Zach Behrens

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...

Not only was Mark Madsen recently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, he also bought a pretty nice sounding web domain on eBay--www.P2P.com. Too bad, it was stolen, reports the Associated Press. A 25-year-old New Jersey man apparently hacked the website, took ownership and then sold it to Madsen for $100,000 over the auction based site. No word from Madsen yet--he's a big Twitterer--but alleged hacker Daniel Goncalves faces "felony charges of theft by...

Last week Monday, a man in his early twenties dressed like he worked for UPS knocked the door of a 90-year-old Westchester woman saying he had a delivery. When she opened the door, he forced himself in demanding money, according to the LAPD. At some point during the incident police say that he kicked and chocked her before leaving the home on the 9000 block of Chase Avenue, near Loyola Marymount University, with some...

A series of innovative and futuristic type of lighted and magnetic studs will be placed along the 110 Freeway out of downtown to help ease traffic congestion on the the northbound 5 freeway later this year. Basically, "at peak hours, the 'smart studs' would illuminate to automatically open a second connector lane on the 110, easing the long lines," explains the LA Times. If you know anything about this particular connector, you know it can be traffic hell.

Despite an announcement earlier this month that former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was to speak at an event in Simi Valley, today a representative says she never committed to attending. “As repeatedly stated to several in the media over the last week, former Governor Sarah Palin is not committed to attend the Simi Valley Republican Women’s event at the Reagan Library and in fact is not attending the event,” read a statement that...

A Metro Gold Line Station in Pasadena | Photo by R. E. ~ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Speaking of all the local food lately, Your Daily Thread posts a list of seasonal summer fruits that can be found at local farmer's markets. Live in the Valley? Here is the final list of candidates running for Council District 2. Concerned about increased traffic, the Glendale City Council voted to oppose a proposal to...

Although the installation of new gates along Metro rail lines has been partially suspended, a pilot program of sorts will be going in at Union Station and a number of others soon. "It was decided last week to do a pilot test of the gating system at four stations," Metro told Damien Newton at LA Streetsblog in an e-mail. "So gates will be installed at Union Station, Wilshire/Normadie, Westlake and Pershing Square stations on...

Construction in the NoHo Arts District | Photo via CurbedLA The NoHo Arts District has over 20 live theatre spaces, but no movie theatre of note nearby. Part of the redevelopment of the neighborhood--besides adding public art that LAist readers dislike--is the third phase of the NoHo Commons development that includes a mixed use building, Phil's Diner, a parking garage and a seven-screen Laemmle Theatre, which is being delayed. "Laemmle Theatre is working on...

Photo by Alex E. Proimos via Flickr The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that they are fining a container company nearly $50,000 for environmental violations. APM Terminals Pacific Limited-- one of the world’s largest container terminal companies--reportedly discharged industrial-activity storm water at its marine shipping container terminal facility, a violation of Clean Water Act and the California National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, according to the agency. "Controlling storm water pollution is key to improving...

Photo by allspice1 via Flickr As the United States Post Office seeks way to save money and "weather this storm," today a list of 677 branches were given to congress for review as possible closures. Only 200 are expected to close and a number are listed in the Los Angeles area, but none within the city limits, according to the LA Times. It seems the internet has finally caught up with the agency's revenue...

Photo by Atwater Village Newbie via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Now that the Los Angeles Marathon is back on a Sunday in March--the 21st to be exact--the new "Stadium to Sea" route is being hashed out. Under current Santa Monica law, only 5K and 10Ks are permitted, but on Tuesday the City Council instructed staff "to return with an ordinance or policy change that would allow marathons to be held in...

Photo by Alan Heitz via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr In light of the additional budget cuts to state parks, the California Parks Foundation is already asking the public to send letters to state politicians. It takes a second to do on this webpage. Los Angeles had its first beer float showdown last weekend and no surprise here, Golden State in partnership with Scoops won. Let the trend continue! Now the folks behind Kogi...