Results tagged “health”

Okay, it's time to stop munching on that mac and cheese. On the heels of a major makeover to the Los Angeles Marathon route , two new half marathons for Los Angeles were announced today by separate companies. Come this January, the 13.1 Los Angeles Marathon will run through the Westside and next October, the popular Rock n' Roll Marathon will make a debut in Los Angeles, replacing the City of Angels Half Marathon.

No surprise here, but a vote on the proposed of Los Angeles' medical marijuana ordinance was delayed until next week. There was much discussion at this morning's meeting about how sales is being interpreted within the state law in addition to several proposed changes that must be reviewed by the city attorney's office.

The people of Los Angeles and L.A. County have elected themselves a hot mess. District Attorney Steve Cooley and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich--both elected by the public--believe most all medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal. That's because their interpretation of state law is that marijuana cannot be just sold to those with licenses, but distributed to members of a nonprofit collective of people who carry licenses.

A proposed medical marijuana ordinance for Los Angeles has failed to garner a majority of votes. Today, two committees rejected the fifth proposal submitted in a year and a half time, this one drafted by the recently-elected City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. Proponents of medical marijuana threatened to sue if this draft went through and the majority of councilmembers agreed that it was too prohibitive. The full council could still take up the issue as early as Wednesday, says the LA Times. Around 1,000 dispensaries are within Los Angeles city limits.

The fifth draft of Los Angeles' proposed medical marijuana ordinance (the first draft was submitted in April of 2008) will be discussed at a joint city council meeting this morning at 8:30 a.m. Since 4th draft, which we saw in late October, was released, some changes have been made. Most notably, the City Attorney's office "deleted the unnecessary requirement that collective members provide their names to the City as part of the registration process," says a letter to the City Council. "Their names will continue to be maintained in the collective's own books and records."

Tonight Long Island-bred post-hardcore act Glassjaw will be headlining the Mayan Theater in Downtown with none other than Seal Beach-based quartet RX Bandits (LAist Review). Georgia-bred singer-songwriter/producer Butch Walker is poised to grace the Hotel Café. And, lastly, NY-based producer Blockhead, whose work is most closely associated with hip hop heavyweights Aesop Rock, Murs and Slug, will be taking on the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Smell in Downtown to catch local noise-infused rock outfit HEALTH.

As Los Angeles prepares to dive into their own pot law, Long Beach is already taking it head on. Last night they voted to make some changes to a proposed medical marijuana ordinance, loosening some restrictions, before finalizing the law. "The changes included, among others, allowing collectives in mixed-use areas; removing prohibitions against having collectives within 1,000 feet of libraries and parks; improving patient privacy issues so as to not identify every member of a collective; giving a grace period for existing collectives to comply once the law goes into effect; and allowing collective patients to grow marijuana in their homes," reports the Press Telegram.

Remember that draft ordinance submitted to City Council last month (read a copy of it here and scroll down)? Well, it's finally going to a city council committee where it will be vetted, questioned, possibly changed and more next Monday, according to the Daily News. Once and if passed out of committee, it will move to the full city council for a vote.

As Los Angeles fumbles around with the latest proposed medical marijuana ordinance, the Long Beach City Council is set to examine its own tomorrow. If passed, the law would limit where dispensaries may be located, hours of operation, how it can be distributed and records of every member, according to the Long Beach Press Telegram.

In their annual warning to the public, the California Department of Public Health wanted to remind Californians "that collecting and eating wild mushrooms can cause serious illness and even death." Oddly enough, the message was sent today, the day before Halloween, but officials over the phone say there was no rhyme or reason to the warning's timing.

Limited supplies of the in-demand H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine are forcing the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to be very strict in deciding who can get the preventative treatment at area clinics, reports the Daily Breeze. Thousands of people hoping to ward off the infectious virus have swarmed clinics and special vaccination events, however now individuals "not deemed at risk for swine flu are being asked to stay away from county-run vaccination clinics until more supplies become available."

