Dakota Smith covers City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. She is part of the team that won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news for reporting on a leaked audio recording that upended City Hall politics. She joined the newsroom in 2016 and previously covered City Hall for the Los Angeles Daily News. She is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College and lives in Los Angeles.
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Heather Hutt’s victory, along with Ysabel Jurado’s defeat of Kevin de León, means there will be a female majority on the L.A. City Council for the first time.
Nov. 12, 2024
City officials expressed fear that Trump, a mercurial leader prone to grudges, would retaliate against California and Los Angeles because of its Democratic leadership.
Nov. 9, 2024
Two years after the scandal, City Councilmember Kevin de León has lost his seat, leaving Latinos with just four of the council’s 15 seats.
Nov. 8, 2024
The bruising, yearlong contest pitted Jurado, a first-time candidate, against De León, a veteran but politically wounded lawmaker.
Nov. 6, 2024
Faced with a tough budget year, the Los Angeles City Council may issue at least $80 million in bonds to cover the city’s growing legal payouts
Nov. 2, 2024
Fans take to the streets of Los Angeles in an explosive expression of joy Wednesday night after the Dodgers beat the Yankees to win their eighth World Series title.
Oct. 31, 2024
The attacks come days before the Nov. 5 election
Oct. 30, 2024
Eligible voters who aren’t registered can visit a center to complete a conditional voter registration and cast a ballot in the election.
Oct. 27, 2024
Much of the San Fernando Valley, northern L.A. County and Malibu will be under a wind advisory starting Monday morning, the National Weather Service said.
Oct. 27, 2024
The committee is looking into potential money-laundering violations.
Oct. 26, 2024