Lindsay William-Ross

Moises Meraz-Espinoza (LASD) Officials from the coroner's office have confirmed that 42-year-old Miralda Espinoza of Maywood "died of asphyxia and neck compression," reports CBS2. Her dismembered body was left stored in the freezer in the apartment she shared with her son, 19-year-old Moises Meraz-Espinoza. The body parts had been left there for about a week. On Friday, Meraz-Espinoza arrived at a local police station to tell authorities he was responsible for his mother's death,...

Photo by Open Air Control Testing Ground via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr If you look both ways before crossing the street today near the Blue Line Station at Willow Street and Long Beach Boulevard, you're probably going to see a bunch of motorcycle cops from the Long Beach PD lying in wait to nab traffic and pedestrian offenders. It's part of a crackdown that got underway after 7 a.m. this morning...

Democratic US Congresswoman Jane Harman is resigning her post, and "will take over as director of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington," says the Washington Post. Harman, 65, who "represents a Democratic-safe district is suburban Los Angeles, including Redondo Beach, Torrance and Carson," was first elected to the House in 1992, and after a losing bid for Governor, reclaimed the seat in 2000, notes the AP.

Congresswoman Jane Harman has just announced she will resign her seat in California's 36th District, and now Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn is poised to announce her intent to run to replace her, says the City Maven. Hahn, who reps the City's 15th District, lost a bid last year for lieutenant governor; she was handily defeated by Gavin Newsom in the primary. Harman has yet to give a date for her resignation; Gov....

Photo by LA Wad via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Sorry Team Fresh & Easy. And sorry Team Trader Joe's. Your cries for an affordable, trendy, eco-slanted grocery store in the stead of the vacated Hows at the Commons in NoHo will go unanswered. A new tenant is prepping the space for move-in, and the only bring-your-own bag you'll need to tote there is the one filled with your tennis shoes and...

A man walked into a police station and admitted he used a saw to cut up his mother, and the body parts were stashed in their apartment freezer, according to LA Now. 18-year-old Moises Meraz-Espinoza of Maywood made his shocking revelation at a Huntington Park police station on Friday, and today the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says they are investigating the case. Authorities "confirmed that the body parts were found in the freezer,"...

Award-winning CBS Radio broadcaster Jack Popejoy died yesterday at his home in Sherman Oaks, reports CBS2. Popejoy was 63. Born in Austin, Texas, in 1947, Popejoy came to Southern California in the 1970s. "In 1972 he was hired as a weekend DJ, then weekday announcer for KIIS, eventually becoming the program director. In 1976 he started as a newscaster at KPOL AM & FM. A year later, as the program director, he changed KPOL-FM’s call letters to KZLA."

Just how film producer Ilya Salkind came to be in a hospital in Mexico earlier this week is not yet known, however friends and family of the 63-year-old are now relieved to know their loved one--reported missing on Tuesday--has been located. A friend of Salkind would only confirm to NBCLA that the producer had been located, and that details would be made public shortly via the website set up to help encourage the public's involvement in the case.

City Controller Wendy Greuel posted an update to an online database today to include the 2010 calendar year earnings of about 37,000 City of Los Angeles employess. Greuel says “Angelenos have a right to know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, which is why I thought it was important for Los Angeles to set an example and post the salary of every City employee online."

Oliver working with kids in Huntington, West Virginia, in the first season of his show (ABC / Holly Farrell) Chef and food revolutionary Jamie Oliver has had his filming permit revoked for shooting segments of his ABC reality show "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" at the Los Angeles Unified School District's charter West Adams Prep, reports the LA Times. Oliver made his way into West Adams after being initially categorically denied access to the LAUSD...

Photo via PostSecret on Facebook This week, Californians had their first chance to order up an iced tea or coffee at Starbucks and supersize it. The new Trenta cold beverage size, all 31 ounces of liquid insanity (more fluid than the average human stomach can hold), has, however, a great recyclable use: Wine holder. We spotted this pic via PostSecret on Facebook, demonstrating that a Trenta cup can hold a full bottle of wine....

The now-former Los Angeles County health inspector who groped a Pomona bakery owner has been sentenced to 115 days in jail after he was "convicted of sexual battery," says LA Now. 51-year-old Magdy Naiem Tawadros was caught on video assaulting the donut shop owner during an inspection, and the victim says he used his position to intimidate her during their March, 2010 encounter. Tawadros ultimately awarded the shop a 91% approval; he also lost...