Category: Southern California

Los Angeles Vigil Mourns Those Killed in China’s Persecution of Falun Gong

Over 200 followers of the spiritual practice Falun Gong gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles on July 18 for a candlelight vigil to mourn fellow practitioners who had endured brutal persecution in China that has been ongoing for 24 years. Wearing yellow shirts printed with “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance”—the core principles of…


Orange County Uses Drone to Battle Mosquitos

After the heavy rains this winter, officials in Orange County, California have added a new tool to their arsenal to fight off summer mosquitos. Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control are now using drones to attack mosquito development in marshes, large ponds, and parks. Because the insects promulgate by laying their eggs in water, the…


El Cholo Restaurant Celebrates 100th Anniversary With Cancer Cure Fundraiser

The owners of El Cholo are celebrating the Mexican restaurant’s 100th anniversary by selling naming rights to its booths for charity. The restaurant, which now has six locations across Southern California, is offering guests an opportunity to permanently put their names on 100 booths as part of an effort to raise $1 million for children’s…


Army Vet Convicted of Sex Assault Murder of Elderly Neighbor in Garden Grove

A 36-year-old U.S. Army veteran was convicted on July 20 of fatally beating a 68-year-old neighbor during an attempted rape in Garden Grove nearly six years ago. Michael Aon Varela was convicted of murder with a special circumstance allegation of murder during an attempted rape. It was Mr. Varela’s second trial. A previous jury deadlocked…


Lake Forest City Councilman Faces Domestic Violence Charges

A Lake Forest City Councilman was charged with allegations of domestic violence, according to court records obtained on July 21. Benjamin Yu, 40, was charged on July 7 with corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and false imprisonment, both misdemeanors, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 23 in the…


LA Developer Gets 6 Years in Prison for Involvement in José Huizar Bribery

LOS ANGELES—A real estate developer was sentenced on July 21 to six years in federal prison and fined $750,000 for paying a $500,000 bribe to then-Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar in order to “grease the wheels” for the approval of a downtown condominium project. Dae Yong “David” Lee, 58, of Bel Air, was the…


Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder in San Diego Trolley Stabbing Death

A man accused of fatally stabbing another man at a La Mesa trolley station pleaded not guilty on July 20 to a murder charge. Steven Calhoun, 39, is accused in the July 13 stabbing at the 70th Street Trolley Station on Alvarado Road. La Mesa police responded around 8:40 p.m. to a report of a…


Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder in La Mesa Trolley Stabbing Death

A man accused of fatally stabbing another man at a La Mesa trolley station pleaded not guilty on July 20 to a murder charge. Steven Calhoun, 39, is accused in the July 13 stabbing at the 70th Street Trolley Station on Alvarado Road. La Mesa police responded around 8:40 p.m. to a report of a…


Man Gets 57 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting in Glendale

A man was sentenced to 57 years to life in state prison on July 20 for a shooting at a Glendale restaurant in which a 20-year-old man was killed and a 10-year-old boy was struck in the arm by a bullet fragment. David Rodriguez, now 23, was convicted on May 30 of first-degree murder for…


Man Sentenced for Glendale Shooting and Killing

A man was sentenced to 57 years to life in state prison on July 20 for a shooting at a Glendale restaurant in which a 20-year-old man was killed and a 10-year-old boy was struck in the arm by a bullet fragment. David Rodriguez, now 23, was convicted on May 30 of first-degree murder for…