News

more ›

Over $300 billion in bailout money from the government and the next place you see Citigroup's money is towards a major sponsorship of a football game. Good advertising move or waste? The money to secure their sponsorship was spent long ago, but they should still be publicly humiliated, right? We hear that in every time out a new stat about Citi's epic fail will be announced and it will be scrolled across the scoreboard as the band plays the theme from Titanic. Or something like that. more ›

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may be out of state vacationing, but his people proposed yet another solution--their fourth--to the state budget problem, expected to reach a $40 billion deficit if nothing is done in upcoming months. Today's proposal combines a previous ones with more new ideas, the Sacramento Bee finds: more ›

Yesterday Wilshire Boulevard became the scene of two protests over recent rocket attacks and military action between Israel and Palestine. One by Jews for Peace outside the Federal Building in Westwood; the other at the Israeli Consulate sponsored by ANSWER LA. At the latter location, over 500 people--mostly pro-Palestinian--attended making for an "extremely tense" and loud event as each side chanted from their side of the street, said LAist photographer Tom Andrews. Here's some a little slice of what happened... more ›

It's no secret that 2008 has been a massive, epic failure of a year. With a couple of glaring exceptions, practically everything that could possible have gone wrong has gone miserably and completely wrong. It's almost as if the last 8 years was nothing more than a time release poison pill set to take effect at approximately... um, what time is it right now? more ›

Cue six degrees of Kevin Bacon game now... Three more victims of Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme were announced, including the Hollywood couple that is Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. Madoff is accused of running a reportedly $50 billion Ponzi scheme in which investment money from new clients was taken to pay off earlier investors. Hollywood is no stranger to playing victim to Madoff--Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, business manager Gerald Breslauer and Eric Roth (screenwriter of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) are among those swindled. more ›

Are USC fans bored of going to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena? Tomorrow the Trojans take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the "grandaddy of them all." But it looks like tickets are still available, and some are even being sold under face value. The game is a contractual sellout, so tickets will be gone by the time the teams take to the gridiron tomorrow. However, the Pasadena Star-News reported that tickets were being sold for $100 each a few days ago. Today on Stub Hub, they're being advertised for $175 and up. So why the anticlimactic atmosphere for this Rose Bowl game? Is it a case of the same old, same old or is the economy robbing us of football fever? / Photo by BinaryLA via LAist's flickr pool. more ›

Yesterday, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station deputies arrested a 15-year-old for allegedly boarding an Antelope Valley line Metrolink train with an automatic assault weapon. more ›

The stroke of midnight tonight could bring more disappointment than delight for Time Warner subscribers. If the cable company doesn't pony up an agreement to Viacom Inc.'s demands of 25 cents more per subscriber, they will yank all 19 of the channels they own from their airwaves at 12:01 a.m. January 1st. more ›

Today will forever be remembered as The Day The Fun Died for those Californian motorists who revel in texting-while-driving. As we flip the calendar to 2009, that act becomes illegal whether you have an iPhone, a Blackberry, or a hefty Zack Morris phones from 1992.

Text Messaging (SB 28) This new law makes it an infraction to write, send, or read text-based communication on an electronic wireless communication device, such as a cell phone, while driving.

It's hands off for five massage parlors in Arcadia until they can improve their working conditions. According to the Daily News, the businesses were "fined by state inspectors" and ordered to shut down "until withholding taxes, workers' compensation insurance and hourly wage standards were met." So if you were looking to get a rub down at the Ocean Health Center, C H Health Center, New Life Acupuncture, Arcadia Spa, or Best Health Center, you're going to have to take care of your needs on your own, or find somewhere else in the area to go work out the kinks. more ›

• Philatelics, listen up. The USPS just announced some of the Celebrity Stamps it will issue in 2009.
• "Hey Honey, is this mustard still good? There's no date, just "M02122."" "Oh babes, just check the expiration code cheat sheet."
• Money's tight, the kids drive you crazy, your boss sucks - do you ever just want to reach out and tell your friends, but think you're being too needy? Try posting on F***MYLIFE.com and get some helpful feedback from anonymous friends. Thanks to LA Snark for the link.
• A Buena Park man disappeared last September in a tragic boating accident. Or did he?
• A poopular iPhone application over the holidays was iFart. It's... exactly what you think.
• For all you New Years Eve drinkers (see: Everyone), there's a safe alternative to giving your friend the, "I'm fine, seriously..." speech. Sponsored by AAA, Tipsy Tow will gladly tow your car home for you, for free! Use and abuse, people.
• Orange Country has recently added a Toll Free line for residents to call and report pollution by fellow residents. That's right, if your neighbor likes to spill paint thinner in the storm drain, call 1-877-89-SPILL.

Hey President Bush, you're not off the hook yet. Jerry Brown is back suing President Bush over green issues, this time over new rules pertaining to the Endangered Species Act. "The Bush Administration is seeking to gut the Endangered Species Act on its way out the door," Attorney General Brown said in a statement today. "This is an audacious attempt to circumvent a time-tested statute that for 35 years has required scientific review of proposed federal agency decisions that affect wildlife." more ›

What busy times these are for homosexuals and their sympathizers! Protests aplenty loom in the coming weeks and months. An unofficial list of upcoming events can be found at the Against8 blog; and an official list can be found, well, nowhere, since nobody's really in charge. more ›

After rocket attacks and military action between Israel and Palestine that began on Saturday, protests have been lining streets around the world. Two of them are set for this afternoon, the LA Weekly finds. Protesting Israel's counterattacks, Jews for Peace will assemble outside the Westwood Federal Building at 3 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., LA's most widely known grassroots organizing force, ANSWER LA, is sponsoring an "emergency protest" outside the Israeli Consulate. more ›

In a season that has been as lackluster as any in recent memory, the drama of Week 17 singlehandedly saved the season. more ›

In suburban Covina, the city has entered into a contract with a private security company to enforce parking restrictions. The city hopes that Inter-Con Security, that begins enforcement on January 5, will provide more frequent and consistent response "to parking complaints in a consistent and timely manner," the Pasadena Star News reported. more ›

Police across the region are telling people not to shoot guns into the air on New Year's Eve. "What goes up inevitably is going to come down, and it comes down at a velocity that can quite easily penetrate buildings, car roofs and human beings," LAPD Chief William Bratton said at a news conference yesterday. more ›

Richard Walker Sault was quite the surprise. Born two days before Christmas in Laguna Hills, he was larger than expected. Much larger. 14 pounds, 2 ounces, which is double the size of average newborns. He was delivered by caesarean section by the hands of two doctors (one was not enough for this big boy) and the family is reported to be in good health. more ›

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo killed nine people, and then himself, on Christmas Eve. Dressed in a Santa Suit, the distraught man entered the Covina home of his ex-wife's family and went on a shooting rampage, then torched the home. Following what has become known as the "Santa Massacre" Pardo went to his brother's home and committed suicide. more ›

We've all heard time and time again: LAX tends to have too many close calls of planes knocking into each other. At the crux of the problem, many believe, are the staff shortages at the airport and in the main radar facility that guides planes between the six regional airports. more ›

There are 90 entries in the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade, for which the theme this year is "Hats Off to Entertainment." The floats, as usual, promise to blend hokey with interesting, all bedecked in all manner and sort of flora. The Pasadena Star-News has a full listing and description of every float and act; they seem to generally stick with the theme of entertainment, although many drift into the community and family themes. more ›

more ›

more ›

A 22-year-old female student sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 40% of her body after an explosion in the Molecular Sciences Building shortly before 3 p.m. this afternoon. UCLA's police department originally reported it as a structure fire, but upon arrival, Los Angeles Fire Department authorities did not find a fire. Instead, the student, who was on the fourth floor, was burned after a chemical mixture caused a large flash, said fire officials. The chemicals used are currently unknown and other students nearby were not hurt. more ›

Officers were attacked 527 times up to December 23 of this year, according to the Los Angeles Police Protective League today. The total is the sum of 168 assaults with deadly weapons (14 with guns), 358 physical assaults and one death. SWAT member Randall Simmons was shot and killed last February in Winnetka when his team entered a home where a barricaded suspect was holding fort. more ›

Possibly taking cue from Korea's DMZ and TMZ's branding (it stands for the historical Thirty Mile Zone), check this sticker out that was spotted over the weekend at one of Malibu's famous celebrity hunting grounds--the Cross Creek Shopping Center in Malibu. Blogger Veronique Tuerenne, internet-rolls her eyes and calls this sticker "wishful thinking." Malibu is one of the cities particpating in a regional paparazzi taskforce that most recently published a citizen's guide to help navigate the law when dealing with paps. more ›

Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard died today at Sherman Oaks Hospital after suffering a heart attack late last month. It was just a few months ago that he was on stage, still playing despite health problems in recent years. His last concert was in June in New York at an album release party for his final album--"On The Real Side." more ›

Brenda Scott Royce, the director of publications for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association who has written in defense of the zoo that wants to keep building their controversial pachyderm forest, has come out again on the Huffington Post against the activists clad in their "Free Billy" t-shirts. more ›

The Covina Police will hold a special community meeting at 7:00 tonight to discuss the Christmas Eve "Santa Massacre" that took place there on Knollcrest Drive. The unprecedented violence of the crime has left many neighbors and friends of the deceased in shock, and has also surprised those who knew the gunman, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo. Various reports reveal that Pardo was a kind man who did not hint at marital troubles or the desire to cause harm, and that he served as an usher at the Holy Redeemer Church in his home community of Montrose. Accodring to the Press-Telegram, "Coroner's investigators are working to positively identify the remains via dental records, since the bodies were burned." A total of 9 people were killed in the shooting, and Pardo committed suicide following his rampage. On Friday night, the police released the 911 call from the shooting. more ›

Japanese import convenience store Famima!! seems to have Downtown locked down. They currently have 5 locations in the area, and are prepping to open a sixth come February, but in an urban-center-Starbucks-esque move, they are opening it on the same block as another one. According to angelenic, "Downtown's newest Famima!! will be on the corner of 7th and Flower in the Roosevelt Lofts." Talk about convenient: "You won't even have to cross a street to swing by from the new Wilshire/Hope branch." Sadly, in other parts of LA County, Famima!! isn't doing as well. The Glendale location was shuttered in March following lackluster sales, as did two in Long Beach, and the one in Torrance in May. more ›

There's good news and bad news when it comes to driving-related incidents that happened over the holidays this past week. According to the Daily Breeze, "Six traffic deaths were reported over the holiday weekend in Los Angeles County and DUI arrests by California Highway Patrol officers were down from last year's total." more ›

George Francis was born on June 6, 1896. That made him 112 and 204 days before he died of heart failure at a Sacramento nursing home on Saturday. Francis lived through various wars, the birth of the mass produced automobile, the moon landing and the election of the first Black President, who he voted for. He leaves behind his son, Anthony Francis, who is 81. Who is the oldest person in the world? UCLA gerontologist Dr. Stephen Coles maintains a list of the world's oldest people and says that Maria de Jesus of Portugal is the oldest person. She's 115 and 109 days old. more ›

The Los Angeles Unified School District has initiated a spending freeze, thanks in part to the possibility of having to cut $400 million in spending mid-year, after already being crippled by $400 million in budget cuts this year. Their first major move has been to put one of their biggest arts programs in a holding pattern. The LA Times reports:

In a Dec. 12 e-mail, district administrators told arts instructors with the Arts Community Partnership Network to cancel all work immediately and that payments might be delayed, though work could begin again next month if the state resolves its budget crisis.

Over the holiday week, it appears that Warner Brothers has painted over their huge Looney Tunes/Hanna-Barbera/Warner Animation mural that's been there for more than 15 years, finds animation authority, historian and author Jerry Beck on his blog, Cartoon Brew. "To give them benefit of the doubt, perhaps they are going to replace it with an even better graphic of Bugs Bunny and crew. I hope so... but who wants to bet that Harry Potter or the live action Dark Knight will soon be guiding us toward the Cahuenga Pass." more ›

more ›

Depending on what time you're visiting LAist today, things might be a little screwy. We're going through some changes by upgrading our blogging software and doing some graphic redesigning. Our tech team, led by the best man to do the job, Neil Epstein, are working hard to get us through this as fast and smoothly as possible. Housekeeping: This is a good time to remind that you can read us via RSS (subscribe at http://laist.com/index.rdf) and follow us on Twitter @LAist. If you're going "what the hell are those," then this RSS and this Twitter video should help (plus, they're fun to watch!). more ›

Imagine heeding the call of a craving for some Annie's Sour Cream and Onion Cheddar Bunny crackers and opening the box to find $10,000 in cash instead. It happened to a Tustin family, who had bought the box of crackers at their local Whole Foods. Instead of being greedy, though, the Rogoff family brought the cash to the cops, who thought at first it could be part of a drug drop. According to abc7.com,

Police later heard from store managers at Whole Foods in Tustin that an elderly woman had come in a few days earlier, hysterical because she had mistakenly returned a box of crackers with her life savings inside. The Lake Forest woman, whose identity was not released, had lost faith in her bank and decided the box would be a safer place for the $10,000.

