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Today: January 22, 2025
Today: January 22, 2025
Rebekah Ludman

Rebekah Ludman

Staff Writer

Rebekah is a digital content editor with the Los Angeles Post. She graduated from Emerson College with her Master’s degree in Journalism. She previously completed a digital content producer fellowship at KNX News, a reporting fellowship covering Los Angeles at KCRW, and reported on crime and public safety for the Chico Enterprise-Record. Rebekah covers breaking news in and around Los Angeles and creates digital content for the L.A. Post. She loves to spend her free time creating memories with family and friends, reading, baking, and gardening.

Latest From Rebekah Ludman

Local|News

Fast-moving Pacific Palisades fire erupts amid strong winds

A wildfire erupted in the Pacific Palisades area Tuesday morning amid strong Santa Ana winds. The fire is believed to have damaged multiple homes. Firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department are on the scene and have estimated the size of the fire at roughly 200 acres. The fire was initially reported around 10:30 a.m. at the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. Air tankers were seen making drops as firefighters from the area rush to contain the blaze. The city of L.A. has notified residents near the fire to be ready to evacuate. The city has urged residents to monitor

Fast-moving Pacific Palisades fire erupts amid strong winds
Local|News

Fast-moving Pacific Palisades fire erupts amid strong winds

Advisory,-Palisades-F

Fast-moving Pacific Palisades fire erupts amid strong winds
Technology

Smartphone users advised to ditch popular safety feature

Federal cybersecurity officials issued a stark warning for smartphone users against using text messages for two-factor authentication, citing vulnerabilities in telecommunications networks that could expose users to security breaches. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released new guidance urging smartphone users to abandon SMS-based authentication codes following the discovery of widespread telecom network breaches. The agency emphasized that text messages lack encryption, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors who gain access to telecommunications networks. “SMS messages are not encrypted — a threat actor with access to a telecommunication provider’s network who intercepts these messages can read them,”

Smartphone users advised to ditch popular safety feature
Food

Curious to try fruitcake? Here’s a not-so-terrible recipe

Fruitcake may be one of the most traditional Christmas desserts, but it doesn’t have the reputation of being the tastiest. This jolly dessert has been the butt of thousands of jokes for decades in movies, television shows, and books.  Despite the jokes and countless bad reviews, I turned to my sister and asked, “Is it possible to make fruitcake taste good?” Of course, this was a thought inspired by Sabrina Carpenter’s Christmas EP “fruitcake” and Netflix special, “A Nonsense Christmas.” After my sister shrugged her shoulders, I decided it was worth a try. At the very least, I would finally

Curious to try fruitcake? Here’s a not-so-terrible recipe
Local

CSU Fullerton pantry upgrades to meet growing student needs

Kaiser Permanente gave Cal State Fullerton’s food pantry $75,000 to help feed hungry students. The money will buy lockers and add more diverse food choices to the pantry’s shelves. Since 2018, the pantry has been dishing out fresh veggies and other basics to students in need. What started as a food truck has now found a home in the student union, feeding over 3,000 Titans last year. “The gift to the ASI Food Pantry represents a significant step in supporting students’ well-being and academic success,” said Talia Rodriguez, who runs the pantry. Starting in December, students can stash their groceries

CSU Fullerton pantry upgrades to meet growing student needs
Local|News

Franklin Fire expands to 2,700 acres amid ongoing response efforts

The Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon grew to more than 2,700 acres as of Tuesday near Pepperdine University.  The fire – driven by Santa Ana winds – started Monday and was first reported at 11 p.m. It threatens about 2,000 structures, forcing mandatory evacuations orders to be handed out. However, only a “minimal” number of homes have been destroyed, and no injuries have been reported.  There’s a high volume of dry brush, which contributed to the rapidly growing fire. The fire began in the midst of a “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” issued by the National Weather Service. Los Angeles

Franklin Fire expands to 2,700 acres amid ongoing response efforts
Entertainment|Local|News

'Emilia Pérez' sets Golden Globe nominations record, surpassing 'Barbie'

The nominees for the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards were officially announced Monday, less than a month before the ceremony is set to take place. Netflix’s gender-bending “Emilia Pérez” led the way with 10 motion picture nominations, a new record, while FX’s “The Bear” received five nominations in top television categories. Netflix garnered 23 nominations – the most overall – in TV categories. It also received 13 nominations in movie categories.  “Emilia Pérez” captured nominations for best movie musical or comedy, along with best actress nomination for Karla Sofía Gascón and best director and screenplay nominations for Jacques Audiard. It

'Emilia Pérez' sets Golden Globe nominations record, surpassing 'Barbie'
Local|Health|News

