Lindsay William-Ross

Federal authorities rounded up members of what they say is a marijuana ring operating in Southern California, according to cbs2. On Friday, "agents served two arrest warrants in Los Angels County and five in San Diego," bringing in 12 people altogether. The leader of the ring, Joshua John Hester, was arrested at his West Hollywood home. "Two dispensaries owned by Hester are among 14 clinics and collectives raided by local law enforcement in September....

Inside Acres of Books in April 2008 (Photo by GarySe7en via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr) It's been about two years since Long Beach's beloved Acres of Books indicated they were willing to go with the times and pack up and move along. The storied bookseller, which first opened in Long Beach in 1934, then moved to its next and final location in 1960, had thousands of books left, however, after they...

New Passport book fees (via Travel.State.Gov) If you're planning on traveling outside the United States you'll need your passport, and if you need to get one or renew the one you've got, be advised that passport book and card fees will be going up this week. Effective Tuesday, July 13th, a basic passport will cost $135, which is a $35 increase from the current fee. In addition to passport fee hikes, there are other...

Photo by Chris Camargo via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr One person was killed in a crash this afternoon on the 118 Freeway in Pacoima. Celebrity trials are stretching the LA County courts to their limits. A record temp was set yesterday at LAX. And, uh, not a hot one. Gloom rhymes with June, so this is July...what? Torrance's Madrona Marsh has been re-opened following a 2-week closure due to a scare...

LAPD Bomb Squad vehicle (Photo by Lord Jim via Flickr) It took several hours yesterday for the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad to safely remove two live military devices from a home in Glassell Park, according to LA Now. The devices, thought to be bombs from either the Korean or Vietnam War, were discovered by a man who was cleaning his parents' garage at their home on the 4000 block of Verdugo Road...

Photo by Subspace via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Thrillist dubbed the Yatai Ramen Pop-Up "crazily meat-heavy," so perhaps vegans and vegetarians will want to steer clear of the 3rd Street location of Breadbar Monday-Saturday evenings through July 24th. The lowdown: The menu's mostly noodle-based, with bowls full of marine poached egg, kurobuta pork belly, nori, and bamboo shoots featuring out-there additions including raw beef tenderloin, ox tail, foie gras, and truffle...

The LAPD will be conducting a DUI checkpoint in South Los Angeles tonight as part of their ongoing effort to remove intoxicated drivers from the streets and to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving. Tonight's checkpoint will be set up on Manchester Blvd. between Hoover and Figueroa [map] which is in the LAPD's Southeast Division. That area "has experienced a 54 percent increase in Driving Under the Influence related traffic collisions...

The fatal shooting of a 2-year-old boy in North Hills last night was the result of an accident involving his sibling, according to the LAPD. Paramedics from the LA Fire Department responding to the call on the 16700 block of Parthenia Street [map] found the infant suffering from a single gunshot wound to the torso. Responding LAPD detectives soon determined that the boy had been shot by his 9-year-old brother who was playing with...

The discovery of two active "military devices" inside a garage in Glassell Park is being handled by the LAPD bomb squad, according to abc7. "The devices, believed to be from the Korean War era, were found at 4049 Verdugo Road" earlier this afternoon. The bomb squad is working to safely remove the devices from the area, and have ordered sand delivered, which will "keep the devices from shifting around while they are transported to...

Photo by kristi.nicole via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Last year's inaugural Taste of the Farmers Market event was such a success that they've brought it back for another year, and it's happening this Tuesday. A $25 ticket gives you access to all the bits and bites provided by the Original Farmers' Market's many food vendors, restaurants, and purveyors, and a coupon book ($5 more gets you two drink tickets for wine...

So as it turns out, it's a crime to send yourself hundreds of threatening text messages--that is, if you claim they're coming from other people. The OC's Jeanne Mundango Manunga "told police her former boyfriend and his sister-in-law were behind the threats. They were arrested on false charges and required to post thousands of dollars in bail," reports cbs2. But it was Manunga who started sending the messages to herself after she and her...

Just a reminder that tonight is the night to head Downtown to show your support for the folks who ran and worked at The Must, the wine bar that found themselves the subject of a bizarre and surprising eviction over the 4th of July long weekend. From 7-11 p.m. at the Farmers & Merchants Bank [map] enjoy an open wine and beer bar, music from local DJs spinning, and the camaraderie of community. It's...