Valley-ites (and anyone else whose toes are tingling with the chill), get ready to crank up the thermostat, bundle up in the blankets, and pour yourselves a hot toddy. According to the Pasadena Star-News, the "National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for Los Angeles valleys." That means in the wee hours you'd best "take measures to protect plants and pets from freezing temperatures." more ›

It's an American institution on the verge of its 100th anniversary, and the Boy Scouts are struggling to survive. Although it's still the top youth organization in the nation, enrollment has been steadily declining over the past two decades, and in order to stay afloat, they've come up with a new strategy: Attract Hispanic kids. more ›

Southwest Flight 688 on its way to Los Angeles was taxiing at Chicago's Midway Airport around 9 a.m. yesterday morning when it's right main gear got stuck in the snow on the shoulder of the taxiway. As the day went on, temperatures in Chicago warmed up drastically causing dense fog to cover the region. And then what happened? All flights at Midway were canceled shortly after 6 p.m. ending in 80 canceled flights. Over at the city's main airport, around 400 flights were canceled. If all this trouble has you stuck somewhere out there, The Travel Doctor keeps his list of airports with free Wi-Fi updated. more ›

Gas prices have been increasing over the last week leaving the current price for a gallon of regular at $1.781, six cents more than seven days ago. Not to fear, though; that's still 33 cents lower than last month and $1.44 under last year. “The increases have pulled California up once again to have one of the most expensive statewide gas price averages in the U.S., behind only Alaska, Hawaii and New York,” explained Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring in a statement on Friday. And don't forget! This is the last weekend of late-night Metro Red Line subway service! more ›

At the family Christmas Eve party, the ex-sister-in-law of Santa shooter Bruce Jeffrey Pardo made it out of her parents' Covina house alive with her injured daughter who was shot in the head--luckily with a non life-threatening injury. more ›

more ›

To Matt Cornell, this 15-minute Queer Nativity play is "an act of irreverent defiance against religious and political institutions that would seek to marginalize entire groups and classes of people, effectively leaving them out in the cold." more ›

If you're going to become the neighborhood composter, then beware, there are certain regulations. more ›

Continuing the saga of fighting the thousands of illegal billboards in Los Angeles (to catch up on the controversy, watch this video), City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo today filed criminal charges against three property owners along the 110 Freeway near the LA Live/Staples Center area today for erecting illegal billboard support structures (see the map here). A construction company also was charged. more ›

Good news, but not good enough. Compared to 100 arrests last year, LA County's California Highway Patrol office is reporting that only 30 drivers have been arrested for driving under the influence between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Friday this week. Statewide, there have been 167 arrests. The holiday period continues into this weekend with various sobriety checkpoints across the region. Tonight and tomorrow night, the Metro Red Line subway will operate until 3 a.m., so make use of it before the pilot program ends! more ›

Earlier suspicions that a ninth body could be inside the scene of a mass murder in Covina has been confirmed, the Chicago Tribune confirms. A man dressed as Santa Claus walked into his ex-in-laws home on Christmas Eve and began shooting before lighting the place on fire. He was later found dead after he apparently committed suicide at his brother's home in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. UPDATE: Now the coroner's office is saying they will not confirm the ninth body. A 2 p.m. press conference is expected to update the press on what's going on. more ›

Since the Fall, Los Angeles has been adjusting parking meter rates throughout the city to an increased $1 per hour rate at the minimum (you'll find some meters up $4 an hour) and they expect to be done by the end of January. Not only that, beware of the time. The days of free parking after 6 p.m. is over--numerous areas will now have meters in force until 8 p.m. The worst part of this transition is that in some areas, meters say they are enforced to 6 p.m. and the signs above say 8 p.m. What to do? What to do? more ›

more ›

Sad. Clad in a Santa Suit on Christmas Eve, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo arrived at his ex-wife parent's Covina home and shot and killed at least eight people. Here's how it played out, as described by the LA Times: more ›

LA Lakers defeat Boston Celtics 92-83. Like I said the other day, I really think the Lakers have been messing with us. After weeks of lackluster play, the Lakers won convincingly in New Orleans just in time for the game of the season against the Celtics. And boy did the Lakers come out to play. They played staunch defense which helped them close out the game on an 11-2 run and overpowered the Celtics. Yes. The finesse soft Lakers punched the tough Celtics in the mouth. more ›

more ›

Is it Christmas? more ›

Three people are dead and three are injured after a Christmas Eve party in suburban Covina ended in gun shots and a house fire. The "person of interest," 45-year-old Bruce Jeffery Pardo (pictured), apparently arrived at the party in a santa suit and left the house in street clothes. He was reported to be having some marital problems and is considered armed and dangerous, according to CNN. UPDATE: The suspect, Pardo, was found dead at his brother's Sylmar home after reportedly killing himself. more ›

It's Christmas and hey, not everything is closed. So here are some options of what you can do today... more ›

Noxious fumes or a quickly spreading fire is not what Santa ordered for you, even if you deserved coal in your stocking. As tempting as it may be, warming up to a holiday fire fumed by wrapping paper is a horrible idea, says the Los Angeles Fire Department: more ›

A couple in their twenties who placed a candle under their Christmas Tree are probably feeling grateful they survived the fire they started around 9:45 p.m. tonight. Luckily, the newish two-story apartment building at 19039 Nordhoff Street in Northridge had a sprinkler system that extinguished the blaze before fire trucks arrived (sidenote: whatever happened to Season 2 American Inventor winner and Ventura County Firefighter Greg Chavez' Guardian Angel for situations just like this?). The fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damage--about half to the structure and half to personal items. No one was hurt, a good thing, especially for a holiday night like this. The last time someone died in Los Angeles due to a Christmas Tree fire was in 2006. more ›

more ›

For Moira Nordholt, who is known online as the Feel Good Guru, her Christmas day food coma comes around 2 p.m. The presents are open and the everyone has eaten, the day is over, right? Not for her this year. more ›

For those in recovery, the holidays can represent the most trying time of the year. Good thing Los Angeles is plenty strong on recovery. All sorts of help can be found, including many 12-step meetings from all sorts of 12-step programs. Perhaps there's something to it. Happy Holidays! more ›

"We're fully expecting to have something to say before the end of the year," said Evan Wagner, a spokesman for the Southern California based IndyMac Bank, about the possible imminent sale of the bank to an owner or owners. That sale could be announced as early as today. Considered one of the largest bank failures in U.S. history, IndyMac's mortgage specialist unit was taken over by federal regulators on July 11 after $1.3 billion in deposits were taken out in 11 days following U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer questioning IndyMac's survival. more ›

Banned for a little over a month now, Pasadena police will be out making sure smokers don't light up along the parade route at next week's Tournament of the Roses. They plan to educate people rather than enforce, but if someone refuses to put out their cigarette, the first ticket is $100 and further violations go up to $500. more ›

A 78-year-old sailor's court martial from 1950 for two unauthorized absences and missing a ship's movement was pardoned by President Bush yesterday. The pardon should should clear his record, but just in case the near octogenarian wants to, he won't be able to rejoin the military, a naval lieutenant commander told the Daily Breeze. Robert Truman Reece, who lives in a Redondo Beach condo overlooking the ocean, is one of the 20 people that Bush pardoned on Tuesday. He's granted 191 pardons since entering office in 2000. more ›

When it comes to Skid Row's largest Christmas toy party, some wait over ten hours in line; some wait over night. Fred Jordan Missions' 65th annual Family Christmas Celebration was last Sunday and it brought out the masses, with smiles in tow. more ›

A lesson on why you shouldn't jump the fence into the Gorilla's home... they might think there are veggies inside you. More of LAist's ape coverage here. more ›

more ›

LA Lakers defeat New Orleans Hornets 100-87. Sometimes I really think the Lakers just want to fuck with us. They came out and played like the team we all thought they were. The Lakers held the Hornets to 42% shooting and Chris Paul to 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting and 10 assists. Offensively there really isn't anything to worry about with the Lakers aside from the occasional off-shooting night. Kobe and Pau got their points while Andrew Bynum stayed out of foul trouble. The last time the Lakers faced the Hornets they had a huge lead slip away to just three points at the end of the game. There was no such collapse this time around. more ›

It feels like an annual tradition these days. Politicians fight over the budget. It's delivered late. But nothing really gets fixed. And this year is especially bad. more ›

• Nobody is safe from taking pictures with Santa. An Anaheim man on probation and ordered to stay away from his gang was arrested for violating that injunction when an officer discovered a picture of him flashing gang signs in a picture with Santa and a few cronies.
• Have you checked into Cedars-Sinai in the past 5 years? Better check your credit report, former employee Alan Wilson is being held on $895k bail for charges including identity theft, insurance fraud and grand theft.
• Gladiatooors, ready!!! If you always dreamed of being Maximus from Gladiator, now's your chance. The Colosseum in Rome is opening back up with the sights and smells of 2,000 years ago.
• You think the recession is behind us, or may be over in 2009? Think again. A San Francisco group representing dock employers at U.S. West Coast ports says 2010 is shaping up to be just as bleak.
• A Hollywood man made national headlines today by not throwing anything away for almost a year. Dave Chameides recycles his garbage or else stores it in his basement. He says he "wants to show that it is possible to dramatically reduce his family's consumption habits." You can follow him on his blog
• Want to write a law for California? Now's your chance.
• An innocent man that has spent 4 Christmas' behind bars will have to spend one more even though he's free to go. Like many others, he's snowed in.
• A Hostage situation in El Monte today began at 3:20. An armed man grabbed a 6-year-old. Refresh this page for updates.

The Evil Four-Letter's Buster Olney is reporting that Mark Teixeira has agreed to an eight-year $180 million contract with the New York Yankees. While the Angels, Red Sox, Nationals and Orioles were all in the hunt for Teixeira over the past couple of months, the Yankees hid on the sidelines ready to swoop in if the deal was right. more ›

The Los Angeles Fire Department keeps on garnering national attention for their use of web 2.0 and social media technologies to communicate information to the public. Last month, it was Wired. This week it was a five-minute spot on National Public Radio's Day to Day: more ›

The Colorado River is the water (and power) source for millions of people; it provides power to 3 million homes, waters 15% of our agriculture in the West, and gives one in 12 people something to drink. That is why many are concerned about its sustainability and longevity as a provider. In fact, many do not know this, but one environmental group, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has listed it as the “most endangered” waterway. more ›

Last week, the LAPD arrested 28 people at downtown businesses and seized 200,000 pirated or counterfeited DVD's, CD's and other apparel equaling up to $2.76 million in street value. more ›

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will still have to stay clear of a 1,000 acre area in the Angeles National Forest for another year, but for a good reason. The relatively small closure in the 655,000 acre forest is to protect a critical habitat for the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog. more ›

'Tis the season, fellow Americans, to make sweet, sweet love. According to McClatchy, more people are doing the horizontal mambo around the holidays than at any other time of the year. More condoms are sold, and on the flip side, more babies are made. But don't worry about sin or anything. If this is your idea of a Christmas-y good time, you're in good company: "according to Gabriele Doblhammer of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany. Heavy Christmas-New Year's sex 'is characteristic of all Christian cultures in which it has been evaluated.'" more ›

Welcome to California. We lost 100,000 jobs this past year, unemployment has hit a 14-year record at 8.3 percent (8.9 in LA County) and around 189,000 homes were lost to foreclosure in the first three quarters of 2008. That's why Senator Barbara Boxer released a report today--entitled "The Realities of Recession in California"--that has the results of interviews with every county in the state and a group of select cities. more ›

Los Angeles' beleaguered Museum of Contemporary Art has been resuscitated by the generous purse-strings of a well-known benefactor. According to the LA Times, MOCA's board "has voted to accept a $30-million bailout offer from billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, a founder and life trustee of the museum and the city's largest arts patron." This means that MOCA will not opt for a merger with LACMA and will instead to continue to operate independently. Broad has said that despite his philanthropic connection to LACMA, he feels there will be no damage to his relationship with them in light of his move to rescue MOCA. more ›

A woman who was allegedly attempting to commit suicide Monday night was shot and killed by law enforcement officers when she supposedly brandished a weapon. Both La Habra Police and Orange County Sheriff's responded to a 911 call regarding the incident around 10 p.m. Investigators from the District Attorney's Office are trying to establish what triggered the shooting and reportedly don't even know which police force killed the unidentified woman. more ›

Sherman Oaks residents on Woodcliff Drive, just south of Mulholland, woke up to a water main break this morning that shut down and slowed traffic. A six-inch pipe broke shortly before 7 a.m. prompting Department of Water and Power crews to lower water pressure in the area so they could begin repairs, according to LADWP spokesperson Stephanie Interiano. She said there is no estimated time when things will be back to normal, however, some news reports indicate that this could last for a few days. more ›

...at least it did yesterday, when, according to cbs2.com, "a reaction of chemicals in a basement laundry in one of three towers at the Disneyland Hotel," necessitated the Hazmat team to make a trip to Mickey's hideaway late Monday afternoon. The smell that was produced was likened to chlorine, and although no guests were evacuated, employees near the affected area were, and one "security guard complained of dizziness but refused transportation to a hospital." The area was then ventilated, and hotel operations remained as expected in the Happiest Place on Earth. more ›

32-year-old Diana Rodriguez was arrested last week for her part in a stabbing stemming from a case of love gone wrong. But it wasn't her love that made her pick up that knife with the four-inch serrated blade and stab three women--it was the love lost between her 12-year-old-son and his 12-year-old ex-girlfriend. more ›

The Screen Actors Guild announced last night that they will put off having their members vote on a possible strike. Rather than send the ballots out on January 2nd, they have opted to wait until January 14th to mail them, cbs2.com is reporting. Many people in and out of the entertainment industry believe this is the wrong time for SAG to strike because of the obvious and immediate impact it will have on the many people who are employed in connection to television and film production. Further, the New York branch of SAG recently voiced their objection to the strike--a move SAG has been talking openly about for some time now, and particularly after negotiations with Hollywood studios failed. more ›

Just two days after Saturday's nationwide candlelight vigil regarding the passing of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, organizers from Join the Impact announced another cross-county event that will address President-Elect Barack Obama directly, reminding him of a campaign promise made in February. more ›

Respect, reward and recognition are the three "R's" of graffiti. Cyrus Yazdani, the graffiti tagger known as "Buket" who bragged about his exploits by uploading videos of himself to YouTube, was definitely recognized when he pleaded guilty yesterday to 32 counts of felony vandalism. The 25-year-old San Jose State graduate was rewarded with "to 10 months in county jail, 256 hours of graffiti removal and five years formal probation," found the LA Times. If you're curious, watch two of the videos here. more ›

Everyone is agreeing to disagree up in Sacramento. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Democrats and Republicans are all bickering about their solutions as the state's budget forecast gets more turbulent every day. more ›

LA Lakers defeat Memphis Grizzlies 105-96. They really couldn't lose this game if they tried. And boy did they try. The Lakers were trailing the Grizzlies by eight at halftime and were thankful that the Grizzlies inexperience and youth gave the Lakers the win. Andrew Bynum scored 13 points with four rebounds while playing only 21 minutes. And in the battle of the Gasol brothers Pau got the upper hand with 15 points and seven rebounds against Marc's eight points and seven rebounds. The Lakers now head to New Orleans to see if they can hypnotize the Hornets into futility. more ›

more ›

This weekend marked the official opening of the jogging path around Silver Lake Reservoir. The new 3,300 foot path (that's about 2/3rds of a mile) on the eastside of the reservoir goes from Armstrong Avenue to the dog park. This new step helps one jog or walk a complete circle around the approximately 2 mile loop of both reservoirs (that includes Ivanhoe, too). The anticipated Silver Lake Meadow, however, still has not opened. For that, you'll have to wait until next summer. more ›

Last night, two men robbed the 52 Market in West LA on Santa Monica Blvd. leaving police few clues, if any at all. But it was only around 15 minutes when the two allegedly struck again in South LA. This time, their car was recognized and police connected it to one of the suspects who was on parole and under court order to wear a global positioning device. Well, that's easy--follow the signal. And so they did, soon arresting 29-year-old Chelminski Walker of Inglewood at a motel with a handgun and the car seen at the South LA robbery. Case. Closed. more ›

Some heavy fist beating and a 12-pound rock hurt the six-month German Shepherd mix so badly last month, the owner had to bring the dog to a veterinarian where the she was euthanized. LA County assistant fire chief Glynn Johnson, 54, was helping bring the runaway dog back to the owner, his neighbor in Woodcrest, when the dog clenched onto his thumb. Johnson, who was charged last week with felony animal cruelty and other counts, said his only choice was to hit the dog in self-defense, his lawyer said in court today. They also said the media and animal activists unfairly characterized the incident as an attack on an unprovoked puppy. Half a year old or not, the lawyer said the dog was big enough to do damage. more ›

Local R&B group Brutha [MySpace] has a very good reason to be merry this holiday season, since they were just asked to perform at President-elect Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration. The call came while the cameras were rolling for their new BET reality show, and Fox followed up with a story. The group is comprised of the five Harrell brothers from Los Angeles, and according to the staffer who called up the guys to give them the invite, Obama is a huge fan of their work. Brutha is signed to Def Jam and their album--coincidentally?--comes out tomorrow. Brutha is obviously a far less controversial selection for inclusion in Obama's inaugural ceremony than at least one of his other invitees. Unless of course Boyz II Men are back together. more ›

