, Gabe Morales. T—2:20. Tickets sold—8,533 (46,847). CLEVELAND — José Soriano pitched six innings for his first win as a starter and Mickey Moniak hit a three-run homer, powering the Angels to a 6-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night. Soriano (1-4), who pitched strictly in relief last season, gave up five hits. The right-hander was stressed only once, working out of a jam in the fifth by striking out Andrés Giménez with the bases loaded on a nasty curveball. Both of Soriano’s career wins have been against Cleveland. “He’s gross,” said Moniak, who had a great view of Soriano from center field. “If you throw 100 and have a curveball like that, the sky’s the limit. It was fun to watch.” Amir Garrett pitched one inning and José Suarez finished the six-hitter for the team’s second shutout. The Guardians put two runners on in the fifth on one-out singles, and a throwing error on Soriano made the situation more difficult. But after a two-out walk loaded the bases, he escaped. “At that moment I wasn’t thinking of the error,” said Soriano, who lowered his ERA on the road to 0.45. “I was trying to focus on the next hitter, and I got it right.” Nolan Schanuel homered and Willie Calhoun had three hits for the Angels, who won for only the third time in a span of 26 games at Progressive Field. Moniak connected against Tanner Bibee (2-1) in the fourth. Calhoun and Logan O’Hoppe hit backto-back doubles in the inning to make it 2-0. With two outs, Bibee walked Ehire Adrianza and got a mound visit from Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis, who barely had returned to the dugout when Moniak smashed the first pitch over the wall in right-center. “Anytime you can put three runs up on the board, that’s always agood feeling,” said Moniak, whose homer gave him three in a span of four games in Cleveland. “Maybe it’s the month of May. Maybe it’s here, but I’ve been taking strides in the right direction as far as my swing goes and feeling pretty confident.” Taylor Ward’s sacrifice fly in the fifth put the Angels up by six runs. Bibee gave a brutal assessment of his outing. “Just made stupid pitches in stupid spots,” he said. Cleveland was shut out for the third time this season. The Guardians lost for the fourth time in five games after starting 19-9. Schanuel, who has had a hit in almost every game the last two weeks, battled Bibee for 11 pitches leading off the first before grounding out. “I wasn’t trying to see every pitch, but I was trying to compete and let the guys behind me see what he’s got,” Schanuel said. “It’s what I intend to do every first atbat, see as many pitches as possible. “Getting him to 11 pitches in one batter to start off the game, you get pretty flustered. It definitely set up the rest of the team and set me up for the rest of the game.” He wasn’t as patient in the third, pouncing on Bibee’s first pitch for his third homer. Notes Manager Ron Washington hopes infielder Miguel Sanó (knee inflammation) can come off the injured list when eligible. He was dealing with soreness in his surgically repaired knee and the team felt the best course of action was for him to go on the IL and allow it to “quiet down,” Washington said. ... Infielder Brandon Drury was expected back Saturday after being slowed because of a sore neck. Withers writes for the Associated Press. Angels’ Soriano shows promise as starter JOSE SORIANO, who pitched strictly in relief last season, threw six shutout innings Friday at Cleveland for his first win as a starter. He also lowered his earned-run average on the road to 0.45. Phil Long Associated Press By Tom Withers

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS S SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 D7 renew our vows,” Rhymes said. “He’s always been in the plans to be a big piece of this thing.” Pages’ rise wasn’t entirely linear. At times, he got too “uphill” in his swing mechanics, Rhymes said, leaving Pages vulnerable to pitchers who attacked up in the strike zone. Despite his 57 home runs in 2021-2022, he batted just .250 with 272 strikeouts. Last year, Pages suffered a serious shoulder injury, when a torn labrum in his first career triple-A game required season-ending surgery in June. “It was a tough blow, but from the moment it happerformance yet Friday, punctuating a four-hit game against the Atlanta Braves with an 11th-inning walk-off single. “It was really special because I haven’t been here for that long and I was able to accomplish that,” Pages said through an interpreter afterward. “He wasn’t going to let anyone else win that game for us tonight,” manager Dave Roberts added. “We trusted [his] head, trusted the talent, and, obviously, he just rose to the occasion.” That has been the story of Pages’ journey, starting from when the Dodgers signed the 6-foot-tall Cuban prospect for $300,000 in 2017. Always known for his natural athleticism and powerful swing, Pages hit 10 home runs in his first year of pro ball at the club’s complex in the Dominican Republic — “which, in those parks, and at that time,” Dodgers director of player development Will Rhymes recalled, “was pretty unique.” Pages’ production only improved in 2019, when he had 19 home runs and an OPS over 1.000 in rookie ball with the Dodgers affiliate in Ogden, Utah. By then, Pages’ advanced mental approach — a trait just as signature as his preswing leg kick and bent-over posture at impact — was impressing Dodgers staff as much as anything. “In one of the first conversations I had with him back in 2019, I asked him about his leg kick, and we started talking about Justin Turner,” Rhymes said, recalling how Pages compared his timing mechanism to that of the then-Dodgers star. “And he gave me this incredible breakdown of Justin Turner’s swing, how it functioned.” Rhymes’ takeaway? “Wow, this guy thinks about [the game] at a different level than most 19-yearolds.” In a loaded Dodgers farm system full of more seasoned prospects, Pages wasn’t always their biggest-name talent. In 2020, Baseball America ranked him as the No. 22 prospect in the organization. MLB Pipeline pegged him at No. 14. It was then that Pages’ name surfaced in trade talks between the Angels and Dodgers — who, on the verge of acquiring Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox in February 2020, were trying to create some salary relief. While the key pieces of the deal were Pederson and Stripling, Pages was also reported to be heading to Anaheim, in exchange for infielder Luis Rengifo and multiple Angels prospects. For a week after the news surfaced Feb. 4, the move was believed to be all but official. “I was going to [salary] arbitration,” Pederson recalled, “and we didn’t know what team was going to show.” On Feb. 9, however, it all broke down in a strange series of events. Initially, the Angels trade was held up while the Dodgers finalized Betts’ acquisition from the Red Sox. In what started as a three-team transaction also involving Minnesota, Boston was supposed to get reliever Brusdar Graterol, but balked upon a review of his medical records. That forced the Dodgers, Red Sox and Twins to reconfigure the deal, with Graterol ultimately coming to Los Angeles and the Dodgers sending two other prospects — Jeter Downs and Connor Wong — to Boston instead. While all that was worked out — the Dodgers-Angels trade was contingent on the Betts deal going through — Moreno, the Angels owner, started to grow frustrated. And just as the Dodgers finally completed their blockbuster move for Betts, Moreno reportedly called off the Pederson/Stripling/ Pages agreement, later confirming that, while there were other unspecified factors at play, the five-day delay had gnawed at his patience. “It was a crappy feeling,” said Pederson, who helped the Dodgers win the World Series that season before leaving as a free agent. “But what are you gonna do?” As Pages followed the situation, his emotions were similarly conflicted. “It was really strange to see your name across the news,” Pages acknowledged. “When the rumors were swirling,” Rhymes added, “he was pretty upset about it.” The hurt feelings, though, didn’t last long. Pages continued his ascent up the minor league ladder, hitting 31 homers in high Class A in 2021, and 26 more in double A in 2022. The club’s player development staff expressed their excitement about his future. “It gave us all a chance to pened, he handled it extremely maturely,” Rhymes said. “He was on a mission before the injury. And if anything, the injury just put on more of one.” Once fully recovered from the procedure, Pages was a standout performer in Dodgers camp this spring, going eight for 17 with two home runs and nine RBIs. The day he was optioned, Rhymes said, was equally telling. Pages, who has developed into a plus center fielder defensively, went to minor league camp and took 10 live at-bats on a day coaches suggested he take off. “I knew going into the season how difficult it was going to be [to crack the majors] with so many talented players on the roster, so many superstars,” Pages said. “I knew how much work was ahead of me.” That translated to a blistering start to the regular season in triple A, with Pages batting .371 in 15 games. And between Jason Heyward’s back injury and James Outman’s early season struggles, the Dodgers saw the opportunity to give Pages an early call-up. His performance in the three weeks since have surpassed all expectations. Pages has ranked seventh in the National League in batting average since his arrival, and has almost as many RBIs (11) as strikeouts (13). “He’s checking a lot of boxes,” Roberts said. “He’s creating his own opportunities.” President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman hasn’t lately indulged in recollections about the abandoned Angels trade. “Not much,” he said when asked how often he has thought about it amid Pages’ rise. Instead, he noted the seamlessness of Pages’ big league transition. “We saw him make adjustments at the major league level his first week,” Friedman said. “Teams were beating up top with fastballs. And now he’s either clearing those out or at least fouling them off. He gets another pitch. He just competes in the box.” Veteran teammates have echoed similar compliments. “Today he showed that he’s made for the big moments,” Teoscar Hernández said in the wake of Pages’ walk-off hit Friday night. “He’s not afraid to go out there and have success.” And when there was once a time it looked as if Pages never would don a Dodgers jersey, his electric start has him seemingly poised to stay with the club, as a key contributor in the outfield, for the long haul. “I know how great this team is,” Pages said. “I always wanted to be a part of this.” Pages makes a quick impact for Dodgers ROOKIE OUTFIELDER Andy Pages was batting .333 with three home runs and 11 RBIs since being called up by the Dodgers on April 16, and had a nine-game hitting streak, going into Saturday’s game against Atlanta. Gina Ferazzi Los Angeles Times JOC PEDERSON, right, and pitcher Ross Stripling were key pieces of a proposed trade to the Angels in 2020, and Pages also was reported to be included in the deal. Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times [Dodgers, from D1] Two of the best teams in baseball convened at Chavez Ravine on Friday night, the National League West-leading Dodgers and NL East-leading Atlanta Braves opening a threegame series that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts promised would be “a good matchup, exciting for our fans and players.” The clubs did not disappoint, entertaining a crowd of 50,859 with superb starting pitching, three home runs, clutch hits, a great defensive play, a key pickoff and a walk-off bloop hit in a game that was so good it could not be contained to nine innings. Dodgers rookie outfielder Andy Pages delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the 11th inning, fouling off two full-count pitches from reliever Jesse Chavez before blooping a one-out RBI single to shallow rightcenter field for a 4-3 win, the Dodgers’ ninth in 11 games. “Yeah, absolutely,” Roberts said when asked if the game was a reminder of how evenly matched these teams are, “and I don’t think that we needed tonight to validate that. On paper, they’re a very good ballclub, sort of put together to handle us with all those lefties in the bullpen. ... There were a lot of good things today. It was a fun baseball game.” The teams traded runs in the 10th inning, Braves pinch-runner Luke Williams scoring on Orlando Arcia’s sacrifice fly to left field to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead in the top half, and Shohei Ohtani poking a one-out single to center off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias to tie the score 3-3 in the bottom half. Reliever Michael Grove gave the Dodgers a chance to win with a scoreless 11th in which he retired leadoff man Ronald Acuña Jr. on a popup, and Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley on grounders. With automatic runner Will Smith at second, Max Muncy was intentionally walked to open the bottom of the 11th. Teoscar Hernández grounded into a fielder’s choice, putting runners on first and third with one out for Pages, who looked a little wobbly when he swung at three Chavez pitches that were well off the plate, fouling two off. But Pages fought off an inside cut fastball and fisted his fourth single of the night, his game-winner traveling all of 205 feet with an exit velocity of 63.4 mph but perfectly placed to spark a wild celebration with teammates in the infield. “Every time he gets up there, it seems like he takes a good at-bat,” Roberts said of Pages. “The moment certainly doesn’t get too big for him. Shohei got that big hit in the 10th inning to tie the game, you saw the emotion, Braves-Dodgers, packed house, and Andy didn’t let that moment get too big.” Pages said his game plan in that final at-bat was to keep things simple. “Just hit the ball forward,” he said through an interpreter. “It’s happened to me in the past where I get anxious and I don’t get the job done. This time I was just trying to stay calm, and things worked out.” Pages, 23, from Cuba, has played a little more than a dozen games since his April 16 promotion, but he has impressed with his poise and production — before Saturday he was batting .333 (20 for 60) with a .921 on-baseplus-slugging percentage, three homers, five doubles and 11 RBIs — and his defense in three outfield spots. “We believed in the player, the person, but you have to come up here and perform,” Roberts said. “With a young player, you don’t know what you have. Right now, he’s checking a lot of boxes and he’s performing. He’s creating his own opportunities. “A lot of young guys, the game starts to speed up, and you can see them start to expand. The moments start to get big, and the game starts to get quick. But Andy has been able to slow the game down, stay within himself, each night.” Another Dodgers rookie, right-hander Gavin Stone, threw six stout innings in which he gave up one earned run and five hits, struck out six, walked one and leaned heavily on an 87-mph changeup that induced nine swinging strikes. He departed with a 2-1 lead. Braves starter Charlie Morton was almost as good, giving up two runs and five hits in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Riley pulverized a 94- mph Stone fastball in the first, sending a 449-foot homer to left-center for a 1-0 lead that would have been 2-0 had Stone not picked off Acuña at second base before Riley’s bomb. The Dodgers threatened in the second when Pages, who extended his hitting streak to nine games, reached on a fielder’s-choice grounder and James Outman was hit by a pitch to put two on with two outs. Gavin Lux stroked a single to left, and Pages was waved home by third base coach Dino Ebel. Atlanta left fielder Jarred Kelenic fired a 95-mph throw — accurate and on the fly — to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who applied the tag on Pages to end the inning. The Dodgers tied the score 1-1 in the third when Ohtani walked, stole second and scored on Smith’s twoout single to left-center, giving the Dodgers catcher 25 RBIs, which tied Mookie Betts for the team lead. Hernández put the Dodgers in front in the fourth when he capped an eightpitch at-bat by driving an up-and-away, 95-mph fastball over the right-centerfield wall for a solo homer, his seventh, and a 2-1 lead. Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless seventh for the Dodgers, but Acuña clobbered a fullcount, up-and-away fastball from Daniel Hudson over the left-field wall for a solo homer that tied the score 2-2 in the eighth. It was only the second homer and eighth RBI of the season for Acuña, who hit .337 with a 1.012 OPS, 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 stolen bases during his MVP season last year. But his slow start didn’t make Acuña any less dangerous in the eyes of the Dodgers. “He’s one of the best players in baseball,” Roberts said. “He can beat you with the glove, the arm, certainly the foot speed, the bat, there’s slugging there. He’s just dangerous. ... Yeah, seeing him [seven] times in the regular season is plenty.” Rehab report Blake Treinen, sidelined since early March because of fractured ribs, threw scoreless innings in back-to-back games for triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday and Thursday, and Roberts said the veteran righthander could be activated on this homestand. “My hope,” Roberts said, “is that that was the last [minor league game] that he needed.” Right fielder Jason Heyward, who has sat out a month because of lowerback tightness, took swings in the batting cage, ran at full speed and shagged balls in the outfield but is at least a week away from beginning a minor league rehabilitation of three or four games. Veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw, six months removed from shoulder surgery, threw 15 pitches off a bullpen mound Friday, his first such workout in his recovery. Right-hander Bobby Miller, sidelined by shoulder inflammation on April 13, also threw off a bullpen mound and is expected to face hitters next week. So far, no moment seems too big for rookie TEAMMATES SPLASH water on Andy Pages after his bloop single in the 11th inning completed a 4-3 win. Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times Pages keeps producing with four hits Friday, including the winner to beat Braves in 11. By Mike DiGiovanna

