High Temperatures in the Triple Digits to Hit LA

Southern California is about to get a blast of summer, with temperatures expected to sharply rise over the next few days and create dangerously hot conditions in many areas that will last through the weekend. “An upper level ridge of high pressure will begin to build over the region, bringing a warming and drying trend […]

Dumbbell-Wielding Woman Killed by Police in Tarzana Identified

A 35-year-old woman wielding a metal dumbbell bar and who allegedly assaulted four people before she was fatally shot by police in Tarzana was identified Tuesday. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman as Jessica Brown. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded around 8:30 a.m. Sunday to several calls of an assault […]

Rolling Hills Estates to Declare Local Emergency Due to Devastating Landslide

The cause of a landslide responsible for the destruction of several homes in Rolling Hills Estates remained a mystery Tuesday, while the City Council prepared to consider declaring a local emergency due to the devastating slide. Nearly a dozen upscale homes in the Palos Verdes Peninsula community along Peartree Lane have been crumbling as a […]

Prosecutors Won’t Retry Masterson on Rape Charge; Sentencing Set for Sept. 7

Prosecutors announced Tuesday they will not retry “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson on a rape charge on which jurors were unable to reach a verdict during his recent trial, and a judge formally dismissed the count. The 47-year-old Masterson is now scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 7 on two other rape charges on which […]

West LA Man Charged with Running $4.5M Timeshare Telemarketing Scam

A federal grand jury Tuesday returned an indictment against a West Los Angeles man who allegedly ran a decade-long telemarketing scam primarily targeting elderly victims that fraudulently obtained more than $4.5 million via false promises to help victims sell or rent their timeshare properties. Michael Dragunov, 44, is charged in the 10-count indictment filed in […]

Prosecutors Want Home Confinement for Ridley-Thomas Co-Defendant

Federal prosecutors are asking that longtime Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas’ co-defendant — an 84-year-old former dean of USC’s school of social work who admitted bribing the ex-city councilman — receive a sentence of probation and home confinement, according to court papers obtained Tuesday. Consistent with Marilyn Flynn’s plea agreement, the government is not seeking […]

Ex-Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten Released from Prison

Former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten was released from a California prison Tuesday, four days after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced it would no longer challenge her parole grant. Newsom had rejected parole for Van Houten on three occasions during his time in office, but a state appeals court in May rejected his most […]

Police Seek Public Help Finding 83-Year-Old Man with Dementia

Police sought the public’s help Tuesday to find an 83-year-old man diagnosed with dementia who was last seen about two weeks ago in South Los Angeles. Mario Sigala was last seen about 4 p.m. June 30 in the 600 block of West 74th Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives described Sigala as […]

3 Southland Reps. Join Push to Free LA Public Defender from Venezuela Prison

Three Southland congresswomen Tuesday jointly introduced a resolution calling for the immediate release of a Los Angeles County public defender who has been imprisoned in Venezuela for more than a year — the latest of several pushes by area elected officials to free the man. Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Nanette Barragán, both D-Los Angeles, joined […]

Woman, 77, Reported Missing from Northridge Assisted Living Facility

Authorities Tuesday sought the public’s help to find a 77-year-old woman who went missing from her assisted living facility in Northridge over the weekend. Elaine “Judy” Gordon was last seen about 11 a.m. Saturday leaving the facility in the 17300 block of Roscoe Boulevard on foot, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Gordon is […]

Firefighters in Orange Contain Brusher

Firefighters made quick work of a brush fire in Orange that threatened some homes Tuesday afternoon. The blaze broke out about 12:15 p.m. around Kendra Loop and Serrano Avenue, said Orange Fire Capt. Robert Prendergast. It was contained to about two to four acres, Prendergast said. “There were homes at risk, but we were able […]