Los Angeles, Ca
City of Orange nixes school crossing guards, annual ceremonies amid budget cuts
In order to fix its budget deficit, the City of Orange has elected to slash funding for several sectors, including the school crossing guard program.
The city is responsible for filling the positions, and there were 14 part–time crossing guards at schools across the city – but not all – before the program was cut.
According to city officials, not having the crossing guards saves Orange around $425,000 a year.
It’s not just patrols outside schools that have been nixed; Orange has also cut out some annual events to save money, including the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Orange Mayor Dan Slater told KTLA’s Chip Yost that they also reduced funding for the library and essentially had a “hiring freeze” and were simply not filling open positions in an attempt to reduce spending. The cuts have saved the city about $5.5 million, which still doesn’t cover the entire $19 million deficit.
“[The deficit] is not anything new – we’ve had budget deficits going back to about 2010 – but we are finally trying to address that,” Mayor Slater said. “Tough times call for tough measures, and we can’t spend money we don’t have.”
Budget cuts aren’t the only tactic officials are using to minimize the deficit. City residents will be able to vote on a citywide sales tax increase on the November ballot to raise more revenue.
Officials also said they are looking for sponsors for events such as the annual Christmas tree lighting so that they can keep community traditions alive.
About 20 people were detained Saturday during a large police response in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after authorities received reports of an armed man threatening people, officials said. Officers responded to the 3400 block of West 8th Street near Kingsley Drive on reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police […]
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]
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