Frank Stoltze
is a veteran reporter who covers local politics and examines how democracy is and, at times, is not working.
Published October 16, 2024 1:55 PM
Attorney Mark Geragos speaks in front of members of the Menendez family during a press conference to announce developments on the case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez on Oct. 16, 2024, in Los Angeles.
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Damian Dovarganes
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AP
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Topline:
More than a dozen family members of the Menendez brothers gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles criminal courts building Wednesday and called for the early release of the two convicted killers.
Why now: The show of support for Lyle and Erik Menendez follows a decision last month by L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón to review their murder case.
The backstory: The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 shooting deaths their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez at their Beverly Hills home. The case, which led to two highly publicized trials in the 1990s, has remained in the public consciousness for decades, and has recently drawn attention from a new generation on TikTok and other social media platforms.
What's new: Gascón has said new evidence was revealed in a recent Netflix documentary on the brothers. The evidence in question is a letter written by Erik Menendez to a cousin eight months before the murders, and it detailed sexual abuse by Menendez’s father, the district attorney said. It could provide the basis to reduce the conviction from murder to manslaughter because it may allow the brothers to claim the killings happened under a legal theory known as imperfect self defense.
More than a dozen family members of the Menendez brothers gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles criminal courts building Wednesday and called for the resentencing and early release of the two convicted killers.
The show of support for Lyle and Erik Menendez follows a decision announced earlier this month by L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón to review their murder case. The brothers have long said they were sexually abused by their father.
Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the brothers, introduced a coalition called "Justice for Erik and Lyle" and described the brothers as victims of a system that would not hear them and a culture that was not ready to listen.
"They would be mocked," Baralt said. "They would be called cold-blooded killers, left to rot in jail and denied any hope of redemption.
"If Lyle and Erik's case were heard today, with the understanding we now have about abuse and PTSD, there is no doubt in my mind that their sentencing would have been very different."
Erik Menendez (left) is shown in 2016 and Lyle Menendez in 2018 in photos provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
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AP
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Joan Andersen VanderMolen, an aunt of the Menendez brothers, said she struggled for years to come to terms with what happened to her sister's family. She called it a nightmare none of the family members could imagine.
"But as details of Lyle and Eric's abuse came to light, it became clear," she continued, "that their actions while tragic were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable [cruelty] of their father."
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Family of Menendez brothers call for early release from prison
The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 shooting deaths their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home. The case, which led to two highly publicized trials, has remained in the public consciousness for decades, and has recently drawn attention from a new generation on TikTok and other social media platforms.
Gascón has said new evidence was revealed in a recent Netflix documentary on the brothers, who have been imprisoned for more than 30 years.
Lyle Menendez is now 56 years old. Erik Menendez is now 53.
New evidence
One piece of evidence in question is a letter written by Erik Menendez to a cousin eight months before the murders, and it detailed sexual abuse by Menendez’s father, the district attorney said. The letter was found nine years ago, after the cousin’s death.
It could help provide a basis to reduce the conviction from murder to voluntary manslaughter because it may allow the brothers to claim the killings happened under a legal theory known as imperfect self defense. Under that argument, they would be able to claim they had the honest but unreasonable belief that their actions were necessary to protect themselves.
“None of this information has been confirmed,” Gascón said last month. “We are not at this point ready to say that we either believe or do not believe that information but we are here to tell you that we have a moral and ethical obligation to review what has been presented to us.”
The Netflix documentary recounts the August 1989 killings of Jose and Kitty Menendez, both of whom were hit with multiple shotgun rounds, and details how sexual abuse of boys was not as recognized as sexual abuse of girls at the time of the Menendez trial in the early 1990s.
"If they were the Menendez sisters, they would not be in custody," defense attorney Mark Geragos said Wednesday afternoon at the news conference.
Geragos also said a former member of the 1980s boy band Menudo has signed a declaration stating he was molested by the brother's father, Jose Menendez, who was then-head of RCA records and signed a deal with the band.
An L.A. County Superior Court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26.
In a statement released after the news conference, the District Attorney's Office said a habeas filing is being handled by the office’s Writs and Appeals Division, which would have to be considered by the court. The case is also being reviewed by the office’s Resentencing Unit.
