Rebecca Plevin

4 days ago | yahoo.com | Melissa Gomez |Rebecca Plevin

Every year, farmers in this fertile valley dubbed the “salad bowl of the world" rely on tens of thousands of workers to harvest leafy greens and juicy strawberries. But with local farmworkers aging — and the Trump administration's determined crackdown on the illegal workers who have long been the backbone of California's agricultural workforce — more growers have been looking to legal channels to import foreign workers.

2 weeks ago | charlotteobserver.com | Rebecca Plevin

Adriana Orea says the $1,000 a month she gets through BOOST has made a world of difference in her stress levels: "I can literally just concentrate on studying for my classes." (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS) TNS LOS ANGELES -- Community colleges play a critical role in addressing California's persistent demand for health care workers, preparing students to become the state's next generation of nurses, medical assistants and physical therapy aides.

2 weeks ago | latimes.com | Rebecca Plevin

Community colleges play a critical role in addressing California’s persistent demand for healthcare workers, preparing students to become the state’s next generation of nurses, medical assistants and physical therapy aides. But in the Los Angeles Community College District, where more than half of all students report incomes near or below the poverty line, many people struggle to complete their degrees while also holding down jobs to pay rent, buy groceries and cover child-care costs.

2 weeks ago | latimes.com | Rebecca Plevin |Karla Marie Sanford

People gather at the USC Stage during the start of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Los Angeles. Tens of thousands of people gathered at the 30th Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the University of Southern California campus Saturday, packing sold-out panels and waiting in huge lines to get the signatures of their favorite authors. The annual festival features readings, screenings and panels with authors and other speakers.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rebecca Plevin |Karla Marie Sanford |Cerys Davies |Kaitlyn Huamani

Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday at the 30th Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC, packing sold-out panels and waiting in huge lines to get the signatures of their favorite authors. The annual festival features readings, screenings and panels with authors and other speakers. The two-day event is expected to bring together more than 550 storytellers across seven outdoor stages and 15 indoor venues.