Zach Behrens

We've seen, smelt and been saddened by the destruction of the deadly Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest. Containment is expected next week and soon after a new phase will be entered into: rebirth. "After we get in there and assess what damages need to be repaired, there will be opportunity for volunteers to help the Forest Service repair some of this stuff," explained Howard Okamoto, the Recreation Officer for the Los Angeles...

Photo: Eye of Brad The Station Fire has burned through 160,557 acres, about 250 square miles, and is 77 percent contained, officials with the Angeles National Forest announced this morning. The blaze, which began on August 26th, has cost about $82 million to fight. Full containment is expected next Tuesday, which means costs will still rise, possibly to $100 million, according to the LA Times. The federal government is expected to pick up most...

If there was a weekend where you wanted to check out art, this is it. No, it's not a coordinated event or festival, it's just good timing. This happens every year as the art season is very much like back to school. Everyone has been gone for a month or two so it just happens that all the fall shows open the same time. "This weekend people are driving cross town to see as much as possible," explained Bettina Korek, Founder of ForYourArt, which lists the best of best for the weekend on its website.

Oh, this is good. FOX has landed a deal with talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres to become the newest American Idol judge, replacing Paula Abdul who quit the reality show this summer over salary issues. “I’m thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol,” said DeGeneres in Fox's news release, via The Wrap. ”I’ve watched since the beginning, and I’ve always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a...

Jeff Miller, left, takes the oath of office at the swearing-in ceremony for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session | Photo via Jeff Miller's state website Assembly Speaker Karen Bass today removed Assemblyman Jeff Miller (R-Corona) from his Ethics Committee post after he listened to Mike Duvall discuss two sexual trysts, one allegedly with an energy lobbyist. Miller, who was blurred out in the video first shown by KCAL9 on Tuesday night, said he does not...

Last year, 40 people died statewide on roadways patrolled by the California Highway Patrol during Labor Day weekend. This year the number plummeted to 12 with 9 of those victims found not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. “Wearing a seat belt needs to become a habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Buckle up every trip, every time. It may save your life or the life...

The Bluff Fire that began around 9:30 a.m. this morning north of Banning has spread rapidly, prompting an aggressive assault from the ground and air from CalFire and Riverside County fire officials. Two County firefighters suffered heat-related injuries, according to the Daily Bulletin. The blaze, which is suspected of starting in a shed, has been 10 percent contained. No home have been damaged or are threatened at the present time. "It's pretty much (burning...

So Orange County Assemblyman Michael Duvall (R-Yorba Linda) yesterday resigned after being caught on video telling sordid tales of his alleged affairs. Apparently, those were just stories, he said in a statement: "I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs. My offense was engaging in inappropriate story-telling and I regret my language and choice of words.

Play with the interactive map here | Image via the LA Times It's safe to say that weed shops are more common than Pinkberry and Starbucks. Thanks to the LA Times, we know that there's about five "collectives" within a five-minute walk of us (how about you?). And look, the people in the Valley can't complain that their not getting their fair share. In fact, one neighborhood prosecutor told the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council...

Only one region of Los Angeles County--communities directly on the San Gabriel Mountains--is still adversely affected by smoke from the Station Fire, officials announced today. That means residents previously plagued with daily warnings about air quality can breath in with a sign of relief. Yesterday, air quality in the San Gabriel Valley was so bad, that the LA County Department of Public Health the air was bad for everyone, not just sensitive individual (i.e.,...

The Salton Sea State Recreation Area | Photo by craigkirk via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr On Tuesday, the State Assembly passed Senate Bill 679, meant to protect the state park system and ensure that lands used as state parks cannot be used for non-park purposes without providing substitute lands. "The least we can do is not dismantle the system," explained Traci Verardo-Torres with the California State Parks Foundation, a sponsor of the bill....

Photo by Alan Light via Flickr The Emmys are still over a week away, but the time to start thinking about the Oscars is now. Beginning Monday at noon and continuing for about a week, anyone from around the world may enter into a random drawing for one of the 700 available seats at the 82nd Academy Awards red carpet (we sat there last year, here are our photos). Those who apply may register...