A story out of Los Angeles, California that hinged on fearmongering from law enforcement regarding “Halloween fentanyl” in October 2022 served as another example of how television news affiliates can amplify disinformation — all witho
Publication: los angeles
Truth or Fiction?→ California Attorney General Seizes Control of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Investigation of Local Officials
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken control of an investigation originally carried out by Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, which quickly stirred accusations that the sheriff was attempting to intimidate local officials with overs
Snopes→ Huge Los Angeles Unified School District Hit by Cyberattack
A ransomware attack targeting the huge Los Angeles school district prompted an unprecedented shutdown of its computer systems.
Snopes→ Masks Could Return to Los Angeles As COVID Surges Nationwide
Los Angeles County, home to 10 million residents, is facing a return to a broad indoor mask mandate later this month if current trends in hospital admissions continue.
Truth or Fiction?→ L.A.’s Mayoral Candidates Mum after Police Attacks on Journalists at Roe v. Wade Protests
Despite ongoing attacks by law enforcement against journalists covering protests, Los Angeles’ mayoral candidates, both running on the Democratic Party ticket, have not weighed in on the accounts of police attacks against journalists during prote
Snopes→ Aim to Ease Supply Chain Bottlenecks with LA Port Going 24/7
The White House said it has helped broker an agreement for the Port of Los Angeles to become a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation.
Truth or Fiction?→ Wi Spa Weaponized Disinformation Campaign
In late June and early July 2021, far-right activists attempted to launch a new disinformation campaign in the wake of a viral video of a woman harassing staff at a traditional public bathhouse in an historic Los Angeles neighborhood The video, which w
Truth or Fiction?→ Federal Investigation Underway After LAPD Detonates Explosive Cache in Residential Area
Federal officials have opened an investigation into the Los Angeles Police Department’s handling of a trove of allegedly illegal fireworks that led to at least 17 people — including several law enforcement officers — being injured in
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Safety’ App Citizen Pushes Users to ‘Bring Justice’ Against Wrong Man in L.A. Arson Probe
Authorities in Los Angeles announced on May 17 2021 that they had arrested a suspect in an arson investigation, around 48 hours after a “safety” app had posted a photograph falsely identifying a man as the possible culprit. Fire Chief Ralph
Truth or Fiction?→ Alleged Billboard Renews Interest in Online Campaign to ‘Bring Back Tony Stark to Life’
On April 22 2021, a fan campaign seeking to resurrect the Marvel Studios version of the character Tony Stark drew attention on social media with what appeared to be a photo of a billboard. We contacted Outfront Media, the company which owns the billboa
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Josie Huang Identify Herself as Press While Being Arrested?
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s latest attempt to justify the violent arrest of a journalist was clearly exposed as false by video footage of the attack posted by the reporter and other news outlets. Huang, a reporter for KPC
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Los Angeles Police Officer Find a Tampon in His Starbucks Cup?
Police in Los Angeles accused workers at a nearby Target store of tampering with an off-duty officer’s drink in June 2020, reigniting debate following other questionable claims by law enforcement agencies. According to KTTV-TV, the officer alleg
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Los Angeles and NYC Announce ‘No More Concerts In 2020’?
A newly-created Twitter account’s unsubstantiated claim was still shared widely on the platform by readers perhaps dreading the long-term ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Los Angeles and New York City. Touting it as “BREAKING NEWS
Truth or Fiction?→ USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort Dock in Cities for Coronavirus Response
Amid jarring scenes of metropolitan hospitals dangerously strained by COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic, two naval hospital ships (the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy) were docked in New York City and Los Angeles respectively in late March 2020
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Los Angeles Police Conducting ‘Spot Checks’ on ‘Non-Essential’ Driving?
A social media dispute broke out around comedian Ashley Ray on March 25 2020, after she posted what she called an advisory for people venturing outside in Los Angeles amid the city’s stay-in-place order to limit spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Truth or Fiction?→ Five Iron Workers Atop a Tower ‘Selfie’
In September 2019, the following image circulated on Facebook, apparently showing five construction or ironworkers crowded atop a dizzyingly tall tower: Simply looking at the image and the smiling men was enough to upset some acrophobic readers,
Snopes→ Suspect Arrested in Shooting Rampage That Killed 4 in LA
Authorities arrested a suspect in the killing of four people, including two of his family members and an acquaintance, after a shooting rampage and 12-hour manhunt in Los Angeles.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Third World Country? Nah, LA California’
In June 2019, a Facebook user shared the following image (archived here), purportedly illustrating the poor state of affairs in Los Angeles in particular and California overall: Third world country? Nah, LA California. This is exactly what socialism i
Snopes→ Suspect in Deadly California Attacks Was Deported 6 Times
Ramon Escobar, 47, who was believed homeless himself, likely targeted victims to rob them, Los Angeles police Capt. William Hayes told reporters.
Snopes→ 1968 Los Angeles School Walkout Protesters See Link to Parkland Teens
Parkland students have held rallies, confronted elected officials and are promising to mobilize eligible youth to register to vote in an effort to push lawmakers for tougher gun-control laws.
Snopes→ DA Seeks to Bar Parents from Contacting 13 Kids Kept Captive
The court proceeding is the latest step as authorities seek to sever ties between David and Louise Turpin and their 13 children.
Snopes→ California Wind, and Fire Danger, Hits Unprecedented High
As many as five fires have closed highways, schools and museums, shut down production of TV series and cast a hazardous haze over the region.
Snopes→ Los Angeles Alt-Weekly Staff Abruptly Gutted Immediately After Sale
No explanation has been offered as to why the LA Weekly's reporters and editors were laid off.
Snopes→ Was a Musician Deported for Attacking a Los Angeles Street Vendor?
A dubious web site exaggerated the outcome of musician Carlos Hakas' encounter with elote seller Benjamín Ramírez.
Snopes→ Did Muslim Federal Judge ‘Mahal al Alallaha-Smith’ Rule that Two Items of Sharia Law Are Now Legal?
An article reporting that a federal judge had implemented "sharia law" in the United States is fake news that was originally posted on a satire site.