William Nottingham

Leimert Park Village hails victory on Crenshaw Line station

latimes.com — South Los Angeles residents gathered Friday to celebrate a future that many thought would never happen. At a park in tree-lined Leimert Park Village, dozens of community members toasted their victory: approval for a light-rail station on the Crenshaw Line that in five years will connect the historic neighborhood with an ever-expanding network of rail lines across Los Angeles.

5.7 earthquake largest to hit California since 2008

latimes.com — The magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck Northern California on Thursday was the largest on-land temblor in California since 2008, officials said. The last quake similar to this magnitude was a magnitude 5.5 that struck Southern California in July 2008, said David Schwartz, an earthquake geologist for the Northern California USGS division in Menlo Park.

Funding OKd for light-rail station in Leimert Park

latimes.com — After years spent fighting for a light-rail station in Leimert Park, South Los Angeles community members got their wish Thursday with the approval of full funding for a stop in the heart of L.A.'s African American community.

City Council approves final Villaraigosa budget of $7.7 billion

latimes.com — The Los Angeles City Council on Thursday unanimously approved Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa 's final budget, expanding key services as several members acknowledged that many city workers will likely get a 5.5% raise in eight months. Councilman Eric Garcetti, casting his first vote since he won the mayor's race on Tuesday, said the raise is "legally due" to the Coalition of L.A.

Metro board approves Crenshaw Line's Leimert Park Village station

latimes.com — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday approved $80 million for an underground train station in Leimert Park Village along the Crenshaw Line, ending two years of uncertainty over the station's future. The motion, sponsored by L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, ensures contractors will have funding for the station in historic Leimert Park, a hub of African American business and culture in South Los Angeles.

L.A. mayor: Villaraigosa, Garcetti promise 'seamless transition'

latimes.com — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa began the formal transition of power to his successor Thursday, hosting Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti for breakfast at Getty House, where he told reporters that the city councilman had his "full support." Garcetti, who defeated City Controller Wendy Greuel on Tuesday, will not take office until July 1.

Council approves $40 million for Crenshaw Line stop in Leimert Park

latimes.com — Drummers and dancers converge on Leimert Park, a hub of African American culture. Supporters of the station say the area would benefit from the tourism and foot traffic that the train would bring.

Garcetti's advantage

latimes.com — As Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti assembles his new administration, it is interesting, and encouraging, to note the odd confluence of circumstances that will leave him beholden less to factions or special interests and more to the people of Los Angeles. Garcetti may be the most politically progressive mayor Los Angeles has seen in recent history.

Newton: Where Greuel went wrong

latimes.com — Smart and capable, City Controller Wendy Greuel has been a high-profile public servant who believes in Los Angeles and has devoted much of her career to improving it. But boy, did she run a lousy campaign for mayor. Eric Garcetti's sizable win might retroactively give his victory a glow of inevitability.

L.A. Now Live: Can Garcetti's grand goals match reality?

latimes.com — Despite Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti's lofty rhetoric during the campaign, Los Angeles City Hall could quickly bring him crashing back to earth, with real-life struggles about to unfold over employee salaries, overtime pay and city spending overall. Join us at 9 a.m.