Mark Mester
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Articles by Mark Mester
Steve Hilton Holds Lead Over Crowded Field as California Primary Tally Nears Halfway Mark
The competitive landscape of California's 2026 gubernatorial primary election has undergone a dramatic shift as official vote tabulations reach the halfway threshold. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa officially dropped out of the crowded race late Tuesday evening, fundamentally altering the dynamic for the remaining candidates as the primary results solidify.
Sea lions receive treatment after being sickened by suspected toxic algae bloom
by: Mark Mester Posted: Sep 14, 2022 / 04:58 PM PDT Updated: Sep 14, 2022 / 05:03 PM PDT A toxic algae bloom is believed to be behind the sickness that’s affecting multiple sea lions. In San Pedro, the experts at the Marine Mammal Care Center are working to heal the creatures so they can return to the wild. Mark Mester reports for the KTLA 5 News on Sept. 14, 2022. Close Modal Suggest a Correction Suggest a Correction Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.
Make-A-Wish Wednesday: Meet wish kid Jaxson
7-year-old wish kid Jaxson and his mom Cheyane joined us live to share how Make-A-Wish helped Jaxon’s wish come true. Jaxson was diagnosed with a heart defect while his mom was pregnant. Cheyane says they were lucky because “[they] had a lot of time to plan and get some sort of team establishment with all the doctors.” As for Jaxson’s wish, he wished for a shopping spree and was able to buy basketball gear, stuffed animals and educational video games.
Driver in Windsor Hills crash that killed 6 arrested; witnesses describe attempts to help victims
Witnesses looked on with horror after a crash in the Windsor Hills Thursday that was caused by a speeding driver who ran through a red light. “It’s just like a bomb. A child was in the street…had got ejected. A pregnant mother was lying over to the side,” Alphonso Word told KTLA.
Caught on camera: Burglars use vehicle to smash into Chanel store in Beverly Grove
by: Mark Mester Posted: Jul 20, 2022 / 03:18 PM PDT Updated: Jul 20, 2022 / 03:19 PM PDT Burglars used a vehicles to smash into a Chanel store in Beverly Grove early Wednesday. The caught-on-camera incident is being investigated by police. Mark Mester reports for the KTLA 5 News at 3 on July 22, 2022. Close Modal Suggest a Correction Suggest a Correction Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
L.A. County DA Gascón responds to criticism that he’s soft on crime
Los Angeles County’ District Attorney George Gascón responded to criticism that he’s soft on crime Saturday morning. This interview aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on June 25, 2022. Close Modal Suggest a Correction Suggest a Correction Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Here are the dirtiest and cleanest beaches in California, according to Heal the Bay
Heal the Bay’s annual “report card” was released Wednesday, providing a ranking of the cleanest and dirtiest beaches along California’s coast. The organization graded 700 beaches along the West Coast, based on bacterial pollution. It gave 94% of California beaches grades of A or B for water quality during the dry summer period between April and October 2021.
Here are the dirtiest and cleanest beaches in California, according to Heal the Bay Original
Heal the Bay’s annual “report card” was released Wednesday, providing a ranking of the cleanest and dirtiest beaches along California’s coast. The organization graded 700 beaches along the West Coast based on bacterial pollution. It found that 94% of California beaches received grades of A or B during the dry summer period between April and October 2021. While the dry winter period, from November 2021 through March 2022, saw a slightly below average of 88% of beaches receiving A and B grades.
Student arrested for threats against Oxnard High School: Police
A student was arrested for allegedly making threats to harm another student, prompting a brief lockdown at Oxnard High School on Wednesday. Around 2:30 p.m., a school resource officer at the campus located at 3400 W. Gonzales Road received information that there was a discussion between a female student and a male student in the library that turned into a disagreement, the Oxnard Police Department said.
Deputies to increase patrols at L.A. County beaches
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be beefing up patrols at local beaches this summer, officials announced Friday. Beginning Memorial Day through Labor Day, the agency will perform “high visibility patrol” from Playa del Rey to Malibu. “The LASD Beach Patrol Mission will be visible throughout our beaches so that visitors and the community have a great time at the beach,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a statement. Mark Mester reports for the KTLA 5 News at 1 on May 27, 2022.
Man who attacked Dave Chappelle pleads not guilty Original
The man charged in the attack against comedian Dave Chappelle during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this week pleaded not guilty Friday to four misdemeanor counts. Isaiah Lee, 23, is accused of running on stage with a weapon on Tuesday night as Chappelle was finishing his show as part of the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival, and assaulting him.
Video: Burglar smashes door to break into downtown L.A. burger bar
A burglar smashed through the front glass door of a burger restaurant in downtown Los Angeles early this week and it was all caught on camera. The incident occurred overnight Monday along the 200 block of 6th Street at D-town Burger Bar. The burglar got off a bike after waiting for potential witnesses to pass the entrance and smashed through the door, apparently using a small manhole cover, the video shows. He then walked in and grabbed the cash register containing around $1,500 before taking off.
Mountain lion struck and killed on the 405 Freeway in Brentwood area
A mountain Lion was struck and killed on the 405 Freeway in the Brentwood early Thursday morning. The big cat was found dead in the roadway around 1 a.m. on the southbound lanes of the freeway near Getty Center Drive exit, California Highway Patrol Officer Moses Marroquin told KTLA. No information was available on what type of vehicle hit the mountain lion, the officer said.