There are many mines across the country, but one old mining town has been signaled out as especially dangerous for its 300 residents and various visitors. A government audit found that Rand Mining District in Randsburg, CA--some 2 1/2 hours north of LA by car--is especially hazardous. Officials found it so bad, they discovered "contaminated mine waste in residents' backyards and arsenic-laden trails openly used by thousands of off-road bikers," according to the Associated Press. more ›

The iron fist of the law came down in what could be one of the most contentious sports-related trials in recent memory: Will the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim change their name back to just the simpler and more geographically-correct Anaheim Angels? more ›

It was quiet, people seemed happy and overall, the Prop 8 candlelight vigil on Saturday night in Hollywood was positive. Light Up the Night was a nationwide demonstration that aimed to make an impact on the private sector by holding the vigils in high traffic business or shopping areas. Organizers estimate the vigils reached one million people with the message of equality. more ›

No longer are the days of daily gas price decreases. For the fifth consecutive day, prices in the Los Angeles region have increased. Today's average price for a gallon of regular is $1.766. But not to worry, the Daily News has a good perspective: "The average price has risen 4.4 cents in a week, but is 48.5 cents less than a month ago, $1.469 less than at this time last year and $2.86 less than the record high of $4.626 set on June 21..." more ›

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah and was observed accordingly by Jews all over Los Angeles by the lighting of the first of eight candles on the menorah. But the "Festival of Lights" this year might be casting a greenish glow on its observers as the move to make the ancient holiday more "eco-friendly" takes motion. more ›

Neverland Ranch is now someone else's problem. Michael Jackson gave the Santa Barbara County pad earlier this year and has moved into the Playboy Mansion neighborhood of Holmby Hills. He didn't buy a new home, though, he's renting... for the reasonable price of $100,000 a month. The $38 million home has seven bedrooms, 13 baths, 12 fireplaces, a screening room a wine cellar, garden, swimming pool and guest house, finds TMZ. more ›

Officials say that the 2.35 million passengers expected to go through LAX this holiday season is considerably less than years past. 14% less, in fact. But that doesn't mean there will be crazy busy days and one of those include today (the other days are Friday, December 26 & Friday, January 2. Last Friday was also one). So if you're going, arrive early, they say, especially between the times of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m./11 a.m. to 2 p.m./7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Then again, the weather out there is frightful, so delays, delays, delays could be the travel industry's mantra today. more ›

"People think show business was in Hollywood, but I think [Ronald] Reagan was absolutely right," Schwarzenegger said on 60 Minutes last night. "If he wouldn't have the training in acting, this would have been a very difficult job." Did the ability to act help bring the state to a $40 billion budget gap, too? more ›

Break out those umbrellas and get ready for the return of yet another rainy and snowy (depending on where you are) day. From 7 a.m. this morning through tonight 9 p.m., the National Weather Service has issued a "winter storm warning" for the area. That means a cold front (feel the 51 degrees?) will bring showers (raining in the Valley right now), gusty winds and a new pack of snow at 6,000 feet (and lower than 5,000 feet tonight). Enjoy the break from the sun! Some predict the weather will last through Christmas. more ›

more ›

1 in every 9 homeless people in the United States live in Los Angeles County, and just this past year, 393 of them died. The Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness (LACEHH), along with other advocacy and service organizations, are holding candlelight vigils to memorialize those who died, and thousands across the country are doing the same, for the National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day. In Santa Monica, a vigil is planned for 4:00 p.m. at the 3rd Street Promenade, just south of Arizona Avenue. And in Studio City, a vigil at the same time will be held at Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard. At both events,which will last one hour and a half, the names of the 393 dead will be read aloud, followed by the word "Presente" which means "here" or "present" in Spanish. Candles will be provided. more ›

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren, who was recently chosen to lead the invocation at Barack Obama's Presidential inauguration, spoke publicly yesterday at the 8th Annual Convention of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Long Beach, about his stance on homosexuality and California's Prop 8. more ›

A blaze was reported and put out overnight at a commercial building in Canoga park on Remmet Avenue near Strathearn Street that is used by the adult entertainment industry as an office and as sets for films. According to abc7.com, the "accidental fire appeared to have been caused by a heating element which failed." 20 per cent of the building was damaged by the fire. 100 firefighters tackled the blaze, and no injuries have been reported. more ›

more ›

President-elect Barack Obama has asked local congresswoman Hilda Solis, the Democrat who represents the 32nd District, which includes parts of Los Angeles, East LA and the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, and West Covina. Now speculation has begun regarding who will take her place. more ›

Santa Clarita, the city off the 5 freeway that claims home to Magic Mountain, is a family-oriented community with a mile-wide red streak in a decidedly blue state. And there’s definitely another divide between race and class in the area -- and it turns unseemly every once in awhile. Here’s one of those occasions. more ›

Residents of the SCV might have felt a teeny tiny trembler this morning, as a 3.0 magnitude quake rumbled three miles deep in the area at 9:17. Residents of nearby Piru and Stevenson Ranch are either really deep sleepers or just shrug off small shakers like this one, since, according to abc7.com, "the sheriff's office in nearby Santa Clarita reported it got no calls" and "a check with several businesses in Castaic Junction and Val Verde found no one who felt it." more ›

Times are tough all over, but they are particularly tough for one block in Beverly Hills, where there's been some un-neighborly thieving going on. On today's Huffington Post, Tom Gregory explains how the boundless joy of Christmas has been curtailed by someone helping themselves to people's Christmas decorations put out by Peter (Columbo) and Shera Falk, Charo, and Gregory himself. Wow, it's not such a wonderful life after all for the people who live on Jimmy Stewart's old block! more ›

The Southern Californian Auto Club would like to remind all of us that 'tis the season for us to be stupid, particularly when it comes to locking ourselves out of our cars. During December the Club deals with more locked out members than any other time of the year. In fact, according to their press release, in December of 2007 "the Auto Club answered 76,346 calls for help by its members for keys locked in vehicles at shopping malls, retail centers, grocery stores and other locations." The busiest locked-out days fell on the weekend before Christmas--you know, right when you're at the peak of frazzled, desperately trying to get everything done and every errand run. more ›

This morning, the RIAA announced that it will cease filing mass lawsuits on behalf of major record companies against individual users of file-sharing software, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. It is estimated that an approximate 35,000 users have been sued in these cases since 2003. Instead, as reported by Wired, the music industry trade association will focus on working directly with Internet Service Providers to slow or cut off Internet service to frequent offenders. more ›

more ›

Proposition 8 proponents filed a lawsuit today seeking to nullify 18,000 gay marriages that took place between June and November this year. The brief filed with the court was co-written by Pepperdine's law school dean Kenneth Star, who also was the former independent counsel that investigated President Bill Clinton. "Proposition 8's brevity is matched by its clarity. There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions or exclusions," it read. more ›

Time and time again, we hear about well-intentioned people being murdered when they speak up against someone doing graffiti. Case in point, it happened again this week in Hollywood. more ›

More rain? More snow? It's expected to his us again on Monday and then possibly on Christmas day. The National Weather Service is saying that a storm is heading towards Southern California and could drop nearly an inch across the region. Snow level will start at 7,000 feet elevation but lower to 5,000. more ›

"L.A. County's jobless rate for November is up from 8.3 percent the previous month - and 5.3 percent in November 2007. Statewide, the rate was 8.4 percent, up from 8.2 percent in October. The national rate is 6.7 percent. The state and local numbers are not great, of course, but they’re not a surprise." more ›

Governor Schwarzenegger, in one of his ideas to help fix the state's budget deficit projected to be $42 billion, is ready to eliminate thousands of state jobs and order two-day-a-month unpaid furloughs for other state workers starting in February. more ›

A robbery at Paris Hilton's Sherman Oaks home left the heiress $2 million less in jewelry and other items early this morning. Anonymous LAPD sources told the LA Times "the burglar or burglars got into the house through an unlocked door." Paris wasn't home at the time of the crime, but security video apparently caught a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves inside the home (he reportedly ransacked her bedroom). There have been over 70 homes robbed in the hills--some of them owned by famous names--over the past year, but police do not believe this was connected at this time. more ›

There's one in every crowd. Yesterday one of the thousands of motorists stranded on the southbound side of the Grapevine repeatedly rammed into a barricade injuring a Caltrans worker before driving away starting a police chase, the Daily News reported. Fortunately, the worker only "suffered minor injuries. The driver was chased into Los Angeles County and arrested by CHP officers on suspicion of hit-and-run." It all happened at 10:10 am--approximately an hour before the road was re-opened--when the driver of a silver BMW hit the worker and fled the scene, according to a CHP report, more ›

President-elect Barack Obama's selection of Orange County's infamous evangelical minister Rick Warren to lead his inauguration's invocation has met with much objection, mostly from the gay community, who believe Warren is homophobic. According to Top of the Ticket, "Obama has said he doesn't agree with some things Warren says and vice versa," but the two have agreed to disagreed rather congenially since this summer, when Warren invited Obama to speak at his Saddleback Church. Warren insists he is "not at all homophobic." more ›

This week the DMV released a reminder list of the new laws taking effect January 1, 2009. It was a busy year, according to the DMV website. 772 bills were signed into law, including over 80 changes to the vehicle code. more ›

Our ailing outpost for contemporary art has reached a preliminary agreement with wealthy philanthropist Eli Broad for financial rescue, the New York Times is reporting. "The agreement, which the board voted on at a long meeting Thursday afternoon, is not final and is subject to numerous conditions, including Mr. Broad’s examinations of the museum’s financial accounts, according to the people, two of whom attended the meeting on Thursday." Broad went on the record several weeks ago as believing that Los Angeles was not a "one-philanthropist town" and urged people to rally to aid MOCA. One institution has rallied--LACMA--and their deal hasn't been entirely dismissed. In fact, if the Broad bailout doesn't work, a merger of the museums could very well be the next option. MOCA expects to announce their plans as early as next week. more ›

37-year-old "Mad Dog" Mike Bell was found dead over the weekend inside a Costa Mesa rehab home called Ramona House. The one-time professional wrestler whose life was the subject of brother Chris' documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster, "was reportedly 60 days clean when his body was discovered by a roommate who had gone out to get something to eat," according to the OC Register. They add that Bell's brother "said the cause of his brother's death was still unknown but it could be attributed to the 'rough life' Mike Bell lived." more ›

• You think you spend too much time at work? I bet your hours spent in-office pails in comparison to the Mayor of El Monte. Blanca Figueroa says she keeps late nights because, "the mayor's work is never done," but her City Council members suspect her of living in her office because her home is not livable. The Council actually voted on Dec. 9th to make a City Hall working curfew of 11 pm - the only opposing vote... Figueroa.
• With Christmas around the corner, you're bound to get some crappy service while shopping or an inferior product under your tree. The Consumerist gives you a pretty sweet template on how to go about kicking & screaming for some Seasonal justice.
• The Holidays are about celebrating traditions. One tradition returns to Elysian Park where hand picked tumbleweeds and random trash items are transformed into The Elysian Park Snowmen and Woman.
• Billboards have been the hot topic lately and the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight is leading the charge. Are you drawing a blank on the current billboard situation in LA? No worries, check out Billboard Confidential tonight on KCET at 8 pm to get caught up.
• We're (LA's) #1 for - Pet Lovers, Bookworms, Wheelers and Dealers, Night Crawlers and a close 2nd for the Most Eventful city in the country. We got jipped as the #4 spot for Music Lovers!
• Former Canyon Lake Councilman Frank Kessler and his wife were arrested in their Riverside County home on charges ranging from embezzlement to theft. That's what you get when you use a city credit card to pay gambling debts. Hey, at least he's not running a Ponzi scheme.
• The recent storm gave the ocean enough water to give a lot of our trash back to us, and the Surfrider Foundation has been hard at work trying to clean it up. If you dropped anything, you might want help and go collect your belongings.
• The end of the year is all about reflecting on the "Best Of 2008." Courtesy of The Smoking Gun, here are the Best Mugshots of 2008.

Back then, he was known as Barry. After graduating high school in Hawaii, Barack Obama headed off to college where he spent two years, from 1979 to 1981, at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. His times there is said to have where his public service mindedness began, especially in his sophomore year, "growing increasingly aware of harsh inequities like apartheid and poverty in the third world." Then he wanted a wider urban experience and applied to Columbia, moving himself East. In this week's TIME magazine, a new and very young-looking photo set from his Oxy years appear. The aspiring photographer, Lisa Jack, had no idea she would be digging those photos up again years later. more ›

It rained down here and it snowed up there. It's time for morning surfing and some nighttime skiing. more ›

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who was involved with Star Trek since the beginning died of leukemia early this morning in her Bel Air home. "Even before she married Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in 1969, she was integral to Star Trek," Marc Bernardin reminisced at EW's PopWatch blog. "She was the original first officer aboard the Enterprise—replaced after the pilot by Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock—and reappeared as the faithful Nurse Christine Chapel." The 76-year-old continued her Trek with the Sci-Fi brand until the very end, even recording voiceover as the ship's computer for J.J. Abrams movie "Star Trek" two weeks ago. It was one of roles she used to do through her more than four decades of work on the show. Rest in Peace. more ›

Along with a moratorium on foreclosure-related evictions, the LA City Council yesterday also passed a three-month moratorium banning any new signs (billboards, supergraphics and the conversation to digital billboards) for three months while the City Attorney and Planning Department draft permanent changes to the City’s sign ordinance to better regulate advertising in the City. more ›

In a weird settlement between the ACLU and the LAPD, the LA City Council approved a ban that says officers patrolling Skid Row cannot conduct unconstitutional searches of homeless individuals. While breaking the law is a given no-no for police, it all stems from a difference of opinion on the interpretation of the Constitution. In this case, a federal judge sided with the people saying the LAPD was being too aggressive in their shakedown of Skid Row residents. "We agree to disagree," Capt. Jodi Wakefield told the LA Times. "But there's nothing wrong with us going back and making sure that our officers clearly understand the Constitution, and all the laws they have to abide by. I feel confident they do." more ›

Adding to the mix of Californians tapped to work in the Obama administration, Congresswoman Hilda Solis has reportedly been asked to become the Labor Secretary. Environmentalists may be excited to see yet another green bean join Obama since Solis authored the 2007 Green Jobs Act, which "provides federal money for 'green collar' job training, 'such as energy efficiency retrofit and service, green building construction, and solar panel installation,'" says the Wall Street Journal. The act could create as manny as 3 million jobs over the next 10 years. Solis currently represents parts of Los Angeles, East LA and the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, and West Covina. more ›

Echo Park artist Shepard Fairey was always widely known in Los Angeles for his ubiquitous OBEY images illegally plastered on walls in the streets and commissioned in clubs. But once his poster became the defining image of Barack Obama's bid for president, it also became Fairey's. "[It] might be the defining image of my life," he told TIME in a video interview. The magazine is on newsstands now, so if you're a proud eastsider like Jesus Sanchez over at The Eastsider LA, you'll probably want to pick this one up. more ›

