NEWS RELEASES

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

From Malibu to the South Bay, winter storms have washed large amounts of timber, twisted metals and other debris, as well as charred silt and sediment, from recent wildfires onto Los Angeles County beaches.

The Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisory has been lifted for all Los Angeles County Beaches.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission (COC) is urging a California Court of Appeal to dismiss criminal charges against a former District Attorney (DA) advisor accused of illegally accessing the Sheriff’s Department’s (LASD) confidential records on deputy misconduct to potentially share with prosecutors.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched an interactive Phase 2 Debris Removal Viewer, providing residents with real-time updates on the status of wildfire debris removal efforts in neighborhoods across Los Angeles County.

This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the State of California and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will begin Phase-2 debris removal for private residential properties in the Eaton and Palisades wildfire impact zones.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean C. Logan reminds eligible voters that today is the deadline to register to vote and receive a Vote by Mail ballot for the February 25, 2025 State Senate District 36 Special Primary Election.

Skye Patrick, County Librarian and CEO of LA County Library, is one of seven individuals to receive the prestigious 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award from The James Irvine Foundation.

Officers from the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) will be conducting field animal licensing efforts in the unincorporated areas of Arcadia (91006, 91007), Duarte (91010), Monrovia (91016), Newhall (91381), and Temple City (91780) beginning on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. 

District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that Martin Richard Torres has been charged in the felony crime of throwing an object onto the 101 Freeway with an intent to cause great bodily injury during an immigration protest.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D – Encino), Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks), and Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco (D – Downey) announced the introduction of Assembly Bill (AB) 469, bipartisan legislation that provides law enforcement with better tools to crack down on looting and impersonation of emergency personnel during wildfires and other emergencies.

The Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture has awarded nearly $5M in additional American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the arts sector, focused on support for the Reopening Culture, Tourism, and Marketing category of its Creative Recovery LA (CRLA) grant program.

Los Angeles County has selected the McChrystal Group to conduct an independent review of the evacuation policies and emergency alert notification systems utilized by the County and its partners in responding to the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

Los Angeles County has selected the McChrystal Group to conduct an independent review of the evacuation policies and emergency alert notification systems utilized by the County and its partners in responding to the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman today announced that a 27-year-old man has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars in California public assistance benefits using fraudulent Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at an ATM in Lancaster.

District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that a 41-year-old man has been charged with felony arson in connection with a Feb. 3 brush fire near the Chatsworth Reservoir. This brings the total number of individuals charged in recent fire-related cases to 27.

Small businesses, nonprofits, and workers affected by the devastating January 2025 windstorm and wildfires can now apply for direct financial relief through the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds. Applications are open from February 6, 2025, through February 24, 2025. To apply, visit laregionfund.lacounty.gov. 

District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that James Joshua Lopez, 24, has been charged with murder in connection with the Jan. 26 stabbing death of Amanda Torres, 28, in downtown Los Angeles.

The Department of Animal Care and Control  is pleased to announce that the Castaic Animal Care Center (ACC)  has officially reopened  its doors to the community after a temporary closure due to the recent Hughes Fire on January 22, 2025.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman today announced that David Pearce was convicted by a jury on February 4 of two counts of first-degree murder in the fentanyl overdose deaths of Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola in Beverly Hills in November 2021.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has officially begun Phase 2 of wildfire debris removal in Los Angeles County, marking a critical step in the region’s recovery efforts.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department today to announce more than 500 arrests made statewide during a weeklong human trafficking operation comprised of more than 100 law enforcement agencies.

With two storms queued up to enter the LA County region this week, the County of Los Angeles is working with state and local partners to protect communities from debris and mudflows while preventing coastal and watershed pollution following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health urges residents to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters at the following Los Angeles County beaches.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that Lacie Fetters, 25, has been charged with murdering her fiancé Andrew Havrella’s 4-year-old son in the Antelope Valley on December 3, 2024.