Lorena Iñiguez Elebee, Los Angeles Times Journalist Profile

Articles

Can fire-gutted suburbs rebuild safer? Here’s what the experts say

Mar 16, 2025 | businessandamerica.com | David Wharton |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee

The wildfires that devastated Southern California, reducing entire neighborhoods to checkerboards of ash, have left behind tough questions about how to rebuild in this land of dry brush and wind. The answers might involve more than just new homes made of flame-resistant materials. Altadena and Pacific Palisades — essentially reduced to blank slates — have a chance to reimagine themselves in a fundamentally safer way, experts who study wildfire behavior say.
Can fire-gutted suburbs rebuild safer? Here's what the experts say

Mar 12, 2025 | nz.news.yahoo.com | David Wharton |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee

The wildfires that devastated Southern California, reducing entire neighborhoods to checkerboards of ash, have left behind tough questions about how to rebuild in this land of dry brush and wind. The answers might involve more than just new homes made of flame-resistant materials. Altadena and Pacific Palisades — essentially reduced to blank slates — have a chance to reimagine themselves in a fundamentally safer way, experts who study wildfire behavior say.
Search your stash: 538 cannabis pesticide tests show what's in your weed

Dec 19, 2024 | latimes.com | Paige St. John |Sean Greene |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee

California’s testing requirements for cannabis products contain major gaps. To understand what’s being missed and what consumers are exposed to, the Los Angeles Times bought more than 150 products from licensed stores, as well as from tobacco shops and illicit vendors, and had them tested at three state-licensed labs, Anresco Laboratories, SC Labs and Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs. Those tests were conducted without the labs knowing what brand they tested.
Mayor Bass said she'd save LA's shelter animals. More dogs and cats are dying

Nov 22, 2024 | thebrunswicknews.com | Dakota Smith |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee
Mayor Bass said she’d save LA’s shelter animals. More dogs and cats are dying

Nov 22, 2024 | gazettextra.com | Dakota Smith |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee
Mayor Bass said she’d save LA’s shelter animals. More dogs and cats are dying

Nov 22, 2024 | thederrick.com | Dakota Smith |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee
Mayor Bass said she’d save LA’s shelter animals. More dogs and cats are dying

Nov 22, 2024 | miamiherald.com | Dakota Smith |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee

LOS ANGELES - Jake, a tawny 2-year-old mutt in L.A.'s West Valley shelter, wasn't doing well. After six months at the shelter, he was running back and forth and jumping in his kennel. So shelter workers put him on the euthanasia list in September. "With the current staff we are unable to fulfill his enrichment needs and it is inhumane to continue housing in a shelter environment," the workers' notes said.
Mayor Bass said she’d save LA’s shelter animals. More dogs and cats are dying

Nov 22, 2024 | swoknews.com | Dakota Smith |Lorena Iñiguez Elebee

LOS ANGELES — Jake, a tawny 2-year-old mutt in L.A.’s West Valley shelter, wasn’t doing well. After six months at the shelter, he was running back and forth and jumping in his kennel. kAm$@ D96=E6C H@C<6CD AFE 9:> @? E96 6FE92?2D:2 =:DE :? $6AE6>36C]k^AmkAm“(:E9 E96 4FCC6?E DE277 H6 2C6 F?23=6 E@ 7F=7:== 9:D 6?C:49>6?E ?665D 2?5 :E :D :?9F>2?6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 9@FD:?8 :? 2 D96=E6C 6?G:C@?>6?E[” E96 H@C<6CD’ ?@E6D D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 ?F>36C @7 5@8D 6FE92?:K65 :? 2?:>2= D96=E6CD CF?
How mold, heavy metals and pesticides can contaminate weed products

Jun 14, 2024 | latimes.com | Lorena Iñiguez Elebee |Paige St. John

A Los Angeles Times/WeedWeek investigation found poisons in some of California’s weed products deemed to be safe. The chemicals, used to control pests and mold, can make their way into cannabis products at several points in the growing process. And many are concentrated in the manufacture of oils for vaping. Legal weed is required to be screened for many of these poisons, but they still show up in the market.
How heavy metal- and pesticide-contaminated weed affects your health

Jun 14, 2024 | latimes.com | Lorena Iñiguez Elebee |Paige St. John

A Los Angeles Times investigation shows how the toxic elements make their way first into the plant, then the products and finally the users. Cannabis’ accelerated growth and respiration rate cause it to act like an unnatural sponge. It takes up and concentrates heavy metals and pesticides in the soil and air — even trace amounts that drift on the wind from nearby farms or seep out of treated wood and old drywall. The process of making vape oils can concentrate these chemicals tenfold.

Journalists covering the same region

Bill Esparza

Freelance Writer at Eater

Bill Esparza primarily covers news in Los Angeles, California, United States and surrounding areas including Long Beach and Santa Monica.

Michele Gile

Reporter at KCBS-TV (Los Angeles, CA)

Reporter at KCAL-TV (Los Angeles, CA)

Michele Gile primarily covers news in the Greater Los Angeles area, including cities like Long Beach and surrounding regions in California, United States.