Zach Behrens

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...

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...

Inside the South L.A. Fresh & Easy (more photos here) | Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/LAist Last month, it was South L.A. This month, it's Burbank. Fresh & Easy officials today announced that their latest store, located at Olive Street and Verdugo Avenue, will open this Wednesday at 10 a.m. after a ceremonial event with city officials and Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley, which will be given a $1,000 donation. New stores will...

Amid the budget drama at city hall, LA Weekly today points out a RAND report that was released last month. In part, the study found that "an approximately 10 percent expansion of the police force in Los Angeles, begun in 2005, would generate about $475 million in annual crime reduction benefits, substantially above the $125 million to $150 million annual cost of the officers." Basically, effective police forces save cities money because crime causes...

Last month, LAist told you that two bald eagles had mated and laid eggs on Santa Cruz Island, one of the five islands in Channel Islands National Park. "Great news," Yvonne Menard, spokesperson for park, exclaimed this afternoon. "We have just had two new chicks hatch at the Pelican Harbor nest on Santa Cruz Island." Thankfully, the eagle nest is under the eye of a live webcam. If you're lucky, you might see the...

One of the first segments to be built in California' 800-mile high speed rail network is the small Los Angeles to Anaheim segment, which is expected to see trains every five minutes. But as with anything in a first-of-its-kind project of this magnitude...

The earthquake just off the coast of Malibu and Santa Monica yesterday afternoon was unrelated to the larger one that occurred less than hour before. At 4:10 p.m., a minor 3.0 quake (LA Times said it was upgraded to 4.1) shook in the Santa Monica Bay. As usual, rarely-felt microquakes have been hitting the Los Angeles area daily, such as a small one this morning in Castaic and another one on Saturday in Northridge....

Ady Gil, left, and Sea Shepherd volunteer and vegan Vanessa Meier protesting outside The Hump and Typhoon in March | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Now that The Hump, the sushi joint that was caught serving illegal whale meat, has closed, the municipally owned space is empty and possibly up for a new tenant. And who's in line vying for it? Ady Gil, the millionaire owner of American Hi-Def and animal rights activist and philanthropist...

Plans to cap and build a park over the 101 Freeway between Hollywood and Santa Monica boulevards recently got a nice boost, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal. Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) has said he will request $5.85 million to fund for planning Hollywood Central Park. If successful, it's a good move, but only a step in what will be a journey of many. The project in total is expected to cost...

The now-identified victims, who were likely intended targets, in Saturday's shooting that left four dead and two in critical condition were gathered after a funeral. 30 to 40 people had come together at the Hot Spot Cafe on Riverside Drive, but when the shooting occurred, only a handful remained. Despite neighborhood theories on the shadiness of the restaurants, owner Artour Balian said the cafe, complete with tinted windows and soundproof walls--so it didn't disturb...

Everyone's watching LegalZoom's next move | Photo by laverrue via Flickr LegalZoom and its 400 employees who work out of its Hollywood Boulevard offices are looking to move outside Los Angeles city limits in search of a better tax break. Last month, a new tax for internet-based businesses went into affect, effectively lowering their tax bracket, but some companies will only get the lower tax for a portion of their gross receipts if part...

"Urban Light" at LACMA | Photo by Non Paratus via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr A look at some do gooding here on Good Friday. Metro has an Independent Citizens’ Advisory and Oversight Committee? Yes, they do, and its annual meeting is Monday afternoon. Santa Ana winds have their "highways," too. Got a Harley? Event organizers are looking for riders to join a Glendale to Downtown ride to the Revolver Golden Gods Awards at...