One homeowner looked out the window in the wee hours of the morning today to find a couple of friendly neighbors camped out on her lawn -- a pair of 200-pound mountain lions. The cuddly kitties, who were spotted at around 12:30 a.m. today on the 600 block of Camillo Street, stayed put for about 15 minutes before officers chased them back up into the hills, reports NBC Los Angeles. more ›

More than 280 people have come forward as victims of credit or debit card fraud, and the cases are linked to a likely "skimming" case stemming from one now-shuttered Sierra Madre gas station. Authorities have released a photo of someone they say is a "person of interest" in the case, after he withdrew money from an ATM in Montebello using a card created with information obtained from the gas station, according to the Daily News. more ›

There are at least 283 reported cases of credit and debit card fraud, all originating from a now-closed EVG gas station in Sierra Madre, says Arcadia Patch. Most claims come from patrons of the station, are Sierra Madre residents, and involve a single fraudulent charge of less than $200. The investigation is ongoing, and the Sierra Madre Police urge locals to check their bank statements for fraudulent charges and to file a report. more ›

Pop culture references aside, the wisteria plant is a big deal in Sierra Madre, says the Pasadena Star News: "In 1894, the owner of the house at Hermosa Avenue and Carter Street bought a 75-cent wistaria plant that provided quite a return on the initial invest ment. The plant blossomed into a city institution that raised money for World War I, the city’s volunteer fire department and the mortgage of the first Women’s Club building, according to local historian Phyllis Chapman." The home will be open for tours this Sunday during the annual Wistaria Festival (yes, the city uses a variant on the spelling). more ›

Residents of the Foothill communities whose sodden hillsides threatened to give can go home now, although the threat of mudslides still looms, KTLA is reporting. "Authorities canceled evacuation orders for La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon and Aliso Canyon around 8:00" this morning. Evacuations in Sierra Madre were lifted last night. more ›

Mandatory evacuation orders are in place now for the northern portion of Sierra Madre "where hillsides are saturated and officials fear mudslides could occur as another band of heavy rain bears down on the San Gabriel Mountains," according to LA Now. Being ordered out are residents who live on all streets above Churchill and Canyon Crest; all streets above Brookside and Sturtevant; all streets above Lotus Lane at Camillo; and the private sections of Auburn Avenue above Elm Street. An evacuation center has been established at the Community Recreation Center (611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.) and crews are on the scene working to set up structures that can possibly deflect oncoming debris. more ›

The storm that soaked Southern California yesterday brought soggy hillsides down in some areas, and more rain is on the way today. The mud came sliding down in two separate locations in Sylmar last night, and a third mudslide was reported in Sierra Madre. more ›

Now that the average price for regular unleaded gas in L.A. is nearing $4.07 a gallon, Metro's Gold Line is surging with customers. A record 22,231 boardings was reported for the month of March says the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Not only that, Metro's rail ridership has increased 5%. more ›

On the fourth day of the fire in Sierra Madre, most of the 1000 residents were allowed back home and schools reopened today. 59% of the fire is contained with a knockdown expected by Friday. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity that is predicted for today will aid the firefighters in their fight. more ›

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While 300-400 people are being let back into their homes on the Eastside of the fire in Sierra Madre, Fifty-one homes in Pasadena were evacuated late this afternoon, according to the Pasadena Star News: more ›

Hot temperatures, low humidity, and brisk winds helped to whip up the flames yesterday in the foothills of Sierra Madre, as a fire that broke out mid-afternoon Saturday has now blazed through approximately 400 acres. more ›

Not everyone is going to Coachella this weekend. For those who choose to stay put in Los Angeles, the city is literally filled with events this weekend: more ›

Which side of the Gold Line tracks do you live on? Southsiders (below the 10) better be representing because Northsiders are fighting hard for their piece of the cake too. more ›

It’s the first day of work for many of us -- and it pretty much sucks. Thank God it’s a short week. If you haven't gotten enough going out for the New Year, here’s what's going on around town tonight: more ›

The Geminid Meteor showers are set to peak this week, especially on Thursday and Friday. Um, great date night, anybody? Astronomers studying the phenomenon, David Levy and Stephen Edberg, are terribly enthused: "If you have not seen a mighty Geminid fireball arcing gracefully across an expanse of sky, then you have not seen a meteor.' Those guys are serious!!! "The Geminid Meteors are usually the most satisfying of all the annual showers, even surpassing... more ›

Remember the good old days, when Italian restaurants had opera-singing waiters? Mario and Larry Lalli grew up in the good old days, in one such restaurant. Mario and Larry’s family has been in the restaurant business for over 50 years. The two cousins have continued the tradition begun by their fathers, previously with a pizzeria in Palm Springs, and now with Café 322 in Sierra Madre. Larry tears it up in the kitchen while... more ›

With headlines like "Local Police Arrest Man With Large Organ" accompanied with a photo of an old man playing a church organ, and stories like "Local Stripper Opens Euthanasia Clinic" where the entrepreneur encourages people to "go out with a bang", the Sierra Madre Cumquat is a poor man's Onion. A very poor man's Onion since the Onion is free. But it is mildly amusing, and the headlines and pictures are good, and it's... more ›

Three years ago, Jim Brown and his wife Michelle Gringeri-Brown decided their love of mid-century ranch homes was too much to keep to themselves. With years of experience in publishing, they founded Atomic Ranch, a glossy, independent magazine that's as gorgeously photographed as the high-end home and design magazines from New York. But Atomic Ranch is from South Pasadena, and instead of focusing on "starchitect" homes features houses that are just as striking without the name brand designers. And rather than writing in the reverent whisper of a museum, the magazine is lighthearted and fun — a bedroom in the latest issue is described as "ginormous." The first Atomic Ranch coffee table book is due out this fall. more ›

The Gold Line's new express service between Pasadena and Downtown LA starts today. It'll make just 4 stops in addition to Union Station: Highland Park, Mission, Del Mar and Sierra Madre Villa. more ›