Congressional hearing in LA on election security, Spencer Pratt lashes out over residency claims, LAUSD teachers strike preps— Morning Edition

0:00LAS and the Moth are joining forces for a new live show and you have two chances to see it. The Moth main stage shows are on Wednesday, April 15th in LA, and Thursday, April 16th in Orange County. Get tickets now at LAS.com slash events. I'm Julia Paskin. Ever been enthralled in an LAS story and your car radio loses the signal at just the wrong time? Ah, me too. And it drives me bananas. That FM signal cannot interrupt your listen when you're streaming through the LAS app, so that's for iPhone and Android. Today on the LA Report Morning Edition, congressional Democrats are in LA to put a spotlight on mid-term election security. Mayor candidate Spencer Pratt lashes out over claims he's not an LA resident. They want to attack me for not living in the house age while running for mayor. Hey, brain surgeon, my house burned down. But LA unified teachers are prepping for a strike and even sympathetic parents want

1:00to compromise. I support them, but I don't support them. Good morning. It's Tuesday, April 7th. I'm Austin Cross, and this is the LA Report from LA's News. At least it does and Democratic members of Congress descend on LA this morning for a shadow hearing on mid-term election security. It will be led by New York's Joe Morrell, the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, which has oversight over federal elections. While makers will hear testimony from professors and advocates about issues like election security and voting rights, President Trump has attacked voting systems, especially in blue states. He recently issued an executive order claiming to give federal agencies control of mail and ballots. Reality star and LA mayor candidate Spencer Pratt is attacking the LA Times over a story questioning where he lives. Pratt's palisades home burned down in last year's fires, and he admits he's been staying at his father's Santa Barbara property.

2:00The Times questioned if that disqualifies him for mayor, which caused Pratt to lash out online. Pratt says he's now living in a trailer on his burned out property. The LA city clerk says candidates' addresses are confirmed when they file and they can remain confidential. LA Unified teachers and staff hope new negotiations this week will prevent tens of thousands of educators from hitting the picket lines. The teachers' union have set a strike deadline for next Tuesday. It's asking for more investments in mental health support and special education and a 16% pay raise. Union President Gloria Martinez tells our media partner CBSLA it's about keeping quality educators in the district. There's a high turnaround in teachers leaving within the first five years of teaching because it is so difficult. We want to retain those teachers and compensation is just one aspect of it. But for parents like Karen Dubrow, all that matters is keeping their kids in the classroom.

3:02I understand what they're fighting for and I support them, but I don't support them. A new bargaining session is scheduled for tomorrow. Coming up, you might have two breeding females and more pups. Why you may be seeing more coyotes out in the wild and the kings make a playoff push in the final stretch of the season, stick around. Support for LAist comes from the Palos Verde's Peninsula Land Conservancy, presenting the Wild and Scenic Film Festival on tour in celebration of Earth Day. The festival features short films highlighting conservation, outdoor adventure and environmental stewardship with screenings on April 12 in Radondo Beach and April 25 and 26 in San Pedro. Many members can also participate in an Earth Day volunteer event on April 18 and a silent online auction benefiting local habitat restoration running through April 28. Tickets and details are available at pvplc.org slash earth day. Looking for something different in LA? Roe is a city within a city in LA's arts district.

4:03Browse independent shops like Sneaker Heaven Bodega and vegan favorite besties. Pause for coffee at Go Get Him Tiger or lunch at Picunico for Japanese fried chicken. Smorgasburg, pop-ups and other events add life to every corner. With easy, free two-hour parking, it's the kind of LA experience that invites you to slow down and explore. Visit roe dtla.com Back now with the LA report, I'm Austin Cross. Coyotes spring mating season is here and we're seeing the effects of last year's fires on their habitat. It's also why you may be seeing more of them. Adolfo Guzman Lopez reports. Fires can destroy coyote dens and disrupt their territories. Says Cal State Long Beach biologist Ted Stankowicz. Where one pack might have dominated one larger territory, that territory might be split up and then you have two packs in there. And you might have two breeding females and more pups. Which can lead to more interactions with humans. Most coyotes are afraid of people, Stankowicz says, but it's good to carry a whistle or something

5:04else to scare the more aggressive coyotes and keep small and large pets inside a pack of coyotes can overtake even larger dogs like German shepherds. Adolfo Guzman Lopez, LA news. Lots of winning and sports last night. Feeling like Charlie Schiener over here. Kings beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a shoot at Adrian Kimpei scored the game winner. It currently puts them in position for the final playoff spot with five games left in the regular season. Over in baseball Dodgers blew out the Toronto Blue Jays 14-2 in a rematch of last year's world series. Bet that felt real nice. They have had five home runs in the game, including two from catcher Dalton rushing. Angels beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2. Hey, thanks for listening to the LA Reports Morning Edition hosted by me, Austin Cross, and produced by Kyle Christ. Our engineer is Federico Garcia Rodriguez. Check back here at one for the afternoon edition. You can read more on our website, LAS.com, or listen live anytime on the LAS app, or on the

6:09radio at 89.3 FM. I'm Brienne Lee, Senior Producer for Community Engagement at LAS. It's our goal to take complicated issues and make them easier for you to understand, which is why I'm pleased to tell you the LAS Voter Game Plan is back. You're here to help you navigate your ballot with informed, accurate reporting on the candidates and issues. Participation and elections makes for our stronger community. Learn more. Visit LAS.com-slash-vote.