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L.A. TACO

L.A. TACO STAFF

News

Headlines: Former Mongols Leader Accused of Being Informant For The Feds; U.S. Marine Gets 16 Years For Heading Drug Cartel

Melissa Mora Hidalgo was born in Montebello and grew up in the L.A./O.C. borderlands of East Whittier and La Habra. She holds a Ph. D. in Literature from UC San Diego and is the author of Mozlandia: Morrissey Fans in the Borderlands (Headpress UK, 2016).

Melissa Mora Hidalgo

Drink

Find The Only L.A.-Made Sake at This Covina Brewery, and Beer Made with Rice and Tea

Sam Ribakoff is a reporter, journalism teacher, communicator for labor unions, and a nice guy from Long Beach.

a man stands in front of a mural with a pig in a police hat being crossed out

Sam Ribakoff

Politics

Voter Guide: Know Your District’s City Council Candidate, Including Who Donated to Their Campaign

Headlines: Downtown Dispensary Robbed 2 Weeks After Opening; The DNA of the Corn Tortilla

Kamren Curiel is a fourth-generation Chicana born in East L.A. and raised in South San Gabriel. She&#8217;s written for the L.A.Times, Latina, LAist, KCET, Huffington Post, and was the L.A. Editor for Remezcla.com.

Kamren Curiel

Community

Elephant Hill Has Become a ‘Secret’ Off-Road Area In El Sereno, But Residents Are Defending It At All Costs

Events

Weekend Events ~ Lil Kim and Janelle Monae At Pride, Los Lobos For Ukraine, Whole Hog BBQ, and A Zoot Suit Riot Memorial Cruise

Headlines: Mayan Maize God Statue Found in Mexico; DJ’s Quik’s Son Charged With Downey Murder

Janette Villafana is an award-winning bilingual multimedia journalist. Her heart lies in community-based reporting, and her work is highly centered on showcasing and uplifting community voices, with a significant focus on the Latino community. She developed her beat at L.A. TACO, covering street vending communities in Los Angeles. Past work has been featured on NBC, LAist, Latino Rebels, and more. She is currently featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington in an exhibit titled “¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.”

Janette Villafana

Featured

‘The Goal Is to Empower Them:’ Stylists Offer Free Hair and Makeup For Prom to ‘Special Population’ Students In Huntington Park

The L.A. TACO Voter Guide: A ‘Progressive Sheriff’ Candidate and  a ‘People’s Judge’

Headlines: L.A. Water Restrictions Go Into Effect Today; Debating the Term “Cali”