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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The decision to select McDonnell, who was an LAPD officer before serving as L.A. County sheriff, comes after a months-long search by Mayor Karen Bass.
Oct. 4, 2024
The measure would make an array of changes to the Los Angeles City Charter intended to strengthen the city’s powers, including clarifying the responsibilities of elected officials and commissioners.
Oct. 3, 2024
City Councilmember Heather Hutt faces her first election for the seat. Attorney Grace Yoo argues she should lead the district.
Oct. 3, 2024
From parks to concessions, the ballot measure Amendment II would allow for changes in how the city operates.
Oct. 3, 2024
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta wants new boundaries for the Los Angeles City Council’s 15 districts in time for the 2026 primary election, according a draft legal document prepared by his office.
Oct. 3, 2024
L.A.’s “sanctuary city” proposal got lots of buzz at City Hall, but it still hasn’t passed
Sept. 28, 2024
The evacuation is linked to a gasoline leak Thursday into a sewer line along Monmouth Way between East Harbor and Pierpont boulevards.
Sept. 22, 2024
Harris-Dawson, an ally of Mayor Karen Bass, said homelessness and housing affordability will be his top issues.
Sept. 21, 2024
Jim Clark secretly directed other attorneys to orchestrate a class-action lawsuit so that claims over a botched DWP billing system could be settled on terms favorable to the city, State Bar prosecutors allege.
Sept. 14, 2024
The ruling invalidated a law spearheaded by environmental justice activists that barred new oil and gas extraction and required that all existing operations stop production within 20 years.
Sept. 11, 2024