Explore some of the biggest stories from Monday, Jan. 19 to Sunday, Jan. 25, including national, local and campus news.
This past Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated across the nation in remembrance of the civil rights leader and activist. In previous years, all state and national parks offered free entry to commemorate Dr. King. However, under the Department of the Interior during the Trump administration, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was removed from the list of annual fee-free days for the National Park Service.
California Governor Gavin Newsom took action by announcing that California would continue to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day by offering free vehicle entry at more than 200 California state parks on Jan. 19. The initiative is supported by the California State Parks Foundation and will be funded through the foundation rather than through California tax dollars.
Additional news from California this week includes the implementation of the plastic bag ban through Senate Bill 1053, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026. The ban prohibits the use of “carryout bags” and represents a step toward reducing waste and plastic pollution in California. The legislation revises previous laws by redefining terminology related to carryout bags and recycled paper bags, which must now be made from at least 50% postconsumer recycled materials.
In Los Angeles, the Silver Lake Flea Market took place, as it does on a weekly basis. The market offers free parking and admission to the public and features a variety of art, crafts, vintage clothing and food. The event highlights LA’s diversity in style, creativity and interests.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, the Hammer Museum hosted author Jean Strouse at an event organized by UCLA professor Mona Simpson. The discussion focused on Strouse’s most recent work, “Family Romance: John Singer Sargent and the Wertheimers,” and was open to the public. The book examines portraits of the Wertheimer family created by artist John Singer Sargent, and Strouse discussed the intersecting lives of the family and the painter.
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Featured Image via Scarlet Sappho/Flickr
