Zach Behrens

And that's bad news for the city of Los Angeles and its budget deficit, which is expected to hit one billion in a few years. That 16% decline equals $186 million lost when held next to estimates, which were expected to only decline by 6%, reported the LA Times. "And overall tax revenue has declined by double digits for four quarters straight," reported the paper, which recieved an e-mail from the City's Administrative Officer...

The storm over the San Fernando Valley | Photo by denisetaylor☼ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Yesterday's storm is still with us today, bringing us more of the same, possibly with worse weather conditions as our low pressure system--meaning we're more susceptible to inclement weather--continues to drop, nearing the a record set back on January 27th in 1988. Because of the heightened intensity, there is more chance of tornadoes and water spouts off...

The National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to meet this morning to discuss and finalize an 18-month investigation into the causes that factored into the 2008 head-on crash between a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train that left 25 dead and 135 injured.

Hollywood & Highland | Photo by therealquarrygirl via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Despite the controversy, congratulations is due to Westwood, which is close to having a Neighborhood Council... finally. The 710 Freeway once again was flooded today. Hollywood continues to grow. A new hotel at Hollywood and Cahuenga boulevards was approved today. Differing opinions: activists are responding to the DASH cuts and hikes recommended by LADOT. Matt Mason at LA Metblogs reminds us...

In addition to Long Beach, Santa Monica is offering sand bags to residents. Via an advisory from the city: "The City of Santa Monica has sand bags available for residents who request them to mitigate the effects of unfavorable weather conditions. Sand bags can be requested by calling the Public Works Department - Street Maintenance Division at (310) 458-4991. The Public Works Street Maintenance Division is located at 2500 Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica."...

Some 3,400 LADWP customers scattered throughout the city are currently without service, about half of the number earlier this afternoon. However, the number of Southern California Edison customers across the region without service has increased by around 8,000. The hardest hit areas include Lake Arrowhead (3,142), Orange (1,805), Huntington Beach (1,571), Baldwin Park (1,253), Altadena (1,125) and Compton (870). "SCE is continuing to prioritize repairs so that customers who have been without power the...

Photo by Omar Omar via Flickr If going to the DMV wasn't enough of a headache, it got worse today when the system went down statewide. "We had connectivity issues," said Jan Mendoza, a public information officer with the agency. "It could be something with the phone company, it's all we know at the moment." "Not one person has been served yet," said Rob Franz, who had been waiting at the Culver City office...

Investigators concluded this morning that witness statements were unreliable and that, based on evidence, the Metrolink engineer ran the red light, putting the train on a head-on collision course with a Union Pacific train, according to the LA Times. "The Metrolink train passes the signal at Topanga; it is displaying a red stop indication," explains a detailed animation of the collision, which can be seen on the National Trasportation Safey Board's website. "Phone records...

And so it ends. Around 1 a.m. this morning, Late Night Show host Conan O'Brien and NBC signed a deal, getting him around $32 million and some $12 million for his staff. Tomorrow night is is last show, but his deal allows him to go back on TV eight months from now. Jay Leno will return on March 1st with a show from 11:35 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. After that, "Late Night with Jimmy...

L.A. City Hall | Photo: sirimiri via LAist Featured Photos/Flickr Amid the process of letting 2,400 city of Los Angeles employees retire early--a move to help save a dwindling city budget--a draft internal letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times indicates plans to sack at least 1,000 employees. "Revenues are significantly lower than original projections and we are prepared to make tough decisions, including layoffs and cuts in less-essential city services to our constituents,"...

Photo by Daquella manera via Flickr After banning smoking near outdoor dining areas, the Los Angeles City Council this morning took on the issue of breastfeeding at work. No, there's nothing wrong or illegal about doing it on the job at a desk, but state law does encourage employers to set up a private area so women feel more comfortable. Introduced by City Councilmember Tony Cardenas last August during World Breastfeeding Week, his motion...

Photo by Mary Lindsay via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr KPCC did a nice profile on a Southern California musician who says Martin Luther King Jr.'s words inspire her environmentalism and songs. State politics your thing? Good news! The LA Times has a new blog just for that. The downtown area is looking at a handful of future park facilities. Mayor Villaraigosa has decided to stay in Los Angeles to monitor the storm instead...