With the foreclosure crisis happening, homeowners weren't the only ones finding themselves homeless. Renters were too. After all, someone owns those buildings and they can foreclose just as easily. But after a one-year moratorium placed on foreclosure-related evictions yesterday, it will be harder for banks to evict good tenants who pay rent on time. more ›

This year, Santa Monica began to inventory their resident homeless population to find the most vulnerable and high-risk in order to begin intensive services and help get them off the street. 131 were found and so far, 51 one of them are off the streets as of November. 18 of those are now in permanent housing (14%) and the other 33 (25%) are in temporary housing. Another homeless census is coming up in January and Santa Monica is looking for volunteers. For more details on volunteering, check here. more ›

As temperatures rise to between the upper 50s and mid-60s today, at least two critical freeways in Southern California remain closed due to snow and ice. more ›

Around 7:30 p.m. last night, Metro security cameras caught someone down on the tracks at the Red Line subway station at Hollywood and Vine. A man had died, possibly suffering some kind of medical emergency, after he struck his head on the tracks, but not the electrical third rail. more ›

From murder to self-inflicted wound back to murder. The coroner has ruled the death of actor Mark Ruffalo's brother to be murder, which conflicts earlier reports that he was playing russian roulette. But one of the original suspect's lawyers dispute that. "The only two eye witnesses to the shooting saw the same thing, a gunshot wound to the left side of the head, while one of them saw him pull the trigger," Attorney Ronald Richards wrote in an e-mail. "They saw the gun in his left hand after the shot was fired." Shaha Mishaal Adham, who was arrested for the shooting was released after Ruffalo died. more ›

more ›

To put this in perspective, the San Fernando Valley's elevation varies between about 250 and 1200 ft, so says Wikipedia. Between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m., tomorrow, a frost advisory--meaning at least two hours of subfreezing temperatures--has been issued for the San Fernando Valley and other areas in the region, according to the National Weather Service who says there "is the potential for increasing rainfall intensities and even a slight chance of thunderstorms. Some of these showers could produce bursts of heavy rainfall." For recent burn areas below the snow level, the flash flood watch remains until at least 8 p.m. tonight. more ›

"Let me begin by stressing that the Gettys endowment is managed prudently, with careful oversight," wrote Getty Trust Chief Executive James N. Wood in a memo to staff that was obtained by the LA Times. "But the Getty has not been immune to the steep decline in financial markets which has affected so many of our peers even more seriously. Our endowment ended the 2008 fiscal year at $5.980 billion and, since that time, with financial markets deteriorating further, the value of the endowment has declined roughly 25%." more ›

ABC7 has a live webcam showing snow falling somewhere in (or maybe near) Malibu, though it appears to be in the hills somewhere above the beachside city. This come just as the History Channel is airing a show (yes, right at this moment) about how global warming could trigger a small ice age. Hrmmmm.... ice age 2.0 begins! more ›

After weeks of speculation, Tangier will shut its doors for the final time Saturday night. It is not known what will replace the restaurant/bar at 2138 Hillhurst, which is in escrow, according to the Daily Dish. Singer-songwriter Brandon Schott (LAist review) will perform the final set in Tangier Saturday night. Click here for more posts about Tangier. more ›

Around 2 p.m., Caltrans shut down Interstate 5 between Parker Rd. in Castaic and the Grapevine to the north, cutting off the main route between Central and Southern California. more ›

Ken Rosenthal from Fox Sports is reporting that shortstop Rafael Furcal has decided to rejoin the Dodgers. Details of the agreement and whether it's really happening is unclear at this point. This week has seen Furcal going to the Oakland A's and Atlanta Braves, so until something concrete happens, it's best to be wary. more ›

Swedish hip-hop artist David Moses Jassy today pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges stemming from an alleged Hollywood road rage incident on November 23rd, in which he killed John Osnes, a jazz musician. Osnes, also described as a pedestrian rights activist, was said to have slapped his hands onto Jassy's rented SUV when the vehicle crossed into the crosswalk. An altercation began resulting in Jassy throwing a punch, a kick and then fatally running Osnes over. Jassy remains in jail with bail set at $1 million. (In the Photo: Jassy stands with his lawyer in court today) more ›

Former UCLA and L.A. Galaxy coach, Sigi Schmid, has been formally introduced by Seattle Sounders FC as their first head coach. Schmid, a two time MLS Cup winner, has a track record for creating championship caliber teams and will be looking to do the same for the expansion Seattle side when they begin MLS play in 2009. more ›

A largely known Prop 8 proponent has been selected to do President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration invocation on January 20. Rick Warren of Lake Forest's Saddleback Church was chosen by the Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which is causing the LGBT community to go a little nutsy on the blogosphere. more ›

It's time for new blood and possibly a fresh approach to public transit in Los Angeles. Metro CEO Roger Snoble announced today that he will retire once someone is hired to replace him. more ›

So what's the story, Entertainment Weekly online: Are your editors hitting the punch too hard at the holiday office shindig or did the recession force you to downsize them out? more ›

Snow in Santa Clarita? As the snow level dips to 2,000 ft., Caltrans has closed the 14 Freeway for 26 miles between Soledad Canyon in Santa Clarita to Palmdale Blvd in Palmdale for an unknown duration as they clear snow. This arctic storm has brought a good amount of snow across the region: 7 inches have fallen at Mount Wilson, 6 inches in Frazier Park, up to 8 inches in Wrightwood with an estimated 12 inches expected in some areas as the day continues, according to the National Weather Service. UPDATE, 2:50 P.M.: 14 remains closed, 5 and 138 also closed. more ›

Billboard, meet Bikepath. more ›

US Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA 13) has turned down an offer to serve as United States Trade Representative in President-elect Barack Obama's new cabinet. According to ABC News blog The Note, Becerra "has come to the realization that trade is not a priority for the incoming Obama administration." more ›

According to the OC Register, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics latest consumer price index reveals that rents in Southern California have gone up at a rate less than 5% from March until November of this year, and that "if the numbers hold up in December, it will be the first time since 2000 that area rents have gone up less than 5% year-over-year," which was when they rose only 4.3%. In addition, "November SoCal housing costs overall, which include utilities and furnishings, were up 2.6% compared to a 4% jump this time last year." Consumer prices overall rose 1% last month in Southern California, which happens to be "a 10-year low." more ›

Brace yourselves, and bundle up: Another storm's a-comin'! more ›

Wearing a symbol of your crime on your chest for all to see is at least as old a punishment as Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter, and this old school-style discipline is making a comeback. more ›

Once again, Metro will be offering free rides to transit users on Metro Bus and Rail lines Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The free fare program runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. December 24th-25th and 31st to January 1st. According to Metro, "the free rides are being offered during this period to promote safety during the holiday season. Metro is an option for people attending holiday parties so they don’t have to drive." Unfortunately, Metro's late night weekend service on the Red Line ends December 27th, which means in the new year we're going to have to get a lot better at hailing cabs instead of climbing aboard the subway in the post-closing time hours. more ›

">you should be able to see a "brilliant moving point of light" between 6:33 and 6:39 a.m. Enjoy, you early birds. more ›

LA Lakers defeat New York Knicks 116-114. The Lakers are a very infuriating team. They had moments of great defensive stops which led me to believe they play defense only when they want to. They also missed a lot of shots right under their basket by being tentative and trying to lay it in rather than dunking authoritatively. This against a team that has no big man! Even though the Lakers are now 21-3, why does it seem so unfulfilling? more ›

more ›

A slew of gun ordinances are up for a vote at tomorrow's city council meeting. They're touted as ways to help disarm gangs, but as anything goes with restricting the use of guns, groups such as the National Riffle Association (NRA), the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA), the California Association of Firearm Retailers (CAFR), and other interest groups have threatened to bring forth litigation, which Mayor Villaraigosa vows to fight. more ›

As news of LACMA's offer to merge with the financially struggling MOCA today, LA City Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry introduced a motion recommending that the city allocate up to $2.8 million to aid in the operation of MOCA. more ›

Just a few days after David Brewer's buyout of over a half million dollars, the LA Unified School District voted to give Ramon C. Cortines, the second man down the line, the job on a three-year contract. "We will not do things the same way," he said. "[The district will find] new ways of providing services to parents and working with teachers and working with administrators and working with community. We are the urban sprawl but it is time that we lock arms on behalf of our children. We must put the students first--not special interests. And so there will be change and change will be good for all of us." more ›

Donavan McNabb and I have one thing in common: I had no idea the LA City Section Championship Division Final could end in a tie. But indeed that is what happened after the San Pedro Pirates Benjamin Weischedel caught a 15-yard fade pass in the back of the endzone as time expired. The second-seeded Pirates and the top-seeded Narbonne Gauchos were crowned co-champions Saturday afternoon when the game ended in a 21-21 tie. more ›

The Information Technology Agency (ITA) of the City of LA is beginning the redesign of the City's official website. This is a god send considering the outdated website is a product of some ancient time, possibly 2004. They want residents to take this survey in order to help them make a new website that serves our needs. So the more of you that take it, the better the city will be able to serve you, in theory. Earlier this year, the city released a pretty killer tool that let's you follow city council motions vis RSS and E-mail. UPDATE: Today's the last day for this survey, so hurry up! more ›

LACMA officially announced today that they would like to merge with MOCA, who is having considerable money problems right now. "Under the terms of the proposed merger," reports Culture Monster, "MOCA's collection and programs would be exhibited at MOCA's Geffen Contemporary Space in Little Tokyo, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA and at LACMA's Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, under construction on the LACMA campus. Additional programs are planned for MOCA's Grand Avenue site." If the merger goes through, money from LA County would not support MOCA like it does with LACMA. The institutions would be operated by the same people and share the same infrastructure, but both would keep the "independence and integrity" of their missions. more ›

It was less than a week ago when the average price of gas hit $1.784 per gallon of regular. Today, it's $1.720. We've definitely left the days when a 20-cent-plus drop in a week's time was feeling like the norm. According to LosAngelesGasPrices.com's chart, prices ever-so-slightly raised overnight. more ›

Get ready Silver Lake residents. That nice dirt jogging/walking path around the reservoir is set to officially open this Saturday morning. But that doesn't mean people aren't using it already. Curbed LA took a lap or two this morning and found it to be very attractive: "It'll make lesser pathways feel inadequate." This certainty should be a good addition to places to train for the Los Angeles Marathon, which will take place on, of all days, Memorial Day. more ›

LA Observed's Kevin Roderick couldn't post his daily Morning Buzz column at the time he wanted. "Cable outage; will post soon," he wrote. Almost two hours later, he finally posted the column. In an e-mail, Roderick said his service is Time Warner, saying that it has "been erratic the last few days." more ›

"Everyone is a victim of discrimination and everyone gets paid," according to a report that says Los Angeles' civil court system is one of seven "judicial hellholes" nationwide and ranks it the sixth most unjust. Basically, if sue for discrimination, you win, finds the American Tort Reform Foundation. more ›

An estimated six billion plastic bags are used every year in LA County with the average Californian using 552 of them per year. That's a lot potential harm to the ecosystem, especially when not recycled. The plastic bag industry has made weak arguments to keep the environmentally unfriendly object around, even slapping lawsuits on cities who propose a ban (desperation?). more ›

In case you were wondering what was up with Einstein's love protest over on La Brea near San Vincente, it's Mr. Brainwash's usual spot for his art. In the past, we've seen Star Trek, Madonna/Britney Spears, Marion Cotillard and the Mona Lisa doing some mooning. more ›

When police looked through the window of one Orange County man's home and found an abundance of Christmas spirit inside, they knew they had a suspect for all the missing decorations from around the neighborhood. "Westminster police said Monday that officers responded to a disturbance call at the house of 48-year-old Vuong Pham, where they found rooms overflowing with wicker reindeer, plastic snowmen and inflatable Santas," reported the Associated Press. "For weeks people in Pham's neighborhood had reported a steady disappearance of lights, figures and faux trees from their front yards." It took three truckloads to empty the home. more ›

Airborne has agreed to pay $7 million, change their marketing and will change their formula after an agreement with 33 states who charged the "cold buster" for making false claims. more ›

Monday's storm that dumped a ton of water over the region has gone and left, leaving us with frigid temperatures with lows even in the 30s for some Los Angeles neighborhoods. Today is calmer, but a second and colder storm is expected tonight. Prepare that hot cocoa, put in a good movie and cuddle up under some blankets. more ›

San Jose Sharks defeat LA Kings 3-2 (SO). The Kings really brought their A-game at the Staples Center against the best team in the league. They took an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Sharks naturally came back to tie things up in the second period. However the Kings stayed with it and kept the Sharks scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Kings get a point for the overtime loss, and they are really showing the promise of good things to come in the future. more ›

more ›

The man who was shot while driving a Bentley on the 101 Freeway last Friday morning in downtown has been identified after he died yesterday at the hospital. The victim is identified as Jose Luis Macias. “We have not seen a freeway shooting in quite some time,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division, in a statement. “And this case really stands out in the number of rounds fired at the victim’s car and the kind of car the victim was driving.” Detectives are still looking for leads on finding any more information regarding the case. “This is a real whodunit,” said Vernon. more ›

Among the $22 billion in proposed cuts by state Republicans today, close to half that, 10.6 billion, would be cut from K-12 schools and community colleges. "That would bring school funding to just about the minimum required by state law," the Sacramento Bee notes. more ›

An accident involving a number of vehicles has left at least one person dead and several others injured. Shortly before 4 p.m., the LA Fire Department responded to the crash on the westbound 10 Freeway at Overland Avenue. As of 4:30, it was unknown how many people were injured, but d'Lisa Davies did confirm one fatality. She said some people were ejected from their cars and at least one car rolled over. A SigAlert, which could last up to two hours, has been issued. UPDATE: 3 women were injured and another woman, approximately around 65 years old, died. more ›

It was rainy down here, but it snowed in the mountains to the north of Los Angeles County. About an hour north in Frazier Park, children threw snowballs at each other. A little closer, but with parts closed to the public, snow fell heavily in the Angeles Creat area north of La Canada where this Caltrans truck (picture above) is seen plowing snow on Highway 2. more ›

Take note Vegas travelers, Caltrans says leave early or stay late if you're traveling from the sin city back to Southern California this week. Southbound Interstate 15 will be shut down from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday to conduct blasting and rock removal along the artery. Northbound delays should be minimal, Caltrans says, but for those heading south, travelers who did not exit before Primm, NV at the state line will be directed off the freeway to the Primm Valley resort area where they'll be able to park until the freeway re-opens. If you know of any alternative driving routes, comment below! (Note: the highway was closed today due to snow) more ›

Noe Rodriguez, a 21-year-old man with several identities and is a federal deportee, is wanted for a shooting death of a homeless man, the LAPD announced today. A week ago tonight in a Venice alley, Rodriguez allegedly shot the homeless man, whose identity has not been released, with a large caliber gun before riding away on a bicycle. Rodriguez' has no listed address and is still at large. Homicide detectives are not releasing how information on how they determined him to be a suspect. more ›

