The San Fernando Sun's Podcast

PACOIMA (CNS) – A 36-year-old woman was wounded after a stray bullet hit her during an argument between two unidentified men at a Pacoima restaurant, authorities said today. Los Angeles Police officers were called at 11:40 p.m. Friday to Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road where they learned two men began arguing in the restaurant when one pulled out a gun and shot at the other man but missed, an LAPD spokeswoman told City News Service. The bullet hit the ground and ricocheted, striking the innocent bystander, who as treated at the scene for minor injuries. The gunman ran...

By Gabriel Arizon and Sloane Jacobs San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol During a Pride Month assembly at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood this morning, conservative parents and members of the LGBTQ+ community squared off on opposite sides of  Ethel Avenue right outside of the school.  There was no meeting of the minds. A shoulder to shoulder line of LAPD and school police positioned themselves in between the two groups who engaged in loud shouting matches and held opposing protest signs. Many stood firmly, waving the Pride flag. Objections were first raised after the school announced their plans to...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A 33-year-old woman allegedly fatally struck a tow truck driver tending to a disabled vehicle on the Golden State (5) Freeway near Griffith Park, authorities said today. Paramedics sent to the southbound 5 Freeway near Zoo Drive about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday pronounced the man dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. His identification is being withheld pending notification of relatives. Altadena officers responded to the scene shortly after 11:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. Detectives conducted an investigation and discovered that the 41-year-old man from Sun Valley was fatally struck...

Schools, educators and students in the San Fernando Valley who have received national education recognition this year were awarded at the 22nd Annual Steve Allen “Excellence in Education” Awards. The award ceremony was held on May 25 at Pierce College at The Valley Economic Alliance Board of Directors meeting. The award is named after Steven Allen, a Valley resident and entertainer, and is given to students K-12, adult education centers, higher learning institutions and educators. Recipients of the 2023 Steve Allen “Excellence in Education” Awards are: — the El Camino Real Charter High School decathlon team for winning the 2023...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Los Angeles Dodgers will host a “Christian Faith and Family Day” in July, amid backlash over the team’s Pride Night invite to a group of self-described “queer and trans nuns.” “Join us at Dodger Stadium on 7/30 for Christian Faith and Family Day. Stay after the game to celebrate and be part of a day of worship. Stay tuned for more details,” the team tweeted Friday. The event was first announced earlier that day by Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. “Excited to announce the relaunch of Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium on July...

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CNS) – Tensions continued to mount Wednesday at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood, where opposition by some parents to a planned Pride Month assembly on Friday has escalated, and the burning of a small Pride Flag that was displayed outside a classroom has led to security concerns. The flag was burned sometime over the weekend of May 20-21 and discovered that Monday at the campus in the 7800 block of Ethel Avenue. A planter in which the flag had been placed was also broken. Los Angeles police were investigating the vandalism as a potential hate crime. “We...

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and Congressman Tony Cárdenas gave a walkthrough of Cárdenas Elementary School to tout the impact of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) on schools by providing students with devices and services to connect them to the internet. “We, in this district, believe that access to high-speed internet connectivity is a civil right of our students,” Carvalho said. “Without that connectivity, their school day ends with the last bell, which means no other ability to continue their studies at home.” Through the fund, Andres and Maria Cárden...

WOODLAND HILLS (CNS) – A Woodland Hills pop-up that offers customers the chance to enjoy beverages in the company of domestic rabbits is drawing criticism from Los Angeles’ rabbit rescue community, which accuses the owner of disregarding the animals’ welfare. Located at 22030 Ventura Blvd., the Bunny Cafe is operated by Kevin Grushkovski, the 23-year-old founder and owner of JoyGrab, which develops unique and interactive customer experiences nationwide. According to its website, the cafe “offers a unique way to relax and de-stress. Petting and interacting with animals has been shown to have a calming effect on people and can lower...

