Zach Behrens

Paul Matheis, a Newport Beach divisional fire chief, was using toll roads in Orange County without having a Fastrak transponder on his car. When that happens, a photo is taken and a citation is sent to the vehicle's registered address. In Matheis' case, it happened so many times, it went up to $26,000, according to the Daily Pilot. No worries, though, he paid it out of his pocket. But now he's still under scrutiny...

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...

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...

Photo by twicepix via Flickr After the recent debates over renewable energy put Los Angeles into a position close to bankruptcy, a study released today says Los Angeles could garner 500 megawatts, or 3% of its energy needs, for $23 million a year with solar panels within Los Angeles. The plan would take 10 years. According to the report (.pdf), which was published by the Los Angeles Business Council and the UCLA Luskin Center...

As the city of Los Angeles comes close to running out of money, City Controller Wendy Greuel today released her annual report on all city funds in the City Treasury through June 30th of 2009. Basically, everything was in compliance with state codes. However, Greuel did point out some "troubling" findings. The Treasurer’s Investment Advisory Committee (IAC), which is supposed to provide oversight as to how the City’s funds are invested, hasn't met in...

Photo: = Manny = Nearing bankruptcy, thanks to a stand off over the controversial carbon surcharge, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced drastic action. "I am asking the CAO to develop a plan to shut down all General-funded city services - with the exception of public safety and revenue-generating positions - for two days per week beginning the week of April 12," he said in prepared remarks at a press conference. Non-general-funded departments include LADWP,...

View larger version of this map Some ten years after breaking ground, Santa Clarita officials last week opened the last segment of an 8.5 mile road that they hoped would relieve traffic throughout the city and valley. So far, the Cross-Valley Connector, which diagonally connects the 14 freeway with the 126 highway, has worked, city officials are touting today. "After one week, the newest link has resulted in a 30% reduction in vehicles during...

Following the news of Councilmember Paul Krekorian's iPhone app, the Council President himself, Eric Garcetti, will announce his app in a training session this afternoon. Garcetti 311 will let people in District 13, which covers parts of Hollywood, Thai Town, Little Armenia, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Glassell Park and other neighborhoods, take and submit photos of potholes, graffiti and other problems for the city to address. The free app will be available...

Inside Alcatraz | Photo by bdearth via Flickr The Los Angeles Newspaper Group, owners of the Daily News and various other local papers, today is calling it like it is when talking about California's budget-saving early release prisoner program. Their editorial lede: "As evidence that the state simply has lost the ability to govern effectively, the early release program for prison inmates already is off track." Ooof. When Governor Arnold Scwharzenegger and former Assembly...

Outside the crime scene | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Details about how a restaurant shooting that left four dead and two injured went down started to become more clear Monday, but police were still left with varying reports, leaving a murky picture on some ends. What's clear is that around 4 p.m., a suspects or suspects walked in and approached the table where the six victims, who were at a funeral earlier in the...

Following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake northwest of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, no tsunami activity is expected along the West Coast, says the AP. That's because the quake, which occurred at 3:15 p.m., PST, "was outside the Pacific basin." But just in case you live, work or play near the beach, check out the state's tsunami evacuation maps for the Los Angeles area. The quake was originally reported as a 7.8....

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck today said killings are up when compared to this time last year. A total of 82 people have been killed within Los Angeles city limits this year, four or 5% more than last year at this time, according to the LA Times. In his report the Police Commission, Beck said the city's budget crisis is making it difficult to respond to demand. Basically, a lack of overtime funding has less...