Los Angeles, Ca

Back-to-back scares rattle Los Angeles Metro buses in a span of hours

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2024

Back-to-back scares rattle Los Angeles Metro buses in a span of hours

In a span of just six and half hours, two Los Angeles Metro buses were the focus of dangerous and scary situations Monday.

The first incident happened at around 3:15 a.m. when a Metro bus full of passengers near West Olympic and Flower Street downtown was overrun by people gathered for a street takeover involving an estimated 50 vehicles.

According to the bus operator, the mob of individuals shot fireworks at the bus and left it covered in graffiti.

There were also reports that the same group “tagged” a nearby building and attempted to break into a Starbucks on 9^th and Flower before eventually being dispersed by officers with the Los Angeles Police department.

It is unclear if any arrests were made. There were also no reports of injuries.

A Metro bus was tagged and shot at with fireworks in Downtown Los Angeles on July 1, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable said that law enforcement needs to step up where the continued problem of street takeovers are concerned.

“You’re tasked with protecting citizens, it’s your job,” he told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “You got to crack down, got to stop it. We’ve called repeatedly for the creation of a permanent joint taskforce – LAPD, LASD and state officials – to come in. In other words, to monitor, ID, impound and arrest.

Not long after that incident, at 9:45 a.m., deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department surrounded a Metro bus at Los Feliz and San Fernando roads in Glendale on reports of an armed passenger.

Authorities said that all the passengers on the bus had exited when the bus operator, who was wrapping up his shift, noticed a passenger slumped over, reportedly sleeping, in his seat with a gun.

Law enforcement responds to a report of an armed suspect on a bus in Glendale on July 1, 2024. (KTLA)

Responding SWAT teams were able to watch the man by viewing Metro’s real-time surveillance cameras inside the bus while they used a bullhorn to get the suspect to wake up.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody at 11:45 a.m. without incident and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

“He woke up,” Deputy Lucas Darland said. “It was not a violent situation or confrontation at all.”

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been plagued by recent violence, including several incidents of people killed on buses or trains.

In May, Metro bus operators staged a “sick out” impacting several bus lines to draw attention to what they were calling a safety crisis.

Late in June, L.A. Metro board members voted to move forward with a five-year transition to establish a “Transit Community Public Safety Department.”

Currently, Metro, who used to have its own version of a transit police force between 1978 and 1997, contracts with LAPD, LASD and Long Beach PD for security, though officials at the transportation authority have been critical of the law enforcement personnel hired to provide safety resources to riders.

Los Angeles, Ca

Southern Califonia father shot and killed in front of family, gunman at large

Published

6 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

Southern Califonia father shot and killed in front of family, gunman at large

Police are searching for a suspect who gunned down a man as he was walking with his family in Covina.

The incident happened on June 22 near the 1100 block of East Wanamaker Drive at around 9:35 p.m., according to the Covina Police Department.

The victim, identified only as a 28-year-old man, was walking with his wife and their three children — an 11-year-old girl and 9-year-old twin boys.

Suddenly, a male suspect approached them and began walking in between the victim and his wife, prompting a verbal altercation.

That’s when the suspect pulled out a gun from his waistband and fired two shots at the victim, police said.

The victim was struck in the chest and the gunman immediately fled the area.

Police sketch of the male suspect wanted for shooting and killing a father in front of his family in Covina on June 22, 2024. (Covina Police Department)

Officers responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures on the man before he was rushed to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting remain under investigation. A police sketch of the suspect was released in hopes someone may recognize him.

The gunman is described as a Hispanic male around 20-25 years old. He stands around 5 feet 5 inches tall and has a thin build.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Det. Preciado at 626-384-5622.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Los Angeles, Ca

McDonald’s plant-based burger wasn't popular among customers, company says

Published

13 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

McDonald’s plant-based burger wasn't popular among customers, company says

Consumers seemingly didn’t love McDonald’s McPlant, the company’s version of a plant-based burger.

