L.A. Mayor Bass offers a hold-the-line budget, with no layoffs and few big increases
L.A. Mayor Bass offers a hold-the-line budget, with no layoffs and few big increases
On Monday, in the midst of a tough reelection fight, Bass unveiled a much rosier $14.9-billion spending plan for 2026-2027 that — thanks in part to increased tax revenues — avoids layoffs and keeps many city service levels unchanged. Councilmember Tim McOsker offered a different take, saying he welcomed Bass’ strategy for hiring officers.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents rank-and-file officers, also backed the proposal. "We urge the City Council to support our rank-and-file police officers and ensure that enough officers are available to provide backup and keep residents safe while patrolling our neighborhoods,” the union’s board said in a prepared statement.
Council member Nythia Rahman voted against banning another dangerous and violent homeless encampment. Ramen has voted over 75 times to allow homeless camps next to schools, daycares, parks, and other sensitive locations, undermining public safety.
Los Angeles police ask for help finding two hit-and-run drivers that killed pedestrian in Winnetka
Los Angeles police are asking for help from the public as they work to identify and arrest two hit-and-run drivers involved in a crash that left a pedestrian dead last weekend in Winnetka. The crash happened just before 10 p.m. on Friday, April 10, near Winnetka Avenue and Sherman Way, LAPD officers said at the time. Investigators determined that a black Chevrolet Camaro driving south on Winnetka struck a man as he crossed the street outside of a marked crosswalk. "As the pedestrian was lying in the roadway, he was struck by a second vehicle," LAPD officers said in a news release shared a week after the crash happened. "Both drivers fled the scene without stopping to render aid and identify themselves as required by law." Despite initially stating that a white Ford truck was involved, police later clarified that the second vehicle was actually a black Toyota Prius. Investigators said that they recovered vehicle parts at the scene of the crash, which they believe may be helpful in identifying the suspect vehicles.
LAPD: Singer D4vd, 21, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, involved in sexual relationship before teen's death
During a press conference Monday, police and prosecutors described the D4vd murder case as a "parent’s worst nightmare" and revealed more about the alleged relationship between the 21-year-old singer and the 14-year-old girl he was accused of killing. "[Celeste Rivas Hernandez] was a reported runaway from Riverside County. During the course of our investigation, detectives learned she had been involved in a sexual relationship with [D4vd] when she was a minor and he was an adult," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said. Prosecutors said Rivas Hernandez was last known to be alive on April 23, 2025, when she went to the singer's Hollywood Hills home at his invitation and was not seen again until her body was discovered about four months later. Singer D4vd pleaded not guilty in court Monday. The 21-year-old, whose real name is David Burke, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was found dead shortly before what would have been her 15th birthday.
Man Wounded in Wilmington Area Shooting
A man was wounded Sunday while walking in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles, but he could not tell police officers where or provide other essential details. The Los Angeles Police Department was notified by Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance about 3:20 p.m. Sunday that it was treating a gunshot victim, according to an LAPD spokesman. The 25-year-old man told investigating officers that he was walking in the Wilmington area when a male suspect approached him on foot and shot him, the spokesman said. The victim was unable to provide officers with an exact location or other details, including a description of his attacker, the LAPD spokesman said.
Burglars take $200K worth of items from Toluca Lake home, police say
Two men stole an estimated $200,000 worth of items from a home in Toluca Lake on Saturday night, police said. The burglary happened on Strohm Avenue near Toluca Lake Elementary around 9:45 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. It's the latest in a string of residential break-ins impacting the San Fernando Valley in recent weeks, which police are still investigating to determine if they are connected. LAPD says it appears the duo used a ladder in the backyard to enter through the upstairs window, ransacked the home and took off. They were described by police as wearing all dark clothing, masks and gloves. No injuries were reported, and the residents were not home at the time, LAPD said.
SoCal man pleads guilty to helping crime tourism group burglarize its way through U.S.
A Santa Clarita man pleaded guilty on Monday to federal charges that he helped a tourism group of South Americans commit burglaries and other crimes throughout the United States, according to the Department of Justice. The scheme reportedly resulted in $23.9 million in losses. Juan Carlos “Parcero” Thola-Duran, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to receive and transport stolen property interstate and commit money laundering, and one count of structuring transactions to avoid federal financial reporting requirements. Thola-Duran has been in federal custody since Aug. 2024 and has agreed to forfeit all assets he collected during the scheme, which include dozens of cars, jewelry and luxury items like designer handbags and clothing, to the U.S. government. Thola-Duran and his girlfriend, 43-year-old Ana Maria “Parcera” Arriagada, reportedly operated Van Nuys-based car rental and dealership business Driver Power Rentals (DPR). Arriagada was DPR’s registered owner.
