Zach Behrens

Photo by = Manny = via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr For at least the second time this year, security checkpoints at LAX have been shut down after a passenger left security screening too early. "At approximately 5:05 a.m. PDT, TSA closed the security checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminals 6 and 7 after a passenger left the checkpoint before a carry-on bag was properly screened," explained Suzanne Trevino, a TSA...

Looks like the tradition of divorce is safe for now. The initiative to place a proposition on the ballot to eliminate the law allowing married couples to divorce failed to qualify, the Secretary of State's office announced yesterday. The 2010 California Marriage Protection Act was "the brain-child of concerned Christian and political activist John Marcotte, who felt strongly that Prop 8 did not go far enough in protecting traditional marriage." Touché! According to the...

Following Metro's "big-time" unhappiness with high speed rail plans between Anaheim and Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the rail authority board today voted to take a second look at one of the previously-scrapped routes. At issue was the pushed-aside idea of sharing track used by Metrolink and Amtrak instead of using $2 billion build a new route, which would include condemning hundreds of private properties and razing homes. Now both approaches will be...

As usual with death on the road, an ad hoc memorial is set up by family members and loved ones. Westside-based blog Tabloid Baby notes that the one set up on Sunset Blvd. for 13-year-old Julia Siegler, who was killed in late-February when crossing the street to catch the bus, continues to grow, becoming much bigger. "More than a month later, the memorial to Julia has become a living shrine, with flowers arrangements replaced...

What a weird town Glendale can be sometimes. "Boxing was banned 62 years ago under the pretense that the matches would have an 'unwholesome' impact on the city," reports the Glendale News-Press in relation to the recent lifting of the ban. However, professional mixed-martial arts and kick boxing are still verboten and "closely monitor" boxing events and ban it again if things become unacceptable. Last week, Glendale's silly news was about an Easter Bunny...

Remember the initiative that entered circulation last month that sought to ban two state retirement systems from "investing in companies doing business in Israel"? Well, it was withdrawn from circulation, according to the Secretary of State's office. Phew, we can still go on using and supporting Intel chips, Google, cell phones, Viagra, instant messages and Victoria's Secret....

A partly noshed on Blueberry Grilled Cheese ( blueberries, cheddar cheese, on walnut raisin bread) | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Hey, it's National Grilled Cheese Month (you've been celebrating daily, right?), so what better time to visit dessert eatery than now? Syrup Desserts in downtown is a cafe that focuses on lattes, cappuccino, coffees and teas along with a melted chocolate, waffles, crepes, ice cream sandwiches and more. The last page of their menu,...

Ever since HOWS Market announced the closure of its NoHo Arts District location, people have been praying for a Fresh & Easy takeover of the space. Fresh & Easy, for their part, have been diligent in not giving any specifics. Last month, a spokesperson said "We’re looking at sites in NoHo, but not that site at this time." Yesterday, the same spokesperson had a variation: "We’re looking at sites in NoHo, but cannot confirm...

Photo by GarySe7en via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The fact that Los Angeles will be out of money on May 5th if leadership doesn't do anything is making heads turn around the nation. So what to do? Make the media rounds. Here's Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's schedule for today (the last one is about the Census) in case you want to hear him talk about it: 9:00 AM -- LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Villaraigosa...

Art by David Choe The last time British art promoter Lazarides came to Los Angeles, it was a hit, to say the least. It featured the work of the famously elusive Banksy, who also left the gallery behind to hit the streets, installing a British phone booth in Chinatown and a Guantanamo Bay detainee at Disneyland. Later this month, Lazarides is embarking on four months worth of art shows. While Banksy is not part...

The LADWP is crying poor, but others say the utility is sitting on millions of surplus funds enough to save Los Angeles from bankruptcy on May 5th (specifically, $73.5 million is in question). Now City Controller Wendy Greuel wants to set the record straight. “I want to take the politics out of this process and provide an independent review of the DWP’s finances," she said in a statement late this morning. "I want to...

The Day of Decision Protest in Hollywood on May 26, 2009 (more photos here) | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist A 1950s state code still on the books instructs California's Department of Mental Health to conduct research into the "causes and cures of homosexuality," but a group, with the help of a local Assemblymember is looking to repeal it. AB 2199, or "Repeal of Discriminatory Code," was authored by Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and sponsored...