D8 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LATIMES.COM/SPORTS WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND 1C Dallas vs. WC2 Vegas Series tied, 3-3 Gm 1 Vegas 4, Dallas 3 Gm 2 Vegas 3, Dallas 1 Gm 3 Dallas 3, Vegas 2 (OT) Gm 4 Dallas 4, Vegas 2 Gm 5 Dallas 3, Vegas 2 Gm 6 Vegas 2, Dallas 0 Gm 7 Sunday, 4:30, TBS 2C Winnipeg vs. 3C Colorado Avalanche win, 4-1 Gm 1 Winnipeg 7, Colorado 6 Gm 2 Colorado 5, Winnipeg 2 Gm 3 Colorado 6, Winnipeg 2 Gm 4 Colorado 5, Winnipeg 1 Gm 5 Colorado 6, Winnipeg 3 1P Vancouver vs. WC1 Nashville Canucks win, 4-2 Gm 1 Vancouver 4, Nashville 2 Gm 2 Nashville 4, Vancouver 1 Gm 3 Vancouver 2, Nashville 1 Gm 4 Vancouver 4, Nashville 3 Gm 5 Nashville 2, Vancouver 1 Gm 6 Vancouver 1, Nashville 0 2P Edmonton vs. 3P Kings Oilers win, 4-1 Gm 1 Edmonton 7, Kings 4 Gm 2 Kings 5, Edmonton 4 (OT) Gm 3 Edmonton 6, Kings 1 Gm 4 Edmonton 1, Kings 0 Gm 5 Edmonton 4, Kings 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND 1A Florida vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Panthers win, 4-1 Gm 1 Florida 3, Tampa Bay 2 Gm 2 Fla. 3, Tampa Bay 2 (OT) Gm 3 Florida 5,Tampa Bay 3 Gm 4 Tampa Bay 6, Florida 3 Gm 5 Florida 6, Tampa Bay 1 2A Boston vs. 3A Toronto Series tied, 3-3 Gm 1 Boston 5, Toronto 1 Gm 2 Toronto 3, Boston 2 Gm 3 Boston 4, Toronto 2 Gm 4 Boston 3, Toronto 1 Gm 5 Toronto 2, Boston 1 (OT) Gm 6 Toronto 2, Boston 1 Gm 7 at Boston, late 1M N.Y. Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Rangers win, 4-0 Gm 1 New York 4, Washington 1 Gm 2 New York 4, Washington 3 Gm 3 New York 3, Washington 1 Gm 4 New York 4, Washington 2 2M Carolina vs. 3M N.Y. Islanders Hurricanes win, 4-1 Gm 1 Carolina 3, New York 1 Gm 2 Carolina 5, New York 3 Gm 3 Carolina 3, New York 2 Gm 4 New York 3, Car. 2 (2OT) Gm 5 Carolina 6, New York 3 All times PDT, p.m. NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Beginning with Tyler Seguin on a breakaway, the shots came in waves at Vegas goalie Adin Hill. He stopped Seguin at point blank, saved Evgenii Dadonov’s rebound and then stopped Seguin again. This was the Hill of last year’s Stanley Cup championship run, and because of him the Golden Knights kept alive their hopes of repeating by beating the Dallas Stars 2-0 on Friday night to force a Game 7. “You need to make big saves at big times in big games,” Hill said. “That’s how you win playoff games. I think our team learned that last year, and any team that’s won, their goalies had to catch fire at times.” The deciding game in the first-round series is Sunday in Dallas. Hill stopped 23 shots for first shutout since having two in three games in early November. Noah Hanifin broke a scoreless tie at 9:54 of the third period and Mark Stone scored an empty-netter from 176 feet away with 18.9 seconds left to seal the victory. This was the second winning goal this series for Hanifin, who was a trade-deadline acquisition from Calgary. “Ever since I got traded here, I was super excited about the opportunity coming to a team with guys that have won,” Hanifin said. “It’s a great culture here and I’m fortunate to be a part of it. I feel good about my game and I’m trying to contribute whichever way I can.” This was a classic goalie duel, with Hill looking like the player who went 11-4 with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals allowed per game in last year’s playoffs. But he had been up and down late in this season, and Logan Thompson got the starting job in the series’ first four games. The Knights turned to Hill for Game 5 in their 3-2 loss and then again for this one. “At the end of the year, Adin was feeling pretty good about this game,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You could see it in practice. It was just pucks were finding their way in. ... He should have confidence. He just pitched a shutout and made some really high-end saves.” On the other side, Jake Oettinger made 28 saves. He entered the game without giving up a goal in this series in the third period or overtime, but Hanifin’s goal ended Oettinger’s streak at 60 saves. “I would’ve liked to have shut it down tonight, but now that we’re in this position, that’s why we played so well during the regular season, to get Game 7 at home if it comes to that,” Oettinger said. “The ball’s in our court. We’re on home ice, and now it’s on us to take care of business.” Vancouver 1, at Nashville 0: Canucks coach Rick Tocchet told Pius Suter to keep shooting. Suter did just that, and it paid off. Suter scored with 1:39 left Friday and the Canucks advanced to the second round. “If you keep going to those spots, it’ll happen, and it happened for Suits and big game-winning goal for us,” Tocchet said about the forward who had three of his five shots in the third. Nashville had a final chance to force overtime with a power play with 33.9 seconds left after Elias Lindholm was called for crosschecking Gustav Nyquist. Even with goalie Juuse Saros pulled for an extra attacker, the Predators couldn’t beat rookie goalie Arturs Silovs before time expired. The final four games in this series were decided by one goal. First-year Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said this might’ve been the tightest series he can remember being in. Replaying the final 33 seconds, the Jack Adams finalist said he could see opportunities his Predators missed. “You’re going to get in one of these games, and hockey’s cruel sometimes,” Brunette said. Silovs made 28 saves to become the 14th rookie goalie in NHL history to finish off a series with a shutout and just the fifth in 30 years. He joined Akira Schmid (2023), Matt Murray (2017 against Nashville in the Stanley Cup Final winner), Carey Price (2008) and Ilya Bryzgalov (2006) in that select group. “He stepped in and what a crazy scenario he’s been thrown into,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said about Silovs. “He made the saves when he needed to in such a big and crazy environment. We’re happy for him.” NHL PLAYOFFS Hill flashes last season’s magic to force Game 7 GOLDEN KNIGHTS goaltender Adin Hill makes a block against Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin. John Locher Associated Press associated press Driving past a San Fernando Valley middle school during lunchtime, the sports fields were buzzing with activity. Soccer balls were being kicked, basketballs were being dribbled, tetherballs were being socked. My previous three hours had been spent attending a conference sponsored by the LA84 Foundation in downtown Los Angeles, listening to speakers discuss the magic and importance of inclusion in sports. When competitions are open to anyone, whether you’re rich or poor, nerdy or athletic, a future pro or a future doctor, what unfolds could produce something unexpected. Right on cue, amid the many games being played during lunchtime on the middle school campus, there was a kid wearing glasses and long pants receiving a high-five from another kid in shorts who looked like the school’s soccer star. They were having fun, a lesson that needs to be appreciated everywhere. In the rush to separate those with pro ambitions from the amateurs, people can forget the journey. Remember when it was fun to win a game and get cupcakes. Remember when it was fun to lose a game and still get ice cream. Remember when it was fun to be driven to your Little League game and debate what to listen on the car radio. Remember that first day of high school when the coach recognized you in the hallway and greeted you with a friendly handshake that immediately injected selfconfidence during a morning of nervousness. Former NBA player Derek Anderson was at the conference telling his story of overcoming poverty and absent parents. “Listen to learn,” he said. “You don’t always begin where you end.” He explained how playing sports was so influential in his life. “Basketball taught me to be a good teammate,” he said. He said that when coaching a youth team, he tries to empower his players by putting them in position to exercise authority, such as making them the coach. Suddenly they’re shouting for players to stop making turnovers when they were making the turnovers a few minutes earlier. “Put kids in position of leadership roles and you’ll see a different outcome,” he said. It’s the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and there was no more important outcome than the creation of the LA84 Foundation from the Games’ financial surplus. It has invested millions of dollars in youth sports and helped save, expand and cultivate the idea that sports should be available to anyone. It’s the greatest legacy of the Olympic Games and proves passionate people with integrity and resources can make a difference. So many disadvantaged communities have been given lifelines to develop sports programs. So many alternative sports have gained in popularity for boys and girls, from skateboarding to rowing to rugby, with a little seed money to help attract the curious and the courageous. As pointed out by one speaker, not every sports experience is positive. Perhaps a coach hasn’t been trained properly. Perhaps a facility doesn’t have enough security to allow participants to feel safe. Perhaps politics or ignorance prevents a newcomer from getting the chance to shine. Yet intervention by professionals who recognize problems can transform something negative into a big positive. There are many people fighting the good fight who only need support. “It’s a continuous investment. It’s not one and done,” said Santee High principal Violeta Ruiz, a former water polo coach who welcomes sports participation from all her students and seeks partnerships in her community. Her school’s valedictorians are athletes. “Sports really opens up their eyes,” she said. It’s magical when a shy, previously unmotivated student discovers something new, makes a friend and uses a sports experience to change their outlook Starting in 2024-25, recess is mandated in California for 30 minutes during the school day. So much can be done positively for the mental health of students with the right approach. Just like vacations can reinvigorate and revitalize, so can exercise breaks. Thanks to the LA84 Foundation, Southern Californians have the opportunity to embrace the fight for everyone to enjoy a sports experience if they want one. RENATA SIMRIL, president and chief executive of the LA84 Foundation, speaks about the organization’s 40 years of impact since the 1984 Olympic Games. It has invested millions in youth sports over those four decades. Eric Sondheimer Los Angeles Times Greatest legacy of 1984 Games is that of the LA84 Foundation ERIC SONDHEIMER ON HIGH SCHOOLS The opening week of the high school baseball playoffs was all about turning loose ace pitchers. There was Zach Strickland of Maranatha striking out 17 while throwing a nohitter in a Southern Section Division 2 win over Royal. There was Gary Morse of Orange Lutheran throwing a one-hitter in a Division 1 win over Sierra Canyon. There was Cade Townsend of Santa Margarita striking out 11 in a Division 1 shutout of Tesoro. There was Dylan Volantis of Westlake striking out 10 while giving up only two hits in six shutout innings against Mira Costa in Division 2. There was Wylan Moss of Mater Dei throwing a four-hit shutout of Damien in Division 1. There was Jackson Klein of Santa Monica throwing his third no-hitter of the season in a Division 5 shutout of Nogales. There was Travis Maxwell of El Dorado giving No. 1-ranked Corona all it could handle, throwing six innings of shutout ball in a Division 1 opener until Billy Carlson hit a walk-off home run in the seventh for a 1-0 Corona win. Perhaps no pitcher is more intriguing than Camarillo’s 6-foot-8 left-hander Boston Bateman, who has given up only eight hits in 53 1⁄3 innings. He gave up two hits while striking out eight in 51⁄3 innings in the Scorpions’ 9-0 win over Dos Pueblos in their Division 4 opener. His size alone makes him stand out. He throws fastballs in the mid-90s and also has an effective curveball. He didn’t pitch as a freshman and pitched only sparingly as a junior, so in two seasons he has earned himself a scholarship to Louisiana State and could be a first- or second-round pick in the amateur draft this summer. “Over the course of my high school career, I’ve grown into my body and that’s been the key,” he said. “Just getting more comfortable on the mound and getting used to high school baseball has been good.” He has 110 strikeouts and 33 walks while being on a pitch count to protect his arm. He overpowers most high school hitters, which allows him to escape jams with men in scoring position. His command has become much better since early in the season. Four times this season he has combined with teammates for no-hitters. Camarillo’s principal, Matt LaBelle, won two CIF championships coaching at Simi Valley in 2004 and 2008, so he knows a good pitcher when he sees one. “I think he is really good and has upside,” LaBelle said. “Absolutely A-plus young man and student.” Bateman is also a top hitter and knows how to fire up his teammates. On Friday, with the bases loaded, he got a strikeout and walked off the mound showing emotion. “I wanted to fire up my team,” he said. Camarillo is distinctive in another way in that it has triplets making major contributions in Nick, Nate and Victor Tostado. Perhaps there was no more drama than Hart and Simi Valley playing 14 innings in a Division 2 opener before the Indians won 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly to delay the retirement of coach Jim Ozella. Brady Werther hit a two-run home run in the seventh to tie the score for Hart and had an RBI double in the ninth to tie the score again. Second-round games are scheduled for Tuesday. Among the intriguing matchups is Corona playing at Mater Dei in a rematch of the Boras Classic championship game. Ace arms show up to begin playoffs BOSTON BATEMAN of Camarillo shows emotion after a fourth-inning strikeout in a playoff win over Dos Pueblos. Bateman has given up eight hits all season. Craig Weston For The Times Southern Section games produce shutouts, no-hitters in the opening round. By Eric Sondheimer

