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The LAPD reported on October 19, at 12:05 a.m., a black Tesla Model Y was travelling southbound on Van Nuys Boulevard, south of Huston Street, when it struck a pedestrian who was on the roadway.

The driver of the vehicle failed to stop, identify themselves, or attempt to render aid as required by law. The vehicle was last seen traveling southbound on Van Nuys Boulevard.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced the pedestrian deceased at scene. The pedestrian is a 62-year-old, Caucasian male, of Ventura County. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves.

On April 15, 2015, the Los Angeles City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members that provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.

Anyone with details about this incident is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division, Investigator Takishita at 818-644-8116. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may contact CrimeStoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”

The post Pedestrian Struck And Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver appeared first on Canyon News.

Sherman has learned how to “quietly” do nothing. He distances himself from controversy. He’s not a leader…He’s a follower. Not a thinker…A party “yes man.” He always shows up one day too late to act as if he’s helping, but instead, he awkwardly just stands there doing nothing with his goofy smile.

How much has he cost you personally? As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, Sherman has consistently led the fight to kill Bitcoin and all Cryptocurrencies. In fact, having so many financial institutions as supporters, he has advocated “outlawing” digital currencies. So, as it turns out, he has been on the wrong side of history for over 15 years. He has tried to stop the future. Bitcoin started trading in July of 2010 for $0.05 per coin. If you had bought just one Bitcoin, then or even in 2016 (just nine years ago) for $400 a coin it would be worth $124,005 today. So much for his negative rhetoric, hollow scare tactics, financial advice, and proposed killer legislation.

He chimed in with the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris LIE that the border was secure when in fact it wasn’t, and they knew it. He kept silent when Biden struggled mentally in his campaign. He claims to support Israel…sometimes. He continues to stall in leading a solution to the Metro Transit Project connecting the San Fernando Valley to LA’s West side. The endless delays have been bogged down by his accountant-due-diligence mentality instead of having an assertive vision with momentum to get it done.

As a career politician who has never earned more than $174,000 a year, he has a home in Los Angeles and a home in Washington, D.C. worth an estimated $14 Million dollars. How is that mathematically possible? Well, I said he was an accountant.

Regarding the Palisades and Malibu fires, I agree with real estate billionaire and former LA Mayoral candidate, Rick Caruso, who proclaims, “If it’s predictable it’s preventable.” Sherman and Mayor Karen Bass, both career politicians, don’t practice preventive governance, but instead, they rely on remedial governance.

Sherman claims and implies that Sherman Oaks and Sherman Way were named after him and his family. That’s simply a lie. Sherman Oaks and Sherman Way were named after General Moses Hazeltine Sherman (1853-1932). He was a land developer and entrepreneur from Vermont who came to California in the late 1800s and founded Sherman Oaks development. If Brad Sherman will lie about a town being named after him and his family, what else will he lie about?

It’s time for a change. My name is Larry Thompson, and I am running for United States Congress. This will be my second attempt to unseat Sherman. In the recent 2024 election, I received over 108,000 votes, which is the most votes ever received by a candidate running against him.

With your help, I plan to defeat him this time.

I am a Christian first. A Conservative second. A Republican third.

I am a member of Turning Point USA and Stand With Crypto . I am a compassionate, intelligent, experienced businessman who uses Common Sense. I am running for Congress to awaken, organize, and unite the dissatisfied Democratic voter, the canceled conservative voter, and the undecided No Party Preference voter. Visit: www.LarryThompsonForCongress.com

I have been endorsed by the California Republican Party, the Los Angeles County Republican Party, the Ventura County Republican Party, California Young Republicans, California College Republicans, Los Angeles County Young Republicans, the American Independent Party, Brock Pierce, Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation, David Hernandez, Chairman of the Los Angeles Hispanic Republican Club, and Regional Vice Chair of CAGOP’s Los Angeles County, and Kelsey Grammer, among many others. Visit my 32-Point Political Vision at Larry Thompson For Congress – 32 Points

Democrats and Non-Party Preference voters, I believe I will earn all or most of the Republican votes, but I cannot win without your votes also. You have voted for Sherman for 30 years…! What about giving me a shot? My term would only be for two years. If I don’t do a better job than him, vote me out in 2028 and put him or another Democrat back in.

California’s District 32, where I am running against Sherman, encompasses at this time the communities of Bel-Air, Bell Canyon, Beverly Glen, Brentwood, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Malibu, North Hills, Northridge, Pacific Palisades, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Topanga, West Hills, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills. The district traditionally trends Democratic by a large margin of 70-30.

I know, it’s difficult to make a party change. Change isn’t just difficult. Sometimes, it feels impossible.

You know the feeling. You make a bold decision — to eat healthier, end a toxic relationship, move to a new city, leave that job, start that business, finally go after the life you keep pretending, you’re not afraid of. You start out strong, your heart full of conviction. But weeks—or even days—later, you find yourself back where you started, sabotaging your progress or convincing yourself it was never worth it anyway. And then comes the shame.

