Kristy Pyke

Julian Sermano (booking photo) A man was convicted Wednesday for killing his acquaintance with a knife over who was a better singer, according to the Orange County Office of the District Attorney. In June 2007, a trio of men were drinking and singing at San Juan Capistrano Park. 58-year-old Julian Sermano had joined two acquaintances, Maurico Molina, 34, and Blas Gutierrez, before an argument developed. Gutierrez had boasted he was a better singer, which...

Photo by FeatheredTar via Flickr The Los Angeles City Council will decide Friday whether or not to officially support Santa Monica Assemblywoman Julia Brownley’s ban on plastic bags. The resolution (.pdf) formally supports the bill under the stipulations that legislators consider amendments that keep in-store recycle programs open. Already in effect, AB 2449 requires all California grocery stores to collect and recycle plastic grocery bags, provide bag reuse, and implement public education programs. Councilmembers...

Photo by MervynMoskowitz via twitpic A business building in Simi Valley exploded today leaving one dead and two with minor injuries. The explosion was reported around 1:15pm today near E. Easy Street. Firefighters training near by were able to arrive shortly after, according to Public Information Officer for Ventura County Fire Department Bill Nash. Although fire fighters are still on the scene, officials have determined the atmosphere to be clear and safe for the...

On Melrose | Photo by el molino 12 via LAist Featured Photos A motion before a L.A. City Council panel could make pedestrian and bike traffic just as important as automobiles in comprehensive traffic studies. Los Angeles City is required by law to conduct these traffic studies in order to predict circulation, congestion, and flow of traffic around areas with new development projects underway. City Council may soon include bike and pedestrian traffic into...

The Shakespeare Center is taking a break from their Shakespeare Summer Festival after 24 consecutive years of free public shows in downtown. They will instead focus on their nationally-recognized arts enrichment program Will Power to Youth. Director of the Shakespeare Center Ben Donenberg stated they had to take $100,000 from the summer festival budget to fund their spring show, according to Los Angeles Downtown News.

The second floor of city hall is home to the snack bar. For years Guilliano’s sold snacks, beverages, breakfast, and lunch to both staff and public alike. But talk around city hall has brought a new issue to the forefront, one that hits closer to home for a lot city councilmembers. Last week Councilmembers Paul Koretz and Janice Hahn submitted a motion (.pdf) to provide healthier food options and encourage city hall employees to...

UCLA Live Director David Sefton announced this week his resignation after controversy over the program's restructuring. Due to budget cuts the program that is known for having one the top international theatre festivals in Los Angeles is losing the man who made it what it is. UCLA Live had a previous budget of about $9 million annually to bring in the top music, dance, and touring theater companies to the campus. But Dean of...

Photo by Menage a Moi via Flickr Assemblywoman Julia Brownley is taking another shot at reducing plastic waste currently endangering marine life and littering our coast. Back in 2008 she introduced AB 68 that would have charged a 25-cent fee for every single-use plastic bag used in grocery stores and other retail outlets. But because of the costs to collect those fees -- in hopes of distributing them to education programs -- the bill...

The brush fire burning near Corona is said to have been started by a mower-powered tractor, according to the local paper Press Enterprise. Cal Fire Capt. Phil Rawlings explained that while cutting weeds the mower hit a rock throwing a spark that started the fire. Burning up to 900 acres as of this morning, the McKinley Fire got dangerously close to homes but nothing was damaged. Firefighters expect to have the brush fire completely...

A fire that broke earlier today has scorched some 200 acres in Riverside County. Dubbed the McKinley Fire, the blaze east of Corona could burn up to 500 acres as 250 firefighters on the ground work to contain it, according to KCAL9. 12 mile an hour winds, however, are concerning authorities. Although no mandatory evacuations are being called at this time many residents of the unincorporated Home Gardens are preparing just in case....