Zach Behrens

Amy Beck, the Burbank middle school teacher who was arrested for having sex with a 14-year-old boy, said through her attorney that she turned herself in because she felt "guilt-ridden and remorseful" and "couldn't live with what she did," the LA Times is reporting. Attorney Michael Williamson said he was unsure why she did what she did, but said he doesn't believe she had relationships with any other students. Beck, a mother of three...

What was at first a traffic stop for speeding on a surface street ended up being a DUI arrest when 40-year-old Miguel Santana early this morning failed a field sobriety test, according to the LA Times. Santana, the top budget advisor for the city of Los Angeles, was on his way home from the an annual political roast, which is a charity event for the American Diabetes Association. This year's "roastee" was L.A. County...

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to raise electricity rates to build L.A.'s renewable energy portfolio to 20% by the end of the year and avoid a downgrade in LADWP's bond rating was rejected by the City Counil today. Next Tuesday, the council's Energy & Environment Committee will discuss rate hike recommendations that should be considered in the second version of the plan. A motion by Councilmember Richard Alarcon will also be discussed. His 12-point proposal...

Today the L.A. Department of Transportation Bikeways office launched a blog in an effort to reach out to the bicycle community. Behind it is an intern, who is an Urban Planning masters student at USC named Chris. In his first post, he takes the first step, admitting the office has a problem. "A lot of friction between the L.A. bicycle community and LADOT Bikeways has risen from our inability to effectively communicate our goals and rationale to a growing, vocal, and increasingly connected bicycle community,"

Library hours and days may be cut, but parks in Los Angeles will remain open during regular hours this Summer, the Daily News is reporting. However, when the busy season ends and students go back to school in the Fall, that story might change. "We are committed to remaining open when we are the busiest," said Jon Mukri, who heads up the department, to the a city council parks panel. "But, with all the...

Officials at Long Beach City College are looking down the rabbit hole. Actually, many holes. The college's east campus has become a haven for dumping rabbits and the population is increasing... and fast (bunnies can have about 10 babies a month). Announced Wednesday, the school said how rabbit holes are be a public safety hazard--don't trip!--and that they are digging, well, a hole in the landscaping budget. Now the bunnies are being collected so...

Photo by dreamyshade via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Think movie tickets are expensive? Think again. Prices are going up nationwide this weekend.Fewer city staff, thanks to layoffs and early retirements, means construction projects are not getting approved fast enough, thus meaning less jobs in the private sector. Korean Air, which wants to build redevelop the Wilshire Grand hotel in downtown, is not happy. Meanwhile, a Chinese developer has bought the Los Angeles Marriott...

Beginning June 26th, Amtrak engineers will be contracted to operate Metrolink's seven commuter lines. The move comes after the deadly Metrolink crash in 2008, which left 25 people dead and 125 injured. It was found that engineer, a contracted employee from Veolia, ran a red light and was texting at the time of the incident. "Amtrak is proud of our safety record and we are dedicated to providing excellent and efficient service to Metrolink...

A recent study found L.A.'s literacy rank at 62 out of 75 cities | Photo by Matt McGrath Photography via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr At yesterday's City Council meeting, City Librarian Martin Gomez said that although the library is seeing an increase in visitors--17 million people last year--and circulation--18 million items--that the budget could no longer sustain the department's system of 74 libraries and 1132 positions. The library's budget, which is...

The Westside's Alias Books on Sawtelle Boulevard is expanding, opening a second location in Atwater Village, the store announced today. Expected to be open by May 1st, the store will emphasize its collection on film, literature and the arts. "Even in the age of the Kindle there's no substitute for holding a book in your hand and flipping through the pages," said Co-owner Patrick Paeper. Alias Books East will be open 10 a.m. to...

At the Grand Opening of the new police station last September | Photo via the Boyle Heights Historical Society The L.A. City Council yesterday voted to rename an Eastside police station from the Hollenbeck Police Station to the Rudy de Leon/Hollenbeck Station. But it wasn't without a lenghty public comment period where an outpouring of residents spoke up on both sides of the issue. "It's very disrespectful," one resident told the council. "Mr. and...

LAPD officers Wednesday night served three arrest and six search warrants after an investigation into a medical marijuana dispensary operating near a school. Launched in February based on community complaints, officers were directed to “Medco Organics” at 326 North Vermont Avenue. Soon after, the investigation revealed a second dispensary--"The Relief Co." or "TRC" was located at 5669 West Pico Boulevard--that was selling illegally, according to the department. Search warrants were served on both facilities...