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Media City/Burbank l news l entertainment l features l opinion l and whatever sparks interest
The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.The decision was 5-4 — with the court’s four conservative judges voting against the ruling. This means states must not only allow same-sex marriages, but must recognized these unions. It’s a landmark ruling and a victory for those who have fought long and hard for marriage equality. More on the ruling and reaction to it here.
The site of a controversial Walmart in Burbank will remain vacant for a while longer, despite the ruling last week of a state appeals court saying the city can issue building permits to the giant retailer. A lawsuit to block the proposed Walmart megastore was filed by Burbank residents Shanna Ingalsbee, Katherine Olson, and Yvette Ziraldo back in spring of 2012. Then in September of 2013, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, Allan J. Goodman, ordered the city of Burbank to rescind building permits issued to Walmart for the site of the... Read More →
Walmart is making good on its plans to continue the legal fight to open one of its mega-stores in Burbank. Oral arguments for the case are set for next Thursday, February 26, in the Second District Court of Appeals in Downtown Los Angeles. The retail giant is appealing a decision by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, Allan J. Goodman, back in September of 2013, which ordered the city of Burbank to rescind building permits issued to Walmart for the site of the old Great Indoors at 1301... Read More →
It’s done deal. After months of turmoil and uncertainty, the Los Angeles Clippers have a new owner. Former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, is now in charge. The NBA announced yesterday that Ballmer is officially the new owner. Ballmer ponied up a heart stopping $2 billion dollars for the NBA franchise last April. Despite the legal wrangling of embattled former owner, Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Superior Court judge, Michael Levanas, ruled Sterling’s estranged wife, Shelly, did have the right to sell the team.... Read More →
The NBA is high-fiving a ruling by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas clearing the way for that $2 billion dollar Clippers deal to move forward. Judge Levanas decision yesterday gives a huge victory to Shelly Sterling. In the probate trial, Donald Sterling claimed his estranged wife had defrauded him by taking control of the Sterling Trust and negotiating that multi-billion dollar agreement with former Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer. Will the litigious embattled owner of the Clippers step aside gracefully now? Probably not, but the judge’s... Read More →
Protesters returned to the Hobby Lobby in Burbank yesterday to spread their message. The protesters are upset because Hobby Lobby won the right to opt out of providing certain female contraceptives in its employee health insurance plan for religious reasons. The decision was handed down last month by the U.S. Supreme Court in a close vote of 5-4. On Saturday, the protesters held-up signs condemning the ruling. Frequently, they were greeted with cheers and honking of horns from motorists. Some of the drivers, as well... Read More →
Protesters returned to the Burbank Hobby Lobby today. They waved protest signs showing disdain for the national craft and home decor chain and the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing that family owned corporation to opt out of covering certain female contraceptives in the employee health insurance plan for religious reasons. Here are some pictures of today’s demonstration from photographer, Greg Reyna. More on this story coming .
