Zach Behrens

The Los Angeles City Attorneys office today will file two misdemeanor counts against actor Sean Penn, according to TMZ. Back in October, Penn was captured on video--of course--kicking a paparazzo in Brentwood, apparently breaking the pap's camera. If found guilty, jail time could be up to 1.5 years. You can watch the video here....

It might be KCRW that gets all the buzz, but it's KUSC that gets the top ratings. The most recent Arbitron ratings show that the classical station earns the top public radio station in the country spot because of the "average number of listeners and individuals who tune in during the week," finds LA Observed. It's the first time the station ranked number one in both categories....

Detail of City Hall | Photo by polaroid-girl via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr In addition to the 1,000 city worker layoffs already being discussed, the Los Angeles City Council today took action to add 3,000 more workers to that list after a financial firm yesterday downgraded the city's financial outlook from "stable" to "negative," according to the LA Times. The city is facing a $212-million deficit and a $484 one next fiscal year...

Fans of Fresh & Easy might be getting a store near them soon. Next week, two stores will open with three more openings in early April, the company announced today. Of particular note will be the Central and Adams location in South Los Angeles...

Photo by atomicshakespeares via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The state senate today passed a bill that would impose a sales tax on Amazon.com and other online purchases, which would raise $107 million annually, according to the Sacramento Bee. Governor Schwarzenegger said he would veto the measure when it was introduced last year and Overstock.com threatened to pull its affiliate program, which provides income to California residents, if the tax was approved. Also in...

Image via KTLA Nevermind that the 30 year vision of regional transportation includes bridging the San Fernando Valley with the L.A. Basin via rail or rapid transit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is dreaming of a two-story 405 freeway. Speaking yesterday at a press conference celebrating the massive 405 car pool lane project that recently began, he said " hopefully, eventually, we will build on top of the 405 Freeway because I think we need another...

In-N-Out Animal Style French Fries: probably not good for your physical health, but maybe for your mental health? | Photo by nomsnotbombs via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr When it comes to L.A. County's overall health, it sits in the middle of 56 California counties studied for a recent report, according to the LA Times. Orange County made the top ten. “This report shows us that there are big differences in overall health across...

Google is starting to experiment with broadband services and L.A. wants in, according to USC's NeonTommy. "They've opened this up to everyone, but we're actively pursuing a deal," said Kevin Crawford, the deputy director of L.A.'s Information Tech...

It's not just the Hollywood Sign that's threatened, movie studios are having their own kind of trouble these days. "With three major entertainment properties openly on the block, and another independent studio quietly made available for sale, Hollywood -- once the sexiest of high-priced baubles -- faces a glut of supply and a dearth of demand," notes Sharon Waxman on her The Wrap. MGM, Miramax, Summit Media and Starz Media are all up for...

Fans of documentaries like Food, Inc., The Cove, The Inconvenient Truth and movies like Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana and The Soloist might not know they were all produced under a company called Participant Media. And it's that company that recently launched a new social action network called TakePart, which aims to be, in our words, the Google of Do Gooding and the Yelp of Volunteering. In an effort to spread their word...

The growing popularity of gastropubs in Los Angeles has forced the hands of Laurel Tavern owners to expand hours. That's a good thing, considering this popular Studio City pub is packed, even when it's pouring rain out and even if it's a Sunday or Tuesday night. Now the tavern is opening daily at noon for lunch and, of course, some good beer, including the Pasadena based Craftsman. The lunch menu includes serrano ham with...

One can take Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Coast Starlight to San Luis Obispo, but flying in and out of there--whether it's between L.A. or elsewhere on the west coast-- is limited and quite pricey. The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced a $500,000 grant to help the city improve air service with the goal to "bring competitive, low-fare service to the community, improve connectivity among intrastate markets, and increase access to markets in the...