A member of the Los Angeles Police Department's elite SWAT team was shot dead in a gunbattle with a barricaded suspect in the San Fernando Valley this morning. * UPDATE: The suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police around 7:30 a.m., leaving the death toll at 5 (AP). The Mayor has lowered city flags in honor of the officer killed on duty. Randal Simmons, 51, a 27-year veteran officer with the LAPD,......

Hersheys announced Thursday that it will stop production of Ice Breakers Pacs in response to complaints by law enforcement that the nickel-sized bags resemble drug packets. Associated Press writer Peter Jackson reports on Hershey CEO David West's announcement: "Some community and law-enforcement leaders have expressed concern" about the shape of pouch and the Xylitol sweetener inside, and about the possibility of the mints being mistaken for illegal substances, West said. "We are sensitive to these......

It seems the Valley isn't the place to be if you're a gang-affiliated criminal. One year ago, Mayor Villaraigosa held a press conference in North Hills at the LAPD's Mission Division, mapping out their plan for a crackdown on gangs. This past Thursday he returned, along with Police Chief William Bratton, to the same spot to announce that the plan had been successful. The Daily News reports on Mayor Tony's proud assertion, and 2007 statistics:......

While the rains yesterday helped alleviate some of the dryness under which southern California has been hampered, it did little to lessen the worries of those in fire-stricken areas. Streaming rivers of rain created mudslides and prompted officials to call for mass evacuations. Flash flood warnings remain in effect. But, hey, it's LA, and today was clear and beautiful. A woman who poisoned her Marine husband to buy a boob job with the insurance......

"This is not. . . targeting or profiling. It is an effort to understand communities." Police Chief William J. Bratton defending a LAPD counter-terrorism program that uses "U.S. census data and other demographic information to pinpoint various Muslim communities and then reach out to them through social service agencies." [LA Times] "Over my dead body." Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on any limit of his goals of expanding the LAPD. A fiscally conservative and wary City......

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), unprovoked shark attacks have been growing steadily over the past century. This statistic is good enough reason for me to never go into the ocean higher than waist-deep, ever again. Ironic, for a person who moved from chilly Boston to sunny L.A. in order to live the breezy, beach-y life. But the kid in me that walked by the covers of Jaws 1-3 a few too......

As firefighters sought to contain the smoldering remains of California, officials are keying in on how the fires started. One of the largest fires, the Santiago fire that burned 22,000 acres was, reportedly set by an arsonist. President Bush toured parts of California and declared, "We're not going to forget you in Washington D.C." I guess he didn't visit any poor children. There's at least one good story to come out of this tragedy.......

The opening scene of We Own the Night with Eva Mendes fingering herself on a couch making out with Joaquin Phoenix had me at hello. Thats the thing about movies sometimes, the first scene (or the trailer) gets you in good and then the rest of the film doesn't live up. Needless to say, this film did just that. The trailers and that first scene, and the second scene of Phoenix walking through a......

Last night the Pasadena City Council voted unanimously to abandon a proposed Ordinance which would have prohibited cyclists from traveling more than two abreast on any city street. The proposal was championed by Police Chief Melekian and was a direct response to the popularity of the Rose Bowl area for cyclists who ride Peloton style on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Melekian and Rose Bowl Management have claimed that user group conflict between the pedestrians and......

Videos don't tell the whole story by any means, but when the press got hit with a baton at yesterday's rally, they fought back in the only way they could -- with the news. The LA Times also has coverage. *UPDATE: Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton said today that some actions taken by officers trying to clear a crowd of marchers at MacArthur Park were "inappropriate" and that he has launched two......

Tragedy in Virginia... BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 32 people in the deadliest campus shooting rampage in U.S. history. The gunman was killed, bringing to death toll to 33, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life. "Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech......

As we discussed last week, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is in Washington D.C. today telling the rest of America why LA and its surrounding area is getting ripped off from federal investment. If we get jammed in traffic, we can't deliver for the rest of the U.S. Here are some facts: This delegation is part of the kick off of Access Washington, D.C. 2007, a trip sponsored by the L.A. Chamber and Mobility 21. Southern......

