Daily Breeze Breaking News

Overturned trash truck blocking one lane of Palos Verdes Drive South in RPV*

2012-01-20T00:26:40Z

*Post updated below

The single vehicle accident occurred at about 2:40 p.m. in the 4000 block of Palos Verdes Drive South, which is near Trump National Golf Club.

Two tow trucks arrived on the scene about 4:15 p.m. to remove the truck, which is completely blocking the westbound lane.

City officials hope the truck can be removed by 4:45 p.m.

"Only the east bound lane is open and traffic is moving very slowly in that direction," city officials said in an email alert." Motorists should continue to avoid the area and use alternate routes, if at all possible."

The unidentified driver sustained minor injuries, authorities said.

Updated 5:45 p.m.
"This afternoon's accident on Palos Verdes Drive South between Conqueror Drive and Schooner Drive has been cleared," the city of RPV said in an email. "All lanes of traffic are now open. Thank you for your patience! "

Traffic lights out at PCH and Hawthorne in Torrance*

2011-12-01T17:20:00Z

*Updated

Power remains out at the intersection as of 2 p.m. Southern California Edison is estimating power restoration will occur between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

In addition, Torrance Police said about 700 homes are without power in the same area.

********************************

Four motorcycle officers are directing traffic at the busy intersection that's often clogged during rush hour.

Power went out around 8 a.m. and by 9 a.m. there was no estimated time of arrival on the scene for Southern California Edison crews to restore power, a Torrance Police Department spokesman said.

Motorists should avoid the area.

Power company crews are backed up with problems throughout Southern California, especially in places like hard-hit Pasadena where authorities have closed schools and are urging people to stay home. The number of live power lines and trees down on streets have made many roads impassable, officials said.

By comparison, a check of South Bay cities this morning showed relatively few problems outside of a few spot power outages.

CD15: Robert Farrell out, still waiting for 3 other candidates to qualify

2011-09-19T17:37:54Z

According to the City Clerk's election site this morning, Robert Farrell has failed to qualify for the Nov. 8 ballot in that special election to fill the 15th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

We're still awaiting word on the three other candidates whose nominating petitions are being verified. The clerk's office has until Thursday to finish the verification process.

Russian Navy tall ship pulls into San Pedro

2011-08-25T16:35:42Z

Go check out the Pallada which is docked at Berth 87 on San Pedro's waterfront around First Street at Harbor Boulevard).

The ship is carrying a crew of 200 sailors.

Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of tours available on Saturday. But they are free to the first 1,000 people who RSVP at:

http://www.portoflosangeles.org/pdf/flr_pallada.pdf

Power's out in North Torrance

2011-08-10T23:17:45Z

A blown transformer has cut power to residents in a north Torrance neighborhood, police said.

Police advised residents to avoid the area of 166th Street and Van Ness Avenue, where downed power lines were in the road at 3:40 p.m.

Van Ness was closed in both directions.

SWAT operation at Hawthorne house ends with no luck

2011-05-29T04:45:11Z

Hawthorne police have concluded their standoff at a house where two robbery suspects were believed to be holed up all afternoon. SWAT officers entered the house about 9:30 p.m. The suspects were not there.

Don't go there: Hawthorne Boulevard closed between 244th and Newton

2011-05-29T01:30:48Z

From the Torrance police:

In order to make repairs to the damaged and downed power poles and power lines on Hawthorne Blvd. in the area of Newton Street that resulted from the traffic collision; Southern California Edison is advising Hawthorne Blvd. will be closed in both directions between Rolling Hills Road and 244th Street for approximately the next 24 hours. Please avoid the area.

SWAT team surrounds Hawthorne house

2011-05-28T19:33:01Z

A police SWAT team has surrounded a house in Hawthorne where two robbery suspects are believed to be holed up, officers said.

The street robbery occurred shortly after 11 a.m. today near 120th Street and Van Ness Avenue, Hawthorne police Lt. Gary Tomatani said. One of the robbers was armed.

A witness followed the robbers to a house at Van Ness Avenue and 115th Street. Police officers surrounded it and called for the special weapons team.

