News

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a kitty is rescued, Newport Beach floods, fighting about porn spills over into Florida, and a hangover from "The Hangover." Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

L.A. has a(n unfair) reputation for being superficial, but even here, a t-shirt that reads "I'm Too Pretty For Homework" wouldn't fly. The full text of the shirt, made by JC Penney, was "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me." It was marketed to 7-16 year old girls and was made, ironically, by a company called Self Esteem, reports KTLA. more ›

Funeral services were held today in a La Habra church for Noe Medina Jr., the 7-month-old baby whose mother is accused of dropping him from an Orange County parking garage, reports CBS News. The boy fell from the garage on August, and later died despite doctors' efforts to keep him alive. His mother, 31-year-old Sonia Hermosillo, is being charged with murder and assault. more ›

Carl's Jr, the Southern California burger chain known for their heavy marketing to the douchebag demographic, has agreed to change several ads that customers have complained are deliberately misleading, reports the OC Register. The ads are for a 2 for $5 burger deal. In two of the ads, the voiceover says, "Unlike the debt crisis, your appetite is something we can fix." The deal applies to the Western Bacon Cheeseburger -- but instead of showing that burger in the ads, the company used an image of the bigger, juicier Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger. more ›

Historical transportation maps of Los Angeles are always intriguing to study, even if they cause eyes to cross and vision to blur. A high resolution scan from the David Rumsey Map Collection reveals intricate details of L.A.'s 1928 transit system pre-freeways. more ›

Three suspects have finally been arrested for the murder of Kashmier James, a 25-year-old mother who was gunned down on Christmas Night in 2010. more ›

L.A. City Nerd is busy crowdsourcing a list of the "100 most important people in & to Los Angeles in 2011." They reached out on Sunday via Facebook asking for public input. more ›

A mountain lion kitten striking out on his own was killed Tuesday morning, while trying to cross the 405 just south of the Getty Center. The National Park Service has been following the movement of this mountain lion born in the Santa Monica Mountains in May 2010 and equipped with a GPS collar. They named him "P-18." more ›

Well known food writer Adam Roberts is packing his bags and heading west. Announcing his NYC departure today on his blog, The Amateur Gourmet, Roberts says he's going to miss the Big Apple but is excited for the City of Angels. more ›

A doctor in Loma Linda has been charged with sexually assaulting two of his patients during exams — and detectives believe there may be more victims. The charges started with one complaint against the doctor Ramon Fawzi Fakhoury, 35, of Norco, reports The San Bernardino Sun. A 32-year-old woman claims that she was sexually assaulted in July during a medical exam, when she went into an urgent care center complaining of chest pain. more ›

Shoppers, your 6-month grace period is over: Tomorrow begins a life of BYOBag for shoppers in Santa Monica, as the city's Single-Use Carryout Bag Ban goes into full enforcement September 1. Under the ban, all 1,900 Santa Monica retailers are prohibited from giving customers single-use plastic carryout bags. more ›

Glendale Police Officer Eric Ritter has taken a plea deal for his role in an October 2010 road rage incident in which he fought with a fellow motorist while off-duty. As part of the deal, explains the Burbank Leader, Ritter must enroll in an anger management program. more ›

Sometimes the wilderness is better experienced in your backyard, or, say, MOCA's Grand Avenue Lodge. The campfire program "explores the full spectrum of habitation options" in DTLA, per MOCA. more ›

Now that he could be facing charges, the fisherman who reeled in a great white shark off the coast of Huntington Beach has to do something no fisherman wants to do: downplay his catch. The fisherman, Michael Castillo, is now saying that he had no idea that he was reeling in a protected species. "I was nervous, excited," Castillo told NBC Los Angeles. "I didn't know what was at the end of the hook." more ›

Downtown L.A. bicyclists rejoice. You may finally enjoy the luxury necessity of bike lanes. Painted only on 7th Street, the lanes reach "through City West and MacArthur Park to Catalina Street, where 7th is interrupted by the site of the former Ambassador Hotel," according to Blogdowntown. more ›

One day away from the start of the college football season and iniquities of powerhouse programs dominate the headlines. more ›

U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call around 9:45 on Tuesday night from the Midnight Star, a 61-foot fishing vessel. The boat sank in 90 feet of water and left six people in the chilly Pacific. more ›

A carjacking victim hung on for dear life as he tried to stop two men who hijacked and then crashed his car in Hollywood last night. The two men asked the victim David Christopher Duncan, if he could help them find the keys in their van around 1 a.m. in Hollywood last night, according to CBS Los Angeles. Duncan offered to help and grabbed a flashlight for them, when he heard his car engine being revved up and realized that he had been conned. more ›

Effective today at 5pm, sets of 7-11 foot waves will crash onto south-facing beaches from L.A. to San Luis Obispo County. The high surf advisory, issued by the National Weather Service, is expected to last until 5pm on Friday. more ›

Got $10k burning a hole in your pocket? You might be interested in blowing it all in one place by spending it on the opportunity to have your photo taken with President Barack Obama, who is coming back to Los Angeles later next month for a pair of high profile fundraisers. more ›

Charges were filed yesterday against an 18-year-old reputed gang member in the shooting death of Juan David Vasquez Loma, a 25-year-old restaurant worker gunned down behind the wheel in Silver Lake earlier this month. more ›

Sloane Briles, the father who allegedly tossed his 7-year-old son overboard during a boat tour in Newport Harbor last weekend, has finally agreed to explain his actions to the media. more ›

A man with a message scaled the KTLA Channel 5 tower on Tuesday night. He climbed until he reached the "A," which is about 100 feet from the ground. LAPD was summoned around 8:15pm and, along with LA City Fire, talked the reluctant man to descend more ›

There were a couple of lessons to be had in the Dodgers’ 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres: always take outs when they are given to you, and it’s never over until the 27th out is secured. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got Jerry Brown talking taxes and STDs, one helluva DWTS lineup, beach trash art and more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Who's catering to the eco-conscious consumers who refrain from whipping out their plastic rectangles at the mention of any on-sale product? As of August 1, 2011, Los Angeles-based SaveGreenNow is. more ›

Burbank residents, you have been warned (by Burbank police). Keep your eyes and ears open for mountain lions prowling your 'hood. One of the large felines was spotted near the Oakmont County Club in the 900 block of Country Club Drive around 9pm on Monday night, reports myFOXla. more ›

Among the multitude of flights cancelled on account of Hurricane Irene, one unique airlift has kept sixteen chihuahuas in much suspense. The rejected canines were slated to be flown via Virgin America from San Francisco to New York on Tuesday to join their new, open-armed east coast families. more ›

It seemed like things couldn't get going fast enough earlier this year when the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) was trying to sell Los Angeles leaders and residents on building another sports stadium at their Downtown L.A. Live campus. They gave it a name, and Angelenos the hardsell, and the hunt for an NFL team to call it home continued. more ›

Word on the street, via a plaid 1971 Volkswagen van dubbed Lucy, is that Sir Richard's condoms are the world's finest. The Boulder-based company has developed the first buy-one-give-one condom model. more ›

Federal investigators have begun a probe into Monday's small plane crash that found a single-engine Cessna smashing into a home in Santa Monica. Santa Monica Airport Director Robert Trimborn told the Santa Monica Mirror that the pilot was headed back to the Santa Monica Airport after taking off on a solo flight to Santa Barbara. more ›

The investigation of Kelly Thomas' death continues, and the Orange County District Attorney is reportedly halfway through his probe, according to CBS LA. Thomas, 37-years-old, was brutally beaten to death in early July by six Fullerton police officers. more ›

A warning to all those for whom the temptation to let their fingers do the talking while driving is impossible to resist: If Governor Jerry Brown signs SB 28 into law, failing to go hands free while you're at the wheel could soon cost you more than twice as much in fines. Bonus: The bill extends the ban on illegal cellphone use while you're in charge of two wheels. more ›

A couple driving through Arcadia was arrested yesterday after they were seen tossing bags of meth out their car window, reports the Pasadena Star-News. Christopher Meza, 22, and Laura Pienda, 21 were pulled over near 5th Avenue and Genoa Street after an officer heard "loud fighting" coming from the car. With two children, ages one and two, in the car with them, the pair then proceeded to throw the baggies out the window in view of the cop. more ›

Working at a BMW dealership must be trying. The urge to slide behind the wheels of such fine specimens of German engineering has to be a daily temptation. And for one employee of Pacific BMW in Glendale, the seduction of a shiny new 1-Series M Coupe proved overwhelming. more ›

Throwing rocks at cars has never been a good idea, but for one San Diego kid, the dangerous pastime almost turned deadly: a passing motorist decided that what the boy was doing was so uncool, it warranted being shot with a crossbow. The boy, whose name and age haven't been released, was tossing rocks at passing vehicles on Monday outside his home in Loma Vista with a friend, reports the San Diego Union Tribue. more ›

A wildly bizarre shoplifting episode occurred Monday afternoon at Discount Citi in Lancaster. When the store's manager, Jackie Huwey, caught a woman trying to steal a bag of men's jeans, she locked the culprit inside the store. more ›

Three Los Angeles men ages 32, 45 and 50 have gone missing in the Angeles National Forest. The men embarked on a hike in the Devil's Canyon-Mt. Waterman area of the San Gabriel Mountains around 9am on Sunday and planned to return by 5pm or 6pm that day, according to L.A. Now. more ›

Huntington Beach's Ocean View Little League team has brought joy upon their town, returning home last night after beating Japan in the Little League World Championships in Pennsylvania on Sunday. Upon their arrival, the team -- which consists of boys between the ages of 11 and 13 -- were greeted by family, friends and fans, reports ABC 7. The kids expressed their excitement over the turnout. more ›

Javaris Crittenton - former LA Lakers guard - was arrested at John Wayne Airport on Monday night around 8pm while attempting to board a flight to Atlanta, Georgia. The former NBA player is the prime suspect in the murder of a 22-year-old Atlanta woman. more ›

Armed with a two-run homer and a double, James Loney’s resurgence continued as he helped the Dodgers defeat the San Diego Padres 4-1. “James, love it,” Manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s been swinging the bat good there.” more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, big news about the AFI Fest, there may be a new downtown hotel, Michael Jackson's kids step out, and LAUSD debuts a new menu. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

As the dust has started to settle on the Andre Ethier Fallout II, the organization has been very tight-lipped. I tried to talk with head trainer Stan Conte to get the specifics of Ethier’s knee injury. Usually very forthcoming about players’ injuries, Conte told me, “I don’t know if I can say much about Ethier.” more ›

A plane crashed into a home in Santa Monica earlier this afternoon, moderately injuring the pilot but not harming anyone on the ground, reports ABC News. The crash took place at about 3:00 p.m., near the intersection of 21st Street and Dewey Street. The Cessna 172 was attempting to land at the Santa Monica Airport when it began to falter, hitting several trees and a cinder block wall before landing on the garage of the home. more ›

The Hells Angels are all over the news these days. First, they sued a Silver Lake clothing company for its quaint repurposing of their name, and now four members of the gang's San Diego chapter are being sought by law enforcement for their involvement in beatings that took place in 2007 and 2010 . The LA Times reports that the four men -- David Dabbs, 41; Dustin Harroun, 30; Stephen Sanders, 42, and Troy Scholder, 30 -- took part in assaults on a club member and a club associate in El Cajon. more ›

In an effort to foster perfect attendance rates, schools across the nation are bribing students with fancy rewards like cars and iPods. California's Santa Ana Unified School District has been practicing this method and achieved positive results. more ›

City Controller Wendy Greuel isn't missing an opportunity to take a critical look at Los Angeles' emergency response plans after Hurricane Irene took most of the East Coast out of commission this weekend. She has announced an audit of L.A.'s current emergency disaster preparedness plans. more ›

On the heels of LA's big porn convention, Exxxotica LA, comes the news that a porn performer has tested positive for HIV and production of adult films has temporarily been halted, reports NBC LA. The performer, whose name hasn't been released, reportedly took the test out of state and at a clinic that doesn't notify his or her partners of the test results. Free Speech Coalition, a trade coalition for the adult industry, learned about the results on Saturday and began notifying production companies. more ›

Documents filed in court reveal the approach defense attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray, accused of administering a fatal dose of a surgical anesthetic to pop legend Michael Jackson, will take in the trial. The tactic is to paint Jackson as a "desperate drug addict," says the L.A. Times, and to indicate the music icon was always "on the hunt" for his next fix of propofol. more ›

The Dutch are coming! And they're coming to help. The Netherlands boasts a successful bicycle network throughout the entire country. If you've visited Amsterdam and can remember your trip, you will agree that they've mastered the art of both transportation and recreational cycling. more ›

During a routine pat-down at LAX last Wednesday, August 24, TSA agents discovered two unlikely passengers - bright yellow birds - stuffed in socks and taped to the arm and leg of a female China-bound traveler, reports L.A. Now. more ›

Investigators arrived at the scene around 4:40am to find that a blue and white 1984 Chevrolet van had crashed into the front doors of the business. The van was reported stolen from Bellflower on Saturday evening, and deputies quickly ruled that the vehicle was used as a battering ram for an attempted firearms and ammunition burglary. more ›

There are thousands of stories to tell in Los Angeles, but sometimes a picture says so much more. Thanks to our LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr, here are 7 moments worth taking a second look at in our 7 Reasons to Love L.A. series. more ›

A car crash on Sunday night leaves a Garden Grove police sergeant injured and a 23-year-old Los Angeles man accused of driving under the influence (DUI). The driver was traveling east on Trask Avenue around 9:35pm in a small four-door sedan and slammed into an unmarked police car heading south on Euclid Avenue, according to The OC Register. more ›

An argument led to a scary instance of kid overboard on a tour boat in Newport Harbor. 35-year-old Sloane Briles was possibly drunk, and fighting with his girlfriend while aboard the boat with his two sons, ages 7 and 6, from a previous relationship, reports the OC Register. more ›

Authorities are on the hunt for former Los Angeles Lakers player Javaris Crittenton, and believe he is responsible for the fatal shooting of a mother of four in Atlanta this month. The shooting is perhaps a case of mistaken identity, says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. more ›

Los Angeles Metro bus riders experienced a surprise stop on Sunday afternoon while rolling along Wilshire Boulevard near Linden Drive. The bus rear-ended a double-decker CitySights LA tour bus. Luckily, the tour bus was empty. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department believe they have a suspect in custody for the fatal "road rage" shooting that claimed the life of Juan David Vasquez Loma, a young man who was driving co-workers home from one of his two area restaurant jobs. more ›

