Rebecca Ellis

3 weeks ago | latimes.com | Rebecca Ellis

Both the Taiwanese government and a Taiwan-based international chamber of commerce donated to wildfire relief efforts. At a wildfire relief event Feb. 9, Taiwanese dignitaries, California politicians and Arcadia firefighters posed for a photo with a giant check made out to a fledgling foundation. The $510,000 gift from a Taiwan-based international chamber of commerce would benefit the roughly 54 firefighters of Arcadia, a city near Altadena that was spared by the Eaton fire.

3 weeks ago | latimes.com | David Zahniser |Rebecca Ellis

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to move hundreds of millions of dollars out of the region’s homeless services agency on Tuesday, despite warnings from L.A. Mayor Karen Bass about creating a “massive disruption” in the region’s fight against homelessness. On a 4-0 vote, the supervisors signed off on the strategy to form a new county homelessness department with a budget that would almost immediately exceed $1 billion.

3 weeks ago | latimes.com | David Zahniser |Rebecca Ellis

To its supporters, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority was just starting to hit its stride. Last summer, the little-known but well-funded agency announced that homelessness had effectively leveled off across Los Angeles County after years of increases. Results for the city of Los Angeles were even more encouraging, with the number of “unsheltered” homeless — people living on the street — falling by more than 10%.

1 month ago | latimes.com | Rebecca Ellis |James Queally

A teenager who said he fought other kids in return for fast food in Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall poses for a portrait. The teenager didn’t always have to eat the drab grits and sausage at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. For kids like him — kids willing to fight — there was another breakfast option. The teenager said a few L.A. County probation officers often approached him about kids they were struggling to control. “There’s a meal on his head,” an officer would tell him.

1 month ago | thebrunswicknews.com | Rebecca Ellis |Terry Castleman |Grace Toohey

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County emergency management officials responsible for sending evacuation alerts were not instructed to notify west Altadena residents until long after the Eaton fire had barreled into the area, according to two county officials not authorized to speak publicly. County fire or sheriff's officials appear to have failed to set the alerts in motion, leaving many west Altadena residents to flee as flames and terrifying swirls of embers closed in around them.