The crime occurred about six hours after Hawthorne officers resumed policing in the city. Officers from other South Bay agencies had been handling calls since Thursday, when a Hawthorne police motorcycle officer was killed in a crash in Torrance.

Police search for two burglary suspects in North Torrance*

2011-04-07T21:44:30Z

*Updated below

Torrance Police sealed off a North Torrance neighborhood shortly after 2:30 p.m. today as they searched for two suspected burglars.

"We have at least two homes broken into," said Lt. Steve Unglaub, adding that people are urged to avoid the area.

Police have cordoned off an area between between Artesia and Redondo Beach boulevards, west of Prairie Avenue and east of Hawthorne Boulevard. Police dogs are being used to search for the suspects.

Updated 4:30 p.m.

Torrance Police Department Lt. Steve Unglaub said officers are still going "yard to yard" searching for the burglary suspects.

He declined to provide a description of the suspects or the location where the burglaries occurred at this time.

Police are using two canine units from Torrance and another two from other agencies, as well as a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter in the search.

Helicopter crash causes four-alarm fire in El Segundo

2011-03-13T20:11:03Z

Emergency officials are investigating why a helicopter crashed into a Raytheon plant in El Segundo, causing a four-alarm fire, as it was removing air-conditioning units from the building this morning.
The Sikorsky-style helicopter was moving the heavy equipment at about 9:30 a.m. when something malfunctioned and it crashed into the building at 2000 E. El Segundo Blvd, said El Segundo Fire Department Battalion Commander Richard Geyer.
Fire officials put out the large blaze within 40 minutes, and investigators from several agencies descended on the site to try to understand what caused the accident, Geyer said.
The helicopter pilot was taken to a nearby trauma center, but Geyer said he was unsure of the extent of his injuries

Police investigating elder abuse, animal cruelty, in Hawthorne

2011-03-05T19:38:58Z

So far all details are from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; expecting more details soon from the Hawthorne Police Department, which reportedly has made arrests in this case:

Police and animal control officers removed 13 dogs from a home in Hawthorne Friday night, and placed an elderly woman living at the home in protective custody.

The condition of the woman is not yet known. She was taken to a hospital, and placed in under care of the county due to suspected elder abuse.

According to the SPCA, the dogs were being kept in cramped cramped crates or were tethered in rooms. The animals have been transported to the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter in Carson.

Madeline Bernstein, president of the spcaLA, said in a statement that the Los Angeles Department of Animal Control will investigate to determine whether animal cruelty charges should be filed.

"The relationship between domestic violence, elder abuse and animal cruelty is uncontested and must be seen as a whole," she said. "That is why animal welfare officers are also mandatory child and elder abuse reporters."

The exact location of the home is not yet known. Stay tuned for more details ...

Water main break closes lanes on Van Ness Avenue in Torrance

2011-02-17T01:35:21Z

A water main break has closed all northbound lanes on Van Ness Avenue in Torrance between 164th and 166th streets, as well as one southbound lane, police said at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Repairs were expected to take four hours to complete.

Shooting near Gardena High School

2011-01-18T19:03:02Z

Gardena High School is on lockdown after a shooting occurred in the area this morning, school officials said.

Police and school officials have not said where the shooting occurred but two people were shot -- one in the head -- according to a police scanner report at about 11 a.m.

A Gardena High School official said that classes are still in session but no one is allowed on or off the campus.

We will provide more information as soon as it is available.

Madison in Torrance closed

2010-12-17T07:11:56Z

From the Torrance Police Department at 7:22 p.m.: Madison Street between PCH and Airport Drive are closed in both directions due to a water main break. Barricades are in place with Fire / Police / Public Works personnel on scene. Time for repairs to be completed and street to re-open is unknown.

Report: Southbound Crenshaw Boulevard at 182nd Street in Torrance closed at about 1 p.m.

2010-10-19T20:09:39Z

That's due to a stalled school bus, according to a Torrance Police e-mail, so motorists might want to avoid the vicinity.

Authorities expect the road to "be open in less than an hour."