🌱 New Drums For Sheriff Drumman + Poaching Succulents Is A Crime

Hey, people of Los Angeles, and happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! Sylvia here with the latest issue of the Los Angeles Daily.

Metallica came through for a local street musician. Also, someone’s facing up to five years for stealing Dudleya plants. Finally, a search warrant executed on the 2800 block of 113th Street netted law enforcement an organized retail theft suspect and some goods.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 74 Low: 54.

Here are the top five stories in Los Angeles today:

1. Sheriff Drumman is a street musician who is famous for playing drums from the bed of his truck. In December, someone stole the truck and drums from where the musician lived in Hawthorne. Drumman networked and did everything he could to get help. While he got back his truck, the drums were gone. Leave it to Metallica (yes, that Metallica) to come to the musician’s help. On Tuesday, the band provided Sheriff Drumman with a new drum kit in Hollywood. (MSN)
2. Did you know that poaching succulents is a crime? On Thursday, a South Korean man was sentenced in L.A. for “trying to illegally export thousands of lotus-like California succulents — worth more than $600,000 — that he and two others pulled out of the ground at remote state parks.” The succulents in question are Dudleya plants, of which ten local species are classified as threatened or endangered. The offense “carries a sentence of up to five years behind bars.” (My News LA, CNPS)
3. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department went to the 2800 block of 113th Street with a search warrant. They suspected that they would find items related to organized retail theft. They arrested a suspect and “recovered more than $6,100 in clothing and personal care products believed to be stolen.” It’s interesting to note that the suspect “has been arrested eight times for similar crimes, and is on probation in Los Angeles and Orange Counties for theft.” (RLN)
4. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Wednesday that the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration project is receiving $28 million from the federal Infrastructure law. The money will be spent on restoring an 11-mile stretch of the river between Griffith Park and downtown. According to the City, “the project will create 14,200 construction jobs and 2,670 permanent jobs” and “restore hundreds of acres of land for several plant and animal species.” (ABC)
5. On Wednesday, Sheriff Alex Villanueva connected with 78-year-old Miguel Villa. Mr. Villa, an East L.A. paletero, is known for bringing smiles to the community. The Sheriff presented him with an “authentic LASD Cowboy hat” in appreciation. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

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Today in Los Angeles:

• Garden Grove Friday Night Car Show on Main Street (5 PM to 8 PM)
• The Troubadour presents Rebecca Black (8 PM)
• Afrobeat Party at Catch One (9 PM)
• Valentino Khan at the Academy (10 PM)
• Landmark's Nuart Theatre shows Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (11:59 PM)

From my notebook:

• Our Melrose Hill neighbor needs to rehome two adorable cats. (Nextdoor)
• A Boyle Hts Center/East LA neighbor is reaching out to learn if anyone knows of a nonprofit organization for free doggy surgery? (Nextdoor)
• A kind Aliso Village neighbor found an orange tabby cat near S. Pecan St. and 4th St. Is it yours? (Nextdoor)
• Our Hollywood Dell neighbor needs travel advice. How do they get an app on their phone accepted in the EU to show vaccine status ? The CDC app is NOT accepted" (Nextdoor)
• A Rose Hills neighbor found a weird-looking bug crawling on the bathroom floor. Is it time to call the exterminator?" (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Estate Planning for Your Loved Ones - Webinar w/ Live Chat Q&A (January 22)
• Benefits of a Medi-Cal Trust Webinar (w/ Live Chat Q&A) (January 22)
• Topanga Vintage Market at Pierce College (January 23)
• Torrance Antique Street Faire (January 23)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (January 24)
• Understanding the Probate Process (Webinar w/ Live Chat Q&A) (January 26)
• Estate Planning for Your Loved Ones - Webinar w/ Live Chat Q&A (January 26)
• Which Divorce Process is Right for Me? – Vesta Beverly Hills/South Bay Hub (January 28)
• Manhattan Beach Cars and Coffee (January 29)
• Avoid Trust Administration Mistakes! (Webinar w/ Live Chat Q&A) (January 29)
• Run/Walk 5k/10k benefitting WeSPARK Cancer Support Center - Jan 30 (January 30)
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Loving the Los Angeles Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.