Author: City News Service

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County reported nearly 3,000 new COVID- 19 infections from a three-day period that ended Monday, along with 16 new virus-related deaths. The county Department of Public Health logged 1,294 new infections from Saturday, 1,030 from Sunday and 654 for Monday. The new cases lifted the county’s overall total from throughout the pandemic to 3,496,108. The numbers reflect only cases that were reported to the county and do not include at-home tests, the results of which are not always relayed to authorities. The 16 new fatalities from the three-day period gave the county a cumulative virus-related…

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – A Laguna Beach man was fatally struck by an SUV Monday in Huntington Beach. Officers went to Beach Boulevard north of Slater Avenue about 2:30 a.m., the Huntington Beach Police Department reported. The 30-year-old man died at the scene, police said. His name was withheld pending notification of his relatives. The driver of the Jeep Compass, a 50-year-old Fountain Valley man, remained at the scene, police said. His name was not released. “It does not appear that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision,” police said in a statement. “Based on the preliminary investigation,…

LOS ANGELES – Jimmy Kimmel is bringing his late-night antics to prime-time as host of the 95th Oscars, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced Monday. Molly McNearney was also announced as an executive producer, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirschner, executive producers of the Academy Awards show, said. Kimmel was the host of the Oscars in 2017 and 2018. “Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap. Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no,” Kimmel said in…

LOS ANGELES – The heated battle for the job of Los Angeles County sheriff will come to a head Tuesday, with Alex Villanueva looking to claim a second term but former Long Beach police Chief Robert Luna hoping to carry out the rare feat of ousting an incumbent sheriff. Villanueva’s victory four years ago over incumbent Jim McDonnell marked the first time in roughly a century that a sheriff had lost a re- election bid in the county. The pair have run a spirited campaign, with Luna attacking the incumbent over his torrid relationship with the county Board of Supervisors…

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – A man was killed Monday morning when a vehicle that was disabled with no lights in lanes of the Valencia (5) Freeway in Santa Clarita was struck by another vehicle. The crash was reported at 3:13 a.m. on the southbound Valencia Freeway south of Highway 126 and Newhall Ranch Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash left one vehicle on its side and the man in lanes, the CHP said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, said CHP Officer Patrick Kimball. His name was not released until relatives are notified. The CHP issued…

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. – A man killed when he was struck by a truck on a roadway next to the Foothill (210) Freeway in La Canada Flintridge was publicly identified Monday. Jesse Villarreal was 22 years old, according to the coroner’s office. The death was reported at 10:14 a.m. Saturday when a witness told the California Highway Patrol that a person was in the slow lane of southbound Ocean View Boulevard next to the freeway off-ramp. The man reportedly ran into the street into the path of the truck, CHP Officer Stephan Brandt said. The truck driver remained at…

NORTH HILLS, Calif. – A man was shot to death during a dispute with another man at a North Hills motel, authorities said Monday. The motel advertises itself as “LGBTQ” friendly. The shooting was reported about 9:40 p.m. Sunday in the 8400 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, according to a desk officer at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations Center. The victim suffered a chest wound and was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The victim was believed to have been 35 years old, the officer said. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives. The suspect left the scene…

LANCASTER, Calif. – Two people have been shot during a fight in Lancaster. Deputies responded to a call in the 4400 block of Watford Avenue in Lancaster, according to sheriff’s Lt. Michael Paottueng. The victim’s condition is unknown. Story is still developing.

MONTEBELLO, Calif. – One man was killed and several other males were wounded in an apparent family dispute that led to rash of stabbings at a home in Montebello, authorities said Monday. The stabbings were reported at 5:51 p.m. Sunday in the 200 block of North Fifth Street, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Arriving officers found a 20- to 25-year-old man suffering from apparent stab wounds, sheriff’s officials said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Three other males also had stab wounds and paramedics took them to hospitals for treatment. They appeared to have been involved in the…

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run accident Sunday in Garden Grove and the driver was arrested after fleeing the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said. The victim, identified only as a 53-year-old transient, was struck at about 1:55 a.m. in the 12000 block of Brookhurst Street, according to the Garden Grove Police Department. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Sgt. Royce Wimmer. His name was withheld pending notification of next of kin. The driver was identified as 26-year-old Alexis Lopez of Brea, Wimmer said.…

ORANGE, Calif. – Negotiations resumed this weekend between the Orange County Transportation Authority and the union representing its maintenance workers, offering continued hope for an end to the strike that has shut down all bus service in the county. Meanwhile, bus service will resume Monday and Tuesday as Teamsters leaders lifted the picket lines for those days so commuters can get to the polls on Election Day. If there is no agreement by Wednesday the union likely will hit the picket lines again, once again halting bus service. Eric Jimenez, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 952, told City News Service on…

LOS ANGELES – A significant storm is headed to Southern California, with rain, mountain snow and gusty winds expected to last through Wednesday. Some light rain was possible after midnight Sunday, and most areas of Los Angeles and Orange County will experience substantial rainfall by Monday morning that will continue throughout the day and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Showers are predicted to lighten on Wednesday, though they’ll still be intermittent. Total rainfall could exceed 4 inches, according to the NWS’ Los Angeles office. A drying trend is expected for the latter half of the week. In the…

LOS ANGELES – The California Civil Rights Department has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Black man who alleges he was subjected to ongoing discrimination after leasing a room in San Diego County and told by his landlord, “Your people are always making trouble.” The CRD is tasked with prosecutorial authority to investigate, mediate and litigate civil rights enforcement actions and has an office in Los Angeles County. The complaint filed on behalf of Black plaintiff Abdifatah Abdullahi against the Peter F. DeLuke trust seeks injunctive relief prohibiting future discrimination as well as compensatory and punitive damages. A representative…

TUJUNGA, Calif. – Officials Sunday released the name of a motorcyclist who was killed in a fiery crash with a vehicle on the Angeles Forest Highway near the Clearcreek Truck Trail in Tujunga. The victim was identified as Joshua Martin, 35, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which did not list a place of residence for Martin. The crash occurred at about 9:05 a.m. Saturday at Mile Marker 22.82, the California Highway Patrol reported. The CHP said the motorcycle caught fire during the crash.

LOS ANGELES – Officers arrested a man after they allegedly saw him fire shots at another man in downtown Los Angeles, authorities said Sunday. At about 10 p.m. Saturday, officers spotted a shooting in progress in the area of Maple Avenue and Seventh Street. Paramedics rushed the shooting victim to a hospital, where his condition was not immediately known, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section reported. A police spokeswoman said she had no information about an 11 p.m. shooting in the same area, where CBS2 reported that a person had been shot and three people were taken into…