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The Shrine Auditorium was evacuated and the red carpet shut down today for 15 minutes—just hours before the SAG awards were scheduled to begin. Everyone was escorted out at 1:55 pm this afternoon, and bomb-sniffing dogs swarmed the premises. more › See the rest here: Shrine Auditorium Evacuated, Red Carpet Shut Down Briefly Just Hours Before SAG Awards
The Salzburg Chamber Soloists are performing this Thursday at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts . The program includes works by Janacek, Britten, Mozart, and Ravel. more › See the original post: Classical Pick of the Week: Salzburg Chamber Soloists and Two Orchestras, One Conductor
The Board of Education will vote at its next meeting to oppose a bill that seeks to streamline the approval process of new public rail transit projects, such as the Westside Subway Extension , by granting them special legal protection from state environmental review challenges. Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) introduced AB1444 in early January. If the bill is passed, the Beverly Hills Unified School District cannot file a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenge against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to stop it from routing the Westside Subway Extension under Beverly Hills High School . “The timing of this legislation is suspicious,” board member Lisa Korbatov said at the Jan. 24 school board meeting. “This legislation speaks to us right now as we are the only ones who could soon make a CEQA challenge.” The panel voted 4-0 (board member Jake Manaster was not at the meeting) to request that Superintendent Gary Woods draft a resolution opposing AB1444. Woods was asked to bring the measure to the board’s next meeting for a vote. The board will also consider hiring a lobbyist in Sacramento to help defeat the bill. Board President Brian Goldberg instructed BHUSD staff to “work with legal counsel to prepare proposals to hire a lobbying firm to oppose this legislation.” It is not clear if the proposals will be ready by the next board meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 14. The board already spends $15,000 a month on Venable LLP, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm hired last year to persuade lawmakers to withhold federal funding for the Westside Subway Extension should Metro choose a route that goes under BHHS. Board members voted unanimously last month to extend the Venable contract until March 31. In introducing AB1444, Feuer said the bill would encourage job growth and give people alternatives to commuting by car. “This bill would create thousands of desperately needed jobs, and give commuters and residents environmentally sound transit options as alternatives to sitting in stopped traffic,” Feuer said in a Jan. 4 statement. As part of the 42nd Assembly District, Beverly Hills is represented by Feuer. However, the city is joining the new 50th Assembly District for the November 2012 election. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . See original here: Board of Ed to Oppose Mike Feuer Transit Bill
Ron Paul has won the Arizona Republican Party straw poll in a dramatic landslide, suggesting that other GOP candidates may have trouble winning the state’s presidential primary on February 28th. In the Arizona straw poll, Ron Paul won 256 votes, Newt Gingrich got 20 votes, Mitt Romney received 17 votes, and Rick Santorum garnered 8 votes. Mr. Paul has won many straw polls during his campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, including landslide victories in the California straw poll and the Los Angeles County straw poll. The fact that Ron Paul continues to win straw polls reflects a base of support is that is loyal, widespread and undaunted by media attacks on the popular constitutional conservative. Ron Paul Wins Arizona Straw Poll More here: Ron Paul Wins Arizona Straw Poll
Occupy Oakland protesters marched toward a new meeting space and social center Saturday. Read more: Occupiers, Cops Clash in Takeover Attempt
Herman Cain has endorsed Newt Gingrich for president, urging Republicans to vote for the former Speaker of the House as he fights for the 2012 GOP nomination. “I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich,” Herman Cain announced in Florida. “There are several reasons as to why I have reached this public decision. One of the biggest reasons is the fact that I know Speaker Gingrich is a patriot,” Cain added. Of all endorsements by former 2012 presidential candidates, Herman Cain’s endorsement carries the most weight so far, say many Republicans. Cain’s support for Gingrich’s campaign was widely anticipated. “We are going to do something and we are going to elect Newt Gingrich as the next president of the United States!” Herman Cain declared to a cheering crowd in the following video. CAIN ENDORSES GINGRICH Continue reading here: Herman Cain Endorses Newt Gingrich
UCLA police on Sunday sought a roughly 21-year-old man who they believe sexually assaulted a female student near a dorm, police said. The rest is here: Man Sought in UCLA Sexual Assault
Police on Sunday sought help to identify suspected gang members responsible for a shooting that left a man dead and three others wounded outside the Mayan nightclub in downtown Los Angeles. View post: Cops Seek Gangsters in Club Shooting
“Vertical” is a techno trance song by Vibrasphere featured in a high-tech music video produced by Visual Chaotics of Silicon Valley, California. Made using Harmony™ software, the song “Vertical” comes alive in a hypnotic music video (below) highlighting the beauty of 21st century Silicon Valley technology. After watching the following video, download this great song by Vibrasphere.
The Occupy Oakland day-long protest turned violent with riot police and protesters injured as hundreds of angry demonstrators were arrested in a cloud of tear gas. “Occupy Oakland has got to stop using Oakland as its playground, and people in the community and people in the Occupy movement have to stop making excuses for this behavior,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan declared after protesters broke into Oakland City Hall, destroyed exhibits and set an American flag on fire. Riot police moved in, firing grenades, tear gas and non-lethal projectiles at the violent mass of demonstrators who threw bottles, metal pipes, rocks, bricks, explosive devices and burning flares at officers of the Oakland Police Department . Oakland residents could hear hundreds of rioting protesters screaming, “Pigs! Pigs! Pigs!” while vandalizing buildings and cars well into the night as families attempted to get some sleep in their homes. Mayor Quan has reached the end of her tolerance regarding violent Occupy Oakland demonstrations. City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente issued a strong statement, declaring, “It’s an escalation that, in my opinion, basically amounts to domestic terrorism.” The City of Oakland is being assisted by a coalition of law enforcement agencies from across the San Francisco Bay Area in its effort to stop the Occupy Oakland violence. OCCUPY OAKLAND RIOT ARRESTS Originally posted here: Occupy Oakland Riot 327 Arrests
