Truthdig Debate Highlights

Staff / Truthdig Jun 7, 2007 On May 22, Sam Harris and Chris Hedges debated religion and politics in Los Angeles. Here is a condensed audio version of the event, broadcast on KPFK's "Beneath the Surface" with Suzi Weissman. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

L.A. Police Chief: ‘It All Broke Down’

Staff / Truthdig May 30, 2007 As he delivered a report on the May Day incident to the Los Angeles Police Commission, Chief William Bratton acknowledged that his officers made mistakes born out of a breakdown in communication. Video of riot police firing rubber bullets into an apparently peaceful and compliant gathering of immigration protesters on May 1 sparked public outrage and an investigation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Transgender Sportswriter Surprised by Tolerance

Staff / Truthdig May 15, 2007 One would think the sports world would be the last place a transgender person could happily transition from one sex to another, but to Christine Daniels' surprise, the opposite has been true. Daniels tells Newsweek about the fallout -- or lack thereof -- from her decision to stop being Mike Penner, a popular sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and resume her career with confidence, a new wardrobe and no writer's block. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

L.A. Police Chief Sides With Marchers

Staff / Truthdig May 7, 2007 As many as 60 LAPD officers have been pulled from the streets, following a violent clash with protesters on May 1. Chief William Bratton has called some of the actions of the officers, who attempted to break up an apparently peaceful and lawful rally by firing 148 rubber bullets, "indefensible." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

L.A. Police, Crowds Clash at May Day Rally

Staff / Truthdig May 3, 2007 Around 35,000 protesters marched for immigrants' and workers' rights in Los Angeles on May Day, according to the L.A. Times. Other sources give higher numbers for this year's turnout. The rallies continued without major incident until the early evening, when police in riot gear arrived to break up a gathering at MacArthur Park. Watch the clip Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Most Polluted City in America

Staff / Truthdig May 1, 2007 Citizens of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit and elsewhere, take a breath. Though your air is polluted, your lungs inflamed and your children at risk, you can rest assured that your city is not the most smog-ridden in the country. That dishonor belongs to Los Angeles, which has the worst air quality in the nation, according to the American Lung Association. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Discrimination Claim at L.A. Times

Staff / Truthdig Apr 27, 2007 Los Angeles Times Managing Editor Doug Frantz is facing accusations of discrimination for refusing to run a report about the Armenian genocide written by Mark Arax, a seasoned LAT writer of Armenian origin. Frantz claims Arax was biased in his take on the issue, but Armenian community leader Harut Sassounian says there's a much bigger story behind Frantz's move. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Los Angeles Battles Chicago for Olympic Glory

Staff / Truthdig Apr 13, 2007 Two of America's great cities are going head to head for the opportunity to host the 2016 Olympic Games. With radically different cultures, Chicago hopes its work ethic and business savvy will impress the U.S. Olympic Committee, while L.A. is banking on experience and Hollywood-caliber glitz. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Cashes In at Hollywood Fundraiser

Staff / Truthdig Feb 21, 2007 Barack Obama took in $1.3 million Tuesday from an L.A. fundraiser organized by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. Hollywood is a crucial pit stop on the road to the White House for Democratic candidates as they build their war chests, especially with so many contenders in the field. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Immigration Rally Is Largest in L.A. History

Staff / Truthdig Mar 27, 2006 An estimated crowd of more than 500,000 thronged downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to protest a tightening of the country's immigration laws. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )