Council Unanimously Votes to Build Controversial Housing Facility in West LA

The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a hotly debated interim housing facility for unhoused Angelenos near Pico and Westwood boulevards in West L.A., which has sparked opposition and frustration among some local residents. The council voted 14-0, with Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson absent during the vote, to fund nearly $4.6 million for the construction, lease […]

Hearing Delayed for Glendale Lawyer Charged in Pills-for-Profit Scheme

A change of plea hearing for a Glendale criminal defense attorney who allegedly provided phony information to law enforcement to thwart an investigation into a pills-for-profit scheme has been delayed until Dec. 1. Fred Minassian, 57, is expected to plead guilty on the new date to a single federal count of making a false statement […]

Judge Tosses Charges in Doctor Poisoning Case; Weapon, Drug Counts Remain

Signaling an end to the long-running, politically charged prosecution of a Newport Beach hand surgeon and his girlfriend who were initially accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a series of women they met in bars or other settings, a judge said Friday he will dismiss most of the remaining charges in the case. Orange County […]

City Council Honors Heal the Bay, Declares `Heal the Bay Day in LA’

The Los Angeles City Council Friday honored Heal the Bay, and approved a resolution establishing Oct. 20 as “Heal the Bay Day in LA,” in recognition of two programs established 20 years ago. Councilwoman Traci Park — who represents the 11th District, which encompasses L.A.’s coastal neighborhoods on the Westside — led a presentation honoring […]

Man Arrested in Pasadena Double Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

A man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run collision in Pasadena that killed two people, police said Friday. The crash occurred about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday at Raymond Avenue and Penn Street, according to the Pasadena Police Department. According to police, a Lincoln Navigator collided with a Nissan Versa, killing the Nissan driver, 63-year-old […]

Victim Identified in Wrong-Way Fatal Crash on Freeway Near Downtown L.A.

A 34-year-old man killed on the Santa Monica (10) Freeway by a suspected drunken driver who triggered a wrong-way crash on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles was identified Friday by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. Esteban Jaramillo was killed around 4:40 a.m. Thursday when the Honda sedan he was driving east […]

LA City Council Looks to Enhance Services for Women Experiencing Homelessness

In response to a 2022 report citing personal safety as a common barrier for women accessing shelter, the Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a motion seeking to enhance city programs to better serve women, the LGBTQ+ community, survivors of domestic violence or intimate partner violence moving through the rehousing system. The Council voted 14-0, […]

Woman Suing Diddy Seeks Info on Any Felony Convictions of Singer

A former nanny for Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is suing the singer regarding her 2021 firing, filed court papers Friday asking a judge to order the performer to turn over background information, including any felony convictions he may have. The plaintiff, Raven Wales-Walden, sued Diddy, Combs Enterprises LLC and three other companies in September 2022, […]

Woman Alleging Forced Resignation Over Health Issues Consents to Arbitration

A woman who sued Forever 21 Inc. alleging she was forced to resign from her part-time sales associate job earlier this year at the West Covina store after some managers ridiculed the plaintiff for her multiple health issues has agreed to have an arbitrator rather than a jury decide her claims. Patricia Hess’ Pomona Superior […]

Judge Denies Apple’s Bid to Dismiss Actor’s Suit Over COVID Vax Policy

Former “Deadwood” actor Brent Sexton won a round in court when a judge denied Apple LLC’s motion to dismiss on free-speech grounds his lawsuit alleging the company cost him nearly $600,000 by denying him a starring role in a new series due to its COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Sexton’s Los Angeles Superior Court disability discrimination suit […]

South LA Mother Pleads No Contest to Murdering 4-Year-Old Daughter

A South Los Angeles woman pleaded no contest Friday to first-degree murder for her 4-year-old daughter’s beating death. Akira Keyshell Smith, now 37, is facing 25 years to life in state prison in connection with the Aug. 11, 2020, death of her daughter, Eternity. She is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom for […]