Jessica P. Ogilvie

Food critic Jonathan Gold recently made waves when it was announced that he was leaving his longtime home at the LA Weekly to write for the LA Times' new "Saturday" section. But it turns out that's not all Mr. Gold had up his sleeve with his new career trajectory -- Kevin Roderick of LA Observed reports that Gold is also debuting a new column in Smithsonian Magazine.

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Disney gives out special mouse ears, Bob Hope and his wife get a square named after them, and dogs have new leeway in restaurants. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Two teenagers, a boy and girl, were shot in Wilmington, CA last night just after 7:00 p.m. NBC Los Angeles reports that the couple, Meldrick Melgoza and Carolina Ramirez, were were walking on the 500 block of Bay View Avenue when someone walked up to them and fired several rounds, then walked away.

Workers are planning a rally at LAX this afternoon to protest what they call the airport's attempt to cut costs by hiring irresponsible contractors and outsourcing jobs, putting travelers at risk and forcing airline employees to work for unlivable wages.

Westside book borrowers, rejoice -- the Montana Avenue branch of the Santa Monica Public Library will reopen tomorrow after being closed for renovations. The library began the upgrade project on January 16, and since then, it got new paint and shelves, more book displays and self-checkout stations, and added seating in the teen area, among other improvements.

The 84th Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday, and as we all know that means a traffic clusterfuck for those among us who aren't being escorted down Hollywood Blvd. by helicopter or limousine or something else that we don't even know about. We posted a few days ago about street closures near the Kodak Theater, and now here's some information about busses and trains, which will also be affected by the awards ceremony.

A derailed freight train is causing Metrolink's Orange County line to miss its Commerce stop, reports City News Service. The derailment happened at about midnight last night, according to KTLA, when six cars went off the tracks.

A 16-year-old boy hid from police for three hours last night in a house in Del Rey after attempting to rob someone by pretending to have a handgun. The boy was thwarted in his would-be robbery by a passer-by, reports CNS, who sprayed him with Mace during the attempt at about 9:00 p.m.

A robber pepper-sprayed a mother and her son after they came home to find him burglarizing their house in Corona, reports KTLA. The incident happened earlier this month when Karima Deadrick and her 12-year-old son Darnell walked into their home and saw a man upstairs.

Actor's unions SAG and AFTRA are on the verge of a merger, but a handful of prominent SAG members filed a lawsuit yesterday in an attempt to keep the two groups from joining forces. NBC Los Angeles reports that Martin Sheen, Ed Harris and Nancy Sinatra are among the members upset about the potential merge.

In tonight's Extra, Extra, California gets a new state animal, Dorothy's ruby slippers get a new home, and we have a contest for you. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Things are running amok over at "The Biggest Loser," reports TMZ, after contestants discovered that producers of the NBC reality show were planning to incorporate a dastardly twist.