Anna Solomon, whose novel "The Book of V." comes out next week, juggles writing, building rafts and book promotion in a void in our latest diary

When COVID-19 hit, spoken-word venues like Da Poetry Lounge and Olivia Open Mic went online, keeping verse flowing and raising funds for artists.

Warning memos were written. Research was funded. But what good is any of this if American leaders fail to act?

It's insane to think life can return to normal soon when we haven't even figured out how to get enough milk and toilet paper into stores.

Bears, deer and other animals are roaming freely in areas once packed by Yosemite tourists. It appears the coronavirus is teaching us something about humans.

When doctors are given N95 masks but the nurses who frequently come into contact with sick patients do not, you know something's wrong.

Calls to close streets to automobiles show the demand for exercise. Too bad all local trails have been closed to hikers.

No Democratic candidates called for social distancing before Super Tuesday, and now the left is Monday-morning quarterbacking the president.

We need local reporting now more than ever, but things don't look good after the folding of three community newspapers in Southern California.

Even when he was being impeached, Trump still had a job to do. Nothing justifies his failure to take early action against the coronavirus.

The state isn't doing right by undocumented immigrants with a financial relief program that does nothing to address abusive labor practices.

The study authors are reckless to say we need to "recalibrate" public health approaches because the actual COVID-19 mortality rate might be lower.

State preemption has been used against local governments on a number of issues; it would be a mistake for that to happen now amid coronavirus fears.

Healthcare providers undergo a complicated process to make sure their N95 masks are doing their job. Members of the public may have a false sense of security.

Calendar Feedback: Is competence sexy? Readers on whether it trivializes Dr. Fauci to call him 'sexy.' Plus, differing opinions on the Peter Zumthor design of LACMA.

If most beaches in Southern California are closed, so should those in Orange County, which attracted thousands of people on a hot weekend.

Not everything has to go back to normal after the pandemic, including L.A. traffic. More businesses need to make working from home permanent.

A resident of Sedona, Ariz., did not appreciate an L.A. Times story on wealthy out-of-towners fleeing to their second homes.

A patient who had server abdominal pain has a warning: If you think you need to do so, go to the ER, even with a pandemic raging.

Someone wearing gloves and an N95 mask likely had a stockpile at home before the pandemic hit.

A professor's suggestion for college student to take time off and turn out the vote is nice, but why not help them with the loan debt first?

Californians feel hopeless, so some are protesting. The solution is to limit access to public spaces without completely closing them.

The Brown Act doesn't give officials any excuse they want to shut out the public from their meetings.

The fact that Trump refuses to wear a mask, a precaution meant to protect other people, is evidence of his lack of empathy.

Sweden's death rate is high compared with those of its neighbors, who took much more drastic and appropriate action against the pandemic.

As a divorce lawyer in 'Marriage Story,' Laura Dern calls out societal bias against mothers. She helped craft the speech with writer-director Noah Baumbach.

Costume designer Arianne Phillips and Quentin Tarantino had a no tie-dye mindset going into the late-'60s-set film 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.'

Casting himself as being a sinner on borrowed time, 'Two Popes' actor Anthony Hopkins has one rule for life: Be kind.

Oscar voting is ending and a few motion picture academy members are ready to share their picks.

Sure, the Oscars are exciting, but what about the film moments they don't celebrate? That's where the Envy Awards step in.

Hispanic, Latino or both? White or a person of color? The identity debate sparked after some declared Banderas a "person of color" when the Oscars' overwhelmingly white acting nominations were announced.

Before the Oscars on Sunday, watch the wildly different and entertaining acceptance speeches Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix have made this awards season.

From 'Uncut Gems' to 'The Farewell,' here's the complete list of winners of Film Independent's Spirit awards.

¿Hispano, latino o ambos? ¿Blanco o de color? El debate sobre la identidad se desató después de que algunos declararan a Banderas como "persona de color" cuando se anunciaron las nominaciones de los Oscars de actuación abrumadoramente blanca.

Zellweger, who won at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and British Academy Film Awards this year, has stuck to a flattering sartorial script.

Longtime Los Angeles Times photographers Al Seib and Jay Clendenin assess the 2020 setup.

The 2020 Oscars kicked off with a rainy, chilly red carpet. But that didn't stop Hollywood's elite from wearing their most glamorous suits and gowns.

Natalie Portman arrived at the 92nd Academy Awards wearing a cape with the names of female directors who weren't nominated Sunday.

Brad Pitt saluted stunt crew and coordinators while accepting an Oscar for his role in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood."

From Martin Scorsese to Idina Menzel, the audience at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony was perplexed by Eminem's performance of his 2002 hit "Lose Yourself."

Joaquin Phoenix gave a weighty speech about commonalities, cows and second chances after winning the Oscar for lead actor Sunday night. Read the transcript.

When the Oscars telecast tried to cut off the "Parasite" team's speech after winning best picture, the audience rallied to let them continue.

From Janelle Monáe to Billie Eilish, bold beauty was the name of the game at Sunday's Oscars.

The Emmy Awards' "For Your Consideration" events will take place without an audience, owing to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

Peter Chernin, producer of the Oscar-nominated 'Ford v. Ferrari,' strikes a movie deal with Netflix.

Beach Boys member Mike Love has listed his estate in Rancho Santa Fe for $8.65 million. Also: Shia LaBeouf has bought a home in Pasadena, and the former Miami home of LeBron James has resurfaced for sale.

NFL lineman Matt Kalil, who was an All-American at USC, has paid $3.812 million for a gated estate in Pasadena.

Actress Kaley Cuoco of "Big Bang Theory" has sold her Tarzana home at a loss of about $1.5 million. Also: Julia Roberts sells a Malibu estate.

Looking to build your dream home? Take a look at what raw land roughly $100,000 buys right now in six L.A. County communities.

A Hollywood Hills mansion that the late pop star Prince was once sued over is back up for sale at about $30 million. Also: Lee Iacocca's Bel-Air estate has sold, and Eli Broad has relisted his Malibu compound at $75 million.