After 10 years, President Joe Biden expanded the size of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument on Thursday, May 2, adding about 110,000 acres. There’s a lot to mention about adding federal Angeles National Forest lands to the monument. From animals to antiquity to awareness to aviary species. And that’s just the A’s. Below are five notable things: Some of the rare animals you may see: California Condor, Southwestern Arroyo Toad, Bighorn Sheep and Santa Ana Sucker fish The addition will bring about 757,000 more people—more than 60 percent of whom are nonwhite — within 5 miles of the monu ..read more

  The LA County Fair opens on Friday, May 3, 2024, and runs Thursday-Sunday through May 27 (Memorial Day) at Fairplex in Pomona. In the file photo, a worker moves a ticket booth in preparation for the opening of the LA County Fair at Fairplex in Pomona on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)   Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.   EVENTS   Los Angeles County Fair – Stars, Stripes and Fun: The fair opens, 5-11 p.m. May 3. Regular hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, an ..read more

A fire damaged the building that used to house Rusty’s Hacienda Mexican restaurant Wednesday in the North Hollywood area, but no one was hurt. Firefighters sent to the 6400 block of Lankershim Boulevard at 1:18 p.m. extinguished the flames in the single-story structure in 17 minutes, said Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Los Angeles firefighters work on a blaze Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the former Rusty’s Hacienda Mexican restaurant on the 6400 block of Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. (Photo by Mike Meadows/Contributin ..read more

An annual UCLA survey that measures the quality of life satisfaction found that San Fernando Valley residents have the lowest satisfaction in the last nine years, and satisfaction is the lowest ever for residents across Los Angeles County. Countywide, residents are concerned about the high cost of living and housing, according to the survey released on April 17. The survey polled 1,686 Los Angeles County residents in February and March on 40 different aspects of life, including cost of living, education, environment and public safety. The poll is part of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA ..read more

Yes, the sun is finally out, so let’s go and enjoy it! Here’s our list of fun things to do in May that are really free! (And really fun.) FREE ON CERTAIN DATES The Queen Mary’s historic Observation Bar, featuring its Art Deco lounge, reopened to the public on Friday, May 19, 2023, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer) The Queen Mary, Long Beach (Tuesdays): Enjoy free ship admission on Tuesdays in May during the “Meet me at the Mary” special events. Happy hour only, from 4 to 8 p.m. (Parking is $10). Head to the beautiful Art Deco Observation Bar for live mus ..read more

A drone’s eye view of motorists going to or away from the San Fernando Valley, with some using The Old Road. In the photo: The Old Road, looking south, is to the right of the 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita on Monday, March 18, 2024. Los Angeles County has earmarked funds to improve The Old Road in the unincorporated area west of Santa Clarita, which is frequently used by locals and commuters when traffic on Interstate 5 is snarled due to roadwork or emergency closures. Improvements will also include updating the bike path to connect to the Newhall Ranch development. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, L ..read more

    Find a labyrinth to walk on May 4, 2024, the 16th annual World Labyrinth Day (observed on the first Saturday in May). In the photo: A labyrinth in Grace Cathedral, in the Episcopal Diocese of California, in San Francisco. (Photo by Marlith/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)   Here is a sampling of upcoming faith gatherings.   April 27   Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church: “Real Presence” contemporary service, 5 p.m. Also, a 10 a.m. traditional service on April 28. The Rev. Titus A. Utecht leads services. April newsletter: tinyurl.com/dn8y859c. Locatio ..read more

  Sweet 4-month-old Dahlia (A514205) is looking for a new home. She’s one of many puppies available for adoption at Pasadena Humane. The shelter also offers training classes for puppies of all ages. Our classes are held in a state-of-the-art training facility where we follow strict sanitizing protocols to help keep puppies healthy and safe. Learn more at pasadenahumane.org (Photo courtesy of Pasadena Humane)   For many years, puppies were a rare sight in our kennels. When the occasional litter came into the shelter, the cutie pies were adopted within minutes. These days, it seems lik ..read more

Welcome to the world, Kaleia. That was quite an entrance you made on April 15 this year. A real one in a million shot. You weren’t due until April 26th, but when your mom’s water broke at 1 p.m. on the 14th and she went into labor on her way to the hospital, the odds went out the window. You were about to join a very exclusive club. Your grandma Jackie Gamez was born on April 15, 1966, and your mom Annie Urrutia was born on April 15, 1998. And, here you came along after a hard day’s night of labor at 10 a.m. on April 15, 2024 to join their birthday party. Three generations born on the same day ..read more

Liz Truss, the 56th and shortest-serving prime minister in British history, stopped by Pepperdine University Wednesday to talk about her book on the future of American conservatism and the dangers of “destructive ideologies.” Focusing on her book “Ten Years to Save the West,” Truss and Jim Gash, president of the Christian university, discussed her evolution as a politician, her rise to the prime ministership and quick downfall. Truss, 48, joked about her tenure at No. 10 Downing Street: “In historical terms, it’s unmatched,” and blamed a massive and powerful “administrative state” for the fail ..read more