Megan Jamerson

1 week ago | kcrw.com | Megan Jamerson

As global brands and shipping companies begin to cancel sailings of goods from China in response to President Trump's trade war, Southern California's logistics industry faces growing uncertainty. Los Angeles and Long Beach combined make up the largest port complex in the western hemisphere. Port officials in Long Beach say they expect a 20% decrease in freight volume during the second half of this year, while port officials in Los Angeles expect a 10% decrease.

2 weeks ago | kcrw.com | Megan Jamerson

Every so often, labor unions in Los Angeles add a little pizzazz to their protests. A little creative expression. A little performance art. Take March 28 for instance, when former cashiers, cooks, and servers of the Original Pantry Cafe swapped protest chants for cries of "free pancakes!" Downtown commuters walking past the shuttered South Figueroa Street diner swung their heads around, and some stopped to eat during the sidewalk breakfast.

3 weeks ago | kcrw.com | Megan Jamerson

The Palisades and Eaton Fires generated approximately 4.5 million tons of ash and debris, according to local and federal authorities. A lot of this could end up in landfills and recycling centers throughout Southern California. LA County Department of Public Works originally identified 17 permitted locations where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) could take this debris across the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, and Kings.

4 weeks ago | kcrw.com | Megan Jamerson

The Eaton Fire destroyed Delores Abdus-Shakoor's family home, real estate business, and Masjid Al-Taqwa, the mosque her family helped to found in the 1970s. Now, two months after the devastating blaze, Abdus-Shakoor is focused on celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (Feb. 28 to Mar. 29, 2025) with no permanent gathering spot and many families displaced. "It's almost like a film. It's almost unreal," says Abdus-Shakoor. "Life goes on.

1 month ago | kcrw.com | Megan Jamerson

On a weekday evening at the Pasadena Community Job Center, Jesse Carrillo helps a man pull on a full-body plastic jumpsuit, followed by a respirator mask. Carrillo is teaching a class of 20 immigrant day laborers how to use personal protective gear before entering a home to clean ash and soot. "We want to make sure that when we walk into a customer's house, we're safe," Carrillo lectures.