"We have heard the heartfelt pleas from the Menendez family regarding a review of this case," the statement read. "While we cannot formally comment on any decisions at this time, please know that our office is dedicated to a thorough and fair process and is exploring every avenue available to our office to ensure justice is served."
Background on the case
The case became an international sensation in part because Court TV broadcast live the first trial of the Menendez brothers in 1993. It ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.
Defense lawyers for the brothers argued that the killings were motivated by years of abuse. But prosecutors raised doubts that the abuse ever happened. They argued instead that the brothers were motivated by greed and money.
Jose Menendez’s estate was worth nearly $15 million at the time of his death.
“They are not the villains they’ve been portrayed as,” said Brian A. Andersen Jr., a nephew of Kitty Menendez, at the Wednesday news conference. “They were boys young and scared and abused by their father in ways no child should ever experience.”
Andersen said the Menendez brothers tried to protect themselves “the only way they knew.”
Prosecutors in the second trial said their motive was greed and money.
Jose Menendez’ estate was worth nearly $15 million at the time of his death.
During a second trial, a judge limited the claims of sexual abuse and barred the brothers from arguing imperfect self defense. Both were convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
After speaking with reporters on Wednesday, some of the relatives and their attorneys walked across the street to the Hall of Justice to meet with members of Gascón’s resentencing unit.
Geragos, who represents the Melendez brothers, said they are hoping either for resentencing or for the brothers’ convictions to be overturned. In any case, the family wants them released immediately.
The defense attorney said the brothers have been model prisoners, mentoring other inmates. He noted Lyle Menendez graduated from college behind bars. “So there is an idea of redemption,” he said.
The case has garnered renewed attention in the wake of the release of a Netflix documentary and a true crime drama on the case. And there's a movement on TikTok to free the brothers.
Some people have accused Gascón of taking up the case to gain publicity for himself as he faces a tough reelection bid. The relatives of the Menendez brothers who spoke Wednesday said they wanted to take politics out of their request.
“For us, this is not a political issue,” Baralt said. “This is about truth, justice and healing.”
The District Attorney's Office said it would provide updates about its review of the case as soon as new information becomes available.
Officials have issued evacuation orders and warnings for residents near the Max Fire, which broke out late Monday afternoon.
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Courtesy Cal Fire
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Topline:
A fire near Stevenson Ranch Monday afternoon prompted evacuation orders and warnings before firefighters were able to stop its forward progress hours later at 6:25 p.m. The Max Fire, which was reported at about 4:20 p.m., has so far burned 45 acres, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.
What we know so far: The fire is located just west of the 5 Freeway in Pico Canyon Park, near Stevenson Ranch Parkway, according to Cal Fire.
Read on ... for more on evacuation orders and warnings.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
A fire near Stevenson Ranch Monday afternoon prompted evacuation orders and warnings before firefighters were able to stop its forward progress hours later at 6:25 p.m. The Max Fire, which was reported at about 4:20 p.m., has so far burned 45 acres, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.
The fire is located just west of the 5 Freeway in Pico Canyon Park, near Stevenson Ranch Parkway, according to Cal Fire.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of the communities of Southern Oaks and Sunset Pointe, including the Laing-Brookefield Open Space. Parts of Valencia and Newhall are under evacuation warnings.
The basics
Acreage: 45 acres as of 6:25 p.m. Monday.
Containment: 0%
Structures destroyed: None reported.
Deaths: None
Injuries: 0
Personnel working on fire: Not immediately available
Authorities say those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.
What we know so far
The Max Fire broke out about 4:20 p.m. west of Stevenson Ranch. It's currently 0% contained.
It's among several fires in recent days, including the Hazel Fire near Lancaster, which burned 66 acres Monday before the L.A. County Fire Department said crews had stopped forward progress of the fire. Evacuation warnings for nearby residents are still in place for that fire. LAist media partner CBS LA reports aerial footage showed a few structures on fire.
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By Christopher Weber and Konstantin Toropin | The Associated Press
Published June 15, 2026 5:11 PM
A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff.
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Courtesy CBS LA
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Topline:
A B-52 bomber crashed today and burst into flames, killing all eight people aboard, shortly after takeoff at a U.S. Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, military officials said.
