
Carlos Frías settles discrimination case with WLRN
WLRN and ex-"Sundial" host Carlos Frías quietly settled a discrimination lawsuit that Frías filed last year after the radio station canceled his show.
The big picture: In the lawsuit, Frías claimed that the NPR station discriminated against him for being Latino and retaliated after he complained to human resources.
The lawsuit claimed a WLRN editor told a producer the show was "sounding very Latino" and began keeping track of how many Hispanic guests were on the show.
WLRN denied the allegations. It said in court filings that the "unsuccessful Sundial show" was canceled for poor ratings, leading to the termination of Frías and two producers on the show.
The latest: Frías, who had sought reinstatement to his old job and compensatory damages, settled the case with WLRN in January.
Details of the settlement are confidential, Frías' attorney, William Amlong, tells Axios.
"Both sides are appropriately happy and unhappy," Amlong said. "It's how a good mediation always works out."
The other side: A WLRN spokesperson said: "The matter has been resolved."
Since leaving WLRN, Frías has been working as a freelance writer for outlets like the New York Times, while pursuing other projects.

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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
These Latino restaurateurs in unlikely places are nominated for a prestigious culinary prize
Before moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, two decades ago, Oscar Ortega had left Mexico City at a young age and spent many years in several European countries, where he studied gastronomy with what he calls incredible teachers. But he never forgot 'where my roots came from, my origins,' he said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. Cacao originated in Mexico, he explained, which was one of the reasons Ortega decided to dedicate himself to becoming a chocolatier, gelato maker and baker. This year, his Jackson Hole establishment, Atelier Ortega, is one of five finalists for the outstanding bakery prize of the prestigious James Beard Awards, which will be announced June 16 and are considered the Oscars of the culinary world. Ortega, whose desserts have won international competitions and who's been featured on numerous television programs, is one of almost 20 Latinos who are finalists across different categories, recognized for making their mark in the culinary and beverage arenas — including in states with smaller Latino populations. One of them is Wyoming, a state where 10% of the population is Hispanic and that many people might associate more with 'cowboy country' than with chocolate making, Ortega said with a laugh. 'But I said, 'Let's see, let's try,'' and he opened a chocolate and pastry shop in 2004. There were days when he didn't sell anything, he said, but then everything started selling out. To keep honing his skills, he began entering international culinary competitions. Initially, he represented Mexico, his native country, but after winning several times, he was invited to join the official U.S. team with which he has won several prestigious international awards. 'And after I made the desserts for the competitions, I would serve them in my bakery when I got back. And that's how it began to establish itself' to the point of getting James Beard recognition, Ortega said. Like Wyoming, Idaho and Alabama are not states with the largest Latino populations. But in Caldwell, Idaho, people of Hispanic descent make up almost 40% of the population compared to 13% in the rest of the state. In this city, Salvador Alamilla's dishes at his restaurant, Amano, have earned him a nomination for 2025 James Beard best chef: mountain, where he's competing against four other chefs in nearby states. The restaurant's website touts a dedication 'to uplifting the food and beverages of the Mexican diaspora through ancestral cooking methods.' From the beginning, Alamilla said, his restaurant sought to be a place that offered 'the dream of eating like you did at home, with food like your grandpa or mom used to make it.' That's why regardless of whether he wins the James Beard Award or not, he said he's already been rewarded by 'seeing how people react to this food, saying, 'That's how my dad made it,' or 'Wow, it tastes just like my grandma's.'' That's behind one of this season's signature dishes at Amano: seasoned goat meat that's slow-cooked in an underground pit, or birria en hoyo, as it's known in Spanish. He's been making it with input from everyone who works at the restaurant, based on how they remember their own older relatives did it using the ancient technique. Along with his wife, Becca Alamilla — who's also the restaurant's manager — the chef's mother, aunts, brother and cousin also work there. 'It's a family project that has become a community cornerstone here in Caldwell,' Alamilla said. For the family, that includes advocating for community initiatives, such as raising funds so local teachers can purchase more books by diverse authors. 'We can be a place that offers a connection to this beautiful culture that exists here because we're here,' Becca Alamillo said. 'I think it can help carry people back to a place that they had forgotten and then it brings back really special memories.' In Birmingham, Alabama, José Medina Camacho has been nominated for outstanding professional in beverage service as co-owner of the bar Adiõs. Medina Camacho told Noticias Telemundo that, at first, he didn't want to be involved in the food industry because his mother and stepfather worked in kitchens, and he saw how long and tiring their days would be. But once he decided to do it, 'I worked my way up the ladder in every aspect of a restaurant,' he said, 'dishwasher, line cook, busboy, server, and then manager in one place, bartender in another, putting together the wine list in yet another... everything.' During the pandemic, he considered moving to another industry, until his partner in what is now Adiõs suggested opening a bar. He said he was initially afraid to make that step, but then he thought it over. "I saw and went to bars all over the city and said, 'Yeah, something's missing here. Where are my people?'' he said. While people in the area knew about Southern hospitality, 'Mexican hospitality is on another level, and I wanted to show them that," he said. At first, people who came to his stylish bar didn't know what to expect; they asked for 'chips and salsa,' he said, because they didn't necessarily know that Latin American culinary establishments can offer so many other things. 