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Today: January 19, 2025
Today: January 19, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Economy

Work requirements don't work for domestic violence survivors – but Michigan data shows they rarely get waivers they should receive for cash assistance

Denying waivers to survivors of domestic violence can hinder their independence from their abusers. Alvaro Medina Jurado/Moment via Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Very few people who have survived domestic violence are getting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) waivers from the work requirements and time limits tied to those benefits – even though they’re eligible for them, according to our new research. State governments administer the federal TANF program, commonly known as welfare or cash assistance, in accordance with their own guidelines. Federal law allows states to grant

Work requirements don't work for domestic violence survivors – but Michigan data shows they rarely get waivers they should receive for cash assistance
World

Protests, poisoning and prison: The life of Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny

In a span of a decade, Alexei Navalny has gone from the Kremlin’s biggest foe to Russia’s most prominent political prisoner. Already serving two convictions that have landed him in prison for at least nine years, he faces a new trial that could keep him behind for two more decades. The first court hearing occurred Monday in Penal Colony No. 6, where Navalny is being held, in the town of Melekhovo, about 230 kilometers (over 140 miles) east of Moscow. A look at Navalny’s life, political activism and the charges he has faced through the years: June

Protests, poisoning and prison: The life of Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny
Environment

Arsenic contamination of food and water is a global public health concern – researchers are studying how it causes cancer

One symptom of arsenic poisoning is the growth of plaques on the skin called arsenical keratosis. Anita Ghosh/REACH via Flickr, CC BY Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth’s crust. Exposure to arsenic, often through contaminated food and water, is associated with various negative health effects, including cancer. Arsenic exposure is a global public health issue. A 2020 study estimated that up to 200 million people wordwide are exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water at levels above the legal limit of 10 parts per billion set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization. More than

Arsenic contamination of food and water is a global public health concern – researchers are studying how it causes cancer
Health

Birth of a story: How new parents find meaning after childbirth hints at how they will adjust

Having a new baby can upend everything about your old life. Cavan Images/Cavan via Getty Images Gather a group of new parents and the conversation will likely turn to their childbirth stories – ranging from the joyful to the gnarly to the positively traumatic. Birth story podcasts and websites feature a curated range of birth experiences, and you can buy embossed leather “birth story” journals as a baby shower gift. People are fascinated by this pivotal, emotionally complex and literally life-and-death experience. Birth narratives might also contain clues about how the adjustment to parenthood will go. People have long used

Birth of a story: How new parents find meaning after childbirth hints at how they will adjust
Environment

Is there life in the sea that hasn't been discovered?

The Rose-veiled fairy wrasse, a small reef fish discovered in 2022. Luiz A. Rocha/Wikimedia Commons Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Is there life in the sea that hasn’t been discovered? – Haven W., age 12, McKinney, Texas Imagine going to a place on Earth where no one has ever been. There are many locations like that in the ocean, which covers more than 70% of our planet. In the ocean, creatures live at many different depths, just as animals and

Is there life in the sea that hasn't been discovered?
Arts

How building more backyard homes, granny flats and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis

A newly built accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles. Alisha Jucevic/The Washington Post via Getty Images To many people, the image of a nuclear family in a stand-alone house with a green lawn and white picket fence still represents a fulfillment of the American dream. However, this ideal is relatively new within a broader history of housing and development in the U.S. It’s also a goal that has become increasingly unattainable. As professors of architecture, we explore how cities change over time, and how certain building trends become commonplace through cultural, political, technological and economic shifts. Over the past century,

How building more backyard homes, granny flats and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis
World

FIFA Women’s World Cup Guide: How to watch, schedule and betting favorites

The United States will be playing for an unprecedented three-peat at the Women’s World Cup this summer. It won’t be easy for the world’s No. 1 team. Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the quadrennial tournament for international soccer’s most coveted trophy kicks off July 20 and features an expanded field of 32 teams, up from 24. There are 64 total matches during the tournament. That means more competition for the two-time defending World Cup champion U.S., which won the 2015 event in Canada and the 2019 tournament in France. The Americans have won four titles overall, most of any

FIFA Women’s World Cup Guide: How to watch, schedule and betting favorites
Arts

A community can gentrify without losing its identity -- examples from Pittsburgh, Boston and Newark of what works

A street mural by Manuel Acevedo at Halsey Place in Newark, N.J. Anthony Alvarez, CC BY-NC-ND How can neighborhoods gentrify without erasing their heart and voice? It’s an important question to ask now, I’d suggest, since many communities across the U.S. are at risk of losing their historical identities as new people and businesses move in, displacing residents and affecting the fabric of the community. This process is known as gentrification, and while a neighborhood “upgrade” can bring new vitality, diversity and opportunity, that is a win only if existing residents and businesses are not forced or priced out. How

A community can gentrify without losing its identity -- examples from Pittsburgh, Boston and Newark of what works
Arts

