Andy Sternberg

Photo by Atwater Village Newbie via LAist Featured Photos Pool. The Dodgers have retained the services of former LAPD Chief William J. Bratton in response to increasing pressure from community and civic leaders to tighten security at Dodger Stadium in the aftermath of an Opening Day post-game beating which left one man critically injured. For the first time since 2005, the Dodgers opened the season without a full-time head of security, according to the...

Exene Cervenka performing at SXSW on March 16, 2011 (photo by nickmickolas via flickr) Exene Cervenka cancelled the remaining dates on her solo tour citing health concerns, according to a statement by her label, Bloodshot Records. The 55-year-old singer, songwriter and artist has continued touring with her bandmates of 35 years in X and in support of her latest solo album in spite of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2009. She discussed her...

An L.A.-based street artist known as 2wenty can't seem to get enough of the social network that he's related to metaphorically as cancer sticks in his work. But Facebook has already gotten the relative street art newbie into local gallery shows as well as attention from across the pond. “I make pieces about what’s bothering me,” said 2wenty, who is actually turning 30 this month and is employed in the media industry, according to...

Dia de Los Muertos 2008 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery / photo by jtstrathdee via LAist Featured Photo Pool. Explosions in the Sky's new album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care won't be available until April 26th but a unique multimedia installation on the grounds of Hollywood Forever will allow fans to experience the inevitable sensory overload of the epic post-rock quartet's latest creation for free, on April 23rd. Taking Care: 6 Visual Interpretations is...

The 54th Annual Grammys will present awards in 78 categories in 2012, after the Recording Academy announced an overhaul to the voting process, a consolidation of categories and introduced new voting rules today. Some of the gender-based categories (such as best solo performance by a female artist) have been consolidated, leaving artists such as Eminem with less of an opportunity to be let down (10 nominations in 2011 but no wins in major categories) and...

An oceanographer who collects flotsam on Washington's Pacific Coast predicts that flotsam and debris from last month's tsunami in Japan could be hitting our shores within a year. "If you put a major city through a trash grinder and sprinkle it on the water, that's what you're dealing with," Curt Ebbesmeyer, a retired oceanographer and Seattle-based consultant for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explained.

Less than two weeks before dropping the much-anticipated "Wasting Light" album, Foo Fighters reacted to unauthorized early leaks with an April 1 treat for fans that really is no joke. The Foos latest surprise for fans is a high-quality audio stream of "Wasting Light" available for your listening pleasure at the Foo Fighters website and Facebook page. Listen in for yourself.

Two experienced skydivers were killed after the canopies of their parachutes collided and deflated about 300 feet from the ground Thursday afternoon, according to authorities. The victims, Christopher Stasky of San Diego and Patrick McGowan of Menifee, both 42, were experienced parachutists at the Perris Valley Skydiving School with tens of thousands of jumps between them. McGowan was a veteran instructor at the Perris Valley Skydiving School and was helping Stasky train Canadian military...

USC's Greek system is facing social probation for the second time this school year after a series of recent mischievous events including racy emails and rooftop sex on campus. USC's Vice President of Student Affairs, Michael Jackson, set up a task force Thursday night, including members of the administration and the Greek community to work past all of the negative attention, according to the Daily Trojan.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito was released from the hospital Thursday morning after suffering minor injuries in a two-car crash in Hollywood. Zito, who has a home in the Hollywood Hills, was taken to Cedars-Sinai with a sore neck but claimed he won't miss his start Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Could this be the beginning of a downward spiral for the Giants, who left the Dodgers in the dust last year and somehow bearded their way to a World Championship? Happy Opening Day!