Skip to Content
News

Headlines: Sheriff Villanueva’s Former Chief of Staff Admits to Being In Deputy Gang; Gov. Newsom Pardons Woman Who Killed Abuser at 16

LASDHQ/Instagram

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.

—A man was killed in Montebello due to some kind of fireworks mishap on Monday afternoon. [CBS]

—A devastating thread from Film The Police shares the activist's anger and despair over the investigation of his son's murder and the shooting of a child that seems to be going nowhere and is even rumored to be a targeted assassination. [Film The Police]

—Sheriff Alex Villanueva's former chief of staff, Larry Del Mese, admits he was a member of the deputy gang known as "the Grim Reapers." [ABC]

—Sara Kruzan, a Riverside woman sentenced to life in prison at the age of 16 after shooting and killing a man accused of abusing her, grooming her, and trafficking her, was given a pardon by Governor Gavin Newsom last week. [CNN]

-A street takeover with over 200 people in South Los Angeles ended with a fatal shooting. [KTLA]

—L.A. County health officials are offering a monkeypox vaccine to individuals based on their possible exposure risk. [NBC]

—Kshisya Tachanskaya, a Ukrainian refugee in Portugal, is teaching surfing and establishing surf camps as a way of of helping others refugees deal with post-traumatic stress. [Magic Seaweed]

—A man in his sixties was killed while confronting an intruder at his Lincoln Heights apartment on Monday night. [KTLA]

—Recent video footage shows an irate woman trashing a taco stand at Normandie and Slauson, dumping meat out and pouring out a barrel of horchata, allegedly after being told to wait for the stand to set up. She also spit on whatever she did not throw out. [CBS]

—Video posted Sunday appears to show an L.A. police officer kick or step on the head of a suspect placed under arrest. [Blah Blah Why Not/Twitter]

—A 24-year-old UPS driver collapsed and died in the Pasadena heat while delivering packages last week, the day after his birthday. [ABC]

—Criticism comes in for local police after allegedly failing to come to the aid of victims of a drunk driver who fled the scene of a crash in Northeast L.A. this weekend. [OTC/Twitter]

—Oakland's Kiva Confections is partnering with Jetty Extracts on a limited release of their popular 100% live resin-infused edibles, Lost Farm, resulting in Honey Apple x Sunshine OG Gummies and Sour Berry x Legend OG Chews. [PRN]

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

The 11 Best Tacos In Whittier

Whittier is one of L.A.'s best cities for tacos. From a tender steamed tongue, to a taquero specializing in tacos de costilla, served with a grilled rib bone. Here is our vetted neighborhood taco guide to get you started on your own crawl.

Weekend Eats: Free Bagels, Wagyu Kushiyaki, and a New Colombian Food Park

Plus free bagel sandwiches all weekend, a one-night Michaocan fine-dining pop-up, and a Dominican restaurant with Sunday sancocho.

May 23, 2025

Bar Nuda Takes Over Venice With Zero-Proof Carajillos, Sushi-Grade Tostadas, and ‘Sade Night’

“We launched Bar Nuda to create a sober, social, safe space where people can go out, make connections, get those deep belly laughs, and without the pressure of drinking booze, while also celebrating our beautiful Mexican culture,” says one of the founders.

May 22, 2025

California DOJ Finally Begins Reviewing Wrongful Convictions, Following L.A. TACO Report

This comes four months after L.A. TACO first reported that the PCJU had not begun accepting applications from defendants who say they were wrongfully convicted, nearly two years after Attorney General Rob Bonta made headlines for launching the DOJ’s first-ever post-conviction review unit. 

May 22, 2025

L.A. TACO’s Guide To The Best Mariscos, Tacos, and Drinking Spots In Ensenada

Drive into Baja California from downtown San Diego to hit one of Mexico's seafood powerhouses: Ensenada, home to the most crucial port city that supplies the majority of pristine seafood to the rest of the country (and even bluefin tuna to Japan). It’s also a laid-back destination where many flock for the perfect battered fish taco in the state where that beloved taco style was created.

May 22, 2025

Self-Deport or Stand Firm: The Heartbreak of L.A.’s Undocumented Street Vendors

Trump’s crackdown on immigration could disrupt Los Angeles’ thriving street vending industry, and in some cases, already has. Some street vendors have reduced their presence on the street. Vendors Camacho and Lopez have gone from five days a week to just vending on the weekends.

May 21, 2025
See all posts