What we know: Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down around 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission at the base, which is north of Los Angeles. After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Col. James Hayes, the Deputy Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, said at a news conference.
About the victims: “We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that officials were working to notify their families. On board was a mix of military service members and government and civilian contractors, Hayes said.
A B-52 bomber crashed Monday and burst into flames, killing all eight people aboard, shortly after takeoff at a U.S. Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, military officials said.
Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down around 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission at the base, which is north of Los Angeles. Black smoke rose from a large swath of charred desert near what appeared to be a runway on the base, with emergency vehicles nearby.
After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Col. James Hayes, the Deputy Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, said at a news conference.
“We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that officials were working to notify their families.
On board was a mix of military service members and government and civilian contractors, Hayes said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, and it could take up to six months to complete an investigation, Hayes said, but shared that the B-52 was supporting the “radar modernization program.”
In 2025, a B-52 flew to Edwards with a new, modernized radar system. A test team planned to conduct ground and flight test activities on the aircraft throughout 2026 to feed a production decision, the air force said in a 2025 news release. The modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system replaced the aircraft’s antiquated radar for efficacy.
Edwards Air Force Base is home to a large portion of the U.S. Air Force’s aircraft test and development efforts and is about 100 miles (161 km) north of Los Angeles. The 412th Test Wing, which runs the base, also conducts developmental testing of all Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software and components before purchase by the service as well as throughout their lifespan.
The vast desert base is also where Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager reached a speed of Mach 1.05 and broke the sound barrier in 1947.
The airfield was closed most of Monday and all inbound aircraft were being diverted, but it reopened by late afternoon. Non-commercial visitor passes for the base were suspended as emergency crews doused the flames.
It’s too soon to say what might have happened.
The way the B-52 crashed so quickly after takeoff without getting very high or going far makes aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti suspect some kind of flight control malfunction.
It’s possible the controls were rigged wrong after maintenance, he said, or a catastrophic engine problem or a failure of a piece of equipment that was being tested.
“I think it was definitely a controllability issue. Now, whether that was tied to an engine failure, a flight control failure, or some new testing device failure, I’m not sure,” said Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Although the Air Force has been flying B-52 bombers for more than 70 years, testing out new equipment on a plane can create new challenges.
“A flight test is always riskier than normal operations, so that’s why you have specially trained test pilots, and you should have other safety protocols,” Guzzetti said.
___
Toropin reported from Washington D.C. AP Transportation Writer Josh Funk contributed to this story from Omaha, Nebraska and AP reporter Hallie Golden contributed from Seattle.
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Erin Stone
covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
Published June 15, 2026 3:35 PM
Several historic cabins in Crystal Cove State Park, like this one, suffered damage and flooding during heavy surf and high tides.
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Erin Stone
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LAist
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Topline:
Heavy surf, high tides and rip currents have done some damage to the Southern California coast, with potentially dangerous conditions expected to last at least until Thursday.
Why it matters: A young girl was recently swept into the ocean and killed, and some coastline infrastructure has been damaged.
Keep reading...for more on the recent heavy surf and high tides.
Heavy surf, high tides and rip currents have done some damage to the Southern California coast, with potentially dangerous conditions expected to last at least until Thursday.
The conditions already have had devastating consequences. Just last week in Laguna Beach, a 5-year-old girl drowned after she was swept into the ocean by powerful surf. Authorities said they were able to rescue her mother and brother, who were caught in the same swell.
In Crystal Cove State Park, tides over 7 feet and heavy surf damaged part of a historic cabin, and nearly flooded another. A lifeguard tower was nearly pulled into the water.
Heavy surf and high tides pulled sand from beneath a cabin at Crystal Cove Historic District.
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Erin Stone
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'Biggest waves I've ever seen'
“ At the peak of it, just the biggest waves I've ever seen here in my experience as a lifeguard,” said Jake Beckley, who’s been a Crystal Cove lifeguard for six years. “We've lost pretty much the entire beach at certain points.”
The tide reached as high as The Beachcomber restaurant at one point, and pulled chunks of a historic seawall from beneath a cabin nearby.
About Crystal Cove
In the 1910s, the area became popular with both beachgoers and Hollywood movie makers who used it as a filming location. From there, it grew into a bustling community for summer visitors, and later residents. In 1979, it became a California State Park.