Historians are learning more about how the Nazis targeted trans people

Patrons at the Eldorado, a popular LGBTQ cabaret in Berlin during the Weimar years. Herbert Hoffmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images In the fall of 2022, a German court heard an unusual case. It was a civil lawsuit that grew out of a feud on Twitter about whether transgender people were victims of the Holocaust. Though there is no longer much debate about whether gay men and lesbians were persecuted, there’s been very little scholarship on trans people during this period. The court took expert statements from historians, including myself, before finding that the historical evidence shows that trans people were,

Historians are learning more about how the Nazis targeted trans people
Political

Political compromises – like the debt-limit deal – have never been substitutes for lasting solutions

Will the debt ceiling bill negotiated by President Joe Biden, left, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy be a lasting solution? AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The compromise to avoid default on the U.S. debt passed muster, eventually. President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy pulled it off. The nation can breathe, at least for the next two years. And yet, the far right is unhappy, many Democrats from the progressive wing are similarly annoyed, and the gnawing problem – the ballooning national debt – that is at the bottom of this compromise hasn’t gone away. But isn’t this

Political compromises – like the debt-limit deal – have never been substitutes for lasting solutions
Political

US, Chinese warships' near miss in Taiwan Strait hints at ongoing troubled diplomatic waters, despite chatter about talks

The USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship cross into its path. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre T. Richard/U.S. Navy via AP An encounter in which a Chinese naval ship cut across the path of a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on June 3, 2023, has both Beijing and Washington pointing fingers at each other. It was the second near miss in the space of just a few weeks; in late May a Chinese plane crossed in front of an American surveillance aircraft above the South China Sea. Meredith Oyen, an expert on China-U.S. relations at the University

US, Chinese warships' near miss in Taiwan Strait hints at ongoing troubled diplomatic waters, despite chatter about talks
Economy

UK PM Sunak visits Washington to strengthen ties, watch baseball – having already struck out on trade deal

‘I don’t drink coffee, I take tea’ — the quintessential Englishman in, well, D.C. Paul Faith/WPA Pool/Getty Images Alongside meetings with President Joe Biden, U.S. business leaders and members of Congress, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will take in a baseball game during a Washington trip that starts June 7, 2023. He may be given the honor of throwing out the first pitch; many at home will be hoping he doesn’t drop the ball. It is a high-stakes visit for Sunak, his first to Washington since becoming prime minister in October 2022. The British leader will be keen to showcase

UK PM Sunak visits Washington to strengthen ties, watch baseball – having already struck out on trade deal
Political

Kakhovka dam breach: 3 essential reads on what it means for Ukraine's infrastructure, beleaguered nuclear plant and future war plans

The breach of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine could have lasting ecological and health impacts. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP A dam that supplies drinking water to thousands of Ukrainians as well as cooling water for reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station was ruptured on June 6, 2023. Kyiv blamed the destruction on Moscow, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slamming “Russian terrorists” for destroying the Kakhovka dam and the adjacent hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River. Meanwhile, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of “deliberate sabotage,” noting that the reservoir is a crucial resource for the people of Crimea, a Ukrainian

Kakhovka dam breach: 3 essential reads on what it means for Ukraine's infrastructure, beleaguered nuclear plant and future war plans
World

Student loan payments start again soon. Supreme Court’s ruling means higher bills for many

In a good month, Celina Chanthanouvong has about $200 left after rent, groceries and car insurance. That doesn’t factor in her student loans, which have been on hold since the start of the pandemic and are estimated to cost $300 a month. The pause in repayment has been a lifeline keeping the 25-year-old afloat. “I don’t even know where I would begin to budget that money,” said Chanthanouvong, who works in marketing in San Francisco. Now, after more than three years, the lifeline is being pulled away. More than 40 million Americans will be on the hook

Student loan payments start again soon. Supreme Court’s ruling means higher bills for many
Environment

Peaches are a minor part of Georgia's economy, but they're central to its mythology

The Peach Drop celebration marks the new year in Atlanta on Jan. 1, 2023. Paras Griffin/Getty Images The 2023 Georgia peach harvest is looking bad, although the details are sketchy. By some accounts, it’s the worst since 1955. Or maybe since 2017. There are estimates that a mild winter and late spring frost have cost Georgia growers 50% of their crop. Or perhaps 60%, or 85% to 95%. Consumers, say the growers, should expect less fruit, though what’s produced may be “fantastic and huge and sweet.” And they should expect to pay quite a bit more. As ominous as this

Peaches are a minor part of Georgia's economy, but they're central to its mythology
Economy

Why insurance companies are pulling out of California and Florida, and how to fix some of the underlying problems

Wildfires can destroy hundreds of homes within hours. PH2(AW/SW) Michael J. Pusnik, Jr / Navy Visual News Service / AFP via Getty Images When the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 property and casualty insurance companies – State Farm and Allstate – confirmed that they would stop issuing new home insurance policies in California, it may have been a shock but shouldn’t have been a surprise. It’s a trend Florida and other hurricane- and flood-prone states know well. Insurers have been retreating from high-risk, high-loss markets for years after catastrophic events. Hurricane Andrew’s unprecedented US$16 billion in insured losses across

Why insurance companies are pulling out of California and Florida, and how to fix some of the underlying problems
Health

Mounting research documents the harmful effects of social media use on mental health, including body image and development of eating disorders