An aide to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may have been appointed to President-Elect's Barack Obama's White House Council on Environmental Quality, but a top California official was not chosen to head the Environmental Protection Agency, despite speculations that she was a top choice. more ›

As the downpour lightens across Los Angeles, things are still not back to normal for the region. The Los Angels Fire Department closed over two and a half miles of streets around the Sepulveda Basin in the Valley this morning due to flooding, mandatory evacuations are in place in Orange County and the roof of a building in Anaheim collapsed. more ›

"I mean, how can I be all crazy and bad if I can... knit you a scarf?" more ›

A rookie 29-year-old California Highway Patrol officer is reported to have died after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic and laying out flares at the scene of a previous accident. The crash, reported at 4:20 a.m. happened on the 60 Freeway in Hacienda Heights when a vehicle struck one of the disabled vehicles that subsequently hit the officer. He was transported to a hospital where he later died this morning, leaving behind a pregnant wife and three children. more ›

From automakers, to the industry which creates programming for the radios in those autos, the cold pinch of hard times is quite evident this holiday season. Westwood One, taking NPR’s lead, is slashing programming, giving the axe to popular syndicated daytime talk show Dr. Drew Live. more ›

more ›

Representatives of Motown Records, Universal Music Group and BMG are seeking settlement amounts ranging from $4,000 to $4,500 from USC undergraduates in exchange for not being named in a copyright infringement lawsuit currently pending in federal court in Los Angeles. The case, Motown Records v. John Doe (08-CV-5029), was filed last July against anonymous "John Doe" defendants for illegal music filesharing. No individual defendants have yet been identified by name in the case. more ›

One way to avoid being out in the rain today: Stand in line at your local post office with everyone else. Today just happens to be the busiest mailing day of the year, as folks flock to their favorite USPS outpost to send off cards and packages in hopes they'll reach their destinations in time for the holidays. According to cbs2.com, "about 1.5 billion cards, letters and packages are expected to be processed today alone, which is nearly double the average daily volume of traffic." Your letter carrier will experience their heaviest load of the year come Wednesday. Headed to the Post Office today? If you've got a favorite one that's less crowded than most (I do, and I'm not telling you which one!) maybe you'd best go the Scrooge route and keep it to yourself. Happy mailing! more ›

Despite being in use in some capacity for some months now, today is apparently the day Metro will "unveil" the TAP card, and "will be introduced at Union Station by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who chairs the MTA board," reports the Daily Breeze. more ›

'Tis the season for Top Ten lists, but this one--the 14th annual Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey released by the Rose Institute of State & Local Government at Claremont McKenna College--gives our fair city more of dubious honor. Once again, Los Angeles ranks among the "10 most expensive places in the country to do business," reports the Daily News. more ›

more ›

more ›

Drinking and driving is beyond stupid, and we all know that making phone calls while intoxicated can also lead to disastrous results. And of course, drivers who lead cops on chases are just foolishly delaying the inevitable. Well, one smart fella did all of the above last night on the freeways of Southern California, and added in a bonus police chase for good measure. more ›

Southern California native Shannon Boxx and the rest of the U.S. Women's National Team faced off against the Chinese Women's National Team last night at the Home Depot Center in the penultimate match of the Achieve Your Gold Tour. The 10 game tour is a celebration of the U.S. Women's Gold medal victory in August at the Beijing Summer Olympics and wraps up in Detroit on Wednesday night. more ›

more ›

more ›

Two male gang members whose names remain unreleased were arrested last night in the case of the murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Juan Abel Escalante which took place outside his Cypress Park home this August 2nd as he prepared to leave for work. According to the LA Times, "investigators have had a difficult time determining a motive for Escalante's killing," however after working on the case at great length the team of detectives from both the LAPD's robbery-homicide department and the LA County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau isolated two members of the Avenues gang. It is possible that the murder took place due to the ongoing tension between the Avenues and the Cypress Park gang, which runs the area where Escalante lived, as opposed to Escalante being a specific target due to his work at the Men's Central Jail. The 27-year-old Escalante "was shot in the back of the head and never saw the assailants coming." He had been a deputy for less than 3 years when he was murdered. more ›

Yesterday Metrolink revealed their plan to combat their "most pressing safety and organizational issues," reports the Glendale News-Press. The findings were presented to the transit company's Board of Directors by a combined team of experts concerning trains and oversight; the pursuit of greater safety at Metrolink largely stems from the aftermath of September's Chatsworth crash--the deadliest accident in Metrolink's history. more ›

Budget, schmudget. According to the Daily News, despite our state's whopping "$42 billion budget hole" that is spawning "severe cuts to state programs and possibly layoffs" the folks hammering out the budget still get $173 a day "on top of their $116,208 annual salaries" for, you know, incidentals like parking and lunch and hotel laundry services. more ›

Actor Van Johnson, known best for his many film roles in the 40s and 50s, died yesterday in New York at 92. more ›

more ›

Vice President-Elect Joe Biden has a new puppy. more ›

It's believed that the murder of 8-year-old Lusine Safaryan and her father, Khachik Safaryan, age 43, happened yesterday morning between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. yesterday morning. In the afternoon, they were found dead inside their home at 1227 Tamarind Ave., each with a single bullet wound, by a 15-year-old family member who called police. "No suspect information is available at this time," the LAPD said in a statement seeking the public's help in finding who did committed this crime. more ›

A winter storm watch will be in effect Saturday afternoon through late night, advised the National Weather Service today. That means get your boards out as "there is a potential for a combination of significant snow, strong winds and dense fog that may impact travel," they said. The first snow could fall on the northern slopes of local mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and could lower snow levels from 5500 to 3500 feet by late Saturday. But snow up there can be mean rain down here in the city. Not only that, add in the possibility of 30 to 45 MPH wind with gusts up to 60 MPH. If you're driving over the grapevine tomorrow, beware: the 5 Freeway in Frazier Park could have "near white out conditions." more ›

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this morning that Austrlian actor Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Academy Awards on Sunday, February 22nd at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. He's presented at the ceremony before, but this will be his first time as a host. "[Jackman] has style, elegance and a sense of occasion," the producers said of the star, who was recently named one of the sexiest men alive by People Magazine, in a joint statement. He's starred in Baz Luhrmann's Australia, the X-Men movies and the upcoming and most anticipated X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Jackman won an Emmy in 2005 for his hosting skills at a Tony Awards ceremony. He also won a Tony in 2004 for Best Actor in a Musical. more ›

Playboy has been struggling as of late, but today they celebrate with their 55th Anniversary Issue that has one of their most popular girls ever, Carmen Electra, on the cover. She's appeared in the magazine four times since 1996, twice as a cover girl. more ›

Charley Steiner will only be doing the radio play-by-play duties this upcoming season, according to The Daily News' Tom Hoffarth. This leaves an opening for the tv play-by-play job for games that Vin Scully doesn't broadcast outside of the NL and AL West stadiums. This means that Dodger fans won't have to worry about never getting an updated score thanks to Rick Monday while listening to the game on their way home. This also means Jerry Reuss is out of a job as the radio color commentator for games Scully doesn't broadcast. more ›

This weekend hosts a few nights of pleasant sky viewing with the moon in a full phase and one of the most spectacular meteor showers. That is, if the cloud cover clears. more ›

A man was found with several bullet wounds slumped over the steering wheel of a silver Bentley on the 101 Freeway this morning in downtown. The California Highway Patrol found the car stopped on the freeway after a shots-fired call. It was "peppered with bullet holes, did not have license plates, but had paper plates that read, 'Dreams.' It carries a manufacturer's suggested price of about $176,000," reported the Associated Press. A SigAlert was issued as the investigation continued and morning rush hour traffic snarled for miles. more ›

Once again, mysterious elves have taken it upon themselves to decorate the tree sculpture at one Gold Metro stop. Under cover of darkness, they work every December to bring a little holiday cheer to Metro riders. No tape or other permanent adhesives are ever used. They only use string and ribbon that does not harm the tree. After the holidays, the same elves sneak back and quietly take down the decorations like the good citizens they are. Three cheers for the holiday elves and let's hope they inspire a little more outsider guerilla decorating! more ›

Model Bettie Page, 85, died last night from pneumonia after being hospitalized last week in Los Angeles for a heart attack. more ›

Dr. Thompson, the emergency room physician who stands accused of the Mandeville Canyon road rage incident that left two cyclists seriously injured, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday for his preliminary hearing and it did not go well for him. more ›

No the Lakers aren't physically moving anywhere, however their radio broadcasts will. Beginning next season the Lakers will be moving their radio broadcasts to 710 ESPN. Since the station will be moving their studios to the new LA Live complex next to the Staples Center, the move does make sense. However it is a bittersweet one since AM 570 KLAC has been the Lakers radio home since the 1976-1977 season. more ›

• Nothing gets Anderson, CA KFC employees more turned on than kitchen sinks. Good thing they took provocative photos with the sinks so we can see how they celebrate.
• A Huntington Beach alcohol and drug rehab facility has offered to take in Amy Winehouse and her Blake for free. They promise protection from the paparazzi and her own recording studio as well. Sounds like she'd be on board if they weren't so strict about drugs and alcohol.
• We've been giving you a few options to eat on the cheap during these tough times, but here's another - Lobster! That's right, our date's favorite entree is said to be falling in price due to Canadians. Actually, Canadian processing plants that have shut down thus creating excess, blah, blah, just go out and buy one before the prices go back up.
• A 15-year-old San Pedro High School girl looking for attention lied about the claim that two men tried to drag her into a truck. The teen said she was just upset with her mother. Why can't kids just swear and yell at their parents when they're upset like we learned on the Osbourne's?
• Lindsay Lohan's girlfriend hired a lawyer to keep rumors out of the press? And then she sued him for sloppy work and abandoning her when she wouldn't pay an exorbitant bill? And he's counter suing to recover fees? At least she's not doing a great job of keeping out of the press... hehe.
• Twitter peeps, in addition to following LAist, why not follow Mayor Villaraigosa.
• KB Toys joined the list of Linens N Things and Steve & Barry's in seeking Chapter 11 protection today. The children of the nation are devastated... not to mention their parents who work at KB.
• A Sherman Oaks lawyer and his posse were arrested on suspicion of running a $1 million fraud ring today. Hamid Taghizadeh, 46, is said to be the mastermind charged with 86 felony counts, including filing false and fraudulent claims, receiving or offering compensation for referrals, insurance fraud, grand theft of personal property and failure to file income tax returns. Makes you think twice about taking a little cash from an insurance claim doesn't it...

Dakota Culkin, 29, stepped in front of a car Tuesday night and later died at the hospital due suffering massive head injuries. It was on Lincoln Blvd., possibly near Jefferson, but police would not confirm the Westchester neighborhood intersection. They indicated that she may have been crossing illegally since no crime was committed by the driver, who stopped, rendered aid, identified himself and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Actor and brother McCully Culkin is most well known for starring in the movie Home Alone. This follows two other recent celebrity sibling deaths. Earlier this week, Mark Ruffalo's brother died after apparently playing russian roulette. In October, Jennifer Hudson lost three family members to murder in Chicago. more ›

President-Elect Barack Obama is planning to propose a federal economic stimulus package when he's in office. It would be an infrastructure investment plan, "the largest since the creation of the national highway system, to jumpstart the economy." It would include infrastructure projects that are "ready to go", meaning that they have cleared all planning, design and environmental reviews and can begin construction within 180 days and complete construction by December 31, 2010. The city already has a long list of those types of projects, here are a few interesting ones: more ›

In recent weeks, Los Angeles seems to be the “it” city when it comes to becoming eco-friendly. First, Gov. Schwarzenegger held the Global Climate Summit in Beverly Hills. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Villarigosa announced plans for Solar LA in his continued effort under GREEN LA. And then, earlier this week, iHollywood Forum hosted “Hollywood Goes Green”, inviting industry and advertising personnel to attend and learn what has been done, and can continue to be done, in the effort to go green. more ›

LA Weekly nicely profiles activist and public-access television star Zuma Dogg who is running for mayor on the March ballot. But the story is much more than just Zuma, it's about shutting down public-access. "If everything unfolds as planned, on January 1, Time Warner, which owns more than 90 percent of the cable-television market in Los Angeles, will walk away from operating 12 public-access studios in L.A, which help everyday people to create hundreds of hours of content on 11 freewheeling, neighborhood-based public channels." During former Mayor James Hahn's administration, a needs assessment produced by the city supported public-access saying it fostered "participation in the democratic process.” Mayor Villaraigosa's Office, who produced their own study, said “we will cease to use the public-access studios as pursuant to the law." more ›

The Antelope Valley already has been receiving freeze advisories and now one weatherman is predicating colder than usual temps for the Southern California region. "Temperatures in Siberia, Russia will be -81 degrees this week," said somewhat controversial Meteorologist Kevin Martin of the locally based and privately owned Ontario Weather Service. "With those type of temperatures the arctic air mass has to spill somewhere. Our answer of the exact track will become more clear this week. All residents in the mountain communities should prepare this week for very cold, winter weather, with snow." more ›

Albeit a great idea, yesterday's "call in gay" day seemed to have little effect. It "drew spotty participation nationwide," found the Daily News and one participant e-mailed LAist saying that the event in West Hollywood last night was a "huge flop." He said a meager 150 people turned out to march on the streets. Up in San Francisco, a larger and much more peaceful (than those in early November) march took to the streets. more ›

When the economy hits the big boys, it also hurts the homeboys. Now, we're not talking about the ones the City Attorney is planning to sue, but we are about the hard working nonprofit Homeboy Industries, which helps youth and former gang members become positive members of society. Celeste at Witness LA finds out about their hiring freeze: "In fact, they will be lucky if they can make payroll for their existing workers. Added to that, the jobs the Homeboy staff used to be able to find for the scores and scores of young men and women who come through their doors weekly looking for work, seem to have all but vaporized." So not only does the bottom line hurt in general, but the fact that they can't place people in jobs--which is part of their mission--because no one else is hiring impacts Homeboy on both sides. more ›

On Monday evening an unidentified 50-year-old homeless man was shot by a man with a large caliber handgun in an alley behind 1600 Linoln Blvd, several blocks from Venice Blvd. "The suspect then rode away on a bicycle northbound towards the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Palms Avenue," the LAPD said in a statement. The motive is unknown at this time. The police do know the suspect is male, but don't know much more than that, so they are asking for the public's help in identifying him. This follows a series of attacks on homeless. Most recently, five were killed in Long Beach and another was lit on fire in the Mid-Wilshire area. more ›

Ralph Bunche & Animo Justice Charter High Schools have been evacuated this morning after "reports of strong smell of natural gas in the area," according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officials believe the natural gas leak's source is around 14th and Long Beach, just south of downtown, but the smell is being reported as far as 27th street and near the schools to the West. Both of those schools are close to USC, but there are no reports of the college taking precaution yet. The LA Fire Department is on scene, but as of 10:18 a.m., they still had not found the source. Five patients were assessed at the scene with one of them, a 14-year-old teenager, who was transported to the hospital with asthma-like symptoms. more ›

