Two little girls went missing in Long Beach after their mother left them in the care of a babysitter. The little girls Sharron Cherie Bess, 13, and Deony Cherie Goodwin, 9, were last seen on Wednesday leaving a motel on PCH in Long Beach. more ›

Perhaps this is Icarus falling to the ground. After an 11-4 hiccup Wednesday night in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers flailed against the Houston Astros losing 3-1 to start a seven-game homestand against the NL Central. more ›

Between 2005 and 2007, Angelenos noticed that almost entire flocks of cedar waxwings were slamming into their windows and fences in broad daylight. Residents sent them off to a lab to figure out why the heck the birds were dying en masse, and now a Journal of Ornithology study (via a New Scientist article) explains what happened. more ›

If you're going out this weekend to drink, don't drive. There are several no-good, very-bad possible consequences, and one of them could be running into a DUI checkpoint or the saturation patrols that will be out in full force this Memorial Day weekend. more ›

A man was arrested for allegedly shining a laser at a Pasadena police helicopter and injuring the eyes of an officer on board yesterday more ›

A spacecraft produced by a privately-owned Los Angeles-based aerospace company hooked up with the International Space Station today. more ›

A Palmdale woman was arrested for holding her 8-year-old son underwater and allegedly trying to drown him in the pool of an apartment complex yesterday. more ›

Authorities seized more than 2,000 marijuana plants from a warehouse raid in Rancho Dominguez yesterday. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Los Globos' neighbors are annoyed, the mysterious case of the sunbathers is solved and the best staycations in LA. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

The city has a budget gap, and the Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is looking to one constituency to help fill that shortfall: street parking scofflaws. Most Angelenos have probably been dinged with a ticket a time or two, but there's one group of people who are probably even more likely to get tickets: renters whose apartments don't come with enough parking spaces. more ›

Los Angeles County once again leads Heal the Bay's "Beach Bummers List" with seven locations out of California's top 10 most polluted beache more ›

Beverly Hills' worst fears have been realized: Metro's board has approved a plan to dig a tunnel under Beverly Hills high school for the Purple Line that will bring a subway all the way to Century City and Westwood. more ›

Fontana resident John Ramirez says that United lost his wheelchair when he flew to Mexico last March—and he hasn't seen it since then. Ramirez lost his right leg as a child and needs his wheelchair to get around. In the meantime he's been using crutches, but he told KTLA that he's sick of getting the runaround from United. more ›

Following L.A.'s big announcement this week to ban plastic bags, the city will take another step toward a greener environment with the installation of new LED street lights. more ›

A judge is recommending that the mother of the accused Hollywood arsonist be sent back to Germany. Dorothee Burkhardt is wanted back in Germany for skipping out on the bill for her breast implants and other fraud charges. more ›

Be afraid...be very afraid: Your dog could accidentally set your house on fire! The Los Angeles Fire Department points us towards a video produced by The Pet Collective showing Hali Hudson and her 8-year-old Corgi, Yogi, and how Yogi is so excited to get into the cabinets where all the household cleaning supplies are. more ›

The family of missing Fox executive Gavin Smith are still asking for the public's help in locating the man who has been missing since May 1. Now there's been report that he was spotted in Central California and may be headed north with a companion. more ›

The legacy of retired Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon Cortines endures just a little bit more now, thanks to the board's vote of approval to pay out $200,000 to settle a sexual harassment claim filed against him by an employee. more ›

What was first reported as a "suspicious package" discovered in the attic of a valley building turned out to be a World War I-era howitzer shell, but the bomb squad had to go ahead and blow it up anyhow, just to be safe. more ›

A woman died in a fiery freeway crash early this morning, after she drove the wrong way and collided with a tandem tractor-trailer. The accident happened on the westbound 210 just east of Roxford Street and was first reported at 2:16 a.m. said California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Martin. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a bear is tranquilized, a lawsuit from the LA Times, and paper-mache sunbathers hit downtown. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Everything old is new again. This 1934 map via the Big Map Blog shows what Los Angeles looked like before freeways but after an extensive rail and bus line system had been built. more ›

A 32-year-old man was arrested yesterday for allegedly exposing himself to school children at Esther Walter Elementary in Stanton, Orange County. more ›

A jury recommended the death penalty for a man accused of gunning down high school student Jamiel Shaw Jr. in 2008. Last month the same jury found Pedro Espinoza, 23, guilty of killing Shaw early this month. more ›

By a 13-1 vote, the Los Angeles City Council today voted to approve an aggressive plastic bag ban that is aimed at saving taxpayer money for trash cleanup, promoting sustainability, and improving the environment. more ›

Investigators are trying to figure out what happened to a man from Maryland who took a cross-country trip and ended up being found dead in the parking lot of a shopping center this weekend. more ›

Are you headed out of town for Memorial Day weekend? If you're jetting through LAX, you'll be joining more than 750,000 fellow travelers. more ›

Former UCLA basketball star Reeves Nelson is suing a Sports Illustrated reporter for writing an article that depicted him as an out-of-control bully who once got revenge on a roommate by peeing on his bed. Now Reeves has hired an attorney to sue the reporter for defamation. more ›

A 13-year-old girl from Hesperia and two of her friends were arrested yesterday for allegedly plotting to kill her mother. more ›

United Airlines pilots sent a public letter to invite management to tour what they call the "LAX Ghetto," a section of the parking lot where many of them spend the night in motor homes as they wait for their next shift. more ›

When a young mountain lion was spotted inside a Downtown Santa Monica building Tuesday, authorities say they made every effort to subdue the wild animal, but ultimately made the decision to fatally shoot the young male. Now, animal rights activists are questioning the actions of those authorities, and are calling for an investigation into the shooting. more ›

He made it to his 101st birthday, but his life ended when he was walking across the street. The elderly pedestrian was fatally struck Tuesday night by a vehicle in Burbank. The incident took place at around 8:15 p.m. on Olive Avenue between Sparks Street and Beachwood Drive. more ›

Check out this time lapse video shot at the STAPLES Center from May 17 to 20 as the arena changed the floor (and fans!) for the LA Kings, the LA Lakers, and the LA Clippers, and back again a few times. more ›

The Kings are going to play for Lord Stanley's Cup. As improbable as that statement might have been when they were losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 in January, it's real. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got a Laker delivering a Detroit diss, a day in court for a starlet's DUI, art news in downtown Downey (yep!) and more news of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Los Angeles County transportation officials released a report today stating that a subway built under Beverly Hills High School with a Century City stop at Constellation Blvd. and Avenue of the Stars would be safe, and it recommended that the MTA Board of Directors move forward with plans to extend the Westside subway. more ›

An 8-year-old mountain climbing boy from Yorba Linda, who has already conquered the 14,505-ft. Mount Whitney, plans to top Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. more ›

After sad reports that a little lost mountain lion was shot near the Santa Monica Promenade this morning to protect public safety, it was welcomed news that the California Senate passed an animal-protection bill that would ban bear and bobcat bullying. more ›

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on a proposed plastic and paper bag ban that has been called one of the biggest and boldest of its kind. more ›

Authorities said that they were forced to shoot and kill a young mountain lion that wandered into a Downtown Santa Monica building today after multiple unsuccessful efforts to contain it. more ›

The men suspected of fatally shooting two USC graduate students from China were charged today with capital murder. more ›

