Boxer Won't Seek Reelection

Sen. Barbara Boxer announced that she will not seek reelection in 2016 after 24 years as a liberal leader in Congress.

The Year Ahead: Body Cameras, Wage Hike, the 'Big One'

City leaders have vowed to take on body cameras for police, a minimum wage hike, and infrastructure earthquake readiness in 2015.

Bag Ban Opponents Submit Petition to Overturn Law

Opponents of a pending ban on plastic bags in California submitted more than 800,000 signatures seeking a referendum on the ban.

Late LA-Area Congressman Roybal Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

Roybal joins Stephen Sondheim, Meryl Streep, Tom Brokaw and Stevie Wonder as Medal of Freedom recipients.

Ted Lieu to Replace Henry Waxman in Congress

The 33rd Congressional District is one of the most affluent in the nation. Waxman has held the office since 1975.

Election Preview: The Race to L.A. Board of Supervisors

Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver has pulled ahead of former Sen. Sheila Kuehl in fundraising.

City to Offer $3.75 a Square Foot to Scrap Your Lawn

The incentive to get rid of water-guzzling grass was raised 75 cents a square foot today.

Council Wants to Change L.A. City Elections to Even-Numbered Years

The move would hopefully bring more people to the polls, where turnout now is embarrassingly low.

Initiative Would Prevent Police Agencies from Deporting Illegal Immigrants

Signature gathering has begun.

Council to Consider Charging Lenders $356 for Every Foreclosure

The inspection fee is aimed at strengthening the city’s four-year-old Foreclosure Registry program to track such properties.

Pet Rabbits Must Be Microchipped, City Council Decides

The cost of adopting a rabbit will go up from $56 to $71 in order to include the $15 microchipping fee.

Yaroslavsky Upset Shriver Ad Implies He Has the Retiring Supervisor's Endorsement

“I have absolutely NOT endorsed either candidate in this supervisor’s election,’’ Zev Yaroslovsky says.

Council Moves to Make L.A. a 'GMO-Free Zone'

Council members tentatively back a proposal to ban the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the city.

Hillary Rodham Clinton to Speak Monday in the Area

It's a $32,400 per person fundraiser at Brentwood's Tavern restaurant.

Not Registered to Vote? Monday Is Deadline for the Nov. 4 Election

Here's how to get registered just in the nick of time.

L.A. Council Considers Ban on Selling Prime Parking Spaces

The move comes after the makers of an app known as MonkeyParking said they plan to launch service in Los Angeles County.

Council Wants to Make It Easier for L.A. Residents to Swap Out Landscape for Artificial Turf

Going green right now can be costly; obtaining a permit to install artificial turf can cost residents more than $2,000.

Mayor Garcetti Calls for 50 Percent Reduction in Fresh Water Use by 2024

But first up, a 20 percent cut by 2017.

Opponents of Bag Ban Start Collecting Signatures to Overturn It

To be successful, the effort needs the signatures of 504,760 registered voters by Dec. 29 to qualify for the ballot.

City Council Gives AEG 6 More Months to Convince an NFL Team to Come to L.A.

AEG signed an agreement to build a football stadium and expand the Los Angeles Convention Center. But that deal expires next week.

Outgoing CEO for L.A. County Endorses Kuehl for Supervisor

William Fujioka is retiring after 40 years, but before he heads out the door, he wants a say in the race for the Third District.

New Law: 'A Toy Should Look Like a Toy and Not a Lethal Weapon'

The Imitation Firearms Safety Act aims to curb the use of replica guns that look like the real deal.

California Becomes First State to Ban Plastic Bags

The law will start to take effect in July 2015.

L.A. Skyscrapers No Longer Have to Be So Flat

While the city is full of creative people, our building designs -- which were required to feature helipads -- were less so, says the mayor.

New Law Protects Service Dogs When Attacked

"[W]hen the dog is injured it is akin to having one’s own body compromised.” Now, owners of attacked guide dogs are eligible for assistance.

City Lived Within Its Means Last Year, Says Controller

Los Angeles took in more than it expected and spent less than budgeted.

New License Plate Will Fund Mammograms

The Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness plate will fund the “Every Woman Counts” program.

Plan to Raise Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers Headed to City Council

The wage hike would affect an estimated 13,000 hotel workers, according to one economist commissioned by the city.

New Insurance Standards for Uber, Lyft Signed into California Law

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation on Wednesday.

L.A. Area Chamber Comes Out Against Mayor's Plan to Raise Minimum Wage

Chamber President Gary Toebben said pushing minimum wage to $13.25 by 2017 would kill jobs and costs businesses about $10K per employee.

Bid to Split California into 6 States Fails to Qualify for Ballot

Venture capitalist Tim Draper isn't ready to give up, though.

Bid to Split California into 6 States Fails to Qualify for Ballot

Venture capitalist Tim Draper isn't ready to give up, though.

Obama Returning to L.A. in October to Fundraise

He'll be headed to the Westside house of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, a longtime supporter of the president's.

'Yes Means Yes' Bill Headed to Governor's Desk

The governor has until Sept. 30 to veto the bill or sign it.

L.A. City Councilmen Urge Feds to End Ban on Blood Donated by Men who Had Sex with Other Men

The restriction was put in place in 1983 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when there was no way of testing for HIV in blood or plasm

L.A.'s Credit Rating Improves, Makes Borrowing Money Cheaper

The agency’s revision of the city’s bonds outlook is recognition of the city’s “prudent budgeting," says Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Garcetti Expected to Announce Proposal to Raise Minimum Wage in L.A. Monday

Mayor Eric Garcetti has been shopping a plan to local business groups to raise the minimum wage to $13.25 by 2017.

Public Works Department Fined $256K for Violating Air Pollution Laws

The department failed to properly self-inspect its heavy-duty diesel fleet to ensure it met state smoke emission standards.

Bill to Reduce Cell Phone Robberies Signed into Law

The 'Cell Phone Kill Switch Bill' is meant to keep help keep smartphone owners from being mugged or robbed for their phones.

Council Approves Sidewalk Repair Plan; First up, Pathways Next to City Property

It could cost as some $1.5 billion to repair the 4,600 miles of damaged sidewalks. The City Council approved spending $27 million this year.