Southern California
Saigon Sentinel · Section
Coverage from Little Saigon, Orange County, Los Angeles, and the broader Southern California Vietnamese-American community.
- SoCal
California school district mass layoffs of teachers and staff spark union backlash
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) will lay off more than 27 full-time employees by the end of the 2025-2026 school year, citing a reduction in specific services.…
- SoCal
San Diego teachers reach tentative agreement to avert planned strike
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Unified School District and its teachers' union have reached a labor agreement, averting a one-day strike that was scheduled for Feb. 26.…
- SoCal
Lack of opposition to LA mayor and Santa Monica consensus draw political scrutiny
LOS ANGELES — Political analysts are questioning the lack of public opposition to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, noting a distinct silence from local officials who might otherwise challenge her leadership.…
- SoCal
Santa Monica takes over emergency services to boost revenue and improve patient care
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Monica Fire Department is launching two new initiatives to overhaul the city’s emergency medical response system, a move officials say will improve patient care while generating millions …
- SoCal
Plan to convert Inland Empire warehouse into immigration detention center raises concern
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Residents and local officials in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are sounding the alarm over reports that the Trump administration plans to convert commercial warehouses into massive immigrant d…
- SoCal
California launches civil rights probe into fatal wildfire response in Black community
LOS ANGELES — California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation Thursday into whether delayed evacuation orders during a deadly 2025 wildfire disproportionately impacted a historic Black commun…
- SoCal
Federal judge blocks California law banning immigration agents from wearing masks
A federal judge on Monday blocked a California law that would have prohibited federal immigration agents from wearing face coverings during operations. U.S.…
- SoCal
Hundreds of San Diego families face eviction as COVID aid runs out early
SAN DIEGO — Approximately 400 households in San Diego are at risk of losing their homes as a federal COVID-19 housing subsidy program runs out of money years earlier than expected.…
- SoCal
Los Angeles wildfires devastate local economy as rebuilding sparks construction job surge
LOS ANGELES — The Eaton and Palisades wildfires in January 2025 have triggered a localized economic crisis, with job losses soaring as high as 26% in the hardest-hit areas of Los Angeles County.…
- SoCal
Experts warn Trump’s energy policies will spark chaos and hike consumer costs
WASHINGTON – One year into his second term, President Donald Trump has aggressively dismantled U.S. decarbonization efforts, using executive orders and emergency declarations to prioritize a fossil fuel agenda.…
- SoCal
Santa Monica College to cut 70 jobs amid $16.7 million budget shortfall
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Santa Monica College (SMC) will eliminate approximately 70 positions as it grapples with a projected $16.7 million budget deficit that threatens to exhaust its financial reserves by the 2026-27 aca…
- SoCal
COVID-19 Did Not Reverse Progress in Reducing Global Inequality, New Study Finds
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed a decades-long decline in global inequality but failed to reverse the trend, according to a new study.…
- SoCal
Los Angeles County wins legal battle against Calabasas over wildfire debris dumping
LOS ANGELES — A Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of Los Angeles County in a lawsuit filed by the City of Calabasas regarding the disposal of debris from the Palisades Fire at the Calabasas Landfill.…
- SoCal
Mega Millions jackpot swells to $323 million after no winner in latest drawing
The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $323 million for Tuesday’s drawing after no ticket matched all six numbers on Friday night.…
- SoCal
San Diego migrant arrests soar 1,500% as border crossings surge
SAN DIEGO — Immigration arrests in San Diego and Imperial counties surged nearly 1,500% during a six-month period in 2025 compared to the same timeframe in 2024, according to a CalMatters analysis of federal data.…
- SoCal
UCLA study warns toxic chemicals at California ports pose health risks to residents
A toxic pesticide remains in widespread use across California two decades after federal officials recommended its phase-out, according to a new study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).…
- SoCal
California suspect arrested for robbing two Poway massage parlors at knifepoint
POWAY, Calif. — Authorities arrested a 22-year-old man Monday morning on suspicion of robbing two massage parlors at knifepoint over the weekend.…
- SoCal
Trump overrides local rules to take control of California wildfire rebuilding
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week granting federal agencies the authority to oversee building permits for homes and businesses destroyed in last year’s Los Angeles wildfires, bypassing state and …
- SoCal
Anaheim City Manager retains post despite controversy over undisclosed trip
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim City Manager Jim Vanderpool will remain in his position following a Jan. 27 closed-door City Council meeting regarding his failure to disclose a 2020 trip funded by the local Chamber of Commerce…
- SoCal
California authorities arrest 120 in sex trafficking sting targeting sex buyers
A multi-agency law enforcement operation targeting sex trafficking led to 120 arrests across California, officials announced Monday. The initiative, dubbed "Operation Stand On Demand," took place from Jan. 19 to Jan.…