Lindsay William-Ross

Photo of the Salton Sea by lostlosangeles via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr As a cost-cutting measure, "the California Department of Parks and Recreation has come up with a list of 70 parks statewide that it will close by July 2012," reports KCET. Of the 70, just 13 are located south of San Luis Obispo, however of those 13, six represent half of our Desert State Parks. For those who make the...

Photo by antith3tic via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Voters had their say in the City and County of Los Angeles yesterday in a trio of close contests. In the City's General Municipal Election, a pair of education runoffs saw narrow triumphs for the Board of Education District 5 seat in the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Community College's 5th Seat. In California's 36th Congressional District, a Republican candidate has...

Photo by Rainforest Action Network via Flickr Activists from the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) dressed as iconic characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse were arrested this morning during a protest and banner-hanging outside the Walt Disney Company's Headquarters in Burbank. The group unfurled a 35-foot banner reading “Disney: Destroying Indonesia’s Rainforests," and blocked the company's main entrance early this morning, as part of an ongoing campaign. RAN Forest Campaigner Robin Averbeck said via news release...

Mildred "Patty" Baena (via MySpace) In a "world exclusive" report, tabloid site RadarOnline has revealed the identity of the staffer with whom former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had a son. Her name is Mildred Patricia Baena, she goes by the name Patty, she is 50 years old, and her son was born about 14 years ago. Baena was employed for 20 years as a housekeeper in the home Schwarzenegger shared with his wife, Maria...

(Paul Abell/AP) Police in Inglewood are working to determine who fatally shot Cali Swag rapper Mante "M-Bone" Talbert Sunday night, but as of yet have no motive or suspects, even after speaking with multiple witnesses. Authorities, however, have been able to get "a description of the car that was involved," in the drive-by shooting, according to L.A. Now. A rep from the rap group Cali Swag have released a statement about the group's loss,...

Asian fusion tacos from the Flying Pig Truck (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist) From the streets to, well, just one street, the Flying Pig Truck has announced they will be setting up shop in Little Tokyo with a permanent restaurant space. The Flying Pig Café is the truck's chef and owner Joe Kim's first brick-and-mortar endeavor, and is slated to open in June. The Flying Pig Café menu will showcase the same Asian and Pacific Rim flavors...

Photo by Jennifer Gaillard via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Ring, ring! Civic duty is calling, Angelenos! Today is a City of Los Angeles General Municipal Election day. Polls are open today from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Information about today's election, as well as polling places, and, later today, poll results, are available online via the City Clerk's Election page. On the ballot: Two education runoff races. One is the Los...

Photo by futureatlas.com via Flickr These days the pain at the pump is felt by the motorists, but on Sunday, one gas station owner in Wilmington had a "computer glitch" to blame for his pump-prompted pain. Kenny Nguyen, proprietor of a Valero station, unwittingly charged customers $1.10 per gallon for Premium Unleaded gasoline for four hours--when the price should have been around $4.29, according to the Daily Breeze. Word got out that the gas...

Compressed melon salad from Bouchon on offer during one of the tasting events at the 2010 Taste of Beverly Hills event (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist) Initially separate--though not equal, by a longshot--last year's inaugural Food & Wine Taste of Beverly Hills has merged with the Los Angeles Times' Celebration of Food and Wine and their spawn is called The Taste. The event will be a four-day celebration of epicurean delights, showcasing local chefs, restaurants, food personalities...

If you've just reached for a late-morning snack stashed in your workplace's cupboards or drawers, do yourself a favor and check the packaging. Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc. have announced the recall of six kinds of mini-donuts they sell since "they may develop an uncharacteristic smell and become moldy," explains the OC Register. Mmm, tasty: Mold! The recall covers three kinds of Entenmann's Pop 'Ems in four western states, including California, which "come in blue...

On Big Sunday it's okay to get a little dirt on your hands! (Photo via Big Sunday) Los Angeles, it is time to roll up your sleeves, and pitch in. From getting down and dirty (in community and school gardens) to using some old fashioned elbow grease (to clean up communities) there are hundreds of opportunities to do some big time good as part of Big Sunday this weekend. Once again, volunteer brigades all...

Out with the old cellphone habits! (Photo by a.drian via Flickr) City of Los Angeles employees managed to waste about $1M on cellphones, says City Controller Wendy Greuel in an audit released yesterday aimed at uncovering the spending habits of seven departments when it comes to cellular technology. Said Greuel of her findings: "My audit demonstrates that our technology policies need to keep pace with technology. Cellular phone service contracts are constantly evolving and...