Authorities are warning women in the San Fernando Valley to be on alert for a sexual predator who may have been responsible for at least nine sexual assaults and two attempted kidnappings. more ›

Drivers, if you're hoping to take the Golden State (5) freeway through the Grapevine, it's time to make other plans right now. The California Highway Patrol has closed the 5 Freeway at the Grapevine due to snow. more ›

An investigation is underway at California State University, Northridge, following reports there was a man with a gun inside the campus library. "No weapon was actually seen, although witnesses said the man threatened to take people out, said CSUN spokesperson Shante Morgan," reports NBC Los Angeles. more ›

After nearly a decade, the sun has finally set on the Department of Homeland Security's rainbow of terror color-coded alert system. In the near future, terror as we've feared it will no longer be expressed in terms of the more shocking shades in the spectrum as the department's brand new National Terror Advisory System (NTAS) public guide (pdf) is introduced. more ›

A travel alert has been issued by The State Department for Americans who are in or headed to Europe, reports abc7. "Law enforcement and intelligence sources in Europe said terrorist teams have possibly devised a plan to attack European tourist attractions, airports and hotels." This morning at Los Angeles International Airport, however, "travelers went about their business as usual despite the alert." Flights remain operational, and groups, such as the LA Lakers who are in the UK for pre-season play, have said they won't change plans but will take precaution and employ added security. more ›

If you're heading to the beach this weekend, take note of a warning issued for this weekend from the National Weather Service. more ›

conditions improve." Although the above geographical locations are specific, Fielding says wind can shift the level of dust particles in the air, so everyone should always be aware of their environment. more ›

This rumor has been floating around for years. If you're getting robbed and forced to take out money at an ATM, you can alert police by entering your PIN in reverse, but still get the money out so the bad guy is none the wiser. The locally based Snopes.com calls the rumor false and gives a history of the technology, which was first patented in 1994 by a Chicago businessman, but hasn't found an real-world use. Even a bill related to the idea went through the Kansas legislature but never became law. However, the LA Times reports today that Councilman Greig Smith, in his new role as chairman of the Public Safety Committee, wants to explore the technology in light of teenager Lily Burk's murder. She was killed after attempting to withdraw money from ATMs with a credit card (it never worked). Smith says the technology would cost $25 per ATM to install. If this technology were to become citywide, ATM robberies would likely become seldom, or at least and unfortunately, more efficient. more ›

That is, if you take public transit between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles on Santa Clarita Transit's commuter express routes. Officials in Santa Clarita acted fast to solve a problem they could forsee happening again. A protest a couple months ago in Westwood caused major traffic delays and bus stop changes. With little communication to riders except for e-mail (because not everyone has a Blackberry they check obsessively), that afternoon became a bit hectic for commuters who didn't know what to do. more ›

AQMD, the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of LA, San Bernardino and Riverside counties have issued a smoke advisory today for areas impacted by smoke from the wildfire at Camp Pendleton. "All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke. This includes areas where residents can see or smell smoke," their alert said. A little more directly related to the Los Angeles area, LA County's Department of Public Health, who also issues air quality alerts, has not sent one out. This morning, the LA Fire Department's phone lines were surged with calls about the smell of smoke in the air, prompting the department to send out an alert explaining what was going on and to only to call 9-1-1 if there is a true emergency. more ›

A weekly test on Tuesday by officials in Downey resulted in a bacteria hit--coliform bacteria--prompting them to alert residents yesterday early evening (why it took so long, we do not know). The boil-water order could last three days as the city hyperchlorinates the water and lines where the bacteria was found and flushed. more ›

Overnight rainstorms brought at least a dozen motor accidents on slick roads and freeways, and the light rain that is gracing the Los Angeles area right now is "expected to intensify later in the day, prompting forecasters to issue a flash flood watch for fire-denuded areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties" according to KNBC.com. These areas are particularly vulnerable to disastrous mud slides as well. The watch goes into effect at noon today and will last through the night. more ›

Helena Bonham Carter and her boyfriend, director Tim Burton, both Golden Globe nominees for Sweeney Todd welcomed their second baby together, a girl, in London this weekend - People more ›

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If you're looking for 20-25 ft. waves, you better at least head up to Point Conception or past Eureka for even higher ones. If 7-14 ft. waves are your style, then stay LA.The surf will build throughout today and tonight, peaking Wednesday. By Thursday, the swell is expected to diminish into the 5- to 7-foot range, Seto said. A rainstorm from the Northwest is expected Thursday through Saturday, bringing more than an inch of... more ›

It's official: Karl Dorrell is out of a job, and after this weekend's 24-7 loss to USC, it's not a moment too soon. Dorrell met with UCLA's Athletic Director, Dan Guerrero, this morning, after a weekend during which most UCLA watchers had predicted that Dorrell would be getting the axe very very soon. With a disappointing 6-6 record this season, and a 35-27 record overall for his five-year tenure, most Bruin fans will not... more ›