Four men who became entangled in a fight with a fifth man in the Dodger Stadium parking lot Sunday night will not face felony charges, says the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office today. more ›

"We're Number TWO! We're Number TWO!" Hey, Los Angeles is no longer the worst U.S. city for drivers, according to a just-released study. Our epic traffic jams were finally ousted by Honolulu, Hawaii, putting L.A. in the number two ranking. more ›

The State Senate unanimously passed a bill yesterday that paves the way for self-driving cars in California. more ›

A Parks and Recreation employee and his accomplice have been busted for stealing gas from a City of Los Angeles fueling station. The arrests were made after what the Los Angeles Police Department says was a lengthy investigation. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department are investigating how the bodies of two deceased women came to be left inside a South Los Angeles apartment unit. The bodies were found late Monday afternoon in a building on the 900 block of West 81st Street, between Vermont Avenue and Hoover Street. more ›

A single-engine Cessna traveling from Phoenix to Van Nuys Airport made a crash landing Monday night on a residential street in Glendale. Miraculously, the plane's sole occupant, the pilot, as well as all the area residents, survived the incident. more ›

In tonight's extra, extra, a hiker meets a swarm of bees and some truths about cycling are revealed. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

A woman who was angry about being dumped on Facebook and made bogus threats about her ex posing risks to a plane departing from LAX was sentenced today to serve 100 hours of community service. more ›

The District Attorney's Office announced today they have charged a Los Angeles Unified School District teacher's aide with a dozen felony counts for allegedly committing lewd acts on a child. The suspect, 25-year-old Jorge Luis Dominguez, was working for Gratts Learning Academy, a LAUSD elementary school, as a part-time aide at the time of his arrest. more ›

Los Angeles officials announced a new program today where parking prices at curbside and city lot meters in Downtown L.A. will rise and fall based on the demand for spaces. more ›

Los Angeles County authorities announced today that they are on heightened alert to spot any drivers who are not wearing a seat belt. 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 ›

Santa Monica beach goers will get to enjoy fancy new public bathrooms this summer, but the lofty price tag has aggravated some city taxpayers. more ›

Four men were arrested Sunday night after the Dodgers/Cardinals game for their involvement in a fight in the stadium parking lot. The suspects, all in their 20s, were booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, notably fists and feet, police said. more ›

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Los Angeles County fell for a fifth consecutive day. more ›

Authorities in West Hollywood have released the name of the man detained on suspicion of fatally shooting a Metro bus driver Sunday morning. more ›

Officials in Orange County are wondering just how in the heck marijuana with an estimated street value of at least $3 million got left floating in the Pacific about 13 miles off the coast of Dana Point. more ›

Likely the only Monday morning question today that will overtake the usual "Did you see 'Mad Men' last night?" is going to be "Did you see the eclipse?" We've got a whole bunch of gorgeous photos, but we also were directed to this time lapse video, shot by Cory Poole, a math and science teacher at University Preparatory School in Redding California. more ›

San Antonio Spurs defeat LA Clippers 102-99. And so the charade that is the Clippers' season comes to a screeching end. Despite trying to make a game of it, the Spurs calmly took control of the final minutes of the game sweeping the Clippers out of the STAPLES Center. more ›

It was the eclipse. That's the only explanation for how the Dodgers keep winning despite losing players left and right. Well at least the eclipse could be mythological excuse the Dodgers had Sunday night in their 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Doctor Who Puppet gets a tumblr, taco books are in style and what's happening to the Salton Sea. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

If you're on the West Coast, you might have noticed that tonight the sky suddenly got a little darker than usual this evening. We experienced a partial solar eclipse, and NASA said it was the best one since 1992. more ›

It was a bit premature to crown the ascension of the Kings. For the second time in this playoff run that began 39 days ago, the Kings have been staved off from sweeping a team. Like Vancouver did in Game 4 at STAPLES Center in the first round series, so too the Phoenix Coyotes have found a couple of breaths of precious life in their season with their 2-0 victory. more ›

An 80-year-old man shot his wife inside their home in Lake Forest this morning before turning the gun on himself. The 68-year-old woman called sheriff's dispatchers around 8:30 am to let them know her husband was armed and distraught and that she feared for her safety. more ›

A metro bus driver was fatally shot by a passenger in West Hollywood this morning, according to the sheriff's department. It happened around 9 am this morning near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and West Knoll Drive. more ›

San Antonio Spurs defeat LA Clippers 96-86. You remember how the Clippers overcame a 27-point deficit in the first game of the playoffs on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies to eke out a one-point victory? Well the Clippers sort of know how the Grizz felt now. more ›

These are trying times for the Dodgers. The Dodgers place yet another player on the 15-day disabled list as they continue their weekend series against one of the better National League teams in the St. Louis Cardinals. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Zuckerberg gets hitched, a dead baby is banned from Facebook and the NAACP endorses gay marriage. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

A man died this afternoon from his injuries after his car plunged off the pier at the Port of Los Angeles. It happened around 3 pm on Navy Way near Pier 300. more ›

Earlier this month, the California Right to Know campaign, which spearheads a State Ballot Proposition that would require labeling of genetically engineered foods, reported collecting 971,126 signatures—nearly double what is required to qualify for placement on the November ballot. more ›

Scientists still aren't completely sure why the rocks a San Clemente woman picked up off the beach spontaneously ignited in her cargo shorts last weekend. Lyn Hiner, 43, and her children picked up stones streaked with orange from San Onofre State Beach. more ›

A young man was found stabbed to death in the middle of the street not far from the Beverly Center early this morning. Because he was found in the street, investigators initially thought that he had been hit by a car. But the man's body was covered in stab wounds. more ›

This series against the reigning World Series champs is a test for the Dodgers. Much has been made of their Major League-best 25-13 record and how the record was a bit of a mirage due to the inferior competition. more ›

Two men were taken into custody today in the fatal shootings of two USC engineering students last month. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Angelenos go on a walk, Gilbert Gottfried reads an erotic book and Will Smith slaps a kissy reporter. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

CSU Fullerton approved a no-smoking policy yesterday that makes it the first Cal State campus to go completely smoke free. more ›

A lot of the news that's coming out of City Hall these days is about cuts, deficits and more cuts. But the mayor believes that beefing up one department—the Los Angeles Department of Transportation—could help to prop up services in the rest of the city. more ›

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. in Long Beach for Harvey Milk Promenade Park, the first park in the nation to honor the slain Californian civic leader. more ›

Alan Kimble Fahey, the Acton man who innovated his way into a community eyesore dubbed "Phonehenge West," has been ordered to serve five months' probation and perform 63 days of community service. more ›

A new report has determined that a deadly 2011 Marine helicopter crash at Camp Pendleton was caused by a bird strike. That bird, specifically, was a female red-tailed hawk. more ›

Thursday night's Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes marks the start of an unprecedented four-day span of sports in the 92-acre bit of Downtown Los Angeles that encomasses the STAPLES Center and L.A. Live complex. more ›

There was a gruesome discovery early this morning on the grounds of a local elementary school. Authorities say the body of a woman who committed suicide was found at about 7:15 a.m. Friday at Brainard Avenue Elementary School in Lake View Terrace, according to City News Service. more ›

