Ridley-Thomas Facing Years in Prison After Corruption Conviction

Former City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas Friday is facing the prospect of years in prison after being convicted of federal bribery and conspiracy charges, along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors. Following Thursday’s verdict in a packed downtown courtroom, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer set sentencing […]

Man Who Allegedly Stole CHP Cruiser Identified

A 32-year-old man who allegedly stole a California Highway Patrol vehicle and led officers on a chase that ended when he jumped from the speeding cruiser in the Lancaster area and suffered fatal injuries, was identified Friday. The driver was identified as John Figueroa Jr., according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. According to […]

Judge Grants Lacey’s Motion for Mental Tests of BLM Protesters Suing Her

Three Black Lives Matter demonstrators confronted at gunpoint by former District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s late husband will have to undergo independent mental evaluations given that they claim they suffered psychological issues from the 2020 encounter at the Laceys’ San Fernando Valley home, a judge has ruled. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Theresa M. Traber issued […]

Tarzana Fire May Have Been Caused by Drug Lab, Fire Official Say

A 26-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were hospitalized in critical condition after an explosion that fire officials say was caused by a clandestine drug laboratory in Tarzana, authorities said Friday. Firefighters responded at 10:56 p.m. Thursday to 18805 Redwing St., just south of Ventura Boulevard, after receiving a 911 call regarding a fire and […]

Freeway Reopens After CHP Officer Shoots Suspect

California Highway Patrol officers shot a suspect during a confrontation near the Rosecrans Avenue on-ramp of the San Diego (405) Freeway in Hawthorne, triggering a eight-hour-plus shutdown of the freeway’s northbound lanes, authorities said Friday. CHP officers responded to an area near the Rosecrans Avenue on-ramp just after 7 p.m. Thursday regarding a fire on […]

Krekorian Declares Ridley-Thomas Seat Vacant; Wants Council to Appoint Hutt

Heather Hutt, who has been filling the District 10 City Council seat on a temporary basis, Friday is — for the short term, at least — its “caretaker” following the conviction of now-former Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas on federal corruption charges. But that caretaker title figures to change in about two weeks following City Council President […]

Little Change to Average Southland Gas Prices

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped three-tenths of a cent Friday to $4.862, one day after increasing one-tenth of a cent. The average price is 1.3 cents more than one week ago and 1.9 cents higher than one month ago but $1.176 less than one year […]

Man Killed in La Mirada Identified

A man who was shot to death in La Mirada was identified Friday. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, the victim was identified as Nestor Tlahuel Mendez, 30. Deputies responded at 9:16 p.m. Wednesday to the 13900 block of Rosecrans Avenue, east of Marquardt Avenue, where they found Mendez, who was pronounced dead […]

LA County to Lift COVID Emergency Declarations

Los Angeles County’s local emergency declarations due to COVID-19 will be lifted at the end of the day Friday, resulting in the closure of county-run virus-testing centers and prompting a warning for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to ensure their case information is up to date. Medi-Cal coverage will not stop on Friday, but the county Department of […]

Man Charged in Deadly Police Pursuit in Long Beach

A 39-year-old Antioch man was charged Thursday with second-degree murder for the death of a 74-year-old woman in a police pursuit from Seal Beach to Long Beach. Seal Beach police stopped a 2006 Lexus just before 8 p.m. Tuesday for a traffic violation near Pacific Coast Highway and Marina Drive, police said. While the officer […]

One Year Ago Today (March 31, 2022)…OCDA Responds to 3 Latest Sexual Harassment Suits

One Year Ago Today (March 31, 2022)…Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer did everything he could to support and encourage women to come forward with sexual harassment claims about a now-retired prosecutor, a spokeswoman said in response to a trio of new lawsuits from prosecutors in the office. “The allegations of harassment were sustained against […]