Zach Behrens

"Up until a few years ago, it was quite unusual to see blue whales feeding from shore and it was exceedingly rare to see feeding fin whales," finds the Daily Breeze in a reader Q&A about blue and fin whales off the Palos Verdes Peninsula. "Last year, trained volunteers saw fin whales on a record number of days, 91, and blue whales on four days." The American Cetacean Society Los Angeles Chapter's Gray Whale...

t's about time, no? The Slice Truck is expected to hit the streets next week serving pizza to hungry crowds on the street, reports Eater LA. But no fancy chef or and catchy menu-item will be found here. It's a "bare bones" menu as Eater puts it. That means cheese and pepperoni slices, pop and chocolate and vanilla ice cream. They also have a promo going on where if you snap a photo, tweet it and follow up with an e-mail, you'll get a coupon for a free slice.

Jennifer Jones has reportedly died at age 90 in her Beverly Hills home this morning, according to e-mail alerts from the LA Times and KNX1070. Jones is known for her 1943 Oscar winning performance in "The Song of Bernadette." She also is known for marrying two legends: producer David O. Selznick and Norton Simon, the art collector and industrialist. R.I.P., Jennifer Jones....

A 9-year-old boy was left injured when he was trying to cross a Thousand Oaks street yesterday afternoon, according to the Thousand Oaks Police Department this morning. Luckily, he was left with minor injuries. The suspect fled the scene immediately in a green, full size pick up with silver trim. He is described as a Hispanic male, 40 to 50 years old, 5’5” to 5’10”, heavy set, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a...

Now entering its 14th year, the New Short Fiction Series has left the Beverly Hills Public Library, finding a new home at Barndall Art Park in Hollywood for 2010. The series features L.A. area and West Coast writers, many of them accomplished screen writers. January's event features "Painted Bicycles" and other stories by Andrea Lisa Leeb, who will share the stage with Jennifer Ann Evans (Criminal Minds), Jesse Holcomb (Dead Shot and Eddie) and...

At the Venice Skate Park | Photo by hatehills via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr 30 years of major public transit projects--that's 12 projects--completed in 10 years? MoveLA is ready to engage in battle. The man charged with stalking ESPN's Erin Andrews pleaded guilty today in a Los Angeles courthouse. The popular Downtown Art Walk has a new Executive Director. Will L.A.'s feral cat population grow? A superior court judge suspended local trap, neuter...

Photo: IMAGESOFVEGAS.COM/ISPHOTOGRAPHY Although it soft opened last month, Sweet Surrender Cupcake and Candy Shop in Las Vegas' Palazzo officially announced its opening today, on National Cupcake Day, of course. Besides the more pedestrian cupcake flavors like red velvet, lemon strawberry and chocolate ganache, the superstar sweet treat is the "Decadence D’Or." Retail price: $750.00. So what does a $750 cupcake taste like? A blogger tasting party is probably out of the question, but the...

The elected City Controller has no authority to audit fellow politicians, namely the offices of the Mayor, City Attorney and 15 City Councilmembers, according a judge's ruling today. The issue comes out of a battle between the former Controller--Laura Chick--and former Attorney--Rocky Delgadillo. Current Controller Wendy Greuel believes the judge misinterpreted the law and plans to appeal. In part, city laws states that the Controller has the power to "exercise a general supervision over...

Photo by Kevin Britton via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The gauntlet has dropped again. After a few exit announcements that were noted yesterday, former LAist Contributing Editor Elina Shatkin today tweeted "can now add 'former Los Angeles Times staff writer to my resume.' I was laid off this morning." Shatkin, the amazing and brilliant writer that she is, had graced the Times' food and entertainment sections. Seemingly shocked, fellow Times reporter Chris Barton...

A Grilled Cheese, as seen at the now shuttered Meltdown, Etc. in Culver City | Photo by Tales of an LA Addict via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Eric Greenspan, a former competitor on The Next Iron Chef and owner of The Foundry, is working towards opening a comforting idea: a restaurant dedicated to grilled cheese. A similar-themed restaurant in Culver City, Meltdown, Etc., closed its doors earlier this year, but that may have...

Detail of the new Police Administration Building that replaced the Parker Center | Photo by Alberto Cueto via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Although one city council committee recommended it for approval last week, another panel yesterday sought to delay a decision on setting a timeline for the future of LAPD's famed Parker Center building, recently vacated for the new Police Administration Building a couple blocks away. An Environmental Impact Report is currently in...

A man who has barricaded himself in a home on the 3900 block of Riverton Avenue in Studio City has prompted police to shut down streets in the area along Vineland Avenue, north of Ventura Boulevard. At around 1:50 p.m. a concerned family member called the situation in. SWAT was been deployed and as of 6:20 p.m., LAPD media officials said the situation was ongoing....