Mila Kunis' stalker is due to appear in court this morning for arraignment on felony charges. more ›

San Antonio Spurs defeat LA Clippers 105-88. The Clippers tried. After falling down 15 points in the first quarter, they managed to bring the deficit down to a point in the second quarter. But the Spurs were too good. more ›

The Kings are a scary team. After taking the Coyotes' best punch, the Kings responded in their stoic intensity taking Game 3 with a 2-1 win. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, downtown Long Beach gets yuppies, rocks are mysterious and the Los Angeles Times gets a little help trying to do what we thought it was supposed to do. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

A 25-year-old man who worked in a temporary post as a teacher's aide at Gratts Elementary School in the Westlake district was arrested this morning on suspicion of committing lewd acts on children. The suspect, Jorge Dominguez, was subsequently terminated by the Los Angeles Unified School District. more ›

Remember Harry Burkhart, the man accused of setting dozens of fires in Los Angeles around last New Year's weekend? His mother, 53-year-old Dorothee, is still facing extradition to her native Germany, where she is wanted on multiple fraud charges, including not paying for her own breast implants. more ›

The never-ending war between "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis and Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn continued today when a judge decided to send the archrivals back to trial to settle a defamation lawsuit against Francis more ›

The company behind all of those 1-800-GET-THIN commercials, the ones that run in high rotation on daytime TV with that catchy jingle, "Let your new life begin. Call...", is getting sweated by the federal Food and Drug Administration to correct misleading claims in its advertising. more ›

A horse that got spooked during an oceanside photo shoot near Santa Barbara had to be rescued from the sea after it ran further and further into the ocean until it was barely visible. "Air of Temptation," who goes by the name William, was a model for a group of photographers, who got spooked during the shoot and ran into the ocean. more ›

The parents of two graduate students from China who were shot to death off-campus last month have filed a wrongful death suit against USC claiming that the school doesn't provide enough security for its students off-campus. Ming Qu and Ying Wu were 23-year-old electrical engineering students from China who were shot during around 1 am during a downpour on April 11. more ›

After Fish and Game officials tagged and removed one Glendale-frequenting 500-pound black bear last month, another has made his or her way to the area this week, reports KTLA. The new Glendale bear was spotted in the 2500 block of Chevy Chase Drive on Monday and Tuesday nights. more ›

Seven deputies from the Los Angeles County sheriff's gang unit were put on paid leave today because they are suspected of forming an internal gang of their own that celebrates shootings and wears matching skull tattoos. more ›

You read that right: Rocks collected by a woman and her kids at an Orange County beach somehow combusted inside her cargo shorts. more ›

Oklahoma City Thunder defeat LA Lakers 77-75. The Lakers played the game they needed to play. They slowed the tempo, turned the Thunder into a jump-shot team and limited the transition buckets. Despite all of that, the Lakers still lost. more ›

What the Kings are doing in this postseason is nothing short of amazing. Not only are they setting records, but they are also winning a portion of the hearts of Angelenos echoing the 1993 team. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a new way of limiting the weed market, plus a Navy ship collision and some college graduations. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

In the days following Junior Seau's death, one person saw fit to burglarize the former NFL player's house, reports the AP. The thief, who struck on May 7, snuck in through a doggie door, made his or her way to a garage, and grabbed a $500 bike that belonged to a friend of Seau's. more ›

A mailer sent out on behalf of a Deborah Pauly, a candidate for the Orange County Board of Supervisors features the face of the former governor of Alabama George Wallace. If you need a refresher on your Civil Rights era history, Wallace was famous for taking a stand in front of the University of Alabama in 1963 to prevent black students from attending. more ›

A former accountant for the Brea-based "Sweet Life" bakery chain was caught with her hands in the cookie jar and arrested on multiple counts of alleged fraud baked into an elaborate embezzlement scheme. more ›

A new spoof video lampoons the NIMBYism of the Beverly Hills-ers who don't want the subway there via a singing hillbilly who points out all the great reasons why (wink, wink) Metro should leave their Hills alone. more ›

New Yorker Craig Dershowitz has gone to extreme lengths to get his puppy back from his ex-girlfriend who moved out to California with the dog last year. He hired two private investigators, filed a lawsuit that has so far cost him $60K in legal fees and now he's even asked for donations to win back his "kidnapped" puppy Knucks. more ›

The children of a deceased woman filed a lawsuit against the Rose Hills Memorial Park near Whittier today for allegedly placing their mother in the wrong casket, wearing someone else's clothes, and burying her when she wasn't supposed to be buried. more ›

Bullying knows no bounds, and it happens in the animal kingdom too as we witnessed last month when a wayward dolphin in Bolsa Chica was forced back into the shallow waters by her jerk pod mates. more ›

Last month was Distracted Driving Awareness Month and to commemorate the occasion officers handed out a record number of tickets to distracted drivers in California. Altogether law enforcement agencies handed out 57,000 tickets for trying to text or talk on their cell phones last month. more ›

Authorities say they are investigating the discovery of a man found fatally shot in the head in the Silver Lake area. The man, who was in his 30s, was discovered about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Allesandro Street, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. more ›

Cathy Thomas, the mother of mentally ill transient Kelly Thomas, has accepted a $1 million settlement from the city of Fullerton stemming from his 2011 beating death while in a confrontation with local police officers. more ›

The driver of a Lincoln Town Car used by a livery service smashed the vehicle into a business described as an exotic car shop early this morning. The crash left some of the fancy cars damaged, a passenger injured, and the driver up and left the scene. more ›

Boxer Manny Pacquiao's recent remarks regarding same-sex marriage has gotten him into some hot water, and out of one of L.A.'s trendiest shopping destinations. more ›

Stick a fork in them, the Coyotes are done. Granted the Kings only have a 2-0 series lead thanks to Jeff Carter's hat trick. But the clawing desperation shown by the Coyotes and their cheap hits in the latter stages of the Kings' victory was an indication that this was over. more ›

How do you solve a pitcher like Chad Billingsley? The lack of consistency is enough to make managers go mad. We can file the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks as maddening. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got a sad story about a beloved pet, kids getting into some "Sabotage," and a line of pre-made cocktails with a "Jersey Shore" connection, along with more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Sunday May 20 is this year's first solar eclipse, and Angelenos will get the chance to see the celestial event--just don't look directly at it! more ›

Authorities have turned their sights to a second landfill where perhaps they might find the bodies of two infant boys thought to have been murdered by their own father. The killings, which took place in mid-April, also claimed the life of the boys' mother, whose body was found April 25, and identified at the morgue a week later. more ›

The Los Angeles Times Magazine is shutting down and will publish its final issue on June 3. more ›

How do you feel about Metrolink jacking up their fares? The transit agency has a proposal on the table to implement a system-wide fare increase of 5 to 9 percent, in order to help close an existing $13 million funding gap for the upcoming fiscal year. more ›

Over the weekend Los Angeles County Sherriff's deputies rescued a German Pointer from a locked car when they feared the hot temperature would affect the dog's health. The rescue, however, led to the discovery of over $10,000 in cash and $24,000 worth of marijuana. The dog is doing great, but the cops really (really, really) want to find the owner. more ›

Last week, Cal Poly kids were getting punched for their cell phones, and now, UCLA students are being robbed as they roam the streets surrounding their school in Westwood. According to the Daily Bruin, a total of seven robberies have been reported in the area since the beginning of April. more ›

