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Rent control headed for the ballot in California, again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Voters in California will, once again, have the opportunity to decide if landlords should face new limitations on how much they can increase rent.Supporters of a statewide rent control measure have gathered enough signatures -- more than 600,000 -- to put the issue on the 2024 ballot, California’s Secretary of State announced this week.Voters overwhelmingly rejected similar measures in 2018 and 2020.The initiative seeks to repeal a nearly three-decades-old state law, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits cities from placing rent control limits on certain types of residences, namely single-family homes and apartments built after 1995.Groups endorsing the initiative include Veterans’ Voices, the California Nurses Association, Housing is a Human Right, and The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.At a virtual news conference on Thursday, Michael Weinstein, who bankrolled the signature drive, said he believes the third time will be the charm.“The situation has gotten so...

Boy severely injured in L.A. traffic collision reunited with parents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

A 10-year-old boy has been reunited with his parents after being severely injured in a traffic accident in the Wilshire Center neighborhood of Los Angeles.According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the unidentified boy was riding a rented scooter around 5 p.m. Thursday when he collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and 7th Street. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the boy to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition.  An LAPD statement said that the boy's phone had Cyrillic writing, indicating that he may be of Russian descent. Cook fatally shot at Wilmington anti-gang violence event The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. No foul play is suspected police said. Anyone with information about this collision is urged to contact the West Traffic Division Watch Commander at 213-473-0222. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be d...

Mattel theme park to bring Barbie World to life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Come on Barbie, let's go to the theme park!Mattel is launching its first-ever theme park in Glendale, Arizona. Mattel Adventure Park will highlight all of its brands like Barbie, Masters of the Universe, Hot Wheels and Thomas & Friends.The city first made the announcement last year in a press release. Barbie’s Dream House comes to life ahead of Margot Robbie film; how to book your stay "From rides and attractions that appeal to the tiniest of tots, to a double-looping launch coaster designed for speed, to a flying theater adventure that shoots for the stars – Mattel Adventure Park is built to delight guests of all ages," the park's website read.Barbie fans will be able to live in their own Barbie world by hanging out in the Barbie Beach House. The exhibit will feature the Barbie flying theater, which will take "riders on a journey from deep underwater to outer space.""Our unique indoor/outdoor design keeps your family cool and comfortable on even the hottest Arizona day with a...

3 Injured after Multi-Vehicle Crash on Shea Boulevard [Scottsdale, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Multi-Vehicle Crash on Shea Boulevard near 114th Street Left Three People HospitalizedSCOTTSDALE, AZ (July 28, 2023) – Tuesday afternoon, a multi-vehicle crash on Shea Boulevard left 3 people injured.The incident happened on July 25th, at around 12:45 p.m., multiple vehicles collided at the intersection that involved five vehicles.According to the Scottsdale police, four vehicles were stopped at a red light in the westbound lanes of the intersection. There, another vehicle slammed into them, creating a chain reaction crash.As a result of the collision, at least three people were injured with broken bones, including a 67-year-old man in a critical state.Consequently, there were all transported to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.Meanwhile, officials assessed the driver that caused the collision. They suspected him to be driving under the influence.Eventually, the officers blocked the eastbound lanes of Shea Boulevard at 110th Street for several hours. They later reo...

Rider Injured in Motorcycle Crash on Northeast Hayes Road [Clark County, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Reckless Rider Hospitalized after Vehicle Collision near Lewis RiverCLARK COUNTY, WA (July 28, 2023) – Friday evening, officers were dispatched to a motorcycle crash on Northeast Hayes Road.It happened near the intersection of Northeast Polar Avenue, along the Lewis River, at around 9:10 p.m., July 21st.According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, a motorcyclist attempted to pass on vehicles at high speeds without any light on.As a result, the motorcyclist collided with a vehicle and suffered serious injuries. He was transported to Peace Health Southwest Medical Center in a critical state.Furthermore, the driver that the rider collided with remained at the scene and cooperated with the police.Meanwhile, multiple lanes were temporarily shut down to allow for cleanup and preliminary duties. The roadway has since been reopened to the public at this time.No additional details were released by the authorities and an active investigation is still ongoing.To prevent motor vehicle ...

