Emma G. Gallegos

The grieving mother of a man who died earlier this week said she won't be allowed to see her son's body because she's no longer a member of the Church of Scientology. Alexander Jentzsch, 27, died on Tuesday in Los Angeles, but so far his mother Karen de la Carriere has not been able to say a final goodbye.

In tonight's Extra, Extra, we have some awesome Fourth of July videos, pictures of KCRW's crazy sound booth and news about a former Villaraigosa aide's political plans. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics).

Lawmakers narrowly approved billions of dollars in construction that would finance the first segment of the nation's first dedicated high-speed rail line that will eventually (we hope) connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Today President Barack Obama is expected to sign a bill into law called American Fast Forward that would offer up $105 billion dollars in loans over the next two years to jumpstart transportation projects around the country.

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Tom Cruise's lawyer takes a shot at Katie Holmes, "Tehrangeles" makes it onto Google maps and an amusing map that compares places that have more beer or church. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics).

Police officers have been on high alert for drunk drivers over the past week or so because of the Fourth of July holiday. More than 650 people in the county were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over six days, according to the "Avoid the 100 DUI Campaign."

Scoops, the delicious and vegan-friendly ice cream shop with locations in East Hollywood and the Westside, is coming to Highland Park. Scoops owner Tai Kim plans to open the latest outpost at a location on York Boulvevard and N. Avenue 51.

We're guessing that Howie Mandel doesn't throw a lot of crazy ragers at his mansion in Calabasas. Last night Mandel hosted a Fourth of July bash, and sometime around 1 am he walked by his bathroom and heard a couple having sex.

A man died yesterday morning after trying to lower himself in the apartment of a tenant whom he was once romantically involved with. The 45-year-old man climbed to the roof of a 4-story building in Angelino Heights and used a fire hose to lower himself down the side of the building.

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Chris Brown plans to party down after the BET Awards, there's a war over Thomas Kinkade's estate and a Southern California bicyclist was killed during a grueling ride in the Sierras. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You can also find us on Pinterest, Storify, Foursquare, and Instagram (laistpics).

This week's edition of Overheard in L.A. features bits of overheard conversation from a backyard picnic in Irvine, a cubicle in Santa Monica and Meltdown Central (a.k.a. Hollywood). Our Overheard in L.A. feature relies on you to send us the strange conversations you overhear in this city.

A 55-year-old bicyclist is in critical condition after he was hit by a driver who later fled the scene in the Hollywood Hills on Friday, police said. The man was hit while he was riding south on Outpost Drive near Mulholland Drive around 4 pm on Friday.