L.A. Now - latimes.com

Earthquake: 4.4 quake strikes near Rio Dell

By Ken Schwencke — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:03:00 PDT

A shallow magnitude 4.4 earthquake was reported Saturday morning 17 miles from Rio Dell, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 6:46 a.m. PDT at a depth of 11.8 miles.

Earthquake: 3.3 quake strikes near Rancho Palos Verdes

By Ken Schwencke — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:06:00 PDT

A shallow magnitude 3.3 earthquake was reported Saturday morning 12 miles from Rancho Palos Verdes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 2:41 a.m. PDT.

Dog tied to Riverside County train tracks adopted by O.C. couple

By Victoria Kim — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:27:00 PDT

An unwanted 10-month-old puppy that was tied to train tracks in Riverside County last month was adopted Friday by a Huntington Beach couple, animal services officials announced.

Castaic blaze grows to 575 acres but firefighters gaining control

By Victoria Kim — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:33:00 PDT

Firefighters were beginning to gain control Friday evening of a fast-burning brush fire near Castaic Lake that has so far burned 575 acres, fire officials said.

Private security patrols pull out of downtown Arts District

By Gale Holland — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:04:00 PDT

Private security patrols and cleanup crews have pulled out of the downtown Los Angeles' Arts District after a court ordered the city to dissolve a special district that had assessed property owners as much as $1.3 million a year to spruce up and protect the neighborhood.

Huntington displays artwork from East Los Angeles high school

By Dalina Castellanos — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:00 PDT

The Huntington Library this week debuted an unusual collection: The work was created on the streets of East Los Angeles and the artists have yet to graduate from high school.

Powerball: California's entry helps fuel big jackpot

By Matt Stevens — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:19:00 PDT

California's entrance last month into the Powerball lottery game is helping swell the jackpot, which now stands at more than $600 million.

Body identified as missing Army vet; roommate arrested

By Victoria Kim and Rick Rojas — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:11:00 PDT

The ex-roommate of Maribel Ramos was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder after the missing Army veteran was found dead Thursday near Modjeska Canyon in Orange County, authorities said.

Students raised in foster system honored for completing college

By Stephen Ceasar, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:57:00 PDT

Soon they’ll walk across stages at college campuses around Southern California, accepting their degrees and celebrating with classmates. But at a smaller, more low-key event on Friday, they were honored with a closer set of peers: fellow foster children who had defied odds to get a degree.

Netflix, 'Arrested Development' banana stand gives O.C. the slip

By Michael Miller — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:26:00 PDT

Netflix has no immediate plans to bring a replica of the "Arrested Development" banana stand to Newport Beach, a spokeswoman said Friday.