Lindsay William-Ross

Everybody say "Awwwwww!" This is a good news animal lovin' story out of San Diego, where a sick baby whale has been successful sent back out to sea, according to ABC7. The injured 15- to 18-foot-long, 3000 pound, whale "was rescued by SeaWorld crews from rocks at Torrey Pines State Beach near La Jolla Underwater Park on Sunday," and was treated with antibiotics before being taken back out to sea. A SeaWorld rep reported...

Terrain in the Angeles National Forest (Photo by jmoschella via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr) Two men in their early 20s were rescued by helicopter from the edge of a cliff in the Angeles National Forest in Altadena yesterday evening. Having set off for a day hike, the two young men from Temple City were not carrying supplies for spending more than a couple of hours on the trail, explains the Los...

A 51-year-old Los Angeles man has been arrested in Burbank, suspected of not being able to keep his dress pants on in front of the ladies. Nicknamed the Burbank Flasher, Vincent Ernest Gaston "was arrested Sunday and he was booked for investigation of committing lewd acts," according to CBS2. Gaston is suspected of being the "well-dressed" man, possibly a limo driver, who whistled at some female joggers and then exposed himself to them.

Gas prices in March 2008. We're not there yet. Yet. (Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr) Fueling up is getting more expensive by the week, and our gas prices in Southern California have "hit levels not seen in more than two years," explains the Los Angeles Business Journal. Prices went up about a dime from the previous week, with the average price per gallon in the L.A.-Long Beach area...

In today's Extra, Extra we have a look at the Venice of yesteryear, Chief Beck on the rape kit backlog, pain at the pump, and a major NYC arena possibly setting up in a local venue. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports. You know you want to!

Another weekend, another LAPD sobriety and license checkpoint running to help get impaired drivers off the streets and to educate the public. Tonight it's the valley's turn, as the police will be set up on Ventura Boulevard between Columbus Avenue and Noble Avenue in Sherman Oaks from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. If you're driving through the checkpoint area, you can expect to be detained momentarily to speak with an officer who will check...

Traffic in Downtown has been reeling all morning because of an overturned big rig carrying 42,000 pounds of Christmas trees, and the Sig Alert is scheduled to be in effect until noon today. "The crash was reported at 4:30 a.m. on the northbound Santa Ana (101) Freeway connector to the southbound Harbor (110) Freeway," explains the Daily News. "The driver suffered minor injuries," KTLA is reporting. The CHP say that some of the truck's...

Photo by stevendepolo via Flickr This week the LA City Council voted unanimously to approve a new policy for all City departments and elected offices for donating surplus food, and proponents of the policy believe it could be a model program for the rest of the country. The vote followed the presentation of a final report on the policy, which has enjoyed widespread support as it moved towards implementation. Backed by non-profit food advocates...

Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Los Angeles Police Department's Chief Charlie Beck continues to support the city's red light camera program, according to LA Now, and "insists the program is needed to reduce accidents and save lives, despite that it's losing millions of dollars because of unpaid tickets." Previously, City Controller Wendy Greuel examined the program in an audit, and found that the cameras had not necessarily been installed at the intersections considered to be...

Shoppers who are looking to spend their holiday bucks in support of craftspeople and artisans have a duo of opportunities this weekend thanks to a pair of events setting up shop in Downtown Saturday and Sunday. We've got all the vital info on Unique LA and Artisanal LA. Bonus: If you go to one, you'll save if you go the other.

Sorry, Wisconsin and Ohio! If you don't want those federal funds for high-speed rail (HSR) projects, well, California will be more than happy to those bucks off your hands. Today Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he will redirect about $1.2 billion to the states who have large HSR projects, including California, according to Time. Our state, along with Florida, will get the lion's share of the funds, up to $624 million to the Golden...

Artist's rendering of Station Square The mixed-use transit village planned for the Gold Line station in Monrovia received some green to help with their green, thanks to a "a $995,000 Urban Greening Grant from the the state's California's Strategic Growth Council," reports the Pasadena Star-News. The grant is sourced from Prop 84 funds, and will help pay for a portion of the design and construction of the ambitious development and renovation project. Included in...