You wonder why everyone else seems to manage change so gracefully while you’re drowning in self-doubt. You ask yourself, “What’s wrong with me?” But the truth is: nothing is wrong with you. Change is not a straight path. It is a reckoning. A grief. A rebirth. A neurological, psychological, and emotional storm that stirs up every part of your identity. It’s not that you’re weak. It’s that you’re human.

American author, speaker, and pastor, Dr. John Maxwell, says, “When it comes to change, there are three seasons of timing: People change 1. when they hurt enough that they have to, 2. when they learn enough that they want to, and 3. when they receive enough that they are able to.”

Are you in any one of these three seasons?

Isn’t it time you tried something new to build a future for you and your children? Sometimes the person that brought you here isn’t the person you need to guide you forward.

Think about it. Vote for change. Vote for Larry Thompson for Congress.

Please contribute to our campaign: https://secure.anedot.com/larry-thompson-for-congress/donate.

Larry Thompson For Congress

23838 Pacific Coast Highway, #273

Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 288-0700 Office
(310) 991-0747 Mobile

E-mail: Larry@LarryThompsonForCongress.com
Corporate Website: http://www.LarryThompsonOrg.com
Campaign Website: http://www.LarryThompsonForCongress.com
Donate: https://secure.anedot.com/larry-thompson-for-congress/donate

Written By Larry Thompson

The post Political Change appeared first on Canyon News.

The fire transpired inside a 1600 square foot one-story home.

A total of 37 firefighters extinguished the blaze by 3:03 p.m. Officials accessed, confined and extinguish flames within the attic of the home without any injuries. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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The LAPD reported on August 30, around 2:30 p.m., Mejia was last seen in the 4900 block of Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. He is currently residing in an assisted living facility in the 13500 block of Sherman Way in Van Nuys.

Jorge Mejia is described as a Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. He weighs approximately 145 pounds and stands 5 feet and 3 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a dark blue shirt and black sandals. He suffers from dementia.

Anyone who has seen Jorge Mejia or has information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Persons Unit, at (213) 996-1800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Anyone wanting to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

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Crew 4 arrived on scene with first-arriving companies; additional ground and air resources have been requested. Dozer lines from previous burns are expected to help keep this fire in check. Forward progress has been halted on this brush fire, estimated at just over nine total acres.

Though flames impacted brush along the south side of Burbank Boulevard, firefighters prevented spread north of the road. There were no reports of any injuries — fire companies proceeded with extreme caution due to damaged trees and branches throughout the burned area.

Heavy equipment crews are en route to assist with mop-up and the establishment of bare-earth dozer lines around the perimeter, with full containment expected to require an extended operation into early evening.

Motorists were encouraged to use alternate routes and avoid the immediate area.

The post Brush Fire Stopped In Sherman Oaks appeared first on Canyon News.

The blaze was reported at 7:29 p.m. at 13300 W Burbank Bl. By 7:45 p.m. the LAFD reported 40 firefighters took just 16 minutes to access, confine and fully extinguish fire within a freestanding one-story 2,100 square foot automotive repair facility of cinder-block construction. The property was built in 1955.

There were no reports of any injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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The incident was reported at 5:40 p.m. at 14807 W. Round Valley Drive. One patient, a 24-year-old female had an isolated lower extremity injury.

She was hoisted via LAFD air ambulance and transported to a local hospital for treatment. No additional details about the incident have been disclosed to the public.

The post Hiker Rescued In Sherman Oaks By LAFD appeared first on Canyon News.

Victor was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1938. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s and was known not only as an actress, but a singer and dance instructor who taught tango and salsa. SHe played a pivotal role in helping to popularize Latin music in the U.S. alongisde Perez Prado and Xavier Cugat. She performed with her husband as a duo known as “Ray & Renee” for 10 years from 1963 to 1973.

Her first acting role was in the 1988 flick “Salsa” where she was a dancer. She appeared in the 2014 horror flick, “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” as well as the 2018 remake of “Superfly.” Victor has also appeared in a host of TV series including “ER,” “Weeds,” Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne,” “The Super Man,” “Vida,” “Snowpiercer,” “With Love” and most recently in 2023’s “A Million Little Things.”

Pixar posted the following message on May 31 on their Instagram page after hearing about the passing of Victor:

“We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renee Victor, the voice of Abuelita in Coco and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you.”

She is survived by her daughters Margo and Raquel.

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The following came directly from the aforementioned press release:

“All four defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy).

Avalyan is charged with one count of distribution of cocaine, one count of distribution of MDMA, and one count of distribution of distribution of methamphetamine. Gevorgyan is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine.

Grigoryan is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nersesyan is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA.

The defendants were arraigned Wednesday in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. They pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and a June 3 trial date was scheduled in this matter.

According to the indictment, from September 2018 to February 2025, various vendors operating under the names JoyInc, LaFarmacia, WhiteDoc, JanesAddiction, DaShop, WhiteRepublic, Tomorrowland, PlanetHollywood, DopeValley, and Major2Minor sold cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine to drug customers on darknet markets in exchange for cryptocurrency.

The defendants then allegedly shipped the drugs throughout the United States via the United States Postal Service.

