LAist

LAist is #hiring! We're looking for a temporary reporter excited to connect educators and caregivers of children ages 0–5 in L.A. County with resources and people working to effect positive change in early childhood. Learning starts long before kids step foot in a classroom, but not every California family has the same opportunities or support. We want to reveal what’s working and what’s not. You’ll join a team of education reporters covering child development and learning, from birth to higher education. TO APPLY: https://ow.ly/Knyk50UanmQ

The upcoming season of gift-giving is the perfect excuse to introduce the kids in your life to some new stories. ?? https://ow.ly/13Lk50Uec4e ?? Mariana Dale

Cal State has a goal to graduate 40% of its freshmen within four years. It now graduates 36% — it’s highest rate ever. On other goals, the system is further behind. ?? https://ow.ly/Hl4j50UebEx ?? Mikhail Zinshteyn | CalMatters

Gov. Newsom touts the first of 13 regional plans to boost economic development across the state, which will go into a statewide blueprint to be released in January. ?? https://ow.ly/EOjW50UebzR ?? Levi Sumagaysay | CalMatters

Join hosts J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong as comedians Sherry Cola (she/her) and Greg Proops (he/him) take the hot seat, facing off in trivia based on their favorite topics. And, of course, there are surprise experts ready to keep them guessing! Don’t miss the laughs—tune in tomorrow (Saturday) at 10AM + 5PM or Sunday at 8PM on LAist 89.3 FM or at LAist.com/Listen!

Today's headlines: https://ow.ly/3Zgx50Ue2HQ - L.A. County officials call for changes after a scathing audit of L.A.'s homeless services services. - A close House race spanning L.A. and the O.C. is getting some national attention from supporters of President-elect Donald Trump. - We sit down with L.A. councilmember-elect Ysabel Jurado, who recently defeated incumbent Kevin de León in CD14.

The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now live, meaning current and incoming college students can apply to get the money they need to pay for tuition, room and board, and other expenses. ?? https://ow.ly/3LFg50Ucmgw ?? Julia Barajas

Nearly 30 of California's community colleges offer bachelor's degree programs. Here's our guide with tips, history, research, and student and other expert voices. A brief history: In 2014, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that allowed community colleges a few years to try out bachelor degrees programs. A 2021 assembly bill extended the programs indefinitely and allowed colleges to offer an additional 30 bachelor’s programs per year. Why it matters: The application process for the bachelor’s degrees at community colleges, while simpler than UC and CSU applications, still require effort and planning. Some programs can get competitive, as most colleges try to maintain a 25-student cohort size. ?? https://ow.ly/xjJS50Ucie8 ?? Cassandra Nava

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is preparing to wage a legal war against President-elect Donald Trump, convening a special legislative session next month to try to “Trump-proof” the state. But it appears Newsom and California legislators won’t initially include artificial intelligence safeguards in that fight, even though AI regulations were a major preoccupation of the Legislature this year. Why now? Trump has promised to immediately rescind President Joe Biden’s executive order that had imposed voluntary AI guardrails on tech companies and federal agencies. The president-elect’s administration could also, immigrant advocates say, use AI tools to assist the mass deportation he has pledged to implement. The context: While California adopted a number of AI regulations earlier this year, other issues are likely to take priority in Newsom’s special session, legislators told CalMatters. There are signs, though, that AI could — in the not-so-distant future — go from abstract concern to prominent political cudgel between the Trump administration and California’s Democratic leaders. It could be another high-profile way to challenge Trump and his newfound tech allies, some of whom have gleefully proclaimed a new, deregulated era for artificial intelligence products. ?? https://ow.ly/3cn850Uci3U ?? Alex Shultz | CalMatters ?? John Moore/Getty Images

If you, like me, get stressed out by the "what should we do today?" question when you have family in town, then hopefully this list will give you a head start on planning. ?? https://ow.ly/59PX50UchVI ?? Laura Hertzfeld