One Killed in Motorcycle Collision on Interstate 5 [Seattle, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

35-Year-Old Rider Dies after Motorcycle Collision on Interstate 5 near University StreetSEATTLE, WA (July 28, 2023) – Late Tuesday night, police responded to a deadly motorcycle collision on Interstate 5 that killed one person.The incident happened on July 25th, just before 9:00 p.m., in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, just north of University Street.According to the Washington State Patrol, they arrived at the scene and found the motorcyclist downed on the lanes with extreme injuries.Furthermore, the paramedics began to perform CPR on the rider and transported him to Harborview Medical Center where he later died at around 10:25 p.m.Meanwhile, the officers blocked the southbound lanes of the interstate for about 3 hours.Also, the driver involved in the collision remained at the scene and cooperated with the authorities.At this time, the identity of the motorcyclist has not yet been released.No additional information was added by the authorities and the crash is still und...

Eric Ray Martinez Dies in Motorcycle Accident on Craycroft Road [Tucson, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

35-Year-Old Rider Fatally Struck in Motorcycle Collision near Valencia RoadTUCSON, AZ (July 28, 2023) – Early Monday morning, Eric Ray Martinez was killed in a motorcycle accident on Craycroft Road.Around 5:00 a.m., police responded to the scene near East Valencia Road on July 24th, near the Pima Air and Space Museum.Per reports, the driver of a vehicle turned in front of a black 2005 Honda CBR600 motorcycle and the two collided. Upon impact, the driver of the car fled the scene without rendering aid to the rider.Investigators say the motorcyclist, 35-year-old Martinez, was wearing a helmet and died at the scene. Meanwhile, paramedics transported his passenger to Banner University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.Following preliminary duties, officers say Martinez had a suspended license and paraphernalia on him. However, it has not yet been determined if he was under the influence.At this time, the driver of the involved vehicle still remains at large. Once avail...

From Inji to Skold — the New LA Weekly Playlist is Live

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

From Inji to Skold: The 167th LA Weekly playlist, reviewing the musicians that we’ve been writing about all week, is live now. There’s electronic music from Mojave Grey, pop from Gia Woods and Inji, industrial from Skold, rock & roll from the Beach Boys and the Hollywood Stars , and so much more.Find us on Spotify here,or on Soundcloud here.Don’t forget to “Like” the playlists and “Follow” the profiles.Gia Woods (Brian Ziff)From Inji to SkoldAlso this week:Print star Gia Woods told us that, “Everything I write is from my own personal experiences. Heartbreak County was originally inspired by my life in L.A. Growing up in L.A, and to be from here. The whole project was based on my life here, and ‘Lesbionic’ was a record that speaks to my heart. There are so many songs about women, but I want to hear songs about women embracing women. Sexually, or just in general. So the song is fucking true and honest to my heart.”In “Not Another DJ,” Mojave Grey said “Our ...

Hundreds of people question Oakland police leaders and Alameda County DA over robberies, carjackings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

OAKLAND — High-profile instances of women being carjacked and robbed in the Oakland Hills and other nearby neighborhoods took center stage Thursday night at a community meeting that saw frustrations boil over amid a perceived lack of safety in parts of the city.Concerns over violent muggings dominated the standing-room only town hall, which drew hundreds of people to the city’s Montclair District, for a rare chance to at once publicly question city police leaders and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price on how to cut down crime in Oakland.Her voice occasionally wavering, one woman described being held at gunpoint on July 1 while multiple assailants took her vehicle on Skyline Boulevard. She said she no longer feels safe living in Oakland.“They took my bags, they took everything,” said the woman, who identified herself only as Amy. “What are we doing to prevent this? It shouldn’t happen at any time of day.”“OPD is not asleep &#...

Musicians deal with stingy streamers and AI threats, too. So why aren’t they on strike?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

By August Brown and Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles TimesLOS ANGELES — Every day, Joey DeFrancesco hears from fellow musicians who see actors and screenwriters on strike, and wish they were on a picket line too.“A lot of musicians are really angry now. I get messages all the time asking ‘Why aren’t we on strike?'” said DeFrancesco, guitarist for the rock band Downtown Boys and co-founder of the activist nonprofit group United Musicians and Allied Workers. “Writers and actors are on strike demanding changes in how streaming platforms compensate labor. They’re fighting at the bargaining table. Most musicians don’t even have a seat at that table.”All the fears and complaints that Hollywood actors and writers have about low streaming-service payouts and threats of digital replacement are an ever-present reality for musicians and songwriters, too. Yet the rockers, pop singers and hip-hop artists who create the vast majority of music we consum...