19-Year-Old San Fernando Resident Is In Critical Condition Facing Possible Brain Damage and Paralysis A 19-year-old San Fernando man remains hospitalized in critical condition after crashing his car into a tree on Hubbard Street in Sylmar after reportedly being cut off by another driver who fled the scene of the accident on Wednesday afternoon, May 24. Matthew Meredith is currently hospitalized at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills with head trauma, broken ribs, and pelvis, according to his older sister Valeria Enriquez. She says her family fears Meredith could suffer permanent brain damage and become paralyzed because his...<...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A man who fatally shot a research scientist as he slept inside a tent with his two young daughters in Malibu Creek State Park was convicted today of second-degree murder and other counts. Anthony Rauda, 46, who some dubbed the “Malibu Sniper” when authorities accused him of involvement in multiple shootings in or near the park, was also convicted of three counts of attempted murder and five counts of second-degree commercial burglary. The jury acquitted him of seven other attempted-murder charges. Prosecutors had been seeking a first-degree murder conviction for June 22, 2018, killing of Tristan...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Vote-by-mail ballots have begun to be sent out to all registered voters in the Sixth City Council District for the June 27 special election runoff to fill Nury Martinez’s vacant seat, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk announced today. Community relations manager Imelda Padilla and council aide Marisa Alcaraz took the two top spots in a seven-candidate field in the April 4 special election. With no candidate claiming a majority, next month’s runoff between the top two vote-getters became necessary. Padilla garnered 3,424 votes, or 25.65%, while Alcaraz took 2,821 votes or 21.13%. A total of...

BURBANK (CNS) – A spooked horse that went sprinting through Burbank streets gave spectators quite a sight, but the animal was safely recovered and reunited with its owner, police said today. According to Burbank police, officers responded around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to Riverside Drive and Mariposa Street after receiving a report about a horse running loose. A woman told police the animal was frantically running down the street with a saddle attached, leading her to believe the owner had fallen from the horse and might be injured. Responding officers found the horse — named Oreo — grazing on the front...

WOODLAND HILLS (CNS) – A Metro bus driver who was stabbed multiple times during an argument with a passenger in Woodland Hills was hospitalized in critical condition today, while a search continued for the assailant in the attack that has again raised questions about safety on the transit system. The driver and suspect got into an argument for unknown reasons and exited the bus around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street, police said. As they continued the argument, the suspect stabbed the driver multiple times with a knife or a sharp object. The driver was taken...

WOODLAND HILLS (CNS) – A Metro bus driver who was stabbed multiple times during an argument with a passenger in Woodland Hills was hospitalized in critical condition today, while a search continued for the assailant in the attack that has again raised questions about safety on the transit system. The driver and suspect got into an argument for unknown reasons and exited the bus around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street, police said. As they continued the argument, the suspect stabbed the driver multiple times with a knife or a sharp object. The driver was taken...

The American Red Cross is asking people to book a time to give blood or platelets now to address a recent drop in donation appointments that could lead to fewer transfusions for patients in the weeks ahead.Type O blood donors are especially needed to ensure a strong blood supply. The start of summer can shake up normal routines, but it’s important for donation appointments to stay on the calendar — especially as Memorial Day weekend approaches. More than 42 million Americans are expected to travel over the holiday, meaning fewer donors may be available to give.  Appointments are critical this...

Due to the winter storms that severely impacted the state earlier this year, tax season for most Californians was extended to Oct. 16 from its usual April deadline. While millions of people will have another five months to file their taxes, many are still unaware of free, virtual tax services and tax credits that can save them a lot of money. United Ways of California, a nonpartisan organization that helps low-income families, is spreading the word about myfreetaxes.org — a website that connects people to free tax filing services. People who use the site can choose from three options to...

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CNS) – Some parents at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood are calling for a boycott of a Pride event scheduled at the school next month, encouraging other parents to “Keep your kids home and innocent.” That is part of the message being distributed on a flyer to protest the Pride assembly and some parents and educators say it is spreading intolerance. “We respect everyone, but some things are appropriate for children (of) that age, and some things are not,” George Dzhabroyan, who is among the Saticoy parents unhappy with the school’s planned Pride event, told KTLA. “Hopefully...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A state regulatory board today declared Los Angeles County’s Barry J. Nidorf and Central juvenile halls unsuitable to house pre-disposition youth and ordered the county to relocate such detainees out of the facilities within 60 days. The Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, which has been called “unsuitable for confinement of youth” by state regulators. (Photo/SFVS Staff) Members of the Board of State and Community Corrections said they felt they had no alternative other than to make the declaration, citing a protracted history of shortcomings at the facilities, which were found in recent inspections to...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Archdiocese of Los Angeles today criticized the Dodgers for backtracking and renewing an invitation to a group of self-described “queer and trans nuns” to take part in the team’s Pride Night. The Dodgers came under fire from a host of LGBTQ advocacy groups and elected officials following its decision to rescind its original invitation. On Monday, the Dodgers reversed course and publicly apologized to the group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Tuesday called on Catholics to stand together against the team’s reversal. “The decision to honor a group that..