Angel's outfielder Torii Hunter has taken a leave from the team to deal with the arrest of his son, Darius McClinton-Hunter, on charges of sexual assault. Darius McClinton-Hunter, 17, lives in McKinney, Texas and attends Prosper High School. Along with five other young men, he's charged with assaulting a fellow student, reports the Associated Press. McClinton-Hunter has been a star on the school's football team, and has had scholarship offers from several Division 1 schools. more ›

If you have to drive in, to, from, near, or around Downtown L.A. this weekend, well...don't. Because traffic is probably going to blow. That's the official word (with some poetic license) from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who have their eye on four upcoming major events that will have the streets clogged with people taking part in the festivities. more ›

A teacher was removed from a North Hollywood middle school classroom yesterday for alleged misconduct. more ›

If you were worried that your local bomb squad wasn't on top of things, fret not -- a team of explosives experts in Riverside County is so ready to act that they blew up a suspicious-looking iPad case belonging to one unlucky musician over the weekend. more ›

Google muscled its way into more Venice Beach real estate and will take over Gold's Gym, the local landmark and "mecca of bodybuilding," in July 2014. more ›

Oklahoma City Thunder defeat LA Lakers 119-90. With the exception of the diehard myopic Lakers' fans, no one expected a Laker victory in this game just two days after an emotional Game 7 win. But no one expected all the ugliness that bared its teeth in Oklahoma City. more ›

A day after I started wondering whether the Dodgers can be considered great this early in the season, circumstances will require for them to be great just to make it through a considerable stretch of games. A hint of what games will have to look like came in the Dodgers 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a mom gets turned down by Playboy, beach dwellers get bike racks, and LAUSD gets suggestions. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

A couple has been arrested after they allegedly robbed a mom in a parking lot then hit her with their car while trying to make a quick getaway, reports KTLA. The mom, whose name hasn't been released, told police that she was walking through the lot in San Jacinto with her three small children when she was approached by a woman later identified as Lakeisha Pinkney. more ›

Authorities in West Hollywood went into a locked car Sunday to rescue a dog stuck inside, and ended up discovering a pile of cash and a bunch of marijuana. more ›

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission approved a lease agreement today that gives USC control of day-to-day operations. more ›

Governor Jerry Brown released his May budget revision, and friends, it's not pretty. Our fearless leader is hoping to address the state's $16 million deficit by cutting programs like Medi-Cal, asking state workers to take a pay cut, and reducing spending on in-home services. more ›

The search for Erik Affholter, a former wide receiver for USC and the Green Bay Packers, was called off today after authorities learned that he contacted his family and was safe. more ›

Although a total of 1,673 firearms were voluntarily taken out of homes and off the streets of Los Angeles Saturday during the annual citywide gun "buyback" event, this year saw the lowest turnout in the program's four-year history. more ›

Santa Monica started to install 6,000 new "smart" parking meters today that will wipe out any extra time left when a car leaves. No wonder L.A. beach dwellers are such curmudgeons. more ›

A new study from Coastal Living Magazine ranked the top 15 happiest seaside towns in America, and none of Los Angeles' beach cities made the cut. 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 ›

Whale watchers caught a glimpse of a basking shark cruising around near Long Beach this weekend. more ›

Authorities Sunday afternoon responded to a "found grenade" call from the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Palos Verdes Estates. The grenade was found along the Banyan Grove Trail, adjacent to Crenshaw Boulevard, says the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. more ›

LA Kings defeat Phoenix Coyotes 4-2. One week off didn't matter to the Kings as they continued where they left off winning Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. They went into Glendale, Ariz. and thoroughly dominated the Coyotes in all three zones becoming just the fifth team in NHL history to win their first six games in the playoffs. more ›

Entering Sunday's matinee the Dodgers had a Major League-best 22-11 record. There has been a healthy dose of skepticism concerning the team given the level of competition they have faced and the overachieving performances. However the Dodgers 11-5 win over the Colorado Rockies showed they have something a little more. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, who is not getting endorsed for District Attorney, Frank Romero has some new work and a video shows how bicycles were made back in the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

This week's edition of Overheard in L.A. features snippets of conversation overheard from auditions, former acquaintances of Phil Spector and how the Biggie vs. 2pac question is affecting life Silver Lake. more ›

More than 600 weapons were turned in during the first hour of the fourth year of Los Angeles' gun buyback program. The program allows owners to trade their weapons in for a gift card without having to answer any questions. more ›

Today the driver of a silver Lexus rammed through the wall of a La Puente backyard and went for a dip in the pool. It sounds like the driver survived okay but he or she will charged with driving under the influence. more ›

A football player for the University of Idaho was shot to death during a party at the Brewery Lofts in Lincoln Heights, according to news reports. Ken McRoyal, 22, was fatally shot in the chest at 1:30 am while he was at a party last night. more ›

LA Lakers defeat Denver Nuggets 96-87. What a difference a Game 7 makes. While Andrew Bynum had to eat his words about close out games sometimes being easy the last two games, the entire Laker squad showed up to finally advance to the second round of the playoffs. more ›

"It's been one of the things we've tried to hang our hat on: pitching and defense," Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly told reporters after the game. The Dodgers did just that edging the Colorado Rockies 2-1 in a pitchers' duel. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, La Puente considers a name change, James Franco is big at MOCA and thoughts about Bobbi Kristina's turn on reality TV. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Want to get mom a present for tomorrow without paying a dime? Take her to the Santa Monica Pier tomorrow where moms ride for free all day just for being moms. (But we can't promise there won't be a line.) more ›

Authorities are looking for a 35-year-old FBI agent who was reported missing on Friday morning. FBI Special Agent Stephen Ivens was reported missing around 7 am Friday morning and hasn't been heard from since. Authorities are especially worried because the agent seemed despondent and possibly suicidal before he went missing more ›

It was a close call for Boone the husky who noticed a rattler in a Monrovia backyard last week. Boone managed to warn his owner 14-year-old Daniel Whitman that something wasn't right in the backyard. more ›

John Travolta's antics on the massage table got him blacklisted from the spa of Fifth Avenue hotel for years, according to a fourth man who is stepping forward to complain about the star's allegedly creepy behavior. more ›

Two local students studying abroad in New Zealand were killed when a van full of students overturned and crashed on a highway last Saturday. Austin Brashears of Huntington Beach and Roch Jauberty of Los Angeles— both 21— were killed last Saturday on their way to a hike. more ›

Texas Rangers defeat LA Angels 10-3 more ›

"Honestly it's amazing," Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly on Colorado Rockies' aged starter Jamie Moyer comeback. Unfortunately for the crafty lefty and the Rockies, Mattingley's team disregarded that sentiment punishing him for five runs helping lift their own crafty lefty Chris Capuano to a 7-3 victory. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, more clues about the missing Fox executive, where Obama should go next time he's in town and how to ask a date to prom in the 21st century. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

An Orange County high school student who wrote a paper on reproduction went straight to the source -- 14-year-old Rachel Blindell interviewed Nadya Suleman. Blindell's paper was for the 2012 National History Day competition, whose theme was "Revolution, Reaction, Reform." The teenager said that she decided to focus on the medical revolution, which turned into the advance in reproductive technology, which, obviously, led to Suleman. more ›

