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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Crime Wave

LA's favorite modern noir writer, James Ellroy, left our city a while back for the midwest. We're not sure why, since his stories — The Black Dahlia, LA Confidential — are so connected to our city's dark side. Lucky for us he's come back for a visit. James Ellroy will be kicking off the American Cinemathque's 8th annual Noir Festival Friday night.
Ellroy will speak and answer quesitons between the two films at opening night's double feature. You'll be watching one of his favorites, Crime Wave, starring deadpan antihero Sterling Hayden and Between Midnight and Dawn ("The shoot-to-kill story of a patrol car!"). Both movies are set in LA, and neither is available on DVD.
If you've never read Ellroy's breakthrough book The Black Dahlia, there's still time to dig in before the star-laden movie opens later this year. Or you could ask him about it tomorrow night: tickets to the Noir Festival opening night are still available.
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The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
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Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
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The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
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If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
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The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
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Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.