Has parking been easier in your neighborhood recently? It has been for one Echo Park resident who has noticed this trend, via The Eastsider LA: "As if following the financial markets, parking began to appear right as we approached the bail (fail) out and credit crisis. Each day more space, even at night. Now I see spaces in front as the Dow dips below 10,000 with each dive. Could Laguna Ave. be some kind of......

AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis "The tragic case of the Rajaram family is at the bleakest edge of the economic turmoil that is rattling Americans' emotional well-being. Worries about home foreclosures, job losses and plunging stock prices have sparked a surge in mental health problems," says the LA Times in a report about the economy and a national surge in mental health problems. "Rates of depression and suicide tend to rise during hard economic times. A......

LA Police investigators walk to a news conference in front of the home where six bodies were found, left, in a gated community in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Porter Ranch. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Yesterday morning police discovered a home in Porter Ranch--an LA neighborhood tucked above the 118 Freeway--with all six members of the family dead with three suicide notes from the father and killer, one of them to police citing financial......

Following an LAPD press conference on the six deaths from a presumed murder-suicide in Porter Ranch, a northwestern San Fernando Valley community, police disclosed that the father left behind three letters indicating that he was behind the slaying of his mother, wife and three children because of "financial difficulties." The man had worked for Price Waterhouse and Sony Pictures and had a MBA in business. More info on the killings can be found here.......

Around 7:15 a.m. this morning, six people were found dead inside a gated community home in Porter Ranch, a neighborhood in the Northwest San Fernando Valley between Chatsworth and Granada Hills. LAPD detectives suspect that the incident at the 20600 block of Como Lane to be a murder-suicide with initial reports saying all victims were from one family. "A Los Angeles Police Department source, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the case was under......

Valley Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) stood his ground on Friday during the second House bailout vote that passed. He, along with the majority, voted no on Monday and he once again voted no on Friday, although that time in the minority. During a session of congress on the night before Friday's vote, he said proponents of the bailout were apparently saying martial law be put in place if the vote didn't go through.......

President Bush signs the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington after the House passed the $700 billion financial bailout bill, Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) The House voted Monday and didn't pass the bailout, but today was another day. Most Los Angeles area representatives didn't change their vote from Monday, but four democrats went from a no vote to a yes vote,......

A New York City trader takes a break as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets after the government's financial bailout package failed to survive a vote in the House (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin) The results are in and the House voted 205 to 228 to reject the Bailout plan which in turn sent stocks plunging. So how did your Los Angeles representative vote? Many of the representatives and their vote are listed below. If you......

He may be the richest, swankiest and most famous cat in Holmby Hills, but the credit crunch has got Hugh Hefner too. Back in August, Playboy announced the end of company-thrown shindigs at the mansion but still is letting people rent out the famous grounds for their own events. Now the Daily Star is reporting that Hef is stripping back staff after the stock's plunge. But that's what an inside source is saying and Playboy,......

At the corner of Melrose and Highland last night, a group gathered to protest President George Bush's bailout of Wall Street plan. The group may have been small, but represented many. Senator Dianne Feinstein has received so many e-mails, letters and calls (39,180 they say) that they've had to double staffing. Congressman Brad Sherman's office says phone calls are running 300 to 2 against bailout. And of course, more local protests are planned. Photos by......

On your commute home tonight, don't be surprised if you see corners full of people protesting President Bush's proposed bailout of Wall Street (did anyone catch Bush's broadcast last night?). Instead, members of True Majority want to save Main Street. Protests are planned for 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, at Highland and Melrose across from Mozza and a few other locations from around town.......

It was speculated last month that 99 Cent Only stores might have to raise their prices due to the economy, possibly breaking the one-dollar price point. However, they've finagled their prices by raising them almost one-penny still keeping the highest price in the store under $1. $99.99 cents is the new 99 cents. Seems kind of silly, but hey, if you can swing it. The changes will take place in the stores later this month.......

Photo by Tony Pierce/LAist from The Neighborhood Project: Little Armenia Times are tough, which means saving a buck, or a penny, here and there is a high priority for lots of local shoppers. That means that a place like the 99 Cents Only store is a haven for penny pinchers and bargain hunters alike. But what happens when the economy can't keep a good thing going? The LA Times reports:Faced with fast-rising inflation and......

The Orange County Health Care Agency reported late this morning that they have confirmed the second West Nile Virus related death this year. On Monday, the agency reported the first virus related death, 72-year-old woman from Buena Park, of 2008 The latest victim was a 64-year-old man from Garden Grove who died sometime this month. The total number of cases in Orange County has risen to 32, the highest number of infections since 2004. Four......

It seems that the ditzy blonde LA County Fair commercials are going wayside this year in lieu of playing off current events (oh wait, nevermind). Above, these ads for the September 5th through 28th event are expected to hit streets on billboards and bus shelters this week. In one of the McCain/Obama ads, McCain is holding cotton candy and Obama has a candy apple. OMG, what does that mean? Analyze!......

A Quick Look at the History of the Cost of a Trip to Anaheim's Disneyland The high cost of living has hit everyone hard, and now Mickey Mouse is feeling the pain, too. That's why the price of coming to visit him and all his friends at the "Happiest Place on Earth" will be even more expensive, starting tomorrow. KNBC explains: At Disneyland in Anaheim, one-day prices will rise from $66 to $69 for those......

