Zach Behrens

A new study that compared Calfornia-grown organic strawberries to conventional ones found that organic ones win. That is to say, organic ones "were more nutritious, had a longer shelf life, and left the soil in healthier condition compared to the conventional crop," says KPCC. The upside is the higher concentration of antioxidants and vitamin C, the downside is the smaller size and less potassium and phosphorus. Strawberries are a $1.6 billion industry in California,...

Just in time for the Labor Day weekend, a union that represents Hyatt workers across the country is highlighting their labor contract problem with the hotel company. In July they held a major demonstration that shut town traffic on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood outside the Andaz Hotel, which led to over 60 arrests. Yesterday they went back, but reportedly stuck to the sidewalks. And today it's the Hyatt in Century City....

When Jerry Ferrara moved to Los Angeles, he got a $425 jaywalking ticket. He says he now won't jaywalk in New York City where a recent New York City study found jaywalkers to be safer than law-abiding citizens.

We've had two days of record low temperatures this week, but that trend is quickly dying. High temperatures are forecasted for Friday and Saturday in, not just the Valleys, but the L.A. Basin. Expect temperatures there to be in the high 80s. Valleys will see mid 90s and some may get close to 100. As always, L.A. County's Department of Public Health is asking everyone to take precautions, especially those who are sensitive to...

Once you buy your new locally-purchased outfit on Fashion's Night Out, you can go pose for photos at Walt Disney Concert Hall Photo by >vivre sa vie via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr There's nothing new about this concept, but Los Angeles and its $250 million budget shortfall could use the boost. Today Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced two new programs that he and others hope will spur local economic activity. That is to say,...

Photo by RobeRt Vega via Flickr If you don't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, whether it's marked or not, you might be in violation of the law. That was the message in a pedestrian safety enforcement operation this morning near Cal State Northridge where LAPD traffic officers and campus police stopped 117 people. 17 were let go with warnings, leaving 100 with citations, including five whose vehicles were impounded for driving on...

Blogger e*starLA recently moved to Hollywood from Beverly Hills-adjacent. It was a choice, and one partly based on living a life where you can leave your car behind and walk. "From Farmer’s Market on Sundays to the movie theatre, the largest independent music store and Trader Joe’s - I can walk anywhere, and I started to, immediately," she wrote about her neighborhood. And that's what she was doing on Sunday afternoon, walking near DeLongpre...

Two men apparently breaking into a Lancaster store on Wednesday afternoon came face to face with the store's armed owner, according to officials. Responding deputies to the 3:30 p.m. burglary call arrived to the shop on the 200 block of East Avenue K-8 to find a man outside suffering from a gunshot wound. 28-year-old Robert Summers of Lancaster was taken to the hospital where he died shortly after. Detectives found property from the store...

Photo by McBLG97 via Flickr [Update: 9th location announced for Saturday in Reseda. Added to list below.] Like every weekend, the LAPD will be holding DUI checkpoints around the city. But unlike other weekends, this three-day holiday one is going to see a more scrutinized focus because officials always see an uptick in drunk driving. And so Friday through Monday, expect to see more police out on the streets. Today the LAPD announced eight...

At the July Protest | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Remember when 63 workers were arrested for blocking traffic on Sunset Boulevard back in July? Well, the group came back this morning. About 100 began protesting at 4 a.m., but deputies reported no problems or arrests, according to West Hollywood Patch on Twitter. Today's action is a part of a multi-city strike representing "a major escalation in a labor dispute," United Local Here 11 says....