Your pets' easy in and out access to your home could be your downfall, the Los Angeles Police Department cautions residents. Police say that there's a recent trend they've noted wherein perps use doggie doors to get into homes in order to commit burglaries. more ›

45 firefighters were sent to Pierce College this afternoon where 12 people were injured at a high school track meet. A majority of the patients were sent to the hospital, said LAFD spokesperson Erik Scott over the phone. Authorities were alerted shortly before 4 p.m. Temperatures in the area were in the low 90s at the time. more ›

This morning marks the West Valley’s 3rd Annual Motorcycle Memorial Ride, which will involve an estimated 400+ motorcycles under police escort traveling along an approximately 56-mile route from Reseda to Hollywood via the canyons and PCH. more ›

It's been a topic for some time now. The Warner Center in the West Valley is one place that could use a local circulator, perhaps a "people mover," some believe. Three years ago, 300 residents came out to work towards an integrated transportation network for the Woodland Hills neighborhood and now, with state money available via grants, Los Angeles wants in. more ›

The LAPD will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. tonight on Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Califa Street and Marylee Street in Woodland Hills. "During this year, residents residing in the Topanga Area endured 19 driving under the influence-related and 99 hit and run traffic collisions," explains an LAPD release. As always, the goal of these operations is not to give intoxicated drivers the chance to plan a detour, but rather to "educate the community to use designated drivers and not drink and drive." more ›

When a City Council panel met last week met to discuss state legislation the city would like to sponsor or support, transportation staff said they were seeking the ability to boot vehicles after three unpaid tickets (or at least four) instead of current legal limit of five. Although that was approved, Councilmember Dennis Zine was disappointed to see one of his district issues not addressed: mobile billboards. more ›

With the help of the public, the LAPD was able to take into custody the suspect they'd characterized as "desperate and reckless" whom they sought in conjunction with a crime spree Saturday morning that involved multiple attempted and successful car thefts and other criminal activities in the West Valley area. more ›

The LAPD have released information and a map detailing an early-morning crime spree conducted by one man yesterday morning through the Valley and into the hills around Sepulveda Boulevard in the hopes the public can help identify the suspect. more ›

That's local geography according to Hollywood film editing, at least. Michael Schneider at Franklin Avenue has been following ABC's FlashFoward closely, debunking the show's geography with real geography, which is always amusing. "The two characters in this car had been downtown at the Coroner's Office. They found a clue and decided to head to Silver Lake. So they drive... down Fairfax, in front of the old Johnie's at Wilshire and Fairfax," he writes. Later, trick-or-treating in the West Valley quickly turns into a scene at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary. Also, in this world of L.A., there is no MTA, it's the UTA, as in Urban Transit Authority. more ›

If you get the sense a war between L.A. and SF is brewing over the weekend, here what's actually happening: "On November 8 and 9, 2009, military flight training exercises will occur in and around the greater Los Angeles area," the LAPD said a statement today. "The military operation will be routine proficiency flight training exercises. Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities will not interfere with the daily routines of the community. Training will occur after 5 p.m. each day and will be generally in Central and West Valley Areas." more ›

There may be an average of 1,200 water main leaks a year with 200 of those considered major, but the last few weeks have proved that things seem to be worsening. And fast. A 12-inch pipe burst on Topanga Boulevard near Victory Boulevard in Canoga Park today, shutting down traffic on one of the West Valley's main north-south arteries, according to the LA Times. Of course, all these recent bursts causing traffic, damage and loss of service to customers has Los Angeles Department of Water & Power officials confused because as of right now, there is no apparent reason why this is happening so frequently and spread out. A slew of major incidents began when a trunkline in Studio City burst, causing a major flood followed by a rupture that caused a sinkhole that sucked in half a fire truck. Two breaks also occurred in the West Valley yesterday. Some officials say they have to raise our water bills to pay for replacing piping throughout the city. more ›

Two water mains ruptured in the early morning hours in the West Valley today, the first in Winnetka close to 2:30 a.m., and the second around 4:30 a.m. a mile and a half south in Warner Center, according to MyFOXla.com. City leaders and DWP customers are worried that there seems to be more significant main breaks lately than usual, but it could just be that we all have water (mains) on the brain because of the two high-profile breaks that occurred earlier this month in Studio City and Valley Village. more ›

Not owning your own property can be a bitch. And such is life when leasing from the government, one who will now be using some of the land for a transportation corridor. The Orange Line busway extension from the Warner Center up Canoga Avenue to the Chatsworth Train Station is slated to break ground this June. That means the businesses that have been leasing right-of-way property from Metro--some have for 50 years--will be booted or have their lease properties be chopped up into small ones. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department opened up their brand new Topanga Station in Canoga Park yesterday with a public dedication ceremony attended by 1,200 people, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Located on Schoenborn Street near Roscoe and Canoga, the station cost $36 million to build, and is "the 21st station opened by the Los Angeles Police Department in its 140-year history." The station's officers "will patrol 32 square miles covering West Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka and Woodland Hills." more ›

