Skip to Content
Featured

Headlines: Syrian Store Owner Wins $1 Million Powerball Commission In Altadena; Murder Suspect Arrested Stealing 20 Bottles of Detergent From Vons

photo: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.

Altadena: Joseph Chahayed, a local store owner who moved to the U.S. from Syria 42 years ago, has won $1 million for selling the $2 billion-winning Powerball ticket at his business this week. [CNN]

Downey: The construction of a housing project destined for the land once comprising the historic Potter's Field cemetery for the indigent attached to Rancho Los Amigos will soon begin, drawing the attention of preservationists concerned about the possibility of human remains still present, and advocating for a permanent memorial. [Esotouric]

El Segundo: A fire broke out at Chevron's El Segundo oil refinery yesterday, burning for a few hours before firefighters put it out. [Daily News]

—Recycling plastic is "practically impossible," with a new Greenpeace study reporting only 5% of plastics being turned into new things, a decrease that is expected to grow. [NPR]

Los Angeles: A flash flood warning alert was mistakenly sent widely to Angelenos around 4p.m. yesterday, though it was only meant for residents of Duarte. Doh. [LAist]

—Democratic Senator Alex Padilla has won his special election, making him the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. [LAT]

Downtown: Civic Bicycle Commuting, a new bike-carpooling program, seeks to increase bike ridership in the city by organizing group rides and safety protocols, and offering financial benefits, through an app named Pave. [The Eastsider L.A.]

La Verne: A man wanted for suspicion of murder was arrested while trying to steal 20 bottles of laundry detergent from a local Vons on Tuesday. [KTLA]

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Three U.S. Citizens Detained by Federal Immigration Agents in Southern California Speak Out For the First Time

U.S. Senate report reveals new testimonies from detained victims of Border Patrol: "I couldn’t breathe. They pulled me up, and when I turned around, they told me that if I looked at their faces, they would slam me again,” Cardenas said.

December 13, 2025

How This Artist Is Turning L.A.’s Trash Into Art Draped With The U.S. Flag

I thought a lot about the ICE raids immensely,” says artist Acacia Marable. "And a lot about the unhoused people, ‘cause I mean, it's literally like this idea of this ugly thing that you don't want to be associated with your community or our country."

December 13, 2025

Daily Memo: ICE Prowls Around L.A. and San Diego, Kidnapping at Least Seven Individuals

ICE agents continue terrorizing southern California, kidnapping many including a gardener taken from his work truck.

Ten Damning Revelations in Congressional Probe Into U.S. Citizens Unlawfully Detained by Federal Immigration Agents

“At least you’ll have an exciting story to tell when you go back to school,” one federal agent told a detained 15-year-old child with special needs. The report includes three U.S. Citizens from the L.A. area, speaking out for the first time and a six-year-old child with autism kidnapped in Massachusetts.

December 12, 2025

L.A. TACO’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Perfume for goths, elk burgers, ICE piñatas, graffiti books, and 18 other items that should get your gift-giving wheels turning.

December 12, 2025

Weekend Eats: Steak Au Poivre Ramen and a Holiday Market For Palestine

Plus a new modern Indian restaurant with pork vindaloo croquettes and a breakfast spot for chicken katsu and waffles.

December 12, 2025
See all posts