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Two Dead After Small Plane Crashes on Catalina Island, Investigators Say
1 day ago•Source: Los Angeles Times
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5.4 min•21 days ago
Kratom-Linked Meds Cited in Beutner Daughter’s Death; Suicide Ruled
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled that 22-year-old Emily Beutner’s death was a suicide, caused by the combined effects of kratom compounds (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) with prescription antipsychotic quetiapine and antidepressant mirtazapine; she was found by a Palmdale roadside after midnight on Jan. 6 and died after being hospitalized at 2:10 a.m. Her death occurred while her father, former LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner, was grieving and had recently ended his bid for mayor.
9.115 min•21 days ago
Hundreds of pets rescued in Lake Hughes hoarding crackdown
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Monrovia Bear Swipe on Dog-Walker Labeled Unusual by Police
Los Angeles Times•27 days ago
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LA Missing Girl From 2020 Found Safe in North Carolina Under Alias
Los Angeles Times•1 month ago
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Tahoe Ski Tragedy Deepens: Two More Fatalities Reported
Two more people died Friday in unrelated incidents at Heavenly Resort near Lake Tahoe, adding to a Sierra winter that already claimed nine lives in the Castle Peak avalanche last week. The deaths involved a 33-year-old man skiing on an intermediate trail and a 58-year-old man in a medical emergency; authorities say the cases are unrelated, under investigation, and the names have not been released.
Eight Die, One Missing in California’s Deadliest Backcountry Avalanche
A 15‑person backcountry group, including four guides, faced a deadly blizzard‑driven avalanche above Donner Pass near the Frog Lake huts in the Sierra Nevada. Eight skiers were killed, one is missing and presumed dead, and six survived (two hospitalized). The eight bodies remained on the mountain Tuesday–Wednesday due to ongoing severe weather, as rescue crews worked through whiteout conditions. The disaster sparked scrutiny of the guiding company’s decision to proceed in the forecasted storm, while officials urged caution about backcountry travel amid dangerous avalanche conditions.
Inspector General flags LAPD after lack of records on overseas training
An inspector general report finds the LAPD lacks a system to track overseas training, making it hard to gauge benefits. Since 2014, 243 officers attended 117 foreign training activities, including 18 officers who traveled to Israel on nine trips costing $87,000, plus other trainings in France, Italy and more; many trip summaries are brief or missing key details, and prior records were partially deleted. About 80% of travel is funded by outside sources, raising potential conflicts of interest. LAPD says it is creating a tracking system and may require post-training evaluations, while critics warn of opaque ties to foreign security forces.
Name released of victim in Westwood 99 Ranch Market crash as investigators probe cause
Three people died and several others were injured when an elderly driver rammed a Mercedes into the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood. One inside the store was identified as 42-year-old Deris Renoj; four others were hospitalized, including two in critical condition. Police are investigating possible pedal misapplication and the driver is cooperating, while the market remained closed after the incident.
Fourth-season Tragedy on Mammoth’s Dropout 2: Skier Dies on Expert Run
A skier died after crashing on Mammoth Mountain’s Dropout 2, a steep expert run, sliding headfirst down the icy moguls in view of riders on a nearby chairlift. Ski patrollers arrived within minutes and the guest was transported to Mammoth Hospital, where he died; this marks the resort’s fourth fatality of the season.
Car crashes into Westwood 99 Ranch Market, killing three and injuring several
A silver sedan struck a bicyclist and then crashed into the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood, killing three people and injuring four others; investigators are examining the cause, including a potential medical emergency, and authorities do not believe the crash was intentional.
Fog-Choked Highway 99 Triggers 59-Vehicle Pileup in Central Valley
Dense fog caused a 59-vehicle pileup on a three-mile section of Highway 99 in Tulare County, about 40 miles north of Bakersfield, closing the road for more than five hours before reopening in the afternoon; several people sustained mild to moderate injuries and were taken to a local hospital, and authorities urged travelers to avoid dense fog and not rely on automatic headlights.
LA joins nationwide ‘ICE Out’ shutdown with student walkouts and workplace protests
Los Angeles and Southern California are mobilizing for a nationwide ‘ICE Out of Everywhere’ shutdown, with Friday student walkouts, rallies at City Hall and various workplaces, and a nurse-led protest at Little Company of Mary Torrance honoring Alex Pretti; the actions push to abolish ICE and oppose federal raids, building on recent deadly incidents involving ICE in Minnesota.
Beauty on the Streets: Shirley Raines, LA homelessness advocate, dies at 58
Shirley Raines, the Compton native known as 'Ms. Shirley' who founded Beauty 2 the Streetz to serve LA’s homeless with beauty services, meals, and hygiene supplies, died in her sleep at 58 in Las Vegas; she was CNN’s 2021 Hero of the Year and her group says it will continue her mission.
Santa Ana protest ends with protester permanently blinded by DHS round
A Friday night protest in Santa Ana, California, ended with a 21-year-old protester permanently blinded when a U.S. Homeland Security agent fired a nonlethal round at close range; doctors removed shrapnel and he underwent six hours of surgery, with family noting vision was permanently lost in one eye and highlighting concerns about use-of-force during demonstrations connected to DHS actions and recent related protests.