Government declined testing soil from burned properties; we conducted tests instead, and detected harmful chemicals.

Good fuckin' morning. Time to get your day started with some straight-up truth.

Those bureaucratic assholes don't give a rat's ass about you or your health. We took matters into our own hands and found some dangerous shit in the soil from those burned-down properties.
Trump's (the piece of shit) ordered the reopening of Alcatraz fuckin' prison. Gee, what a surprise, huh?
Here's four fuckin' recipes you need for Cinco de Mayo. Just don't eat too much tequila with 'em, or you'll end up puking your guts out.
And here's your e-newspaper for the day.

Dirt City

In January, the L.A. fires burned over 16,000 structures across 37,500 acres and sent tons of toxic material into the air, water, and soil. Homeowners who lost everything hoped for a fresh start with the federal debris removal process. But that peace of mind is proving elusive.

Soil testing, led by The Times, found lead levels up to three times higher than the state health standard on several properties cleaned by the Army Corps of Engineers. It's the first evidence that the federal government's decision to skip comprehensive soil sampling is leaving potentially dangerous levels of contamination behind.

The Feds Don't Give a Shit

Remember how The Times revealed back in February that FEMA is abandoning a long-held practice of testing soil for lingering contaminants after debris and the first 6 inches of topsoil have been cleared away? Well, guess who still isn't testing that shit? The goddamn Feds.

This leaves tens of thousands of L.A. wildfire survivors with two options: pay for testing and soil removal themselves, or live with the possibility of lingering contamination. And millions across the U.S. could end up in the same situation if this bullshit continues.

Toxic Shit Everywhere

"I worked so hard, and now I got nothing. It's not fair." Said Altadena resident Lupe Sanchez after learning of The Times' test results. Tests found lead levels at 290 parts per million in the footprint of a destroyed outbuilding on her property. Prolonged exposure to this shit can cause permanent cognitive disabilities in children and kidney damage in adults.

Avoiding Responsibility

FEMA insists they have no responsibility to ensure destroyed properties meet California's health standards. The state isn't stepping up either. So, homeowners are left to deal with the toxic shit themselves, or live with the risk.

Other News

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called out Trump for cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, veterans' services, and other safety net programs.
At the historic home of Will Rogers, people struggle to decide what comes next after the fires destroyed so much.
Several historic landmarks and famous movie and TV locations were destroyed in the Southern California fires.
Apple is questioning whether their bets in the entertainment industry are paying off. Columbia Pictures is also feeling the heat from Trump's tariffs.
The L.A. teams have been eliminated from the NBA playoffs, with the Clippers being "pissed off" and the Lakers to blame for their early exit.
Three were hospitalized after a man rammed a car into people at an Orange County RV park and opened fire.
Two men are missing after their kayak flipped in Placer County. One made it back safely.
Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' kicked off the summer box office with a solid $76 million.
Quinta Brunson, star and creator of "Abbott Elementary," hosted Saturday Night Live for a second time, with cameos by Sabrina Carpenter and Dwyane Wade.

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Commentary and opinions

Trump gutting the National Endowment for the Humanities is bad news for Californians learning about their history.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to dismantle programs that help keep Americans alive and disease-free.

Must reads

Lewis W. Hine's photographs from a century ago helped pass child labor laws. As states consider loosening child labor laws, his work is worth revisiting.
British Cardinal Vincent Nichols provides an insider's view of what's going on before the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

During your free time

Check out the best shopping centers in the San Gabriel Valley.
Take a stroll through one of these 17 L.A. walks to catch up with your Mom on Mother's Day.

In your home

Wally Lamb's "The River Is Waiting" is a novel about a troubled but devoted stay-at-home dad who ends up in jail.
"Miss Austen" on PBS wonderfully delivers the love and loss Jane Austen fans know by heart.
Here are four recipes you need for Cinco de Mayo.
Get access to our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search, and arcade games.

A question for you: What's the best career advice you've ever received?

Email us at essentialcalifornia@our website, and your response may appear in the newletter this week.

And finally...

Show us your favorite place in California! Send us photos of special spots in California - natural or man-made - and tell us why they're important to you.

After the devastation, no photographer has captured the sadness quite as well as Sunny Mills, a set decorator who lost her home in the fires.

The aftermath of the wildfires in L.A. has left homeowners exposed to potentially dangerous levels of contamination due to the federal government's decision to skip comprehensive soil sampling.
Lead levels found on several properties cleaned by the Army Corps of Engineers were up to three times higher than the state health standard, posing risks to eye health, hearing, and chronic conditions like chronic kidney disease and respiratory conditions.
The federal government's lack of responsibility is leaving tens of thousands of wildfire survivors in a difficult position, as they either face the costs of testing and soil removal or live with the potential risks.
California's government is also not stepping up to address this issue, leaving homeowners to deal with the toxic contamination on their own.
Trump's plan to reopen Alcatraz prison is seen as a distraction from his other issues, rather than a genuine attempt to address crime.
Hollywood newbies are struggling to find a path forward as studios continue post-strike contraction, and Trump's tariffs on movies made overseas could further impact the industry.
The L.A. teams have been eliminated from the NBA playoffs, with the Clippers expressing frustration and the Lakers taking the blame for their early exit.
In politics, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called out Trump for cuts to safety net programs, while historic landmarks and movie locations were destroyed in the fires.
In healthcare, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to dismantle programs that help keep Americans alive and disease-free, and medical-conditions screening and treatments are being impacted by chronic-diseases and chronic-kidney-disease.
In science and education, Lewis W. Hine's photographs from a century ago are worth revisiting as states consider loosening child labor laws, and the National Endowment for the Humanities is being gutted by Trump's administration.
In entertainment, Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' kicked off the summer box office, Quinta Brunson hosted Saturday Night Live, and Apple is questioning whether their entertainment industry investments are paying off.
In fitness and self-development, Wally Lamb's novel "The River Is Waiting" tells the story of a troubled stay-at-home dad, and "Miss Austen" on PBS provides an insider's view of Jane Austen's life.
In lifestyle, Sunny Mills' photographs of the wildfire-devastated landscape capture the sadness of the aftermath, and the best shopping centers in the San Gabriel Valley and Mother's Day walks in L.A. are featured.
In career development, a question is posed asking for the best career advice received, and the newletter offers access to free daily crossword puzzles, sudoku, word searches, and arcade games.
The newletter also features an invitation to submit photos of favorite places in California, and a call to action to email in a response to the question about career advice for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Government declined testing soil from burned properties; we conducted tests instead, and detected harmful chemicals.