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Deadly Tour Bus Fire on 60 Freeway in Hacienda Heights Closes Lanes, Investigation Underway

Deadly Tour Bus Fire on 60 Freeway in Hacienda Heights Closes Lanes, Investigation Underway

A deadly tour bus fire occurred on the 60 Freeway in Hacienda Heights, California, resulting in at least one fatality and the closure of the third and fourth lanes of the freeway. The incident took place around 5:38 a.m. in the area of State Route 60 and Azusa Avenue. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze. Images from the scene show the rear half of the tour bus severely burned, with flames having engulfed several rows of seating. Authorities have requested the Los Angeles County Coroner to the scene. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and the bus did not appear to have been involved in a collision, though its luggage compartments were found open.

Deadly Tour Bus Fire on Eastbound 60 Freeway in City of Industry Closes Lanes

Deadly Tour Bus Fire on Eastbound 60 Freeway in City of Industry Closes Lanes

A tour bus fire on the eastbound 60 Freeway in the City of Industry resulted in one fatality and one injury on Friday morning. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) received a call around 5:38 a.m. regarding a bus engulfed in flames. The bus driver had pulled over to the right shoulder after noticing the check engine light illuminate. Smoke began emerging from the rear of the vehicle, prompting the driver to evacuate all 18 passengers. After fire crews extinguished the blaze, one person was found deceased, believed to have died from fire exposure. Another individual was transported to the hospital for treatment. Investigators discovered several propane tanks and luggage at the scene and are examining if these contributed to the fire. The Viajes Azteca bus was en route to Bloomington to pick up additional passengers before continuing to Mexico.

Victor Heights Residents Frustrated by Crowds Drawn to Scenic Los Angeles Hilltop

Victor Heights Residents Frustrated by Crowds Drawn to Scenic Los Angeles Hilltop

Residents in the Victor Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles are experiencing significant frustration due to large crowds gathering on a hilltop street that offers a panoramic view of the city skyline. The intersection of Figueroa Terrace and Centennial Street, located just south of Dodger Stadium, has historically been a popular spot for professional filming and amateur photography. However, with the rise of viral media, the area has become a magnet for social media enthusiasts, attracting dozens of visitors day and night. This influx of people has led to increased traffic, late-night noise, and disruptions for families living nearby, including one with a 3-year-old requiring oxygen. Residents have voiced their concerns at public safety meetings and are now organizing to form a community association and potentially a neighborhood watch to address the issue. A representative for Councilmember Eunises Hernandez's office stated that they are working with city departments to enforce safety and order and limit ...

Lineage Faces August 20 Deadline for Food Waste Removal from Boyle Heights Warehouse

Lineage Faces August 20 Deadline for Food Waste Removal from Boyle Heights Warehouse

Lineage, a cold storage company, is facing an August 20 deadline to remove rotting food from its burned Boyle Heights warehouse. This deadline was imposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). The company had previously missed a city-mandated August 14 deadline to clear 88 million pounds of food. As of Tuesday, Lineage reported that 97% of the food waste had been removed, but it had not confirmed completion by the end of the day. The company disputes the city's timeline, stating that its applicable deadline is August 20, as per AQMD orders, because the Los Angeles Fire Department did not hand over the building until July 7. The next phase of cleanup, involving loose debris removal, power washing, disinfecting, detailing, and deodorizing, is expected to be completed by August 27. Residents have expressed frustration over lingering odors, pests, and health concerns, with many reporting nausea and headaches.

Los Angeles Mayor Bass Halts New Bike Lane Project Near Forest Lawn Amid Community Opposition

Los Angeles Mayor Bass Halts New Bike Lane Project Near Forest Lawn Amid Community Opposition

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has stopped a plan to remove a traffic lane in each direction on a one-mile stretch of Forest Lawn Drive to make way for improved, protected bike lanes. This decision came in May after significant opposition from cemeteries, neighborhood councils, and clergy leaders who argued that reducing traffic lanes would exacerbate congestion, particularly given the high volume of funeral processions and visitors to Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills and Mount Sinai Memorial Park. The proposed changes were part of a citywide mobility plan aimed at enhancing road safety and updating bike infrastructure. Councilmember Nithya Raman, whose district includes the street, has criticized Mayor Bass's decision, especially following a recent fatal crash on Forest Lawn Drive, asserting that the road remains dangerous and the safety measures are urgently needed. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) had found that roughly half of the cars on this stretch exceed the 45-mph speed limit, and the...