With this afternoon’s 7-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies in front of an announced 38,503, the Los Angeles Dodgers saw a five game winning streak come to an end as, unlike yesterday, this afternoon’s efforts to come from behind fell short. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, the hazards of graffiti haunt one young tagger, things go awry on the streets of Beverly Hills, the Dodgers get good news, and so do the puppies of Santa Cruz. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

James Farkus Cohan has sued so many small businesses in Los Angeles for violating disability laws that a bunch of them decided to get together at one of the businesses being sued, The Blue Room. They had a viewing party and watched some of the footage shot by a crew at ABC 7 showing Cohan going for a hike. more ›

Check out links from the other corners of the -ists universe, including a banner week for Mother Nature in DC, a contentious debate over Fresno and Mayor Rahm Emanuel takes the train to work. more ›

A man driving through Watts was killed this morning after being shot in the head by an unknown sniper armed with a rifle. Police say they do not know where the shot came from. more ›

A narcotics wiretap might have caught the voice of a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Captain, reports the Los Angeles Times. Bernice Adams, who is in charge of the sheriff's Carson station, has been on leave from the sheriff's department from April, but the paper was only able to confirm with anonymous sources in today's paper that Adams has been on leave since her voice is suspected of being on a wiretap. more ›

An Orange County man has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing his 20-year-old girlfriend, reports CBS News. 20-year-old Samuel Montes was arrested Saturday after authorities learned that he had been at the scene of Nicole Gutierrez's death but then fled. He was taken into custody on suspicion of Gutierrez' murder and is being held on $1 million bail. more ›

Over here on the Best Coast, we think we have natural disaster reporting locked down, what with fire season, mudslide season and occasionally disastrous quakes. But reporters on the east coast are showing us up this week. Take WTTG-TV reporter Tucker Barnes, who gave live updates on Hurricane Irene yesterday from the boardwalk Ocean City, Maryland, while covered in some mysterious, disgusting, probably poisonous foam. more ›

Last night, a couple from Valencia was struck by a van on an evening ride through Lancaster organized by a local bike shop. The couple came into harm's way, according to the Los Angeles Times, while they were on a bike ride with about 20 other people. more ›

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "like" button, put your two cents' worth in the comments, and share it with your friends. These were the 7 most popular posts on LAist this week. more ›

Huntington Beach's Ocean View Little League All-Stars team is tearing up the world of children's baseball. After beating Montana-Billings Big Sky in an 11-2 victory yesterday, they're now headed to the Little League World Series Championship, reports NBC LA. Yesterday's game was a comeback from earlier in the week: "OVLL avenged a 1-0 extra-inning loss to Billings on Wednesday with power from the plate and a dominating pitching performance from starter Nick Pratto." more ›

Two Hispanic men were found shot dead in Whittier early this morning, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Officials responded to a call at around 3:10 a.m. and headed to the 11800 Block of Painter Avenue. There, they found the victims, who were both pronounced dead at the scene. Officials responded to a call at around 3:10 a.m. and headed to the 11800 Block of Painter Avenue. There, they found the victims, who were both pronounced dead at the scene. more ›

We may be 3,000 miles away from the apocalyptic events that are bombarding the Northeast (now some experts thing that in addition to earthquakes and hurricanes, tornadoes may make their way through the area), but we're not wholly unaffected: most flights heading east have been cancelled because of Hurricane Irene, reports CBS News. Air traffic control has been suspended as of 10:00 p.m. GMT last night at five airports in the New York area, including JFK and LaGuardia, and Logan International Airport in Boston is reporting numerous cancellations. more ›

Police are searching for the driver of a white four-door sedan that struck and killed a pedestrian at the intersection of Saticoy Street and Atoll Avenue in North Hollywood this morning, reports ABC 7. The incident happened at about 1:30 a.m. The victim was walking across the street when he was struck by the car, and was pronounced dead when authorities arrived at the scene. more ›

Since Don Mattingly tinkered with the batting order on Monday in St. Louis, the Dodgers have averaged 7 ½ runs in those four games. Mattingly said the focus of the changes was Matt Kemp. “It was really more with Matt getting him an extra at-bat,” Mattingly said. “We talked about it. Matt’s a three-hole guy: he hits for power, he hits for average.” more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got some earthquakes, dead birds, meaty lip gloss, and a few more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

A lottery ticket was used as a lure for armed robbers to secure a victim Friday in Simi Valley, and an elderly woman fell prey to the scheme. A 79-year-old woman was approached by two suspects asking for help with what they said was a winning lottery ticket. more ›

Jeffrey Stenroos, the LAUSD police officer charged with faking his own shooting, created the elaborate hoax to look like a hero, prosecutors said in their opening statement yesterday. On the opening day of the non-jury trial against Stenroos, prosecutors painted the former school cop as a serial liar, who was hoping to make a buck by staging the hoax. more ›

Jasper Stallings, now 29, perpetrated a string of serious felonies all on May 13, 2009, and now, as part of a no contest plea deal, he will spend the next 127 years to life behind bars, say L.A. County officials. more ›

The global news cycle and media saturation means we might be scalding our tushies here in L.A. but we aren't immune from non-stop coverage of Hurricane Irene as she unleashes her winds and rains up the nation's Eastern Seaboard. And what every great live hurricane update on the Weather Channel isn't more cowbell, but perhaps more (or less) streaking dudes. more ›

83-year-old Marie Kolstad from Orange County has that "age ain't nothing but a number" attitude when it comes to her recent breast augmentation surgery, and the headlines she's made when her story went public this month. "I never dreamt that what I did was going to make such a big splash," the woman with 13 grandkids and 12 great-grandkids told a reporter from CBS2. more ›

There comes a time when every tourist — bandit or not — needs to pack up his tacky souvenir sweatshirts for good. The authorities finally caught up with our own tourist bandit, also known as Rex Lutton, 54, who was suspected of robbing banks in Venice and West Hollywood. Those sweatshirts and the kinda touristy locations of his crimes earned him the moniker. more ›

Two skydivers from the British Army were critically injured after colliding in the skies over Lake Elsinore last night. One of the skydivers suffered cardiac arrest and required CPR, as he was rushed to the hospital. The other skydiver also had serious injuries, according to the Associated Press. more ›

While the East Coast is dealing with Hurricane Irene and her winds and rains, we're going to spend our weekend sweltering in SoCal. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Los Angeles County, as a large ridge of high pressure is gifting us with super high temperatures and high humidity to boot. more ›

This is starting to become a regular thing: A fight Friday night on a Metro train has resulted in a stabbing and an arrest, says the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The incident took place at around 6:30 p.m. aboard a Metro Gold Line train headed northbound to the Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Prince Harry is coming to California, we're all getting fat, Chris Brown's neighbors complain and we learn why you shouldn't compare people to Hitler. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

The owner of O My Yogurt in Alhambra has been accused of knocking out his employee, removing her clothes, binding her with tape and stuffing her in a soundproof box in a storage room, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The victim was able to escape from her bondage and call the police on her boss and alleged attacker Robert Yachen Lee, 37, of Walnut. more ›

As part of a recently-launched campaign to get rider input about extending the current Green Line to the Los Angeles International Airport, Metro has put out a new video extolling the virtues of their plan to explore their options on the matter. more ›

This Sunday will be the last service at Crescent Heights United Methodist Church in West Hollywood before the congregation is dissolved. The official line from the local Methodist district is that the congregation was too small to sustain, but its pastor believes it's because his church is too gay and too liberal. more ›

Recently the Los Angeles Police Department announced a crackdown on drunk driving, with an intensified period of focus on getting drivers under the influence off the streets through the Labor Day long weekend. Several other regional law enforcement agencies are also similarly focused this weekend and next, as part of an ongoing campaign to educate drivers about the dangers of getting being the wheel while intoxicated. more ›

They're cute, and they seem almost downright cuddly, but sea lions can be vicious. An elderly couple out for a swim off Venice Beach Thursday evening found themselves the victims of an attack by a sea lion, reports KTLA. more ›

All this summer all that anyone could talk about was the 405 this, Carmageddon that. It was only a matter of time before some of the other freeways in Los Angeles got jealous of all the attention lavished on the 405. There are plenty of hellish commutes in Los Angeles — why should one freeway get all the attention? more ›

WTF case gets a little more WTF, if that is even imaginable: Eric P. Stickney, a man arrested Thursday for allegedly pleasuring himself while he peeked through a fence to watch a female toddler playing in a kiddie pool, may call a storage closet at an El Segundo hotel his home. more ›

Lawmakers have sent Governor Jerry Brown (and his corgi Sutter Brown) a bill that would require all cats and dogs that are adopted or reclaimed at shelters to be implanted with microchips. The pluses for owners are obvious: those microchips would help lost animals become reunited with their owners. And that will be good for shelters, too, which are often crowded with lost pets. more ›

When Tom Gregg went surfing off the coast of France in 2009, he wiped out. But the real bummer was that the fin on his Channel Islands surf board cut a deep gash on his right leg, severing his muscles and causing him permanent damage. Now Gregg is doing something unusual in the world of surfing: he's suing the board manufacturer. more ›

Oh, you didn't think we meant actual world peace, did you? We're talking about L.A. Lakers star Ron Artest, who is petitioning the court to change his name to the more mellifluous Metta World Peace. Alas, the big change has been postponed by at least three weeks. more ›

A man in El Monte has filed a suit against the city's police department, claiming that an officer who went to arrest him beat him until he was nearly blind. Cornelio Chavez, 35, suffered the beating in June while officers were arresting him on an outstanding warrant, The Pasadena Star-News reports. more ›

Four women pleaded guilty in court yesterday to jumping Banning's 2005 "Peach Queen" and slashing her face with box cutters. After the attack in 2008, the beauty queen Shanice Wilson was left with permanent scars that required plastic surgery, The Riverside Press-Enterprise said. more ›

Hurricane Irene is about to bear down on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S., and while we won't be feeling the effects of her fury here directly, for those in L.A. trying to head to the other side of the nation, serious travel disruptions are in the forecast. more ›

A confrontation between a "screaming man" and Los Angeles Police officers last night at a Wilmington hotel has left one officer stabbed and the suspect dead, according to L.A. Now. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a parolee gets loaded and steals a boat, Rodney G. King Jr. could be facing jail time, Canadian librarians are loaning out "living books" and downtown residents try to figure out where to park. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

If you ever have to save someone from a rip current, expert lifeguards say you should pretty much just do exactly what a 13-year-old boy in San Clemente did when he heard his friend's distressed cries yesterday. The boy sprung into action and went paddling after his friend. He offered his own bodyboard and began pushing back to shore. A lifeguard met the boys halfway. more ›

A teacher at a Lancaster probation camp has been placed on administrative leave while an alleged pantsing incident involving the teacher and a 15-year-old juvenile offender is under investigation, reports LA Daily News. more ›

An LAPD officer was shot at multiple times in South Los Angeles this afternoon while making a pedestrian stop, according to ABC 7. The shooting happened this afternoon in South Los Angeles around 2:45 p.m. near Western Avenue and W. 70th Street. more ›

A seven-hour police standoff in Hawthorne ended abruptly today, when authorities burst into the apartment where they thought their suspect was barricaded — only to discover that he wasn't there. Neighbors near Kornblum Avenue and 132nd Street told Fox LA that they saw officers with their guns pulled attempting to serve a search warrant around 4 a.m. this morning. more ›

California mental hospitals are becoming increasingly dangerous zones. During an Assembly committee hearing in Sacramento on Tuesday, safety issues at the Golden State's mental hospitals were examined. Accounts of "faulty alarm systems, daily assaults and an increasing number of patients with criminal histories" were testified to lawmakers, reports LA Times. more ›

At least six activists demanding an end to the Secure Communities immigration enforcement program were arrested on Wednesday, while staging a sit-in at the Edward R. Roybal federal building downtown. Outside there were nearly 200 supporters protesting outside of the federal building where immigrants are prepared for deportation. Some protestors blocked a ramp used by immigration buses, according to the Los Angeles Times. more ›

A man dubbed the "tourist bandit" is being sought by the FBI after robbing two Bank of American branches this week, reports KTLA 5. The robberies took place on Monday in West Hollywood, and on Wednesday in Venice. Each time, the bandit told tellers he had a gun and a bomb, although they weren't in view. more ›

The District Attorney is withholding the names of six Fullerton officers being investigated in the fatal beating of Kelly Thomas, citing a significant number of threats to the officers' safety. A spokesperson for the DA said it will release the officers' names when it decides to seek criminal charges. more ›

losing arguments are set to begin today in the case of Brandon McInerney, a 17-year-old Oxnard boy accused of shooting his classmate Larry King to death in 2008, reports ABC 7. The trial has generated a great deal of national attention and controversy, in large part because King was gay. more ›

Entertainment elephants are a hot topic this summer, drawing droves of animal rights advocates, notably PETA, to protest Fully Charged - Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's new show - and prompting the band Styx to protest elephant rides at the L.A. County Fair. Now Glendale City Council members are rethinking the circus elephant-centric float for Glendale's entry in 2012's Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. more ›

Yes, it's as nauseating as it sounds. Police in El Segundo are searching for a Peeping Tom, who was caught masturbating while he watched a little girl playing in a kiddie pool over the weekend. The little girl and her father didn't notice the man spying through the fence, but a witness caught him in the act and caught him on tape, The Daily Breeze reports. more ›

The mother who allegedly killed her baby boy by tossing him from the roof of a four-story parking structure at the Orange County Children's Hospital is being held in a solitary cell in the psychiatric ward of the Orange County jail. more ›

Apparently, motorcycle gangs don't like it when their names are appropriated to sell cutesy t-shirts to hipster girls. Weird, huh? But it's true. According to CBS News, the Hells Angels motorcycle gang is suing Silver Lake-based clothing company Wildfox Couture over a t-shirt made by the company that reads: "My Boyfriend's A Hells Angel." more ›

Southland temps are predicted to exceed 100 degrees today thanks to a monsoonal flow invading SoCal. Heat and humidity are on their merry ways. Community Cooling Centers have opened their frigid arms today to help Southlanders combat the heat. more ›

