Photo by Tyler S. Andrews via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Yet more clues to the horrible Metrolink crash in September. Investigators say that the red light that was ran by the Metrolink train may have been too dim. An Upland teen was definitely NOT feeling the holiday spirit... he was arrested for stealing a Salvation Army kettle outside a supermarket. Another thief tried the same stunt at another location but was... [continue]

Photo by Zabowski from Flickr A police chase in Hollywood left four bystanders hurt. The chase lasted over 8 miles going through Koreatown and Hollywood and finally ended after the LAPD crashed into the fleeing vehicle. Seriously, how cool/scary/freaky/loud was that Space Shuttle landing? Crappy weather and high winds forced NASA to change the landing site from Florida to Southern Cali. BOOM BOOM... A landing that didn't go so well was blamed on faulty... [continue]

Photo by semarr via Flickr The infamous "Black Friday" got the Holiday shopping season started today. Besides a shooting in Santa Ana, things were relatively quiet. Unlike a Wal-Mart in New York where a worker was trampled to death by crazed shoppers. Yikes... In more heart-warming Holiday news, a group of San Fernando sewers and quilters donated their hand-made quilts and blankets to veterans in need. The state is ready to decide whether or... [continue]

Photo by Ron T via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr A small 3.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the nerves of the same Orange County residents that just dealt with the wildfires earlier. No damage or injuries have been reported. The economy has effected everyone and it is now affecting Holiday travel. This is usually the busiest travel time of the year but at LAX, passenger volume is 7.6% lower than this same time... [continue]

Photo by el daverino via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr LA smarts on display again as not one but TWO UCLA students were named Rhodes Scholars. Even more impressively the students were athletes who played Rugby and Football. Congrats to them and UCLA! More UCLA smarts on display... Researchers have not only discovered why people who drink red wine are at less risk of heart disease, they may have discovered a natural... [continue]

Photo by ZigZagLens via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Just in time for the Holidays, the jobless rate in California is its highest in 14 years. 1.5 million people are out of work, with about 500,000 receiving regular unemployment checks. Sigh... Mayor Tony V is looking to trim budgets here in the city too. He is asking for 1% decrease in fire, police and other emergency crew budgets and a 3% decrease... [continue]

Photo by breksquish via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The on going drama... off-screen that is. The Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood studios plan to meet each other and avoid a strike with the help of a mediator. Let's hope this has a happy ending... 60 Redondo Beach Car Wash workers are set to split a $450,000 settlement after it was found the owners shorted the workers wages and intentionally failed to... [continue]

Photo by JT3 11 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr As the fires continue to blaze around Southern Cali, the LAUSD and Pomona School Districts say that they will keep schools open tomorrow, but outdoor activities will be canceled for the day due to poor air quality. Schools in Brea and Yorba Linda will be closed however. The fires have not only closed schools, canceled marathons, closed streets and freeways and suspended... [continue]

Photo by Nuno Oliveira via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr A California man has been indicted on 13 charges stemming from anthrax scares across the country. He was freed (freed really???) after ponying up a $25,000 bond. We dont know if he is the one responsible however for another envelope sent to a Mormon temple in Westwood though. The Federal B.I. said that the envelope was also a hoax. If you saw... [continue]

Photo by filmerp via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr An Orange County pastor has been accused of molesting teenage girl. He apparently kissed her on the mouth "passionately" on a number of occasions. Ugh... The case of the LA County fire official's beating of a puppy, which was put to sleep last week, has now been sent to the District Attorney's office. Assistant LA County Fire Cheif Glynn Johnson hit a 6-month... [continue]

Photo by Nuno Oliveira via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr An intersection in North Hollywood was shut down when a truck carrying liquid oxygen overturned and spilled the chemicals into the street. The HazMat squad came in and cleaned up and only minor injuries related to the accident were reported. A last gasp effort to gather the uncounted votes may not be enough to affect the Proposition 8 outcome. Many late mail-in... [continue]

Photo by Alex de Cordoba via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Apart from being one of the busiest airports on the planet, a CBS special report now shows that LAX now tops the list for lost and stolen baggage. Somehow we are not surprised... Disturbed, but not surprised. The Proposition 8 battle rages on even after the polls closed. Huge rallies and protests have taken place to show people's disappointment in California.... [continue]

Photo by Nuno Olivieira via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The historic victory of Barack Obama has sent people to the newstands in search of a piece of history. Hope you got a copy because they are apparently all out. Talk about taking traffic into your own hands. Two LA transportation engineers pleaded guilty to illegally accessing traffic computers. That's a felony people... But forget that felony... The heinous pigeon feeding crime... [continue]

Photo by bscott224 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Folks are rushing to vote and are expected to turn out in record numbers. So much so that some are worried polling places won't be able to accommodate all the voters. Appointments do speed up the process, unless of course, you don't mind waiting... The OC though is handling the expected crush of voters with pretty unique polling locations. Ahhh the art of... [continue]

Photo by Emmanuel Uche via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr No that wasn't a hallucination this morning, it actually rained. We are gonna need a lot more days like though as the state may be facing a major water shortage next year which could lead to rationing. Of course, at the same time as the city is crying water shortage, they will send officials to cite people for planting drought resistant plants.... [continue]

Photo by wendypants via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr More economic news... bad news. The Governator says that he will have to cut funding within law enforcement, health care and education budgets to cope with the worsening budget deficit. 300 birds that were killed in a Sylmar fire may have been victims of animal abuse. The Department of Animal Services and the LAPD Animal Cruelty Task Force are now investigating. Probably no... [continue]

Photo by sfxeric via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Transporters of UCLA employees have been put on alert to possible firebombs put in place by animal rights extremists. In August, the home of a UC Santa Cruz researcher was firebombed with two adults and two small children inside. Although they were able to escape, researchers who use animals have been put on alert. A step in the right direction or a step... [continue]

Photo by sfxeric via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr A reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the people who doused a homeless man in gasoline and set him afire. The LA City Council approved the $75,000 reward by a unanimous vote and sent it to Mayor Villaraigosa for approval. Gamers, Electronics-Heads and Gadget-Freaks rejoice! E3 will be held in this great city through 2011! In the "What-the-Heck-Were-You-Thinking"... [continue]

Photo by sfxeric via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Some ambitious crazy students at Granada Hills High got a hold of the SAT a day early. Apparently, two students got a hold of the test and three others actually took copies of the test with them. The school was notified by an anonymous e-mail from a hating honest student who complained. Six Flags will be opening a new coaster next spring. It's... [continue]

Photo by Julie Wolfson The largest AIDS fundraiser in Southern California kicked off this morning. Over $60 million has been raised by AIDS Walk Los Angeles since 1985. Today was also a busy day for the LA Coroner as 5 murders in under 24 hours kept personnel working. Seems as if wearing an anti-Obama shirt in school could land you in hot water. The school says its a safety issue, the student, her parents... [continue]