Zach Behrens

Photo by dimsumdarren via Flickr Back in 2008 when some 6,000 to 7,000 rape-kits were sitting on LAPD shelves untested, then-City Controller Laura Chick called it "disturbing" and "unacceptable" finding. The public agreed. Politicians, too. Now, the LAPD is finally getting close to going through the backlog and have 648 left to go, reports the Daily News. One thing, however, that L.A. officials would like to see change in the future is a requirement...

Photo by Seen at Frankin & El Centro in Hollywood | Jennifer Lynn Photography (honeybeejen) via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Bad News Burbank: Citing the economy, Southwest Airlines said they're pulling 12% of flights--that's 82 flights a week--from Burbank Airport starting in August. Are California's aging bridges "seismic timebombs?" The guy who tried to smuggle 14 songbirds attached to his legs on a flight to LAX could face up to 20 years. Bret...

A bag left at a Chase Bank in Westwood prompted the closure of the immediate area and a bomb squad response late this morning. At 11:43 a.m., the LAPD was notified of the bag, which was left at the bank by a customer who did not return to pick it up. As of 1:25 p.m., streets in the area were shut down, according to Officer Gregory Beck. "Traffic is awful," bemoaned one Twitter user....

After watching PETA's online video showing "undercover footage of Ringling Bros. trainers as they beat elephants with sharp metal bullhooks," G4 Host and geektress-hearthrob Olivia Munn (LAist Interview) decided to get involved to bring attention to the issue, according to the LA Weekly. Today a billboard at Wilshire and Highland was unveiled featuring her nude--artfully, of course--with this text: "As Nature Intended, Let Elephants Be Free. Boycott the Circus." At a press conference this...

The lawyer who contends all L.A. County judges are biased in cases against the county government will remain in jail after the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday denied his appeal to be freed, according to the Daily News. Tarzana lawyer Richard Fine has been held in "coercive confinement" for over a year after refusing to pay "$46,329 in attorneys' fees relating to a lawsuit or to reveal details of his personal finances," the paper explained....

Tuesday is Daryl Gates' funeral, which means street closures in downtown, but today is also a big day downtown as fellow police officers and the public are invited to pay final respects at LAPD's headquarters from noon to 8 p.m. "Gates' rites will be the closest thing to a state funeral that Los Angeles could have," says Patt Morrison at the LA Times "In fact, I think that if there were enough water in...

When it comes to L.A. and complaints about communication utilities, it's usually about AT&T cell phone service or Time Warner Cable's internet outages. Today, all the rage on Twitter this afternoon is about T-Mobile... as in how no one can make a call in Los Angeles region (gosh, we hope no one needs to call 911). "Oh guess you didn't hear, we're having issues in the LA area that's causing you guys to have...

Is this growth on track or too slow? "LA's nascent rail system attracted 7,664,748 boardings in March 2008, 8,064,477 in March 2009 (a 5.2 percent increase), and 8,471,487 in March 2010 (a 5 percent uptick)," notes Curbed LA, which also points out New York City's drop in transit numbers--of course, ridership there still dwarfs L.A.'s....

Legislation to ban mobile billboards throughout California took a big step forward today when a bill to ban them was approved by the State Assembly in a 46-14 vote. The city of Los Angeles has been fighting mobile billboards, which have become one of the biggest complaints in some communities, for years with no success. AB 2756, brought forward by two Los Angeles Democrats, now heads to the State Senate for consideration....

The Glassell Park neighborhood is getting a small, but nice public health boost this morning. City officials along with Council President Eric Garcetti will dedicate a 1/3-mile jogging trail on the perimeter of the park outside the Glassell Park...

To raise awareness, the Hollywood Sign was temporarily covered up February | Photo by therealquarrygirl via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr And it's done! Playboy-owner Hugh Hefner has donated $900,000 to the Save the Peak campaign, triggering a $500,000 match from the Tiffany & Co. Foundation and Aileen Getty, the Trust for Public Land announced this morning. The land will eventually be donated to the city to become part of Griffith Park....

Photo by cyan79 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr It looks like the Air Force's mysterious space plan is headed to California. Robberies at medical marijuana dispensaries in downtown are becoming a crime trend. Downtown sandwich eatery Mendocino Farms (they have two locations!) is opening a new location next week in Marina Del Rey. Mayor Villaraigosa "is failing to take responsibility for his own actions in managing the largest municipally owned public...