After being stung by what officials estimate to be thousands of bees, a 95-year-old man has been treated at the hospital and released, reports NBC Los Angeles. The Redondo Beach man, whose name hasn't been released, was apparently walking past an apartment building in the 1700 block of Ruxton Lane yesterday afternoon where fumigators were trying to remove the bees' hive from the roof. more ›

Flying American Airlines via LAX? Watch your step. Officials are currently investigating a jet bridge collapse that occurred on Wednesday evening around 6:50pm, injuring both the captain and a passenger of Flight 557. more ›

After a string of businesses had their windows smashed in San Pedro, one man has been arrested, according to a statement released by the LAPD this morning. Since mid-July, 16 businesses have had their windows smashed, mostly by BB pellets but at least one by a brick. The vandalism all took place between 7:00 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., along busy streets in the area. more ›

LA Dodgers defeat St. Louis Cardinals 9-4. “Where the hell was all of the run support earlier in the season you assholes?!” If I were Dodgers’ starter Hiroki Kuroda, that’s exactly what I would say to every position player. But of course Kuroda is a much nicer person than I, so I’m sure he’s just happy to be able to exhale a bit on the mound. Well as much as one can relax in the middle of the St. Louis 97-degree-plus-humidity weather summer day without melting one’s cleats. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, we bring news about a group of Beverly Hills Glenn Beck supporters, a peeping Tom in a tanning salon, Nancy Reagan's averted injury, and what teens are up to on Facebook. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

A group of fisherman on the Huntington Beach Pier who captured a great white shark and posted the graphic video on YouTube may also have reeled in something else they didn't expect: a misdemeanor charge. Authorities from the California Department of Fish and Game are investigating the great white shark's capture on Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. more ›

Two bodies found Monday evening in the Riverside County portion of Joshua Tree National Park have been identified today as being a couple visiting the U.S. from the Netherlands, according to the Huffington Post. 44-year old Agustinus (Guus) Van Hove, and his girlfriend, 38-year-old Helena Nuellett, were discovered within about a mile of each other inside the park. more ›

Brent Zubek, who is suspected of killing a couple in Chatsworth and putting their bodies in a trash bin has been charged with eight felonies, among them assault with a firearm on a peace officer, reports CBS News. Police began their hunt for Zubek earlier this month, and although officials found him at the time, he was not arrested as he was believed to be armed and dangerous. more ›

Steve Jobs announced his resignation as Apple's iconic CEO today. COO Tim Cook will take the reigns as the company's new CEO. Jobs has been on a leave of absence for an undisclosed condition since January 2011 and began his letter of resignation to the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community with the following explanation, reports Wall Street Journal. more ›

Registered sex offenders won't be able to find a date on Match.com, thanks to a settlement with a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a convicted sex offender while she was using the site. The colossal dating service has agreed to conduct background checks to weed out sex offenders that try to use the site, despite previous concerns that such a policy would not be foolproof and may provide a false sense of security. more ›

On Friday, Senator Kevin de León plans to get the Senate Select Committee on Sports and Entertainment together in downtown's state building on Friday for a hearing about the proposed football arena at L.A. Live. The stadium is tentatively called Farmers Field, and a funding proposal from developer AEG recently passed muster from the L.A. City Council. more ›

While cigarette smoking declines dramatically in California, another method of puffing is on the rise, especially among young adults - hookah use. A study by the American Journal of Public Health released last week states that between 2005 and 2008, hookah use by California adults spiked to more than 40%. more ›

Aaron Brothers has caved in to pressure from City Hall and canceled its "urban art" events in Los Angeles County. The company was planning on showcasing the work of professional street artists at live events. It was also going to offer free "graffiti starter kits" to attendees (that really just had snazzy-looking markers and paper and no spray paint whatsoever). more ›

It's all in the numbers, but sometimes the numbers fail to be factual. L.A. Eco-Village blogged a lengthy post today that corrects bikeway mileage numbers reported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). more ›

Rent checks have been going up eleven months in a row in Southern California, The Orange County Register reports. In July, rents rose at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the Southland, continuing a steady rise since they took a dip in 2010. But it might too soon to start ask Jimmy McMillan to open a West Coast branch of The Rent Is Too Damn High Party. more ›

The 7-month-old baby boy allegedly tossed by his mother from the fourth story of an Orange County parking structure has died. Noe Medina, Jr. had been on life support, and medical officials had cautioned he might not make it through due to the extent of his injuries. more ›

One Studio City woman is sick of your lost kitty posters cluttering her neighborhood, and she's not going to take it anymore. Resident Marilyn White-Sedel has been waging a one-woman campaign to tear down lost pet and garage sale signs that clutter her neighborhood. Now she's asking for the community's help, Studio City Patch reports. more ›

West Hollywood has formally gone on record in support of a pending federal bill that could force regulation of helicopters flying over residential areas in Los Angeles. The West Hollywood City Council adopted a resolution in support of HR 2677, the Los Angeles Residential Noise Relief Act of 2011. more ›

A cyclist was killed last night, after being hit by what witnesses describe as a black BMW at an intersection near Compton, CBS LA reports. The cyclist Enrique Lemus-Bautista, 50, was riding his bike northbound on Avalon Boulevard, when he was hit by the BMW heading west on Redondo Beach Boulevard just after 9 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. more ›

Police say they have arrested a Hawthorne man who pepper sprayed his kids when they tried to stop him from choking his wife, The Daily Breeze reports. The man Lakepa Tahi Fifita, 45, began choking his wife after they had an argument about finances. When his children asked him to stop, he asked one of them to fetch him a can of pepper spray, which he then turned on them. more ›

Remember that time (or those numerous times) when you sat helplessly in a plane on an LAX runway for hours, breathing in stagnant air, listening to the sighs and mutters of disgruntled travelers? Well, a new airline passenger bill of rights took effect on Tuesday that should help prevent long lags on the tarmac. more ›

This year the federal government is on track to crack down on nearly twice as many health care fraud cases compared to last year, according to California Watch. Some of the prosecutions close to home used parishioners, postal workers and non-existent cancer patients to conduct their scams. more ›

Angelenos are infamous for their failure to come to a complete stop at stop signs, often practicing the lazy California roll. The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is well-aware of L.A.'s poor driving habits and has taken measures in three Santa Monica Mountains parks to put a stop to vehicles. more ›

Sonia Hermosillo, the La Habra mother accused of throwing her infant son from a parking garage, couldn't accept her son's disability, her husband told The Orange County Register. "She didn't look at our son as normal," Hermosillo's husband Noe Medina said. "She didn't accept him. She didn't accept that he was like this." more ›

Early Wednesday morning a big rig veered off the Pomona (60) Freeway and collided into a Caltrans building. California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported zero injuries and just a tinge of irony. more ›

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies have announced they made an arrest last night in the fatal stabbing of a 59-year-old North Hollywood man aboard a Red Line subway train in Hollywood. 33-year-old Gene Sim, described by the LASD in a news release as "a transient" was found in Buena Park and taken into custody without incident. more ›

Craig Ferguson, CBS's late, late night funny man, received a not so funny letter on Tuesday. The "threatening letter with white powder" sparked an investigation by LAPD's Major Crimes Division and the FBI, reports LA Times. more ›

LA Dodgers defeat St. Louis Cardinals 13-2. The Libyans took control over Muammar Gaddafi’s compound. There was a 5.8 earthquake in Virginia that could be felt all along the East Coast as they prepare for Hurricane Irene. The Dodgers bid adieu to catcher Dioner Navarro due to “philosophical differences”. So it just followed that the Dodgers would vomit up runs like a bloated supermodel wannabe after Thanksgiving. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got Mr. & Mrs. Smith, ice cream (and who loves it, phew!), and the relative earthquake safety of DC and L.A. along with more news of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

It's a tragic end for a woman who accidentally fell into a backyard swimming pool with a lawnmower over the weekend. 30-year-old Lucinda Godinez of Newhall had been doing paid landscaping with her husband at a home in the Santa Clarita Valley on Friday morning when she fell. more ›

Downtown L.A. residents are an inspiring bunch. According to an infographic released today as part of 2011's DTLA Demographic Study, the 'hood boasts young, smart, professional, pet-loving dames and dudes. more ›

33-year-old Ninderjit Singh was arrested on Friday at his home in San Jacinto, a community in Riverside County, after being a fugitive from his native Canada for several years. Singh is wanted for the 1999 murder of then-18-year-old Poonam Randhawa in Vancouver, British Columbia, explains CBS2. The suspect had previously been featured on the popular television show "America's Most Wanted." more ›

Sonia Hermosillo, the 31-year-old mother who is accused of throwing her infant son from a parking garage is now on a suicide watch and an immigration hold, reports L.A. Now. The baby, 7-month-old Noe Medina Jr., is hospitalized in critical condition, and there is a fear he may not make it. more ›

After today's 5.9 earthquake shook the east coast, we received a mildly alarming news release from L.A. County entitled, "COUNTY RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO BE PREPARED FOR NEXT BIG ONE." Ok, Angelenos. Prepare. But how? more ›

The family of Mitrice Richardson have long believed the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department mishandled their daughter's case, and today those still-bereaved loved ones are closer to reaching a settlement with the law enforcement agency. more ›

Beginning today, a warming trend will escalate valley temps to 100 degrees and above. The next few days are expected to be the hottest of the summer and will keep people sweating through the weekend. more ›

If you're a regular visitor to Echo Park Lake, you may wonder if that statue of a woman you're used to seeing in one place came to life and moved herself to a new locale. Well, no such fairy tale to tell today; the "Lady of the Lake" was picked up and moved as part of a massive clean-up project going on at the park. more ›

A 50-year-old man committed suicide while in the custody of a Costa Mesa police officer on Monday. While patrolling Fairview Park yesterday afternoon, the officer spotted the man seated in the driver's seat of a 1990 Honda sedan. The driver's record indicated an outstanding traffic warrant, and the officer detained him outside of the vehicle, reports OC Register. more ›

The rabbi and rabbinical student mecca, organized and presented by the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, transpires every August and features two "enlightening and entertaining" keynote sermons, plus offers workshops on sermon enhancement. This year, rabbis turned to Hollywood for inspiration. more ›

Say good-bye to the horror of logging on to your computer after a night out only to find pictures of yourself with your fist wrapped around a beer, sweat dripping down your forehead and your mouth forming the word "wooo!" -- the Gods of Facebook have deigned to let us approve photos before they get tagged. more ›

Word has apparently left the street that flying commercial with loaded guns is illegal. Four loaded, undeclared guns were (thankfully) discovered over the course of one week in SoCal - twice at Ontario International Airport (ONT) and twice at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). more ›

Everyone's favorite pornographer, Joe Francis, has been released on bail after turning himself in following charges of false imprisonment, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, and assault, reports L.A. Now. The charges relate to an incident that took place in Hollywood back in January. Francis allegedly met a group of three girls at the Supper Club, then tried to get one to go back to his house with him. more ›

In disturbing news, a woman has been arrested on suspicion of throwing her 7-month-old baby from a parking garage in Orange County, according to the Daily News. Sonia Hermosillo, 31, was taken into custody on Monday night after a witness saw the child fall and called 911 at around 6:00 p.m. on Monday. more ›

Before Caltrans unveiled four new graffiti-resistant murals along the 101 Freeway on Monday, a drive-by or walk-by thief heisted two of the artworks, reports Daily Breeze. The theft took place between midnight on Saturday and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. more ›

"Streets are for people!" is the rally and battle cry of Park[ing] Day L.A., which is set to take place for the fifth year on Friday, September 16th. That's the day when "Park-itects" around Los Angeles will turn metered curbside parking spaces into mini-urban parks. more ›

Inquiring minds want to know! A survey set up by Bikeside LA wants to know, and if you've got a few minutes, they'd like your input. more ›

A toxicology report released by Amy Winehouse's family on Tuesday concludes that no illegal drugs were present in the singer's system at the time of her death, reports KABC. more ›

Police are searching for a driver who slammed into a mother and son as they were walking across the street on Sunday, leaving both victims in critical condition. According to a statement from the LAPD, the incident happened at about 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of 80th Street and Western Ave in the Manchester Square neighborhood. more ›

The fatal stabbing of a 46-year-old female Albertson's clerk on Sunday has resulted in the woman's death and her suspected husband's arrest. After suffering more than 20 stabs to her head, neck and upper body, the woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition. more ›

LA Dodgers defeat St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. It’s called the Tony La Russa Syndrome. It’s what happens to managers who tinker with the lineup to the point of absurdity in the hopes of being called a genius. The long-term symptom of this syndrome is the squeezing of fun from the game. It could also lead to completely fucking up World Series (see 1988 and 1990.) more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, smokin' hot lady real estate agents, football stadium talks move forward, a drinking game for foodies, and Kim Kardashian's wedding may have pissed off some neighbors. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

When a man was stabbed recently on the Metro, it so happened that standing five feet away from him was Todd Martens, a music reporter with the LA Times. Martens has recounted what he saw to numerous media outlets already, including the LA Times. The victim and attacker, he said, were engaged in a shouting match when the victim grabbed a chain and began swinging it over his head. more ›

While hiking near the ambiguous border between Iran and Iraq on July 31, 2009, three Americans were arrested in Iran. The two males have been charged with espionage and illegal entry into the country and sentenced to eight years in Iranian prison, reports FishbowlLA. more ›

Two fires broke out this afternoon beside the I-15 freeway, near the Cajon Pass in San Bernadino, reports NBC Los Angeles. The fires have burned over 250 acres collectively, and destroyed one mobile home. more ›

Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding nine suspects involved in the beating and shooting death of a 24-year-old man in South Los Angeles. According to a statement released by the LAPD, Miguel Casteneda was confronted by a Hispanic man in his mid-20's at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, while walking near Southwest Drive and 5th Avenue. more ›

It's back to the bargaining table for union leaders and representatives from the three major local grocery store chains, and there will be no strike this week. Over the weekend, a vote by unionized grocery workers yielded a 90% return in favor of authorizing a strike. more ›

Southern California Medical-Legal Consultants, a firm that represents doctors and hospitals seeking payment from patients receiving workers' compensation, uploaded the medical files of nearly 300,000 Californians to an unsecured website. Owner Joel Hecht said the company "believed only employees could use" the website; however, the entire world had easy access, reports Press-Telegram. more ›

After recovered from an Encino church, the Rembrandt sketch that was heisted from the Marina del Rey Ritz-Carlton is under a new investigation. Is "The Judgment" in fact a Rembrandt? more ›