This is what's being predicted for California: a $14.8 billion deficit by June 30--then $41.8 billion by 2010, according to revenue forecasts by the state Department of Finance. The LA Times wraps it nicely in their deck: "Unless legislators take control, gap could become the largest in modern California history, analysts say. But a solution seems unlikely as Gov. Schwarzenegger scolds lawmakers for failing to act." more ›

Late yesterday afternoon, a home in Venice that firefighters noted as under construction lit on fire. 30 firefighters arrived knocking down the blaze in a quick 23 minutes at 1134 E. Palms Blvd. Photographer Anthony Citrano, who took these photos below, said that two structures were involved with one apparently destroyed and one damaged. more ›

Now that the Tribune company has filed for bankruptcy, and the L.A. Times has cut its staff to the bone, it's no wonder that they don't have enough staff to keep up with the fast-paced dynamics of news on the Web. So yesterday, when NPR West had its own bloodletting, the city's paper of record unfortunately had some trouble keeping up. Check out the above photo and read the caption. We're pretty sure that isn't Renee Montagne. (Note to LATimes.com: You can edit photos at picnik.com -- for free.) more ›

"A new economic forecast predicts the California economy is in for a rough 2009. The quarterly Anderson Forecast from UCLA says unemployment is going to continue to be ugly, with the jobless rate peaking next year at 8.7 percent -- meaning nearly one in 10 workers will be out of work." more ›

After 10 weeks of rerouting buses to congested streets while some sections of Metro's Orange Line were being repaved, service is now back to normal operation, Metro said today in a statement. The repaving was needed to improve strength and durability of the roadway because soon after its October 2005 opening, the pavement began to rut. Metro blamed the contractor, the contractor blamed Metro and they finally settled to split the costs of the $1.5 million project. " am an enthusiastic supporter of the Busway and ride it regularly, but this is just bureaucratic and institutional stupidity," opined Andrew at Here in Van Nuys. more ›

The United Teachers Los Angeles, the powerful school teachers union, is out in force this afternoon throughout the city protesting LAUSD budget cuts this afternoon. They say school bureaucrats are looking to cut healthcare benefits, raise class sizes and impose a three-year salary freeze. Therefore, they will chant in the streets: more ›

Over at the blog, LA Snark, there's talk of terrible local internet service: "What’s going on with Time Warner’s internet outtages in the Los Angeles area? Are they clocking out at 10pm or something? For the past two nights I’ve suddenly lost the ability to reach a site in a browser. Oddly enough I’m able to instant message and receive emails.. but no web access. What’s the deal Time Warner?" The snarky blogger polled his Twitter followers and found that he wasn't the only one. Is the same happening to you? Update: KCAL News at 4 p.m. reports that the problem began on Sunday night and should be now fixed. more ›

National Public Radio is cutting two daily shows and the majority of its Culver City-based NPR West staff as part of companywide layoffs and program cuts announced today. more ›

As the "Big Three" American automakers and the federal government get closer to determining what kind of bailout--if any--the struggling businesses can receive, things don't seem to be all that much better for overseas rival Toyota. more ›

10 days after bad weather in Florida forced Space Shuttle Endeavour to land at Edwards Air Force Base northeast of Los Angeles, it took off this morning atop a modified 747 carrier on its first leg back to Kennedy Space Center. The cross-country trip costs $1.8 million. more ›

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UHDR), adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The 30 articles of this declaration were written after the Second World War and represent the first global expression of human rights worldwide. The UHDR is the most translated document in the world and has inspired many international treaties and laws. more ›

Nancy Sutley, the Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment for the City of Los Angeles, is expected to be appointed by President-elect Barack Obama to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality. more ›

It's official. After not coming to a contract agreement with producers and studios for nearly six months, mainly over new media residuals, the Screen Actors Guild is set to have its membership vote on authorizing a strike. more ›

Yahoo! confirmed today that they will be laying off 1,500 employees globally including "an undisclosed amount at its Burbank campus on Empire Avenue," the Burbank Leader reports this morning. more ›

Today gas hit the average price of $1.784 per gallon of regular which has Californians paying lower average gas prices than people in twelve other states, according to Jeffrey Spring at the Auto Club. "It's an unusual situation for this state to have prices within a dime of the national average, but it is a welcome bit of relief for Californians who have been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn." That national average sits at $1.683 today. more ›

Three men in their mid twenties were crossing a Roscoe Blvd. at Louise Ave. in Northridge this morning when a car making a turn ran into them. "They all suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries," Ron Myers at the LA Fire Department said of the three who were sent to the hospital. more ›

Police in Beverly Hills released 26-year-old Shaha Mishaal Adham last night following a five-hour meeting held between her attorney and detectives regarding the shooting death of actor Mark Ruffalo's brother Scott. Evidence presented indicated that the shooting was the result of gunplay. According to abc7.com, Adham's lawyer, Ronald Richards "said Ruffalo's gunshot wound to the head was self-inflicted - that Adham was essentially a witness to a game of Russian Roulette." Scott Ruffalo, a local hairdresser, died late Monday night, a week after he was brought to the hospital following what was initially described as "an execution-style" shooting. more ›

A series of explosions rocked the residences of Canoga Park, within a block of the intersection of Jordan Avenue and Saticoy Street Monday night. There were three explosions heard at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 p.m. more ›

Employee: "I'm gay!" more ›

If you've ever wanted to adopt your own entourage and get world-class A-list treatment, apparently Los Angeles International Airport is the place to go. So throw on your best pair of sweats, grab your $1000 handbag, and slip on those shades! Of course, you might want to enlist your own security detail, because yesterday "the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday decided against any new regulations to control paparazzi at [LAX]" reports the Daily News. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department's Chief Bill Bratton has announced that crime is down compared to this time last year. According to abc7.com, "The most dramatic drop was seen in murders involving gang members. Bratton said those homicides have dropped 26.6 percent. Overall, homicide is down 8.7 percent. The number of rapes committed saw a 14 percent drop, and overall violent crime is down nearly 5 percent." Just last week a record number of Compton residents opted to trade in their guns for gift cards, signaling perhaps less of a trend in holiday conviviality and more that the economy is in the toilet; most of the almost 1,000 $100 gift cards selected were for Ralphs supermarket. more ›

Sacramento Kings defeat LA Lakers 113-101. Since their lack of defense was pointed out last season, it would be nice if the Lakers could show some defensive fervor. While they were strong in the first several games, it has all seemed to fall apart. And that was evident in this game. The obvious number is the 113 the Kings scored. This is a Kings team that have lost eight straight games. While the Lakers had their moments, the Kings just carved up the Lakers interior defense. more ›

• We have all been cutting corners due to the recession, but UK residents are taking it to a new level - buying up "offal" or "variety meat" because of it's affordability. How about you, what have you done that's a little off-kilter to cut costs?
• A wildfire is burning in Newbury Park creeping towards the 101 Freeway.
• A group of women were granted more than $1 million today by a table grape provider who discriminated and denied them jobs because they were women. Between 1998 and 2002 no women were of the 300 grape pickers hired by the company.
• What do you do when gangs have brought down the value of your neighborhood through their gang activities? Sue currently imprisoned gang members for "compensation for all property damage and property devaluation," and "time in which residents could not use public parks because of gang activity."
• A late-night munchies run went awry last night when a woman in the SFV shot and injured a 25-year-old man at a Carl's Jr. drive-thru around 2:25 am.
• Afternoon daydreamers, did you synchronize swatches and look west at 5:21 PST? If not, you missed the International Space Station flying through the sky! Maybe next time...
• It seems that a power failure is to blame for the F18 crash near San Diego yesterday.
• Green La Girl has a question. Rather, Anna, a reader of hers has a question about the best way to get from LAX to Montrose on public transportation without putting herself in shady situations. Can you help?
• Last Chance: Refined music lovers, we have a contest running right now to give away four pairs of tickets to see the LA Chamber Orchestra's Marimba concert this weekend. Head over here and get in the running!

Starting at 5:21 p.m., you should be able to see the International Space Shuttle passing above Los Angeles. "The Space Station moves from northwest to southeast between 5:21 p.m. and 5:27 p.m., appearing nearly overhead at 5:24 p.m.," says Anthony Cook at Griffith Observatory's Sky Report. "The ISS should rival brilliant Venus on both passes." Kevin Roderick at LA Observed finds good info on the station's passing on the LBReport. more ›

Did you feel it? At 4:29 p.m., a 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck the San Bernadino area--some 50 miles from downtown. Just a minute prior a 4.4 earthquake struck near Death Valley, north of where Friday night's 5.1 earthquake struck. more ›

The LAPD has released images of this man who they say sexually assaulted one 13-year-old and another teenager earlier this month. In both cases, he fondled the women over their clothes, possibly touching their genitalia while attempting to take off their clothes. Fortunately, both victims were able to escape. more ›

In probably the most comprehensive study of its kind, a series from USA Today--The Smokestake Effect: Toxic Air and America’s Schools--pinpoints toxic hotspots near schools in over 34 states. Working with the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, they looked at over 127,000 public, private and parochial schools, ranking them by air quality. more ›

The city today officially adopted the Cyclists' Bicycle Bill of Rights, a twelve-point document affirming the rights that cyclists already have, but don't necessarily receive from government in addition to other basic rights that will help the city become more sustainable. more ›

At the cost of $1.6 million, Washington DC's Metropolitan Police Department has asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department send 340 sheriff's deputies to the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama next month. It's a nice honor, but in this recession, LA County Board of Supervisors are not happy, especially since the reimbursement may be a million dollars short. "A report presented today at the Board of Supervisors meeting estimated that only about $630,000 of the cost would be recouped," found the LA Times. more ›

Record-setting reliever Francisco Rodriguez and the bullpen hungry New York Mets reached an agreement today. According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal the former Angel will sign a "three-year, $37 million deal, pending a physical. The deal also includes a $14 million vesting option for a fouth year that would raise the total value of the contract to $51 million." more ›

Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times is reporting that the Dodgers have come to an contract agreement with third baseman Casey Blake. Blake came over to the Dodgers before the trading deadline in late July as one of the cogs to help the Dodgers make their playoff run. The agreement is reportedly for three years and $17 million. At the age of 35, this is Blake's first free agent contract. Also noted in this story is that the Dodgers are also signing infielder Mark Loretta. more ›

Wind: A red flag warning was issued until 4 p.m. today, but the National Weather Service is also warning of strong winds and gusts that could be damaging, as they say. However, the winds should weaken later this afternoon. more ›

Shortly before 11 a.m. at today's City Council meeting, Councilman Bill Rosendahl asked a city budget official what the city's current budget hole is as of today. He said $86 million. The big reason? "The biggest driver this year is the revenue," the rep said. more ›

Loud neon fashions and iconic 80's skaters including Tony Hawk and Christian Hosoi collided head-on for a nostalgic day at the Quiksilver Headquarters in Huntington Beach on Saturday. Skating legend Tony Hawk participated in his first competition in eight years and showed that hasn't lost a step by winning the contest with style. Not just style, but class, as he forfeited his $1,980 winnings by giving $200 to each non-placing competitor. more ›

It's nearing the end of the six-month hail-a-taxi pilot program for downtown and Hollywood and taxis are apparently still hanging out at taxi stands and not cruising streets picking up fares curbside. In July, the city temporarily lifted limits on where a taxi can pull over to pick up a passenger--usually a ticketable offense. more ›

Hairdresser and brother to actor Mark Ruffalo, Scott Ruffalo died late Monday night after being shot in the head last week in what was reportedly described as an "execution-style" shooting. more ›

Los Angeles County has finally caught up with other big cities where you can buy a card, fill it up with money and use it like a debit card on buses and Metro rail lines. That means no more making sure you have the correct change or worrying if the credit card machine will work (but you can still do that if you want). more ›

Down in Orange County, we've got former Sheriff Mike Carona on trial for campaign dirty work and giving a top job to the man who helped illegally raise money to get him elected. Today, we can relate to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D), who was taken into custody by federal authorities for two counts that involve defrauding the people of Illinois. It's speculated that Blago was involved in a pay-to-play scheme has extended to his search to replace Sen. Obama. And not only that, he promised money and state services in exchange for the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial members who were critical of him and his administration. Too bad, he wanted to be named Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration. more ›

A family of four were irate and shaken last night after one of them had his car stolen after being shot at a Washington Mutual bank branch, on the corner of Sherman Way and Vassar Avenue in Canoga Park. Kami, a resident of the area, said he was approached at the bank's street-front ATM by a man holding a gun demanding money. When Kami explained that he was only checking his account to confirm that he was out of money, the man shot twice, and ran to Kami's car. The thief then broke the window and drove off. Kami was not injured. more ›

Orlando Magic defeat LA Clippers 95-88. Man Dwight Howard has a tiny head, but boy can he play. He had a monster of a game scoring 22 points a notching 20 rebounds with six steals. And the Magic needed every point from their big man because at the end of three quarters the Clippers were leading by nine. Then the fourth quarter happened when the Clippers scored only two points in the first eight minutes. Now I've actually watched a couple of Clippers games recently, and they're not horrible. They have great shooters in Baron Davis, Al Thornton and Eric Gordon. It's just something happens in that fourth quarter where it falls apart. more ›

• Looks like the LAUSD might be saying Bye Bye, Brewer if they can buy him out of his contract. He has two years left on a four-year agreement.
• 'Tis the season to be...a douchebag criminal? Apparently thieves are targeting cars left unattended while their owners visit graves at two local cemeteries.
• If you've had enough of Mayor Villaraigosa, how does the sound of "Mayor Zuma Dogg" strike you? He's already launched his campaign, reports Mayor Sam's blog.
• Hate Prop 8? You might want to "Call in gay" on Wednesday as part of a national protest.
• All the write-in presidential elections ballots have just been counted in the OC, and they have a winner in that distinct division: Ron Paul.
• Attention local shoppers: If you love leggings and you love Lindsay Lohan (and you've got $132 to shell out for a pair) you should get your head examined can count yourself among the many who are causing the items to fly off the shelves.
• And don't forget, music lovers, we have a contest running right now to give away four pairs of tickets to see the LA Chamber Orchestra's Marimba concert this weekend. Head over here and get in the running!