Okla. deputy killed, police chief wounded in ambush shooting and hours-long standoff
A deputy was killed and a police department chief was hospitalized in an ambush and standoff, 5 News reported. The April 19 incident began when LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a wellness check at a home, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The deputies were joined by personnel from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Wister Police Department and other agencies. When they arrived on the scene, a man in the home immediately shot at officers. Officers returned fire, and an hours-long standoff ensued. The suspect eventually surrendered following the standoff, 5 News reported. LeFlore County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas “Walker” LeMay was killed during the shootout. The department stated LeMay was a true servant of the people, and a loving son, brother and father. Wister Police Chief Andy Thompson was also shot during the incident, but is expected to recover. The 36-year-old suspect eventually surrendered and was booked into the LeFlore County Jail, according to 5 News.
NYPD responds to large street takeover, group jumps on cruiser to break windshield
A brazen trio jumped on the hood of a marked New York Police Department vehicle, cracking its windshield after police responded to a massive car takeover early Saturday morning in Queens, officials said. Cops rushed to the scene of a drag-racing street takeover after multiple 911 calls around 1:50 a.m. at Eliot Ave. and 69th St. in Middle Village. As the officers arrived and turned on their patrol car flashing lights and sirens, the crowd of spectators and drivers dispersed. But three unidentified individuals jumped on top of one of the police cars, cracking its windshield, cops said. The disorderly trio then hopped into a vehicle and fled. Wild video of the car takeover shared by Wong on social media showed multiple cars doing tire-screeching donuts near a ring of fire on the street, with a passenger in one car holding a large Palestinian flag out the window before cops arrived. “They were spinning the cars, doing the donuts, the fire they put, I think they put alcohol in the pavement, and they put it on fire, they lit it on fire. It was scary because the gas station is here and across the street,” a resident who lives nearby the intersection for the past three years named Steve, 54, said.
Public Safety News
Fire Damages Arlington Heights Garage
Firefighters put out flames in an Arlington Heights garage within five minutes Sunday, preventing damage to surrounding buildings. The fire was reported at 7:02 p.m. Sunday at 2220 S. Ninth Ave., near West 23rd Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Jamie Stewart. Flames were showing from the detached garage when firefighters arrived, Stewart said. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
L.A. hospital seeks public’s help identifying patient
Los Angeles General Medical Center is asking for the public’s help in identifying a woman who has been hospitalized since Thursday, officials said. The patient was found unresponsive near the corner of 5th Street and Towne Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, according to the L.A. County Department of Health Services. She is described as a Black woman about 41 years old, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds.
2 injured after fire breaks out at apartment building in Canoga Park
Two people were hospitalized after an apartment building erupted in flames in Canoga Park early Tuesday morning. The fire started just after 2:30 a.m. on Bryant Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. It took dozens of firefighters nearly 30 minutes to extinguish the flames. At least two units on both floors of the apartment complex were left severely damaged. Dramatic video captured by a neighbor showed large flames shooting out of the ground floor unit as others rushed in to help. "People were getting the hose, trying to make sure everybody was out... the flame was coming out like crazy," said resident Levi Reyes. "But everybody helped... good neighbors there." Two people were inside the first floor unit managed to escape by climbing out a window. Officials initially said two people jumped out of the burning building from the second floor, but later said that did not happen.
California officials raise alarms over early mosquito season due to unusually warm winter
California state officials are sounding the alarm over an early mosquito season due to an uncharacteristically warm winter, leading to an explosion in population. The announcement comes in accordance with California Mosquito Awareness Week, when vector control officials seek to alert the public over the health threat that mosquitoes pose and how they can prevent year-round breeding. "You've heard of Shark Week, Mosquito Week is worse, because mosquitoes kill more people than any other animal on Earth," said Brian Brannon, with Orange County Vector Control. "We're really concerned; we want to get the word out to people." Officials say that peak mosquito season hasn't even yet, but the warm winter and brief period of abundant rain to start the year contributed to an early breeding season for the neighborhood nuisance that can carry viruses like West Nile, Dengue and Zika.