There are thousands of stories to tell in Los Angeles, but sometimes a picture says so much more. Thanks to our LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr, here are 7 moments worth taking a second look at in our 7 Reasons to Love L.A. series. more ›

A fatal industrial accident at American Apparel in Garden Grove leaves one man dead. Tuan Phan, a 49-year-old machine operator, was crushed by a circular knitting machine, reports OC Register. He died approximately 30 minutes after the incident. more ›

"Boobies are for babies!" cries out a bare bellied, and bare chested, expectant mother amid a small crowd of her topless sisters. It is Venice Beach, on a sunny Sunday, and the cause is laid out for all to see: Women should be allowed to go topless, just like men. This is the annual Go Topless Day protest, march, and gathering. more ›

A grocery store employee was stabbed multiple times Sunday afternoon while she worked her shift at a Santa Monica Albertson's store. The victim may have been stabbed by her estranged husband, says the Santa Monica Daily Press, and the Santa Monica Police Department are considering the man, Kelvin Green, a "person of interest." more ›

Three hikers who planned to rappel down the falls on Saturday were instead airlifted from the trail on Sunday afternoon, reports Altadena Patch. Concerned family members called the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Altadena Station on Sunday morning when the group failed to descend. more ›

Now the group is raising more eyebrows as they plan their next marketing crusade - they're launching a porn site. The website, "peta.xxx," will serve as "a pornography site that draws attention to the plight of animals," according to Reuters. more ›

The manhunt for the suspect in a gruesome double murder in Chatsworth came to an end last night in Encino when the Los Angeles Police Department apprehended Brent Zubeck, 43, after a lengthy stand-off that found parts of the neighborhood shut down, according to L.A. Now. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra, Octomom goes boxing, Pasadena officials address hateful graffiti, a do-gooding grandmother is profiled, and a list is complied of some of the priciest Malibu homes. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Check out links from around the -ists, with a sad flash mob in Chicago to Anonymous' protest in San Francisco, to President Obama's contentious vacation in Massachusetts. more ›

Two people were killed early this morning after a driver lost control of his car and crashed into a wooden utility pole, according to a statement released by the LAPD. The accident occurred near the intersection of Topanga Canyon Marnilla Street in Chatsworth at around 3:00 a.m. According to the statement, the driver of the 2006 Scion sedan was speeding when he lost control and hit the pole at a bend in the road. more ›

Hundreds of angry, frustrated Angelenos showed up to a "Kitchen Table Summit" in Inglewood yesterday to tell their congressional representatives about their struggles with unemployment and underemployment. Congresswoman Maxine Waters got the most enthusiastic response from the crowd. "As far as I'm concerned, the Tea Party can go straight to hell," she said. "And I'm gonna tell them how to get there." more ›

Here is an example of air travel going awry. According to KNBC, an American Airlines flight going from Boston to Los Angeles made not one, but two emergency landings in the course of its westward trajectory. The first stop was at the Louisville International Airport in Kentucky, after a female passenger suffered a medical emergency. more ›

Authorities are looking for the public's help in finding information relating to the murder of 31-year-old Javier Hernandez Rojas. Rojas' body was found on Friday on the Pala Indian Reservation in Pala, CA, alongside Pala Temecula Road, according to a statement released by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Radio station 760 AM notes that there were no obvious injuries on the body. more ›

A mother and her teenage daughter coming home from a wedding last night were caught in the crossfire of a gang battle in Watts, according to CBS Los Angeles. The mother and daughter were shot while they were inside their car on the 2200 block of East 108th Street around 11:45 p.m., said Los Angeles police Sgt. P. Johnson. more ›

After their car fell 400 feet over the edge of a cliff in Malibu, three passengers were injured and one was killed, reports the Ventura County Star. Rescue workers got a call about the accident from California Highway Patrol at around 3:35 a.m. more ›

Grocery workers negotiating for a better health care plan have rejected a proposal by the management of Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons. Supermarket chains may come back with a better offer, the Orange County Register Reports. If not, union members could decide to give immediate notice to strike and then walk out 72 hours later. more ›

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "like" button, put your two cents' worth in the comments, and share it with your friends. These were the 7 most popular posts on LAist this week. more ›

Passengers on the Red Line who witnessed Friday night's stabbing in Hollywood advised the young man on how to make a getaway, according to witnesses that spoke to the Los Angeles Times. The victim has been identified as Jesse Garay, 59, of North Hollywood, and police are reviewing the train's surveillance tape, hoping that it will shed light on whether the stabbing was in self-defense. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got Villaraigosa for Governor (?), Cinemax making shows, some crazy pinñatas, and a few more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Aaron Brothers' Artrageous campaign is actually sparking some genuine outrage in some corners of city hall. As a part of a back-to-school promotion, the company is showcasing the work of prominent street artists at live events and offering free "graffiti starter kits" to attendees. Those kits are what have really riled up councilman Dennis Zine. Yesterday he introduced a resolution to the city council asking Aaron Brothers to stop the campaign that he says glorifies vandalism — never mind that the so-called "graffiti starter kits" don't even have the right materials to launch would-be Shepard Faireys or Banksys. The kits themselves are little more than cleverly marketed markers and paper. more ›

A judge in Orange County ruled that Anaheim's ban on dispensaries doesn't conflict with the 1996 state law that legalized medical marijuana, the Los Angeles Times reports. But the group that filed the case, Qualified Patients Assn., plans to appeal the court's decision. more ›

Los Angeles, take a bow. According to an eyesore posted by L.A. Taco, you stand sprawl tall wide and proud as America's second largest city. While this news is hardly breaking, the city's growth history proves interesting to examine, even if the presentation makes it difficult. more ›

By day, they're caring for sick patients or advising homebuyers on their next real estate purchases. But when they go home, they're donning pantaloons and adopting the salty 17th century slang of the high seas. more ›

Los Angeles bank tellers can now rest assured that the once elusive Tri-Cities Bandit and his accomplice will not strike again. Deputies of Community Oriented Policing Services Bureau arrested two suspects - Ernest Viana and Oleg Gorokhovsky - on Friday. more ›

Although cities and counties in California are creating legislation to ban the distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags by stores and restaurants, one group has seen to it California's students will read a section in their textbooks about the positives about the bags. more ›

Police in Burbank are asking one man to quit feeding the damn pigeons. Despite several warnings, and a citation, 59-year-old Charles Douglas can't seem to shake his habit of leaving bird seed in the alleys near Bob Hope Airport, and that habit has landed him in hot water. more ›

Los Angeles couple Juliana Park and Ben Lee, along with local photographer Amanda Rynda, chose a serene Santa Clarita meadow as the spot for their engagement photos. While peacefully sipping white wine, the couple was attacked by a member of the undead, who also happened to be their friend and coworker, Jason Boesch. more ›

The Antelope Valley Fair wants its fairgoers to "Peel the Love"...but not like that! The community's onion-themed fair opened yesterday, but right away some fairgoers noticed something was awry. The management decided to put up some colorful flags around the fair and had opted for rainbow flags. more ›

Typical smuggling cases involve the illegal movement of drugs INTO the United States. Not in this case. Dr. Tyron Reece, a 71-year-old general practitioner in Inglewood, was arrested earlier this week for conspiracy to smuggle prescription drugs from California to Mexico. more ›

DNA evidence has prompted the arrest of a 33-year-old Van Nuys man after he was linked to a 2002 rape, according to the Burbank Leader. Armen Shakhbazyan was arrested Thursday evening for his allegedly role in the rape of an unconscious 16-year-old girl at a South Glendale motel. more ›

The investigation continues into the stabbing death of a Metro Red Line subway passenger last night in Hollywood. The victim, a Hispanic male in his 50s, became engaged in an argument with another passenger, an Asian male in his 20s, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. more ›

LA Dodgers defeat Colorado Rockies 8-2. No Andre Ethier, no problems for the Dodgers in Coors Field. Out of the lineup with an infected big toe, the Dodgers used Tony Gwynn, Jr., Justin Sellers and Aaron Miles ahead of MVP candidate Matt Kemp in the cleanup spot. It wasn’t a lineup that inspired a lot of confidence. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got a Facebook button getting das boot, a clifftop house for sale, an LA-SF smackdown (again?!), and more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

The battle over the exclusive right to install thousands of bus benches in the city for the next 10 years has been won — and the winner is Florida-based Martin Outdoor Media, according to The Daily News. A city council vote on Friday afternoon brings an end to the battle by two sides heavily armed with lobbyists and a cash-strapped city hall looking for a cut of the bench's advertising revenue (they got $2.76 million over 10 years). Caught in the middle were bus riders who like to have a seat while they're waiting for their bus. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department have released information about a suspect in the shooting death of Juan David Vasquez Loma, who was gunned down in what appears to be a random act of road rage violence that played out earlier this month on the streets of Silver Lake. more ›

The Department of Justice announced that they are probing the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in the Antelope Valley, where deputies have been accused of violating the civil rights of minority residents in Section 8 housing. "In interviews with affected individuals and community representatives, we heard troubling accounts of allegedly unjustified stops and searches," Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said, in a statement. more ›

It's three years' probation for a young woman who took the life of an elderly pedestrian in Glendale last year while she used her cellphone to text message while behind the wheel. When then-20-year-old motorist Ani Voskanian of Tujunga was arrested in December for her role in the September, 2010 death of an elderly pedestrian, Glendale mayor Ara Najarian said their city was suffering from a "distracted driver epidemic." more ›

Jose Luis Munoz was on the FBI Most Wanted list for a rap sheet that dates back to at least 1998 and includes four murders. The other fugitive was Fernando DeJesus Ochoa, who is a suspect in the 2008 murder of Alfred McMullin on the streets of Wilmington. more ›

CVS Pharmacy got called out, and now they're going to be paying out: The company announced today they will pay $2 million as a result of a consumer protection civil lawsuit filed earlier this month by the District Attorneys of Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura counties. The suit alleges CVS used false advertising by not providing an immediate discount for some advertised items. more ›

Got a product that needs hawking? A recent poll suggests that Betty White is your Golden Girl. Reuters/Ipsos asked Americans the dubious question of which celebrity they most trust. White, continuing to ride a crest of late-career popularity, came out just ahead of Denzel Washington and Sandra Bullock. Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Kate Middleton and Morgan Freeman also made the top 10. more ›

If you're driving down the Costa Mesa Freeway in Santa Ana, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the latest conquest by the Backyard Skeptics, a group of outspoken atheists in Orange Country. Their latest billboard quotes "lifelong atheist" Dr. Natalie Khazaal along with her quote: "Atheism is philanthropy without mythology, peace without superstition." more ›

This has been a deadly summer for hikers ascending to the upper waterfalls at Eaton Canyon Park, prompting officials to warn hikers to know their limits when they go up against Mother Nature. Altadena Patch has started a discussion about whether there is anything else that the public can do to keep hikers out of harm's way at the alluring but deadly hike to the upper waterfalls at Eaton Canyon. more ›

A pair of assailants are now facing murder charges following the death of a man they allegedly attacked at a storage facility last weekend. Gary Haynes had been at the storage unit in the city of Orange Saturday night when he and a friend were confronted by two men who engaged them in a violent fight, according to KTLA. more ›

Crooks surrounded the car of an Israeli jeweler in North Hollywood last night, making off with a backpack carrying $2 million in diamonds. more ›

Between this weekend and Labor Day, Angelenos can expect to find DUI checkpoints run by the Los Angeles Police Department at just about any turn all over town. The LAPD announced that they are ramping up efforts to get impaired drivers off the streets, and to educate the public about the dangers of driving drunk. more ›

Ballots are being cast today and tomorrow by unionized grocery workers from the big local chains and a strike could be authorized as a result. "Depending on the outcome of this vote, a strike could happen as early as next week," notes ABC7. The issue remains the employees' health care plan, and its monthly cost. more ›

LA Angels defeat Texas Rangers 2-1. It isn’t much, but the Angels showed signs of life. It’s like one of those scenes in those maudlin hospital dramas where the patient has flatlined after being taken off of life support. Family members are crying, doctors are mumbling amongst themselves. Then there’s a beep. The mournful tears of family members are now replaced by tears of hope. And that’s about where the Angels are. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got Phil Spector's appeal denied, Susan Lucci's career options, how to get to the SSMF, and why cocktails are so damn expensive, along with more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

A surprising survey shows that Los Angeles tops the list of areas offering public transportation to its carless residents, trumping even New York. The Brookings Institution compared the 100 largest U.S. metro areas for the number of households with no cars and no access to transit. It then ranked them based on how effectively its public transit system gets residents to work. more ›

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has voted to determine if a stretch of coastline near Portuguese bend serves as an ideal spot for an off-leash dog beach, reports CBS LA. more ›

Hey LBCers? Did you feel the earth move under your feet a few minutes ago? A 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit 2 miles SSE of Long Beach (that's 20 miles SSE of the L.A. Civic Center) at 2:45 this afternoon, according to the USGS. more ›

It didn't take long after the Angeles Crest Highway reopened in June for not two, not three but four drivers to lose their lives on the road. After the third death, Caltrans launched an investigation into those deaths to assess whether signage, traffic enforcement and traffic volume could have played a role in those fatal crashes. The agency found that it is the drivers — and not the road — that are dangerous according to The Burbank Leader. more ›

Metro has its hands full right now, improving L.A.'s transit systems, making transit construction projects more eco-friendly plus conducting community outreach for LAX transport developments. Though the transportation authority's bandwidth must be stretched pretty thin, they still managed to upgrade the Metro bus riding experience. more ›

The coroner's office has confirmed that Hideki Irabu's death last month was a suicide, according to the Los Angeles Times. Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said Irabu hanged himself, confirming earlier reports from TMZ. more ›

The first arrest of a U.S.-based journalist in the phone-hacking scandal that is rocking Rupert Murdoch's empire has happened, and the person hauled in is based in Los Angeles. James Desborough, 38, served as the U.S. editor of the News of the World, and he was hauled in today in London, according to Reuters. more ›

Gold diggers, pack your bags. You're going to Manhattan Beach, baby. The sophisticated South Bay beach town assumes the number one spot on CNNMoney's "Best places for the rich and single," list. Though 30.2% of Manhattan Beach residents are single, the city boasts a median family income of $154,860. more ›

Something is rotten in the state of Orange County, because as hate crimes and incidents overall are going down, they are on the rise against blacks and Muslims. According to a report released today by the Orange County Human Relations Commission, 56 hate crimes took place last year, and nearly a third of them targeted blacks. more ›

