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.

Steve Soberoff is stepping down as LA's fire recovery czar, and he's leaving with plenty

to say. Reporter Julia Wick says Soberoff was brought in to lead recovery efforts in the Pacific

Palisades after January's fire. But his position was quickly downgraded, and he claims he was

shut out of key decisions,

including not being told when the mayor reopened the city to the public.

Still, he says he kept working, putting in long hours, teaming up with FEMA, and helping relocate a local school.

But now, Mayor Bass says the city is in the process of appointing a new chief recovery officer.

This story raises questions about leadership and whether the Palisades rebuild is really back on track.

California scientists may be one step closer to saving the state's kelp forests, thanks to a rare endangered sea star. Lila

Seidman reports that Sunflower Sea Stars, once wiped out by a mysterious disease, are finally

spawning again in labs from San Diego to Monterey Bay. Sunflower sea stars are a brightly colored

24-armed starfish that once flourished along the Pacific coast.

In 2013, a mysterious disease wiped out 94% of its population, and without them, kelp forest collapsed and marine life disappeared.

Now, scientists are breeding the stars in labs and gathering new genetic material, including

a big haul coming from Alaska.

If successful, the population rebuild could help fight climate change and support fisheries.

Food delivery is getting a high-tech upgrade.

Caroline Petro Cohen reports Doordash is teaming up with Cocoa Robotics

to bring sidewalk delivery robots to customers in LA and Chicago.

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