WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood is reminding shoppers and businesses that the local sales tax rate will change on Thursday, October 1. The combined sales tax rate in West Hollywood will increase from 10.5 percent to 11 percent as a result of a new Los Angeles County sales tax approved by voters.

Los Angeles County Measure ER, the Essential Services Restoration Act, was approved by voters in the June 2, 2026, election. The measure establishes a 0.5 percent countywide sales tax increase for five years, through October 1, 2031. The increase is equivalent to an additional 50 cents in sales tax for every $100 in taxable purchases. Measure ER is estimated to generate approximately $1 billion annually.

Measure ER is intended to help address funding reductions affecting the County’s healthcare and public health systems and other essential services, the Los Angeles County notes. Revenue from Measure ER will be allocated through the County’s annual budget process. LA County outlined spending priorities that include healthcare services and safety-net providers, public hospitals and clinics, and public health programs. Measure ER also establishes accountability provisions, including annual independent audits, public reporting, and review.

Certain essential items remain exempt from sales tax, including groceries such as unprepared food, prescription medications, and certain medical equipment.

For more details about sales tax rates and the October 1 rate change visit the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov, which has tools to look up sales and use tax rates by address and city.

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—A funeral service has been held for Vanik Voskanyan, the 40-year-old man who was stabbed to death by 19-year-old Conoray Lawantara in Beverly Hills. He was born in Yerevan, Armenia, before emigrating to Glendale in 2009. Voskanyan held jobs in construction, jewelry, and as a dental technician.

The funeral was held at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank, followed by his burial at Grand View Memorial Park in Glendale. Over 100 people attended the service, including the victim’s family and friends, who are demanding that the man responsible for the crime be brought to justice.

Voskanyan was allegedly stabbed to death by Lawantara following a confrontation in an alley on August 30, 2026, around 11:39 p.m. Witnesses said Voskanyan had been going through trash bins in the alley shortly before the altercation began. The incident occurred in the 400 block of North Palm Drive in Beverly Hills, behind the apartment building where Lawantara lived.

Lawantara has claimed he acted in self-defense. However, Judge Keith Schwartz rejected that notion during a bail hearing, saying Lawantara “stabbed him repeatedly, like in a horror movie.” The judge also said he believed Lawantara had no reason to make contact with Voskanyan in the first place.

Conoray Lawantara is a Beverly Hills resident and an Indonesian national. He attended an $80,000-a-year Catholic boarding school in Rhode Island before graduating in 2025.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA— On September 15, news of a phenomenal milestone began to circulate as locals celebrate over 20 million rides on Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus in the last two years. According to the Big Blue Bus website, the bus fleet has 195 recently upgraded buses in operation that have delivered over 10 million passengers a year for two years in a row. Their final destinations vary. Some traveled to the Farmers Market, the Metro Station, or into Santa Monica, and carried another 12,000 FIFA spectators from Downtown Santa Monica to the FIFA World Cup events held at SoFi Stadium aka “Los Angeles Stadium,” in Inglewood, California. Californians have taken advantage of the city bus since the early 1900s when the Pacific Electric Railroad ran a trolley between Downtown Los Angeles into nearby communities. In 1921, after the population of Santa Monica nearly doubled, Bay City Transit Company took over the bus line. In 1928, the City of Santa Monica launched Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines that carried 16,000 passengers in their first week. The buses had a blue color scheme from the start. The number of transports continued to grow over the decades until the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath of shut-downs threw California into a slump. The Big Blue Bus line touted 12.5 million bus rides in 2019. In 2020, the number of bus riders dwindled to 5,000. During the first years following the pandemic, numbers rose slightly, never reaching 7,000 passengers. An increase in crime on the buses kept some of the riders from coming back. Santa Monica Transportation has since upgraded their buses and heightened their security for the safety of the riders. According to the numbers, business is booming again.  The public transportation offered through the Big Blue Bus line is paid for through grants. According to bigbluebus.com, the bus fares are incredibly low. The following information came directly from the website. Customers who make contactless payments with a TAP, credit/debit card, or mobile ticket can ride BBB for just $1.25 one-way. Visit the website for more details or to pay with pre-loaded TAP card, learn more about college, senior, disabled, or Medicare discounts. Children under the age of five, ride for free. By Sharon

MALIBU—On Tuesday, September 15, the city of Malibu announced construction is underway on the PCH Speed Safety System, including installation of the speed detection cameras, poles, speed feedback signs, and other equipment. The new system will improve safety along Malibu’s 21-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.

Malibu’s public education and outreach phase is underway to help motorists understand how the system works, when warnings begin and what to expect when enforcement starts.

Since 2010, more than 60 people have died in traffic collisions along Malibu’s 21-mile section of PCH. In 2023 alone, there were 220 reported crashes on PCH resulting in 93 injuries and seven deaths. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), speed is a primary factor in a majority of traffic collisions resulting in injury or death. Speeding remains a significant concern on PCH.