Music Fest Fridays: The Reklaws perform new single ’11 Beers’
by: Lu Parker, Mark Mester, Pablo Chacon, Tammy Chan Posted: Apr 15, 2022 / 02:06 PM PDT Updated: Apr 15, 2022 / 02:06 PM PDT Brother and sister duo Stu and Jenna Walker, better known as The Reklaws, joined KTLA to discuss how their country music career has taken off. The duo just recently secured their 10th gold-certified single with “Not Gonna Not,” making them the only Canadian country artists to go gold on every single they’ve released, plus two non-singles.
Foods to boost your brain and memory
From cognitive issues and “brain fog” triggered by COVID-19, to increased stress and anxiety, many people claim that the pandemic has influenced their focus and memory. To help recharge brain power with “foods for thought,” Liana Werner-Gray, a certified nutritionist, natural food chef, TV host and the author of multiple best-selling books, shares her four favorite brand foods. She tells us how food affects the brain, focus and memory, and can even decrease stress and anxiety.
New BBQ cookbook with Kevin Bludso
Summer is approaching and that means it’s time to bring out the BBQ. Chef Kevin Bludso joined us live to talk about some of the dishes he’s cooking up at his own restaurant, Bludso’s Bar & Que. Kevin also released a new cookbook that shares his recipes. In the book, he teaches you everything you need to know about BBQ: from choosing, seasoning and cleaning your pit to selecting your brisket, ribs and sausages, plus all the rubs and sauces you could need.
Music Fest Fridays: Johnnyswim talk new album
by: Pablo Chacon, Kacey Montoya, Mark Mester, Tammy Chan Posted: Apr 8, 2022 / 02:16 PM PDT Updated: Apr 8, 2022 / 02:16 PM PDT Husband and wife duo Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano-Ramirez, better known as Johnnyswim, joined KTLA live to share the story of how they met and the release of their new self-titled album. And just for Music Fest Fridays, the duo shared a special performance of “Nostradamus.” “Johnnyswim” the album is available to stream on all major music platforms.
Biden gets 2nd COVD booster shot, announces COVID.gov
President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as he received a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine a day after federal regulators approved a fourth shot for those aged 50 and older.
Santa Barbara County rejects proposal to restart offshore oil production
by: Associated Press Posted: Mar 8, 2022 / 05:43 PM PST / Updated: Mar 8, 2022 / 09:00 PM PST A bid by ExxonMobil to restart offshore oil wells shut down in 2015 after a pipeline leak caused the worst coastal spill in 25 years was rejected Tuesday amid lingering environmental concerns.
Santa Barbara County to consider restarting offshore oil production
by: Mark Mester Posted: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:48 PM PST / Updated: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:49 PM PST The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a proposal by Exxon-Mobil to restart oil production off the county’s coast.
L.A. County indoor mask mandate may ease by late March, health official says
by: Los Angeles Times Posted: Feb 18, 2022 / 11:02 AM PST / Updated: Feb 18, 2022 / 11:03 AM PST Customers select flowers for sale from a wholesale merchant ahead of the Valentine’s Day holiday outside the Southern California Flower Market on Feb. 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (PATRICK T.
Reward offered for information in Inglewood-area hit-and-run crash that killed 70-year-old man
by: Cindy Von Quednow, Mark Mester Posted: Feb 17, 2022 / 11:27 AM PST / Updated: Feb 17, 2022 / 11:27 AM PST Surveillance video released by the LAPD shows a truck turning left before fatally striking a pedestrian at Manchester and Van Ness avenues on Jan. 27, 2022. A $50,000 reward is being offered for information in an Inglewood-area hit-and-run crash that left a 70-year-old man dead last month.
Super Bowl Experience to open Saturday in downtown L.A. Original
by: Mark Mester Posted: Feb 4, 2022 / 01:37 PM PST / Updated: Feb 4, 2022 / 01:37 PM PST The Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s is set to open at the L.A. Convention Center in downtown on Saturday. Billed as the “NFL’s interactive football theme park,” the experience features interactive NFL games and offers fans the chance to get autographs from some of their favorite players and take a picture with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The event will be held Feb. 5 and 6, and Feb. 10 through 12.
CBP will be checking all cargo going into Sofi Stadium ahead of Super Bowl
L.A. minimum wage to rise on July 1, Mayor Garcetti says The city of Los Angeles will raise its minimum wage beginning July 1, from $15 to $16.04, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Thursday.
What are the COVID-19 health and safety rules at Sofi Stadium for Super Bowl LVI? Original
Ensuring COVID-19 health and safety regulations are in place are at the forefront of preparations underway at Sofi Stadium ahead of Super Bowl LVI. “This is going to be one of the safest, most glamorous Super Bowls in the history of Super Bowls,” Inglewood Mayor James Butts said at a media briefing Wednesday.
What are the COVID-19 health and safety rules at Sofi Stadium for Super Bowl LVI?
Ensuring COVID-19 health and safety regulations are in place are at the forefront of preparations underway at Sofi Stadium ahead of Super Bowl LVI. “This is going to be one of the safest, most glamorous Super Bowls in the history of Super Bowls,” Inglewood Mayor James Butts said at a media briefing Wednesday.
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