Thrilled that our investigation into the underground pipeline of dogs
coming into CA from Midwest puppy mills - which are then rebranded as locally bred - won the Impact in Journalism Award and Best Capitol Enterprise Award from the @SacPressClub last night!

Nearly 1,000 workers left state service last year with $100,000 or more in banked leave benefits, a Los Angeles Times analysis of California state payroll records found.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Thrilled that our investigation “Pets for Profit” has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. State lawmakers recently announced three bills in response to the issues raised by our reporting. www.latimes.com/california/s...

CA lawmakers propose banning sales from dog brokers in crackdown on puppy pipeline. Three bills announced today are in response to a Times investigation that found truckloads of dogs from profit-driven mass breeders pour into the state and are resold as locally bred. www.latimes.com/california/s...

A deep analysis of the Palisades fire evacuation paints a chaotic scenario: As the fire roared toward homes, major escape routes were gridlocked before the first evacuation orders were given
www.latimes.com/california/s...

California vowed to phase out businesses where hundreds of captive dogs give their blood to save the lives of pets thruout the state But blood from so-called "closed colonies" still account for almost all the dog blood sold in the state

Alene Tchekmedyian, Melody Guttierez

t.co/XmesHVlRjK

‘A necessary evil’: The captive dogs whose blood saves lives.

More important work from @melodygutierrez.bsky.social and Alene Tchekmedyian in their sobering Pets for Profit investigative series.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

‘A necessary evil': An in-depth look at the hundreds of full-time donor dogs and cats kept in closed colonies in California whose blood is used to save the lives of pets

www.latimes.com/california/s...

‘A necessary evil': An in-depth look at the hundreds of full-time donor dogs and cats kept in closed colonies in California whose blood is used to save the lives of pets www.latimes.com/california/s...

Calling all journalism students – the Sacramento Press Club scholarships are open for applications. Scholarships range from $5,000 to $8,000 each to help support journalism students with ties to Sacramento region www.sacpressclub.org/scholarships/.

A dangerous combination of howling winds and extremely flammable brush right up against homes made the Mountain fire one of Southern California’s most destructive in years. Here’s how it unfolded. @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/s...

Should Kamala Harris run for California governor? The LA Times and UC Berkeley are out today with the first poll looking at how Californians feel about it. Story by me! www.latimes.com/california/s...

The new owner of one of Skid Row's largest homeless housing portfolios immediately cut janitorial and security services when he took over the 17 properties weeks ago. One 78-year-old tenant broke into the maintenance closet to mop the floors himself www.latimes.com/homeless-hou...