Julia Barajas

1 week ago | laist.com | Julia Barajas

California students are responsible for a significant amount of federal student loan debt. A series of recent actions by the Trump administration and Congress could have future students re-considering if they want to join that pool. • The president has diminished the Department of Education. • He’s issued an executive order that to public servants whose work he’s deemed “illegal,” including providing aid for undocumented immigrants or gender-affirming care.

2 weeks ago | laist.com | Julia Barajas

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom. Support LAist by giving now . Author and journalist Héctor Tobar has participated in the L.A. Times Festival of Books since 1999. This year, he’ll be part of a roundtable celebrating the festival’s 30th anniversary. It’s a big milestone for the reporter-turned-author; participating in the festival means a lot to Tobar. Early on in his career, “it was a symbol of having arrived as a writer,” he said.

3 weeks ago | laist.com | Julia Barajas

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom. Support LAist by giving now . How it will work: Through a new data-sharing agreement, the Student Aid Commission will identify students who haven’t applied for aid. Then, the agency will send those students emails and postcards to let them know they still have time.

3 weeks ago | laist.com | Julia Barajas

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom. Support LAist by giving now . Why it matters: Admission to panels with popular authors often runs out fast. (It’s already too late to get a ticket to the event with bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.)Who will be there this year? This year’s lineup runs the gamut, from politician Stacey Abrams, who wrote the children’s book Stacey Speaks Up, to poet and novelist . You can explore the full schedule .

3 weeks ago | laist.com | Julia Barajas

LAist relies on reader donations to power our nonprofit newsroom. Support LAist by giving now . The Department of Homeland Security said agents who attempted to speak with students at last week were there to conduct “wellness checks” on unaccompanied immigrant children to ensure their safety. Representatives from multiple immigrant children’s defense groups told LAist these efforts could be a tool for removing unaccompanied minors from the country.