Zach Behrens

As mentioned last week, the LAPD tonight will hold a DUI Checkpoint in Hollywood at on Highland Avenue at Willoughby from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. After 66 driving under influence-related and 662 hit and run traffic collisions in the area just in 2009, police say they are using this checkpoint to "educate the community to use designated drivers and not drink and drive." Also, there will be a saturation patrol in the Newton...

Los Angeles Polie officers fire tear gas into a suspect's vehicle involved in a standoff outside the Federal Building (AP Photo/Nick Ut) The man standing off with police in Westwood since 10:30 a.m. was arrested without incident more than eight hours later when police approached the vehicle and pulled him out. He is reportedly Joe Moshe, 56, of Westchester. Police and Secret Service responded to alleged threats he made against the White House when...

You can thank Terence McFarland, the executive director of the Los Angeles Stage Alliance, for that fantastic quote about Sweaty Sundays (and Wet Wednesdays), a popular updated Richard Simmons dance exercise class " to a soundtrack of indie rock, techno, and 1980s new wave hits new wave" in Silver Lake. The New York Times takes an interest--"Silver Lake, a hipster neighborhood in Los Angeles"--while Gawker ponders if Williamsburg hipsters in Brooklyn can step up...

An IOU warning at an ATM | Photo by alicegop via Flickr State Controller John Chiang today said the issuance of IOUs instead of paying bills can stop on September 4th. His suggestion still must be approved by the Pooled Money Investment Board, which controls the state's cash flow, according to the Sacramento Bee. In July, California began issuing IOUs because a revised budget was not in effect. So far, 327,000 totaling $1.95 billion...

Taken in East LA on May 26, aka the Day of Decision (see more photos here) | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist Although Equality California announced putting support a ballot measure to strike down Prop 8, another group, The Courage Campaign, said today they are shooting for 2010 and just raised $135,000 in the last two days--an amazing amount for August fundraising in an off-year during this economy--for research. Chatter among some within the anti-Prop...

Photo by roland via Flickr It's been a trying few days for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation as strong emotions from bicyclists and other complete streets activists rallied to save the elimination of bicycle lanes on Reseda Blvd. to make room for peak hour traffic. A Northridge Neighborhood Council had it as an agenda item earlier this week, prompting a huge turnout by the public to fight the measure. However, according to LADOT,...

No official list of state parks to close had been published yet, but at least five in the Los Angeles area face the real possibility of closing if partnerships are not formed to save them after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed $39 million from the department's budget. Los Encinos in Encino, Santa Susana Pass in Chatsworth, Rio de Los Angeles in Chinatown, Point Dume in Malibu and Pio Pico in Whittier are all being considered for closure, the LA Times finds.

A police pursuit that began in Westchester has ended in a standoff between the suspect and police outside the federal building in Westwood. Officers from Pacific Division attempted to detain the suspect on a warrant when he fled in a Volkswagen, prompting the pursuit around 10 a.m. The suspect reportedly has made threats against the White House and the Secret Service is apparently involved, according to the LA Times. Veteran Avenue has been shut...

Guitarist and inventor Les Paul died today at the age of 94 in New York. He brought us multi-track recording and the electric guitar, which originally was called "The Log." Before looking like a guitar, it was "a four-by-four piece of wood with steel strings," the Associated Press describes. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will place flowers at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can pay your respects at 1541 N....

Since this morning, police have been in a standoff with a pursuit suspect wanted on a warrant, reportedly over threats to the White House and possibly other charges. The chase began in Westchester around 10 a.m., heading north on the 405 freeway before entering the Westwood neighborhood when the car entered the driveway of the Federal Building at Wilshire and Veteran. Once there, police blocked him in and he has been refusing to leave...

It's quite a change from the old look, but a welcome one at that. It's more mature and newsie with a hat tip to the past--much better than that corporate turquoise thing that was going on before. There's an interactive tour you can take and over at the Readers' Represenative blog, online managing editor Meredith Artley explains and highlights the key changes made, such as better navigation, the new font (Georgia!), a faster loading...

Instead of approving a $300-every-two-years fee for restaurants that want sidewalk dining, the city council yesterday sent the idea back to study because they believed it was a disincentive to restaurants to offer such a service, according to the Daily News. "At a time like this, when businesses are struggling to survive, I just think it sends a wrong message of 'Here comes the city again, with yet another fee,"' Councilwoman Janice Hahn said....