Zach Behrens

A number of people in the Western San Fernand Valley have fallen victim to a ploy by two gun-wielding robbers who post cheap cars on Craigslist, arrange a time place to meet and ask the victim to bring cash. A number of them have occurred on De Soto Avenue and Vanowen Street between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The LAPD says if you do buy a car off Craigslist, do not take cash and...

It's made the internet rounds in the pas few years and today sister site Chicagoist talks up an Egyptian Bust from sometimes between 1550 BC and 1050 BC that is currently in the collection at the Field Museum. The bust's nose has a striking similarity to Jackson's post surgery one. "95% of Egyptian statues and busts were defiled by early Christians and Muslims because they were used for idolatry," a Museum spokesperson said. "They...

The grassroots, but powerful San Fernando Valley Democratic Club yesterday endorsed Assemblyman Paul Krekorian for the 2nd District Council Seat in Los Angeles, according to wire reports. Krekorian is considered one of the front runners in the race along with Studio Exec Chris Essel and city prosecutor and LAUSD boardmember Tamar Galatzan--he currently represents portions of the Valley and over-the-hill neighborhoods like Los Feliz and Silver Lake. The endorsement gives the Democrat an edge...

Captain Black Chow of Central Division talks to Chief William Bratton at the 2009 Lakers Parade | Photo by dataxy via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr With crime significantly down and the consent decree lifted, the man who said he likes to fix things and not maintain them is stepping down, according to sources to the Los Angeles Times. Although no official announcement has been made and aides to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa say they...

The fire as seen from Eagle Rock | Photo by An Tran/LAist A brush fire has reportedly grown to about 20 acres (LAFD officially says 4 to 5 acres) and may be threatening homes in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles near the Glendale border. The blaze, which was reported to officials around 4:10 p.m., is located on the north side of the 134 Freeway east of the 2 Highway and is burning...

Not too many local reports of people feeling the large quake in the Gulf of California one-minutes shy of 11 a.m., but it definitely shook up the water cooler talk in San Diego and other border cities and as far as Phoenix and El Paso. The 10:59 a.m. 6.9 quake struck just four minutes after a 5.8 shaker. The large quake was followed by 5.0 and 5.9 quakes within an hour. There have been...

The victim, Robert Burris A 67-year-old homeless man was found dead over the weekend at a downtown homeless encampment with his throat slashed and his eyes gouged out. Police say another homeless man, 50-year-old Timothy Bishop, killed Robert Burrus. A witness saw Bishop on top of Burrus Friday night but did not realize what happened until the next morning when the dead body was found. “I’m not surprised the witness came forward so quickly,”...

In a lengthy 185-page opinion released by three federal judges today, they ordered the state to come up with a plan that would deal with 43,000 prisoners over the next two years, reports the LA Times. The order basically sets the pace for releasing prisoners according to media reports but Chief Deputy Atty. Gen. Jim Humes says the state must come up with a plan, not necessarily release prisoners onto the streets. The judges...

It was about 10:35 a.m. yesterday when Jeremy Burrell was approached by several male black suspects while walking on a sidewalk in the Hyde Park neighborhood in South LA. "More than one suspect drew a handgun and began firing at Burrell," said the LAPD. "Burrell was hit multiple times and transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was pronounced dead a short time later." The suspects got away in a van and police...

Photo: Zach Behrens/LAist Well, we did call him the Obama of classical music earlier this year. 28-year-old Gustavo Dudmel is set to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic this upcoming season in what is probably going to continue to put Los Angeles on the map for the genre. Former conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen led the group strong in past years and it helped to be in the internationally renown Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank...

Now here's a nice idea. A reader at LA Streetsblog submitted a photo of a digital TV showing bus departure times at the Union Station Metro Red Line station. Little is known at this point, but it seems to be an experiment or at least the first of many. Line 20 to Santa Monica is departing in 15 minutes with the following one leaving in 24 minutes, it reads. Not bad. Not bad at...

There are around 50 neighborhood marches, BBQs, block parties taking place throughout the city and country tonight in an annual event meant to connect neighbors with neighbors and to the police officers that patrol their streets. It's National Night Out, "America's night out against crime," as the slogan goes. Although many of us will not be taking part in any activities, it is a good reminder that a neighborhood that knows thyself is only...