Los Angeles Mayor Bass Halts New Bike Lane Project on Forest Lawn Drive Amid Community Opposition

Los Angeles Mayor Bass Halts New Bike Lane Project on Forest Lawn Drive Amid Community Opposition

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has paused a plan to implement new protected bike lanes and road safety measures on a one-mile stretch of Forest Lawn Drive. The project, which would have removed a traffic lane in each direction, faced significant opposition from local cemeteries, neighborhood councils, and clergy leaders who argued it would create traffic congestion. Following this decision, City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a mayoral challenger, criticized Bass, emphasizing the road's danger after a recent fatal crash. Raman stated that the city had developed a plan to make the road safer, which was on the verge of breaking ground before Bass intervened. Bass's office, however, maintains that the mayor acted in response to widespread community opposition and is seeking an alternative plan that improves bike safety without negatively impacting access to funeral and church services. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) reports over 95 car crashes on Forest Lawn Drive since 2013, including four f...

Flock Safety Expands Surveillance Operations with Drones Amidst Privacy Concerns

Flock Safety Expands Surveillance Operations with Drones Amidst Privacy Concerns

Flock Safety, a U.S. surveillance technology company, is significantly expanding its operations to include drones for first-responder situations, moving beyond its current network of automated license plate readers and AI-powered cameras. This strategic shift comes as the company faces increasing scrutiny and backlash from civil liberties groups and digital rights advocates regarding its existing surveillance practices. Flock Safety's CEO and founder, Garrett Langley, indicated that drones are currently the company's fastest-growing business unit and are projected to account for nearly half of its future revenue. Langley described drones as the 'next big chapter in law enforcement,' potentially as impactful as police body cameras. This expansion is occurring despite ongoing 'deflock' actions and grassroots opposition to license plate readers, which have led some cities, including Los Angeles, to pause or cancel contracts with the company due to concerns about misidentification and potential abuse of the ne...

Driver Killed in Amtrak Train Collision in Berrien County, Michigan

Driver Killed in Amtrak Train Collision in Berrien County, Michigan

A fatal incident occurred in Berrien County, Michigan, on Tuesday morning when an Amtrak train collided with a vehicle, resulting in the death of the vehicle's driver. The crash took place around 10 a.m. in the 14000 block of Red Arrow Highway, specifically at the East Road crossing. According to Chikaming Township police, a southbound Amtrak train struck a westbound vehicle at the crossing. Upon arrival, officers were informed that the vehicle was engulfed in flames, which firefighters quickly extinguished. The driver, identified as 72-year-old Paul Rizzo of Lakeside, Michigan, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is currently under investigation by local authorities.

Bass, Raman to talk homelessness, police at LA mayor race debate

Bass, Raman to talk homelessness, police at LA mayor race debate

The debate comes days after a poll showing Bass in the lead was reportedly revealed to be a sham.

Charter School Sues Los Angeles for $20 Million, Citing Homeless Shelter's Impact on Closure

Charter School Sues Los Angeles for $20 Million, Citing Homeless Shelter's Impact on Closure

The founder of the Academy of Media Arts, Dana Hammond, is suing the City of Los Angeles for $20 million, alleging that the presence of a homeless shelter in the same building as the charter school led to its closure. The Academy of Media Arts, located in the LA Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, opened in August 2022. According to the lawsuit filed by the Academy and D’Camp Hospitality Group, the hotel's upper floors were being used as a homeless shelter through Project Roomkey when the school signed its lease. The lawsuit claims the school was assured the shelter operation would be temporary, but it continued for years. This allegedly resulted in dangerous conditions, including open drug use, assaults, trespassing, drug paraphernalia, trash, and human waste, causing families to withdraw their children. Enrollment dramatically dropped, forcing the school to close in January 2024 and subsequently lose its accreditation. Hammond is also suing the owner of the LA Grand Hotel.

Angine de Poitrine Conquered the Internet. Now They’re Coming for America

Angine de Poitrine Conquered the Internet. Now They’re Coming for America

Becky drove up from San Diego without a ticket. She parked near the Teragram Ballroom in downtown Los Angeles at 1:03 p.m. on Tuesday, ran to Target, and was back in front of the venue by 2:34 p.m. — nearly six hours before doors, in 90-degree heat, for a show she hadn’t managed to buy […]

Los Angeles City Council Repeals Homeless Camping Bans in Key Districts

Los Angeles City Council Repeals Homeless Camping Bans in Key Districts

The Los Angeles City Council has voted to repeal homeless camping bans in a dozen locations across Hollywood, Echo Park, and Silver Lake. This decision was driven by Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who argued that these bans, enacted under Municipal Code Section 41.18, are ineffective in addressing homelessness. Soto-Martínez stated that displacing individuals from block to block or district to district hinders their ability to find housing, often leading to loss of belongings, fines, and arrests, which he believes makes it harder to provide assistance. The motion passed with a 10-3 vote during Tuesday's council meeting, marking what Soto-Martínez believes to be the first instance of an encampment ban being rescinded in the city. Councilmembers Imelda Padilla, Traci Park, and Monica Rodriguez dissented, with Padilla accusing Soto-Martínez of a double standard for seeking repeal in his district while opposing similar efforts elsewhere. Park emphasized the importance of anti-camping zones in maintaining ar...