'Now they love music in Spanish, they ask me about epazote (a Central American herb), they want to know all the differences between the types of mezcal or tequila,' Medina Camacho said. In that vein, one of the bar's current favorites is a martini made with aged tequila, pickled watermelon and campari. 'We want to attract the entire Birmingham community, whether Latin or American, and show them our culture ... I'm excited about the future, whatever the outcome is' regarding the nomination, he said. Back in Wyoming, Ortega believes his own career's advancements reflect how 'the influence of Mexican and Latin American cuisine has been incredibly significant' in the American culinary world over the last 10 years. 'And in part, it's because, from New York to San Diego, there's no kitchen without Latinos, whether they're chefs, those working alongside them or those financing them, and regardless of whether they're Michelin-starred restaurants or small establishments,' he said. Ortega would be the first Wyoming chef to win the James Beard Award. But he said that regardless of whether he wins, being considered a finalist is a boost after years of work, tireless hours in the kitchen and coaching a team. 'My priority, regardless of the outcome, remains having the opportunity to grow as a pastry chef, chocolatier and ice cream maker, internationally,' Ortega said. He still has one goal, however: re-creating his favorite dessert, which is a flan (custard) that tastes just like the one his late mother used to make. 'Imagine that: after so many years of working at this, I haven't been able to copy her recipe, which she took with her,' Ortega said with a sigh. 'But you have to keep trying.' An earlier version of this story was first published in Noticias Telemundo. This article was originally published on


New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Stephen Graham reveals the 'ultimate' goal of 'Adolescence'
Stephen Graham, who co-created, co-wrote and stars in the critically acclaimed Netflix series 'Adolescence,' hopes that the show sparks conversations at home. 'When me and Jack (co-creator, Jack Thorne) started talking about this and writing and creating it, we wanted there to be conversations between parents and children,' he told The Post exclusively at the Gotham Television Awards on Monday, June 2. 'That was our ultimate thing. 'We wanted to try and see if we could create that conversation that needs to happen.' 8 Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence.' Courtesy of Netflix It's safe to say that the creative duo fulfilled their wish. The show, which premiered in March, has reached nearly 150 million views worldwide. It centers around a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper) who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. The series takes a pointed look at the role social media has in shaping young male teens and their views of women. London's Lord Mayor, Sadiq Khan, recently praised the show for highlighting the 'epidemic of violence against women and girls' in the United Kingdom. The 'Peaky Blinders' alum, 51, doesn't lay all the blame on the internet and social media. 8 (L to R) Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence.' Courtesy of Netflix 8 'We wanted to try and see if we could create that conversation that needs to happen,' he told The Post. Courtesy of Netflix 8 He used real-life crimes in Great Britain over the recent years as the inspiration behind the show. Courtesy of Netflix 'I think it's something that we all maybe need to take accountability for,' he opined. 'I mean, you know, from the schooling, parenting, social kind of environment that our kids grow up in, and now I think these big social media companies themselves have a responsibility.' Graham was quick to clarify that 'I'm not saying police it' but rather 'I'm just saying [they] have a responsibility to be mindful.' The show won big at the Gotham Awards, winning for Breakthrough Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series and Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series. 8 'Adolescence' centers around a teen boy named Jamie Miller ( Owen Cooper) who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. Courtesy of Netflix 8 (L to R) Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller, in 'Adolescence.' Courtesy of Netflix Graham recently opened up that while 'Adolescents' is fictional, he used real-life crimes in Great Britain over the recent years as the inspiration behind the show. 'I read an article in the newspaper, which was about a young boy who had stabbed a young girl to death. And … I was stunned by what I was reading,' he said in March, per NPR. 'And then, about three or four months later, there was a story on the news … about a young boy who had stabbed a young girl to death, and this incident was the opposite end to the country to the first incident that I'd read about,' Graham continued. 8 'Adolescence' is available to stream on Netflix. Courtesy of Netflix 8 (L/R) British actors Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty attend Netflix's 'Adolescence.' AFP via Getty Images He initially blamed the parents; however, he admitted that he later realized he needed to dig deeper. 'Adolescence is a very difficult age, as we all know. You go through a lot of different things, physically, mentally, and even spiritually in the greater scheme of things,' the actor shared. 'My main question was why: Why is this happening?' Graham continued, 'There's a wonderful saying, which is, it takes a village to raise a child. And within that kind of complexity … it's kind of like, maybe we're all accountable. 'When a child closed the door back in the day when it was me and you, we didn't have access to the rest of the world [via the internet], and we couldn't be influenced dramatically by other people and their theories and their thought processes. So that was what we really wanted to look at.' 'Adolescence' is available to stream on Netflix.

Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
At Our Lady of the Angels, free organ recitals unleash the majesty of Los Angeles
Even in a building as massive as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown, the organ stands out. How could it not? Standing 85 feet tall behind the right side of the altar, weighing 42 tons, featuring over 6,000 pipes and bearing the epic name Opus 75, it looks half smokestacks, half battleship and all awesome. It's regularly used during Mass and has hosted organists from around the world since its 2003 debut. But what's coolest about Opus 75 — and what not enough people know — is that the Cathedral holds free lunchtime recitals featuring its star instrument on the first Wednesday of each month. As an organ fanatic, I have long wanted to attend one. I finally had the chance this week. Accompanied by my Times colleague (and fellow classical music head) Ruben Vives, I arrived at the cathedral during the daily 12:10 service, just before the Eucharist. Resident organist Sook Hyun Kim worked the King of Instruments like the seasoned pro she is, including a moving version of 'Make Me a Channel of Your Peace' — an apropos hymn for the era of Pope Leo XIV. About 40 people representing the breadth of L.A. — white, Latino, Asian, Black and all age groups — spread out across the pews after Mass ended to listen to guest organist Emma Yim. The 22-year-old graduated from UCLA (Go Bruins!) two years ago with degrees in biology and organ performance. She is pursuing a master's from our alma mater in the latter discipline, does research for a UCLA Department of Medicine women's health lab and also plays the cello. Man, and I thought I covered a lot of ground! Her choice for the cathedral recital: three of the five movements from French composer Charles-Marie Widor's Symphony No. 5. It would be Yim's first time playing Opus 75. The first movement was mostly variations on a cascading theme. Kim stood to Yim's side to flip the pages of the score while the latter's hands leaped around the rows of the organ's keys. Yim played at first like she didn't want to tempt the power of the behemoth before her — the notes were soft and cautious. But during Widor's playful second movement, the young adults in attendance who had been on their smartphones began to pay attention. Heads began to sway with every swirl of Baroque-like chords that Yim unleashed. 'I could hear elements of 'Lord of the Rings' in there,' Ruben whispered to me as we looked on from our center pews. She skipped two movements to perform the Fifth's fifth, better known as Widor's Toccata. Its soaring passages have made it a popular song for weddings. More people began to poke their head in from the hallways that ring the cathedral's worship space to see what was going on. Yim became more animated as she worked the keys and foot pedals faster and faster. High-pitched arpeggios accentuated resonant bass notes. Kim stopped flipping the score, stepped back and looked on in awe like the rest of us as Yim roused Opus 75 to its full might. The majesty of L.A. suddenly crossed my mind. Even in tough times like these, it's unsurpassed in beauty, in its people and especially in its capacity to surprise and delight in places expected and not. It's people like Yim and performances like hers that stir us all forward to a better place. The recital ended. 'Beautiful, just beautiful,' Ruben said, and I agreed. The applause the crowd gave Yim was swallowed up by the cathedral's size and our sparse numbers, but she was visibly moved. 'Thank you all for coming,' the youngster quietly said, and we all went off to our day. Kim told Ruben and me that the cathedral's organ series will take a summer break before it relaunches in September. See you then! Polly says, 'My dad used to love the saying, 'if you're not living life on the edge, you're taking up too much space!' He would say it as reminder for himself and to my sister and I to not overthink things and to just let loose, stop worrying, or try something new.' Peter says, 'I was around 8 or 9 years old and prattling on about something I knew nothing about, when my father sternly admonished me. He said 'Peter, you only learn when you listen, never when you talk.' His words resonated and got me to my core.' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Today's great photo is from Times photographer Juliana Yamada at the Manhattan Beach home of Paul and Cailin Goncalves, who turned their formerly compartmentalized home and ADU into a bright, flexible family home. Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on