A nonprofit news outlet built on community-centered journalism and service over status updates.
When a fire broke out at the Lineage cold storage facility in Boyle Heights on June 17, 2026, The LA Local’s Eastside newsroom, Boyle Heights Beat, was already deeply rooted in the community – and ready to respond.
Over the next four weeks, its journalists were on the ground talking with residents, emergency responders, local non-profits, public officials reporting what was happening in real-time and asking and answering the questions residents needed most as they grappled with the smoke, smells and fallout that upended the community. In the course of their reporting, they delivered more than 200 social media updates and 12 newsletters, generating more than 4.5 million views.
Staff and LA Documenters also distributed hundreds of bilingual flyers, connecting residents with air purifiers, smoke-relief centers, health clinics, financial assistance and community meetings. Their reporting helped residents understand the health risks, navigate differences in available services and hold public officials accountable for their commitments.
The response demonstrated why local news is civic infrastructure. As communities across Los Angeles seek trusted information and stronger local connections, The LA Local is helping rebuild the infrastructure that makes both possible. Through free, independent reporting, it provides residents with the news and information they need to navigate Southern California, participate in their communities and hold decision-makers accountable.
The LA Local was launched through one of the nation’s largest philanthropic efforts to strengthen local news. Today, it is building a countywide network of neighborhood newsrooms, producing region-wide accountability reporting and collaborating with 24 local media organizations and university partners.
It is also creating new pathways into civic participation and journalism. Through its LA Documenters program, The LA Local trains and pays residents to cover public meetings. Its youth journalism programs in Boyle Heights, Koreatown, Inglewood and South Los Angeles are preparing the next generation of reporters.
In 2026, The LA Local expanded to include the Long Beach Post and Long Beach Business Journal, launched publications serving 10 additional Los Angeles neighborhoods and added 27 newsroom positions. Its reporting earned recognition at the 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards.
Together, these efforts are strengthening local journalism, expanding civic participation and building more informed and connected communities across Los Angeles County.
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