Just in time for the holidays... With strong winds coming in from Nevada, humidity expected to dip into the teens or single digits and fuels (dry brush, etc) only showing minor recovery from the recent rains, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties for Tuesday through Wednesday. The strongest winds will be focused across the passes and canyon of the region with gusts up to 55 MPH in the mountains and 45 MPH in the Valleys. From Malibu through the Hollywood Hills and downtown, winds could blow up to 45 MPH with local gusts averaging around 20-25 MPH. more ›

If you were planning on leisurely filling out your one-click holiday shopping list this year, too bad. Amazon.com is running way behind. Or maybe they are blackmailing you into joining their new membership club, Amazon Prime. If you place an order today, December 8th, and pay for 2-day shipping, you can't trust your items will arrive by Christmas, much less in time for Hanukkah. They warn you: more ›

As Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa spends his day in Washington D.C., asking along with peers from other cities for federal money to local entities and as the new State Legislature sits in their special budget session this afternoon, here's a sobering quote about how bad this recession has hit us: "California, the world’s eighth-largest economy, may pay vendors with IOUs for only the second time since the Great Depression." John Chian said that "we’re just barely hanging on right now... We need strong legislative action immediately.” more ›

A FA-18 Delta military jet that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood shortly before noon killed at least three people who have not been identified yet. Investigators know that a grandmother, a mother and two children lived in the residence and say one person is unaccounted for, according to AP. The pilot who ejected himself before the crash and landed at a nearby high school playing field is listed in stable condition at the hospital. more ›

We always hear of the internet coming back to haunt people, ruining their careers and forcing them to apologize to their boss, President-Elect Barack Obama. But for one group of University of Indiana students, a 10-year-old clip of them singing "The 12 Days of Christmas" became so popular, Atlantic Records offered them a five-record deal and a concert tour. more ›

The movie studios, represented by the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), published an ad this weekend accusing the actors of demanding more than all the other unions that have come to agreements with the group. In a statement, they said actors are "demanding that the entire industry literally throw out all its hard work because it believes it deserves more than the 230,000 other working people in the industry." more ›

“Today, we’re sending a message to gang leaders across this city: If you break the law, we will not only find you, arrest you, and put you behind bars; we will also take away your money, your property, your homes, and your cars. And for the first time ever, we will return that money to the communities you have brutalized,” said City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo of lawsuits filed against 18th Street gang leaders. “As the gangs who terrorize our neighborhoods evolve, so too must we adapt our laws and our tactics to fit the times.” more ›

Shortly before noon today, a military F-18 fighter jet crashed into a San Diego neighborhood described as "a heavily populated area" near the 805 freeway. The crash occurred as the jet prepared to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, two miles away. At least two houses and one car were reported to be on fire, but it was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt. A pilot reportedly ejected before impact and may be injured. more ›

MOCA's grim financial outlook is no secret, and although there has been public mobilization to help raise the profile of the museum's plight and show whoever will pay attention that Angelenos want their art, some see the changes that need to come as being more fundamental. more ›

Marjorie Christoffersen, who was the most popular person at the 77-year-old restaurant, reportedly resigned Saturday after coming under fire for a $100 donation to support banning gay marriage in Califiornia. For her, she was going with what her Mormon leaders were saying even though her restaurant had been a gay friendly hang for years. El Coyote became one of the centerpieces of the boycott debate over where the line should be drawn on employee/management donations political causes. A protest was held outside the restaurant (see photos here) and many vowed never to eat thre again. more ›

The owner of the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Cubs and other properties has $13 billion in debt. more ›

It's been an issue for some years now. The LADWP Festival of Lights--a holiday light show where people in cars drive slowly along Crystal Springs Dr. in Griffith Park viewing the displays--has been car-oriented since the beginning. more ›

An LAPD officer who patrols in Pacific Division (e.g., Venice, Playa del Rey), was arrested yesterday morning by Internal Affairs for attempted rape. "Based on preliminary information, it appears that a sanctioned LAPD Pacific Area holiday party had concluded and several Department employees were participating in an unofficial 'after party'" at a hotel near LAX, said the LAPD in a statement. "When allegations of criminal activity came to light, proper notifications were made and on-duty police supervisors and Internal Affairs Division investigators were dispatched." Eduardo Bermudez, 29, has been with the LAPD for two years. He was booked at Men's Central Jail and held on $100,00 bail. more ›

LA's Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is headed to the nation's capitol today where he'll meet up with other mayors from other large US cities and ask for monetary aid in the form of "federal grants, loans and other assistance." According to MyFoxLA, Villaraigosa intends to focus on implementing "a Main Street Economic Plan that invests in local infrastructure, creates jobs and boosts the green economy of Los Angeles." Although the Mayor is networking with other heads of cities, like Miami's Diaz, Chicago's Daley, and NYC's Bloomberg, LA Observed wonders when Villaraigosa will start to take advantage of social networking sites, like the Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr pages created for him, noting there's "not much happening yet on the mayor's social networks, but then they just started looking for a New Media director." more ›

more ›

2008 is the 70th anniversary of Hollywood Park, a once grand-dame in the world of horse racing that may meet the fate of the bulldozer come next year. With racing not the draw it once was, the stands are often sparsely populated, and its home city of Inglewood has their eye on a more lucrative prize. more ›

According to the Wall Street Journal, media mega-corp Tribune, parent of our Los Angeles Times, has sought legal counsel recently that would help the fumbling company "for a possible trip through bankruptcy court." The filing, some speculate, could happen as soon as this week. The WSJ explains:

Tribune has been on wobbly footing since last December, when real-estate mogul Sam Zell led a debt-backed deal to take the company private. Tribune so far has stayed ahead of its $12 billion in borrowings with the help of asset sales, but now dwindling profits are tightening the noose. The company's cash flow may not be enough to cover nearly $1 billion in interest payments this year, and Tribune owes a $512 million debt payment in June.

The four men who play Captain Jack Sparrow from the popular Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise were told it was time to walk the plank, so to speak, when they lost their Disneyland jobs recently. So why did the Mouse cut the swashbucklers loose? more ›

If you've ever driven past the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood you may have wondered just who Beverly Garland was. more ›

A minor earthquake was recorded this morning at 7:39. It was centered in the ocean, 13 miles east of Santa Cruz Island, and measured 3.5 in magnitude; the quake was closest to the mainland cities of Ventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme, although abc7.com is reporting it as taking place near Malibu and Anacapa island. Just a couple of days ago many here in the greater Los Angeles area felt the 5.1 jolt from the desert, centered in a town with a population of 10. Did you feel this one? See the "shake map" here. more ›

After a bit over a month of inactivity, the Galaxy took on Edgar Davids, Christian Karembeu and the rest of the Oceania All-Stars in front of 16,600 fans in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, local time. more ›

more ›

As the Triangle Complex fire ravaged through Orange County's Yorba Linda last month it devoured numerous pricey homes in its path. Tales of homes going down in flames as firefighters worked with limited to no water supplies began to surface, and speculations that lawsuits would result began to crop up. more ›

The Trojans are leading the Bruins 21-7 at the half. Surprisingly the Bruins drew first blood taking a 7-0 lead, but the Trojans got back on track and scored three unanswered touchdowns. However penalties and two missed field goals are what is keeping UCLA in the game. Follow my liveblog. more ›

Final more ›

At first Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was praised for deciding to allow Fox Reality to make a show about his recruits, since the deal brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in license fees as well as profits from the series. Hey, why not, right? Get the LA Co. Sheriff's Department's name out there, let America see what they're all about, maybe tempt some fence sitters to join the ranks to get in on the fun of serving, or maybe the fun of being on a reality television show, right? more ›

Narbonne High School Gauchos (Harbor City) defeat Crenshaw High School Cougars 25-24. After trailing the Cougars 24-17 at half time, the Gauchos could not get anything going on offense in the second half. Fortunately their defense showed up and held the Cougars scoreless also. All hope looked lost when the Gauchos couldn't convert on a fourth down on Crenshaw's 31 yard line with six minutes left to go. Fortunately Crenshaw inexplicably went for it on a fourth-and-two play on their 39 yard line and were stopped by the Gaucho defense. The Gauchos went in for a touchdown and converted on a two-point conversion to win the game. more ›

A moderate earthquake tonight shook near Ludlow, CA, an extremely small San Bernardino County town 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert. more ›

more ›

The girl not from next door, Bettie Page, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday. The 85-year-old former model remains "critically ill," her agent says. She is reportedly in a coma. more ›

Elmer Valentine, the man credited for putting the Sunset Strip on the map, died in his sleep on Wednesday. In 1960, he opened PJ's on the Strip and then the Whisky A Go-Go. After that he helped open the Rainbow Bar & Grill and the Roxy next door. more ›

Three men were swept into the ocean this afternoon below the cliffs of Point Fermin in San Pedro. Two of them were able to escape to shore with relatively little injury, but one had to be rescued by a Los Angeles Fire Department boat. He's listed in critical condition. Rescues around Point Fermin are pretty common as the area seems much safer than it actually is. more ›

Los Angeles is in a drought. Without more rainfall, this city will be starting rationing very soon. New data was released today about our water shortage: more ›

Considering the dour state of local gossip blogs predicting who's next to be laid off, how many years OJ will spend in the pen, and the latest word on a SAG strike, we're glad to hear that a fresh LA gossip blog is set to hit the interwebz next week. more ›

Can you keep track of the years OJ is being sentenced to? Every outlet seemed to say something different: 15 years, 16 years, 18 years, 21 years. more ›

Mary Nichols, chair for the California Air Resources Board, has been rumored to be a top contender to head up the Environmental Protection Agency for the Obama administration. In an interview with the Sacramento Bee, she said "I'm not talking about that. I've been asked not to talk about it." That made one Bee blogger to be suspicious: "asked not to talk about it? Hmm. Does that sounds like a 'yes' to you?" more ›

Yesterday a panel of hospital and government officials voiced concerns over overcrowding in Los Angeles emergency rooms and called for the creation of more community health clinics in the county.ER overcrowding is a growing problem in California for a number of reasons. more ›

We often see rewards announced, but more rarely see them work. Police are announcing today that they've caught Adam Quintana, who they believe killed his friend Fernando Garcia with a hammer on November 17th before dumping the body in a trash bin just east of downtown on the 200 block of Breed Street. "The combination of the media coverage and reward of $50,000 played a role in finding Quintana in Las Vegas. He was taken into custody on November 28, 2008, by Las Vegas Police investigators and was brought back to Los Angeles to face murder charges," the LAPD said in a statement. more ›

There certainly was something to be celebratory about last night--the billions invested into LA Live is quite an accomplishment. The naysayers will say it's another Universal City Walk and the cheerleaders will call "the future." For those in the middle, it will be a pleasant technological and flashy place to visit and take friends and enjoy every once in awhile. That said, after speaking to people about last night's LA Live tree lighting ceremony, words such as "uninspired" and "boring" were mentioned more than once. They were also not too thrilled with how unimpressive the tree was (see a photo below) more ›

A two-story commercial building caught fire early this morning gave firefighters a tough fight before finally extinguishing it nearly two hours later. It was first reported at 4:30 a.m., but at "about 5 a.m., firefighters had transitioned into a defensive mode, battling the blaze from the outside while flames shot out of the structure's roof and heavy black smoke billowed from the 50-by-100 foot building," reported CBS2. The fire persisted because Yoni Distributors, on the 900 block of East 11th St., distributed car audio equipment and the chemicals in those electronics are suspected for why the fire continued to burn for more than an hour. more ›

That's right. According to Joe Schad at the Evil Four-Letter, USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will take over the head coaching job at the University of Washington. Sark will have his work cut out for him taking over a program that has gone winless so far this season. Fortunately he'll have a healthy quarterback Jake Locker back. more ›

• No drugs or alcohol was found in Metrolink train engineer Robert Sanchez' body, says the coroner. He died of massive trauma when the train he operated slammed into a freight train killed 25 and inuring 135 in Chatsworth back in September.
• The son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges today.
• GoToGreenLA, the ultimate calendar to all things green in Los Angeles, is now posting their weekly top picks at GreenLAGirl.
• Even though the most exciting time to see Venus and Jupiter has passed, the two can still be seen in the southwest sky for two hours after sunset each even this week, says Anthony Cook at the Griffith Observatory's weekly Sky Report. "The fainter of the pair, Jupiter, is drawing away from Venus by about a degree a day, appearing between 3 degrees to 9½ degrees from Venus between the 3rd and the 10th."
• It's been a long time waiting and there's still some time to wait--next January-- for the Angels Flight rail cars to begin operating once again on downtown's Bunker Hill.
• What you may not know about downtown's newest park--Vista Hermosa: quarterly inspections for poisonous and flammable gases.
• A nightclub plus sushi? OMG! Could be coming to a Hollywood near you on December 26th.
• 'Tis the season to be drinkin': Don't forget to check out the Edendale Grill's Elderberry drink and LAist's Gift Guide for Drinkers. On Saturday, you can join a bunch of people dressed as Santa and go bar hopping.

$150 million in voter approved money toward animal shelters was the subject of the latest audit by City Controller Laura Chick today. Her letter to the Mayor and City Council wasn't as scathing as other audits (think about LAPD's rape-kit backlog audit), but she did reveal some problems: more ›

Gossip is floating around that Toluca Lake's sweetheart Kirsten Dunst and Playa del Rey's Why Tuesday? blogger Jacob Soboroff are dating. The Daily Star is reporting that Dunst is "back on the dating scene after breaking up with 'secret' boyfriend Justin Long... The 26-year-old actress is working with Soboroff on a documentary about voting, and the two have become more than close friends... The new couple was spotted shopping together at art store Blick last week." more ›

This will never get old. Today marks the 79th day that gas prices have consecutively dropped. The current average price of a regular gallon of gas is $1.912. Statewide, it's a penny cheaper and about 12-cents cheaper nationally. So why is this happening? We asked Marie Montegomery over at the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA): "We had price levels that were probably unsustainable earlier this year. They were based on not the laws of supply and demand, but where investors perceived where their money would be safest. They were buying up commodities like oil and gasoline futures and prices skyrocketed. Then when all this economic turbulence occurred in September, the bubble burst and everything spiraled down." Boy, did it ever. more ›

A fire at the landmark strip club breaks out this morning and memories, jokes and traffic complaints in 140 characters or less ensued. more ›

Twice in the last week he's handed a note to bank tellers in Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo demanding money. Problem is, he ran off both times before getting any money, prompting the FBI to dub him as the "The Empty Pockets bandit." more ›

Yesterday in Seattle, a judge resentenced Ahmed Ressam, the "millennium bomber" who was convicted for planning to blow up Los Angeles International Airport on New Years Eve in 1999, to 22 years. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour did not believe that Ressam had gone back to his Al Qaeda ways after working with the feds catch other terrorists, therefore he would not be a danger when released in 2019. But prosecutors say he did not live up to his deal by retracting everything he said to help the government up until 2003 when he stopped talking. Ultimately, that cost them two high-profile terrorism prosecutions, they said. more ›

The Scientology Center security guard who shot and killed a man wielding two swords, threatening him and others, will not be charged by the district attorney. Investigators and prosecutors both agree that the 64-year-old retired cop from Seal Beach shot in self defense. UCLA alumnus Mario Majorski had been a problem for the church before. On Sunday, November 23rd, he pulled up to the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood parking lot with two swords. The scene was so out of place, that it wasn't. One witness, who saw the incident begin, walked by and into the building not thinking much of it. "I thought it was part of a show," the teenager said. Oh, Hollywood. more ›

A fire has erupted at the Body Shop, a famous all nude strip club located on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. more ›

LA Lakers defeat Philadelphia 76ers 114-102. This time there was no last second put back. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol made sure of that scoring all of the Lakers points in the last five minutes of the game. Bryant scored 32 points and Gasol got 22 as they staved off a come back from the 76ers. Former Clipper Elton Brand had an awful shooting game scoring only three points. He was so awful 76ers coach Mo Cheeks sat him down for the fourth quarter. The bright spot for the 76ers was Andre Miller who always seems to play his best game against the Lakers. He led the 76ers with 26 points. more ›

more ›

Traffic got off to a slow star this afternon after some abandoned luggage left near Wilshire and Westwood Boulevards were reported to police. That prompted them to close down the area causing word to quickly spread among evacuated employees and passerbys that it was a bomb scare. But the LAPD said there were no threats and it was only luggage. "We get a lot of those," said Officer Lee. more ›