The urgent need for action came into sharp focus in October 2023, when four Pepperdine University students were killed by a speeding driver while standing along PCH. After the incident, the city declared a PCH safety emergency and formed a coalition with state and county elected officials, LASD, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Caltrans, and community partners to identify and advance solutions.

The Speed Safety System was made possible through legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen and signed into law in September 2024, following advocacy by the city, community members, and partner agencies.

The automated speed enforcement program is one component of Malibu’s broader, multi-faceted approach to improving PCH safety, which includes legislative and policy efforts, continued law enforcement partnerships with LASD and CHP, roadway improvements, and public education and outreach.

Revenues from the program are to be used to recover the cost of implementing the program (equipment, staffing, etc.), and any remaining funds may be used to implement additional traffic safety calming measures on Pacific Coast Highway in close collaboration with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

-Late September 2026: A 60-day warning period begins. Motorists who exceed the violation threshold will receive warnings only.

-Late November 2026: Enforcement begins, with qualifying violations resulting in civil penalties. No license points or insurance penalties will apply.

The system uses lidar and cameras to detect vehicles traveling at least 11 MPH over the posted speed limit.

The system is designed to decrease dangerous speeding, prevent crashes and save lives. It will only record when a speed violation is detected, with strong privacy protections in place. The city will regularly report program performance and data to the Public Safety Commission and the public.

For more details about the system, camera locations, privacy protections, timeline and safety goals: www.MalibuCity.org/PCHsafetycameras.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—There will be traffic impacts in Malibu as a result of the Zuma Beach Triathlon on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 at Zuma Beach in Malibu, with event setup beginning Tuesday, September 15. Up to 2,500 participants are expected over the two-day event.

Expect traffic delays, changing traffic patterns and parking impacts in and around the course and event activities. Drive cautiously, watch out for participants, spectators, equipment and vehicles.

Event setup is scheduled September 15 through Friday, September 18, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. While no PCH lane closures are planned during setup, expect increased event-related activity and vehicle traffic around Zuma Beach.

-Saturday, September 19: No PCH lane closures are planned. The Kids Race will take place in the ocean and Zuma Beach parking lots.

-Sunday, September 20: The far-right southbound lane of PCH will be closed for the bike portion of the race, leaving one southbound lane open to motorists. PCH traffic will reopen on a rolling basis as the race progresses. The race is scheduled from approximately 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the event officially closing at 2 p.m.

The run course will use Zuma Beach and Westward Beach Road. Traffic control will be provided by contracted Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies.

Electronic message signs will be posted along PCH, southbound near Trancas Canyon and northbound near Kanan Dume Road, beginning seven days before the event to alert motorists to traffic impacts.

The event includes charitable efforts supporting Malibu youth-serving nonprofits and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which helps provide opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in sports.

Events for the Triathlon include The Zuma Distance, Olympic Distance, the Zuma Beach Triathlon for Kids Presented by the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu and CAF Corporate Challenge.

The Triathlon started in Malibu in 1987. Michael Epstein, a local athlete and triathlon enthusiast, creates the original short distance triathlon in Malibu, with the help of Team Malibu, the local triathlon club. Local legends Gerry Rodrigues, Kevin Steele, Chris Frost and others help launch the event. A total of 300 participants ran the race that year.

For more details visit: https://zumabeachtriathlon.org/.

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced on Tuesday, September 15 that improvements is coming to intersections in Beverly Hills in the Golden Triangle region.

Lane reductions are currently in effect at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and S. Santa Monica Boulevard. Improvements are now expected to continue through October 2.

Motorists traveling through the region should:

• Allow extra time for your commute
• Drive with caution
• Consider an alternate route when possible

Work started on August 3 and typical work hours, including traffic control set-up, will be Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (weather permitting), and may vary by activity and location.

Construction will transpire in phases at all four corners at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and South Santa Monica Boulevard. At least one lane in each direction will be maintained. Intermittent turn restrictions and overnight lane reductions are expected. Anyone with questions can contact askBH Customer Service hotline at (310) 285-1000.

By Danny Jones

BRENTWOOD—On September 15, Nathan J. Hochman, the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, announced that his office would not seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner, 33, of Brentwood, who is accused of murdering his parents, actor and producer Robert Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70.

The alleged murders occurred at the couple’s residence in the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue in Brentwood on the afternoon of December 14, 2025. Reiner fled and was arrested that evening in Exposition Park. In August, a grand jury indicted him on two counts of first-degree murder, with special allegations of lying in wait, committing multiple murders, and using a knife, a dangerous weapon.

At a press conference on the morning of September 15, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said the decision followed discussions with the victims’ next of kin, Romy and Jake Reiner, whose views were considered. He said the D.A.’s office also considered aggravating and mitigating factors and consulted experts, including law enforcement, his senior staff, and prosecutors.