Now here's a sign of the times. Ford Motor Company has posted their 2nd Quarter results showing a $8.67 billion loss in the United States market. With gas rising, the economy struggling and a generally more eco-conscious(ish) nation, is this a surprise next move? "They will retool two more North American truck and sport utility vehicle plants to build small, fuel-efficient vehicles," according to the Associated Press.......

Yesterday, we highlighted Steve Hymon's explanation on why there is traffic in Los Angeles. We started off by saying something we heard LA City Council President say to a group of people a year ago. In a phone conversation with his office, we said we stated his thoughts, but very simply and that if he wanted to clarify and expand, to please do so. Garcetti did just that in the comments section this morning. Here's......

Councilman Eric Garcetti once explained to a group of people that traffic is a sign, a good sign. A sign of a strong economy. If there was no economy, people wouldn't be traveling to their jobs, thus causing traffic. Today in the print edition (and in the blog yesterday), LA Times' Road Sage, Steve Hymon, backs that theory up. He shows two different maps: one of population density and another of job density. "The maps......

According to an independent market-research firm, AIMRCo (Adult Internet Market Research Company), the porn industry, specifically online properties providing adult content and erotic material are experiencing some swollen numbers in recent weeks thanks to the checks of up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples that the Bush Administration’s Economic Stimulus Plan handed out this spring. In a press release issued today by the firm that “specializes in gathering, interpreting and distributing data......

Now that the contract between the largest actors guild and the movie studios has expired, with talks to resume Wednesday, the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers is using a tactic on their website to show the economic pain the actors will supposedly cause if they authorize a strike. Two flash animation boxes on their homepage give out these statistics based on an Milken Institute study (for the writers strike) and Screen Actors Guild's......

The USA National Gas Temperature Map by LosAngelesGasPrices.com Oh my, look at California. The darkest state of them all... on this map, at least. In fact, California currently has the second most expensive gas in the country next to Alaska, whose current average price of a regular is $4.572. The Golden State sits 6-cents below at 4.510 (and Los Angeles is around $4.50). Why does California have some of the highest prices? In a......

As the average price for a gallon of gas tips over $4 across the country (in Los Angeles, the average is about $4.46 for regular), the Senate will vote today on a "windfall tax" that would snag some of the top oil company's profits at the tune of $17 billion -- in other words, the tax breaks they would expect in the next ten years. $36 billion was earned by the top five oil companies......

Photo taken on 6/6/08 in Santa Monica | © Copyright 2008 by Jonathan Alcorn (Sundogg) via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr When it comes to the cost of a gallon of gas these days, it certainly doesn't seem to be the case that "it can't get any worse." We grumbled when it got to $3, winced when it hit $3.40, cringed when it hovered at the $4 mark, and now we're seeing prices......

The rising price of gas is nothing new, but these past seven days, a gallon of gas has jumped up 27 cents. Prices have not increased at this pace since August 2003. One year ago, gas prices were about one dollar less than today's Los Angeles average of $4.38 per gallon of regular. "The Auto Club says California refineries are producing more diesel fuel and less gasoline, creating a need to import more costly unleaded......

Today, the Office of Vital records told all California counties can start issuing same-sex marriage licenses the minute after the California Supreme Court's order goes into effect, which is June 16, 5:01 p.m. Previously, officials had told county clerks that they could begin officiating gay marriages on June 17. Originally, marriages would have been allowed on June 14, but a request to stay the ban by opponents pushed back the date while justices reviewed a......

Photo LaMenta3 via Flickr Now that same-sex marriages are legalized in California (they begin June 17), this weekend's 38th annual Los Angeles Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender Pride celebration will probably have more energy than ever before. From Friday through Sunday, events including the Dyke March, the two-day Christopher Street Festival (with headliners Joss Stone and Olivia Newton John) and the parade, West Hollywood will be abuzz with activity. And with festivals and parades......

Photo by r_neches via Flickr "As parents, we are ready to fight this. We are ready to have protests and boycotts and do whatever is necessary to ensure adequate funding for our schools and for social services that affect children and their families," states a petition released by a group calling themselves Parents for Full Funding. Ron Kaye, ex-editor of the Daily News, sees this as a movement that's the seed beginnings of civil......

LAist Featured Photos contributor Marshall Astor titled this photo "Holy Fuck Part Deux! Thrifty Gas in San Pedro Goes for Broke." He continues to say "this gas station's prices have gone nuts, but every time I drive by, there's some moron at the pump getting gouged. "For reference, I paid $4.01 at a nearby station last week, and most other nearby stations are in the low $4.10-20 range. "I'm expecting this pump to hit $5.00......

The California Supreme Court denied the request to stay same-sex marriages until after a November vote by a 4-3 vote, it was announced today. That means marriages may be commenced starting June 17 throughout California. The order becomes final on June 16 at 5 p.m., according to a press release sent out by the state's Judicial Council. Last month, enough signatures were collected by opponents of same-sex marriage to put an amendment change proposal on......