Backyards are a luxury in Los Angeles, and those who are lucky enough to have them grow flowers, vegetables, trees and native plants. And weed. Timothy Beck of Torrance opened his doors on Wednesday afternoon to officials armed with a search warrant, reports The Daily Breeze. more ›

In just under a week, The Game has gone from a prankster under criminal investigation to a champion of responsible free speech. The rapper got into hot water with the LA Sheriff's Department after he sent out a tweet with the agency's public help line but authorities agreed to drop charges after he apologized for the incident on CNN. more ›

Tyler Armstrong is our new hero. And he's the youngest hero we've ever praised. The seven-year-old boy from Yorba Linda climbed Mt. Whitney in under 24 hours, reports KTLA. Reaching the summit in just under eight hours - seven hours and 50 mins - Tyler conquered the entire course in 17 hours. more ›

We're not in line to get the world's largest Apple Store, but we're about to get one with a glass roof. more ›

Things just continue to get worse for the Fullerton Police Department. Six officers are currently being investigated in the high-profile beating of Kelly Thomas by Fullerton police officers, the injuries from which ultimately resulted in his death, and now several other officers are being accused of arresting an innocent man, jailing him and then falsely charging him with crimes, reports My FOX LA. more ›

Trapped mosquitoes collected at Torrance's Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve tested positive for West Nile virus on Friday, reports The Daily Breeze. "This is the first (report) on the west side (of the county)," said Bob Saviskas, executive director of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District. more ›

Los Angeles has a lesson to teach credit rating agency Standard & Poor's: Downgrade our credit rating and we just won't hire you anymore. (You can almost see us thumbing our nose, right?) Basically, L.A. is joining in with other cities and counties in giving the group the boot and claiming their rating doesn't really mean much, anyhow. more ›

P. Diddy and four NBA players - including two All-Stars, are brushing up on their history this summer at UCLA, reports CBS LA. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Baron Davis and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love tweeted excitedly about their new summer school classmate, noting Oklahoma City Thunder's point guard Russell Westbrook's attendance. more ›

Does religious imagery have a place alongside state highways? Some in San Diego think not, and have requested that three giant crosses that were erected on a hillside be taken down, according to CBS News. The crosses are located on Inspiration Point, which is inside a city-owned park called Presidio Park. more ›

Long Beach police raided 37 locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties on Wednesday night, resulting in 17 arrests of suspected rival gang members, reports KABC. The Asian gang members, mostly Cambodians, were allegedly uniting gangster forces to steal "firearms, marijuana, Ecstacy, Rolex watches and computers, among other items." more ›

Coming into Monday’s game the Angels were four games behind the Rangers. Now having lost the first three games of the four-game series, the Angels fall to seven games back with nothing going right. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, the Red Hot Chili Peppers give fans a surprise, Newt Gingrich shows up in SoCal, a drug house burns, and a burned house sells. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

A judge had some harsh words for Erik Alvarez, a former Long Beach police detective who was sentenced today for having sex with an underage female relative, reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. After ruling that Alvarez, 42, will serve two years in state prison and must register as a sex offender, Judge Jon Ferguson told him, "You destroyed a family. You destroyed a young life." more ›

Sex work is nearly inextricable from the fabric of Los Angeles. Our county contains the so-called porn capital of the world, rock legends have commemorated our dancing girls, and our city government is highly engaged in the behind-the-scene goings-on of adult films. more ›

Alan Paul Wurtzel, the legal inspiration for Match.com's stricter background checks, pleaded no contest to charges that he sexually assaulted a woman he met through the dating site, according to KTLA. Wurtzel, 67, is accused of sexually assaulting a 53-year-old TV executive Carole Markin on their second date. He is scheduled to be sentenced September 19. He faces one year in jail, five years of probation and he must register as a sex offender for life, according to KTLA. more ›

Sighs, "psshs" and "pffts" are among just some of the common sounds made and heard when the topic of public transportation enters conversation. While the city is tackling some major transit construction projects, including greenifying such ventures, the road ahead is long and steep (and we will likely need to drive). Even making the trek to LAX deems a heavy feat for some, depending on location. But Metro is examining ways to ease our troubled traveling minds. more ›

Few things will discourage a potential recruit from joining the Navy more than being penetrated by a foreign object after taking a practice exam. Today, a Navy recruiter was arrested by El Monte Police and charged with doing just that do a woman who was looking into joining the service in March. more ›

Someone on the west side is really trying to take the fun out of the nightlife. A reader sent us the above picture, and let us know that the sign popped up on her neighbor's yard in the Olypmic/La Brea area last night. In case you can't tell, it admonishes bystanders who might be inclined to indulge in prostitutes (or be prostitutes themselves), drugs, drinking, shooting or stabbing people, and even good old-fashioned loitering. more ›

From Dusty the Klepto Cat to the Bronx Zoo Cobra, any savvy animal making headlines these days is going to get a Twitter account to communicate with the masses, and the elusive Capybara of central California is no exception. more ›

Laguna Woods is not the only SoCal zone killing "invasive" coyotes, and seven appears to be the lucky number. Altadena County has also "removed and killed" seven coyotes this summer, reports Altadena Patch, due to an increasing number of reported pet attacks and coyote sightings. more ›

Authorities raiding a suspected meth house in Loma Linda on Tuesday found something unexpected: dozens of tombstones ripped from the graves of a nearby cemetery. The granite tombstones, which had custom inscriptions, were stolen from Montecito Cemetery in Colton. more ›

If you need another reason to love the band Styx, we've got one. All six members, apparently all animal rights advocates, sent a letter to James Henwood, President and CEO of the L.A. County Fair Association, urging the cancellation of elephant rides. more ›

The graphic new images poised to adorn American cigarette packs next year are meant to warn smokers and would-be smokers of the health dangers associated with the habit. However a few large U.S. tobacco companies say the new labels will just plain scare their customers away from cigarettes, and they've filed a suit against the federal government. more ›

Your television, a couch, or some concert tickets are smart things to put up ads for on Craigslist. Crystal meth, not so much, even when you disguise your product using its ladylike nickname. Two SoCal men were busted recently "on suspicion of dealing large amounts of crystal methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia," reports Temecula Patch. more ›

Paso Robles officials may set traps to contain the elusive capybara, the world's largest rodent, that was spotted at the Paso Robles Wastewater Treatment Plant three weeks ago, reports LA Times. The immense rodents are not considered dangerous, but officials warn humans to keep their distance and contact authorities if they spot the furry beast. more ›

The City of West Hollywood has declared this Thursday Motley Crue Day in WeHo. The L.A.-based heavy metalheads will also be honored as the 2011 recipients of the Elmer Valentine Award for their historic contributions to the Sunset Strip. more ›

Los Angeles Firefighters endured a two-hour effort to successfully save two teenagers from a perilous cliff in the northwest San Fernando Valley on Tuesday night. Witnesses reported two teen males stranded on a cliff at the popular Stoney Point. more ›

The Fullerton City Council has announced the launch of a special investigation into the controversial death of Kelly Thomas. With a 4-1 vote on Tuesday night, the City Council hired independent investigator Michael Gennaco, chief attorney for the L.A. County Office of Independent Revenue, reports the O.C. Register. more ›

Texas Rangers LA Angels 7-3. At least the Angels’ Monday night starter Garrett Richards had an excuse leaving the game early: he pulled his groin muscle. On Tuesday night, starter Tyler Chatwood couldn’t throw a strike. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, DTLA's hostess club employees fire back at their old bosses, hot air balloons have rights, too, a 15-foot house could be yours, and Kobe Bryant practices denial. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Not too long ago, we questioned the logic of trying to take a loaded gun onto an airplane when former Clippers star Darius Miles allegedly tried to do just that. But now, it looks like Miles wasn't alone in his unique way of thinking. more ›

R&B singer Norwood Young's Hancock Park house, dubbed Youngwood Park and The House of Davids, is on the market for $2.1 million, reports LA Times. Whether or not Young resides in the house is irrelevant to us. We want to know what the new owner plans to do with the 19 Michelangelo's Davids lined up along the front lawn. more ›

Ever wonder just how much those tasked with running the city are raking in? Well, City Controller Wendy Greuel, spooked by the scandal in Bell, has released the salaries of L.A.'s highest paid city employees, reports CBS News. The highest paid person is much more low-profile than you might expect: Gina Marie Lindsey, the general manager of the Los Angeles World Airports, who earns $326,856 a year. more ›

Huntington Beach City Council members - including Connie Boardman, Devin Dwyer and Joe Shaw - voted 4 to 3 on Monday for the city to enact an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags, reports Huntington Beach Independent. more ›

After receiving a report of a gunman on campus, school officials at Santa Monica College locked down the campus, including the KCRW studios, for about one hour on Tuesday, according to NBC LA. more ›

Don't toss your television in the dumpster just yet. KCET - the nation's largest independent public television station - and Dominique Bigle - CEO of Eyetronics Media and Studios - announced an innovative partnership today to produce and acquire original series that are distinctive to SoCal. more ›

Future Los Angeles voters may have the pleasure (or displeasure) of weighing in on a measure regulating condom use in adult films. Former adult performers - including two infected with HIV while working in the porn industry - join forces with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) this morning to host a press conference on the new L.A. City ballot initiative. more ›

Tustin police detectives are searching for a pair of jewel thieves who snatched $260,000 worth of sparklies from a jewelry dealer on the evening of June 9, according to KTLA. more ›

August 3 marked a sad day for sea lions and animal rights groups. An injured adult female sea lion - shot three times - washed up on the Venice Beach shore, bleeding profusely and dead. more ›

Allegedly, while filling up his car at a Pacific Palisades gas station, Hanks came face to face with a man and a woman who, "expressed disappointment at his latest film," according to the National Enquirer says the The Guardian. more ›

On the heels of the recent anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist graffiti discovered at the Kings Village complex in Pasadena, additional racist graffiti now targeting Latinos was found in Northwest Pasadena, reports Pasadena Star-News. more ›

Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong was found dead Monday evening at his home on Mulholland Drive, reports NPR. A spokesman from the Los Angeles County coroner says the cause of death was hanging and no suicide note was found. Armstrong was pronounced dead at 8:16 p.m. more ›

Kobe Bryant is gracing news sources again and is apparently extremely camera shy, especially during prayer. The L.A. Lakers shooting guard allegedly seized a man's wrist and cell phone at St. Therese of Carmel in San Diego County on Sunday, reports CBS LA. more ›

Rembrandt's "The Judgment," which vanished from The Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey on Saturday, has been recovered as of Monday night, reports NBC LA. Of all places the stolen artwork, reportedly worth $250,000, could have been stashed, it was located at an Encino church. more ›

Texas Rangers defeat LA Angels 8-4. Dan Haren told reporters over the weekend that the Angels couldn’t afford to dig themselves a deeper hole in the race for the AL West. Coming into their four-game series against the first place Rangers down four games, there is some pressure on them especially coming off of a 2-4 road trip which culminated in an extra-innings bullpen meltdown in Toronto Sunday afternoon. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, we bid adieu to Kate Gosselin, say hello to two upcoming festivals, ponder the future of a local design mag, and find gambling destinations in our own backyard. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

District Attorney Steve Cooley announced today that he sent a letter to CA Attorney General Kamala Harris urging her to seek a state Supreme Court review of the appellate ruling earlier this month that prohibits officials from collecting arrestee DNA samples, according to a news release. more ›

Sadly, the terms "LAPD" and "corrupt" have been considered synonymous for decades. However, the department has apparently made an admirable transformation over the years, "offering itself up — in a way that not so many years ago would have been unthinkable — as a model police agency for the United States," according to the NY Times. more ›

A doctor working with Bryan Stow confirmed today that Stow is showing significant improvement in his health and ability to respond, according to the Huffington Post. Dr. Geoff Manley announced that Stow, who was severely beaten outside Dodger Stadium on the team's opening day, is able to follow commands and to have interactions with people around him. more ›

A capybara, the world's largest rodent, was spotted at the Paso Robles Wastewater Treatment Plant. "After surviving in the wild for years, including a run-in with a shotgun, the world's largest rodent is becoming somewhat of a legend in a Central California city," says NBC LA. more ›

Not that we have any particular interest in this topic, but CBS is holding a contest for L.A.'s most valuable blogger. According to their website, the battle is on for the title in six different areas of coverage. more ›

A body was found this afternoon on the side of I-15 in Riverside County, reports CBS News. Police are searching local homeless camps as part of their investigation, and have closed down El Cerrito Road near where the body was located. more ›

After being taken into custody on Friday, a Santa Ana man is accused of coaxing three underage girls out of the Lone Star State and transporting them to the OC with the intention of selling them into prostitution, reports the OC Register. The man, 26-year-old Samuel Martinez Gonzalez, reportedly invited the girls to California for a beach trip. more ›

A longtime commissioner of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority was found dead on Monday, "reclining in a lounge chair in the backyard of his Burbank home," according to the Valley Sun more ›

Coyotes and bears, oh my! Southern California wildlife are hungry and braving inhabited zones for nourishment. Seven coyotes were recently trapped and killed following fatal attacks on dogs and have been deemed more deadly than usual this summer. A recent bear sighting in Northern Glendale has prompted a warning to neighbors. more ›

Making good on his billboard invitation, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt threw his wife of 25 years a celeb-attended wedding anniversary party that she couldn't attend. Instead, Zsa Zsa Gabor, reportedly in a pink dress and tiara, watched the party from bed, says the Hollywood Reporter. more ›

The local community continues to protest the brutal beating and killing of Kelly Thomas. On the morning of Saturday, August 13, protestors descended upon the Fullerton Police Department to commemorate Thomas and bring justice to the six officers responsible for his death. more ›

In an effort to improve the parking situation downtown, transportation officials have created an experimental "dynamic pricing" program called ExpressPark. The pilot program, approved Friday by the City Council, "seeks to impose some logic and radically change the way meter prices are set for more than 500,000 people who work or shop each day in the city's center," according to the L.A. Times. more ›

Sometimes the good deeds of Southern Californians truly impress us, and this past Friday's example of selflessness and hospitality certainly rang our "compassionate local" bell. The humanitarian in Santa Ana Zoo's Director, Kent Yamaguchi, surfaced on Friday after a woman's engagement ring went flying off her finger into the mucky muck of the Amazon's Edge exhibit, reports CBS LA. more ›