Hollywood tour buses are getting special treatment from local parking cops, according to an investigation. While folks like you and me stand a good chance of getting ticketed within minutes of our meter expiring, these tour buses can park at meters without paying a dime for hours. more ›

Angelenos, if you are at a total loss as to what to get your momma for Mother's Day (hint: it's this Sunday) and you happen to own a gun you don't want to keep around, you could trade it in Saturday for a $100 or $200 gift card at the city's annual gun buyback event. more ›

A dude in Orange County tried to rob a bank but it ended up being a total bummer. The dude handed the teller a note, saying he was robbing the bank. The clerk announced that actually they were fresh out of money. more ›

Who among us hasn't wondered if it might be faster to walk or bike on the 101 South at that stretch just before it hits downtown? We obtained a photo of someone who decided to give it a shot near the Silver Lake Blvd. exit. more ›

It comes with the turf, we suppose, if you trim trees for a living--there's always the chance you're going to get stuck. Such is the case with one tree trimmer who happens to be up a palm in Sherman Oaks this afternoon. more ›

A pair of F-16's swooped in to intercept a small plane that flew into the restricted airspace just as President Barack Obama was trying to leave town this morning. more ›

The numbers are in, and they are about $2 million higher than first anticipated: Occupy L.A.'s City Hall encampment, and its ultimate clearing, cost Los Angeles taxpayers $4.7 million, according to a report released today from City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana. more ›

Gray whales are migrating up north from the warm waters of Baja California where they breed around this time of the year, but on the way they face a dangerous predator: transient orcas. more ›

Riverside County could soon be getting a little bit quieter. After discovering that houses in residential neighborhoods are being routinely used for massive parties, county officials are looking for a way to ban such goings-on. more ›

The man whose body was discovered early Thursday morning at the side of the Angeles Crest Highway about three miles north of La Cañada Flintridge has been identified as Noe Vasquez. more ›

Former Los Angeles Police Department detective Stephanie Lazarus appeared emotionless in court this morning as she was handed down her sentence of 27 years to life in state prison for the shooting death of her ex-lover and his new wife in 1986. more ›

A new mom in Orange County will in all likelihood be celebrating Mother Day behind bars after she told police that the father of her baby is her teenage daughter's boyfriend. If it's true, not only is that totally skeevy, it's against the law since the boy is only 16. more ›

A man holding a woman and two children hostage in Venice was shot in the face by police, reports City News Service. The incident went down at about 1:15 this morning, after a neighbor heard a woman screaming for help and called the cops. When they showed up, they were able to see the suspect pinning a woman against a wall inside the house at Penmar Avenue and Lake Street. They heard a gunshot, and called in the SWAT team. more ›

President Barack Obama's 10th visit to Los Angeles was pretty much a slam dunk, thanks to an impressive donation tally from last night's star-studded fundraiser soiree at the home of George Clooney. more ›

Denver Nuggets defeat LA Lakers 113-96. Kobe Bryant spent the day with "gastroenteritis." In normal terms, Kobe was puking his guts out all day. It seemed oddly reminiscent of Game 2 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings when he scored 22 points in a 96-90 loss. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, we have some complicated family situations, a message from Hollywood and Highland and the winners of the George Clooney sweepstakes announced. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

As we speak President Barack Obama should be on plane bound for Los Angeles. When he touches down, he'll head over to George Clooney's place for a fundraiser that will bring quite a bit of cash into the campaign coffers. But who else in Los Angeles is giving money during this campaign year? more ›

Downed power lines have completely shut down traffic on the 405 in both directions near Fountain Valley at the Magnolia Street exit. The lines came down around 2:45 pm and officials from CHP hope to open it up again by 4:30 pm more ›

The Justice Department cited an example of a Maricopa County officer slammed a pregnant Latina woman—who was in her driveway—into her car repeatedly. more ›

We got an update today from the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control about Gordo, the pit bull mix puppy who was rescued from an abusive owner and needed serious medical attention. more ›

Los Angeles tech startups get five minutes to pitch their business idea to investors at today's LA Demo Day event in Santa Monica. (Think ABC's "Shark Tank," but with apps instead of baked goods or baby gadgets.) more ›

Don't be surprised if you get a phone call from pro basketball star and former L.A. Laker Shaquille O'Neal. The retired NBA player has just recorded a "robo-call" touting his support for Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's bid for District Attorney. more ›

Rather than flee the Obamajam, a group of protesters will head into the eye of the storm to confront Obama about his policies affecting financially-strapped home-owners—and the banks they say have gotten a free pass. more ›

Believe it or not, the beaches of Southern California weren't always a big draw. But like everything else in Southern California, real estate developers created a big push to draw tourists to the coast, and promote new coastal developments in Venice, Redondo Beach and Long Beach. more ›

A man described as about 30 years old with straight, slicked back black hair has been riding his bike up to women in the Santa Monica area and groping them, reports NBC Los Angeles. The so-called "ride-by groper" has assaulted at least six women since January. He's doing his dirty deeds on a mountain bike, upon which he promptly flees the scene. more ›

This week a graphic video of showing police officers beating, kicking and Tasering Kelly Thomas was shown in court. A user named LAPD_Redditor logged on to Reddit to share his thoughts on the video from the perspective of a police officer. more ›

We love our smartphones in California, and as the findings of a just-released study indicate, we love using them while we're behind the wheel more now than previously. more ›

Two students at Cal Poly Pomona reportedly had their cell phones stolen on two separate occasions after a guy walked up to them, punched them in the face and ran. According to the school's website, the first incident happened on April 30. A young white man approached a student who was walking across a field on campus and asked to use his phone. When the student handed it over, the suspect punched him and fled. more ›

Wednesday, local authorities announced they'd finally made an arrest of an arson suspect involved in the taxicab torching during the mayhem in the city streets after the Los Angeles Lakers 2010 championship win. more ›

Authorities shut down an illegal "pill mill" in Van Nuys yesterday that sold Oxy to addicts and dealers. more ›

A motorist traveling on the Angeles Crest Highway about three miles north of the Foothill (210) Freeway spotted what he believed to be a dead body at the side of the road at around 5:45 this morning. more ›

LA Angels defeat Minnesota Twins 6-2. Who knew the Angels had 14 hits in them? And who knew the Angels could get all 14 hits in one game? But they did just that winning this series. Angels' starter Ervin Santana went 7 1/3 innings giving up the two runs in his first win of the season. Jordan Walden walked one batter in the ninth inning in a non-save situation. Albert Pujols went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI lifting his batting average to .198. more ›

It's funny how the Major League's third oldest ballpark celebrating its 50th birthday throughout the season has been the setting of the wave of the future. First there were the Major League debuts of the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore. Then last Wednesday there was much hoped announcement of the Guggenheim ownership era. On this Wednesday night came the debut of Scott Van Slyke for the Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Silver Lake gets a new eatery, Britney Spears signs a new contract, and a local high school will get new drug-sniffing dogs. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Police officers say they have closed their investigation into the case of a biker Susanna Schick, who says that she was hit by a car while she was cycling down Spring Street in a crash that left her hospitalized. more ›

