🌱 Carloads Of Robbers + Bandits Hit Victim At 8th & San Francisco

Hello, people of Los Angeles; today is International Moment of Laughter Day! It's me again, Sylvia, your host of the Los Angeles Daily.

Gang members prey on people leaving stores. Also, follow-home robbers ran over a fleeing victim. Finally, there was a structure fire at Las Posas and Ventura Boulevard.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 71 Low: 51.

Here are the top five stories in Los Angeles today:

1. Did you know that there are at least 17 gangs in L.A.? According to authorities, they’re “behind a sudden spike in brazen robberies in which robbers follow people home from high-end locations and make off with expensive jewelry or other goods,” we learned Tuesday. In some cases, “as many as five carloads of people have followed home some targets.” (Patch)
2. In possibly related news, a woman was run over on Tuesday while fleeing from robbers “around noon near the intersection of 8th Street and Francisco Street.” After leaving a jewelry store, a silver Dodge Challenger followed her. The altercation occurred at the intersection and “she left her vehicle and ran into the road while she called for help, but she was followed by the Challenger, which accelerated and hit her as she ran.” (KTLA)
3. Were you caught up in the smoke on the 101 Tuesday evening? At around 7 p.m., the VCFD responded “to reports of a massive structure fire in the area of Las Posas and Ventura Boulevard.” The structure fire involved “a four-story hotel under construction, with heavy smoke and fire on the second and fourth floors.” (CBS)
4. Last weekend, 458 people were rescued from the ocean by L.A. County’s lifeguards. “In addition to the ocean rescues, lifeguards performed 283 medical aids and 465 emergency vehicle responses throughout the county.” (Patch)
5. Mark your calendars! Saturday is the blessing of the animal at Olvera Street! Since the 1930s, local archbishops would offer a benediction for the animals' good health. “It's all happening from 2 to 3 p.m., Archbishop Jose Gomez will deliver the beasties' benedictions, and the line will be located in front of the Pico House.” All are invited and it’s free to attend. (NBC)

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Today in Los Angeles:

• West Hollywood Pride City Council Subcommittee Online Meeting (8:30 AM)
• City of Los Angeles' Online Tsunami Seminar with the Canoga Park Neighborhood Council (9 AM)
• Thursday Storytime In The Garden at the Malaga Cove Library (10:15 AM)
• Valley Vineyard Pop-Up Food Pantry at 6642 Reseda Blvd (12 PM)
• The Knitting Circle meets at the Woodland Hills Branch Library (4 PM)

From my notebook:

• You never know what the work day will bring. Yesterday, LAFD Station 84 assisted a baby owl back to its nest at a home in Woodland Hills. (Instagram)
• The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public’s help to locate missing person Howard Owens Harris. (Facebook)
• Join Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho and Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III for a Town Hall to learn more about the Superintendent’s vision and share how the upcoming Strategic Plan can support student success. (Instagram)
• A West Adams West neighbor is missing their dog. Did you see it? (Nextdoor)
• Our Central Brentwood neighbor lost a Porsche Key in Brentwood. (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you soon!

— 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.