Community Chatter

Friday, August 28, 2009

Michael Jackson’s death officially ruled a homicide

  It’s official. The Los Angeles County Coroner has ruled the sudden death of Superstar Michael Jackson was a homicide. In a new release today, the coroner attributed the entertainer’s death on June 25, 2009 to a deadly combination of drugs. According to the release: “Cause of death was established as acute propofol intoxication. Other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine. […]
Friday, August 28, 2009

Wildfires burning in the Southland

Photo: La Canada Flintridge fire  08/27/09 Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times Heat, smoke, and wildfires in the Southland today. Fire crews battling four brushfires will not get much help from the weather. Another hot dry day is expected with temperatures reaching in the triple-digits in some areas. This is typical August weather, which did not arrive until a few days ago. Overnight that […]
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Burbank City Council selects new police commissioner

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Hall Now that the Burbank City Council has filled the vacant seat on the police commission, hopefully, that body can move forward with a busy agenda. Last night, real estate consultant and long time Burbank business owner, Raymond Gerald Adams, was the top vote getter out of a field of six contenders. Adams received […]
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Earthquake! Did you feel it?

I know it was not the “Big One” we’ve all been dreading here in Southern California, but yesterday’s quake felt like a major shaker to me. So what if the U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude was a measly 2.9. I’m telling you, when it struck at around 3:58 p.m. yesterday afternoon, I thought, uh-oh, this is going to be a wild ride. First, I hear […]
Sunday, August 16, 2009

“District 9” captures weekend Box Office victory

“District 9,”  a new science fiction film with no major stars, invaded  theaters this weekend and won over the biggest chunk of the ticket buyers. In “District 9” the story centers on an alien population in South Africa.  “District 9” took in an estimated $37 million to become the number one movie in the U.S. Last week’s top flick, the action packed “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” […]
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Snoop Dogg & the Dodgers Ticket Truck

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Hip Hop Star Snoop Dogg is a big time Dodgers fan. Yesterday, the entertainer took the new Dodgers Ticket Truck on its inaugural spin around Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers Ticket Truck is the first of its kind in Major League Baseball, according to a news release sent out by the team organization. Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers The mobile unit […]
Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Burbank City Council, Falun Gong, and a new lawsuit against the city

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove A human rights issue in China stirred up the Burbank City Council meeting last night. I was there for the first public comments section and heard some passionate supporters of the Chinese health and spiritual movement Falun Gong speak out. They attempted to bear witness to the persecution of the practice by China, which considers Falun Gong a cult. During a 10 […]
Sunday, July 26, 2009

“G-Force” conquers the weekend Box Office

               Family films continue on a hot streak at the Box Office. This weekend, the animated 3D “G-Force” debuted as the number one flick in the nation with an estimated take of $32 million. The cast of voices of this guinea pigs comedy include Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz. Last week’s top flick “Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince” dropped to second place with an […]
Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Burbank City Council & a new legal claim against the city

Photo:FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove At Burbank City Council meetings most of the face time goes to the council members and the staff. They’re the ones who are supposed to be handling city business, therefore, they get to do a lot of the talking. Still, I get a kick out of the public comment segments where we get a chance to hear what’s bugging some of the citizens of […]