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Today: April 15, 2025
Today: April 15, 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

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
Education

UCLA College Division of Humanities receives $31M donation

Tadashi Yanai, a billionaire Japanese executive and philanthropist, has committed to donate $31 million to the University of California, Los Angeles College Division of Humanities. This is the largest gift in the division’s history, according to the university.  The gift is to the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities, which was established in 2014 by UCLA in partnership with Tokyo’s Waseda University thanks to a $2.5 million donation from Yanai. He also donated $25 million in 2020 to the initiative. Yanai is the founder and CEO of Fast Retailing, the parent company of the Uniqlo clothing brand.  “Adding to his

UCLA College Division of Humanities receives $31M donation
Education

Loyola Marymount University receives $5M grant for Engineering Innovation Complex

Loyola Marymount University has received a $5 million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation for its new Engineering Innovation Complex (EIC), which is a planned expansion of its Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, the university announced. This grant is the first in the match of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation’s $25 million lead gift for the complex. The Leavey Foundation’s lead gift matches new commitments from donors on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $25 million through Dec. 31, 2026 for the new complex.  “The Leavey Foundation issued a galvanizing challenge, and I am heartened that the

Loyola Marymount University receives $5M grant for Engineering Innovation Complex
News

Metro board approves 11.8-acre mixed-use housing projection in NoHo

A proposed 11.8-acre mixed-use development project on Metro’s North Hollywood Station will move forward, officials announced Thursday. The development is expected to bring more than 1,500 new housing units and bolster access to transit in the area. The Metro’s Board of Directors instructed staff during its September meeting to enter a joint development agreement with developer NOHO Development Associates, which is an affiliate of Trammell Crow Company and High Street Residential. The entities will build the project, which is called “District NoHo.” “We have to get creative if we’re going to build the housing we need in L.A. County, and

Metro board approves 11.8-acre mixed-use housing projection in NoHo
News

Bass announces new LAPD Chief

On Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass officially named former LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell as the next chief of the LAPD.

Bass announces new LAPD Chief
News

Newsom declares Norwalk in violation of state housing laws

Gov. Gavin Newsom officially declared Norwalk to be in violation of the state housing requirements on Friday.

Newsom declares Norwalk in violation of state housing laws
Crime

6 people arrested in ‘flash-mob’ style robbery in Canoga Park

Four adults and two juveniles were arrested in connection with a flash-mob style robbery at the Westfield Topanga Mall on Friday, according to the LAPD.

6 people arrested in ‘flash-mob’ style robbery in Canoga Park
Crime

UCLA police investigate 2 reports of students drugged at parties

Police are investigating reports of two UCLA students who said they were drugged while attending several parties near the Westwood campus.

UCLA police investigate 2 reports of students drugged at parties
Local|News

5 people killed in Catalina Island airplane crash

Recovery efforts are continuing Wednesday at a plane crash site on Santa Catalina Island that killed all five people who were aboard.

5 people killed in Catalina Island airplane crash
Local|News

‘We’ve experienced wage theft,’ says L.A. Subway worker who filed lawsuit

Los Angeles fast-food cooks and cashiers rallied Tuesday at a Subway in Eagle Rock to show support for Eva Rodriguez, an employee.

‘We’ve experienced wage theft,’ says L.A. Subway worker who filed lawsuit
Crime|Local|News

CHP investigates road rage shooting on 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights 

Police continue to search for suspects Friday involved in a fatal car-to-car, road rage shooting on the 5 Freeway in the Boyle Heights area.

CHP investigates road rage shooting on 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights 
Crime|Local

5 shootings happened in L.A. County over the weekend

There were five separate reported shootings in Los Angeles County over the weekend, according to police.

5 shootings happened in L.A. County over the weekend
Crime|Local

Santa Monica College closed as police investigate shooting that injured 1

Police continue to search for the suspect in a shooting at Santa Monica College that left an employee injured.

Santa Monica College closed as police investigate shooting that injured 1
Local

Alhambra unveils new vending library machine

A vending library machine that will provide access to more than 200 books for checkout is available at Emery Park in Alhambra beginning Tuesday.

Alhambra unveils new vending library machine
Crime|Local

Santa Monica College shooting suspect dead after standoff with police

Police identified and located a man Tuesday suspected of shooting a Santa Monica College employee, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. 

Santa Monica College shooting suspect dead after standoff with police
Celebrity|News

Former One Direction members pay tribute to Liam Payne

The cause of death for Liam Payne, a singer and former band member of One Direction, has been released Thursday.  The singer died Wednesday at 31-years-old after falling from a third story balcony at a hotel in Argentina, according to local police. Payne was best known as a member of boyband One Direction that was active from 2010-2016. Other members of the band are Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say

Former One Direction members pay tribute to Liam Payne
Celebrity|News

TMZ received backlash over photos of Liam Payne’s body

TMZ revealed cropped photos of Liam Payne’s body after he fell three stories from a hotel balcony in Argentina and is now receiving online backlash. The incident sparked a debate as to what is and isn’t appropriate to reveal as a news outlet.  The 31-year-old singer died Wednesday at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on Costa Rica Street in the Palermo neighborhood, according to local police. TMZ was one of the first news outlets in the United States to report on Payne’s death.  Their initial article included photos of Payne’s body obtained by the outlet. The photos were cropped into two

TMZ received backlash over photos of Liam Payne’s body
Crime|Local|News

Man arrested on suspicion of DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter in Santa Monica

A person believed to be unhoused was hit and killed by an SUV on the beach near the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Police said Friday. 

Man arrested on suspicion of DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter in Santa Monica
News|Local

Aaron Sorkin, Wallis Annenberg among recipients of National Humanities Medals

Writer and director Aaron Sorkin, actor LeVar Burton, philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, and the late chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain are among recipients of National Humanities Medals who will be honored at the White House Monday.

Aaron Sorkin, Wallis Annenberg among recipients of National Humanities Medals

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