President Obama is coming to L.A. tomorrow for what's expected to be an epic fundraiser at George Clooney's house. For the civilian population, it could mean an epic traffic jam. Clooney lives in Studio City, near Wilacre park. According to Kevin Roderick of LA Observed, all we know about Obama's travel plans are that he'll be landing at LAX at 6:20 then heading to Clooney's. more ›

Two Fullerton police officers will stand trial for the fatal beating of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill homeless man. more ›

A gang member was convicted of first degree murder of a promising football player and high school student Jamiel Shaw, who was gunned down just outside his home more than four years ago. more ›

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department busted a ring of bicycle thieves who used Craigslist and Facebook to prey on victims. Detectives held a news conference today to display some of the stolen bikes hoping to find their owners. more ›

The body of a UCSD student who went missing during a hike with his family three weeks was finally discovered after a private investigator lowered a camera 40 feet down into a mud cave near where he was last seen. more ›

Cal State students are protesting -- some are on a kale-juice hunger strike -- as the board of trustees votes today on a proposal that could give university presidents a 10 percent boost to their $250,000 to $350,000 salaries. more ›

With a little help from some welders, a young dolphin that had managed to become trapped in a construction zone in the Long Beach Harbor is now swimming free. The dolphin had become trapped in walled area built for the foundation of a wharf. more ›

There are still few clues about what happened to Gavin Smith, a 20th Century Fox Executive, who has been missing for over a week. Smith was last seen leaving a friend's home in Oak Park, where he was staying around 10 pm on a Tuesday night. more ›

The Board of Education for the Los Angeles Unified School District approved a proposal yesterday to change graduation requirements so that all students will be eligible for California state university systems. more ›

Denver Nuggets defeat LA Lakers 102-99. Andrew Bynum before the game said, "Close-out games are actually kind of easy." Easy enough for Bynum since he all but disappeared getting outplayed by JaVale McGee. McGee had 21 points and 14 rebounds while Bynum had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kobe Bryant did all he could with 43 points, but a last second three just rimmed out giving the Nuggets the Game 5 win. more ›

Back in the late 1960's and the 1970's, Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver was hesitant using sacrifice bunts saying, "Your most precious possessions on offense are your 27 outs." In 2012, Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly eschewed that maxim using the sacrifice bunt in the seventh and eighth innings to squash rallies allowing the San Francisco Giants to win the game 2-1. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we've got a whole lot of people at Disneyland, a 6-week rest for the ol' Red Car line, a sweet potato story, and more news of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

A trapped dolphin was spotted in the Long Beach Harbor today. No, not the bullied dolphin who strayed from her pod in Bolsa Chica. This young dolphin appears to be trapped within a wharf construction zone. more ›

New details brought to light in the case of the death of an Orange County mother and her infant sons have changed the scope of the search for the missing bodies of the two youngest victims. more ›

Organized pot growers are heading to the suburbs where home foreclosures have left a sprawling oasis of spacious, unsuspecting locations for marijuana grow homes. more ›

Workers at the Port of Los Angeles have been noticing a funky stank the past few days, and in response to reports filed, authorities launched an investigation and discovered there was definitely something afoul. more ›

Several Los Angeles animal volunteer groups are participating in Back In Black 2, a month-long adoption event to raise awareness about the awesomeness of black cats and dogs and to help find them loving homes. more ›

The body found Sunday by fishermen in the waters off the Coronado Islands has been positively identified as that of Theo Mavromatis, the 49-year-old skipper of the yacht that crashed during a popular race, killing all occupants aboard. more ›

Today brings more trouble for John Travolta, who is facing a second lawsuit from a male massage therapist claiming he was more interested in masturbation than massage during a recent encounter. more ›

If all goes according to city officials' plans, come this summer you'll be able to zip line your way over Venice Beach. The proposed zip line would be strung between the northern edge of Windward Plaza and the southern edge -- basically, between Sidewalk Café and the basketball courts, according to Yo! Venice. It would be about 750 feet long. more ›

Stock up on quarters. Not all L.A. parking meters are credit-card equipped and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is seeking to add another $10 onto parking ticket fines. more ›

How's your day going so far? Need a little pick-me-up? How about this totally adorbs video that captures the moment a baby orangutan gets the chance to explore on its own for the first time. more ›

The Huntington Beach City Council has approved an ordinance that will prevent pet stores from selling dogs and cats procured from mills. The OC Register reports that the council voted 4-3 on Monday in favor of the ban, which they've been considering since March. more ›

Students at California State University campuses protested as the Board of Trustees met today to discuss a controversial plan to increase presidential pay amid tuition hikes and a possible enrollment freeze. more ›

Celebrities are rushing to the aide of suffering civilians right and left these days. Ryan Gosling kicked off the trend by pulling a woman out of the path of a speeding taxi, then Patrick Dempsey pried a teenager from a wrecked car, and now, Mila Kunis has saved a man's life who was working at her house. more ›

The Los Angeles Unified School District school board will meet today to discuss an "educational equality" policy that was designed to help all students get a fair shot at college but it could make high school graduation requirements more challenging. more ›

Well, L.A., the breastfeeding wars have finally landed on our soil. It began innocently enough. On the afternoon of May 5, Katie Jane Hamilton, a young mom from Redondo Beach, was visiting LACMA with her family when she realized it was time for her 21-month-old daughter to nap. She began nursing the child to sleep -- and that's when, she says, a female security guard walked up to her and asked her to cover up. more ›

A violent video of police officers beating, kicking and then Tasering the schizophrenic homeless man as he cried out for his dad was shown in court yesterday. The preliminary hearing will determine if two Fullerton officers will stand trial for the death of Kelly Thomas. more ›

A 17-year-old boy was shot six times in Norwalk in what officials believe was a gang-related attack. City News Service reports that the boy, whose name hasn't been released, was hit with six bullets in the abdomen at about 8:45 p.m. yesterday. more ›

LA Clippers defeat Memphis Grizzlies 101-97 (OT). Blake Griffin led all scorers with 30 points and fouled out in overtime to help lead the Clippers to a 3-1 series victory over the Grizzlies. Caron Butler, broken left hand and all, scored 14 points while Chris Paul added 27. Of course, no one at Dodger Stadium seemed to care about the proceedings. more ›

Monday was a day of change and optimism for the Dodgers. While the game wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination, the Dodgers celebrated the winds of change with a 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Mila Kunis has a stalker, a "Real Houswife" sings, Kelly Thomas trial testimony and more. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Ahh, real estate. The game where it's all about "location, location, location!" And, of course money. So: Recognize any of these locations? This is the H.L. Stevenson survey map of Los Angeles from 1884, showing all the land parcels and tracts. more ›

Medical marijuana defendants Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine head back to Long Beach court tomorrow morning for the start of a second trial after the first one was thrown out in April by Superior Court Judge Jean Comparet-Cassani. more ›

Junior Seau's family announced last week that they would donate the deceased football star's brain to science to be studied, but now, they've told the press that they're going to reconsider the decision. more ›

A 92-year-old San Diego woman who sold $40 suicide kits was sentenced to five years' supervised probation today for failing to pay taxes on her home business. more ›

Rumors about Hollywood's leading men being secretly gay aren't exactly new, but a recent allegation against John Travolta suggests that the star was particularly brazen with a man he had just met. An unnamed masseur is suing Travolta, claiming that during a routine massage, the actor tried to have sex with him. more ›