The defendants fulfilled drug orders through the various vendor accounts by packaging the drugs into parcels and delivering those parcels to post offices and mailboxes in Los Angeles County and elsewhere.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”

If convicted of all charges, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

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By 9:06 a.m. officials reported that the fire had been extinguished. A total of 54 LAFD Firefighters took just 28 minutes to extinguish fire in a two story garden style apartment building that quickly extended from one first floor unit to a pair of units on the second floor of the 76 year-old structure.

One adult male civilian who experienced smoke exposure was transported by LAFD ambulance to an area hospital in undetermined condition. Another civilian at a nearby address is currently being evaluated at the scene by paramedics for the LAFD for an unspecified medical complaint. The cause of the fire is under active investigation.

The post Apartment Building Fire Battled In Sherman Oaks appeared first on Canyon News.

The above snapshot is of Polizzi in his tree house from when he shared his story in an interview that was held in his tree house just before tearing it down, and posted on X, Instagram, and Facebook. 

The beloved tree house was originally built for his two daughters as a gift, 24 years ago. The TV producer indicated that he intended to keep it up, forever.

Polizzi spent over $40,000 to keep the tree house for the enjoyment of all. The City of LA was relentless with permitting and zoning requests. So, alas, he paid to have it torn down.

Multiple reports indicate that the California Historical Society wanted the tree house to stay. The initial complaint(s) from the neighborhood to the city over the crowds the tree house drew to the neighborhood led to more demands from the City of LA than Polizzi was willing to make. The treehouse is now nothing more than a memory.

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TMZ reported that the actress received a liver transplant and it may have caused complications with her health. Trachtenberg was recently defending comments on social media in recent months about her appearance. The actress was found unresponsive by her mother Wednesday morning at her Mid-town apartment. She was pronounced dead at the scene. No exact cause of death has been released to the public.

Michelle was born in New York City to Jewish immigrants, her mother from Russia and her father from Germany. She was raised in Brooklyn, NY and later moved to California where she attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.

The actress has appeared in a multitude of TV series and films during her career. She starred on the ABC soap opera “All My Children” alongside her “Buffy” co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Her film career started with “Harriet the Spy,” which led to a role in “Inspector Gadget.” She appeared on “Buffy the Vampire” series for several seasons starring as Buffy’s little sister, Dawn.

She appeared in the 2004 raunchy comedy “Euro Trip,” as well as the 2006 horror film “Black Christmas.” She also appeared in the movies “17 Again,” “Take Me Home Tonight” and most recently 2024’s “Spyral.” She was notable for her bad girl role on the CW series “Gossip Gil” where she played Georgina Sparks for several seasons until 2012.

She also made appearances on the TV shows “Weeds,” “Criminal Minds,” “Sleepy Hollow” and recently on the 2022 reboot of the “Gossip Girl.” She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series for “Truth of Scare” in 2004. She was also nominated for a 2012 Teen Choice Award for TV Villain for her work in “Gossip Girl.”

Her “Gossip Girl” co-star Ed Westwick posted on Instagram a post in response to learning about his co-star’s death that read:

“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenbeg.”

The post Actress Michelle Trachtenberg Dead At 39 appeared first on Canyon News.

At 11:42 p.m., officials issued an EVACUATION WARNING for residents SOUTH of 1500 block of Casiano Road NORTH of Moraga Drive EAST of Sepulveda Boulevard WEST of Chalon Road. There is an approximately 10-acre brush fire burning on the Sepulveda Pass.

By 1:55 a.m. the LAFD lifted the evacuation warning. All Forward Progress Stopped with the fire held at approximately 40 acres. The Evacuation Warning is LIFTED. There are no structures damaged and no injuries reported.

Firefighters will remain on scene through the night conducting mop up operations to ensure no hot spots remain. Traffic on the 405 Freeway will likely remain impacted as crews and apparatus work alongside the freeway.

Drivers are advised to refer to https://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx for traffic updates.

The post Brush Fire In Sherman Oaks Battled By LAFD appeared first on Canyon News.

On October 20 at 10:30 p.m. the LAFD responded to a series of vehicle and structure fires in the region of Ventura Boulevard and Kester Street. The Major Crimes Division identified a man in his 40s as being responsible for the fires.

On December 18, the suspect was identified as Ricardo Villanueva, 42, who was detained by Van Nuys patrol officers for unrelated traffic violations. He was arrested for the arson that transpired on October 20 and booked for 451 (c) PC: Arson of a structure and 451 (d) PC: Arson of Personal Property. His bail was set at $230,000.

There is an on-going investigation with ACTS and LAPD Major Crimes to determine if Villanueva is responsible for the spree of connected arson fires around December 17. Including the 4700 block of Kester Avenue for a carport fire that exposed the adjacent apartment complex and destroyed four parked vehicles, the 4600 block of Columbus Street for a structure fire, and the 15000 block of Ventura Boulevard for a commercial building fire, or any other incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Major Crimes Detectives at 213-486-7260. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877 527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

The post Serial Arsonist In Sherman Oaks Arrested appeared first on Canyon News.

Firefighters extinguished multiple vehicles as well involved in the fire inside a carport (one was an hybrid). Two apartment units sustained broken windows and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was notified for damage to the electrical panels for the two exposed buildings.

There were no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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