Helping Vegas Victims | Remembering Tom Petty | Charges For Christmas Stabbing | Jury Recommends Death Penalty |Patch PM

Share-worthy stories from across the Southland Patch cities to talk about tonight:

With news streaming in from Las Vegas, it's hard to know what to do for help. If you're interested in donating to the list of Southern California victims of the mass shooting, check out this story to see what you can do – one Southland victim worked at Disneyland Resort, another was a recent graduate and Redondo Beach resident. Jason Aldean, who was performing when the mass shooting occurred, canceled his scheduled Friday night show at The Forum in Inglewood and Sunday concert at Honda Center in Anaheim in wake of the incident.

Tributes and expressions of mourning have been pouring in for Tom Petty, frontman for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, who died at UCLA Medical Center after suffering a heart attack at his home in Malibu. He was 66. The Heartbreaker's final performances were right here in Southern California at the Hollywood Bowl.

In Orange County, a 22-year-old Washington man, accused in a fatal stabbing behind a Walmart Supercenterin Santa Ana a week before last Christmas, made his initial court appearance Monday. The man was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon, according to court records.

In other news, a jury recommended the death penalty for convicted gang members accused of murdering five people in a homeless encampment by a Long Beach freeway. A Deputy District Attorney played recordings of the defendant bragging and reliving the details of how he killed his victims.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

• Battle Underway Over Estate Of Natalie Cole's Son: Robert Yancy's body was found in his Sherman Oaks apartment by a friend on Aug. 14.

BUSINESS:

• $1,000 Signing Bonus? Check Out Featured Jobs in The LA Area: If you're feeling like life is too short to work at a job where you are not appreciated, or you want better pay, start your search now.
• Gas Prices Brake Since Labor Day: Prices have dropped for 22 straight days, but how do they compare to last year?

SCHOOL:

• 2 Caltech Scientists Win Nobel Prize For Physics: The prize is shared with an MIT scientist. The announcement was made Tuesday in Sweden.
• Vegas Shooter Stephen Paddock Was CSUN Graduate: Paddock attended Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, graduating in 1971, and previously attended Richard Byrd Middle School.

POLICE & FIRE LOS ANGELES:

• Southland Law Enforcement Responds To Las Vegas Shooting: Southern California law enforcement reacts, responds to the Las Vegas shooting that killed 59.
• LAPD Drones: Guidelines Approved For Pilot Program: A vote must still be taken to approve the pilot program.

POLICE & FIRE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY:

• Woman Killed In Gold Line Crash Identified: The 21-year-old woman was a South Pasadena resident.

POLICE & FIRE ORANGE COUNTY:

• Las Vegas Shooting: Retired OC Fire Chief's Heroic Efforts: A retired Orange County fire chief and Carlsbad Police officer are attributed with saving a large group of concert goers
• Contaminated Flutes From Bower's Kidseum To Santa Ana Police: Santa Ana Police are collecting contaminated "recorders." The music teacher, not affiliated with the Bower's Kidseum, is being investigated
• Crown Valley Head-On Collision Sends Two People to Hospital: A two-vehicle, head-on collision in Laguna Niguel on Crown Valley overnight Monday left a complete closure for over four hours.

GOVERNMENT:

• Special Election Today To Fill Assembly Seat: The seat was vacated when Jimmy Gomez was elected to Congress.
• Playa Del Rey Lane Restorations Coming, Councilman Mike Bonin Says: The city will be restoring a second westbound traffic lane on Culver and Jefferson boulevards, according to Bonin's Facebook post.

COURTS:

• Walmart Murder Suspect Charged In Christmas Stabbing: A Washington man was charged with the murder of an Orange County resident over the Christmas holiday, 2016.
• Burbank Clinic Owner Sentenced To Federal Prison: Knarik Vardumyan has also been ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution.
• Agoura Hills Man Who Allegedly Threatened Islamic Center To Stand Trial: A judge ruled the man will stand trial on a felony count of terrorist threats and a misdemeanor charge of annoying communications.
• Jury Recommends Death Penalty For Homeless Encampment Murders: The defendant allegedly shot and killed five people near an off ramp of the 405 Freeway in Long Beach.
• Los Angeles Sues Feds Over Withheld Sanctuary City Funds: "LAPD made the right call decades ago that restricting officers from civil immigration enforcement makes us all safer..."

» Also Worth A Look Today

• LBUSD Parent Education: EDI Task Force Addresses Skill Gaps For Youth: Laguna Beach EDI task force launches parent education to address skills gaps in young children
• Herringbone Santa Monica Hosts Champagne Brunch: "A Day at the Polo Classic" brunch package also includes tickets to the 8th Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic.
• Homeless Shelter For Women To Open In San Fernando Valley: Currently used as a winter shelter on cold nights, it will provide 85 beds for women, along with social services.

» Across America

• The Top Halloween Costumes Ideas For 2017
  
• The Ultimate Cleaning Service Cost Guide
• Huge Naked Woman Coming To National Mall In DC: Report

Thank you for reading!