The newly proposed ordinance--the fourth to be considered--is reported to be the most strict version yet. "Under the measure, the shops will be open only from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., will be allowed to have only five pounds of marijuana on hand and no more than 100 plants," says the Daily News. "Also, all the marijuana provided must have been grown by the collective." Additionally, locations not following city rules will be forced to shut down immediately. But the proposal is not without potential controversy and lawsuit fodder. Dispensaries would be required to hand over the names of members and providers to police, owners of new locations will have to notify neighborhood councils and the city council, the sale or manufacture of edible marijuana treats will be banned...

A superior court judge today told Los Angeles city officials in a preliminary injunction that they were the ones breaking the law, not a medical marijuana dispensary that was told it could not operate under a 2007 moratorium--since extended twice--banning new medical marijuana facilities.

In a bright office on a Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, Dr. Thom Lobe, the founder of Beneveda Medical Group, explains the importance of energy flow in my body. "Energy affects everything," he says, as I sit amidst Star Wars-y computer screens and lights. "What's the difference between being alive and dead? Chi. Prana. Life force. Energy."

The first batch of H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations have arrived in Los Angeles County, health officials announced at a noon press conference today. 92,000 doses are here with larger shipments expected in coming weeks. By the end of the month, 1 to 1.5 million doses should be in local clinics and doctors' offices.

A long summer of hot-hot-hot heat means lots of beach days for Southern Californians. Now that the season is wrapped up, Heal the Bay has released their annual Summer Beach Report Card [PDF]. The non-profit group graded nearly 500 beaches statewide based on bacterial pollution levels monitored from Memorial Day to Labor Day this year, according to their release, and the news is generally pretty good.

Are you following doctor's orders this year? “This year both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus will be circulating throughout the United States,” said Dr. Gil Chavez, acting chief deputy director of the California Department of Public Health, in a statement today. “I encourage Californians to get a seasonal flu shot now and an H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available later this fall. The seasonal flu shot will not protect you from the H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu. It will, however, protect you from the seasonal flu strains that we expect this year.”

When Orange County's independent TV station KDOC dumped Cannabis Planet, it wasn't too hard for executive producer Brad Lane to find a willing provider. As of August 13th, the half-hour show has been airing twice weekly on another local indie station, KJLA, which reaches around five million SoCal households, according to the New York Times in a profile of the show.

Tonight Cleveland-bred industrial rockers NIN will be closing out their final date of their final tour at the Wiltern. LA-based "fancy pop" songstress Obi Best (LAist Interview, Review, #2) is poised to grace Edgar Varela Fine Arts in Downtown. And, lastly, local experimental electronic duo Hecuba will be performing at the Echo with the equally exploratory Echo Park-bred electronic outfit Rainbow^Arabia. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Bootleg Theater to catch Chicago's own alt-country troubadour Cass McCombs. LAist favorites, San Francisco-based alt-pop act Girls.

It's safe to say that weed shops are more common than Pinkberry and Starbucks. Thanks to the LA Times, we know that there's about five "collectives" within a five-minute walk of us (how about you?). And look, the people in the Valley can't complain that their not getting their fair share. In fact, one neighborhood prosecutor told the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council earlier this summer that the LAPD's Van Nuys Division had the most dispensaries than any other in the city. Here are some other interesting facts, via the Times:

Tonight local classical-violinist-turned-singer-songwriter Emily Wells will be headlining the Echo. Stockholm-based Logh front man Mattias Friberg is poised to grace the Hotel Café. And, lastly, Austin's own indie rockers Loxsly will be performing at the Silver Lake Lounge. But we strongly suggest doing whatever it takes to get into the Troubadour to catch local noise-infused rock outfit HEALTH, who will be concluding their short-lived stint opening for NIN tomorrow at the Wiltern. LAist favorites, Culver City-based "Ambassador of Boogie Funk" DâM-FunK and Denver-bred experimental electronic musician Pictureplane are slated to kick things off.

Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini will be headlining the Wiltern. Local noise-infused rockers HEALTH will not only be opening for NIN a second time—this time at the Wiltern—but they will also be performing to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour. Chicago's own alt-country troubadour Cass McCombs is poised to take on the Bootleg Theater with none other than San Francisco-based alt-pop act Girls. And, lastly, Raconteurs guitarist, Michigan-bred singer-songwriter Brendan Benson will be gracing the Troubadour.

UPDATE: Chris Bowers at Open Left has a much more detailed breakdown of the Baucus plan. It's far, far worse than implied yesterday. And if you care about this sort of thing, it also looks like Max let an insurance industry shill write the whole thing, and made sure that those overtly part of the insurance sector read the bill before the White House.

Once again, workers along Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile are witnessing an LAPD crackdown on the popular trucks that populate the area throughout lunchtime. One tipster, calling it a "raid," describes the scene in an e-mail:

Tonight Cleveland-bred industrial rockers NIN will be performing, or rather making up for the last-minute cancellation, at the Henry Fonda Music Box with LA-based noise-infused rock act HEALTH (LAist Review). Detroit-bred indie rock outfit the Silent Years are poised to perform at the Roxy with LA's own female-fronted rock act Nico Vega. And, lastly, LA-based alternative rockers the 88 will be continuing their month-long residency at Spaceland. But we strongly suggest heading over to Amoeba Music in Hollywood to catch influential Brazilian psychedelic rock band Os Mutantes (LAist Review).

The Station Fire may be 56 percent contained, but its smoke is still affecting air in the San Gabriel Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains. "Air quality may reach Unhealthy levels, or higher, due to high concentrations of fine particulates in smoke-impacted areas," the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced this afternoon. "All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke. This includes areas where residents can see or smell smoke."

Tonight Cleveland-bred industrial rockers NIN will be performing at the Echoplex with LA-based noise-infused rock act HEALTH. Prolific Bay Area punk rockers NOFX will be performing at Club Nokia with a slew of other prominent acts for the Vans Warped Tour 15th Anniversary Celebration. LA-based punk outfit the Germs are poised to headline the House of Blues Anaheim with none other than English punk band UK Subs in tow. And, lastly, Echo Park's own female rocker Queen Kwong will be gracing Silver Factory Studios. But we strongly suggest heading over to Tony’s Bar in Downtown to catch LAist favorites the Henry Clay People (Review, #2, #3, #4), who will be performing for this weekend's edition of Little Radio Summercamp. Local indie rockers the Monolators (LAist Review, #2) are slated to kick things off.

A motion from back when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was a City Councilmember became reality today when he announced LA Rx, a discount prescription drug program for not just city residents, but L.A. County ones, too.

This week Cleveland-bred industrial rockers NIN will be performing not two, not three, but four farewell shows with Danish rockers Mew and local noise-infused rock outfit HEALTH in tow. Illinois-bred Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan will be playing to a sold-out crowd at the Hotel Café. And, lastly, the sixth annual F Yeah Fest, which boasts a bevy of artists including: the Black Lips, Tim & Eric, No Age, Lightning Bolt, Lucero, Converge, the Thermals, Glass Candy, Fucked Up, Matt Skiba, Times New Viking, Japanther, Mika Miko, Telepathe, Crystal Antlers, Darker My Love, AA Bondy, Wavves, Dios, Peanut Butter Wolf, the Strange Boys, Ninjasonik, Cold Cave, Har Mar Superstar, Avi Buffalo and Kurt Vile, will be taking place at Los Angeles State Historic Park. And, lastly, local indie rock act Division Day (LAist Review, #2, #3) will be gracing Spaceland with LA-based indie pop outfit and labelmates Bad Veins for this week's edition of Club NME.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's line item cuts to the state budget on Tuesday drastically reduced many programs, including state parks and domestic violence funding. AIDS/HIV programs were also hit particularly bad to the tune of around $85 million, leaving the California’s Office of AIDS with only 20 percent of its funding for programs like HIV education and prevention, HIV counseling and testing, home health and early intervention.