Liz Baker
Liz Baker is a producer on NPR's National Desk based in Los Angeles, and is often on the road producing coverage of domestic breaking news stories.
Since joining NPR as an Arts Desk intern in 2010, Baker has worked on each of NPR's newsmagazine programs and dozens of hours of special coverage, including every election night and inauguration special since President Obama's second term. She has covered natural and man-made disasters, including Hurricanes Maria, Ida, and Ian, the catastrophic 2019-2020 wildfire seasons in California, Oregon, and Australia, and the Surfside condo collapse in Florida. She also covered mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, Uvalde, TX, and Monterey Park, CA, and high-profile court cases such as the hate crime and murder trial against Ahmaud Arbery's killers in Brunswick, GA, Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial in Los Angeles, and Britney Spears' conservatorship hearing.
In 2020, Baker produced on-the-ground coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the summer of racial justice protests following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. She reported extensively on the protests in her hometown of Rochester, NY, which were sparked by police body camera video of Daniel Prude's death and contributed to renewed conversations about policing reform and mental illness.
From 2015 to 2019, Baker produced and directed Weekend All Things Considered; working closely with host Michel Martin to revitalize the program after its move to Washington, D.C. following a 2-year run in Los Angeles.
In her spare time, she enjoys climbing, camping, and clomping around the Santa Monica mountains with a too-heavy pack, always ready to lend first aid and snacks to others on the trail.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Trump administration will continue to build up its deportation operation in Los Angeles. Nationwide protests are planned for this weekend. -
Things are quiet in Los Angeles the day after Mayor Karen Bass instituted a curfew for a small portion of downtown.
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Local and federal officials in LA say recovery from January's deadly wildfires is on pace to be the fastest in modern California history. Scientists worry that toxic debris isn't getting cleared. -
A section of California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway that has been closed since January's deadly Palisades Fire reopens in time for holiday weekend traffic, to mixed emotions and high hopes for Malibu businesses. -
Big insurance companies have pulled back from California, forcing thousands to turn to insurers of last resort. Fire victims say the limited policies will make recovery and rebuilding more difficult. -
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Lawsuits allege the Eaton Fire was sparked by a SoCal Edison transmission tower. The company says they have not had a chance to inspect the scene yet. The ATF has only just begun the federal investigation into the fire's cause. -
Firefighters continue to struggle against the wildfires around Los Angeles. The death count has risen and looting has become a problem amid the destruction.
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Air quality in Los Angeles has been poor, posing breathing challenges for people with certain health conditions.
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Los Angeles County faces at least three out-of-control wildfires fueled by unusually strong Santa Ana winds. Thousands have been forced to evacuate and a state of emergency has been declared.
