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.
Latest From This Author
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory or excessive heat warning across L.A. County for a three-day period starting Sunday.
Aug. 3, 2024
Death Valley is bracing for possible higher than normal temperatures in August.
Aug. 3, 2024
De León took in $292,460, the most raised by any candidate for the city’s Nov. 5 runoff election.
Aug. 3, 2024
L.A.’s BIG:LEAP experiment gave monthly payments to poor families for a year with no strings attached. Recipients saw lasting benefits, a study finds.
July 31, 2024
An LAFD captain was arrested during a peaceful protest more than a year ago. He says he was later disciplined in violation of his right to free speech.
July 30, 2024
With L.A. hosting the Summer Games in 2028, city and county leaders are heading to the City of Light to see what lessons L.A. will need to learn.
July 20, 2024
Una demanda alega que el personal del refugio de la ciudad de Los Ángeles no le proporcionó al hijo de la mujer un aviso por escrito sobre el historial de mordeduras del perro antes de que adoptara al canino.
July 18, 2024
The lawsuit argues that the city charter prohibits those who retire with a pension through the L.A. City Employees’ Retirement System from subsequently working as a DWP employee.
July 12, 2024
William Funderburk, then serving as vice president of the L.A. DWP Board, approved a $30 million contract around the same time that he received free legal work from the attorney who was awarded the contract.
July 11, 2024
DWP ratepayer advocate predicts fee increases, recommends delaying city’s 100% clean energy timeline
The Office of Ratepayer Advocacy report said the expected costs are “not reasonable” for customers.
July 10, 2024