Cher Goes 'Postal' | Rat Takeover | Lion On Campus | Patch PM

LOS ANGELES, CA — Share-worthy stories from across the Southland Patch cities to talk about tonight.

Cher Asks To Volunteer For The Post Office

I’ve got mail, babe.

Rats! Third Street Promenade Topiaries Terrify Shoppers: Lawsuit

Rat-Infested topiaries terrify Santa Monica shoppers and diners at Third Street Promenade, a lawsuit claims.

Uptick In Distracted Shopper Thefts, OCSD Says

Shoppers, beware. A rash of shopping basket thefts is on the rise at stores across the county. Here's what to look out for, deputies say.

LA's Pandemic Party Houses Put On Notice, Face Utility Shutoffs

The LAPD cited hosts at 13 parties over the weekend, and the Mayor may give the go-head to shut off utilities for the repeat offenders.

Mountain Lion Spotted On Pepperdine Campus

A nearby resident reported seeing a mountain lion near the school's Student Assistance Center Monday night.

Violent Robbery Of Transgender Women Investigated As Hate Crime

Footage of the incident shows a group of men repeatedly mocking the three women and stealing their possessions.

Santa Monica Police Warn Of Arrest Warrant Phone Scam

Someone posing as a cop is calling Santa Monica residents and telling them there is a warrant for their arrest.

Los Angeles Zoo To Reopen On August 26

Guests can buy tickets starting at noon on Wednesday.

Orange County Fire Watch Volunteers Keep A Watch For Smoke, Arson

Fire Watch volunteers are not trained as firefighters but provide an important component to prevent destructive wildfires across the county.

Calling All Artists: $600 To Beautify NoHo Utility Boxes

Concepts that reflect the community, promote unity and drive a "modern aesthetic" are most likely to be selected.

Coronavirus Transmission And Hospitalizations In LA Inch Up

Health officials are watching hospitalization and transmission rates, which creeped up but are still much lower than they have been.

Lake Fire Scorches 25,948 Acres; Heads Toward Old Growth Forest

Evacuations remained in place as the Lake Fire burns in parts of the Angeles National Forest that haven't burned in decades.

Have You Seen This Missing 13-Year-Old LA Girl?

Authorities are asking for help finding Gwen Alamillo-Mora, a young girl who hasn't been seen since Monday morning.

Lucinda Williams To Headline Free BeachLife Fest Livestream

BeachLife Fest will host a free livestream Thursday, featuring artists Lucinda Williams, Josh Heinrichs, The Aquadolls and Timmy Curran.

Britney Spears Seeks To Free Herself From Father's Control

An attorney for singer Britney Spears is asking a judge to replace the pop star's father as her court-appointed conservator.

SUV-Sized Asteroid Whizzes Past Earth

At 1800 miles away, it was the closest-ever known encounter of an asteroid with Earth.

Valley Residents Fight To Save West Valley Animal Shelter

Valley residents are criticizing a controversial plan to reopen the West Valley Animal Services Center as a private animal resource center.

Pilot Hurt In FedEx Plane Emergency Landing At LAX

The landing gear on one side of a FedEx Boeing 767-300 malfunctioned, and the crew had to land at LAX without it.

Venice Pier Shooting: Police Continue To Search For Suspect

Police are looking for a suspect who shot two 25-year-old women at Venice Pier Saturday night.

Blackouts Roil Heat-Stricken Valley

Thousands across the Valley lost power Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, LADWP reported.

Garcetti And Solis So Speak At Democratic Convention Tonight

County Supervisor Hilda Solis and Mayor Eric Garcetti will speak Wednesday before the formal nomination of Sen. Kamala Harris for VP.

12 Hurt In Metro Bus Crash

At least two of the people injured in the crash are in critical condition.

Flex Alerts, Excessive Heat Warning Across Inland Orange County

Anaheim and Newport Beach saw these record-breaking temperatures, Tuesday as the excessive heat warning bakes OC into Thursday.

Transient Attack In San Juan Capistrano, One Hospitalized

One transient with a history of violence is charged with beating another with a baseball bat in south Orange County.

Kobe Bryant Family's Lawsuit Could Be Moved To Orange County

The suit faults Island Express for allowing the helicopter to be flown in "heavy fog and low clouds" when other helicopters were grounded.

Own A Piece Of Bistro Garden History: Liquidation In SF Valley

After its recent closing, the iconic restaurant is selling off its chandeliers, china, art, bar stools, kitchen gear & more at 3-day sale.

Power Outages Reported Overnight In Venice, Across LA

Power outages were reported overnight in Venice and across Los Angeles, officials said.

Hazy Pink Sky Above Marina Del Rey: Photo Of The Day

The sun and sky create a hazy pink and purple view above the harbor.