The man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend and taking the lives of their two young sons has been charged with three counts of murder. Shazer Fernando Limas, 31, could face the death penalty for the crimes. more ›

Venice Beach residents living near Rose Ave. are losing their patience with the influx of homeless encampments concentrated around Third Ave., which some have dubbed Skid Rose. more ›

If you're in need of a good freak out, you might want to check out the scare-tactic video released a few days ago by opponents of Metro's proposal to put the Westside Extension subway tunnel underneath Beverly Hills High School. more ›

The 14-year-old boy who allegedly shot his father, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, will enter a plea today. He's being charged with murder and may be tried as an adult. 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 ›

Fishermen near the Coronado Islands found a body floating in the water Sunday, and it may be that of a missing Redondo Beach skipper whose boat crashed during an annual regatta on April 28. more ›

Cadaver dogs are headed back to the Brea landfill again today to resume the search for the bodies of two young boys who may have been killed and disposed of by their own father. more ›

A teen paddleboarder had a "close encounter" of the shark kind while in the water off the coast of Santa Catalina Island over the weekend, but luckily the only victim was her board. more ›

LA Lakers defeat Denver Nuggets 92-88. The game was tied at 86-86 with a minute left. Three pointers by Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake sank the Nuggets in their hopes of tying the series. Not even a Danilo Gallinari flop could slow the Lakers down. Kobe Bryant had 22 points, Andrew Bynum had 19 points while Blake had 10 and Jordan Hill had 12 off the bench. Lakers lead the series 3-1. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Giovanni Ramirez talks about life after Bryan Stow's beating, a TV show taking place in Los Angeles is shot in Canada and the lawsuit we all knew was coming got filed. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

This week's edition of Overhead in L.A. includes overheard snippets of conversation about Cinco De Mayo, romance and colon hydrotherapy. Our Overheard in L.A. feature relies on you to send us the strange conversations you overhear in this city. Send them our way at tips@laist.com. more ›

A sign on the glass during warmups summed up what Kings fans were feeling: "Finish This." For the first time since 1993 and for only the second time in franchise history, the Kings are in the Conference Finals. more ›

Michael Mersola was the executive of a wealthy construction and real estate family business in Burbank. But then in the early 1990s, there were reports that Mersola was hanging around high schools in Burbank and luring girls with pot, housing and cash. more ›

Last night the moon got up close and personal with the Earth. more ›

The body of a missing Orange County woman turned up in the county morgue, but her two sons are still missing. Authorities had been looking for Arlet Hernandez Contreras, 31, ever since someone sent to clean the Orange apartment where she lived with her two sons found a blood-stained carpet last week. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Shaq gets a doctorate, Coldplay fans get ripped off and Amanda Bynes clips a car again. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Gavin Smith, an executive for 20th Century Fox, disappeared without warning and without a trace on Tuesday night—and he hasn't been heard from since. Smith was last seen leaving his home in Oak Park in Ventura county, but he didn't give anyone a clue about where he might be or what might cause him to disappear. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, a long lemon grows in Silver Lake, LiLo is off the hook and a New York Post columnist defends himself. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Two days after the revolutionary Black Riders Liberation Party took a leading role in Tuesday’s May Day activities, the home of one of the organization’s leaders was targeted by Los Angeles police and parole officers in what the group is calling retaliatory raid. more ›

In today's creepy teacher news, an Irvine man who was arrested earlier this month for trying to set up a time to have sex with a female student and sending her naked pictures has been charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor. Dominic Witter, 25, allegedly got in touch with his 15-year-old victim via text. He sent nude photos of himself then asked for pictures of her in return. more ›

A gray whale first spotted mid-April entangled in over 120 feet of rope in San Onofre has finally been completely freed. more ›

A man called police this morning to report that he had just stabbed his mother to death. Officers found out that a dog at the home had also been stabbed. more ›

Two men went missing from an Echo Park mental hospital today, and police are hoping for the public's help in finding them. NBC Los Angeles reports that James Sheppard and Christopher Bednar were both reported to be gone from the Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center at around 9:20 p.m. yesterday. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on LAist.

• Sound of My Voice, in theaters now. more ›

The bizarre case of a man accused of posing as a spiritual healer so that he could to lure a woman to a hotel room and rape her just got even worse: the suspect allegedly had another victim. more ›

The 9-1-1 phone call made by Junior Seau's girlfriend after she discovered that he had shot himself in the chest has been released and is available on TMZ's website. more ›

The 14-year-old son of an ICE agent shot his dad after being disciplined, law enforcement sources say. The boy, whose name has not been released, is suspected of fatally shooting his father Myron W. Chisem, 42, in the head at his home in Carson. more ›

Over 40 former Miramonte Elementary School teachers and staff members rallied outside Augusta Hawkins High School yesterday, speaking publicly for the first time since being relocated in February. The group was moved from Miramonte to Augusta Hawkins following the arrest of two of the school's teachers, Mark Berndt and Martin Springer, each on separate charges of sexual misconduct with students. more ›

ho stole the cookie from the cookie jar? A Girl Scout troop leader stole the cookie from the cookie jar! Troop leader Ana Isabel Juarez, 30, was arrested after she was accused of stealing $6,000 from cookie sales from her 6-year-old daughter's troop. more ›

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife, Flora, have pleaded not guilty this morning to re-filed charges of perjury and fraud, stemming from allegations the couple lived outside the district he represents and lied about his address. more ›

Everybody loves Roscoe's chicken and waffles, but not everybody adores it so much that they would get an homage to it permanently inked on their skin. But that's what we have celebrities for, and so true to form, news broke today that NBA player Brandon Jennings is in possession of a giant tattoo of a chicken atop a waffle, with the words "Legend" and "Roscoe's" above it. more ›

Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau's family has decided to let his brain be studied by researchers, reports CNN. The ex-football star killed himself this week with a gunshot to the chest. Seau didn't leave a suicide note, but the method he used to take his own life mirrors that of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson. more ›

Authorities in Orange County have launched a search for the bodies of a missing woman and her two young sons, and the woman's ex-boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of murder. more ›

Toronto Blue Jays defeat LA Angels 5-0. It seems the Angels have a hard time beating teams with a winning record. Fresh off their sweep of the lowly Twins and Jered Weaver's no-hitter, the Angels mustered only three hits as Blue Jays' starter Brandon Morrow tossed a complete game shutout. Albert Pujols went 0-for-3 and now has a batting average of .202. more ›

Kings' fans aren't used to this. The Kings have been to the Conference Finals only once. And as the Kings were putting the finishing touches on their 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues to give them a 3-0 series lead, the inevitable chants started up: "Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!" more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Eli Broad still wants the Times, Anna Paquin swears she's bi and plans for Junior Seau's funeral are underway. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

District Attorney Steve Cooley filed perjury and fraud charges against City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon today—the exact same charges that a Superior Court judge threw out just hours earlier today. more ›

An autopsy conducted on the body of Junior Seau confirms what was suspected: the former NFL star died yesterday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. It will take a few weeks until reports from toxicology reports conducted on his body will be available. more ›

A man caught on camera whacking a female police officer on the head with a snare drum was arrested and identified. Police officers identified Brian Mendoza, 23, as the man in the video above who took a "cheap shot" at a police officer. more ›

