The Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan has been updated and approved today, and includes plans for 832 miles of new bikeways, as well as over $330 million in funding to be spent over 20 years on improving access to and the safety of bicycle transit in L.A. more ›

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors highlighted the sexual trafficking of minors today after the L.A. County Probation Department staffers triumphed with a $1 million grant to actively combat the issue. "Sadly, this county is recognized as one of the major hubs for sex trafficking in the nation, primarily of girls as young as 11 and 12 years old," said Supervisor Don Knabe. more ›

Just a day after the FDA said that Lap-Band surgical centers and marketers needed more truth in its advertising about the hazards of weight loss surgery, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors said it was stepping in to see if it could do anything to address the issue. more ›

Good news for beach-goers: You might not have to hold it! Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed to go back to a early morning-open schedule for seven of the 52 beach restrooms operated by the County, reports the L.A. Times. more ›

If you're going to a rave, and you're going to take Ecstasy, should the Public Health Department help you know how to take the drug safely? A flier intended to be distributed at rave events that was produced by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has come under scrutiny, particularly by Supervisor Michael D. Anotonvich, who has ordered the distribution of the fliers halted. more ›

First they banned plastic bags in unincorporated Los Angeles County, now the Board of Supervisors is considering a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in the same area, according to LA Now. Currently the pot shops are living on borrowed time, under a 4-year-old policy that already imposes strident restrictions on where they can set up. more ›

Calling plastic bags "urban tumbleweed," L.A. County Sup. Zev Yaroslavsky was among the voters on the Board who helped put a sweeping ban on the items today, according to LA Now. Joining Yaroslavsky were Sups. Gloria Molina and Mark Ridley-Thomas, with Sup. Michael D. Antonovich opposing, and Sup. Don Knabe absent. more ›

Los Angeles County could become the largest municipality in the county to pass a ban on single use plastic bags...if the Board of Supervisors vote accordingly today. more ›

Polystyrene food containers will soon be a thing of the past at buildings and concessions owned or operated by the County of Los Angeles, according to the LA Times. more ›

In a split decision, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors today approved a boycott of Arizona over its controversial immigration law, SB 1070. The 3-2 vote means county employees cannot travel to the state unless "the county’s chief executive determines it would seriously harm county interests," according to the LA Times. "The boycott also calls for a divestiture of Arizona’s state and municipal bonds by the county’s pension fund." Mark Ridley-Thomas was the deciding vote when he joined Gloria Molina, who introduced the measure, and Zev Yaroslavsky in approving the measure. Don Knabe and Michael Antonovich voted no. “We need solutions, not boycotts,” said Antonovich. more ›

Doctors who work in emergency rooms and in private hospitals will receive less compensation from Los Angeles County for their work with the uninsured, reports CBS2. more ›

Recently announced news that LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas was planning to give his offices a remodel that would cost $707,000 caused a public backlash, according to the Daily News. The project would use the funds to "add seven workstations, replace the ceiling system and recarpet his eighth-floor space in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration," according to the Supervisor's website. The office has not been upgraded in about 15-20 years. more ›

Following suit with the LA Department of Water (LADWP), a city agency, the LA County Board of Supervisors declared a water emergency today for three the county areas. Residents served by the Department of Public Works (LADPW) will have to meet a lower 15% tier usage rate or face higher fees, a similar system to the city of Los Angeles. Also, the Board approved to charge customers for "water service availability" in Kagel Canyon, Malibu, Val Verde, Acton and the Antelope Valley. more ›

Considering the recent city audit report on high water bottle usage within departments, the LA Times took at look at the LA County Board of Supervisor's own practice of "affixing their own labels -- to avoid having the brand visible on TV broadcasts of their meetings." Here's how it works: "Every week, a college student who earns $9.92 an hour for a range of tasks peels the labels off water bottles, uses a computer to print out new ones emblazoned with the county seal and slaps them on. The customized bottles are waiting for the five supervisors as they take on the official business of the nation's most populous county." It only takes a minute, not costing much, but whatever happened to being an example and leader of reuse by using a reusable cup, mug, canteen, something??? more ›

Someone's caught the social media bug and that's a good thing. LA County's 2nd District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is marking his first 100 days in office by promoting his website that now features a blog, an expansive video and photo archives (even a TV news archive) and links to his other social media tools like his new Twitter account. more ›

After deferring a $150 million payment to Los Angeles County, the Board of Supervisors has voted to take California's controller, John Chiang, to court. The payment was withheld because of the ongoing budget crisis; the Board, however, calls the deferment unconstitutional and says the revenue the state owes the county is badly needed," abc7.com is reporting. Los Angeles is not the first, or only county in California to sue the state and the controller. San Bernardino County's Board of Supervisors also voted to sue when a $204 million payment needed for welfare and other programs was deferred this month. Other lawsuits are coming from San Diego, Sacramento, and San Joaquin Valley, too. more ›

The bloggers who helped bring the taco truck ban in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles to national headlines have done some sleuthing with a particular commenter's IP address (it's like a digital fingerprint) who left comments bashing the cause to save the savory street food. When they compared the address left on their website to the address listed on Wikipedia page edits about the County, it was the same. more ›

What a week. As we wait for state politicians to decide if a sales tax transportation increase can be put on the ballot for voters to decide, the LA County Board of Supervisors are going to revisit their decision of putting it on the general ballot or a separate, confusing and costly one. more ›

The half-cent sales tax increase that is projected to bring in $30 to $40 billion over the next 30 years and has been a focus for Metro in getting the proposal on November's ballot has been an long and stressful journey. Today did not help. more ›

Yesterday's most contentious race was that for the seat for the 2nd District on the County Board of Supervisors. Considered a highly-paid and powerful lifetime position once you're seated, the race between California State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and LA City Councilman (former LAPD Chief), Bernard Parks was extremely heated. more ›

Yesterday the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved additional steps for Project 50, a three year pilot program that will help get some of the most vulnerable people living on skid row into permanent housing. more ›