At the press conference, the office also released several updates on the case. This included a scheduled court hearing to determine whether the grand jury testimony and evidence would be unsealed and released to the public. The District Attorney’s Office filed a brief requesting that the court keep the records sealed at the defendant’s siblings’ request, as they believe that releasing the information would cause additional harm and trauma to their family. Mr. Hochman also said he believed unsealing the records would not prejudice the jury against either the defendant or the prosecutor, but he would defer to the court’s decision.

He then said his office intends to ask the court to set a date to consider a motion if the defense files one under Section 999 of the California Penal Code. The latest update said the trial against Reiner may not start until 2027, depending on when the defense announces it is ready to proceed. The defense is reviewing information the D.A.’s Office provided through discovery and will receive additional information in the next few weeks.

Reiner was arraigned on February 3 in the Los Angeles Superior Court, pleaded not guilty, and remains in custody without bail. He will appear on October 7 in Department 108 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center for a motion hearing. If convicted, he faces life without parole in a California state prison.

Los Angeles Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene represents him after his original attorney, Alan Jackson, stepped down in January 2026 for confidential reasons.

The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is conducting the ongoing investigation, and the Major Crimes Division is overseeing the prosecution.

Robert Reiner is best known for playing Michael Stivic in the Norman Lear sitcom “All in the Family” and its sequel, “Archie Bunker’s Place.” He won two Emmy Awards. He directed and appeared in the films “This Is Spinal Tap” and “Spinal Tap 2 The End Continues.” He and his wife, Michele, ran the production company Castle Rock Entertainment. They produced the documentary “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” and the film “Shock and Awe.”

By Daniel Diquinzio

STUDIO CITY—Neighbors on Babcock Avenue in Studio City had been asking the city of Los Angeles for years to clean up an abandoned property that had been causing problems for the surrounding community. Residents complained that the property attracted squatters and was covered in trash and overgrown vegetation. In late August of 2026, that vegetation and debris caught fire. Residents said their complaints had been repeatedly ignored for years, and only after local news outlets reported on the fire was the city forced to intervene.

On Monday, September 14, Mayor Karen Bass toured the newly cleaned-up Babcock Avenue property. The cleanup followed weeks of public blame-shifting between Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman over why the nuisance property had been allowed to sit unaddressed for years. During Monday’s visit, Bass said, “When it came to my attention, we acted, and we acted immediately.”

Raman’s office had previously pushed back on that framing, telling KTLA in August, “Our office has repeatedly begged LADBS and the City Attorney’s Office to secure and clean up this site.” Neither has taken responsibility for the years of inaction.

By Milan Manesh

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Los Angeles Police Department has identified the man killed in an officer-involved shooting on Saturday, September 12, at a home in the Bird Streets neighborhood of Hollywood Hills as 37-year-old Jonathan Farkhondehpour, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Authorities indicated that Farkhondehpour was behaving erratically due to alcohol consumption before he was shot.

Officers arriving on scene found a person suffering from heavy bleeding after being stabbed or cut. That person directed officers to Farkhondehpour, who was armed with a knife inside the home. Additional officers responded to the location and a team was assembled to take the suspect into custody. As the officers approached the bedroom, they observed the suspect struggling with the additional male over the knife and heard the suspect making statements he was going to kill the male. The officers gave the suspect multiple commands to surrender which he refused, prompting at least one officer to open fire.

The stabbing victim’s current condition has not been made public by law enforcement. It remains unclear whether Farkhondehpour trespassed into the home or had a prior relationship with the person he allegedly stabbed. The suspect was in possession of a 13-inch kitchen knife with a 7½-inch blade which was recovered at scene and booked into evidence.

The original 911 call came in at 9:35 p.m. Saturday, reporting a suspect armed with a knife. The incident occurred in the 9300 block of Warbler Way, near Doheny Drive. No officers were harmed during the encounter.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA—On September 14, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACODPH) issued a public beach warning for area beaches in Santa Monica and Malibu due to elevated bacteria levels that exceed state health standards. LADCOPH advises the public to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the ocean water. Recent water samples showed elevated bacteria levels that may increase the risk of illness. The Ocean Water Bacteria Warnings include the following locations. -Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, and 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms. T-opanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, and 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon. -Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, and 100 yards up/down the coast from the pier. -Pico-Kenter Storm Drain at Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica South Tower 20, and 100 yards up/down the coast from the storm drain. -Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey, and the entire swimming area. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages beachgoers to use a “Leave No Trace,” approach to keep the beaches healthy. The EPA recommends limiting damage to beaches by having people stay on the trails and boardwalks and off the sand dunes; don’t feed the birds/wildlife on the beach. Patrons should scoop and bag pet waste and toss into the trash, so harmful bacteria do not enter the ocean. Boaters should use nets on the boat to collect any garbage floating in the sea water. Secure drink containers and trash to keep it from blowing away, while practicing good beach habits like cleaning trash and debris before leaving. By Sharon