At last night's 10th Annual Los Angeles Political Roast, a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association, there was more than just poking fun at the no-nonsense East Coast talking LAPD Chief - William Bratton. The LA Times did not get into it (LAObserved did), but there was a little tiff between Mayor Villaraigosa and District Attorney, Steve Cooley. The DA took a swing at the Mayor's supposed marriage situation and later while Mayor V......

#92 Female astronaut drives from Texas to Orlando in a diaper (so she wouldn't have to stop) to try to kidnap a woman boning the dude she wants to be boning. - NPR #93 Group of bull sharks ram, sink shrimp boat - Local 6 #94 Palm Bay Police Chief says F the FAA, he wants his drones - Florida Today photo by Peggy Archer......

- Hi New LAist Readers: Skid Row gets an Internet Cafe - UPI - Best LA Daily News Headline of the Week: "Moms + kids + wine = big-time buzz" - Daily News - Those Aqua Teen Hunger Force "bombs" were headed to LA - LA Times - Mello and Brand jockeying for Yao's All Star spot - AP - Rush Limbaugh nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize - PR Newswire - Wisconsin Police......

- Mayor and Police Chief booed this morning at a multi-million dollar groundbreaking - Daily News - Girls Gone Wild's Joe Francis gets 200 hours of community service over 2 years and must pay a half million in fines for creative bookkeeping and quasi kiddie porn since he admitted to filming underage girls getting naked. So LAist asks, does this make him a Sex Offender? - LAT - Paris Hilton pleads no contest on......

The Golden Globes came and went, all while many, if not more, watched the second two hours of Los Angeles being terrorized in 24 on FOX. It was still brisk for the stars on the Red Carpet and the weather is expected to continue in the 60's throughout the week with the lows in the 40's. Luckily, the fire department has determined that the Red Flag will be lifted this morning. People celebrated Martin......

- San Diego appealing to overturn Prop 215 - SignOnSanDiego - Miami Police Chief's son sentenced to 18 months in the slammer for trying to buy 400 pounds of weed from an undercover cop - Officer - 50 tons of Mexican weed seized at the border. Street value: 100 pesos. (just kidding) - Star-Telegram - New book called "Yes, But Is It Good for the Jews?" says pot is good, but cheesecake is not......

"Declutter your bag. If you let the TSOs have a clear view of what's in the bag with your X-ray, you'll move right on through. That is something very easy to do as you pack your bag: leave the liquids at home, drink them, declutter your bag. And last, I'd say, enjoy your trip." Transportation Security Administration Chief Kip Hawley tried to put a smile on the enormous pain in the ass air travel......

Police Chief Bratton leaves for Israel on Thursday. The LA Times reports he spent four months of the year 2005 out of town; some are displeased. We think he manages to stay in LA for the good stuff; we spotted him in his uniform outside the Oscars. Anti-gang efforts continue in East LA. Led by Father Gregory Boyle, Homeboy Industries broke ground on a new $11.5 million, 21,000 square foot complex. The nonprofit helps former......

If you're running south to avoid the La Canada-Flintridge fire, we reccomend that you don't run too far south, since Compton looks like it's about to become the Murder Capital of America. Last night on The West Wing, SoCal residents found themselves running for their lives, but not knowing which way to run. While LA isn't about to have radioactive steam vented into the atmosphere (it's bad enough already, thank you very much), the......

There are now 9 reported dead. According to Sherrif Lee Baca, the derailment happened because of a car deliberately put on the tracks. One train hit the car and jumped off the tracks hitting a parked Pacific Freight Train and an oncoming metrolink train heading in the opposite direction. Update:The death toll has now reached ten. The person who left the SUV on the tracks was suicidal. The SUV driver changed his mind about......

As noted in LAObserved.com yesterday, the Los Angeles Times published a story this weekend about Los Angeles mayoral candidates wooing various financial backers for support. Candidates are going to need full coffers in order to pay for the heavy TV advertising necessary to compete in this spring's election. Reporter Michael Finnegan wrote: The top contenders for mayor of Los Angeles have jostled for months to make a favorable impression on Eric Bauman. Four have......

It looks like traffic cameras for busy intersections are only the beginning: Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said he is so impressed with results from MacArthur Park -- once known as a flourishing crime zone in the city's center -- that he believes the cameras are an essential part of fighting crime in an era of dwindling budgets and strained police personnel. "Basically, what you can do is virtual policing," said LAPD Assistant Chief......