Britney Spears's new friend and advisor Sam Lufti may be charged in a Los Angeles court this week for ramming his car into a process server's Range Rover who was hired by Kevin Federline to subpeona Lufti back in August - US Weekly more ›

We heart our sister -Ists: today, SFist Editor Bock Keeling was profiled in the SF Weekly. We find out that Gus Van Sant hates SFist and a funny picture of a woman modeling in front of an oil spill crew is now being featured on the site. Pro football player Sean Taylor has died from injuries sustained in a mysterious and tragic shooting incident; he was 24 years old. Police are still searching for... more ›

Today Pat Morrison explains that parking can be tough for people who live in the hills who have converted their garages into offices and spare rooms. Sure you can say, "awwww poor rich people, listen to the tiniest violin." But lots of people live and work in hilly areas of this town so hush. more ›

The Malibu Wildfire, as seen from the beach. So far, the Malibu Wildfire has claimed no more homes since our reports earlier this morning. "We're at the mercy of the winds right now," Captain Mike Brown of the LA County Fire Department told CBS2. Responding to a Mutual Aid Request, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has dispatched four strike teams of firefighters, one LAFD helicopter, and a seasonally-contracted helitanker to assist the Los... more ›

Occasionally it doesn’t totally suck to work my weekend job on the Westside. Especially if there are art openings going on. I got to use that: “Well, I’m in the neighborhood anyway.” excuse last Saturday night. After a “hearty” Krishna carbo load at Govinda’s Restaurant, I and fellow art crawler, MXL, hit Mark Mothersbaugh’s Rugs During Wartime and Peacetime exhibition cum warehouse sale at the Scion gallery in Culver City. (Yep, that Mark Mothersbaugh, co-founder of the band, Devo.) more ›

There was an eerie, yet zen-like, feeling when I stepped outside tonight. Pretty much, just a wonderful feeling. NEWS ALERT: The fog is so thick, Burbank Airport has been shut down. a few more photos after the jump...... more ›

Nick Hogan has been criminally charged with reckless driving because he was drinking before his August car crash. Another faux- celeb headed to the clink? - TMZ more ›

Happy Halloween Britney! Her pink leopard print leotard is amazing. Exactly what I would be doing after I lost custody of my kids- partying at Heidi Klum's Halloween party - Daily News more ›

For a night largely dedicated to tales of Lucifer and his minions, it was bit strange to look around the El Rey on Sunday night at a sea of smiling faces. But Roky Erickson’s return to the LA stage for the first time in twenty-six years was cause for celebration. The audience - a family reunion of freaks, old punkers, and psychedelic survivors - received every devilish incantation as if it was a Christmas... more ›

This playlist of 45 songs was hand-picked to help you focus on your Wednesday Happenings while rockin' out to songs about fire and burning. This goes out to the thousands of firefighters who spent the past 72 hours on high alert, saving people, pets and property across Southern California. The tally according to the LA Times: 420,424 acres burned, 1,155 homes destroyed, 881,500 people evacuated. If you are where you'd normally be on a... more ›

Gearing up for another War on Christmas, combative conservative columnist David Horowitz and the College Republicans are calling out to their hate squad and killing Halloween (not to mention a week of breast cancer awareness month) with what they've dubbed "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week." Ann Coulter, recently listed as charging a $25,000 speaker fee by the Premiere Speakers Bureau (and now "call for fee") will speak in the name of Islamo-Fascism Awareness tomorrow night at USC.... more ›

A quarter million people are evacuating areas of San Diego County. We knew it was coming and now, one of the worst-case wildfire scenarios imaginable is spreading through parts of Southern California. While the rest of us stare at blue skies from cubicles at air-conditioned workspaces, here's a shortlist of media, official, and citizen coverage to keep us posted: CBS2/KCAL9 has multiple live video feeds available here, ABC7 is live here. KNX 1070 is... more ›

Good thing the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) put out a Red Flat Alert (move your car if you live in the hills or you could be towed) last night for today -- a major brush fire began this morning around 5:50 a.m. near Tampa Ave and Sesnon Bl (yo, Valley, people, this is Porter Ranch) in Los Angeles County territory according to alerts from the LAFD. In the name of mutual aid, the... more ›

Surf's Up was actually better than Happy Feet but, as my grandpa used to always tell me, the second Penguin-themed animated movie never does as well as the first. 28 Weeks Later may lack the novelty of 28 Days Later, but it's just as tense and terrifying. The fate of Robert Carlyle is truly awful. Amazingly, even Steve Carrell can be unfunny sometimes. YHWH is truly powerful. John Dahl never gets the rich praise... more ›