Then happier days are maybe to come... "Traffic signals at 70 intersections around Reseda Boulevard will begin getting synchronization makeovers thanks to money from a $20 billion voter-approved bond," reports the Daily News. "It will take 18 months before commuters see the benefits of the $8.5 million project, a real-time, computer-based traffic signal system that cuts delay time at intersections." Other streets included will be within Lassen Street to the north, Roscoe Boulevard to the south, Hayvenhurst Avenue to the east and Vanalden Avenue to the west. more ›

The LAPD is asking the public's help in identifying this man. more ›

A report about San Fernando Valley air quality released yesterday states that overall air quality has improved but the West Valley's ozone levels have risen while some East Valley neighborhoods have seen an increase in particulate matter, according to the Daily News. more ›

Here's a statistic that is saddening. There have been over 130 collisions involving an intoxicated driver this year. And that's only for the West Valley Division that covers neighborhoods like Canoga Park and West Hills. That's only one police division out of six in the San Fernando Valley. Throughout the Valley, there have been over 550 DUI related crashes. more ›

All good things come from the Valley first. Lucky for those who stay "over the hill," Executive Chef David Anderson at LA's fanciest and tastiest vegan affair in the Tarzana Safari Walk (yes, that's an official Los Angeles Neighborhood, city blue sign and all), there is plans to open up a new vegan eatery with full bar on the Westside according to VegNews, who gave his West Valley restaurant a 2007 Veggie Award (Note: VegNews is the real magazine for Vegetarians, not that other mag). But first thing's first; and that's starting your weekend brunch at his restaurant on Ventura Boulevard -- Madeleine Bistro. more ›

more ›

Back in November, it was announced that the West Valley would be getting an additional LAPD station in a former sex toy manufacturing plant on Schoenborn Street between Owensmouth and Canoga in Canoga Park. Tentatively called the Northwest Division, it will serve Woodland Hills, West Hills, Canoga Park, and Winnetka when it opens this or next year. Those neighborhoods lay within Council Districts 3 and 12, both represented by LAPD Reserve Officers, Councilman Dennis Zine and Councilman Greig Smith. more ›

more ›

How's this for a lede? "If you get in a car crash in the San Fernando Valley, there's about a 50-50 chance you'll flee the scene - and get away with it." Ha! That's almost instructional. In a comprehensive report on hit-and-runs by the Daily News, it is found there is a lot of hitting, running and general douchebaggery in Los Angeles. Yes, we all knew that after day one, but here are some... more ›

Every Monday morning, Rick Orlov of the Daily News and Steve Hymon of the LA Times write their weekly "what's going on at city hall" columns. Orlov brings an interesting story about City Council Member Dennis Zine, who represents the 3rd District in the West Valley. Zine has been given a cease and desist order from Warner Bros. over a lapel pin he has used for years as a political token to supporters. It... more ›

You know you're in the Valley when real estate options are that old porn studio over there or the former sex toy manufacturing plant over there. Well, the LAPD went for the latter in a $37 million project to build a new station in Canoga Park on Schoenborn Street between Owensmouth and Canoga. The station is tentatively called Northwest Area Division. The reason for this new station in the West Valley is getting officers... more ›

In 2003, the New York City Council voted to oppose the war in Iraq. Two years later, they drew a resolution for the "orderly and rapid withdrawal" of Iraq. Now, three days short of exactly two years after New York, the Los Angeles City Council, in a 12-2 vote, voted yesterday to support pulling out of Iraq.The council said it approved the resolution because it wants the federal government to end the war, which... more ›

If your not ready for the races mentioned in our Alt Races Guide, then maybe you are up to a race of a different breed: Nike's 5-mile Run Hit Remix: The PowerSong Edition featuring live performances along the route by Naughty by Nature, Sir Mix-A-Lot, The Sugarhill Gang, Dawn Robinson of En Vogue, and a finish line concert by MC Hammer on September 15th at 9 a.m. (you might also spot Caroline on Crack... more ›

Zach Behrens also contributed to this post. more ›

It seems like there are a million places to get a bite to eat in this city, and we will nod our head emphatically in agreement if you were to say it's all a bit overwhelming. Most of the time we opt for something tried and true, where maybe we find comfort in the familiar listing of menu items, a favorite dish, or a staff who knows our name. But then there are the... more ›

The Valley is like, only, 48.4% of Los Angeles (225 square miles of the City's 465 square miles make up the San Fernando Valley). Without trying to cause another East-West war, which gets people fired up (see comments), we're going to set one easy Valley rule here: the 405 divides East from West Valley. Funny enough, LA.com's home base and parent company is the same as the Valley's unofficial newspaper -- LA Daily News.... more ›