Author: Artificial Intelligence

Raising Cane’s restaurant may replace historic Los Angeles coffee shop Norm’s, but the fast-casual chain won’t stake a claim to take over the cultural landmark. said. Raising Canes planned to file a lawsuit Thursday against the LA Conservation Society over how it plans to preserve the structure if it succeeds in taking over operations. However, it submitted a letter to the Cultural Heritage Commission saying it no longer intends to do so. “We have heard the community’s concerns and are in the process of discussing the future of the site with Norms,” Raising Canes said in a short letter. The…

When Descanso Gardens first turned on Enchanted Forest in 2016, it quickly set the standard for whimsical but not-too-Christmas overlays that have become commonplace at LA-area botanical gardens. Even with only minor adjustments made each year, I believe the curious exhibit will always be outstanding among its kind. But this year’s Enchanted includes some pretty big new elements, and I think it’s the most appealing in the La Cañada tradition. It’s a model train set that’s all lit up to match the seasons. Admittedly, I’m a mild rail fan, so I spent nearly 20 fun minutes exploring briefly before venturing…

IKEA plans to open its first small-format store in Los Angeles County this month. IKEA Arcadia’s small store features more than 1,000 seasonal products, allowing guests to purchase the most popular items without having to navigate a huge warehouse. This small store is part of the IKEA Arcadia Planning Studio expansion, allowing customers to receive support with more complex purchases. Why your favorite catalogs are getting smaller this holiday season “Our expansion goal is simple: to be where people can experience IKEA, whenever and however they want. IKEA Arcadia is an important milestone in this exciting initiative.” Aiming for an…

Every year, Spotify users wait for the day when the streaming service will tell them what they already know: who they want to listen to. On Wednesday, Spotify removed 2024 Wrapped. It provides a detailed breakdown of the artists, songs, and podcasts each user plays most often, and how their listening habits stack up with other users. In the hours that followed, social media feeds filled up with screenshots from friends, family, and acquaintances with conclusive evidence that they did, in fact, like Taylor Swift. Mark Hazan, an executive at Spotify, said the 10th anniversary of the streaming company’s popular…

A man suspected of kidnapping a woman in East Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day has been arrested and charged, authorities announced Wednesday. On Nov. 28, deputies responded to the 1200 block of Dixon Avenue after a witness reported seeing a woman being physically assaulted. Authorities obtained surveillance video that shows the woman, clearly in distress, exiting a white SUV before a man approaches her and throws her to the ground. “The suspect then picked her up and forced her back into the vehicle, where he physically assaulted her,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “The vehicle…

A Florida man has been identified as a suspect in multiple child sexual abuse cases in Orange County dating back to the 1990s and 2000s. According to the Huntington Beach Police Department, the victim of a child sexual abuse case from the 1990s contacted detectives in October 2024. A subsequent investigation revealed three more victims of child sexual abuse, ranging in age from 12 to 16. As authorities continued to investigate the allegations, they were able to identify the suspect. He is 54-year-old George Phillip Ford, also known as “Phil,” and currently lives in the community of Ridge Manor, Florida,…

At Rockefeller Center, the outdoor 11-ton Norway Spruce will once again dazzle with tens of thousands of LED lights in honor of the Christmas season. New York City has been putting up Christmas and holiday decorations for the past few weeks, but nothing symbolizes the beginning and spirit of the season more than the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. This year’s tree is from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and is the first tree to come from that state since 1959. The tree is a Norway spruce that is 74 feet tall, 43 feet wide, and weighs 11 tons. The top is decorated…

A longtime Beverly Hills teacher has filed a lawsuit against the school district, claiming she was fired for anti-Trump posts on Facebook. Joanie Garratt, who has been a teacher in the Beverly Hills Unified School District for more than 30 years and most recently served as a long-term substitute for Associated Press U.S. History, was arrested on Nov. 13, well before her scheduled final day on Dec. 5. I was fired on the day. Garratt’s attorney said in a news release. After a Nov. 6 rally in support of President-elect Donald Trump at Beverly Hills High School, Garratt wrote on…

SACRAMENTO — As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House and abortion rights advocates warn of an uncertain future, California lawmakers are promoting the state as a “refuge” for reproductive rights. We are hurrying to submit a bill that reaffirms the role of the government.Abortion remains legal in California, which has the highest reproductive rights in the nation. Unlike some states, there is no waiting period or counseling required before the procedure, and minors can obtain abortions without parental involvement. In 2022, voters solidified access to abortion in state constitutions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal…

California Lottery officials say the deadline to claim the $197 million Mega Millions ticket is this Saturday. The ticket, with all six numbers matching, was purchased on Dec. 8 at a Chevron gas station in Encino. The winning numbers were 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and 13. Lottery officials said two jackpot tickets with all six numbers matching were sold at the same location on the same day, with a total prize pool of $395 million. One winning ticket was won over the summer, so now all that remains is the winner of the second ticket. The California Lottery in…