George Lavender

Independent Producer

George Lavender is an award-winning independent radio and print journalist. His radio reporting has aired on NPR, KCRW, WBUR, KQED, and Radio France International.

George Lavender on KCRW

Southern California has long been associated with street racing. And law enforcement officials say they’re gearing up for another deadly summer.

What's fueling the rise in illegal street racing?

Southern California has long been associated with street racing. And law enforcement officials say they’re gearing up for another deadly summer.

from KCRW Features

Businesses that grow or sell cannabis still face a challenge when it comes to what to do with the money they make. At the Higher Path dispensary in Sherman Oaks,…

The business of legal weed poses banking challenges

Businesses that grow or sell cannabis still face a challenge when it comes to what to do with the money they make. At the Higher Path dispensary in Sherman Oaks,…

from News Stories

Most banks are unwilling to serve an industry that is illegal in the eyes of the federal government.

Banking and cannabis

Most banks are unwilling to serve an industry that is illegal in the eyes of the federal government.

from KCRW Features

More from KCRW

​​The LA Times said today that it will lay off more than 20% of the newsroom. Owner Patrick Soon-Shiong said the paper has been losing $30 to 40 million annually.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Join KCRW and NPR as the Supreme Courts hears arguments over the Colorado State Supreme Court's decision to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state's primary ballot.

from News Special Programming

Where do GOP hopefuls stand after Donald Trump’s Iowa caucus win? Can the Israeli government eradicate Hamas without triggering all-out regional conflict?

from Left, Right & Center

The Geffen Playhouse’s new artistic director, Tarell Alvin McCraney, wants to connect with younger audiences and create a safe space for immersive horror.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Let’s be real: The hustle to make it in LA is nerve-racking. KCRW wants to know how you’re doing, and whether you’re staying afloat.

from KCRW Features

New music in 2024 includes tripped-out Latin indie pop and a dance floor-ready love letter to an artist's late mother.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

In “The Underworld,” journalist Susan Casey takes readers into the deep ocean to explore volcanoes, trenches, and a booming ecosystem that’s vital to our survival.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Claremont Institute, a conservative Southern California think tank, helped spearhead a national campaign to ban DEI on public college campuses.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Will Americans’ faith in the judiciary survive the stress of the 2024 election? What about the country's belief in journalism and policing?

from Left, Right & Center