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A state regulatory board today declared Los Angeles County’s Barry J. Nidorf and Central juvenile halls unsuitable to house pre-disposition youth and ordered the county to relocate such detainees out of the facilities within 60 days. Members of the Board of State and Community Corrections said they felt they had no alternative other than to make the declaration, citing a protracted history of shortcomings at the facilities, which were found in recent inspections to still be out of compliance with numerous state standards. Board members called the county’s recently approved “aggressive” plans for an overhaul of...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A judge has ruled in favor of tenants regarding two new city renter protection laws against a challenge from a local landlords’ group. On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff denied a motion from the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles for a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of the pair of ordinances adopted by the City Council aimed at protecting Los Angeles residents from eviction and homelessness. Beckloff also permitted tenant rights groups InnerCity Struggle and Community Power Collective to join the City in the defense of the protections. The City Council...

VALLEY GLEN (CNS) – A pedestrian was fatally struck by a Metrolink train today in the Valley Glen area. Paramedics were sent to the 12700 block of West Raymer Street at 1:19 p.m. and pronounced the person dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Information was not immediately available on the identity of the fatally injured person. The fatally injured person, who was in a “non-pedestrian area,” was hit by train No. 109, which was westbound on the Ventura County Line, said Scott Johnson of Metrolink. No one was injured aboard the train. The tracks were...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted Friday, May 19, to approve a report calling for a study regarding the possible relocation of the Sun Valley Metrolink station and the feasibility of adding a second platform. The request for the report was initiated by a motion brought forth by Council President Paul Krekorian. The Sun Valley Metrolink station, located in the Sixth District at 8360 San Fernando Rd., is part of the Antelope Valley line that connects Lancaster with Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. According to the motion, the Sun Valley station has a travel...

SAN FERNANDO (CNS) – Authorities in San Fernando recently issued citations to three retail clerks for allegedly selling alcohol to minors, it was announced Thursday, May 18. The citations were issued on May 9 during a “minor decoy” operation conducted by personnel from the San Fernando Police Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The operation involved a “minor decoy” — a person under 21 — who, under the supervision of authorities, attempted to buy alcohol at 11 retail locations in the city, police said. The clerks who were cited could face a minimum fine of 0, and...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Funeral services were pending today for Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, the Cleveland Browns legend who went on to become a prolific actor and prominent civil-rights activist. Brown died Thursday night at his home in Los Angeles at age 87, according to a family representative. “Legend. Leader. Activist. Visionary,” the Cleveland Browns posted on the team’s Twitter page Friday. “It’s impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A San Fernando Valley man and woman who allegedly used darknet marketplaces to sell hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine to buyers nationwide have been indicted by a federal grand jury, officials announced today. Brian McDonald, 22, of Van Nuys — whose aliases include “Malachai Johnson” and “SouthSideOxy” — and Ciara Clutario, 22, of Burbank, were charged in an eight-count indictment filed Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, five counts of...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Following criticism from various Catholic groups and even a U.S. senator, the Dodgers today withdrew an invitation the team had extended to The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — described on its website as an “order of queer and trans nuns” — to participate in the team’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night. “This year, as part of a full night of programming, we invited a number of groups to join us,” according to a statement issued by the team Wednesday. “We are now aware that our inclusion of one group in particular — The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence...

Of the approximately 3,700 invited to take part in California State University, Northridge’s Honors Convocation on Saturday, May 13, six individuals were singled out for special recognition as outstanding graduating students. Three stories will appear in this issue of the San Fernando Valley Sun/El Sol, and three more will appear in next week’s edition.  Natalie Castillo, 2023 Wolfson Scholar Natalie Castillo, 2023 Wolfson Scholar Natalie Castillo came to California State University, Northridge in 2018 as a first-generation college student and has since become a role model for young underrepresented students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). She will be...

ENCINO (CNS) – A volunteer Los Angeles police officer who was repeatedly stung when hundreds of bees swarmed an Encino neighborhood remained hospitalized today, and a GoFundMe account has been established on his behalf. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, which did not identify the man, the volunteer and his partner had stopped Monday afternoon to perform traffic-control duties near the 17100 block of West Adlon Road, where fire crews had responded to reports of a person being stung by bees. The swarm rapidly expanded, soon involving hundreds, if not thousands, of bees centered around a hive in the...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today formally condemned one of the “most shameful moments” in history — the racial turmoil that erupted 80 years and became known as The Zoot Suit Riots. The board unanimously OK’d a motion by Supervisor Hilda Solis to denounce “the devastation of the Zoot Suit Riots, recognize this as a dark chapter in Los Angeles County’s history and recommit to fighting against racial discrimination.” Solis said the uprising began in the early 1940s, when “mobs of U.S. servicemen, law enforcement officers and civilians ambushed young Mexican Americans, African American...