Bird flu detection prompts raw milk recall in California

California Department of Public Health officials issued a recall for specific raw milk produced by Raw Farm LLC, urging consumers to avoid the product linked to potential health risks amid rising scrutiny over raw dairy safety. The recall of a specific batch of the cream top came after there was a detection of bird flu virus in a retail sample. The company issued a voluntary recall of the product with lot code 20241109 and with a best by date of 11/27/2024 on the packaging, at the state’s request. There have been no illnesses reported but health officials advised people not

Bird flu detection prompts raw milk recall in California
Environment

3 major wildfires engulf Southern California, forcing mass evacuations

Three major wildfires continue to burn through Southern California as of Monday. There’s the Bridge Fire, Airport Fire, and the Line Fire. Here’s the latest update for all three fires:  Bridge Fire The Bridge Fire in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties is 71% contained as of Sunday as firefighters continue strengthening containment lines, according to Cal Fire.  The blaze has burned 54,877 acres and is threatening 4,409 structures. So far, the fire has destroyed 81 structures and damaged 17, according to officials.  “Crews on the west flank will focus on constructing indirect line from Rattlesnake Peak north and Mount

3 major wildfires engulf Southern California, forcing mass evacuations
Crime

Mystery surrounds fatal vehicle-pedestrian incident in Long Beach

A male pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in Long Beach and an investigation is underway on Friday. According to a press release from the Long Beach Police Department, officers were called to Pacific Coast Highway and Pasadena Avenue at 11:51 p.m. on Thursday. The Long Beach Fire Department transported the man to a local hospital, where he died, according to police.  “The preliminary investigation revealed a Lexus sedan was driving west on Pacific Coast Highway and collided with a pedestrian crossing south across Pacific Coast Highway outside of a marked crosswalk,” police said.  The driver remained at the

Mystery surrounds fatal vehicle-pedestrian incident in Long Beach
Environment

Plastic bags outlawed again in California as hidden flaw in former ban exposed

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Sunday to ban the distribution of plastic bags at grocery stores. Supporters of the bill said on Monday it will help reduce a major source of waste. Senate Bill 1053, the bill authored by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica and Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, goes further than SB 270, which was passed in 2014. SB 270 banned single-use plastic bags, but still allowed stores to distribute “reusable” plastic bags.  However, observers say the thicker plastic bags weren’t actually being reused or recycled. The amount of plastic bags disposed of by residents in

Plastic bags outlawed again in California as hidden flaw in former ban exposed
Environment

Need a greener lawn mower? This rebate program may give you up to $250

Do you live in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino, including the Coachella Valley, counties? You may be eligible to receive $250 to replace your gas-powered lawn mower and garden equipment in a newly expanded rebate program.  The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Residential Electric Lawn & Garden Equipment Rebate Program is now expanded to give residents the opportunity to replace gas-powered tools with electric models. Before this expansion, the rebate program only covered lawn mowers.  AQMD officials announced the rebate program now includes leaf blowers, trimmers, and chainsaws for residents in the South Coast Air Basin. Trimmers

Need a greener lawn mower? This rebate program may give you up to $250
Crime

School counselor charged in alleged sex assault; LAPD searches for more victims

The Los Angeles Police Department urged people on Tuesday to contact detectives if they have any information on a former high school guidance counselor, who allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy in West Los Angeles. Investigators arrested 37-year-old Julie Tichon, of Los Angeles, on Aug. 29 for a series of sexual assaults of the teen boy between February and March of 2024, according to police. She was booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and was subsequently released on her own recognizance, LAPD said in a statement.  “On September 19th, 2024, the

School counselor charged in alleged sex assault; LAPD searches for more victims
Crime

1 person fatally shot, 1 person arrested after Metro bus hijacked in L.A.

One person suspected of hijacking a Metro bus and taking the driver hostage was arrested Wednesday morning and one passenger was fatally shot, the Los Angeles Police Department said. According to LAPD, police began receiving radio calls at 12:45 a.m. related to an incident that happened on a Metro bus in the area of Manchester Avenue and South Figueroa Street. Police said they located the bus stopped at West 117th Street and South Figueroa Street. Police attempted to communicate with the driver upon arrival, but the bus pulled away, according to LAPD. The suspect then allegedly led police on a

1 person fatally shot, 1 person arrested after Metro bus hijacked in L.A.
Local

City Council approves $50K for Safe Parking L.A. program

The Los Angeles City Council approved $50,000 in funding Wednesday to support an RV parking program for unhoused people in the West San Fernando Valley. The funding request made by Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who represents the areas of Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Canoga Park, and Reseda, was unanimously backed by city council members.  The city developed a Safe Parking Pilot Program in 2016 as part of its strategy to address homelessness across L.A. This later became an approach for interim housing. Safe Parking L.A. operates in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, downtown L.A., and West L.A. It connects unhoused residents with