UCLA players raised the NCAA championship trophy to each corner of the Walter Pyramid. Swaths of blue-and-gold-clad fans still remained. They chanted. “Back to back! Back to back!” Top-seeded UCLA defended its national championship with a four-set win over No. 2 Long Beach Stateon Saturday. The Bruins won their 21st NCAA title in program history and repeated as champions for the first time since 1996. UCLA handed Long Beach State its first loss in the Pyramid this season, winning 25-21, 25-20, 29-27, 25-21. The Beach was 19-0 at home. Senior Ethan Champlin was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after leading the Bruins with 15 kills and six blocks in the championship match. With shaky hands and watery eyes, he struggled to loosen the back of his championship hat before covering his brown hair with the gray MVP cap. After winning the first set, UCLA raced to a 12-5 lead in the second. The Bruins scored four consecutive points on junior Ido David’s serve, including two thunderous aces. The UCLA opposite challenged Long Beach State’s Mason Briggs and won as the star libero shanked a pass into the stands. David again flummoxed the Long Beach State passing line when he dropped an ace between passers. Long Beach State’s players exchanged puzzled looks. David had three aces for UCLA, the top-serving team in the eightteam tournament field. Needing to solidify its back line, Long Beach State brought opposite Clarke Godbold in for Nathan Harlan. Godbold, an honorable mention All-American, had been benched in Long Beach State’s thrilling semifinal match in exchange for Harlan’s electric offense. He delivered three kills, an ace and two blocks in the second set to lift the Beach, but they still fell into a two-set deficit. Godbold saved the Beach in the third set, fighting off a UCLA championship point with a kill that evened the score at 24-24. He doubled down with a second consecutive kill that gave Long Beach State its first set point. The Beach needed four chances to close out the set, finally clinching on a solo block by DiAeris McRaven. UCLA PLAYERS and coaches celebrate after defeating Long Beach State in four sets to win the NCAA men’s volleyball national championship at Walter Pyramid. Jan Kim Lim UCLA Athletics Bruins celebrate reaching pinnacle again By Thuc Nhi Nguyen As much as it pained Kyle Snyder to see Tyler Glasnow traded from Tampa Bay to the Dodgers last December, the Rays pitching coach predicted the move would benefit the 6-foot-8 right-hander from Santa Clarita. “I genuinely think his best days are in front of him,” Snyder said in February. “He’s healthy. The injury that surfaced in 2019 was ultimately taken care of [with Tommy John surgery] in 2021. I would expect him to have his best years in the near term and be as good a starter as there is in the National League, for certain.” Glasnow continues to prove his former coach right, the new Dodgers ace delivering his third straight dominant start — this one a seven-inning, two-run, five-hit, 10-strikeout, one-walk effort — to help lead the Dodgers to an 11-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in front of 44,474 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night. Max Muncy provided most of the power in a 16-hit attack with his first three-homer game — a tworun shot in the second inning and solo shots in the seventh and eighth innings — and the first by a Dodgers player since Trayce Thompson hit three homers against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 1, 2023. Glasnow’s third 10-whiff game in eight starts pushed the Dodgers toward their 10th win in 12 games, a stretch in which their starting pitchers have given up only 16 earned runs over 68 2⁄3 innings for a 2.10 earned-run average. Glasnow improved to 7-1 with a 2.70 ERA and has given up only two earned runs and 14 hits in 21 innings, striking out 29 and walking four, in his last three starts — wins over the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Braves. He threw 61 of 96 pitches for strikes and induced 11 swinging strikes and 12 called strikes. Glasnow retired the first nine batters, three by strikeout, dotting aknee-high, 98-mph fastball on the inside corner to whiff Travis d’Arnaud looking to end the second and dropping an 85-mph curve on the inside corner to whiff Jarred Kelenic looking to end the third. The Braves nicked Glasnow for a run in the fourth, but he struck out three of four batters in the fifth. He pitched around a Ronald Acuña Jr. leadoff double in the fifth, striking out No. 2 hitter Ozzie Albies with an 89-mph slider, Austin Riley with an 85-mph curve in the dirt and, after walking Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna with an 85- mph curve. Glasnow gave up his second run in the seventh when d’Arnaud led off with a double, took third on a groundout and scored on Orlando Arcia’s groundout. The Dodgers hit two other homers in the game — by Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages — and blew it open during a four-run fourth inning in which they batted around. Muncy followed Will Smith’s leadoff walk in the second with his sixth homer, a two-run shot off starter Bryce Elder that traveled 412 feet to center field for a 2-0 lead. Ohtani led off the third with his eighth homer, a relatively modest 392-foot shot to right that pushed the lead to 3-0 and moved the slugger past manager Dave Roberts and into first place on the franchise leaderboard for homers by a Japanese-born player. Roberts, a former Dodgers outfielder, hit seven homers for the club from 2002 to 2004. The Braves cut the deficit to 3-1 in the fourth when Acuña doubled and scored on Riley’s single. Pages got that run back in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff homer to left-center, giving the rookie outfielder four homers in 16 games since his mid-April promotion to the big leagues and extending his hitting streak to 10 games. The Dodgers were just getting warmed up. James Outman walked, Gavin Lux grounded into a fielder’s choice and Mookie Betts walked to put two on for Ohtani, who slapped an opposite-field single to left for a 5-1 lead. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker replaced Elder with left-hander Dylan Lee, who yielded RBI singles to Freddie Freeman and Smith that extended the lead to 7-1. Muncy sparked a three-run seventh with a 404-foot leadoff homer to right off left-hander Tyler Matzek, his seventh, and sent his eighth homer 371 feet to left-center off right-hander Jackson Stephens in the eighth. — Mike DiGiovanna ANGELS Detmers gives up grand slam in defeat Bo Naylor hit his first grand slam, Austin Hedges had his first homer since June 14, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the visiting Angels 7-1. Naylor’s two-out blast in the sixth inning came off Angels starter Reid Detmers (3-3), who had loaded the bases on three walks. Detmers gave up season highs of seven runs and three homers in 5 2⁄3 innings. Catcher Logan O’Hoppe exited in the fifth because of a bruised right hand. BOXING Álvarez wins on unanimous decision Canelo Álvarez held off a feisty challenger, proving to be the stronger and more effective boxer to retain his undisputed super middleweight championship, winning by unanimous decision to hand Jaime Munguía his first loss at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tim Cheatham scored the fight 117-110, David Sutherland had it 116- 111 and Steve Weisfeld 115-112. Álvarez (61-2-2) overcame a somewhat slow start to dominate Munguía (43-1) in front of 17,492. The champion took full control after knocking down Munguía in the fourth round. Dodgers ride Muncy’s homers, Glasnow’s Ks to drubbing of Braves staff and wire reports MAX MUNCY is all smiles as he rounds the bases in the eighth inning after his third home run of an 11-2 victory over Atlanta. His first three-homer game gave him eight, tied for the team lead. Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times SPORTS EXTRA A TIMES E-NEWSPAPER EXCLUSIVE :: SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 latimes.com/sports BONUS COVERAGE Go to our website for takeaways from The Times’ staff on your favorite home teams at latimes.com/sports. THE SPORTS REPORT Sign up for our daily sports newsletter at latimes.com/newsletters/sports-report. STAY CONNECTED 8 On Instagram @latimes_sports 8 On X @latimessports

DD2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 S LOS ANGELES TIMES Actual house, meet extra small house. A free digital newsletter about, you guessed it, ADUs. Free for subscribers! Scan the code or visit latimes.com/ADU to sign up. Maybe you need more space. Maybe you just need extra income. But how do you know if building an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is right for you? Start with You Do ADU, a six-week newsletter series from the L.A. Times. We’ll guide you through building an ADU in California — including financing, planning and solving common problems — so you can make the right decision for you and your property.

Jim Steinfeldt Getty Images THE STORY OF ... BLUE Weezer, L.A.’s nerdiest band, delivers the inside scoop on its debut album that launched a 30-year career. E4-6 CALENDAR S UNDAY , MAY 5 , 2024 :: L ATIMES.COM/CALENDAR WSCE Hope and magic come alive at the Geffen. E2 | Shaking up Hollywood’s poker scene. E3 | Portraits of street gang culture. E9