This afternoon, a woman threatened a bus driver in Hollywood with a box cutter saying if she wasn't taken where she wanted, she would cut her, according to KCAL News at 3:00 p.m. more ›

She appears in the pretaped version of today's Christmas Tree lighting in New York City's Rockefellar Center, but will Britney Spears appear tomorrow for Los Angeles? That's what the rumors, heard within LA Live and around town, point to. more ›

An 38-year-old homeless man died after he was struck by an SUV last night on the Pacific Coast Highway, just north of Sunset Blvd. The LAPD describe the driver of the green sports utility vehicle--possibly a 1999 to 2002 Nissan Pathfinder--as a white male, but have few other clues other than he was driving northbound. more ›

Next month, the LAPD plans to focus on larger crime areas leaving tony Westside communities with less officers, which in theory means slower response times and decreased regular patrol. The public's pissed and as with all things with Westside City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, the next step is a community presentation and panel. He's bringing Chief Bratton and other LAPD top brass to explain their decision. Then Rosendahl will moderate questions from the audience. If you go, here's the information: more ›

Activist, Venice local, political gadfly and blogger Zuma Dogg has collected enough signatures to hopefully qualify for the March 3rd ballot to run for Mayor of Los Angeles, he announced on his blog today. "So out of the 1000 [signatures]...hopefully 500 people aren't mistaken as to their registration address. So we'll find out in a couple (or a few) days as to whether 'Zuma Dogg' officially makes it on the ballot," he wrote. Solomon Wolfson, who used to run a blog that kept an eye on Mayor Villaraigosa, noted that "The absence of a high-profile mayoral contender will allow Zuma Dogg to attract far more media attention than would otherwise be possible." Media attention? Oh yes. more ›

A mortgage broker contacted police on Monday about a North Hollywood house that was about to revert back to the bank at midnight. That broker's hunch that something was amiss was right: officers found the body of an unidentifiable person in age and gender, possibly mummified over the last year, according to the Daily News. Now identified as an elderly woman and suspected to be Barbara Hunt, who would be 86 years old, police are seeking the cause of death. The woman's son, Robert Hunt, lived with her and was there when police discovered the body, but he was not arrested. Rather, the case was forwarded to elderly abuse investigators. Trash on the property had not been thrown out for 30 years. more ›

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster--one that has been called the "Hiroshima of the chemical industry" and that took place in Bhopal, India. more ›

The Oscar winning director fled to France, who does not extradite anyone for any reason, 30 years ago after admittedly having sex with a 13-year-old at Jack Nicholson's house. So he chose: jail for France? But now he wants to be back stateside as a free man, the LA Times finds: "Lawyers for Polanski, a French citizen, cited misconduct by prosecutors and a judge in papers filed in L.A. County Superior Court today. The attorneys said that a recent HBO documentary about the case, 'Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,' 'revealed a pattern of misconduct and improper communications between the Superior Court and the district attorney’s office in violation of the rule of law and without the knowledge' of the director and his defense." more ›

Bound to happen, right? Nevertheless, it's pretty funny. more ›

Although he's not well known internationally, Los Angeles congressman Xavier Becerra is rumored to be President-Elect Barack Obama's choice for the U.S. trade representative. If said rumor is true and he takes it, he would be "responsible for negotiating trade deals and overseeing trade policy," says the Associated Press. more ›

When the going gets tough.... Tom Farber, a teacher at a suburban San Diego school, has sold out his ad inventory for the year. That's pretty good in this economy. more ›

How's this for timely? GLAZA, the friends-of group to the LA Zoo, announced late last night that they'll pay the $1.2 million annual debt service for the exhibit. Basically, that relieves the city's general fund of this debt and will allow construction to continue, they say. This comes right before the City Council will sit down today and possibly vote on the fate of the controversial elephant exhibit. more ›

Indiana Pacers defeat LA Lakers 118-117. The Lakers outscored the Pacers in the first three quarters. They led by 16 points a minute into the fourth quarter. Then the Pacers went on a scoring run that was capped off by a Troy Murphy put-back off of a miss right before the buzzer went off in the fourth that gave the Pacers the one-point victory. Despite being 7-10 the Pacers also handed the Celtics a 16-point defeat in their second game of the season. The Lakers meanwhile suffer only their second loss of the season and face Philadelphia tonight. more ›

more ›

After we learn that music booked by The Fold at Tangier is going on hiatus as possible new owners buy the well-known Los Feliz bar/restaurant, we are also hearing that The Malibu Inn has new owners, which is apparently affecting the music venue. Butch Walker posts this bulletin (not linkable) on MySpace: more ›

Long Beach Councilmember Suja Lowenthal and the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency celebrated today over the removal of this blight along one of the City's main corridors. more ›

The new GRAMMY Museum, set to open on Saturday in downtown's $ 2.5 billion LA Live complex, is not necessarily about history, even though you'll find those elements. Rather, it looks at the now and the creative process of music. Think along the lines of engagement and interactivity. more ›

Trojan protection comes in many forms. Now legally tipped: "College colors are now slightly more protected by trademark law: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Louisiana State, Ohio State, Southern Cal [that's douchebag sports announcer speak for USC], and the University of Oklahoma in a case involving T-shirts that used the colors but not the names or logos of major college football programs," US News' Paper Trail blog says via Inside Higher Ed. "The four schools sued Smack Apparel Co. over concerns that its designs could be mistaken for university-sanctioned merchandise." more ›

Yesterday, the LA City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee voted 3 to 2, recommending construction to halt on the LA Zoo's $42-million elephant exhibit. Originally given the go-ahead in 2006, Councilmember Tony Cardenas recently brought the issue back up saying that Billy, the lone zoo elephant, has pathological problems and that a city-owned elephant sanctuary would better suit him and any future elephants. The issue became heated with some of the largest crowds showing up to City Council meetings in recent memory. Yesterday's vote does not mean construction will stop, but is a heavy recommendation for when the full council votes on it. Those who support the exhibit going forward say USDA guidelines for sanctuaries are much less strict than those for zoos. The City's financial wing says stopping the exhibit after spending nearly $10 million also isn't such a good idea. more ›

For fun, we're taking bets in the comment section on which day gas prices will swing upward (day 100? day 94? day 84?). Today, the price of a gallon of regular gas in Los Angeles/Long Beach is $1.961, nearly three cents lower than yesterday, according to AAA. Nationally, the average sits at $1.812 and is $1.940 statewide. We're going with day 101--in honor of the freeway--as our bet for the day gas prices will turn around. You? more ›

We're continuing to hear that the restaurant/bar/music concert space that is Tangier in Los Feliz is having some financial troubles and may be going out of business. Whether that is true or not, what we do know is that it is currently in escrow and if that goes through, it remains to be seen what the news owners do with the place. more ›

This trio of planets were seen from around the world last night. And hopefully you saw it too because it won't be happening until 2052 (though, on New Year's Eve, Venus and the moon will be in view). This conjunction of planets have been seen in our skies since Thanksgiving night, but last night was when they appeared closest together. more ›

Two San Francisco lawmakers from the Assembly and Senate are planning to introduce resolutions supporting the repeal of Proposition 8. "Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, will introduce measures specify that Prop 8 is an improper revision of the California Constitution. Significant revisions to the Constitution mandate distinct procedures and require a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature before going to voters," says Equality California, the organization that is sponsoring the bills. Proposition 8, which sought to ban gay marriage in California, won in the November election, prompting protests and a state supreme court case that will likely be heard starting in March. It seems the battle over Prop 8 is being fought at every level possible. more ›

more ›

National Forests began in 1891 at the hands of Congress as a way to protect the land from cut-and-run logging. Today the system covers 190 million acres in 155 National Forests, but surveys are finding a decline in visits and use. more ›

Mayor Villaraigosa said he and President-Elect Barack Obama had a "conversation" in mid-November about joining the administration, but said he wanted to stay in Los Angeles and focus on his reelection campaign and other city issues. "I'm honored and flattered to have been considered for an appointment in the Obama administration," Villaraigosa told The LA Times. "I made it clear I love what I do. And I feel that at this moment in my life, this is the job in which I can best serve my city and country." It has been widely speculated that Villaraigosa will run for Governor, but he denies that rumor as well. more ›

The Westside, especially areas like Padific Palisades, is not that dangerous. Let's just call it property crime/non-violent land. The LAPD now has a plan that will move 26 officers from the West Los Angeles Division to other areas of higher crime in a reorganization of patrol areas because two new stations are opening--one in Koreatown and another in the West Valley. more ›

It's Black Friday. You're shopping at Toys R' Us in suburban Palm Desert. You hear two women start to fight over something and roll your eyes. Then... "he's got a gun!" Boom, boom, boom! Two men are running at each other shooting. Chaos erupts and you call 911: more ›

Good news for LAX: "The Marine layer has lifted across the L.A. County Coastal Communities and as a result, visibilities have improved over the coast," reported the National Weather Service shortly before 1:30 a.m. this morning. Last night's fog diverted one plane yesterday morning to Ontario Airport with passengers sitting on board for around nine hours. more ›

USC Trojans defeat USF Dons 74-69. Things are a little bleak for the Trojans. The Dons excellent three-point shooting kept them in the game. Actually it was what helped them build a 12 point lead in the first half. But the Trojans went on an 18-5 spurt to take a one point lead at the half. In the second half the Trojans kept the Dons in the game until a 21-15 run by the Trojans let the escape Galen Center with a victory. Good news: the Trojans are undefeated at home. Bad news: they next face the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman. more ›

more ›

Jazz pianist John Osnes, 55, was walking across the street last week on November 23rd when an SUV driven by 34-year-old David Jassy crossed/edged/drifted into crosswalk as it came to a stop. Osnes, known as a "stickler for pedestrian rights," struck the vehicle with his hands, prompting Jassy to exit his vehicle and punch him, knocking Osnes' glasses off. As he went to pick them up, Jassy kicked him in the head. more ›

Yes, the average price of a gallon or regular gas is now less than two bucks at $1.987 in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area. Statewide, it's $1.96 with San Francisco leading the state' highest prices at $2.073, according to AAA. more ›

Although it was predicted to win the day after the election, Measure R, the half-cent tax increase that is expected to raise $30 to $40 billion over the next 30 years for transit projects, finally passed today with 100% of the votes tallied. more ›

It's all in an effort to get a good night's rest in the Valley. The Daily News sums the aviation battle up nicely: "Burbank eventually wants to send 32 flights a day to Van Nuys to ease congestion. Van Nuys officials don't want any of Burbank's air traffic, but they want to divert their noisiest aircraft to Burbank and other airports." Both airports ultimately would like to cut nighttime flights except for emergencies, but that's up to the FAA to impose a curfew. And to make it through their process could take up to months or years. And well... Burbank is ahead in their application process with the feds. more ›

$11.2 billion or $28 billion? Neither are good numbers when it comes to California's deficit, but that's the reality--our current budget shortfall is projected to be $11.2 billion and that could reach $28 billion in the next 18 months. more ›

Residents, businesses and government have all lowered their water use over the past year, but the industrial sector has increased use by 22%, says the Mayor's Office today. Here's out the reduction breaks down citywide in Los Angeles: more ›

The LAPD's Animal Cruelty Task Force--a group formed three years ago--announced today a successful break up of a profitable dog fighting ring in South LA. Since February 2007, detectives have looked into the location on the 600 block of West 85th Street where they say they found "mistreated dogs living in horrendous conditions at the residence" along with "equipment used in the training, breeding and exercising of the animals." 17 dogs in all were rescued and two men have already been arrested, tried and convicted. more ›

Soccer is sometimes characterized as a cruel sport, not because it is a violent sport, but instead, its cruelty in its administration of justice on the field. It is perhaps the most democratic of team sports, where on any given day, the highest ranked team in the World could lose to the lowest ranked one, and conversely, the most dominant team on the field doesn't always win. It is highly unforgiving of mistakes, perhaps more so than any other team sport. In many ways, it is this unknown that excites spectators, causing great excitement when the forces of the soccer world behave as they should as much as when they don't, especially in championship games. more ›

Brenda Scott Royce, director of publications for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, sounded off this weekend at Huffington Post about all the elephant talk going on these days. Animal activists and Councilman Tony Cardenas want the exhibit currently under construction to halt work and have a search a large expansive elephant sanctuary. Royce, along with others, believe the exhibit is just fine. Their point of view has not gotten as much press, so here's some of it. more ›

53 years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. That single act--that led to her arrest and the Montgomery Bus Boycott--made her a symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Here in Los Angeles, the Blue Line Imperial/Wilmington Metro Rail station was dedicated to her in 1998, but today the public transit agency took it a step further, they announced: "It wasn't a bus that started it but a bus was certainly the setting, so it is fitting, then, that Metro Board has declared today--the date Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white male passenger--Rosa Parks Human Rights Day. " more ›

The group that can officially call when we're in a recession has done so. The Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research "determined that a peak in economic activity occurred in the U.S. economy in December 2007. The peak marks the end of the expansion that began in November 2001 and the beginning of a recession," says the Wall Street Journal who explains that a "recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in production, employment, real income, and other indicators. A recession begins when the economy reaches a peak of activity and ends when the economy reaches its trough. Between trough and peak, the economy is in an expansion." (h/t LABO) more ›

Since Thanksgiving night, Jupiter and Venus have been in our skies for our viewing pleasure. Tonight will be the "most attractive," says Anthony Cook of the Griffith Observatory Sky Report. The two planets will appear close together--about the width of your finger when you stretch your arm out--with the moon 4 degrees--or about two finger widths--to the upper right. The planets will set around 7:40 p.m. more ›

It's hard to believe, but December 1, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Today we come together as friends and family, as a city, as a state, as a country, and (most importantly) as a global community to educate and inform on the world AIDS epidemic. While others will (and should) debate the politics of this crisis, we here at the ScientIST feel it’s our duty to share some basic Health 101 behind the virus, transmission, and prevention. We turn to the experts at the Center for Disease Control for the latest in on-going research. more ›

As of two minutes before 9 a.m., "passengers on a flight from El Salvador have been waiting on a Southern California regional airport's tarmac since about midnight after their plane was diverted from Los Angeles International Airport because of heavy fog," according to the Associated Press. The original crew is now over their maximum hours they can fly so a new crew is taking over. more ›

Jason Bentley began his journey at KCRW 89.9 FM in 1988 as a volunteer. Today he takes the helm with the one of the most important jobs at the radio station: Music Director. He succeeds Nic Hartcourt who announced that he was stepping down earlier this month. That means Bentley leaves his weeknight show, Metropolis, for the popular Morning Becomes Eclectic, which airs this morning at 9 a.m. We shot over a handful questions, thanks to LAist staff and readers, to ask him about the changes, local bands and more. more ›

more ›