LA County Mask Mandate to End Friday as COVID Metrics Improve
Indoor mask-wearing will no longer be mandatory in Los Angeles County starting Friday, thanks to revised data released by federal health officials Thursday showing a decreased impact of COVID-19 on the county’s health-care system. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially moved the county out of its “high” virus activity category and into […]
Ex-Con Pleads Guilty to Murdering Jacqueline Avant in Beverly Hills
An ex-con pleaded guilty Thursday to murder and other counts in the shooting death of Jacqueline Avant, the wife of celebrated music executive Clarence Avant, during a robbery at the couple’s Trousdale Estates home in Beverly Hills. Aariel Maynor, 30, of Los Angeles, could face up to 170 years to life in state prison when […]
Trial Begins for Gang Murder of Food Truck Operator
A 36-year-old felon opened fire on a gang rival in Santa Ana, but instead killed a dad working in his food truck on Father’s Day, a prosecutor told jurors Thursday while the defendant’s attorney said his client was not the killer. Jose De Jesus Gomez-Ochoa is charged with murder with a special-circumstances allegation of gang […]
Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes Fined for Labor Violations
The state labor commissioner announced $3.3 million in fines Thursday against an upscale resort in Rancho Palos Verdes for failing to offer jobs to employees who were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic once the hotel reopened. The 53 employees of Terranea Resort included housekeepers, banquet servers and bartenders, junior sous chefs and massage therapists. […]
Beverly Hills Private Vaults Company to Plead Guilty to Conspiracy Charge
A Beverly Hills business that rented safety deposit boxes to customers who were not required to use their real identities will plead guilty to money laundering, admitting in federal court that it sought drug traffickers and other criminals as customers who often kept stacks of illegally obtained cash in their personal vaults, according to court […]
LACCD Opts Against Supreme Court Appeal of Disability Discrimination Case
The Los Angeles Community College District’s Board of Trustees opted against appealing a long-pending disability discrimination case to the U.S. Supreme Court, announcing Thursday it will continue settlement talks but could revive the issue in federal court of a resolution can’t be reached. Thursday was the deadline for the district to file an appeal with […]
OC Firefighters Battling Blaze Off Ortega Highway
A brush fire erupted alongside Ortega Highway near San Juan Capistrano Thursday, racing uphill through thick vegetation and forcing a complete closure of the roadway. Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at noon near Hot Spring Canyon Road, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta. The blaze — dubbed the San Juan Fire — had […]
Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Ramit Varma Qualifies for June Primary Ballot
Businessman Ramit Varma is the latest Los Angeles mayoral candidate to qualify for the June primary election ballot after filing a petition with a sufficient number of valid signatures, the Los Angles City Clerk announced Thursday. Los Angeles City Councilmen Kevin de León and Joe Buscaino, as well as real estate developer Rick Caruso, have […]
LA Receives Grant To Plant 1,600 Trees Along 5-Mile Stretch Of Slauson Avenue
LA Sanitation and Environment will plant 1,600 trees along a 5-mile stretch of Slauson Avenue in South Los Angeles using a $500,000 grant awarded by the California Natural Resources Agency, LASAN announced Thursday. “We are very grateful for the opportunity of adding more trees to our city, especially in areas where there is a lack […]
Man in Custody Following Fatal Traffic Crash in North Hills
A Canoga Park man allegedly driving while impaired was arrested after running a red light and causing a fatal crash in North Hills, police said Thursday. The crash occurred about 7 p.m. Wednesday on Woodley Avenue at Parthenia Street, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Manuel Sandoval, 26, was injured in the crash and taken […]
First Batch of Presenters Announced for Academy Awards Ceremony
Kevin Costner, Zoe Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock and Yuh-Jung Youn were announced Thursday as presenters for the upcoming 94th Oscars. It’s the first group of celebrity presenters announced for the ceremony, which will be held March 27 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “Movies inspire us, entertain us and unite us across […]