During the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum, Joe Erlinger, the president of McDonald’s USA, said that the meat-less burger “was not successful” in San Francisco and Dallas.

In 2021, the burger also appeared at other McDonald’s locations nationwide, including El Segundo and Manhattan Beach.

According to MarketWatch, restaurants in the Bay Area and Dallas-Fort Worth were selling 20 McPlants daily, fewer than the 40 to 60 they had expected.

“I don’t think the U.S. consumer is coming to McDonald’s looking for the McPlant or other plant-based proteins,” Erlinger said. He also shared that salads won’t return to menus nationwide either.

McDonald’s plant-based burger featured a patty made from ingredients like peas, rice, and potatoes, served on a sesame seed bun with tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and American cheese.

The patty was co-developed with Beyond Meat.

The company has since ended its limited test run of the McPlant without disclosing any plans for a potential nationwide debut.

According to the Good Food Institute, a nonprofit that promotes alternatives to animal proteins, meat alternatives grew in popularity in the U.S. in 2019 and 2021, but their popularity lessened in 2022 and declined in 2023.

However, that’s not the case everywhere. McDonald’s international markets were apparently more welcoming of the plant-based option.

Though McPlant wasn’t a hit, Erlinger said that McDonald’s will continue investing heavily in its chicken products.

Los Angeles, Ca

California Senate candidate Steve Garvey says he would vote for Trump 'right now'

Published

20 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

California Senate candidate Steve Garvey says he would vote for Trump 'right now'

Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Steve Garvey speaks to KTLA’s John Fenoglio about running for the California Senate as a Republican in a blue state.

Garvey, who is vying for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat, acknowledges his journey is an uphill battle that won’t be easy.

“I want to be the next senator from California,“ Garvey said. “I think I can make a difference. I knew that the disparity between registered Democrats and Republicans was significant, but I did start to hear from Independents and people who were undecided about the next election.”

Garvey, 75, grew up outside California but moved to the Golden State when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968.

In a career that spanned nearly two decades, Garvey played with the Dodgers until 1982 before moving south to play with the San Diego Padres.

He does not have a career in elected office and his political involvement, until now, largely involved fundraising for other candidates, according to CalMatters.

Former L.A. Dodgers player Steve Garvey is running for the California Senate as a Republican in the November 2024 election.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers take on the Atlanta Braves in Game Four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 7, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey, center right, hugs his wife Candace standing next to his sons Ryan, left, and Sean during his election night party, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Palm Desert, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
From left: California Congressman Adam Schiff and former Los Angeles Dodgers player Steve Garvey.
Former baseball player Steve Garvey listens at a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. Several prominent Democratic House members are jostling to fend off Republican former baseball great Steve Garvey in the fight for the U.S. Senate seat once held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
El Monte, CA – February 27:Steve Garvey, US Senate candidate speaks to the media at a press conference on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Garvey, a former Los Angeles Dodger, received the endorsement of the El Monte Police. Garvey and Democrat Adam Schiff are the current front-runners in the March 5th Primary Election for the US Senate Seat. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

As a political outsider, Garvey has focused on addressing violent crime, homelessness and “failing schools” while citing his personal inspirations as the Pope and Ronald Regan.

Garvey formerly voted for and supported Donald Trump in 2016.

When asked whether he would still support Trump for the 2024 presidential election, he replied, “If it was right now, I would vote for him. I think that he’s the most capable of the two candidates at this time. I actually feel sorry for President Biden at this point and we need somebody that’s clear of mind. Somebody that’s able to make quick decisions.”

Garvey is running against Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff from Burbank, who is leading in the polls and in fundraising.

“I am a Conservative and I’m willing to work with everyone for the good of the people,” Garvey said. “I am running for all the people and politicians are running for half the people. My opponents voted 97-98 percent down party lines. I made the pledge I would never vote 97-98 percent party lines because there’s bound to be situations and instances where we come together.”

The 2024 United States Senate elections in California will be held on Nov. 5.