Things are still a little fishy in Redondo Beach's King Harbor, as the great dead sardine clean up goes into its third day. "The work was about half way done Wednesday with an estimated 35 tons of fish scooped up from the surface," reports the Daily News. Authorities estimate about 95% of the fish on the surface have been removed. more ›

If you are as devoted to Foursquare as your daily cup of coffee from Starbucks, you might want to get in on a promo the two companies have teamed up for in honor of the coffee spot's 40th anniversary. Starbucks will be awarding $40 gift cards at random to customers who follow the brand on Foursquare, and check into a location today. more ›

It was a tense night inside the iconic rounded, shiny towers of Downtown's Bonaventure Hotel last night, as a man claiming to be armed barricaded himself inside a room and held Los Angeles Police Department officers in a standoff for 8 hours, according to LA Now. The suspect had been told he had to leave the hotel by security when staff discovered his credit card was not valid, notes KTLA. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Smokey the Bear makes his way to your plate in the form of a burger, Mel Gibson reaches a plea deal, a baby owl dies, and schools in the U.S. aren't doing so great. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Erin Brockovich, the consumer advocate made famous by a 2000 movie named after her and starring Julia Roberts in the title role, is back in Hinkley, CA, testing the town's waters for toxic chemicals at the scene of the original crime. Brockovich, who was played by Julia Roberts in the film, led the charge in building a lawsuit against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company after discovering that the company had been leaking toxic chemicals into the water of Hinkley, a small community in San Bernadino County. more ›

For those among us who watched "Jaws" at too young an age and have lingering terror about the ocean because of it, some good news: researchers at UC Davis found that there are fewer great white sharks living off the California coast than they expected. According to the Daily News, biologists navigated small boats into waters believed to be heavily populated by great whites and counted 131, by taking identifying pictures of each shark's unique dorsal fin. more ›

For students who didn't prepare well enough for today's standardized tests, this morning's gas leak in Santa Ana might have been the answer to their frantic, early-morning prayers. KABC reports that a backhoe operator severed a natural gas line this morning, forcing Century High School to hold students in classrooms. more ›

The Downtown Independent has a winning line-up this weekend! Everyone's favorite Adonis warlock has been booted from the small screen, but Charlie Sheen truly explodes on the big screen! The Charlie Sheen Weekend Bender features Wall Street on Friday night, and a tenacious trio of The Chase, Hot Shots & Major League on Saturday! Between films, the Bender boasts #tigerblood competitions & a Charlie Sheen Lookalike contest. Fans of the Downtown Independent have also started a #wewantcharlie campaign on Twitter in an attempt to lure the actor away from his "goddesses" and into an appearance at the event. more ›

Now in its "2nd 8th Annual" (aka 9th) year, the ooey, gooey, cheesy good fun that is the Grilled Cheese Invitational is happening on April 23rd, and tickets went on sale today at $12 a pop. "The event has expanded include more space, more vendors, more free samples, more entertainment and what is expected to be a combined grand total of over 30,000 grilled cheese sandwiches available for your eating pleasure," boasts organizers. more ›

With a swinging 94.7 The Wave-style hold music score that eventually gives way to a more pop-rock jam, and lots of footage of happy riders, the Gold Line Construction Authority recently released the first two videos in a series of planned updates about the rail line's Foothill Extension. more ›

It's usually the smell that is the give away when it comes to cat hoarders. And it was indeed the smell that tipped neighbors off in Santa Ana last month to the home of the people who work with the Cat Connection Rescue Network Inc., the OC Register reports today. Inside the home were 110 cats, and two young children. Both the kids and the kitties were removed from the property in a five hour-long effort on February 8th. more ›

Yesterday the Los Angeles City Council voted to "transfer $930 million in building projects overseen by the Community Redevelopment Agency to the city’s coffers," reports KPCC. The "nick of time" vote came after three postponements, as the issue garnered debate and the clock nearly ran out on the coveted monies. more ›