City Council approves $50K for Safe Parking L.A. program
Crime

Murder suspect arrested after 9-hour standoff with police in Compton

A 24-year-old man suspected of murder was arrested in Compton Thursday after a nine-hour standoff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies, according to police. L.A. County deputies were called to the 1400 block of 131st Street at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in response to reports of an armed murder suspect, who had barricaded himself inside a home, according to the sheriff’s department. The armed man was allegedly identified by LASD homicide investigators as a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man on Jan. 7, 2024. According to LASD, the shooting happened at the 12800 block of San

Murder suspect arrested after 9-hour standoff with police in Compton
Crime

LAPD searches for suspects involved in shooting that left 6 injured

Los Angeles Police Department detectives are searching for suspects Thursday involved in a South Los Angeles shooting that wounded five women and one man. Officers from LAPD’s 77th Street Community Police Station responded to reports of assault with a deadly weapon around 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a press release from the department. They responded to the call at the intersection of 74th and Figueroa streets, according to police.  Officers found the six victims suffering from gunshot wounds, primarily in the lower extremities, when they arrived at the scene, according to the press release. “At this early stage of

LAPD searches for suspects involved in shooting that left 6 injured
Celebrity

Maggie Smith, beloved actress, dies at 89

Maggie Smith, who won an Academy Award for her role in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969, died on Friday. She was 89-year-old.

Maggie Smith, beloved actress, dies at 89
News

Ports of L.A., Long Beach see disruptions after lithium battery fire on roadway

Parts of the Port of Los Angeles continue to be inaccessible on Friday after a big rig hauling large lithium batteries overturned and caught fire.

Ports of L.A., Long Beach see disruptions after lithium battery fire on roadway
News

Newsom signs bill to add speed cameras on PCH, nearly 1 year after fatal crash

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Friday to authorize speed cameras to be installed at five locations along Pacific Coast Highway. The signing of this bill comes as the one-year anniversary of the fatal crash involving four Pepperdine University students nears.  Senate Bill 1297, authored by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and co-authored by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, is intended to place speed feedback signs, in addition to automated speed cameras on the 21-mile stretch of PCH that will result in speeding drivers being fined.  “SB 1297 is just one additional piece of the puzzle to help save lives

Newsom signs bill to add speed cameras on PCH, nearly 1 year after fatal crash
Crime

Westlake carjacking, burglary ends in arrests of six suspects after police chase

A pharmacy burglary and carjacking led to a police chase on Monday morning that ended at the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge.

Westlake carjacking, burglary ends in arrests of six suspects after police chase
Local

L.A. to open cooling centers, resources to escape the heat

The city of Los Angeles will open and operate cooling centers due to an excessive heat warning for the region, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ office announced.

L.A. to open cooling centers, resources to escape the heat
Environment

Metrolink to offer free rides on California Clean Air Day

Metrolink is joining other transit agencies to offer free rides on Wednesday, Oct. 2 to commemorate California Clean Air Day and help Southern Californians reduce their carbon footprint.  The state’s Clean Air Day encourages residents and organizations across the region to do their part in addressing air pollution. Metrolink hopes commuters will take advantage of the free rides and explore alternative modes of transportation other than their vehicles.  “We are proud to participate in this statewide initiative and offer free rides to encourage others to join us in taking steps that improve our region’s air quality,” Metrolink Board Chair, South

Metrolink to offer free rides on California Clean Air Day
News

Motorcycle passenger killed in wrong-way crash in Long Beach

A woman was killed on Wednesday when a motorcycle she was the passenger on collided with a car in Long Beach, authorities said.  Police were called to the scene of the crash at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday on East Ocean Boulevard and Kennebec Avenue, according to a press release from the Long Beach Police Department. Police said upon arrival, they found two adults in the roadway and immediately began to render aid.  “Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived and transported one male motorcyclist and one female motorcycle passenger to a local hospital, where the female passenger succumbed to her injuries,”

Motorcycle passenger killed in wrong-way crash in Long Beach
News

Homeowners impacted by Rancho Palos Verdes landslide can get up to $10K

Homeowners impacted by the ongoing landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 after an emergency financial assistance program was approved by the city council Tuesday night.  The approved program allocated $5 million in landslide relief funding from the office of County Supervisor Janice Hahn to give immediate aid to residents impacted by the land movement and utility shutoffs. This includes $2.8 million for up to 280 eligible homeowners impacted by the landslides, and the remaining $2.2 million will be allocated for the city’s ongoing response and stabilization efforts.  “These emergency grants will deliver long-overdue

Homeowners impacted by Rancho Palos Verdes landslide can get up to $10K

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