State preemption has been used against local governments on a number of issues; it would be a mistake for that to happen now amid coronavirus fears.

A call to split the U.S. into separate republics based on our deep political divisions draws support from readers.

Our healthcare system has not been overwhelmed. It's time to return to normal for most people while taking measures to protect the vulnerable.

The spouses of immigrants need economic help too so they can stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's daily coronavirus news conferences may drag on, but he's hitting all the right notes with the public.

If you're a cancer patient, you should not avoid treatment because of the pandemic. Surgery and follow-up care cannot wait.

A high school student who grew up knowing the threat posed by climate change asks for everyone to remember how the environment seemed to heal in April 2020.

Calendar Feedback: Is competence sexy? Readers on whether it trivializes Dr. Fauci to call him 'sexy.' Plus, differing opinions on the Peter Zumthor design of LACMA.

It's too dangerous to have Trump remain president for another eight months during a pandemic. Let Mike Pence take over.

Someone wearing gloves and an N95 mask likely had a stockpile at home before the pandemic hit.

Calls to open all beaches because Californians have a right to them are silly and dangerous. Gov. Newsom is making the right call.

We don't know enough about the coronavirus to experiment with deliberately infecting volunteers with COVID-19.

Just like in Sedona, people have been fleeing to Palm Springs to ride out the pandemic. It happens in every small resort town favored by rich people.

Sprinkled in the deluge of negatives letters are uplifting tales of gratitude, humanity and service. This is a selection of those letters.

A professor's suggestion for college student to take time off and turn out the vote is nice, but why not help them with the loan debt first?

"right to literacy": children learn to read mostly at home

Democrats who expect all voters sick of President Trump to vote for Joe Biden are insulting people who care more about the issues than the party.

It's simply wrong when a much younger person dies. Let younger patients take the ventilator if there's a scarcity -- and let doctors make the decision.

Professors don't want us living in single-family homes, the only option for average people to own something all their own.

COVID-19 lockdowns are inflicting too much economic pain and misery. We need to do more cost-benefit analyses.

The Brown Act doesn't give officials any excuse they want to shut out the public from their meetings.

We're comparing the number of Americans to have died from COVID-19 to war casualties. Why not consider AIDS?

The fact that Trump refuses to wear a mask, a precaution meant to protect other people, is evidence of his lack of empathy.

You can't explain away your support for Joe Biden despite a sexual assault allegation without talking about Brett Kavanaugh.

Sweden's death rate is high compared with those of its neighbors, who took much more drastic and appropriate action against the pandemic.

An anti-war student in Ohio at the time of the Kent State massacre explains why the protests were led largely by well-off whites.

Why the argument that we should reopen the economy because we don't shut it down over the thousands of car deaths every year is wrong.

The language of the 2nd Amendment suggests that the Constitution's framers did not want to empower rifle-wielding protesters to invade statehouses.

Letter writers who criticize the president are brushing off accusations from Trump's defenders that they suffer from some kind of insanity.

As a divorce lawyer in 'Marriage Story,' Laura Dern calls out societal bias against mothers. She helped craft the speech with writer-director Noah Baumbach.

Makeup designer Nicki Ledermann took the concept of the Joker's look from Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips and then made it say everything.

Costume designer Arianne Phillips and Quentin Tarantino had a no tie-dye mindset going into the late-'60s-set film 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.'

If an international film, like 'Parasite,' wins best picture, it only seems fair that a different film, like 'Pain and Glory,' gets the international Oscar.

Though Pedro Almodóvar's 'Pain and Glory' is semi-autobiographical, its themes of reconciliation and forgiveness are universal, says Antonio Banderas.

Taika Waititi's irreverent but humanist look at a boy in the Hitler Youth has been a major presence this awards season — for good and bad.

Reasons for cutting scenes from a movie vary. Here's why 'Little Women,' 'Jojo Rabbit,' 'Parasite' and others didn't keep everything they shot.

Cinematographers Rodrigo Prieto and Lawrence Sher compare notes on their films, 'The Irishman' and 'Joker.'

Find out if your favorite film, TV show or commercial won at the 22nd CDGAs, which were hosted by Mindy Kaling. Also honored were Charlize Theron, Adam McKay, Michael Kaplan and Mary Ellen Fields.

Appearing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Grammys host Alicia Keys detailed the backstage frenzy that preceded her poignant tribute to Kobe Bryant.

Brad Pitt has made many speeches this awards season. Without notes or a list of names to thank, his speeches have been sweet, sincere and funny.

Casting himself as being a sinner on borrowed time, 'Two Popes' actor Anthony Hopkins has one rule for life: Be kind.

'Jojo Rabbit' costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo made her mark with Mel Gibson's 'Apocalypto.' For Taika Waititi, she turned to history and art for inspiration.

Bong Joon Ho's mesmerizing movie deserves to win best picture. But can it?

Thelma Schoonmaker began working with Martin Scorsese in 1967. Over the years, she says, it has become more of a collaboration.

The 'Ford v Ferrari' sound teams recorded 28 tracks' worth of period accurate Ferrari and Ford GT40 engines to add to the mix.

The Academy Awards are fast approaching and Oscar pools are being organized. Let our film critics Kenneth Turan and Justin Chang help you analyze the major categories with their predictions.

The success of Greta Gerwig's "Little Women" has been a boon for Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott lived.

Filming his World War I epic "1917" like it was one unbroken shot, Sam Mendes has dazzled audiences and critics. Is a best picture Oscar next?

From where and how to watch the ceremony to who and what is nominated, here's a complete guide to this weekend's Academy Awards.

A luxurious house in "Parasite" and visions of '80s urbanism in "Joker" paint vivid pictures of haves and have nots for #Oscars2020.