Skip to Content
News

Headlines: ‘Birria’ Added to the Dictionary; Tropical Storm to Drop a ‘Year’s Worth’ of Rain

Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.

—Tropical Storm Kay could potentially drop a "year's worth of rain" on drought-stricken Southern California today, raising fears of dangerous flooding. [CNN]

—Merriam-Webster has added the word "birria" to its dictionaries with the definition: "a Mexican dish of stewed meat seasoned especially with 'chili' peppers. [MW]."

—All northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway will be shut down at night in the next week to make repairs from the Route Fire. [ABC]

—Two people are dead after a plane crash yesterday at the Santa Monica Airport. [CBS]

—The term “squaw” will be scrubbed from 80 geographic features across California. [KTLA]

—15 "tiny houses" housing homeless veterans were destroyed by a fire at the Veterans Administration’s West Los Angeles Campus this morning. [KTLA]

—The L.A. Rams lost their first game of the NFL season, against the Buffalo Bills. [BBC]

—7 of the best art projects "and oddities" from this year's Burning Man. [Art Majeur]

—An argument in Downtown escalated into the fatal shooting of one man in his thirties last night. [ABC]

—Low income communities in Los Angeles are feeling the worst effects of the ongoing heat wave. [MSNBC]

—The trial of an FBI agent accused of selling classified information to the Armenian Mafia for cash, vacations, a motorcycle, and the services of a sex worker will begin next week in L.A. [LA Mag]

—Human trafficking victims from China were discovered at a cannabis farm in the Mojave Desert, where they were working without pay, growing and trimming herb for dispensaries. [NBC]

—Chipotle is hitting back at a thieving burrito scheme made viral on TikTok by removing the option order a taco online. [Yahoo!]

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

15 Food and Drink Fundraisers To Support L.A. Wildfire Relief

Here are 15 fundraisers at L.A. bars and restaurants to support first-responders and neighbors affected by the tragic fires via eating and drinking, including pizza pop-ups, oyster festivals, and superhero tacos.

January 17, 2025

Palisades Taquero Sued By Ralphs Returns To Feed First Responders

Gracias Señor's customers in Pacific Palisades were 70% locals, including many students from the local high school that burned down. On the day the fire started, taquero Rudy Barrientos barely made it out in time to not have to abandon his popular food truck. Through World Central Kitchen, he's been serving the first responders who are working the graveyard shift breakfast burritos. As for the future, he doesn't know where he will set up next.

January 16, 2025

Finding Burnt Pages of Books in Your Yard? Wildfire Experts Say That’s Normal

“Although it certainly offers a dramatic visual, seeing partially burnt pages from books and newspapers fall from this sky is an all-to-familiar experience for anyone who has experienced a major fire that destroyed numerous structures,” climate scientist Daniel Swain told L.A. TACO.

January 16, 2025

The Palisades I Loved, Then and Now

A West L.A.-raised photographer looks back at his sacred place in high school, turning his lens on the ruins that remain.

January 15, 2025

As Los Angeles Burns, Immigrants Mobilize

“We need to support each other. If we don’t do it, nobody’s going to do it,” one of the volunteers said through his N-95 mask.

January 15, 2025
See all posts