Looks like Glen Bearian has some competition -- a mama bear and her two cubs have climbed a tree in Altadena, reports NBC Los Angeles. Officials think they're foraging for food. more ›

As his family, his Chargers teammates and the San Diego community continuity continue to reel over news of this death, details are emerging about football player Junior Seau's final hours. His ex-wife Gina Seau told San Diego Union-Tribune that she and "their three children all received texts from him Tuesday with the same message: 'I love you.'" Outside his home, Seau's mother wailed, "Junior, Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?" more ›

A college student left in a jail cell who drank his own urine to survive five days without food or water has filed a lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration. more ›

Twelve students at Cal State colleges have gone on a hunger strike to protest increasing fees and tuition, reports the San Fernando Valley Sun. The strike began yesterday, and will last until next Wednesday. more ›

It's almost May 5, and we all know what that means: an excuse to get annihilated as we remember Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862! As you celebrate the strength of the armed forces of our neighbors to the south, bear in mind that our very own protectors and defenders will also be out in full force on this special day. more ›

There are many types of people to whom Los Angeles appeals: those seeking to make it in Hollywood, for instance, or those looking for a change from East Coast drudgery. We never realized, though, that there's a stark breakdown in age and gender when it comes to which Americans would choose to live out their lives in our fair city -- but according to Vanity Fair, there is. more ›

Teachers who were removed from Miramonte Elementary School en masse in February following the arrest of two fellow educators were openly unhappy with the way the crisis was handled, and today, they'll speak out publicly for the first time about their ordeal, reports KPCC. more ›

A 14-year-old boy was arrested this morning on suspicion of shooting and killing his father, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent. The victim was found in his home in Carson after a 9-1-1 call was made to authorities just after 9:00 p.m. last night, according to City News Service. The call was allegedly placed by the son. His father had one gunshot wound to the head, and was declared dead at the scene. more ›

In tonight's Extra, Extra, learn how to make fried chicken and waffles flavored ice cream. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

The hilly 'hoods of San Pedro have become a mecca for "hill bombers," or skateboarders who fearlessly zoom down hills at dangerous speeds, and the Los Angeles City Council is not having the reckless recreational trend in their territory. more ›

Big box stores are scaling down and making a big push into the city of Los Angeles. Today Target announced the third location for its new project CityTarget, which is a whittled-down version of the big box store. more ›

Police in San Diego County's Oceanside are investigating a possible shooting involving former NFL star Junior Seau. The details surrounding the situation are quite murky. Law enforcement officials told TMZ 43-year-old Seau is dead, but the information has yet to be confirmed. more ›

A 22-year-old substitute teacher at a La Mirada middle school was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of lewd acts with a 13-year-old female student, including "sexting" and the exchange of sexually graphic photographs. Taylor Welch was dismissed from his teaching duties at Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle School after school officials contacted the sheriff's Special Victims Bureau last Tuesday regarding the allegations. more ›

Officials let a local teenager off after he engaged in an activity that violates federal regulations: flying a kite in a park. Sheriff's deputies saw a 19-year-old man flying his kite at Bonelli Park in San Dimas recently. more ›

George Clooney could end up hosting one of the biggest one-night fundraisers in presidential history. How he ended up being chosen as the host of the May 10 fundraiser for Obama had to do more with the actor's pad in Studio City than his good looks or loyalty to the president. more ›

A brave 7-year-old boy remains hospital bedridden after suffering a rattlesnake bite while playing in his family's Hidden Hills backyard Saturday. The light in the story is that the boy survived and also powered through his wound to save his 2-year-old brother from being bitten. more ›

UC San Diego senior Daniel Chong, detained in a drug bust April 21, says he was left alone in his tiny federal holding cell for five days, forgotten by the agents who put him there. During his confinement he drank his own urine, and inadvertently ate shards of glass and methamphetamine discarded in the cell. more ›

The "4 Winds" general strike caravan that blew across Los Angeles Tuesday did so peacefully with very few arrests and violent confrontations. Thousands of workers, immigrant-rights activists, Occupy L.A. members and other protesters marched and rallied in support of a range of issues, including employment and immigration reform. A total of 13 arrests and one injured police officer have been reported. more ›

LA Lakers defeat Denver Nuggets 104-100. Unsurprisingly the Lakers took Game 2 of this series for a 2-0 series lead as they head for two in Denver. more ›

In today's Extra, Extra we wonder if you if you want to buy Kobe Bryant's mask, party at XIV (again), or adopt a goat. Also: A few more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics). more ›

Mid-afternoon today, a rumor began to swirl on Twitter, and was spread via announcements at May Day protests around the country: "Confirmed. #OccupyLa has effectively shut down LAX." The thing is, that's not even remotely true. more ›

The man accused of stabbing his 9-year-old stepdaughter to death in the parking lot of a Long Beach church was charged today with capital murder and several other counts, which claim he also molested the girl prior to her death. more ›

Avocado Heights is an unincorporated community located in the San Gabriel Valley, and next month its over 15,000 residents are getting a pimped out new park. more ›

A 20-year-old woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to fatally stabbing her newborn baby girl multiple times and hiding the corpse in a closet. The trial of Yoselin Torres Tovar commenced Monday afternoon, and Tovar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday morning, agreeing to an offer by Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy. more ›

A set of May Day protest caravans have begun to arrive in Downtown Los Angeles for their permitted gathering on city streets. more ›

An estimated 10 protesters are facing imminent arrest outside Los Angeles International Airport. The Los Angeles Police Department are working to control the permitted protest, however they are currently directing participants unwilling to be arrested to move aside. more ›

Nearly three tons of a key ingredient of methamphetamine packed in 80 plastic bags en route from China to Mexico were seized by federal agents at LAX. Officials announced the bust Tuesday, noting that two shipments of methylamine chloride, a controlled substance used in the manufacture of pesticides, solvents and pharmaceutical products, were accurately labeled but lacked the required federal Drug Enforcement Administration paperwork. more ›

A paralyzed Israeli engineer recently developed a machine that allows him to walk, and a rehab center in Downey is the first place in the Western U.S. to put what's being called the robotic exo-skeleton to use. KTLA reports that several of the machines, called ReWalks, were donated to the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Each is worth about $85,000. more ›

The Dodgers officially announced the $2 billion sale to Guggenheim Baseball Management on Tuesday. more ›

Police arrested a San Diego man last weekend who was spotted sacrificing his 8-year-old son in a cemetery. Joseph Ramirez, 30, took three of his children on a field trip to Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego Saturday afternoon and began slicing the forearms of his young son. more ›

Peter Ivan McNeal, the former drummer for the band Cake, could be headed back to court in a retrial for charges he molested a 3-year-old girl in a Laurel Canyon home during a 2009 Thanksgiving dinner. more ›

Angry over what they call airlines' dangerous practice of hiring contracted workers at low wages to do tasks like clean out cabins and handle bags, unionized LAX employees went on strike today. Protesters showed up at the airport at a bleary-eyed 3:00 a.m., and will continue picketing throughout the day. more ›

Morning commuters braving Downtown L.A. today have already been detoured around over a dozen street and intersection closures as well as changes and delays in Metro bus services as a result of Tuesday's May Day rallies. And the fun won't stop for commuters until around 7:30 tonight. more ›