Headlines From The Times

In 1999 in New York, Serena Williams won her first major tennis title at the U.S. Open. Everyone knew she was gonna be a star in the sport and a transformational one too, but few thought she would become the greatest of all time.Today, we talk about the legacy of Serena Williams, not just as an athlete, but as a woman — a Black woman. And what’s next for the tennis icon. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: Broadcast journalist Cari ChampionMore reading:Column: Serena Williams makes a conscious choice to give up tennis and focus on her familyColumn: The mind of Serena WilliamsLA Times Today: Serena Williams’ legacy on and off the court

For his role as Ali in “Euphoria,” Colman Domingo has an Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor in a drama series. Today, we've got another episode from our sister podcast, "The Envelope." Domingo joins "The Envelope" host Mark Olsen to discuss how his character — who is the sponsors to a struggling teenage drug addict played by Zendaya — is a symbol of redemption and forgiveness, which he feels our culture desperately needs. He also dishes on why he calls himself a nerd, how he almost walked away from his career, and why being “a shapeshifter” means his real-life looks take people by surprise. Read the full transcript here.More reading:Colman Domingo creates a theater award for Black menThe lives of Colman Domingo: acting in ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’ writing ‘Dot,’ directing ‘Barbecue’ at the GeffenZendaya hopes ‘Euphoria’ fans ‘still see the good’ in Rue after she ‘hits rock bottom’

Surprise, surprise: California cities are banning new gas stations and other cities across the world are watching. The bans are part of an ongoing quest to combat climate change, this time on a local municipal level. The movement is small so far, but now even the car capital of the world, Los Angeles, is thinking about it.Today, what would happen if L.A. hops on this no-new-gas-station brigade. And what we can learn from the cities that’ve already done it. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times Fast Break Desk reporter Grace TooheyMore reading:California cities ban new gas stations in battle to combat climate changeEditorial: Ban new gas stations? There are better ways for L.A. to ditch fossil fuelsLA Times Today: California cities ban new gas stations to combat climate change

When an earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, the international community pledged billions of dollars toward recovery. Much of that aid never went to rebuilding Haiti – or even to the Haitian people. But Haiti’s instability goes back even farther. In fact, it has a lot to do with outside political forces dating back to the country’s origin story as the world’s first Black republic.Today, episode 4 of “Line in the Land,” a podcast from Texas Public Radio and the Houston Chronicle. We’ll be back with episode 5 next Tuesday. We’re airing an episode from “A Line in the Land” every Tuesday through the end of August.Read the full transcript here.Host: Joey Palacios with Texas Public Radio and Elizabeth Trovall with the Houston Chronicle.More reading:Haiti’s struggle has worsened in the year since the slaying of its presidentAs Haiti reels from crises, U.S. policy decisions are called into questionOp-Ed: The West owes a centuries-old debt to HaitiBinge all the episodes of "Line in the Land" here. Episodes are in both English and Spanish. "Line in the Land" was made possible, in part, by the Catena Foundation, providing more than 100,000 asylum seekers in the U.S. with community and legal support. Learn more at asylum.news

Two of the largest race discrimination cases investigated by the federal government in the past decade allege widespread abuse of hundreds of Black employees by supervisors and coworkers at warehouses in Southern California’s Inland Empire. Anti-black bias on the job is sadly nothing new. But as the Latino population across the US, and especially California continues to grow, anti-Black bias by Latinos in the workplace is drawing renewed scrutiny.Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times labor reporter Margot RooseveltMore reading:In California’s largest race bias cases, Latino workers are accused of abusing Black colleaguesHorrific allegations of racism prompt California lawsuit against TeslaFight over jobs divides interests of Blacks, Latinos

Since the start of 2021, L.A. Times national correspondent Tyrone Beason has been on the road. He’s doing what a lot of us are thinking about: he’s on a quest to find out what’s up with the United States. In a year-long series called “My Country,” Beason has been trying to find the things that bind us, while also trying to make sense of the issues that keep tearing us apart.Today, we check in with Beason and hear some of his dispatches. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times national correspondent Tyrone BeasonMore reading:Read Tyrone Beason’s full “My Country” series hereIn the vastness of the Inland Empire, people of color find ‘peace in these troubled times’This California wine country town is multicultural. So why do so many feel invisible?

For her role as the ethically flexible attorney Kim Wexler in “Better Call Saul,” Rhea Seehorn is nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. She joins “The Envelope” host Yvonne Villarreal to delve into the show’s last twists and turns and talk about the scariest day on the set. Seehorn also discusses her efforts to balance gratitude with confidence and shares stories about how her father’s alcoholism shaped her. Read the full transcript here.Host: Yvonne VillarrealGuests: Rhea SeehornMore reading:Rhea Seehorn knows her ‘Better Call Saul’ character is toast. And she’s loving every minuteA couple that schemes together, dreams togetherRhea Seehorn on reading a ‘Better Call Saul’ script: ‘I’m not dead yet. Are you dead?’

Decades ago, when you couldn’t conceive or carry a child, your options for becoming a parent were limited. But then in 1978, in-vitro fertilization became possible. But IVF can be very expensive. And one method in particular can lead to heartache and scandal.Today, how one woman’s attempt to offer more affordable surrogacy services collapsed, leaving in its wake heartbroken couples, frustrated surrogates and an FBI investigation. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: Former L.A. Times national correspondent Emily BaumgaertnerMore reading:She promised babies at bargain prices using surrogates in Mexico. Now the FBI is investigatingLA Times Today: Why the FBI is investigating surrogates in MexicoThe audio of the first test tube baby, Louise Brown, is from a video news release produced by London Television Service and made available by the BFI National Archive. 

To get to the U.S. border from South America, Haitians have to trek through an isolated stretch of jungle called the Darién Gap. In the latest episode of “Line in the Land,” a podcast produced by the Houston Chronicle and Texas Public Media, Haitian migrants take listeners with them on a jungle journey like no other. Read the full transcript here. Hosts: Joey Palacios and Elizabeth TrovallMore reading:Lost in the deep of DarienCrossing the Darién GapThis remote sliver of northwest Colombia is one of the world’s busiest migration corridorsBinge all the episodes of Line in the Land here. Episodes are in both English and Spanish. A Line in the Land was made possible, in part, by the Catena Foundation, providing more than 100,000 asylum seekers in the U.S. with community and legal support. Learn more at asylum.news

Last year, frustrations over COVID-related school closures slammed into the nation’s culture war and tipped an election. It all started in Virginia’s Loudoun County, whose schools became a lightning rod as they grappled with mask mandates, a bathroom policy for transgender students and efforts to fix systemic racial discrimination.Today, we discuss how conservative parents in Virginia began a powerful nationwide movement and how Democrats are trying to win this important voting bloc back. We also explore how parents in Loudoun County really feel. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuest: L.A. Times White House reporter Courtney SubramanianMore reading:Focus on the economy, not ‘critical race theory’ or sex ed: Inside Democrats’ plan to win back parentsSchool boards become battle zones over COVID-19 rules, critical race theory, trans studentsOpinion: Teachers have to put the welfare of transgender students before their own beliefs