This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
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.
If the BP Oil Spill was Centered in L.A., It Would Look Like This

If you don't know the geography of the Gulf of Mexico, the scope of the BP oil spill might be lost. Now, thanks a software developer from Michigan, you can simply plug in your city and see how big the spill would be in your city was the Deepwater Horizon rig.
This interactive tool has been floating around the internet since late May, but programmer Andy Litner usually updates it daily with data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And with President Barack Obama's oil-focused primetime speech tonight, you might want to take a look if you haven't already.
If Southern California were an ocean, the spill originating in downtown L.A. would cover Los Angeles and Ventura counties and leak into Orange, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside and Kern counties.
-
Cruise off the highway and hit locally-known spots for some tasty bites.
-
Fentanyl and other drugs fuel record deaths among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. From 2019 to 2021, deaths jumped 70% to more than 2,200 in a single year.
-
This fungi isn’t a “fun guy.” Here’s what to do if you spot or suspect mold in your home.
-
Donald Trump was a fading TV presence when the WGA strike put a dent in network schedules.
-
Edward Bronstein died in March 2020 while officers were forcibly taking a blood sample after his detention.
-
A hike can be a beautiful backdrop as you build your connection with someone.