Over the weekend, a Cardiff-by-the-sea statue named “Magic Carpet Ride,” -- informally referred to as the "Cardiff Kook" -- underwent another in a series of unapproved transformations at the hands of jokers or vandals or guerrilla artists or Miss Baker's 4th grade science class. more ›

There are thousands of stories to tell in Los Angeles, but sometimes a picture says so much more. Thanks to our LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr, here are 7 moments worth taking a second look at in our 7 Reasons to Love L.A. series. more ›

The Westside Robbers, two armed male suspects, appear to be hungry and partial to food markets. The suspects have targeted at least three stores in five days, including Trader Joes and Bob's Market on National Boulevard near Palms Boulevard, reports CBS LA. more ›

A manhunt continues for 43-year-old Brent D. Zubek, the suspect named in the Chatsworth double murder discovered by authorities in the 20400 block of Lassen Street, according to LA Now. more ›

American and Central American law enforcement authorities collaborate today to defend citizens against gang violence. Dozens of Central American police officers, according to CBS LA, gathered in the Southland to train with the LAPD on battling gang crimes on an international level. more ›

Rosie the Riveter, the American cultural icon representing female factory workers in WWII, can now pull her right sleeve up a little more and flex those muscles. She now has her own park, reports L.A. Now. more ›

Duane Parkinson, a 42-year-old husband and father of three, was killed on Wednesday, August, 10, after being struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle in Irvine. Parkinson was also a San Bernardino County deputy, reports Daily Pilot. He was off-duty at the time of the incident. more ›

The Dodgers reported that they had at least 5,000 walkups for Sunday’s game. Perhaps those 5,000 knew something I didn’t or had some faith in this Dodger team. But what went down at Dodger Stadium in the Dodgers’ 7-0 victory over the Houston Astros almost turned this heathen atheist into a full-fledged Messiah-loving believer. more ›

Tonight in Extra, Extra! A suspect thought to be armed and dangerous, has been named in the Chatsworth double murder. Also, a shooting star photo taken in outer space. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Though not exactly as expected, Anonymous, the organization that earlier threatened the Fullerton PD, came through on a threat to compromise the Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) website on Sunday, says CNET. more ›

Check out links from across the ists-a-verse, from fence jumpers at Lollapalooza to porn of Jimmy "The Rent Is Too Damn High" McMillan to Shanghai's most vicious bus driver. more ›

Don't dip! Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. is voluntarily recalling a variety of Layer Dip products containing guacamole over concerns that the avocados used may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the FDA. more ›

Saturday afternoon's fatal car accident along a stretch of Angeles Crest Highway is the fourth death since the road reopened in June following repairs from the Station Fire, says LA Now. more ›

A pen-and-ink drawing by Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn estimated to be worth approximately $250,000 vanished from the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey on Saturday, said an LASD spokesman, according to LA Now. more ›

Exciting and unaffordable news from the world of eco-fashion comes from LA-based Chipkos, a company that's boasting "the world's most expensive flip flop." more ›

An arguement between friends spun out of control at a Pasadena home early Sunday morning prompting a SWAT team intervention, according to CBS Local. more ›

Juan David Vasquez Loma, the 25-year-old former employee of El Chavo and Garage Pizza who was shot in the head while driving on Silver Lake Boulevard last week, will be taken off life support and his organs donated, according to Echo Park Patch. more ›

Hacker-activist group "Anonymous" has threatened retaliatory cyber attacks against the Fullerton Police Department over the death of Kelly Thomas, according to LA Now. more ›

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "like" button, put your two cents' worth in the comments, and share it with your friends. These were the 7 most popular posts on LAist this week. more ›

Sometimes it’s easy to think you’re too big for your own britches after watching baseball games day after day. Saturday night’s Dodger 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros humbled me a bit, but not because of anything big. more ›

Tonight in Extra, Extra! iam8bit in Echo Park, a bathrobe on fire and a bear in Glendale. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

South Pasadena police arrested suspected "Red Bull bandit" 21-year-old Eric Petrossian on Thursday believing he may be connected to a string of energy drink thefts in neighboring areas, according to Pasadena Sun. more ›

U2's guitarist, The Edge (aka David Evans), has joined other property owners and is suing state regulators "after they rejected a proposal to build a cluster of mansions in Malibu," reports ABC Local. The National Park Service is also opposed to the project saying the development would "scar the expansive ridgeline more ›

Police are investigating two deaths in Chatsworth after the bodies of a man and woman were found inside a Chatsworth home on Saturday, says the Daily News. more ›

Firefighters and police responded at 10:30 a.m to a small fire set by a man on Saturday on the third floor the Marriott Hotel at the ‘L.A. Live’ center, according to CBS Local. more ›

Claiming a music internship opportunity, Charles Louboutin, The Game, tweeted the public help line number for the Compton Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to his nearly 580,000+ followers at 5:23 p.m. on Friday night prompting hours of calls and delaying emergency response service for incidents including "a missing person, a spousal assault, two robberies and a stolen car," according to a LASD statement. more ›

Castaic, known for its beautiful lake, its proximity to Six Flags, and its ongoing prostitution problem, has hosted another Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department "John" sting around a heavily-trafficked area on Castaic Road, according to a LASD statement. more ›

August is Adopt a Homeless Animal month and a good time to express the importance of adopting an animal from an animal shelter or rescue organization rather than purchasing an animal from a pet store or breeder. Even if you are looking for a specific size, age or breed, a shelter or rescue organization can most likely accommodate your wishes. more ›

There was not a whole lot of pretty going on in Dodgers ten-inning 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros. Throughout the night the Dodgers kept stranding runners on base, 12 in all, while going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The offensive ugliness climaxed in the bottom of the ninth inning when the Dodgers failed to score with the bases loaded and no outs. Despite the ugliness that abounded in the game, for several youngsters the game was a dream. more ›

In today's TGIF Extra, Extra we've got a sperm whale, no big deal at 5 Guys, Carolla on pies, and a pocket park's permanence, along with a few more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

L.A.-based street and commercial artist Shepard Fairey got his butt whooped recently while in Copenhagen, Denmark, reports the Guardian. The 41-year-old creator of the iconic and problematic Obama "HOPE" campaign poster found himself the recipient of punches and kicks outside a club early last Saturday morning. more ›

A young man from Simi Valley was arrested this week for allegedly making multiple threats against Las Vegas hotels and casinos. 18-year-old Zachary Jackson is accused of phoning in the threats to multiple Vegas venues between July 28th and August 8th. more ›

The state of the economy may be a big question mark but one thing's for sure: L.A. tech is hot. Westwood-based Elevator Labs received $20 million in funding this week in another example of investors putting money into innovative Los Angeles-based startups. Managing partner Zack Zalon spoke to us about how his years at Virgin Digital influenced his approach and why he's excited about L.A.'s tech community. more ›

Ron Thomas, the father of a homeless man who died after a beating at the hands of Fullerton police officers, spoke out today about the case, and shared a disturbing image of his son Kelly's beaten face. more ›

Court papers filed this week by attorneys for the Los Angeles Dodgers and team owner Frank McCourt indicate the baseball franchise is looking to have a request for punitive damages dismissed in the lawsuit filed by the family of beaten Giants fan Bryan Stow. more ›

He might be an "Angel forever," but 64-year-old George Christie, Jr. could spend forever in a federal prison. Christie, a former president of the Ventura County Chapter of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang, is one of four defendants hauled in today on federal charges for plotting to bring down a couple of local tattoo shops. more ›

William Bratton, the onetime Chief of Police in Los Angeles, has accepted a consulting gig in Britain that will have him helping deal with the nation's gang violence. The job is expected to begin shortly, says NBC Los Angeles, and was confirmed by Bratton with British PM David Cameron. more ›

If you have just shy of a million bucks to spend and are ready to "enjoy the 'Surf City' lifestyle," you might be interested in the City of Bell's former City Manager Robert Rizzo's swanky "executive home" now on the market in Huntington Beach. more ›

After anti-gay and racist graffiti was found on walls throughout Pasadena, officials are on the hunt for suspects, reports CBS News. The imagery included swastikas and racial slurs, and was found on office buildings, residences and city-owned buildings along Washington Boulevard between Lincoln Avenue and El Molino Avenue. more ›

The City of Glendale's parking system recently experienced a big "oops" and over the next few weeks, people may take advantage of some free parking in some of the city's busiest areas. more ›

Despite being literally caught with his pants down, a man who was found naked in his apartment with an also-naked 4-year-old girl has plead not guilty to molesting the child, reports KTLA. The girl was found by her father after she went missing from her yard, and was then seen banging on the suspect's window and screaming for help. more ›

Taking a cue from a recently-implemented ban in unincorporated Los Angeles County, and other local cities like Long Beach and Santa Monica, Burbank appears poised to be the next to ban plastic bags at retail stores. more ›

You're not imagining things. The bus benches are disappearing. Norman Bench Advertising, the company that has provided and managed approximately 6,000 bus benches around Los Angeles for the past decade, began removing them last week when they were not awarded a new contract, according to the L.A. Times. more ›

A few updates this morning in the case of Kelly Thomas, the 37-year-old homeless man who died after a violent beating by police. Ron Thomas, Kelly's father, has take the first steps towards suing the Fullerton Police Department, reports the Huffington Post. more ›

Jani Lane, the 47-year-old frontman of 80s hair band Warrant was found dead yesterday in a hotel in Woodland Hills, and the Los Angeles Police Department has launched an investigation into the cause of death. more ›

An L.A. doctor is awaiting his fate after jurors heard allegations that he sexually assaulted 11 female patients, reports the Royal Gazette. Kevin Brown, 40, is accused of everything from inappropriate breast and pelvic exams to forcible rape at clinics that he owned in L.A. Brown's case has drawn international interest, not just because of the nature of the alleged crimes but because his father, Ewart Brown, is the former premier of Bermuda. more ›

This fine August Thursday brings infected tattoos, fake grandma boobs, O.C. Mexican Mafia members and a call for LACBC volunteers. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

One person is facing criminal charges for their part in the recent "near-riot" on Hollywood Boulevard during the premiere event for the film about the Electric Daisy Carnival. That person, however, is not DJ Kaskade. more ›

Former Los Angeles Unified School District police officer Jeffrey Stenroos, the guy who faked being shot outside a Valley high school and caused a lengthy and fruitless manhunt, will only face a judge later this month when his case goes to trial. His attorney told the court today that his client was waiving his right to a jury trial. more ›

Tailgating at the Rose Bowl may soon be a little less fun for pre-game boozers. Remember the "excessive alcohol consumption" in June that resulted in 26 arrests? Perhaps the call for stricter tailgating guidelines stems from the rowdy CONCACAF Gold Cup final events. more ›

Tuesday's proposed L.A. billboard regulation ordinance meeting identified solutions for signage regulation and enforcement. A topic not covered was ways to creatively employ billboards. more ›

Conventional wisdom dictates that if you are fleeing from the cops in your car you will ultimately get caught. Same goes for when you try to run from them through a Metro Red Line subway tunnel. A 51-year-old man gave it a go yesterday, running along the tracks from Hollywood and Vine to Hollywood and Western, which is about a mile-long stretch. more ›

Delivering a script to a literary agent is simple, right? Convincing the agent to actually read the script instead of tossing or shredding the million dollar story is the hard part, correct? One man went to drastic delivery and persuasion measures this morning. more ›

Officials have trapped and killed seven coyotes in Laguna Woods after the animals reportedly killed several neighborhood dogs, reports L.A. Now. The coyotes became a problem in recent weeks, as residents in a senior living community reported that their dogs were being attacked while they were out for walks. more ›

A new study at UC San Francisco released on Wednesday states that pregnant California women have registered "some of the highest levels of the toxic flame retardant PBDE in their bodies ever recorded worldwide," reports LA Times. more ›

In the midst of calls for his resignation, Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers has taken an indefinite medical leave of absence, reports ABC 7. Sellers was being asked to step down by residents infuriated over the fatal beating of Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless man with schizophrenia, at the hands of police. more ›

A toddler found wandering the streets last night in his diaper and a t-shirt has been returned home safely, reports NBC LA. The child was found at around 4:00 a.m. by resident Luis Estrada, who was driving his minivan through Sun Valley when he saw what he thought was a doll. more ›

John Wayne, one of America's favorite film stars, rugged Hollywood icon and Navy buff, sailed the seven seas (or maybe just the Pacific Ocean) in his 136-foot, wooden-hulled World War II-era minesweeper from 1962 until shortly before his death in 1979. The yacht, dubbed Wild Goose, became a recent addition to the 200-some other boats on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Daily Pilot. more ›

A Palmdale boy died yesterday evening after he fell through an open window while he was jumping on a bed with his sister. The 12-year-old middle schooler took a tumble out the first-story window of the family home, likely propelled by the momentum of his sister reaching for him to brace herself from falling off the side of the bed. more ›

Police are continuing to investigate a youth pastor in Venice who was charged Friday with the sexual molestation of a 14-year-old girl, according to a news conference held by the LAPD this morning. Demetrius Darnell Allen, 28, allegedly had a year-long relationship with the girl, who was a parishioner at First Baptist Church in Venice. more ›

Wednesday night's Riverside gang sweep, Operation Tampa Bay, apprehended 20 suspects, reports KABC. By mid-morning, members of the 1200 Blocc Crips, one of Riverside's most dangerous street gangs, were behind bars. more ›

An F-18 fighter jet went missing around 10:30pm on Wednesday night approximately 70 miles south of San Diego and 40 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico, reports myFOXla. The jet was flying on a mission from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar with another aircraft when the pilots lost contact. more ›

It was a rough introduction to the Major Leagues for Angels’ 23-year old starter Garrett Richards. Called up during his first year in Double-A ball to fill in for the suspended Jered Weaver, Richards certainly got a baptism by fire. more ›

At the Farmers Field media presentation on February 1, someone affiliated with the project asked me how excited I was about the NFL coming back to Los Angeles. It was clear by the joyful, upward cadence of her question that the correct answer was, “OHMYGODITHINKI’MGOINGTOPUKEI’MSOEXCITED!!!!!111” more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a new way of seeing Casey Anthony, L.A. bartenders compete, a Playboy-related boycott, and a Latino Groupon. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Hip-hop and modern rock were noticably absent from the Dodger Stadium public address system this afternoon. Music from the 1940’s could be heard; it matched the Dodgers' powder blue Brooklyn uniforms from that era. However, with an emotional 9-8 loss to the Phillies, the Dodgers’ contemporary struggles were very much on display. more ›