The hours spent – and the content viewed – by teens on social media can lead to depression, anxiety and body image issues. Mixmike/E+via Getty Images Media influences and conventional beauty standards have long plagued society. This issue took on new urgency in May 2023 when the U.S. surgeon general issued a major public advisory over the links between social media and youth mental health. Research shows that images of beauty as depicted in movies, television and magazines can lead to mental illness, issues with disordered eating and body image dissatisfaction. These trends have been documented in women and men, in

Mounting research documents the harmful effects of social media use on mental health, including body image and development of eating disorders
Political

Mike Pence is jockeying against Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination – joining the ranks of just one vice president who, in 1800, also ran against a former boss

Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence appear together in November 2020. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork to declare his candidacy for president on June 5, 2023 – placing him in unusual ranks. While 18 of the 49 former vice presidents have gone on to run for president, it’s rare for vice presidents to run against their former bosses. Six of these former vice presidents, including President Joe Biden, were ultimately elected president. Pence, alongside other candidates, officially announced his bid on June 7. Pence and former President Donald Trump have had

Mike Pence is jockeying against Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination – joining the ranks of just one vice president who, in 1800, also ran against a former boss
World

The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday

Many Americans are celebrating Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts. The U.S. government was slow to embrace the occasion — it was only in 2021 that President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to set aside Juneteenth, or June 19th, as a federal holiday. And just as many people learn what Juneteenth is all about,

The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday
World

The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday

Many Americans are celebrating Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts. The U.S. government was slow to embrace the occasion — it was only in 2021 that President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to set aside Juneteenth, or June 19th, as a federal holiday. And just as many people learn what Juneteenth is all about,

The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday
Arts

Messi is heading to the US as Saudi Arabia kicks off bidding war with MLS for aging soccer stars

Karim Benzema — taking the money and running into the box. AP Photo/Hussein Malla The announcements on consecutive days that the storied Real Madrid and France soccer star Karim Benzema is joining the Saudi Pro League and that Lionel Messi, thought by many to be soccer’s GOAT, intends to play in the United States’ Major League Soccer may mark the beginning of a new international bidding war for superannuated soccer stars. MLS has for many years been recruiting aging talent from big European clubs, but the Saudi interest is new. Benzema’s move to Al-Ittihad – costing more than US$200 million

Messi is heading to the US as Saudi Arabia kicks off bidding war with MLS for aging soccer stars
Education

Cost and lack of majors are among the top reasons why students leave for-profit colleges

Students who attend for-profit colleges on average have higher student loan debt than those who attend public institutions. FatCamera via Getty Images For the majority of students, the college where they enroll is often the one from where they will graduate. But not so for the approximately 1 million students who transfer each year from one school to another. Of these 1 million, about 100,000 students transfer from one of the approximately 2,300 for-profit universities that exist in the U.S. That’s a sizable portion of the approximately 777,000 students who attend for-profit colleges. As researchers who specialize in higher education,

Cost and lack of majors are among the top reasons why students leave for-profit colleges
Economy

Arrests of 3 members of an Atlanta charity's board in a SWAT-team raid is highly unusual and could be unconstitutional

Police arrested three people who have been aiding protesters at this Atlanta house in May 2023. AP Photo/Kate Brumback On May 31, 2023, the Atlanta Police Department deployed a SWAT team to arrest Marlon Kautz, Adele MacLean and Savannah Patterson. These three people weren’t fugitives from justice or drug kingpins, but rather volunteer board members of a local charity. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation then charged these trustees of the Network for Strong Communities Inc. with charity fraud and money laundering. Charges under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a very expansive state version of federal RICO laws,

Arrests of 3 members of an Atlanta charity's board in a SWAT-team raid is highly unusual and could be unconstitutional
Arts

Astrud Gilberto spread bossa nova to a welcoming world – but got little love back in Brazil

Astrud Gilberto backstage at New York City’s Birdland Jazz Club in 1964. Popsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images Astrud Gilberto didn’t set out to be an ambassador of bossa nova, the laid-back Brazilian musical genre with rhythms recognizable to music lovers around the world. According to Gilberto, who died on June 5, 2023, at the age of 83, she wasn’t expecting to be on the 1964 recording of “The Girl from Ipanema” – the song for which she is best remembered. At the time of the recording, she wasn’t even a professional singer. But Gilberto’s breathy singing voice –

Astrud Gilberto spread bossa nova to a welcoming world – but got little love back in Brazil
Health

WHO's recommendation against the use of artificial sweeteners for weight loss leaves many questions unanswered

Sugar alternatives go by many names including artificial sweeteners, low-calorie sweeteners and nonsugar sweeteners. Marie LaFauci/Moment via Getty Images Do low-calorie sweeteners help with weight management? And are they safe for long-term use? This is among the most controversial topics in nutritional science. In early May 2023, the World Health Organization issued a statement that cautions against the use of nonsugar sweeteners for weight loss except for people who have preexisting diabetes. The WHO based its new recommendation on a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of scientific studies on nonsugar sweetener consumption in humans. This type of study reviews a

WHO's recommendation against the use of artificial sweeteners for weight loss leaves many questions unanswered

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