LA is a darker place than it used to be. That’s in part because people keep stealing the copper wiring from streetlights. But the bigger problem is that the streetlights are old, and the city doesn’t have the resources to keep up, so a dead streetlight could be out for months. Over the summer, Beachwood Canyon got hit pretty hard, so residents Rochelle Steiner and Justin Burnett got tired of sitting around in the dark and decided to shine a light on what was going on.

They've been taking night hikes to catalog the lights that are out and report them to the city. So far, they've counted dozens. Repairs can take up to a year.

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After multiple Emmy nominations for her portrayal of attorney Kim Wexler on the drama Better Call Saul, actress Rhea Seehorn finally took home the statue last month for her starring role in the Apple TV sci-fi series Pluribus. For her treat, recorded in front of a live audience, Seehorn gives a shout out to something that has been a steadfast companion for decades.

People collect all kinds of knickknacks when they travel: shot glasses, fridge magnets, post cards. Now a growing number of people are collecting library cards.

It’s still a niche hobby, and Edwin Zuniga is a master of it. He's collected one for every public library system in the state of California.

KCRW met up with him to learn what makes a library card the perfect keepsake

Croz Boyce rolled into KCRW on the late summer breeze, offering a cool relief after a string of stuffy heatwaves. In May, the newly formed trio consisting of Brian Weitz (Geologist) and David Portner (Avey Tare) of Animal Collective, along with Adam McDaniel (frequent collaborator and audio engineer), released their self-titled LP full of ambient soundscapes and gentle folk expressions.

On the list of most-hated tech, Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers are pretty high up there. The sleek AI-powered cameras top poles on busy roads, logging the location and license plate of every car passing by.

South Pasadena was one of many communities across the US that came out against the technology in the past year. Now, the City Council is considering contracting with other automatic license plate reader systems — to the outrage of some residents.

At a recent city council meeting, local Sam Gurley put it plainly: "South Pasadena should not respond to their concerns about Flock by simply signing with another company that isn't currently under the same spotlight."

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien is back with his second solo record Blue Morpho. While he was here for Morning Becomes Eclectic with Novena Carmel, he stopped in the CD Library to tell us about his Must Listen CDs.

Legendary musicians Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney are playing a joint show at LA's Greek Theater on September 8th. Ahead of their gig, we brought them in to tell us about their Must Listen CDs.

VistaVision was Hollywood’s solution to TV. Now, the Academy thinks it may be the solution to digital devices.

Since Monterey Park became the first city in the US to ban data centers, activists across the country have sought them out to ask: How do we do it, too?

The Seoul-based band takes pansori, (Korea’s centuries-old tradition of powerful musical storytelling), and brings it starkly to the present, building a wildly kinetic sound, from elastic basslines (with not one, but TWO bassists), drums, and a chorus of voices and personalities that can move from whispering ideas to full-throated release in a matter of seconds.

KCRW's Tohar Zamir caught up with The Vigodas – that's Conan O'Brien and his band... and Jordan Schlansky – after their performance at the Troubadour on August 13th, 2026.

Huanglongbing turns fruit bitter and can eventually kill off entire trees. Most Californians have citrus growing at home, so here's what you need to know to keep your trees safe.

KCRW remembers the iconic English producer, composer, musician, and DJ William Orbit. Orbit launched Orton's career, leading to his era-defining production work on Madonna's Ray of Light album.

In the 1970’s, the Pasadena-Altadena area was a mecca for infamous backyard beer bashes featuring then unknown local bands like Van Halen. Fast forward a few decades and a new DIY backyard music scene has emerged, sparked by the 2025 Eaton Fire. Teenage punk and indie bands are turning to Altadena’s backyard lots and other temporary venues for shows that are drawing kids from all over Southern California.