This is an LA Times Studios podcast.

Hi, I'm Angelica Coronado at LA Times Studios.

Here are some of today's headlines from the Los Angeles Times.

The death of Pope Francis is being deeply felt across California.

As Pope, he championed issues such as environmental protection, international peace,

and a more inclusive approach toward LGBTQ plus individuals.

He was known as an advocate for refugees and marginalized communities and pushed for stronger unity between different faiths.

L.A. Times reporters say his message of love, mercy, and togetherness continues to inspire.

His words and actions resonated strongly in Los Angeles, where Catholics gathered to pray and remember his legacy.

From the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to churches in Riverside, mourners remember

him as a symbol of hope. He embraced everyone, no matter where they came from. As one priest

stated simply, he was a man of peace. He loved humanity.

In her state of the city address, Mayor Karen Bass directly addressed the city's many challenges

and discussed her plans to tackle a $1 billion budget crisis.

L.A. Times reporters say Bass struck a hopeful tone, promising to speed up fire recovery by cutting

the red tape and fees that make it more difficult to rebuild. She emphasized the need to

make filming in LA easier and the importance of bringing tourism back to downtown, both of which

are vital to the city's economy. The mayor also touted drops in crime and homelessness this past year.

But Bass said the city needs to do more to fight homelessness,

because it's an issue that affects local businesses and residents as well.

A massive new residential tower is one step closer to rising above downtown Los Angeles.

Reporter Roger Vincent says the City Planning Commission just approved a plan to build a 53-story skyscraper

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