Brian Watt Business and Economics Reporter
- Phone: (626) 583-5108
Brian Watt is KPCC’s lead Business and Economics Reporter. He joined the KPCC news team in 2007. Prior to that, he worked as a producer at "Marketplace," where he filed a number of his own stories and even filled in some mornings as host.
Brian holds degrees in Theater from Yale University and the Sorbonne, and has worked as an actor in France, Italy, Brazil, Hungary and Hollywood. He appeared in a few television shows, including "The West Wing," "Judging Amy," and "The District."
Stories by Brian Watt
(Not) going postal: Postal workers face an uncertain future
As the postal service moves to cut locations, jobs and hours, employees worry about their future — and the future of the service.
'Top Gun' director Scott dies after jumping off LA bridge
Tony Scott, director of "Top Gun," has died after jumping from a Los Angeles County bridge. ABC News reports that Scott was suffering from inoperable brain cancer.
'Made In LA' Pavilion debuts at apparel trade show
The Los Angeles garment district is promoting its local brand in a "Made in LA" Pavilion at the "Sourcing at Magic" trade show in Las Vegas.
Syphilis outbreak has group calling for adult film shutdown
A recent syphilis outbreak has led an adult film industry group to call for a temporary shutdown of adult film production.
$105 million to fight homelessness in LA County
The Home for Good collaborative lines up $105 million to provide permanent housing for more than 1,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County.
BP sells Carson refinery and ARCO brand to Tesoro
BP continues shedding assets with sale of Carson refinery, pipeline network, and ARCO brand. Gets closer to paying for Deepwater Horizon explosion.
LA-area homeless shelter tries to take the heat off visitors
As temperatures across LA breeze past the 100 degree mark, everyone is left baking. But those without permanent homes are far more likely to feel the heat.
Pomona Fairplex hosts job fair for LA County Fair jobs
The Pomona Fairplex is hosting a job fair for L.A. County Fair jobs. The County Fair opens August 31.
Caltech professor wins $3 million prize for work in physics
Caltech professor Alexei Kitaev has won the inaugural Fundamental Physics Prize — and $3 million. Kitaev teaches theoretical physics and computer science.
CA energy expert weighs in on India power outage
The founder of UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Center says after decades of taking black-outs in stride, the latest outage in India will prompt leaders to do something.
Rite Aid workers in SoCal vote to authorize strike
The union and management have been negotiating for months, with little progress so far. A strike could come as early as next week.
Study urges Pasadena to resist offering NFL Rose Bowl
A recent study conducted by the Urban Land Institute says that Pasadena should resist the temptation to offer an NFL team a temporary home in the Rose Bowl.
Los Angeles' Chinatown readies for Walmart
The development has inspired the usual protests over Walmart’s anti-union policy, but there’s a different kind of debate happening on the streets of Chinatown.
Batman masks banned in several L.A. theaters, but not all
AMC and ArcLight are putting restrictions on what moviegoers can wear. But the Vista Theater in Hollywood is allowing masks, capes, and costumes on customers, and even on its manager.
Rose Bowl game to be televised on ESPN through 2026
ESPN has agreed to pay a whopping average of $80 million a year to continue televising the annual Rose Bowl college football game.