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CNS) – A private security guard told police he was attacked in a robbery attempt in North Hollywood by suspects armed with paintball guns loaded with marbles. Officers went to Whitsett Avenue and Sherman Way at about 10:30 p.m. Monday on a report of an attempted robbery, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. According to police, four suspects fled in a gray four-door Toyota and were being sought. The security guard told reporters he was sitting in his personal vehicle while wearing body armor when a group of men pulled up alongside him and demanded money before opening...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A teenage detainee at a Los Angeles County juvenile hall died of an apparent overdose today, according to an online report. The death was reported by the Los Angeles Times, which cited unnamed sources with “direct knowledge of the situation.” Los Angeles County Probation Department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Sheriff’s officials had no information on the reported death, referring inquiries to the Probation Department. According to The Times, the teen was found unresponsive in his room Tuesday morning at Barry J. Nidorf Hall in Sylmar. An unnamed.

PORTER RANCH (CNS) – Police sought the public’s help today to find the hit-and-run motorist responsible for badly injuring a pedestrian who was sitting on a street in Porter Ranch over the weekend. The man was “gravely injured” at about 1 a.m. Sunday at Braemore Road and Bowmore Avenue, and he remained hospitalized Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. According to police, the man, in his 20s, was hit by a dark-colored vehicle that kept going. No further description was available. A standing reward of up to ,000 has been offered by the city of Los Angeles for...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A former Los Angeles television news producer was indicted Thursday, May 4, on federal charges alleging he distributed more than 100 videos and images of child pornography in an online chat room. Phil Drechsler, 60, of Santa Clarita, who worked for KNBC-TV until he departed in February, allegedly shared more than 117 videos, nine images and other types of files depicting child pornography between August 2020 and June 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Drechsler was arrested last month in Cincinnati and ordered detained by a magistrate judge. He is currently being brought...

Gina Perez breathes a sigh of relief. The San Fernando resident just heard the news that a new law that could help her mentally ill homeless son survived a legal challenge. The California Supreme Court declined to block CARE Courts, allowing the new program to remain on track to be rolled out in six counties this fall and the County of Los Angeles later in December. CARE stands for Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last fall, the law will compel severely mentally ill people to get professional help for schizophrenia, psychotic disorders and substance...

With efforts to start conversation on climate change, students at California State University, Northridge will showcase a new multimedia performance that explores the anxiety related to this environmental crisis.  “Home” will be performed on Thursday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, May 5, at 2 p.m. in CSUN’s Nordhoff Hall’s Campus Theatre, located near the corner of Nordhoff Street and Etiwanda Avenue. The show will shed light on the complexities and concerns of climate change through various forms of artistic expression.  The interdisciplinary project includes students and faculty from three different colleges — Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and...

VALLEY VILLAGE (CNS) – The death of a man whose burned body was found near a Tesla that had been on fire behind a vacant two-story commercial building in Valley Village has been listed as accidental, authorities said today. Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters arrived around 8:49 p.m. Monday at the 12000 block of Riverside Drive, between Coldwater Canyon and Whitsett Avenues, following reports of a vehicle fire, according to the department’s Brian Humphrey. As they quickly extinguished the vehicle fire without damage to the structure, they discovered the burned remains of a man adjacent to the car, Humphrey said....

PALMDALE (CNS) – A post-prom fight early Sunday morning in Palmdale between two young men from Pete Knight High School resulted in a shooting by one of their mothers. No one was hit in the gunfire outside the high school at 37423 70th St. East around 1 a.m. Sunday, according to a videographer at the scene. No one from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station was immediately available for comment. The parent who allegedly fired her gun tried to intervene but was punched several times for her efforts, the videographer said. There was no immediate word regarding whether the woman was arrested,...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Manny Mota has been inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball, honored for his uninterrupted service to the team since 1969 as a player, coach, broadcaster, and ambassador. The 18-minute ceremony Saturday included remarks by Mota and retired Dodger broadcaster Jaime Jarrín and the presentation of a bicycle to Mota by retired Dodger third baseman Adrián Beltré in recognition of Mota frequently riding a bicycle around Dodgertown, the Dodgers’ former spring facility in Vero Beach, Florida. The ceremony at Dodger Stadium was hosted by Manny’s son Jose Mota, a Dodger broadcaster and was attended by former

SYLMAR (CNS) – A 21-year-old woman was in custody today for allegedly driving a vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian in Sylmar a week ago. Mary Inez Mercado of Granada Hills was arrested on Thursday and booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. She was being held on ,000 bail, police said. According to police, a man in his 40s was walking along the north side of Hubbard Street, pushing a shopping cart, when he was hit by a “dark-colored sedan” at about 12:50 a.m. April 21 near Adelphia Avenue. The man was...