D ID THE shattering year of 2020 actually happen? Did the country really shut down that eerie, silent spring? Did we stop going to plays, movies, concerts and more? The COVID-19 pandemic feels like a fever dream, which may be why it feels so significant that the creators behind one of the period’s earliest theater success stories are reemerging — live and in person — for a world premiere now at the Geffen Playhouse. The show is “The Hope Theory,” the star is sleight-of-hand magician Helder Guimarães, and the director is Frank Marshall, the legendary producer of the “Indiana Jones” and “Jurassic Park” franchises. The story of how these two artists came together to crack the code to pandemic-era theater and reunited to stage this celebratory return to the Geffen stage before a packed house of living, breathing-all-over-oneanother human beings is filled with delightful synchronicity, tenacious dreaming and some Space Age Nike shoes based on “Back to the Future” sneakers. But first, a primer on the Guimarães show that changed the course of the pandemic for the playhouse. It was called “The Present,” and members of the audience attended via Zoom, bringing with them mystery boxes mailed by the theater filled with items that helped them to participate in the magic. Guimarães performed from his Glendale apartment, where his then-fiancée (now wife) worked the camera. Marshall directed remotely from his Malibu home. The show opened May 7, 2020, and was extended multiple times before wrapping up in October, at which point it had accumulated rave reviews, sold out 251 performances and grossed more than $700,000. Guimarães performed up to 13 times per week. The grand finale, which had no cap on the number of people on Zoom, drew more than 6,000 households. During an interview at the Geffen last month, Guimarães and Marshall shook their heads, smiling and clearly still a bit unbelieving about the box-office magic that had unfolded among them, the theater and the audience four long years ago. “It was just an interesting process. Since everything else stopped and everyone was at home, time kind of expanded,” Guimarães said. “So in a lot shorter amount of time, we could do a lot more work.” Marshall recalled leaving his family in the living room, pouring a glass of wine and stepping into another room of his house to get to work. There were funny moments when he forgot to mute himself in Guimarães’ ear during performances and times when he spent the show just watching families and friends react in Zoom boxes to Guimarães’ jaw-dropping feats. He recalled a couple of tipsy ladies watching from a hot tub, and another viewer who took in the evening’s performance from the bathtub. “It was just so much fun. But also the word that describes the whole thing was ‘hope,’ ” Marshall said. Hope that the world would keep moving, that entertainment was still possible, that families could come together and forget for a few delicious hours just how difficult the world outside had become. Fast-forward four years, and hope is once again a word in play as the team mounts its new show, which recounts the Portuguese-born Guimarães’ experience immigrating to the U.S. at age 29. As with all of Guimarães’ shows, the careful narrative unfolds through his magic. “That’s what we go to the theater for, to engage mystery,” said the Geffen’s new artistic director, Tarell Alvin McCraney, the playwright and “Moonlight” screenwriter. “To see something we couldn’t see sitting on a couch or in an intimate way.” McCraney is also excited that Guimarães is presenting three shows in Spanish, engaging an important, often-neglected part of L.A.’s theater-going community. The Geffen has long been an incubator and supporter of Guimarães’ magical spectacles, beginning with a 2019 show called “Invisible Tango.” That show marked the start of Guimarães’ collaboration with Marshall — and here’s where the synchronicity, tenacious dreaming and “Back to the Future” shoes come into play. Marshall co-founded Amblin Entertainment alongside his wife, Kathleen Kennedy, and Steven Spielberg, and he has five Academy Award nominations for best picture. So how did he end up directing relatively intimate stage shows? Magic. Marshall, it turns out, is an amateur magician, having performed under the name Dr. Fantasy and pulling magic out of a trunk for a then-9-year-old Tatum O’Neal in the early ’70s on the Kansas set of the movie “Paper Moon.” Marshall performed a bit of magic during wrap shows for all his subsequent films, ending with “Alive” in 1993. “And then Dr. Fantasy retired,” Marshall said with a laugh. But he never stopped loving magic, and in 2019, when Guimarães was looking for a director for the show that would become “Invisible Tango,” Marshall was increasingly interested in live theater and the ways directing for the stage differed from directing for the screen. So when a mutual friend — who was a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood as well as of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — floated the idea of working with Guimarães, Marshall was primed to be interested. Guimarães figured Marshall had agreed to a meeting as a courtesy but would be unlikely to sign onto the project. Still, Guimarães couldn’t contain his excitement when he stepped in the door of Marshall’s office and saw the replicas of the “Back to the Future” sneakers in a glass case. “I freaked out. Because I am a huge fan of ‘Back to the Future,’ ” Guimarães said. “I saw ‘Back to the Future’ more times than all the other movies combined in my life. And so I’m like, ‘I’m definitely not prepared for this meeting.’ ” The meeting was scheduled for 30 minutes. At the end, Marshall said, “Let’s do this.” It was not the answer Guimarães was expecting, but it ended up being the beginning of a collaboration that helped the Geffen survive the pandemic — and sow the seeds of hope that the theater industry at large could innovate and survive in even the most difficult of times. In 2020, that was magic enough. Dania Maxwell Los Angeles Times FRANK Marshall, top left, and Helder Guimarães bonded over replicas of the “Back to the Future” sneakers in Marshall’s office, above. The rest is pure magic. Frank Marshall HOPE? IT’S MORE THAN AN ILLUSION AT THE GEFFEN AFTER PANDEMIC HIT, HELDER GUIMARÃES, FRANK MARSHALL EXTEND THE MAGIC FOR A SHOW ON THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE BY JESSICA GELT E2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR NOWHERE SPECIAL 1:30 7:30 SWEET DREAMS E 1:20 4:20 7:10 THE BIG RISKI 1:00 4:10 7:00 FAREWELL, MR. 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P AINTER SARAH KIM realized soon after her move from New York to Los Angeles that learning Texas Hold ’Em would pay off. She’d heard whispers of an ultra-exclusive, high-stakes “art game” involving L.A.’s major artists, dealers and collectors going back decades. Trailing casino chip crumbs at gallery exhibits and artist studios, “It was clear to me that poker was a huge part of the art world in L.A.,” she said. ¶ She tried her first hand at a game artist Isabelle Brourman hosted at Murmurs Gallery and soon fell in with an eclectic poker-playing group of local artists and curators. For Kim, whose landscape motifs tackle the anxiety of belonging, the felt-topped table became her social life raft and dealt her a newfound clarity and confidence. ¶ “Being a woman in the art world, it’s like I’m playing the same game,” said Kim, who said thinking in bets has been one way to combat the volatile and, at times, cutthroat market. “I’m fighting for a literal seat at the table.” Kim belongs to poker’s latest wave of underdogs pouring out from the creative cultural ferment. They’ve let the air out of the cigar-smoke-filled boys’ club and opened up the tables to a more diverse, inclusive and female-friendly pool of players. The storied L.A. poker scene — an obsession Tinseltown has self-mythologized since the Wild West — these days belongs to the emergent DIY art world. But the new guard has retained the fundamentals: a game as much about networking and camaraderie as card playing. Poker is one of the few spectator games where the sexes compete on equal levels, yet 96% of professional players are men, according to the World Series of Poker. The series’ main event in Las Vegas last summer shattered the all-time attendance record of roughly 10,000 players. Still, it’s been nearly three decades since a woman made it to the final table. “Poker is not necessarily a hobby for the frugal, which is also why I think women haven’t historically played,” said Bita Khorrami of Casinola, which outfits sleek, private poker games for the cultural incrowd. Her collaborator, Eddie Cruz — who started the streetwear boutique Undefeated — taught her the game on the promise that she’d become a better businesswoman. Khorrami, who cut her teeth in music and sports management, said it was the financial edge she needed. “When I have to counter someone in a negotiation, I’ll take a percentage of the money” from the playing funds, she said, which informs a raise, call or fold. “Whatever you’re gonna do is by percentage,” she said of bankroll management. “And the more you do those things, the more comfortable you are with it.” Now, she and Cruz are going all in on Casinola as the first-of-its-kind creative collective and lifestyle brand rooted in poker. She joined on one condition: to not be the only woman in the cardroom. “My mission is going to be to bring women to poker,” she recalled telling Cruz. “Poker degenerates want to play with other poker degenerates,” she said. “They don’t want to be taking time necessarily to teach someone.” They enlisted Jason Roussos, an art collector and pokerhead, to help retain their brand of backroom chic while also selling the idea of empowerment. “When things become too heavy or too reliant on one type of energy,” like the hypermasculine bro kind, he said, “that energy can take over a space.” Having more women brings a dynamic shift to the table, and lowering the barrier for entry often begins with smaller buy-ins with proper setups and dealers. Female-only live games are another incentive, like the time Casinola sponsored a poker night for Girls Only Game Club. “People sometimes use poker as a vice or form of escapism, but we’re using it as more of a socializing tool,” Roussos said. Eric Kim, who co-runs artist spaces Human Resources and Bel Ami, estimated “poker and art went gangbusters” when online gaming swelled early in the pandemic. After stay-at-home orders lifted, however, he noticed a low-grade culture shock among his friends at crowded openings and art parties. “I think a lot of people enjoyed the contained structure of socializing at a poker game,” he said. He’s opened his doors to the arts community in the last couple of years, doling out free one-on-one coaching and hosting weekly Hold ’Em nights as a kind of league mentor. The home games draw from his years at casinos and underground venues around L.A. His collection of 40,000 poker chips helps too. His Silver Lake setup is an equal mix of men and women, newbies and grinders, at varying levels of their careers. Turns out his learning pod had the makings of an artists collective. Kim and Lauren Studebaker, an associate director at Matthew Brown Gallery, staged a poker-themed group show last month. They exhibited work from 15 poker-playing artists around the domestic gallery and called it “At Home in the Neon,” a crib from art critic Dave Hickey’s love letter to Las Vegas. J ULIANNE LEE, a perfumer, infused plaster chips with a rare scent derived from whale vomit and called it “Who’s the whale” (a reference to a very rich but very bad poker player). Adam Alessi’s good-luck shrine had a rendering of Vanessa Rousso, nicknamed “the lady maverick of poker,” inside. Jake Fagundo’s “Bad Beat” depicted a couple in a warm embrace after a tough loss. “A lot of it was inside jokes for ourselves,” said Studebaker, who paraphrased a wry quote from “The Gambler” by Fyodor Dostoevsky: “You gamble with your friends because you like to see them humiliated.” The group has embraced how the game puts everyone on equal footing. “Losing in front of these people is a fast track to bonding,” she said. “I think the losing has been almost better for me than the winning.” The scene’s marquee event today is the annual World Series of Art Poker (WSOAP), a highly guarded, 12-hour Hold ’Em marathon during so-called Frieze Week, when bluechip galleries and high-rolling collectors jet into town for art fairs and their ensuing parties. “I look forward to it all year,” said artist Parker Ito, who at last year’s heads-up showdown lost to Jason Koon, arguably the best pro poker player today. At the fourth WSOAP in March, Jonas Wood, “the reigning prince of contemporary painting,” screamed the ceremonial “Shuffle up and deal.” His Warholian grasp on the art world was on full display as he gladhanded arrivistes, clad in a sweatsuit made of cash (taken from Warhol’s silkscreen “192 One Dollar Bills,1962”). “This is my conceptual art project,” Wood said of his homage to the early-aughts poker boom. Inside, Benny Blanco had his barber give him a lineup at the table. Tobey Maguire busted early but stayed to sweat the last hand of his friend Leonardo DiCaprio. Beyond the $500 buy-in, entry into the stacked poker den has become its own kind of currency, where talk of bad beats and mucked hands replaces the usual industry chatter. The last player standing wins $30,000 and a holy-grail 18-karat gold bracelet modeled after one awarded to the winner of the World Series of Poker. Sophia Amoruso made it to the final 25 out of 130 entrants. “Poker has taught me more patience than anything,” said the Nasty Gal founder and “Girlboss” author, now in venture capital. She’d recently started her own home game after playing at tech conferences and in VC circles. “To be at the table with the guy who founded Hustler Casino Live, that’s priceless,” she said. “Next week, he’s coming to my house, and I get to learn from him.” The tournament’s brain trust — Jonas Wood, Eddie Cruz and Eric Kim — rounded up their splinter poker groups to join forces in 2020. “The idea was to find out who’s the best,” Wood recalled. They’d piggyback off Wood’s fabled “art game” in the studio he rented from Ed Ruscha between 2007 and 2017, a revolving door for the city’s “art illuminati,” as Kim put it. Gallerists like Jeff Poe and François Ghebaly rubbed elbows with celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Jack Black, and emerging artists faced off against billionaire collectors. This year, Wood livestreamed the final tables on Instagram to his 154,000 followers. He envisioned a wild-card upset winning the biggest pot of their life. It almost happened. The final 10 players included artists like up-and-coming painter Ross Caliendo, sculptor Matt Johnson and Wood’s ceramist wife, Shio Kusaka. The crowd roared when she was busted out in eighth place — the last woman and artist standing. Michael Heyward, chief executive of the holding company that owns Genius and Worldstar, went on to win. “I really wanted a broke artist or some unknown person to win $30,000,” Wood said. ERIC KIM, co-owner and director of Bel Ami, clockwise from top left, hosts a poker game where people from the L.A. art world, like Sarah Kim, Higinio Martinez, Lauren Studebaker, Sophia Amoruso and Jason Roussos, can socialize. Photographs by Maggie Shannon For The Times All in for access to the arts scene POKER-PLAYING L.A. ARTISTS HAVE LET THE CIGAR SMOKE OUT AND OPENED UP THE TABLES TO A MORE DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE AND FEMALE-FRIENDLY POOL OF PLAYERS. BY MARIELLA RUDI LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 E3

Weezer - BLUE album cover E4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR I ‘I’M NEVER GONNA BE IN THIS BAND’ Rivers Cuomo (singer and guitarist): If you really want to understand the Blue Album — not just the illusion of the Blue Album that we sold — you have to take it in the context of what happened right before it, which is that I moved to L.A. from Connecticut after high school with the intention of making it with my heavy metal band. Patrick Wilson (drummer): When I first met Rivers, he still had super-long hair. Cuomo: You can see a Judas Priest poster and a Quiet Riot poster on the inside of the Blue Album booklet — these obvious clues to where we’d come from. Wilson: My friend Pat Finn and I had a band called Bush. This was before the other Bush. Kind of a Primus-y vibe with a skate component to it. We used to rehearse in Vernon over by the Farmer John’s slaughterhouse. Cuomo: I got a job working with Pat Finn at Tower Records on Sunset [Boulevard]. He had a shaved head and he was cool and punk, and I was trying to get him into my band, which was called Avant Garde. He listened to our tape and said, “This is terrible — I’m never gonna be in this band.” Finn introduced Cuomo to Wilson — and pushed the burgeoning songwriter to move beyond hair metal to check out bands like Nirvana, the Pixies and Sonic Youth. Wilson: This was a time of changing into something else. It was a period for all of us to be like, “That’s not cool — this is cool.” Cuomo: I wasn’t the singer in Avant Garde. I thought of myself as an inferior singer to the people who were singing in my bands before me — they had bigger ranges and more nimble voices. But Pat [Finn] was like, “Go write your own songs and sing them yourself.” This was during a big walk up to the top of the hill at Griffith Park. He said, “I don’t care if you think you’re not a singer. That’s gonna be a much better version of what you can do.” Wilson: Rivers and I formed a band called Fuzz. Matt Sharp (former bassist): I’d say it was kind of Soundgarden-ish. Wilson: We actually had some pretty cool jams. I was so impressed with Rivers’ guitar playing. But it just kind of fell apart. Fuzz morphed into a short-lived group called 60 Wrong Sausages, which featured Finn on bass and another friend of Finn’s, Jason Cropper, on guitar. The band played a single gig in November 1991 before it too broke up. Wilson: Rivers lived in Santa Monica in an apartment behind Pico [Boulevard] on Urban Avenue. He had an eight-track cassette recorder, and we’d go over there and try and get ideas down. Cuomo: I wanted to create a body of work before I put my next band together. There was so much anxiety about authenticity at the time, and we’d all just made this radical transformation from being metalheads to being alternative. You didn’t want anyone to find out what you looked like 12 months ago. Anna Waronker (singer and guitarist, That Dog): It was clear that Rivers had some serious chops, which nobody cared about in our little world. I mean, I was doing the only thing I knew how to do. So I found it interesting that someone who knew how to do other things was choosing to … not dumb it down but, like, weird it up. Cuomo: It seemed like you could kind of fabricate an image for yourself and it would feel real. Wilson: Rivers said we wouldn’t rehearse until we had 50 songs. We got pretty close, but then we didn’t have anyone else to play with. I’m like, “I know a guy who plays bass.” Matt and I had worked at California Tan on the 12th floor of the Monty’s building in Westwood. They sold products to tanning salons, and Matt was singularly focused on getting clients to buy a poster that explained the California Tan system. Sharp: I think I sold 101 when nobody else could sell five. Wilson: By this point, Matt had moved up to the Bay Area, but I told him he should come back down and play with us. Rivers was like, “It’s not that simple,” and I was like, “Everything’s that simple.” To entice his friend, Wilson sent Sharp a tape of Cuomo’s new songs that included future Blue Album cuts such as “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here” and “Undone — The Sweater Song.” Cuomo: When Matt heard it, it was like a light bulb went on. Sharp: It was the first time someone I knew created something where I thought, my God — this is something I’d listen to even if I didn’t know them. Cuomo: He saw that this could actually work, so he moved down and was very, very aggressive about joining the band and getting the ball rolling. He found a house with a garage we could set up as a rehearsal space. At first they rejected us, but Matt talked the owners into it with his sales talent. We all got our dads to co-sign the lease. Rounded out by Jason Cropper, the foursome practiced for the first time on Valentine’s Day of 1992 and debuted as Weezer a month later at the now-defunct Raji’s on Hollywood Boulevard. (The band’s name was drawn from a childhood nickname Cuomo’s dad had given him.) Also on the bill that night: actor Keanu Reeves’ band Dogstar. Sharp: You could feel the energy around Keanu. The bar was packed to the hilt, line out the door. We’re thinking we’re just gonna ride this to the moon. Cuomo: We were booked to play after Dogstar. Sharp: When they get offstage it’s probably 1 in the morning. We’re scrambling to get our equipment onstage, but by the time we start, everybody from their crowd has left. There’s like five people in the room. Wilson: We covered “M.E.” by Gary Numan, and it was amazing. Probably nobody would think that now. Weezer gigged regularly over the next few months — at Club Lingerie, at the Coconut Teaszer, at the Central (now known as the Viper Room) — to more or less the same five people. A deflated Cuomo, who’d begun to ponder the value of a college degree, gave Sharp an ultimatum. Sharp: It was very cut and dried. He said, “You get us a record deal in nine months or I’m going to school.” Wilson: That’s when I think we got a little more serious. Cuomo: I remember sitting in the Weezer house one day playing an Avant Garde song called “Renaissance.” I still loved the chords — they were so emotional. So I wrote some new lyrics over it, and that was “Say It Ain’t So.” Brian Bell (guitarist): Ironically, Jason Cropper gave me a Weezer flier at Club Lingerie. So my girlfriend at the time and I went to see them at the Coconut Teaszer. I wasn’t superimpressed, but when they got to “Say It Ain’t So,” I was like, this is a cover, right? There’s no way a local band could write a song this good. II ‘WE NEEDED TO SWING FOR THE FENCES’ In November 1992, Weezer recorded a four-song demo that included “Say It Ain’t So” and “Undone — The Sweater Song.” The tape made its way to Todd Sullivan, a junior A&R executive at Geffen Records’ alt-rock DGC subsidiary, which was home to Nirvana and Sonic Youth. Intrigued, Sullivan checked out Weezer’s next show. Todd Sullivan: They weren’t a tremendous live band by any means. But there was this feeling that they had their blinders on and they knew what they were going for. And the songs — I mean, “Say It Ain’t So” was incredible. I could kind of connect the dots. Cuomo: By that December, we had a meeting with a very small indie label. Wilson: They offered us 15 grand to make a record. Then DGC Records HOW A YOUNG L.A. BAND TURNED BLUE INTO GOLD Thirty years after the release of their self-titled debut album, Weezer band members and friends reveal how it all came to be MIKAEL WOOD POP MUSIC CRITIC T HIRTY YEARS ago, Weezer embarked on one of the more improbable careers in pop history with the release of the band’s self-titled debut album. ¶ Self-consciously nerdy in an era of scuzzy postgrunge bluster, 1994’s crisp and witty “Weezer” — soon to be known as the Blue Album because of its cover (and the fact that the band kept naming additional albums “Weezer”) — wasn’t immediately hailed as charting a new direction for alternative rock. But over the decades to come, the 10-track LP would end up shaping successive generations of emo and pop-punk acts on its way to triple-platinum certification and a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. ¶ Now, Weezer is set to mark the Blue Album’s 30th anniversary with a tour starting in September on which the Los Angeles-based band will perform the record from beginning to end, including hit singles such as “Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So” and “Undone — The Sweater Song.” (Combined stream count for those three songs on Spotify: more than 1 billion.) ¶ To hear the inside story of how Weezer’s debut came to be, The Times spoke with the four members of the band at that time — Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Matt Sharp and Brian Bell — as well as a half-dozen of the artists and record-industry types who played a part in the beginning of the group’s success. ¶ This is the oral history of the Blue Album.

LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 E5 Slash Records offered us 80 grand. I couldn’t fathom saying no to that. But Matt and Rivers said we needed to swing for the fences. Sullivan: They were sort of playing me: “Hey, you know so-and-so’s also interested…” Sharp: The skills I used at California Tan were the same ones that got us a record deal. Wilson: Next thing I knew, I had $2,500 on an ATM card, which I’d never had in my life. Cuomo: I met David Geffen years later. I’d read this book, “The Operator” by Tom King, which was a biography — kind of an exposé — that I guess Geffen found very unflattering. But I thought it was amazing. This was 2001, in a period when I was managing the band, so I was very interested in the music business and all the tricks he pulled. So I said, “Can I meet you?” and he invited me over for lunch. I told him how we’d just come back from this sophomore slump with “Pinkerton,” and I said something like, “But it’s turned into a real cult phenomenon.” He goes, “ ‘Cult phenomenon’ is a euphemism for failure.” After signing to DGC in June 1993, Weezer started making plans to record the band’s debut album, for which Cuomo had no interest in working with a producer. Cuomo: Any time anyone had been in a room with us — not just in Weezer but in my earlier bands — they’d just turned the dials in a way that made things sound worse. Waronker: I understood not wanting to ease up on the reins. We were all very pure about our music. Sullivan: They wanted to do it by themselves at their house, but that just left too much room for disaster. Cuomo: The record company was very insistent: “First record, you need a producer. Second record, we can talk.” So I had that in my mind, and then I was in the grocery store and I heard “Just What I Needed” come on over the PA. I was like, that sounds like Weezer — let’s get that guy. I didn’t know who that guy was. It was Ric Ocasek of the Cars. In addition to scoring a string of indelible new wave hits in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the frontman had previously worked in the studio with Bad Brains and Suicide, among other acts. Wilson: To this day, the Cars’ first record is unimpeachable in every way. Sullivan: I thought Ric would be a great idea because he’d produced some edgier bands that were coming out of left field. I sent Ric the demo and he responded immediately, kind of freaking out about the songs. III‘A DARK ROOM BY MYSELF’ Ocasek, who died in 2019, had only one condition for taking the job, which was that Weezer come to him in his home base of New York because his wife, model Paulina Porizkova, was pregnant with the couple’s first son. They set up at the historic Electric Lady Studios in August 1993. Cuomo: I was beside myself because I knew KISS had recorded there. I remember going to the bathroom for the first time thinking, Ace Frehley sat on this toilet that I’m about to sit on. Sullivan: Ric was a real gentle guiding hand. Cuomo: He’d sit in the chair with his knees folded up to his chest, like a giant stork. And he was constantly doodling these amazing psychedelic doodles. Sharp: Paulina was there too. This is one of the most spectacular women in the world, and she’s not cheerleading us or anything. But by going about her business, it made you feel like it wasn’t crazy for you to be there — like, yeah, let’s get to work. Among the songs Cuomo wrote after Ocasek agreed to produce Weezer’s debut were “In the Garage” and “Buddy Holly,” the latter of which Cuomo intended to save for the band’s second LP but which he included on the Blue Album at Ocasek’s urging. Cuomo: For “In the Garage,” I definitely had the Beach Boys and “In My Room” in mind. At one point while I was writing, I wanted some new inspiration, so I went to Record Surplus on Santa Monica and went through all these classic LPs. I narrowed it down to “Led Zeppelin II” and the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds,” but I only had enough money for one. It was basically a coin toss, and I walked out with “Pet Sounds.” Then I went on a deep dive and got all their other albums. It’s funny that Weezer could’ve gone in a totally different direction. In New York, the band’s members stayed at the rock-starfriendly Gramercy Park Hotel. Yet they hardly availed themselves of the city’s busy nightlife. Wilson: I didn’t party between the ages of 20 and 30. So Matt and I stayed in. We were roommates, and I distinctly remember watching the first episode of Conan O’Brien’s show together. At the end, we were like, he just has to work on his s— a little bit and he’ll be great. Cuomo: I was in the studio at least 12 hours a day — mostly in a dark room by myself. Meanwhile, a fault line was deepening between Cropper and the rest of Weezer. (Cropper didn’t respond to The Times’ interview request.) Wilson: Jason had a girlfriend and knocked her up, and she came to the sessions and the vibe was weird. It just wasn’t gonna work out. I remember sitting down and having the conversation with him. He was bummed, but I don’t think he was fully surprised. Sharp: What it really boiled down to was that whatever it is we were setting out to do, it felt like it was gonna be much more difficult if he stayed. There’s a bunch of reasons for that, but they’re so boring that they’re not important. Cuomo: We were pretty much done with the record. Sharp: His departure happened the day we completed the first mix. Cuomo: In our minds — these were mainly conversations between me and Matt — we felt like if this was gonna happen eventually, we wanted it to happen before the band was presented to the public. That way the fans would never have to deal with any kind of breakup. We all came from broken homes, and we wanted things to be very stable for the audience. Wilson: It was strangely anticlimactic. Really, we could have just been a trio at that point. Sullivan: I think it was Rivers who called me, which was maybe a little odd, because normally it would’ve been Matt. He said, “We want to make a change on guitar.” For me, it was a panic, because I’m still a young A&R guy. How do I let the label know about this? Are we gonna have to rerecord the whole record? In fact, Cuomo rerecorded Cropper’s guitar parts in a single day. Cuomo: Maybe I had to stop and fix an error or something. But I knew how the songs went. There are spots on the album where even now I really miss having him play those parts. The beginning of “My Name Is Jonas,” that’s pure Jason — he’s just like a hippie good ol’ boy. Or the finger-picking in “The World Has Turned.” I still sweat if I have to do those at an acoustic show. Beyond the recording of the album, of course, Weezer would need to find a new second guitar player. Sharp: We had one choice to replace Jason, and that was Brian Bell — which was ironic because we’d never seen or heard him play guitar. We’d only seen him play bass in a band called Carnival Art, and I thought, that is one debonair son of a bitch. Wilson: I think Matt and Rivers just thought Brian looked great. Bell: When they called, I had an instinct this is what was gonna happen. Matt was like, “Hey, what are you up to?” — just small talk. Then Rivers grabbed the phone: “Do you want to be in our band?” Weezer overnighted a tape to Bell, who overdubbed himself playing on the band’s songs as a kind of audition, then sent the tape back to New York. Bell: The very next day, someone from the record label brought me a plane ticket — this is back when they were a tangible thing on a thick-stock piece of paper — that said L.A. to New York. It was a red-eye, and when I landed there was a little man with a chauffeur hat and a long limousine with a phone in it. It felt so Led Zeppelin. We went straight to the hotel, and they told me I was gonna sleep in Pat’s room. Wilson: Brian claims that when I met him, I dropped my pants. I don’t have a strong recollection of that, but I’m not ruling it out. It sounds like something I’d do. At Electric Lady, Weezer played the almost-completed Blue Album for Bell, who’d arrived in time to contribute background vocals. Bell: The first song they put on was “In the Garage.” It was incredible — like a lot of the indie stuff I was listening to, like Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement, but polished. I looked at them and said, “Guys, we’re gonna be f— huge.” IV ‘THE RIGHT SHADE OF BLUE’ With the group’s debut in the can, Weezer returned to L.A. in October 1993 determined to break in Bell as a full-fledged member of the band. Sharp leveraged his relationships with promoters around town to book what Weezer called the Self-Punishment Tour: a dozen shows in two weeks at venues including the Roxy, the Blue Saloon, Raji’s and the Alligator Lounge. Sullivan: I sent a memo to the record company titled “Weezer Tours the Bowels of L.A.” Sharp: Trial by fire, jump in the deep end — it was whatever cliché you want to use. But the thing is, I didn’t actually want anybody to see us yet, so I told the promoters, “Give me your worst slot — the 1 a.m. or the 6 p.m. or whatever. We’re just there to make mistakes.” Sullivan: The gigs were very rough. Bell: My first show was at Club Lingerie, and I thought we were great. My parents came — it was a big moment. Afterwards, Rivers and I hugged for the first and last time. It was the most awkward thing in the world. I think I told him, “Don’t worry, that’ll never happen again.” The band continued to hone its live attack in early 1994, though Cuomo also used the last of his money from Geffen’s advance to enroll in several music classes at Los Angeles Valley College, not far from the epicenter of January’s disastrous Northridge earthquake. Cuomo: I remember feeling aftershocks in wind ensemble. Bell: I had three jobs while we were waiting for the record to come out. I worked at Jet Rag, the clothing store on La Brea [Avenue]. I worked at Caioti, an Italian restaurant in Laurel Canyon — their claim to fame was they had this salad dressing that made pregnant women go into labor. And I delivered flowers. While making a delivery one day to an office building, Bell was scouted by a casting agent working on a Nike commercial. She put him in the spot alongside a young Norman Reedus (later of “The Walking Dead”). Bell: I told him about Weezer, and he goes, “Oh, sounds like kind of a Beck thing — like ‘Getting crazy with the Cheez Whiz!’ ” Sharp: The album was pushed back so many times. I’d imagine we had the least amount of priority in Geffen Records history. WEEZER’S Brian Bell, left, Matt Sharp, Patrick Wilson and Rivers Cuomo backstage at the Hollywood Palladium on April 7, 1995. Yet the label hired the esteemed Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times Martyn Goodacre Getty Images FRONTMAN Rivers Cuomo, top, onstage in the U.K. in 1994. Director Spike Jonze, center, with Brian Bell, left, and Cuomo at 1995’s MTV Video Music Awards. Catherine McGann Getty Images