Juan David Vasquez, the victim of an apparent "road rage" attack this weekend in Silver Lake has died, reports NBC Los Angeles. He died this morning while hospitalized at USC Medical Center. more ›

No one knows better than bloggers the kind of wrath that can be incurred by not properly noting that a post contains a spoiler, be it the end of a movie or a twist in a TV show. But a recent study out of UC San Diego suggests that spoiler alerts may be for naught -- according to a statement released by the university, researchers found that the pleasure people get from reading or watching something isn't diminished by knowing what's going to happen in the end. more ›

After a string of burglaries at five southern California campusus, police have arrested a man and a woman tin Irvine in connection to the crimes, reports the OC Register. Karim Patrece Davis, 28, and Angie Latoya Gray, 25, were taken into custody on August 4, after officials allegedly tracked stolen credit cards that the pair had been using. more ›

A man was found dead outside the Embassy Suites in Brea, having fallen or jumped off the building's sixth floor, according to the Daily News. The man, who is 45 but hasn't been otherwise identified, checked into the hotel several days ago, and fell this morning at around 3:20 a.m. more ›

DTLA's July Art Walk experienced the tragic death of an infant boy, spurring protests and petitions demanding the city shut down traffic during the Art Walk hours. While the city has not complied with street closures, City Councilmembers José Huizar and Jan Perry are unveiling new policies to ensure safety during the monthly event. more ›

Jason Dana Paul, the man convicted this spring for the attempted murder of his girlfriend and leading authorities to hold a 10-hour-long standoff outside their Tarzana home has been sentenced to serve 35 years to life in prison. more ›

A manhunt launched five days ago to find two young Ventura County inmates who broke free from their labor crew in the Hollywood Hills has concluded with the pair's apprehension. Pablo Ladislow Ontaneda, 18, and Christopher Ochoa, 19, were located last night to a home in Jurupa, according to NBCLosAngeles. more ›

After nearly two years of vetting their legal right to do so, Glendale has banned medical marijuana dispensaries as of Tuesday night, reports Glendale News-Press. more ›

The Board of Supervisors reached an agreement on Tuesday to lessen mobile food facility restrictions, reports San Bernardino County Sun. Establishing a new category of "hot food truck events," the amendment to a county ordinance will permit food trucks to operate at sites beyond the current temporary special events restriction. more ›

Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood, the two men accused of beating Giants fan Bryan Stow outside Dodger Stadium, were arraigned today, with both entering pleas of "not guilty" on multiple charges, reports L.A. Now. Reports indicate the men were not revealing any emotion while in the courtroom this morning. more ›

Gregory Shiga, a 33-year-old resident of Hacienda Heights, was arrested on Monday on the Rio Hondo College Campus in Whittier after several female students reported that he inappropriately touched them. more ›

Christopher "Kid" Reid of the 90s rap group Kid 'n Play was hauled in yesterday by the Los Angeles Police Department, much to many people's surprise--including Kid himself! Turns out it was all a big mistake; Reid's arrest is being attributed to a "clerical error." more ›

Glendale's "Clean and Beautiful Glendale" initiative tackles the issue of public pet waste. Officials plan to install ten pet waste stations in neighborhoods to assist residents in doing what so many L.A. pet owners fail to do - clean up after their dogs, reports Glendale News-Press. more ›

A thieving male trio is at large after stealing $20k worth of medical marijuana from a deliveryman in Fullerton, reports CBS LA. The suspects painted a green cross on the wall of an industrial complex in the 1100 block of East Elm Avenue, denoting a medical marijuana dispensary, to trick the courier who came from Oakland to Fullerton. more ›

Tuesday's presentation by Planning Department staff detailed a proposed ordinance on billboard regulation in L.A. The Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) of the L.A. City Council revisited this "familiar but long-neglected topic," reports Curbed LA. more ›

What is being described as a "thunderous explosion," according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, ripped through a Sylmar business in a commercial area late yesterday afternoon, tearing the roof off the building and leaving three men injured, per a news release. more ›

Six allegedly drunk bicyclists were cited Tuesday night by the LAPD for riding under the influence, and at least one bicycle was impounded, reports L.A. Now. The rowdy cyclists appeared to be intoxicated and holding up traffic in Playa del Rey. more ›

Just a cursory look at the box score, and nothing would seem amiss in the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Phillies’ starter Cliff Lee was his usual transcendent self pitching eight innings of shutout ball. But a closer look would show how strange a night it was at Dodger Stadium. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got racist graffiti in Pasadena, a special garden in Culver City, and a Girl at a Bar at some speakeasies, and more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

The Los Angeles Fire Department are responding to a reported explosion at a commercial building located at 12349 Gladstone Avenue, which is near the 210 Foothill Freeway in the San Fernando/Pacoima area. The building has suffered a partial collapse, there are at least four people with serious injuries, and more people may be trapped inside. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department announced today they have made two arrests in the fatal hit and run that took the life of a high school senior out riding his bike in Canoga Park this April. more ›

This morning, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the dispute between the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and long-standing Golden Globes producer, Dick Clark Productions, should go to trial over "the issue of rights to the Golden Globes franchise," says Deadline Hollywood. more ›

Hector Manuel Medina is serious about auto care. He's also serious about loitering. On January 2, 2010, Medina set fire to a transient and his belongings when the man refused to leave the alley behind Medina's Santa Ana workplace, Firestone Complete Auto Care. The victim, Ruben Sandoval, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Medina, reports the OC Register. more ›

It's a big week for smuggling and it's only Tuesday. The discovery of a capsized "smugglers' boat" in the surf near Palos Verdes Estates has prompted an investigation, says the Daily Breeze. On Sunday, three suspected smugglers were arrested on a small boat off Newport Beach after hurling packages into the ocean. more ›

History buffs rejoice. The UCLA Library is slated to acquire the historical records of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), according to the UCLA Newsroom. The extensive archive covers major district operations dating back to the late 19th century. more ›

One of Santa Monica's nicknames is "Tree City U.S.A." so it's no wonder trees are serious business there. While one pursuit is turn the seaside city into a giant, functional arboretum, currently the city is asking their residents to chime in about "replacement trees" designated for their residential streets as part of SaMo's Urban Forest Master Plan. more ›

47-year-old Christopher "Kid" Reid, the hi-top fade half of the 80s and 90s hip hop duo Kid n' Play, was reportedly arrested Tuesday morning at his home in Los Angeles, says TMZ. more ›

It was a unanimous set of "aye" votes at around Noon today by the Los Angeles City Council that helped the plans to put an NFL stadium on the L.A. Live campus in Downtown L.A. to move forward. more ›

The California Common Murre - a seabird whose population was deemed depleted - hatched chicks on a rocky islet in Channel Islands National Park in July, reports LA Times. Park officials announced the discovery on Tuesday. more ›

A 4-year-old girl was playing in her yard in Redlands last night when she suddenly went missing. When her father began walking around looking for her, he allegedly discovered a father's worst nightmare: she was naked, screaming and banging on the window of an apartment where authorities believe she had been kidnapped and molested, reports ABC7. more ›

Recently, Flash went missing, and after an exhaustive search and thorough postering of the area, the "gruesome discovery" of Flash's leg was found in the street by a neighbor. Coyotes. more ›

Michael Jackson's goodwill persists years after his death. His three children - Prince, 14, Paris, 14, and Blanket, 9 - presented ten pieces of their father's artwork to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles on Monday, reports CBS LA. more ›

In an effort to identify additional victims of the Grim Sleeper serial killer, Los Angeles Police Department detectives "have significantly widened the number of cases they are reviewing", and are currently examining 230 unsolved killings and missing persons cases dating back to the 1970s, says the LA Times. more ›

Grocery workers in Southern California have been threatening to strike since April, but according to a statement from the worker's union, the time may be at hand. This week, they say, meetings are being held with picket captains, and a strike could come as soon as next week. Workers are protesting their contracts, the negotiations of which have been going on for six months. more ›

The advocacy coalition Transportation for America has analyzed and mapped almost ten years of pedestrian death data across the country and released a report, Dangerous By Design 2011, that ranks Los Angeles the 27th Most Dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians. more ›

Amid cries of objection from the community, the Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said Monday he has not seen sufficient evidence yet to validate the claim Fullerton police officers "intentionally" attempted to kill Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic homeless man who died several days after sustaining a beating at the hands of the cops. more ›

Anthony Pellicano, Detective to the Stars, agreed to his first sit-down interview since imprisoned in Texas in 2008. Name-dropping and exposing his previous celebrity clients, Pellicano hands over the dirt he dug to Newsweek. more ›

Authorities are hoping the public can help them find the driver of a pickup truck that struck and critically injured a 45-year-old tourist from China, reports CBS News. The man, who had just arrived to the U.S. with his family when he was hit on July 27, was crossing the street at Harbor Blvd. when a car ran into him. more ›

Co-workers of Juan David Vasquez, the man shot in the face while driving home from work Sunday, have established a fund to which anyone wishing to help for his care can contribute. more ›

Diana Nyad, 61, abandoned her 103 mile swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage Tuesday morning at 12:45am. Nearing the halfway point, Nyad made the call to stop at hour 29. more ›

The L.A. City Council is expected to vote today on a plan for an NFL Stadium at L.A. Live, reports CBS News. The plan, which would represent an agreement between the city and developer AEG, lays out the financial framework for the stadium. more ›

The Dodgers’ 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies was sad so many ways. It was sad because the Dodgers really tried. They got nine hits off of Cy Young winner Roy Halladay and 13 hits total off of the best team in baseball. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, David Beckham takes his shirt off, Jonathan Gold weighs in on shark's fins, the L.A. Times joins a lawsuit, and slam poetry is happening. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Rudolpf Brazda, the last surviving man "to be sent to a Nazi concentration camp because of his homosexuality", has died at the age of 98, according to the Jewish Journal. more ›

Governor Brown inked the National Popular Vote bill today that would award all of California's 55 Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote in presidential elections, reports CBS LA. Guaranteeing the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the entire country, the bill preserves the Electoral College while "ensuring that every vote in every state will matter in every presidential election." more ›

LAPD officers, along with SWAT officers, have caught two suspects in connection with two armed robberies that took place in Sherman Oaks this afternoon, reports the Daily News. Two other suspects are still on the loose. One of the robberies took place near Saticoy Street and Haskell Avenue, and the other was by Burnet Avenue and Keswick Street, according to the L.A. Times. more ›

A woman who attended a party at the Playboy Mansion in 2008 claims that she was clocked in the nose while there, then promptly escorted to a bus, reports TMZ. Alessandra Mendes says that German rapper Giwar Hajabi, a.k.a. Xatar, was drunk and disorderly on the dance floor during the party... more ›

No one wants to get bird flu, but that doesn't mean most people are willing to take drugs to combat it that haven't been approved by the FDA. Still, that didn't stop Charles B. Hensley of Redondo Beach from trying to market just such a medication, reports the Daily Breeze. Hensley, 57, is the inventor of Zicam, the commonly used cold medication. more ›

A 123-year-old Victorian in Angeleno Heights at the corner Kellam Avenue and West Edgeware Road has joined the neighborhood's "million dollar house club," with a $1.1 million sale last month, according to The Eastsider LA. more ›

Police are on the hunt for two men accused of robbing several El Torito employees at gunpoint early this morning, reports the OC Register. The employees were allegedly on their way out of the restaurant in Brea at the end of their shifts when they were approached by two masked men... more ›

Donald Christopher Windecker disappeared 17 years ago during a scuba dive at Lake Tahoe. His well-preserved remains were finally discovered by mixed-gas scuba divers on July 23 on an underwater shelf, 265 feet below the surface, reports L.A. Now. more ›

The first human cases of West Nile Virus in LA County this year have been confirmed by health officials. Both victims, described as "middle-aged males who have preexisting health conditions", have been hospitalized and are recovering, according to the Department of Public Health. more ›

From the folks who brought you the marvel that was Carmageddon comes The Rampture--no, it's not a traffic-inspired disaster movie, but rather a nickname bestowed upon the several days of closures the eight Wilshire Boulevard on and off ramps to the 405 Freeway will undergo at various times in November. more ›

Score another one for modern technology and crime solving: The Los Angeles Police Department have announced an arrest made for a "cold case" murder that took place on L.A.'s Westside in 1978. Detectives in Delaware, Ohio, took 62-year-old Walter Randolph Peartree into custody at his home earlier this morning on a warrant obtained by the LAPD. more ›

The exhausting stretch of ocean from Cuba to Florida totals 103 miles and is estimated to take 60+ hours. Nyad began her venture around 7:30pm on Sunday night. To put your minds slightly at ease, she is accompanied by two boats armed with shark shields, transmitting an electric shark field into the water. more ›

Arnold Schwarzenegger finally answered a big one. Question: When does a fashion faux pas become a fashion F-you? Answer: When a husband wears a t-shirt out in public that says "I SURVIVED MARIA" with the dates of their marriage written on the back while attempting to settle divorce proceedings with his betrayed wife who discovered he fathered a child with another woman. more ›

Two furtive office tug-off sessions have wound up not only costing a Fullterton man some jail time, but now Michael Kevin Lallana, the 32-year-old convicted of secretly spurting his semen in a co-worker's water bottle, has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in restitution for his crime, according to the OC Register. more ›

Free laundry service, complimentary gym memberships, company beer fridges, summer hours - many companies in California boast incredible employee perks. The Golden State receives four of the six nods in Mashable's 6 Companies With Awesome Employee Perks roundup. more ›

Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi, a 24-year-old Nigerian American man arrested for using expired boarding passes in other people's names, plead guilty to a federal charge of being a stowaway, according to L.A. Now. Noibi previously plead not guilty to the charges in Los Angeles court on July 18. more ›

The motorist shot in the face around 5:00 a.m. Sunday while driving in the 1400 block of Silver Lake Boulevard, has been identified as David Vasquez, a delivery man for Garage Pizza and also an employee of El Chavo, according to KTLA. more ›

Maybe Dodger Dogs lack their usual appeal this year? Perhaps the beer temp isn't cold enough this season? Is the SoCal sun just too hot this summer? Or maybe the drastic drop in Dodger Stadium attendance this year is due to the brutal Bryan Stow beating on opening day. more ›

