Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the LAPD, and faith-based community organizations are teaming up for the second time to run a citywide Gun Buyback on Saturday. more ›

British singer and headline-maker Amy Winehouse has revealed via a spokesman that her Coachella performance next month is a (No, No) no-go, according to the Associated Press. Because Winehouse is facing legal woes in the UK stemming from recent charges she allegedly attacked a fan last fall in London, getting the songstress to the States would be no easy feat: "Being charged with a crime often makes it difficult for people to get U.S. visas." She faced similar trouble last year when her visa request to attend the Grammys was declined, then reversed too late for her to make the event. Winehouse was scheduled to headline the second of three nights of the annual fest in Indio, along with The Killers, Thievery Corporation, and TV on the Radio in a day boasting another nearly three dozen musical acts. Coachella's reaction is succinct: "Yes it's true. Amy Winehouse has canceled her appearance at Coachella." more ›

A host of Eastern European countries and South Korea were accepted into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program today, meaning visitors from these countries will be permitted an unlimited number of travelers to visit the U.S. without a Visa. And that's good news for Los Angeles' tourism, says Mayor Villaraigosa: “Los Angeles already enjoys a strong community of nearly 400,000 citizens of Korean descent, but this new program will strengthen our economic and cultural ties with South Korea to unprecedented new heights." His office thinks the program could bring an additional 200,000 tourists and $60 million in visitor spending to Los Angeles within a year. The program will go into effect next month. more ›

Elvis Costello and The Attractions essential 1978 record This Year’s Model was re-released for the twenty-third time earlier this week as a deluxe 2-CD set. This year’s model of This Year’s Model includes a bevy of previously released bonus tracks, and a previously unreleased live concert. more ›