Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, August 6, 2024…

Stories about homelessness in Los Angeles tend to focus on problems in big, urban cities. But homelessness has actually been growing faster in a remote desert region 90 minutes north of Downtown L.A.’s Skid Row.
Sacramento State on Monday released the findings of a highly anticipated forensic examination of Capital Public Radio’s finances. It found more than $700,000 in “unsupported” payments, or payments that could not be backed up by expense reports or receipts.
A bill on track to pass the Legislature before the session ends on August 31 would effectively outlaw book review committees and other policies that limit access to materials at public libraries.

Why Homelessness Has More Than Doubled In LA County’s Once-Affordable Northern Desert

When the results of Los Angeles County’s most recent homeless count showed the number of unhoused people holding steady, elected leaders celebrated. The news brought some relief after years of increases.

Lost amid the cheers were the much more dire numbers coming out of the Antelope Valley, where homelessness rose 42% in the last year alone.

Homelessness in L.A. County’s northern desert region has more than doubled since 2018, far outpacing other parts of the county.

What’s causing the increase? Service providers and housing advocates say this once-affordable oasis has itself become too expensive. Antelope Valley residents hanging onto cheap housing are now competing with an influx of people fleeing high rents in central L.A. County.

Forensic Examination Finds Misuse Of Funds, Possible Conflicts Of Interest And $700,000 In Mysterious Reimbursements At CapRadio

On Monday, Sacramento State released the findings of a long-awaited forensic examination of Capital Public Radio’s finances, shedding more light into years of mismanagement at the NPR member station.

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The findings — released in a redacted summary — focused heavily on prior leadership, and found several instances of misuse of funds and conflicts of interest at CapRadio, which is an auxiliary of Sac State. The examination focused on the period of time between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2023.

The examination also found over $700,000 in “unsupported” payments, or payments that could not be backed up by expense reports or receipts. Nearly $400,000 was paid out to one individual, whose name was redacted.

As LGBTQ Library Material Comes Under Fire, California May Ban Book Bans

As the state Legislature reconvenes this week, one bill lawmakers are considering would make it illegal to ban books from public libraries, just because they deal with race or sexuality.

The bill would outlaw restrictions on children’s books that some conservative communities have begun to adopt, nationally and in California. In Fresno County, and in Huntington Beach, local politicians have created committees to review books for sexual content or themes about gender identity and move them into adult sections.

Supporters say this allows parents to introduce their children to mature themes on their own terms. But critics say it targets the LGBTQ community. They believe this information should stay publicly accessible for young people who are exploring their identities.

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Homeless Numbers More Than Double In LA County's Northern Desert Area