There are thousands of stories to tell in Los Angeles, but sometimes a picture says so much more. Thanks to our LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr, here are 7 moments worth taking a second look at in our 7 Reasons to Love L.A. series. more ›

The recent deaths of two hikers at Eaton Canyon Park in the Angeles National Forest have prompted a warning from officials, reports L.A. Now. L.A. Sheriff's Sergeant Debra Herman noted that people often underestimate the power of Mother Nature, hiking on trails well beyond their skill level. more ›

Okay, so they are about a month behind their original estimate, but now we have a date and some contact info to share with you: Canoe and kayak trips on the Los Angeles River will run weekends from August 13th to September 25th, and reservations will be open soon. more ›

A recent inmate who fell ill at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles and was taken to County-USC Medical Center, has died. An autopsy is pending, according to the LA Times. more ›

Three Mexican nationals suspected of drug smuggling were arrested aboard a boat off Newport Beach on Sunday after being spotted by lifeguards, according to authorities. The 25-foot panga, reported stolen in Mexico, was reportedly headed to Huntington State State park when it was seized by police, according to ABC Local. more ›

Actor Francesco Quinn, the 48-year-old son of the late actor Anthony Quinn died Friday night near his Malibu home of an apparent heart attack, reports Malibu Patch. Neighbor Tim Lawrence says Quinn had been running on the street with his son when he collapsed in front of the Lawrence's home. more ›

An humanitarian group of community activists organized "Sleep-Out to End Homelessness" in Venice this past Saturday, August 6, in an effort to raise awareness of the homeless populations' needs in Los Angeles. Over 20 organizations that deal directly with the homeless - including St. Joseph Center, the Venice Family Clinic and the Venice Community Housing Corporation - sponsored the campaign, reports CBS LA. more ›

Tonight in Extra, Extra! There may be saltwater on Mars. Don't forget your special clock! Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Check out what's happening at the other -ists from Chicagoist's look at Lollapalooza, DCist thinks about the repercussions of sidewalk cafes and what Chinese Valentine’s Day is all about. more ›

Another small earthquake rattled today, measuring 3.2 magnitude and a little bit closer to home. The latest shake happened at 12:25 on Sunday of the Palos Verdes coast in the Channel Islands region, according to the USGS. more ›

Although he proved he could turn a 1936 energy vortex into a green paradise, new challenge await at his new location near the Los Angeles River. First Begley is going to take down the existing home, and then start from scratch to achieve a "net zero", LEED-platinum dwelling. more ›

Marc Cross, an experienced 53-year-old kayaker, set out from Newport Beach on Wednesday and did not return. On Saturday night, the Coast Guard suspended its search along the SoCal coast, according to LA Now. more ›

More deplorable behavior on the roadways comes in the form of a suspected hit-and-run driver that stuck "three pedestrians and a parked car in Downtown Los Angeles Sunday morning, said authorities," according to NBC LA. The accidents began around 3:00 a.m. near 11th Street and Hill Street. Responding firefighters found the victims in an alley at the scene. more ›

Officials say a drunk man was arrested Saturday after crashing his SUV on 60 Freeway, according to ABC Local. The man was towing a horse trailer at the time of the crash causing it to overturn, trapping inside two horses. more ›

A shallow 3.1 magnitude earthquake may have shaken up parts of northern LA County when it hit at 2:16 a.m. on Sunday, according to the USGS. more ›

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "like" button, put your two cents' worth in the comments, and share it with your friends. These were the 7 most popular posts on LAist this week. more ›

At about 5:00 a.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of Silver Lake Boulevard near Scott Street, a motorist in his 20s crashed his truck into a parked car after he was shot in the face through the driver's side window of his vehicle, according to KTLA. more ›

Tonight in Extra, Extra! 'Athletes' party turns violent, opportunities on N. Figueroa, and tainted spinach recall. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

The body of 50-year-old Francisco Rivera was found stabbed to death on a "popular and well travelled" bicycle trail along the LA River in South Gate, and investigators are asking the public for help in locating the suspect, according to a LASD news release. more ›

The "ornate maze" of buildings in Acton was ordered to come down by a judge, and for violating a dozen or so building codes, the development's eccentric visionary, Alan Kimble Fahey, may be required to perform community service. more ›

Happy 20th Birthday, Web! On August 6, 1991, MIT professor, computer scientist and physicist Tim Berners-Lee posted a brief summary of his World Wide Web project on the alt.hypertext newsgroup, essentially going public with the schematics for the flux capacitor which makes time-travel possible in this DeLorean we now know as the Internet. more ›

Emergency crews responded Saturday morning to another hiker who fell near a popular waterfall in Eaton Canyon, according to KTLA. This is the second second fatality this week in Eaton Canyon. more ›

Hundreds of protesters swarmed the Fullerton Police Department on Saturday to express public outrage over the death of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, a homeless man who died "after an altercation with six police officers," says LA Now. more ›

Rangers at Yosemite National Park have recovered the body of Hormiz David, a 22-year-old from Modesto, who died after being swept over a 317 foot waterfall with two other hikers on July 19, according to a National Park Service news release. more ›

Another boy has been buried alive at an OC beach, "but he's expected to be OK," according to ABC Local. The 10-year-old boy had been digging at Sunset Beach when the tunnel caved in. more ›

This week's featured dog is Hopper, an 8 month old, 7 pound Chihuahua/Toy Miniature Pinscher mix. Today's cat of the week is Snickers, an 11 month old male currently being cared for by PACT. more ›

Six people were hospitalized and ten others displaced after an explosion and fire in Stanton on Friday night, according to ABC Local. The single-story home on the 10000 block of Sycamore Street was "engulfed in flames and smoke" when Orange County Fire Authority units arrived at the scene. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got schools in for the summer, a switchblade-hiding jacket, a giant chicken made of traffic cones, and more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

Billboards can help bring authorities info and leads about suspects like the serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper, or the Bryan Stow beating perps, and now a new webservice is available to help people with a cause find crowd-sourced funding to get their message out. more ›

The search is on for a pair of suspects from Ventura County serving on a work crew in the Hollywood Hills who broke free and fled. The two men were sentenced to the labor detail for robbery crimes according to a report aired on ABC7. The fleeing pair "were assigned to a brush clearance detail on a fire road near Mulholland Drive and Fryman Canyon Park," reports KTLA. more ›

A small brush fire, covering an estimated 5-7 acres, is burning in the Lake View Terrace area, say the Los Angeles Fire Department. 65 firefighters from the LAFD, as well as Angeles National Forest ground personnel and the Los Angeles County Fire Department--with a helicopter and handcrew--are working on the blaze, which is being fanned by 5 mph breeze. more ›

An 18-year-old man was arrested this weekend in La Cañada after he was found passed out in a parked car, holding on to a cylinder of nitrous oxide, reports La Cañada-Flintridge Patch. Phillip Augustin Gandara admitted he had been huffing--inhaling the toxic substance--and had passed out. more ›

Sean Avery is known as the "bad boy" of the National Hockey League, and his bad boy ways were allegedly on display in full force last night at a party in the Hollywood Hills. The Los Angeles Police Department were called to the party at Avery's home following neighbor complaints, reports TMZ, however Avery did not welcome the cops with open arms. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department have released details about an attack on a woman who was walking near Cedars-Sinai Hospital last weekend. The incident took place at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30th. more ›

It's never too late to solve a murder mystery, and in the case of a woman who was killed 65 years ago and whose remains were left in a California desert, investigators have finally found answers. CBS News reports that bones found in the Mojave Desert match the DNA of a family member of Betty Walraven, who was killed in 1946. more ›

Trade secrets. Hired gumshoes. Spying. Lying. Stealing. Millions of dollars. Dolls. Welcome to the ongoing battle of Barbie vs. Bratz, or, more legitimately, the war between MGA Entertainment and Mattel Inc. more ›

It took a village, and a lot of vision, but this three-acre Pasadena garden is living testament to what can be done with a lot gone to weed at the hands of Caltrans. As spotlighted by Garden Design, the beautiful urban oasis known as Arlington Garden is adjacent to the townhouse of Betty and Charles "Kicker" McKenney. more ›

Traffic at a local airport that's both easier to navigate and significantly less expensive than LAX is nevertheless going down, reports the La Canada Valley Sun. The number of passengers flying out of Bob Hope Airport went down by 5.1% in June, the fourth consecutive month in which passenger traffic has seen a decrease. more ›

File this under Not at All Surprising: 84% of commuters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana region drive themselves by car, truck, or van, between home and work. The data comes from an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009 American Community Survey, reports the Los Angeles Business. Sheesh. No wonder we wigged the eff out about Carmageddon! more ›

A firearm, computers, and tattoo equipment were stolen from a Lancaster home during a burglary in late June. About a month later, the burglary victims, while browsing Craigslist in an attempt to replace their missing goods, saw what they thought to be their stolen tattoo equipment for sale, according to a news release. more ›

A man was shot and killed in Hyde Park at around 10:30 p.m. last night, reports CBS News. The victim, described as in his 40's and walking around barefoot at the time, was shot once in the head near Slauson Avenue and Deane Avenue. more ›

As part of an audit being conducted by City Controller Wendy Greuel, about 120 weapons were confiscated from six City-run animal shelters yesterday. Although animal control officers are issued firearms, there is a concern that the weapons have not been properly inventoried, and some guns may have gone missing. more ›

There have been several coyotes sightings by area residents who are concerned about the safety of their children, local blind students, and pets. Teachers at the Braille Institute are worried that coyotes may "clash with guide dogs." more ›

Hate traffic ticket quotas? You're not alone. Ten LAPD motorcycle officers are suing the city for what they claim were illegal quotas forced on them, as well as harassment from higher-ups for not meeting those numbers, reports KTLA. Ticket quotas are against the law, but these officials claim that didn't stop the department from setting them. more ›

LAPD has conducted a drug bust worthy of a Hollywood movie. After discovering what they believed to be a medical marijuana dispensary in the San Fernando Valley operating as a front for an interstate drug trafficking operation between Los Angeles and Cleveland, officers have seized a large amount of marijuana and cocaine, and arrested six men, according to a statement issued by the LAPD. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got free froyo from Pinkberry, the most stolen car in the U.S., heroin in the SCV, and Jerry Lewis losing his telethon gig, along with a few more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. more ›

If you have large ears and rob banks, it's only fitting your FBI nickname will be the "All Ears Bandit." However, today the Bureau is announcing the arrest of a man they believe is the large-eared perp. 25-year-old Stepan Dovlatyan was taken into custody at his home in Los Angeles on August 1st. more ›

As the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA or Metro) ramps up for phase two of the Expo Light Rail Line, the Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail and an extension of the Gold Line to Azusa, eco-friendly considerations trigger a major green initiative. more ›

With the time suck that was the debt ceiling deal finally signed, it's time for President Obama to get back to raising money for his re-election campaign. Fortunately for the campaign, President Obama is celebrating his birthday today (the big 5-0), which provides ample opportunity to celebrate his accomplishments while collecting campaign cash. more ›

A meeting today by the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners found the matter of the future use of the land that was once the South Central Farm still undetermined, when the group opted to pass on making the call, instead sending the issue to the Los Angeles City Council for action. The Board says their inaction is largely due to the property's non-relevance to the Port of Los Angeles. more ›

GOOD released a charmingly designed interactive infographic detailing renewable energy sources in the U.S. It states that only about 8% of the energy Americans use comes from renewable sources. more ›

Video footage shows the scope of the effort by emergency personnel, beach-goers and lifeguards to dig out a teenager who found himself buried alive in the sand yesterday afternoon on Newport Beach. Matt Mina and some friends were digging tunnels, but the sand walls collapsed, trapping Mina underneath for an estimated 20-40 minutes. more ›

Football fans, don't lose hold of your dreams for a local NFL team. An ad hoc L.A. City Council committee has endorsed developer AEG's financial framework plan for building a football stadium downtown at L.A. Live, reports ABC7. The vote took place last night, with committee members agreeing in a unanimous 4-0 vote to push the deal through to the full council. more ›

Annette Charles, best known for her role as Cha Cha in Grease, died Wednesday night in her Los Angeles home. The actress reportedly passed away due to complications from cancer at age 63, according to TMZ. more ›

If you are a cyclist who would use Metrolink to get around more if only their trains could store more bikes, your wish has been granted. The transit agency has announced a pilot program that finds two of their passenger railcars remodeled as "bicycle cars," set up to accommodate at least 18 bicycles. more ›

Did you sense that something was different this week? Something like...fewer new jobless claims? If so, you should always trust your Spidey sense, because California reported the biggest drop in new jobless claims in the whole country this past week, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal. Claims went down by 23,689. more ›

Yesterday's Rawesome raid was caught on tape, and local supporters of the Venice health market are not happy. Witnesses comment on the events, expressing disapproval, and fire questions at authorities. more ›

An international online "members only" child pornography network called "Dreamboard" has been raided by federal authorities, and of the more than 600 of the users targeted, 72 have been charged and 52 arrested, including 6 men from Southern California. more ›

When most people are worrying about accidentally taking 3.5 ounces of liquid through airport security, it's somewhat mind-boggling that anyone out there would casually try to carry on a loaded gun. But that's exactly what Darius Miles, former L.A. Clipper, is accused of doing yesterday, according to TMZ. more ›

The Steve Irwin has been saved and freed, according to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS). The SSCS flagship vessel, which stars on Animal Planet's "Whale Wars," was detained by the UK on July 15 in the Scottish Shetland Islands due to a civil lawsuit concerning their unorthodox marine wildlife rights practices. more ›

"To Catch A Predator" host Chris Hansen is having troubles of his own right now, but if he weren't there would be plenty for him to do in Southern California. A Laguna Hills man was arrested yesterday after allegedly tried to meet with a girl he thought was 13 for sex, reports the Daily Breeze. more ›

Crime alerts soar this summer in Los Angeles, and several neighborhoods are seeing a significant increase in both violent and property crimes. Areas experiencing a surge in violent crimes are Hancock Park, Hollywood, Panorama City and Sawtelle. Red alerts of "violent crime up significantly" are viewable in each location via The L.A. Time's database of Los Angeles County crime reports. more ›

San Diego Padres defeat LA Dodgers 3-0. Even Petco Park couldn’t contain Ted Lilly who gave up his third career homer at Petco Park, the place where offense goes to die. It looked like Lilly would record only his second game in his last eight where he didn’t give up a home run. Then the sixth inning came around and blew that to hell. more ›