pin-up photographer Peter Gowland, who died in 2010, to shoot the Blue Album’s cover: Cuomo, Sharp, Bell and Wilson standing against a blue background. Bell: We went to his house in the Palisades. I’d never even heard of the Palisades. Cuomo: The night before, I went to some random salon and said, “Give me a haircut,” and that’s what they gave me. It totally sucks. But now that’s me for eternity in every meme. Bell: I wore my favorite vintage bowling shirt. Pat came with his head shaved for some reason. Cuomo: The original conception for the cover was that we’d be in these matching striped shirts like the Beach Boys. Wilson: We played a show at Al’s Bar with Walt Mink and we wore the striped shirts. It bummed all the hipster bands out so hard. Cuomo: I don’t know who suggested we do some shots in our regular clothes, but when we looked back at them, we all liked those the best. Wilson: Coming out of hair bands into grunge, it just hit perfectly — like, oh, we’re normcore. Spike Jonze (film and music video director): They looked like people I would’ve hung out with in high school. Bell: We spent maybe two days searching for the right shade of blue. Album cover in place, Weezer’s debut was almost ready for release. Sharp: Right before it came out, Rivers and I sat on a couch with a yellow legal pad and calculated how many of our relatives would buy the record. I was like, “Put my dad down for one — actually, he’ll probably buy a few to give to people at his office.” I think we got up to 340 copies. V ‘WE WERE TRYING TO BREAK THIS BAND’ The Blue Album finally dropped on May 10, 1994 — a month after the death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and just weeks after DGC released “Live Through This” by Cobain widow Courtney Love’s band Hole. Bell: We all wondered whether Kurt would’ve liked Weezer. That felt important. Sullivan: There wasn’t a lot of love from the press. Because things didn’t happen in the normal quote-unquote alternative way — two indie records, tours all over — the reaction was that this was a manufactured band. Cuomo: You could easily be fooled: “Oh, these kids just picked up their instruments.” Somebody called us Stone Temple Pixies, which touched a nerve. To us, the music sounded amazing, so to have it dismissed like that was painful. Sharp: I remember being in a record store not long after the album came out and seeing all the promo copies in the 99-cent bin. Soon, though, “Undone — The Sweater Song” began to take off, first on college radio, then on trendsetting modern-rock stations like L.A.’s KROQ-FM and Seattle’s 107.7 The End. Kevin Weatherly (program director, KROQ): It cut through because it was so different from everything else at the time. This was the height of grunge, and then along comes Weezer with this nerdy little pop-punk ditty. Jonze: Matt called me and said the label really wanted to do a music video. But Rivers didn’t like the idea — he felt it was contrived. We talked, and I told him, “Look, a music video can be anything. It doesn’t have to be what you think it is. It could be as perfect and simple as your album cover — just you guys playing against a blue wall, singing or half-singing or not singing at all.” He goes, “But then what happens?” And I’m like, “I don’t know — a bunch of dogs run through at the end?” I wasn’t pitching an idea as much as I was just saying that he could make anything out of it. Sharp: We’d received video treatments from other directors and it’d be, like, the band enveloped in a giant sweater. Jonze: That same day after our meeting, Matt called me again and said, “OK, Rivers wants to do the video you pitched.” I was like, “Wait, what video?” With Jonze directing, Weezer shot the “Undone” clip in a studio in Silver Lake — dogs, blue wall, half-singing and all. Jonze: We did a couple takes where they lip-synched all the way through. But I think we were more interested in just f— around. I was surprised by how compelling Rivers was. Even though I’d seen them live, I didn’t know he’d be so aware of the camera and how to play with it. Bell: I’m not sure I was told the dogs were gonna come out. “Undone” quickly found a home on MTV, which gave the video its coveted Buzz Clip status. Patti Galluzzi (former vice president of programming, MTV): That was our way of saying that we were trying to break this band. And this was a textbook way to break a band: You start with a really catchy song, but it’s not necessarily what you think will be your massive hit. You do a video that shows a band in the way they want to portray themselves — that shows who they really are. That’s what comes across in the “Undone” video, so then you understand them before they come out in costume. The costumes came in Jonze’s video for “Buddy Holly,” which depicted Weezer performing in a meticulous re-creation of Arnold’s Drive-In from the ’70s sitcom “Happy Days.” Jonze: The way I come up with ideas for videos is I listen to a song over and over again and write down every idea I have — bad, good, stupid, whatever. With “Buddy Holly,” I just wrote “Happy Days” at some point. I was the right age where it was in reruns all the time, and I could just see the band playing in the diner. It also felt appropriate because they were referencing a lot of childhood things in their lyrics, and for the people that made “Happy Days,” the show was nostalgic for them. Cuomo: Spike pitched it, and we were like, “Oh my God, the Fonz is gonna be dancing in our video.” It just blew our minds. Bell: I walked onto the set and just thought, Are you f— kidding me? In the video, Weezer’s performance is carefully intercut with clips from the original series, including Henry Winkler’s Fonzie doing his “Aaayyy” catchphrase. There’s also a newly shot cameo by actor Al Molinaro, who played the drivein’s owner on “Happy Days” and who introduces “Kenosha, Wisconsin’s own Weezer.” Jonze: It was 20 years later and he was very gray, so we put dye in his hair. A very simple trick, but it kind of blurred the lines even more. You’re like, wait a second … Wilson: I remember CNN doing a bit on it in the context of “Forrest Gump” and CGI. But even they missed it — there was no CGI. It was all clever blocking and clever editing. Jonze: Eric Zumbrunnen, the editor I worked with for almost 25 years — he passed away a few years ago — he and I sat and went through hours and hours and hours of “Happy Days” and assembled a skeleton that we were gonna drop all the shots of Weezer into. Unlike “Undone,” “Buddy Holly” — which went on to win the prize for breakthrough video at the MTV Video Music Awards — featured Cuomo without the thick-framed glasses that had quickly become part of the frontman’s signature look. Cuomo: That was very intentional, because I didn’t want to look too much like Kurt Cobain in Nirvana’s “In Bloom” video. I loved him so much, and I was so mad that I didn’t do that before he did it. Wilson: I don’t know why Rivers’ glasses became a thing. I’m the guy who wears glasses — I’ve worn them since second grade! Later on, we’d go on some late-night show and Jordan Schur, the president of Geffen at the time, would be like, “Nah, man, you gotta wear the glasses.” Why did he have to wear the glasses? “Buddy Holly” peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s alternative rock radio chart in mid-December. Galluzzi: We played the hell out of that video. Weatherly: It all culminated with Weezer playing KROQ Acoustic Christmas at the end of ’94. We had Henry Winkler bring them onstage. That was great: Weezer and the Fonz hanging out at the Universal Amphitheatre. Cuomo: I was so stressed out and scared. VI ‘I FEEL LIKE I’M GONNA PASS OUT’ For all they did to boost Weezer’s profile, the band’s first two videos caused some to view the band as a bunch of ironic jokesters — a perception that Cuomo felt undercut the real emotional turmoil in his music. Cuomo: That was quite a shock for me to discover that. It didn’t verify the great vision I wanted to have of us. Bell: We were being called “wisenheimers.” I had to look that word up. Toward the end of 1994, Weezer toured as an opening act for Live, the Pennsylvania alt-rock band then riding high with its album “Throwing Copper.” Ed Kowalczyk (singer and guitarist, Live): After the shows we’d be running around drinking Jack Daniel’s and smoking cigarettes, and one night I walked onto Weezer’s bus and went to the back lounge. I’ll never forget it: There’s Rivers studying French and doing scales on his keyboard. I was like, this is a totally different band. Weatherly: I don’t know if I’d say they were apologetic rock stars. But part of the charm was that they didn’t seem supercomfortable in the limelight. At the same time, Weezer was happily toying with the kind of rock iconography Cuomo had grown up admiring in the likes of his beloved KISS. Kowalczyk: No matter what size the venue was, they’d put this massive light-up W onstage behind them. This thing was probably 6 1⁄2 feet tall, must have weighed 500 pounds. Three or four guys had to roll it in. Rivers and I are getting along great, and he’s like, “Come up and sing ‘Buddy Holly’ with me.” So I get up there one night — really small stage in a rock club somewhere — and those lights are so freakin’ hot I feel like I’m gonna pass out. This was the early ’90s — these weren’t LEDs, they were 200-watt fry bulbs like at McDonald’s. It turned the entire stage into an oven. Weezer toured Europe for the first time in February 1995 as the Blue Album reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200. The LP’s third and final single, “Say It Ain’t So,” was accompanied by a video shot by director Sophie Muller in the garage at Weezer’s house on Amherst Avenue — the place Sharp had convinced the landlords to rent to the band three years before. Cuomo: Looking back at it, it was this tiny little trashed guesthouse. But it was so huge for us. It’s gone now — they demolished it. “Say It Ain’t So” draws on an incident from Cuomo’s adolescence when the sight of a beer in his family’s refrigerator led him to believe that his stepfather had become an alcoholic just as he thought his father had been. After the song came out, Cuomo heard from his dad. Cuomo: I hadn’t spoken to him in years. I mean, I hardly spoke to him at all growing up. He only had a fax machine at the time, and out of the blue I got this fax from him: “Weezer, give me a call — we need to talk.” So I got in touch and explained where I was coming from in the song. But I’m kind of mortified that a lot of “Say It Ain’t So” — as powerful as it is and as true as it is — it’s based on a misunderstanding. The root of it is this photograph I have of my dad and my mom where he’s wearing a [sleeveless undershirt] and smoking a cigar and holding a Heineken. He looks so intimidating. My brother and I grew up looking at this photo, and somehow we got the idea in our head that he was an alcoholic and a violent guy and that’s why he left us. Years later, I was talking to my mom about it and she said, “He wasn’t an alcoholic. He didn’t even drink or smoke — he was like a Zen Buddhist guy. We were just goofing around in that picture. Those were just props.” VII‘THE GUY LOVES TO ROCK’ By the end of the summer of 1995, after a year and a half on the road, Cuomo had seriously burned out on touring and decided to leave music and enroll at Harvard. He also underwent acomplicated medical procedure to lengthen one of his legs, which for much of his life had been shorter than the other. Waronker: Going back to college and having an invasive leg surgery — that’s a weird reaction to success. But things were different, you know? Weezer was huge, and all of a sudden there were stakes and there was money and there were responsibilities. It wasn’t about going to the show and then hanging out after at a coffee shop anymore. Sharp: Honestly, I was relieved. I had stuff I wanted to do outside the group — the Rentals and some other small collaborations with other people — and it had always been a scramble to wedge that stuff in whenever there was a break. There just weren’t that many breaks. Weatherly: You didn’t know, when he went off to Harvard, was he gonna come back? Was Weezer still gonna be a band? Bell: I never worried that it was done. Rivers was too motivated. It’s been proven that the guy loves to rock. Indeed, Weezer returned just a year later with 1996’s “Pinkerton.” And a few years after that? Cuomo: I think it was 1999 when my past as a metalhead was exposed. MTV News found my high school yearbook photo and all these fliers from my old bands. I was like, OK, the jig is up. I called Matt, who wasn’t even in Weezer at the time, but I knew he could relate to my pain. He made me feel a lot better. He just said, “Look, man, at this point it kind of comes off as cool — just go with it.” I guess enough years had passed. But if that had been ’94, it could have been a problem. Photographs by Karl Koch TESTING album cover ideas, from top, and new band member Bell rehearsing with Cuomo in December 1993. Goofing around during a photo shoot in November ’93. ‘THIS WAS THE HEIGHT OF GRUNGE, AND THEN ALONG COMES WEEZER WITH THIS NERDY LITTLE POP-PUNK DITTY.’ — KEVIN WEATHERLY, KROQ program director on “Undone — The Sweater Song” from the Blue Album E6 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR

LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 E7

“FALLOUT’S” Ella Purnell, top, as Lucy. The women of “Girls5eva” hit a hilarious note. FALLOUT Amazon Prime Video Approaching Amazon’s new adaptation of the beloved “Fallout” video game franchise might seem daunting for nongaming newbies, especially given that its roots stretch back to the 1990s. But fear not: as with HBO’s “The Last of Us,” no previous knowledge is needed to fully enjoy the show’s post-apocalyptic pleasures. Set in a retrofuturistic alternateuniverse Southern California, transformed into an irradiated wasteland by a nuclear holocaust, the series interlaces the stories of three survivors: Lucy (Ella Purnell), an innocent young woman raised in a relatively luxurious fallout shelter; Maximus (Aaron Moten), an awkward, sometimes cowardly aspirant knight from the militaristic Brotherhood of Steel; and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), a gun-slinging wanderer who was once an all-American movie star. Executive produced by Jonathan Nolan of “Westworld” fame, and anchored by compelling performances from its trio of leads, the series brilliantly blends witty, sardonic comedy and moments of gleeful gore with weighty — and timely — explorations of corporate greed, morality and inequality. The end of the world has rarely been this fun. (J.R.) GIRLS5EVA Netflix “30 Rock,” my all-time favorite comedy, went viral on social media late last year for rat-a-tat rhythms that have become increasingly rare on TV — but not absent entirely. The spirit of Tina Fey’s raucously funny media satire, and of her post-traumatic farce with Robert Carlock, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” lives on in the form of a reconstituted turn-of-the-millennium girl group trying to capitalize on an additional 15 minutes of fame. Created by Meredith Scardino, “Girls5eva” — “ ’cause 4eva’s too short” — applies the same funhouse mirror to the music industry, replete with creep-tastic managers (who’ve undergone sensitivity training), aggressive fans (who are influencers in their own right) and competing pop stars (who disguise themselves as truck drivers or prefer to perform in a Snuggie). But the series, which moved to Netflix for its recent third season after premiering on Peacock in 2021, is more than the sum of its cockeyed pop culture references; singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles brings impressive comic chops to the level-headed Dawn, who strains to keep the quartet together, and Renée Elise Goldsberry delivers an Emmy-worthy performance as Wickie, the group’s narcissistic Jenna Maroney. Along with Busy Philipps and Paula Pell, they even manage to turn musical numbers written for laughs into genuine bangers: Inspired by a knee replacement, Season 2 single “Bend Not Break” is a catchy, remarkably poignant tribute to friendship in the face of life’s pressures. If you don’t end up with at least the theme song stuck in your head after watching, you may hold the cure for earworms. (M.B.) Jojo Whilden Prime Video For more of the TV shows, movies and moments everyone’s talking about, sign up for Screen Gab at latimes.com/newsletters, and tell us what you’re watching by emailing [email protected] This week, staff writer Josh Rottenberg and Screen Gab editor Matt Brennan recommend a compelling video game adaptation and a raucous girl-group comedy. Netflix E8 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR Fiction weeks on list 1. Funny Story by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) The bestselling author’s new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common. 1 2. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” 6 3. The Women by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Press: $30) An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided. 12 4. Table for Two by Amor Towles (Viking: $32) A collection of stories from the author of “The Lincoln Highway.” 4 5. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (Flatiron Books: $30) A magic-infused novel set in the Spanish Golden Age. 3 6. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl (Random House: $29) An adventure through the food, art and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris. 1 7. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (Riverhead: $28) The discovery of a skeleton in Pottstown, Pa., opens out to a story of community. 38 8. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Knopf: $28) An orphaned son of Iranian immigrants embarks on a search for a family secret. 13 9. North Woods by Daniel Mason (Random House: $28) A sweeping historical tale focused on a single house in the New England woods. 2 5 10. Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange (Knopf: $29) Three generations of a family trace the legacy of the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. 8 Nonfiction weeks on list 1. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer’s guidance on how to be a creative person. 67 2. An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin (Simon & Schuster: $35) The historian weaves together memoir and history in recounting the journey she and her husband embarked upon in the last years of his life. 2 3. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (Penguin Press: $30) An investigation into the collapse of youth mental health and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood. 5 4. Knife by Salman Rushdie (Random House: $28) The renowned writer’s searing account of the 2022 attempt on his life. 2 5. Somehow by Anne Lamott (Riverhead Books: $22) A joyful celebration of love from the bestselling author. 3 6. Shakespeare by Judi Dench, Brendan O’Hea (St. Martin’s Press: $32) The legendary actor’s journey through the plays of William Shakespeare. 1 7. The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides (Doubleday: $35) An epic account of Capt. James Cook’s final voyage. 3 8. The Work of Art by Adam Moss (Penguin Press: $45) A collection of conversations examining the complex work of making art by the former editor of New York magazine. 1 9. The Wager by David Grann (Doubleday: $30) The story of the shipwreck of an 18th century British warship and a mutiny among the survivors. 51 10. The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell (Atria/One Signal Publishers: $29) A look at our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages and highlights of magical thinking. 3 Paperback bestsellers lists and more at latimes.com/bestsellers. Southern California bestsellers from CALIBA BESTSELLERS Subscription Services: (800) 252-9141 Calendar Section Phone: (213) 237-7770 E-mail: calendar.letters@ latimes.com Letters: Submissions are subject to editing for space and content considerations. HOW TO REACH US Y OU DON’T need to be a fan of unscripted TV to enjoy “Lopez v. Lopez.” Then again, it couldn’t hurt. With “The Real Housewives of Miami” in her queue and a number of reality stars in her guest cast, the sitcom’s showrunner, Debby Wolfe, understands that the power of an outsize personality transcends genre: “When you stand out to a large audience, no matter what field you’re in (politics, sports, reality, social media), you are a born performer.” Wolfe stopped by Screen Gab recently to discuss how reality and reality TV inform her collaboration with stars George and Mayan Lopez on the series, the classic sitcom that picks her up when she’s feeling down, and more. — Matt Brennan What have you watched recently that you are recommending to everyone you know? My recent favorite is “Real Housewives of Miami” [Bravo, Peacock]. Because I work in scripted, I turn to unscripted shows to unwind and relax. What I love about the Miami ladies specifically is that I was raised there and they all remind me of the strong, outspoken Latinas I grew up with. I can’t get enough of the Spanglish fights where everyone is talking over one another. It feels like home. What is your go-to “comfort watch,” a movie or TV show you go back to again and again? When I’m feeling down, the thing that always brings a smile to my face is “The Golden Girls” [Hulu]. I think it’s one of the greatest sitcoms of all time and every episode hits with humor and heart. The joke writing and delivery are unmatched. In a recent interview with The Times you describe grabbing your notebook when George and Mayan “get into it” on set — inspiration for the series’ very meta concept. Please talk more about an occasion when you channeled an on-set exchange into something that ended up on the show. It’s funny you ask because I mentioned above that I love unscripted TV, meanwhile there’s an unscripted series happening behind the scenes of “Lopez vs. Lopez,” between a real father and daughter. The evolution of Mayan and George working together in Season 2 was definitely inspired by their working relationship in Season 1. They’ve had to learn to treat one another as professional colleagues rather than as overbearing dad and triggered daughter. It’s super challenging. I can’t imagine working with my parents. But I commend the two of them for trying while still giving us plenty of material to mine for stories. I love the surprising mix of guest stars you’ve cast for the show, including former NFL player Marshawn Lynch and “Vanderpump Rules” cast members Scheana Shay and Brock Davies. What’s the rationale, for you, behind the unorthodox casting? And who is on your wish list that you haven’t gotten yet? I have this controversial theory that the same thing that makes unscripted reality stars famous is what makes sitcom stars famous: They are hilarious. We tune in because they make us laugh. And as they gain more attention and fame, they fall into a broader version of who they are onscreen. That’s how we build sitcom characters — they are the best and worst parts of ourselves. And I think reality stars are already very aware of what those things are and how to highlight them in front of a camera. This season I tested out my theory and I was right! Lisa Rinna, Scheana and Brock came on our show and crushed it. Marshawn Lynch had already proven his comedy acting chops in “Bottoms” [Prime Video, Fubo TV, MGM+], but regardless I think my theory applies to largerthan-life icons as well. When you stand out to a large audience, no matter what field you’re in (politics, sports, reality, social media), you are a born performer. Our show was inspired by Mayan’s TikTok, so it also feels very natural for us to do unorthodox casting. And casting them gives us an opportunity to bring in new audiences that may not yet know about our show. This is by no means to say they are better at acting than trained performers, but the potential to be great is there if they wish to hone the craft. On my dream list are many seasoned Latine actors we’d love to work with, such as Salma Hayek, Michael Peña and Rosie Perez, just to name a few. And a dream for both Mayan and I is to work with RuPaul. Mayan had the opportunity to work with Ru as a guest judge on “Drag Race” and our entire cast and crew are huge fans of “mother.” GEORGE and Mayan Lopez have plenty of material to mine, says showrunner Debby Wolfe. Nicole Weingart NBC Reality on several levels gives sitcom showrunner a lift LOPEZ V. LOPEZ NBC, Peacock AGREAT GIFT FOR MOM! JulyPageant Tickets* Limited Time Offer 20 % OFF 650LagunaCanyonRoad LagunaAeacB, C? 800-487-3378 ageantTickets.com toperformances in July only. o allorders.Excludes Loge Center and Premium tickets. Offer not valid on previouslypurchased tickets. Cannot be combinedwith anyother offer. Any advertised offer may be changed or revokedatany time. Expires5/12/24. 8VH FRGH 020 6pecial offer applies t 1 per ticket service charge appliesto Center and Premium tickets Offer not va Pa USE CODE: MOM24 Performances n@gBtly July6 to ?ugust30, 2024 Watch now. latimes.com/FAM EXPLORE L.A. ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.

