Every Wednesday at noon, Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold hosts a Q&A about anything and everything food.
It’s live now on latimes.com! (Or if you prefer to read today’s chat later when it’s over, save this link right here.)
As street melees erupt, council votes to seek federal probe of killings by officers.
Responding to the litigation, the Anaheim Police Assn. provided the first explanation from the five-year officer who shot Diaz on Saturday afternoon.
According to the police union, officers saw “the documented gang member” who was holding a “concealed object in his front waistband with both hands.” Diaz then took off running, only to pull the object from his waistband and turn toward the officers.
“Feeling that Diaz was drawing a weapon, the officer opened fire on Diaz to stop the threat,” said Kerry Condon, the association’s president.
Officers reported that Diaz tossed away items as he ran, but no gun has been recovered.
Cars Land opens at Disney’s California Adventure on June 15, and our resident theme-park expert Brady MacDonald describes it as “like stepping into a real-life version of the fictional town of Radiator Springs from the 2006 animated movie.”
The new land features three rides, two that are wonderful and one that’s less so. The surprisingly spry Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree is a classic whip ride on a spinning teacup platform that packs a wallop. The disappointing Luigi’s Flying Tires is a docile re-creation of the 1960s Flying Saucers ride in Tomorrowland. And Radiator Springs Racers combines a dark ride with a drag-race finale in one of the best attractions you’ll find at any Disney park.
Disney fans, you may want to admire Cars Land from afar (this photo gallery might help) for a while. “Disney officials are already preparing for waves of visitors to turn Cars Land into an ocean of humanity during the first few months following the grand opening,” MacDonald notes, and multiple-hour ride lines are to be expected.
Photo: The Radiator Springs Racers ride. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
![Court helps ex-warriors fix their lives: Some military veterans have collided with the criminal justice system. There are now more than 90 courts across the U.S. tailored to veterans who are willing to work to get back on track.
The results [of Orange County’s Combat Veterans Court] so far are striking: 21 graduates, none of whom have had any new convictions or arrests.
Photo: Shaughn Whittington, 27, works on a vehicle during his auto mechanics class at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. He is a participant in Orange County’s Combat Veterans Court program. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1ibj3Uqoe1qzss4xo1_500.jpg)
Court helps ex-warriors fix their lives: Some military veterans have collided with the criminal justice system. There are now more than 90 courts across the U.S. tailored to veterans who are willing to work to get back on track.
The results [of Orange County’s Combat Veterans Court] so far are striking: 21 graduates, none of whom have had any new convictions or arrests.
Photo: Shaughn Whittington, 27, works on a vehicle during his auto mechanics class at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. He is a participant in Orange County’s Combat Veterans Court program. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
“Pirate man” recalled as neighborhood character: Homeless victim Paulus Smit liked the freedom of the streets, a scavenger who called dumpsters “the gettin’ place.” Despite his appearance, neighbors, friends and children remember him warmly.
Photo: A small memorial for Paulus Smit has been set up outside the downtown Yorba Linda library. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
Fourth O.C. transient slain: The man is found dead behind an Anaheim fast-food spot. Police detain a suspect who was chased by bystanders.
Photo: A woman and her child sit on the corner of La Palma Avenue and Imperial Highway in Anaheim after a homeless man was found slain behind a nearby fast-food restaurant. Police cordoned off the area and didn’t allow people to leave during the search. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
Update: O.C. authorities announced that they believe the man arrested last night is the killer who stabbed three other transients in North Orange County over the last few weeks.
test reblogged from latimes
Fourth O.C. transient slain: The man is found dead behind an Anaheim fast-food spot. Police detain a suspect who was chased by bystanders.
Photo: A woman and her child sit on the corner of La Palma Avenue and Imperial Highway in Anaheim after a homeless man was found slain behind a nearby fast-food restaurant. Police cordoned off the area and didn’t allow people to leave during the search. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
An ammonia leak prompted officials to declare a Level-Two emergency at the San Onofre nuclear power plant and evacuate some workers, officials said.
The leak posed no danger to the public, and no radiation was released during the emergency, said Lauren Bartlett, a spokeswoman for Southern California Edison.
Under federal regulations, there are four emergency levels, depending on the severity of the situation. Level Two involves any “potential substandard degradation in the level of safety of the plant.”
test reblogged from latimes
Looks like it’s an ammonia leak:
“As a precaution, the company evacuated employees in the area near where the leak was found,” according to a statement from Edison. “Other employees remain in other areas of the plant. There’s no immediate danger to the public. Those units are operating normally.”
At this time, there is no recommended action for the public.
We’ll keep you posted.
test reblogged from latimes
No official word yet, but the public is being instructed to stay inside. More soon.
Serving life at the altar of death: At Cypress College in Orange County — one of two accredited mortuary programs in the state — student morticians learn to use their own grief and fear to lead others to solace.
“There is something beautiful about being part of the ritual of death, performing the most ancient of jobs,” Carvaly says, “and the possibility of serving my life this way is the motivation for the days when I just want to lay my head on my desk and cry from stress.”
Photo: Above, Vincent Lopez, 29 from Fountain Valley sculpts the head and face from a photograph of author Charles Bukowski. The Advanced Restorative Arts class teaches faithful reconstruction of facial features. Lopez, who already works part time in an Orange County mortuary wants to be a funeral director and embalmer. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times
Sept. 11 artist will use dirt to paint a unified portrait: Gary Simpson of Orange County had the soil from all but one of the 193 U.N. member countries for his project. He knew he had to make the trip himself to North Korea for it.
Photo: Gary Simpson with his soil samples from the United Nations’ 193 member countries at his studio in Santa Ana. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
Once a refugee, an O.C. woman aids others in the same predicament: Islamic communities in the U.S. are often more focused on helping people overseas. An Ethiopian Muslim who came to California in 1984 strives to address the physical and emotional needs of new arrivals.
Photo: Owliya Dima, left, and Iraqi refugee Layla Zabiba hug after Dima delivered new toys for the family’s children. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times
