Patch PM: $70 Flights to Europe, Art in Human Blood, U2 at the Rose Bowl

When it rains it pours. Rain caused havoc all over LA County this week destabilizing a hillside above Laurel Canyon Boulevard while record rainfall, street flooding, a sinkhole, and a spike in freeway crashes plagued communities across the rest of the region. At the same time, LA's football drought turned into a pigskin deluge, with the Chargers joining the Rams in the City of Angels and an entirely new pro league coming to town, recruiting players straight out of high school with salaries averaging $50,000 a year.

Also, this week, Meryl Streep took on Donald Trump, George Lucas chose LA for his $1 billion narrative art museum, a budget airline offered $70 fares to Europe and a Culver City artist is protesting Tump's presidency with human blood as his medium.

Here are the Patch stories people are talking about this week.

• 87-Year-Old Pasadena Man Pummels Burglary Suspect A burglary suspect was cuffed and hospitalized after scrapping with an octogenarian and his 63-year-old son in their Pasadena kitchen.

• Culver City Artist Creating Painting Using Human Blood in Protest of Donald Trump The work is being painted at the Samuel Freeman Gallery, located in the Culver City arts district.

• WOW Air Offering Flights to Europe for $70 Fares went on sale this week and will be offered for flights between Jan. 15, 2017, and April 5, 2017.

• New Pacific Pro Football League to Base 4 Teams in Southern California The football league for players directly from high school will pay an average $50K and cover a year of community college costs.

• George Lucas Chooses LA for $1 Billion Museum of Narrative Art BREAKING: The board for Filmmaker George Lucas's ambitious nonprofit museum announced plans to open in LA over San Francisco Tuesday.

• Kim Kardashian's Driver Among 17 Detained In Paris Robbery: Report Kim Kardashian's chauffeur and 16 others have been detained in connection to an armed robbery that left the star pleading for her life

• U2 To Play Rose Bowl For 'The Joshua Tree' 30th Anniversary BREAKING: The Lumineers will be the opening act for the May 20 concert with U2 playing "The Joshua Tree" album in its entirety.

• Storm Drives 1,571 Percent Spike in LA Freeway Crashes The California Highway Patrol handled 110 crashes on LA freeways Monday morning compared to seven the same time a week ago

• Meryl Streep Takes Aim At Trump; Trump Takes To Twitter Using dueling bully pulpits of the Golden Globes and Twitter, actress Meryl Streep and President-elect Donald Trump went head to head

• Watch: Massive Tree Crashes Down on Northridge Street A huge tree with a trunk more than five-feet wide came crashing down in Northridge after a week of storms loosened its roots.

• Mary Star Teacher from Rancho Palos Verdes Met Victims on Tutoring Website: Police Police began investigating Daniel T. O’Connell after receiving a tip that he was allegedly having "inappropriate contacts" with minors.

• Water Main Breaks Outside Terminal 5 at LAX Although no flight delays were being reported, airport officials advised people heading to the airport to allow for extra time.

• Oldest Graduate in USC History Dies Months after Graduation Alfonso Gonzales, who just became the oldest graduate in USC history, died at 96.

• PETA Accuses Top Hollywood Animal Trainer of Abuse BREAKING: Birds & Animals Unlimited, which trains animals for "Harry Potter" and "Game of Thrones," denies the allegations.

• LA Politicians Seek Ban on Developer Campaign Donations Following Times Investigation Four City Council members are proposing a ban on developer campaign contributions after the Times unearthed questionable practices.
• 5 Arrested in Slaying of LA Sheriff's Sergeant BREAKING: Months after Sgt. Steve Owen was gunned during a burglary, five people stand accused of trying to help the gunman evade arrest.

• Court Upholds Conviction of Northridge Kidnapper Who Raped Child An appeals panel Tuesday upheld the conviction of a man who took a child from her Northridge bed and sexually assaulted her.

• 405 Freeway Closed As Attempted Murder Suspect Shoots At Police BREAKING: Police shut down both sides of the 405 Freeway at the Sepulveda Pass while chasing an attempted murder suspect.

• Police Arrest 10 Following 3 Weekend Shootings From Pasadena to Altadena The violence appears to be escalating and is reminiscent of the 2016 gang war in south LA.

• Artist Claiming Responsibility for Hollywood Sign 'Hollyweed' Stunt turns Himself In City Councilman David Ryu said he wants to see the man who allegedly altered the Hollywood sign to read "Hollyweed" fully prosecuted