O N A RAINY March evening, a group of roughly 100 people huddled inside the Eastern Projects art gallery in Chinatown for the opening of “Un-Rehearsed,” the first solo show for photographer Merrick Morton, on display through May 18. ¶ Adorning the walls of the space are more than 100 images spanning a 40-year trajectory — selections from his travels in Mexico and Cuba, and stills from various films where he worked as an on-set photographer. The bulk of the art, however, focuses on a subject Morton has become deeply associated with: Southern California gang life. ¶ Many of these stills also appear on “Clique: West Coast Portraits From the Hood, 1980-1996,” a glossy, 224-page monograph set to be released by independent publisher Hat & Beard Press later this spring. ¶ One photograph features an older couple standing on the porch of their home as the lifeless body of a drive-by shooting victim lies on the sidewalk. Another shows a gang member from Barrio Logan Heights in San Diego awaiting treatment at an area hospital after being stabbed. Other prints showcase cliques of young Latino and Black men hanging out, or homegirls embracing each other. Born in 1955 and raised in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley, the soft-spoken Morton says his interest in chronicling street life began after a visit with John M. Valadez, the L.A.-based realist muralist and painter who was instrumental in the 1970s Chicanx art movement. “I’m thinking, ‘I have to photograph [them],’ ” he said of the cholos and cholas featured in Valadez’s artwork. Morton, who is white, did not have a direct connection to these communities. He began calling probation officers after learning from a friend that they could be his way in. “I told them I was working on a documentary photography essay on Los Angeles street gangs,” he recalled. Eventually, he was assigned to Gerald Ivory, who introduced him to his parolees, mainly members of the Maravilla gang in East L.A. In 1981, Morton began photographing them at the Obregon Park recreation center, where he had set up a portable studio. Morton said he and Ivory would “hit the streets,” recording interviews with various gang members throughout the ’80s. Their work “was never sanctioned by the L.A. County Probation Department,” he said. “My dad said this guy just showed up with a camera, wanting to document neighborhoods in L.A.,” said Breanna Quintero, who attended the show’s opening. Her father grew up in Carson and was photographed by Morton in the early ’80s at Victoria Park. “People have to realize that kids from the neighborhood, like my dad, didn’t have cameras because they couldn’t afford them. So, I’m thankful that Merrick got to photograph him; this is a piece of how I grew up,” added Quintero. “These pictures brought his stories to life.” It didn’t take long for Morton to become known as “the guy” chronicling gang life, thanks in large part to his quiet demeanor and knowing when to not overstep. “As an observer, I start on the outside and then wait until I’m granted access,” he said. “I’m not going aimlessly into somewhere trying to take over. I think to me, it’s about respect. If you show [it], they’ll respect you.” In 1984, Morton began freelancing for L.A. Weekly, a gig that would change his life. His work at the alternative weekly caught the eye of Taylor Hackford and Luis Valdez, respectively the producer and director-screenwriter of “La Bamba,” the iconic 1986 Chicanx film about the life and untimely death of musician Ritchie Valens. “[Hackford] liked the work that I was shooting in Mexico at the time, outside of the gangs, so I was hired on that,” said Morton. “And for me, at the time, I was working at a camera store and not earning that much there.” Since then, Morton has worked as on-set still photographer for more than 90 films and television shows, including “Colors,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Fight Club” and “Blood In Blood Out” — his work on the latter film is prominently featured in a book (also printed by Hat & Beard Press) that chronicles the making of the East Los Angeles cult classic. Morton would distance himself from street photography in the late 1990s to work solely in the entertainment industry, only to pick it up again in 2017— he began posting his old work on Instagram, where he’s amassed nearly 70,000 followers. He said using the social media platform has allowed him to reconnect with some of his past subjects — or if they were no longer alive, with their loved ones — who have added context to his images. One post popular on social media shows two photographs of a mother and her child taken 40 years apart. “I wouldn’t know about many of their stories without Instagram,” said Morton. “It’s surreal hearing about them.” He intends to continue posting his work in hopes that it reaches people unfamiliar with gang life. “I am trying to provoke some type of dialogue,” he said. “When I first went into these neighborhoods, I was instilled with this perception of violence,” Morton added. “But I quickly learned that [it’s] such a small part of these neighborhoods. It’s really all about family, culture and heritage. Hopefully, these are the stories that come out of it.” When asked if anyone had expressed concern that his work exploited or glorified gang violence, Morton said, “It’s a fine line,” explaining, “Sometimes the images are an avenue to start talking about how do we stop the killing or why are people killing each other.” For Marcos Cazarin, who posed for Morton in 1986, the photographer’s work is not exploitative — it’s recordatory. Cazarin, who was at the show opening, said the image of him posing with two friends in front of a mural of the crucifixion of Jesus is a reminder of the life he left behind. The photograph also graces the cover of Morton’s book. “I am a recovering addict,” said Cazarin. “Twenty-one years clean. It was a hard life for anyone growing up in that era. But I learned never to shut the back door. I always keep it open to remind myself where I don’t want to be again.” This article is taken from the April 25 edition of Latinx Files, a weekly newsletter about the American Latinx experience. Sign up at latimes.com/latinxfiles. SNAPSHOTS OF 40 YEARS OF SOCAL’S STREET GANG CULTURE “LA BAMBA, The 2 Bobs” (1986) unites Bob Morales, left, and Esai Morales. Photographs by Merrick Morton A SOLO ART SHOW, BOOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA RECONNECT PHOTOGRAPHER MERRICK MORTON TO HIS COMMUNITY CHRONICLE BY SARAH QUIÑONES WOLFSON “IT’S about respect,” says Merrick Morton of approaching his subjects. From left, “4 Home Girls From Cedros,” San Ysidro, 1983, and “WS 18th Street,” Pico Union, 1982. LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 E9

E10 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 WSCE LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. sctfa.org WEDNESDAY A Moon for the Daydreamers Primarily drawn from the Orange County Museum of Art’s permanent collection, this exhibition explores artists’ lunar inspirations, interpretations and our relationship with the cosmos. l Through Aug. 11. Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa ocma.art THURSDAY “Mix-Mix: The Filipino Adventures of a German Jewish Boy” The Latino Theater Co. and Playwrights Arena present the world premiere of Boni B. Alvarez’s World War II coming-ofage tale. l 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 4 p.m. Sundays. Los Angeles SUNDAY Alice Wang: We Are Extraterrestrial Influenced by Mayan pyramids and quantum computers, the L.A.- and Shanghai-based multimedia artist worked with a team to create a new set of ceramic sculptures, which will be shown with prints, a film and glass sculptures. l Through Aug. 3. Vincent Price Art Museum, East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park. vincentpriceartmuseum.org “Alma” Playwright Benjamin Benne’s drama about an immigrant single mom and her teenage daughter navigating their differing views of the American dream. l 3 p.m. Sundays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through May 26. Chance Theater, Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. chancetheater.com Clay LA 2024 The marketplace event celebrates its eighth year with ceramics, shopping, airdry clay activities and workshops. l 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. craftcontemporary.org TUESDAY “Come From Away” The hit Broadway musical about Canadian hospitality in the aftermath of 9/11 arrives in its latest touring production. l 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. broadwayinhollywood.com “Disney’s Aladdin” The musical favorite based on the 1992 movie about a young man with much to prove, a princess, a genie, a magic lamp and a flying carpet, gets a lift from songs by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. l 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Renée and Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown L.A. latinotheater co.org Topsy Turvy (A Musical Greek Vaudeville) Written and directed by artistic director Tim Robbins, this world premiere plays a limited engagement before heading to the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Sibiu, Romania, next month. l 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, through June 8; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26 and June 2. The Actors’ Gang Theater, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. theactorsgang.com “War Game” A preview screening and discussion of Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber’s new documentary, which follows a bipartisan group of U.S. defense, intelligence and elected policymakers as they participate in an unscripted future-set simulation of an American military coup. l 7:30 p.m. Thursday. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. hammer.ucla.edu FRIDAY Elina Garanca The Latvian mezzo-soprano teams with conductor Karel Mark Chichon on works by Giuseppe Verdi and others. l 7:30 p.m. Friday. Broad Stage, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica broadstage.org “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” Three hundred years after the reign of Caesar (the chimp, not the Roman), simian king Proximus Caesar threatens his predecessor’s legacy in this fourth installment of the reboot series (10th overall). l Starts Friday (with Thursday previews) in theaters. 20thcenturystudios.com “Slow” Marija Kavtaradze won the World Cinema directing award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival for this intimate romance between a contemporary dancer and a sign language interpreter. l Starts Friday, Laemmle Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A., kimstim.com SATURDAY Cruel World Duran Duran headlines this all-day festival of new wave, goth, post-punk and alternative oldies, including Blondie, Interpol, Simple Minds and the Jesus and Mary Chain. l Gates open 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Brookside at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. cruelworld fest.com Queen Esther The singer-multiinstrumentalist performs her repertoire of alt-country, jazz and Black Americana music. l 8 p.m. Saturday. Broad Stage, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica broadstage.org MAY 12 “Misalliance” Guillermo Cienfuegos directs George Bernard Shaw’s class satire set at an English countryside manor. l Through June 9. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena anoisewithin.org Yuja Wang The virtuoso pianist performs works by Frédéric Chopin, Claude Debussy and others. l 7:30 p.m. May 12. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com DURAN DURAN headlines the Cruel World festival in Pasadena on Saturday. Katja Ogrin Redferns via Getty Images TRISHA Miller in “Misalliance” at A Noise Within. Daniel Reichert THE WEEK AHEAD A CURATED PREVIEW OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MUSIC, MOVIES, THEATER AND THE ARTS Scan the code to download the FREE guides. The guides were created through the generous support of the Ballmer Group and features contributions from the Los Angeles Public Library, First 5 LA, Zero to Three, QSLA and others. Foster children’s vocabulary, confidence and imagination with “The First 5 Years” — a series of research-backed guides filled with expert advice, activities and more to help build literacy skills in children ages 0-5.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 7, 2024: A view of the Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica mountains on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. (Silvia Razgova / For The Times) WSCE Photographs by Silvia Rázgová For The Times; Stephanie Breijo Los Angeles Times Make your way to the fabled canyon community that's full of whimsy, beauty and neighborly love. L6-7 WEEKEND SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024