Sandra and Rigo Garcia of San Dimas have been visiting Crystal Cove to stay in those historic cabins since the late 1990s. They’ve seen the beach change over the decades.
Sandra and Rigo Garcia have been coming to Crystal Cove for decades and have seen the beach change.
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Erin Stone
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LAist
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“The tide is just so high that it took all the sand, and we're just like, ‘Oh, where's my beach?’” Sandra Garcia said as they sat under an umbrella on the sand of a small road.
Rigo Garcia pointed to the patch of sand in front of them.
“This spot was always the greatest spot, because I would come early in the morning, set up the easy-ups and chairs, and we always had plenty of real estate,” he said. “The kids would be able to swim maybe 10, 15 yards while they're out there. But now it's so dangerous…too many rocks.”
How we got here
A strong southern swell, combined with high tides, has led to the coastal erosion and flooding. The highest tides of the year, however, usually come in the winter, but over the last week some beaches have seen record high tides for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service.
“As sea levels rise, things like this are gonna become more common."
— Riley Pratt, environmental scientist
Riley Pratt, an environmental scientist with California State Parks Orange County District, said these events are a window into the future — as pollution in our atmosphere heats up the planet and melts glaciers, sea levels rise.
“As sea levels rise, things like this are gonna become more common, and their impact is going to be proportionally greater because the baseline is shifting,” he said. “That's going to change what is this just annual cycle into something that's new and that we haven't seen before.”
But for now, the beach is crowded, the sun is shining, and summertime is in the air. And for the Garcias and their fellow beachgoers, there’s no time like the present.
“Earth changes, so you have to go with it,” said Sandra Garcia. “Even though it has changed so much, we still can enjoy it… and be thankful that we have this paradise here.”
What's next
In Orange County, the National Weather Service warns that dangerous surf conditions, including rip currents, are expected to continue through Friday evening.
This creates dangerous conditions for swimming. Anyone caught in a rip current is advised to swim parallel to the shore to clear it. And, as the NWS says, "always swim near a lifeguard."
In L.A. County, conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday night, including coastal flooding, high tides and rip currents.
Southerly swell combined w/increased tides will bring dangerous rip currents & elevated surf from Pt. Conception southward today into early this coming week. Remain off rocks & jetties, always keep an eye on the ocean, and follow local lifeguard advice before swimming. pic.twitter.com/WNBxUK2igi
David Wagner
covers housing in Southern California, a place where the lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness.
Published June 15, 2026 3:31 PM
Small aircraft are parked just off the runway at Santa Monica Airport.
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David Wagner/LAist
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Topline:
Voters in Santa Monica will not see a measure on the November ballot aiming to allow 3,000 affordable housing units on one-quarter of the land for the city’s soon-to-close airport.
The backstory: Proponents have been gathering signatures for a measure that would ask the city’s voters to set aside a quarter of Santa Monica Airport’s land for income-restricted housing. The airport is set to close at the end of 2028. Santa Monica voters have already supported turning it into a large park. But some say the city needs to create more opportunities for low- and moderate-income workers to live near their jobs.
What’s new: Supporters of the housing initiative had until mid-June to submit 7,038 signatures in order to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. They now say they will not meet that deadline. “Community volunteers are continuing to gather signatures,” said Rachele Smith, a spokesperson for the hospitality workers union Unite Here Local 11. Smith said proponents now aim to submit enough signatures by Aug. 12 to qualify for the ballot in November 2028.
Park planning moves forward: In 2014, more than 60% of Santa Monica voters supported Measure LC, which prohibited using airport land for any development purpose other than parks and recreation. However, Measure LC left open the possibility of altering course through another public vote. The City Council recently accepted $10.5 million in county and state funding for park planning. Supporters of the housing measure want to keep 75% of the airport’s land dedicated to the creation of a park, with the rest available for housing development.
What’s next: Whether housing supporters will be able to qualify for the 2028 ballot remains to be seen. Ann Bowman, a Santa Monica Great Park Coalition board member, said park supporters “are very excited” by recent developments. “This land must not be privatized as it's been by a small aviation clique for the past 70-plus years,” Bowman said.
