Jean Merl

Jean Merl, a hopeless news junkie, covered regional politics for the Los Angeles Times until 2015. She was raised in southern Ohio but moved with her family to Los Angeles at a tender age, which practically makes her a California native. She holds a master’s degree from UCLA and remembers when Otis Chandler was publisher of The Times and Tom Bradley was mayor of L.A.

Latest From This Author

California

Democrats likely to keep two of California’s three congressional races without incumbents

California

Democrats likely to keep two of California’s three congressional races without incumbents

California so far has only three congressional contests without incumbents, and at least two — perhaps all three — appear likely to stay in Democratic hands next year.
California

Video from a previous election used as ammunition in hot House race

California

Video from a previous election used as ammunition in hot House race

Attorney Nanette Barragan, who recently quit the Hermosa Beach City Council and moved to San Pedro to run for a House seat in next year’s election, has made much of her roots in the working-class, heavily minority district she now seeks to represent.
California

Emily’s List backs Nanette Barragan, signaling heated House race in L.A. area

California

Emily’s List backs Nanette Barragan, signaling heated House race in L.A. area

Emily’s List, a nationally prominent backer of female Democratic candidates, is endorsing attorney Nanette Barragan for an open Los Angeles area House seat, giving the relatively unknown candidate a potential boost in credibility and fundraising.
California

Southland faces possible record-setting heat, heightened wildfire risk this weekend

California

Southland faces possible record-setting heat, heightened wildfire risk this weekend

Climbing temperatures and burgeoning wildfires — including two stubborn blazes that erupted Friday in the Los Angeles area — marked the start of what could be a troubling weekend for much of California, authorities said.
California

Fire near Simi Valley threatens homes; another burns 1,800 acres near Glendora

California

Fire near Simi Valley threatens homes; another burns 1,800 acres near Glendora

Amid a heat wave expected to last into next week, firefighters were battling two growing brush fires Friday in L.A. and Ventura counties.
California

A second Simi Valley wildfire erupts, at least 150 acres charred

California

A second Simi Valley wildfire erupts, at least 150 acres charred

A wildfire erupted Friday afternoon in Simi Valley -- the second one of the day -- and charred more than 150 acres as firefighters from several agencies fought to contain the blaze.
Obituaries

Larry Stammer dies at 73; covered religion, environment as Times reporter

Obituaries

Larry Stammer dies at 73; covered religion, environment as Times reporter

Many years into his career as a journalist, Larry B.
California

L.A. County supervisors agree to boost minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020

California

L.A. County supervisors agree to boost minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020

Organized labor won an important victory Tuesday when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to increase the minimum wage to $15, but it now faces a more daunting political challenge: convincing other local governments to join the movement.
Obituaries

Bob Baker dies at 67; prolific Times journalist fulfilled music dream

Obituaries

Bob Baker dies at 67; prolific Times journalist fulfilled music dream

When Bob Baker was a teenager in the San Fernando Valley of the 1960s, his mom suggested he try his hand at writing for his high school newspaper.
California

Congressional campaign fund filings show incumbents ahead of challengers

California

Congressional campaign fund filings show incumbents ahead of challengers

The elections are more than a year away, but already, front-runners are emerging in some key California congressional contests, and most endangered incumbents are well ahead of their challengers in fundraising, campaign filings show.