HILE RESEARCHING “Cultish,” her book on “the language of cults from Scientology to SoulCycle,” writer Amanda Montell kept coming across studies on cognitive biases, or common errors in thinking. Montell couldn’t help noticing that cognitive biases explained more than why some people became fanatics — they also explained many of her “own daily decisions in the information age” and the “seemingly confounding” behavior of other people in her life. ¶ Montell’s new book, “The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality” (Simon & Schuster), is her attempt to help people notice and name how their minds are making them miserable and then, hopefully, learn to avoid the traps. ¶ Montell spoke to The Times about the particular challenges of social media, what Taylor Swift has to do with the author’s mom, and more. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Psychologists and economists and other social scientists have been researching cognitive biases for decades, but you argue that understanding them is more important now than ever. Why is that? Cognitive biases, like the sunk-cost fallacy or recency illusion, are these innate psychological shortcuts that we’ve always taken to make sense of the world enough to survive it. These behaviors have been observed and documented for over 100 years. But they can newly explain so many of the irrationalities that are directly a product of the digital age. While the democratization of information has been incredible and a net positive thing for society, our minds, our amygdalae, have not caught up with the culture that we’ve created. These psychological shortcuts that we once made to process a much more limited amount of information from the physical world are now being applied to more abstract information — some of which is true, some of which is not — and causing us to have really miserable reactions. So we’re feeling a sort of nebulous, can’t-quiteput-our-finger-on-it sense of ennui, sense of languishing, sense of panic, fear for the future. We’re using these age-old shortcuts that were once very helpful in a new context in which they’re becoming slightly out of date. Cognitive biases can really explain so much of the nonsense that we are exposed to in society these days. In each chapter, you analyze a different behavior — sometimes cultural, sometimes personal — through the lens of a cognitive bias. The first chapter is about Taylor Swift fans, but it’s also about your mom. How does that chapter’s specific cognitive bias, the halo effect, explain both Swift stans and your own family dynamics? The halo effect describes our penchant to admire one thing about a person and then jump to the conclusion that they must be perfect overall. This bias stems from the ways we used to identify role models in our communities for survival purposes, but now we’re applying the halo effect to modern parasocial relationships, namely celebrities, in a way that is having serious deleterious consequences. I came across this pretty fascinating research reflecting how increasing stan worship is actually correlated in interesting ways to parent-child attachment. If we don’t experience enough “positive stressors” from our parental figures and communities in real life, we often look for those things in online spaces and virtual spaces, and that can really set us up for major side effects, from narcissistic tendencies to poor body image to criminality. The relationship between the surrogate “mother” — that is, the female pop star — and our attachments to our actual mothers is something I was really interested to explore. I talk about my personal experience involving those ideas and my own mom and finally coming around to the notion that my mom was a real person and we were able to move through that with empathy and communication. That goes two ways, but the fact that so many stans perceive celebrities like Taylor Swift as surrogate mothers of sorts is setting everybody up for psychological failure because the mode of communication is one-sided. The surrogate “mother” could never fulfill their wishes or live up to their standards and could also never humanize herself in a way that a mother could. In another chapter, you delve into the world of manifestation gurus and argue that their rise can be explained by “proportionality bias.” What is that and how does it work? Proportionality bias describes our proclivity to assume that a big event or even a big feeling must have had a big cause. It just makes proportional cause-and-effect sense to us to assume that, “Oh, a massive earth-shattering pandemic broke out, that couldn’t have been the result of a bunch of small random minor tragedies all adding up to this big one, instead the government must have engineered it on purpose.” Manifestation is another misattribution of cause-andeffect, just with a more positive spin: if I got a promotion, it’s because I put a dollar sign on my vision board. But in this time of mass isolation when we feel incredibly out of control and lacking agency in our futures, so many online manifestation gurus have seized our proportionality bias en masse by communicating this very absolutist idea that you can actually control your outcomes and improve your circumstances with your mind as long as you sign up for my $25-a-month course. One of the major features of the information age, as you call it, is social media. How does social media hijack our mind’s wiring and how can recognizing cognitive biases help us there? I can talk about this in a personal context. My day job for many years was working in the beauty industry. I thought, “I’m a mole and they’re not going to be able to get me,” and the joke was surely on me because just a couple of years into the beauty industry I felt like someone else’s blond only made me brunet-er. Then I left the beauty industry to write and thought, “Oh, thank God I’ve been freed from social comparison purgatory.” And again, the joke was on me because now I was comparing myself to other writers, nonfiction authors who are my age and had my same haircut. That was really devastating and caused me a lot of psychological turmoil. In the book, I offer some solutions to combat that zero-sum bias that causes you to go down a spiral. That’s the false perception that another person’s gain means your loss. And there was a time when another person’s access to food and mates really would mean your deficit, but that is not true in our modern economy. There’s actually a way to build more wealth no matter what area of life you’re talking about, but it’s innate to our species that we experience “win-win denial.” Especially during times of sociopolitical turbulence, we feel that if the government is helping one group, surely another group must be suffering. There’s fascinating research reflecting that when we feel culturally unmoored, people are more resistant to immigration because they start feeling that scarcity mind-set. You know, as I’m launching this book, you start to feel a little bit more competitive than you ordinarily would, so I’m truly returning to the ideas of zero-sum bias and win-win denial myself. It’s an ongoing process. Does knowing and naming these ideas help you fight them? I will never be able to prevent my instincts that point me in the direction of zero-sum bias or confirmation bias, but I will say that the awareness of them has been so soothing. When someone else’s behavior seems truly inexplicable or evil, even, I can pinpoint, “Oh, that is just overconfidence bias at play” in the same way that I noticed overconfidence bias in my own behavior. Or, “That is zero-sum bias, that is the recency illusion.” It just feels good to have an excuse not to write off your fellow humans being as defective. But I’ve also come across so many studies that had these actionable tidbits of wisdom. One I keep returning to is about additive versus subtractive solutions. I came across this really fascinating study about the tendency to solve problems by adding more variables to the equation even when a much simpler solution would involve taking one or two things away. The study involved a spatial puzzle involving colored blocks and the vast majority of the participants opted for the much more cumbersome additive solution instead of subtracting, because subtraction is just not how our minds are oriented. It reminded me of a relationship that was not serving me. I thought during our miserable times that what would help us would be adding a vacation or replacing our furniture or some totally over-the-top additive solution when the much better way to approach the problem would be to take something away, to break up, potentially. I have applied this framework even to minor problems. I was looking at my junk drawer and my first impulse was, I need to go to the Container Store and get some really beautiful drawer organizers. But the much simpler and more effective solution would be to throw this junk away. Angela Chen is a journalist. Find her work at angela chen.org. Maggie Chiang For The Times Simon & Schuster HORSE-AND-BUGGY BRAINS NAVIGATE DIGITAL WORLD ‘THE AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING’ AUTHOR SAYS OUR COPING MECHANISMS ARE BEING HIJACKED BY INFORMATION OVERLOAD AND ONLINE CULTURE. BY ANGELA CHEN W L2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 LATIMES.COM Shelf Help is a new wellness column where we interview researchers, thinkers and writers about their latest books — all with the aim of learning how to live a more complete life. AMANDA MONTELL says a halo effect can cause Taylor Swift superfans to see her as a surrogate mother. Kaitlyn Mikayla

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MANGO GWEN, above left, cheers on Hidhawk & Meanstreetz, whose show at Laundry Wand included the drummer drying his clothes. I F YOU’RE LUCKY, some concerts are free with RSVP. This one is free if you bring dirty laundry. ¶ Laundry Wand is a nondescript laundromat in Highland Park on a residential street a few blocks from the trendy bars and boutiques of Figueroa Street. Dozens of coin-operated washers and dryers line the aisles. Vending machines sell detergent and Takis. On this Friday night, there’s a drum set against a wall of dryers. Another one is set on top of a row of washers. Band T-shirts are spread out across machines by the entryway. It costs $10 to get in unless you’re doing laundry. Fliers for discounted fluff-and-fold services come with admission wristbands. At 8:30 p.m., the first band will play to the Laundry Wand’s biggest crowd since it hosted its first concert last June. ¶ Before the show starts, impatient concertgoers doodle on the steamy glass walls with their fingers. A crowd sporting green hair, skull tattoos and gigantic septum piercings blends with puffer vests, sweaters and responsible ear plugs. Before the music even starts, people stand on top of machines — one person is in a tabletop sink — to secure the best view. Some have been to Laundry Wand to see a show, others just to wash a duvet. Most seem to not know the bands by name, but the unusual setting drew them in. “I love live music and I love small venues and weird venues, so why not a laundromat?” says William Hourigan, who came from El Sereno after hearing about the event online. He frequents the nearby Lodge Room for live music and, as long as it’s inexpensive, prioritizes seeing artists he’s never heard of before. Before David Mollison, 50, opened Laundry Wand last April, the space was operating under a different name and ownership. Mollison, a London-born entrepreneur who currently runs vacation rentals and previously worked in the technology startup industry, had a goal of growing the laundromat business with pickup and delivery. He talks about it like a startup: “I wanted to get the business to 10 times where it started,” he says. But getting there hasn’t been as streamlined as anticipated. Mollison, who is white, has lived in Highland Park for 20 years and is raising his Jewish-Latino family there. Despite identifying as a local, he faced backlash upon opening Laundry Wand when an Instagram account dedicated to neighborhood news deemed him a gentrifier. He says he received dozens of hateful messages, some antisemitic, some targeting his children, and blames the post for killing business for weeks. The Instagram post was taken down, he says, but he wanted to find a way to show the neighborhood he was committed to meeting them where they were. He posted fliers for the business in English and Spanish, but they were continually removed from lampposts. “I was shaking a tree trying to figure out what would work,” he says. He considered offering coffee for those washing clothes. He debated hosting a Taco Tuesday, before deciding it was a “disingenuous” move. “In Highland Park, basically every other person is in a band. Kids need somewhere to play and watch their friends’ bands,” he says. Enter the live shows. When Mollison walked around the neighborhood with fliers advertising a rock show inside the laundromat, people got excited. “Every single person we spoke to came that night. People are dying for this kind of wonderful, novel thing. I wish it was a thousand people that wanted me to do their fluff-and-fold, of course. But at least this place will be in the mind of a lot of kids knowing it was a welcoming space,” he says. It isn’t the first of its kind. Mollison references SaGa Launder Bar and Cafe, a former Chicago laundromat with a bar inside, and reminisces about attending small raves inside laundromats in the ’90s in London. Here in L.A., Goyo Club, a YouTube channel, hosts Electric Cleaners, a DJ livestream series at an unnamed Koreatown laundromat — albeit without a live audience. The shows won him the affection of his neighbors, some of whom attend while others hang out in the parking lot and collect recyclables to redeem cash. He says only one neighbor has an issue with the noise. To appease her, he tried to shift from punk and hardcore to less aggressive musical genres. At least for a few shows. To the unenthusiastic neighbor’s dismay, this night’s lineup consists of experimental punk and noise artists, starting with Hidhawk & Meanstreetz, who perform an improvisational set banging on drums with everything from bike chains to feet. Midset, the drummer throws a load of laundry in the dryer behind him as the crowd hollers. Next, Mike Watt, best known as the bassist for Southern California punk band the Minutemen in the early 1980s, plays with his new band, the Mike Watt Quartet ft. Galecstasy & Lisa Cameron. With a face shrouded in mesh, a female vocalist sings in an eerie tone. A crochet maraca shakes along a funky bassline. Just when attendees who’ve scaled certain machines think they have the best vantage point, Muscle Beach begins performing from a second drum set on top of another row of machines. An amp is moved into the middle of the crowd; a guitar player appears in the middle of the crowd by the sink. It feels like a sauna. There are fewer phones out than one would expect. A few people tend to their laundry quietly. Some bop to the unpredictable beats; others stare. Everyone knows better than to mosh and damage any of the equipment. The novelty Mollison wanted to create is in full force. Nathan DiMercurio was walking his dog just an hour before when his friend Spenny Tungate drove up next to him and invited him to Laundry Wand. “I come here all the time to clean my clothes,” says Tungate, who started a load before the first band went on (and bypassed the $10 cover). The two are regulars at Frogtown venue Zebulon, also known for left-ofcenter performances. The music isn’t exactly DiMercurio’s cup of tea, but the offbeat setting makes it worth it. “It’s a spontaneous Friday night,” he says and shrugs. Julia Aoun drove up from Long Beach to catch the show with her boyfriend, who is a fan of the bands. “This isn’t my usual Friday night, but I’m down,” she says. “It’s so great how this place ranges from 12-year-olds to 70-year-olds. It’s a fun, eclectic group, which is always something to revel in.” Unlike other attendees, Alex Coletto and Tim Roch knew exactly what they were getting into. Members of the Orange County-based punk band X-Acto, Roch and Coletto performed at Laundry Wand in January. Tonight, they’re standing tall on top of washing machines to record the bands using a vintage Panasonic video camera. “We play all around L.A. One of our frequent spots is the Church of Fun, but we’ll play anywhere we’re booked. Of course this one is different because it’s a laundromat. … Unusual venues like this in L.A. come and go quickly. This one probably will too — it’s getting too popular already,” says Roch. They’re not wrong. There’s a nervous energy inside Laundry Wand. Rumors buzz that it might be the last show, that something this special and earnest can’t last. Outside of the concerts, Mollison has been hosting artists who want to film livestreams or music videos in the space; a fashion photo shoot is on the calendar. He wants to make the laundromat the go-to spot for musicians and artists. A contact he met at a Laundry Wand concert set him up with a recurring gig picking up bands’ dirty laundry from their hotels on tour stops in L.A. He hopes it might lead to a consistent rock star clientele. But if tonight’s show is any indication, the concert crowds are growing faster than anticipated, spilling onto the street. And not enough of them are doing laundry. Mollison plans to scale back and refocus the programming at the laundromat to be more directly tied to his ultimate goal — more laundry customers. “We’ll find a way to make these shows keep happening in some form. Maybe instead of free entry with laundry, you have to bring laundry to get in,” he says. Follow Laundry Wand on Instagram to stay up to date with upcoming events. DO YOUR LAUNDRY AND SEE A SHOW HIGHLAND PARK LAUNDROMAT BEAT SOME LOCALS’ WARINESS WITH FREE CONCERTS. BY LINA ABASCAL Photographs by Sinna Nasseri For The Times L4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 WSCE LATIMES.COM MUSICIAN Hidhawk sets up, top. Above, Laundry Wand owner David Mollison faced backlash and was called a gentrifier. 1DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 8/31/2024. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Buy one (1) window or entry/patio door,getone (1) window or entry/patio door 40% off, and 12 monthsno money down, no monthly payments, no interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or entry/patio doors between 5/1/2024 and 8/31/2024.Additional $100 off your purchase, minimum purchase of 4, taken after initial discount(s), when you purchase by 8/31/2024. 40% off windows and entry/patio doors are less than or equal to lowest cost window or entry/patio door in the order. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period.Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color,religion, national origin, gender,or familial status. 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