About 20 people were detained and the 10 freeway shut down for hours Saturday when police found 3,000 marijuana plants at an illegal pot clinic south of downtown Los Angeles. Officers serving a search warrant discovered a dangerous and extensive lab with "thousands upon thousands" of plants in a warehouse on the 1000 block of Santa Fe Avenue, reports KTLA. more ›

Don't sew yourself into the upholstery. Don't hide half a ton of marijuana in bogus concrete furniture. Don't miss KTLA's supremely disturbing gallery of "Bizarre Border Busts" with a collection of 39 photos courtesy of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. more ›

Everyday, illegal vendors sell baby animals in the Fashion District, and many sicken and die soon after they're taken home. But some are rescued by Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder of Bunny World Foundation, who is profiled today by abc7. more ›

Most of the 132 people arrested yesterday at Dodger Stadium were "accused of drinking in public," with many more hauled in "on suspicion of scalping tickets and illegal vending," LAPD Captain William Murphy told LA Now. Tack on over 50 traffic and parking citations, and the crackdown on illegal activity at the famous sporting venue seems to be well underway. more ›

Earlier this month, SoCal Connected on KCET aired this feature on car washes that underpay employees, among other inhumane violations. It's a good reminder about a long standing problem at a frequented service by thousands of Angelenos a day. more ›

Authorities in Santa Barbara County have confirmed that a wildfire which has currently scorched over 75,000 acres was set within a Mexican drug operation's cooking area, according to LA Now. The blaze began on the pot farm, and it's believed "the assailants are still in the forest area trying leave the forest by foot," as the fire rages uncontrolled. The "La Brea fire" started on August 8th, but is only at about 25% contained right now. Although firefighters are working to deprive the blaze of new fuel to burn through, hot temperatures, low humidity, and difficult terrain have made this battle a challenge. Over two hundred homes remain on evacuation. more ›

The millions expected to show in downtown Los Angeles today did not appear. While that was good on the city's resources, it meant bad business for hundreds of vendors selling t-shirts, buttons and other items. more ›

To the astonishment of building tenants and just about everyone else, an illegal supergraphic went up last week on the same building that was used by the city as an example of the verboten advertisements. In late January, the building at National and Westwood Boulevard--then with a Tropicana supergraphic--was used as a press conference backdrop to talk about fire department safety concerns and how the city is looking to have stricter penalties. more ›

Ever since the high desert city of Lancaster took sewer maintenance duties from LA County, they've been facing a problem: objects are illegally being dumped into sewers causing sewage to backup and overflow onto the streets. more ›

Authorities are investigating the death of Myra Theresa Mina-Calove of Woodland Hills, who was struck and killed by an Amtrak train inside the tunnel near Chatsworth Park yesterday evening. more ›

Keep your shirts on, ladies: At La Consentida, a bar in Carson, the employees have been serving up their booze with a side of, well, boobs. One of their bartenders, who goes by the name "Carla," has been in the habit of jumping up on the bar and stripping down to her coyote ugly to the titillation of the clientele. However, as the Daily Breeze explains, "while [she] built a following that might have been good for the bar's beer sales, Carla's act was illegal. The bar was not zoned or licensed for nude dancing." Following a raid on the bar Thursday night conducted by state Alcoholic Beverage Control officers, Carla was slapped with a citation for lewd conduct. The officers were also hoping to nab the bar's "B-girl"--the gal who flirts with men in exchange for commission on the drinks the guys buy her, but it was her night off. The bar's owners could lose their liquor license if they don't shape up and serve right. more ›

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Continuing the saga of fighting the thousands of illegal billboards in Los Angeles (to catch up on the controversy, watch this video), City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo today filed criminal charges against three property owners along the 110 Freeway near the LA Live/Staples Center area today for erecting illegal billboard support structures (see the map here). A construction company also was charged. more ›

Officials today announced the cause of the Tea Fire, which ignited on Thursday night, burning through today and destroying 210 homes and scorching 1,940 acres between Montecito and Santa Barbara. A group of 10 young men built a bonfire on Wednesday evening, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The men left on Thursday morning under the impression the fire was out, but it was not 100%. The winds and weather conditions that day sparked the fire back up into the huge wildfire Thursday evening. Campfires were not allowed at the time the men were there. more ›

An LAist reader caught some disturbing signage while videoing her vote today at The Aroma of Jesus Mission Church on Pico:

the church had put up the sign weeks ago and had lots of literature "left around"...not sure if they should host polls again!

... if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill that's headed to his desk. more ›

Undocumented immigrants (or "illegals" as many still say) may now find themselves turned over to federal authorities following arrest thanks to a plan approved by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Under the new system, individuals' resident status can be ascertained following arrest, rather than following conviction, as was the previous method. According to abc7.com, this new plan "specifically targets gang members." more ›

It's a rather dubious honor: The first taco truck to be cited for violating the County's new mobile food vendors' parking laws. more ›

LAFD responded to a fire in the 3200 block of Dos Palos Drive in Studio City Sunday morning. The blaze was confined to the patio of the residence but upon entering the home, firefighters saw what appeared to be weed. LAPD followed up and confiscated 382 marijuana plants -- approx. 48 pounds -- growing in the garage. 37-year-old Eric Porter of Studio City was later arrested and booked on suspicion of felony cultivation of marijuana,... more ›