The new Hobby Lobby in Burbank was the scene of not one but two demonstrations late yesterday. On the sidewalk, near the entrance to the parking lot, a group of demonstrators gathered with protest signs.They’re upset with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, which allows Hobby Lobby to opt out of providing certain contraceptives through the company’s employee health insurance plan. The evangelical Christian family who own the national chain claim birth control like “I-U-Ds” and “morning-after” pills go against their pro-life religious beliefs. Jan Hines of North... Read More →
Dozens of protesters rallied in front of the Burbank Hobby Lobby at noon today, forcing the grand opening ceremony to move inside the store. The demonstrators were protesting Hobby Lobby because of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last Monday. In a landmark 5-4 decision, the high court ruled Hobby Lobby could deny coverage in its employee health plan for certain contraceptives, such as “I-U-Ds” and the “morning-after” pills. Company co-founders, David and Barbara Green, claim those types of birth control violate their pro-life religious beliefs. Hobby Lobby... Read More →
Protesters converged on the new Hobby Lobby store in Burbank yesterday for the second straight day. Picketers greeted customers at the parking lot entrance on North Victory Boulevard July 4th during the soft opening. This is the newest Southland store for the controversial national craft and home decor chain run by the evangelical Christian family of David Green. Last Monday, Hobby Lobby won the right to deny employee insurance coverage for certain contraceptives, which the Green family feels violates its pro-life stance. They... Read More →
Hobby Lobby, the family owned arts and crafts chain opening a new store in Burbank in a few days, has been handed a major victory by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was announced today that the deeply divided high court had ruled in a 5-4 decision that privately owned corporations could not be required to provide contraceptive coverage for employees under the Affordable Care Act. The evangelical Christian family of David and Barbara Green that owns Hobby Lobby objects to certain birth control methods and devices, which... Read More →
Hobby Lobby, the craft and home decor chain, is gearing up for the big opening of its new Burbank store early next month. A new sign has been installed at the entrance to the newly paved parking lot on North Victory Boulevard. Extensive renovation of the old OSH site has been done, but work continues on the structure. Hobby Lobby’s grand opening in Burbank is set for next Friday, July 4th. Meanwhile, the parent company is the focus of national attention because of a controversial case before the... Read More →
The controversy surrounding the dismissal of the Omar Rodriguez cases has put the Burbank City Attorney, Amy Albano, on the hot seat. At the city council meeting on August 14, Albano, was asked to explain how the Omar Rodriguez cases ended. You might remember, Albano took over as city attorney last October. Albano reportedly has nearly twenty years of experience in municipal government and was previously the city attorney for Thousand Oaks. Albano beat out 27 other candidates for the Burbank city attorney job. So one would think... Read More →
A lot of folks want to know the details of the settlement handed to former Burbank Police Lieutenant, Omar Rodriguez, by the city of Burbank. And rightly so. Rodriguez was fired in April 2010, after filing a 2009 lawsuit with several minority Burbank police officers, complaining of illegal activity in the department, including discrimination and retaliation. The lawsuit and the fallout from it is part of what has become known as the scandalous Burbank “police mess.” In a recent Burbank Leader article about the settlement and the decisions to... Read More →
The city of Burbank sent out a news release on the court victory of former Burbank PD Deputy Chief Bill Taylor late yesterday. Here it is. Contact: Amy Albano City Attorney’s Office (818) 238-5709 Burbank is Unsuccessful in Bill Taylor Case Burbank, Calif. – After a lengthy trial, a superior court jury returned a verdict against the City of Burbank in a workplace retaliation lawsuit filed by former Deputy Police Chief William “Bill” Taylor. From the beginning, the City believed that its actions were justified and... Read More →
A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury late today reportedly handed former Burbank PD Deputy Chief William “Bill” Taylor a major court victory. I’m hearing the settlement awarded to Taylor, $1-3 million. In his lawsuit, Taylor claimed he was demoted and then fired after pointing out a suspected case of sexual harassment in the department to then Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr and Burbank City Manager Mike Flad back in 2009. Also, Taylor says in his lawsuit that he “… repeatedly complained from April 2008 through... Read More →
“The Green Hornet” opens in theaters today The new film version of “The Green Hornet” is going to try to make a killing over the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. “The Green Hornet” has appeared in a number of different media including, a radio program, a television series, and comic books. The 3D film hits domestic theaters today and stars, Seth Rogen as the wealthy playboy, Britt Reid, turned superhero/crime fighter who teams up with trusty sidekick/martial arts expert, Kato, played by Jay Chou. Cameron Diaz stars as Lenore “Casey”... Read More →
Judge dismisses charges against Anna Nicole Smith’s boyfriend In a surprise decision, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge today threw out the charges against Anna Nicole Smith’s long-time boyfriend/attorney, Howard K. Stern. Last October, a jury found Stern guilty of two conspiracy felony charges in connection with drugs prescribed for Smith — who died of an accidental overdose February 7, 2007. Also, the judge reduced from four to one — the charges against one of Smith’s doctors — saying the evidence did not support the charges. More on the judge’s decision and the... Read More →
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is cracking down on corruption in the city of Bell. Yesterday the mayor, Oscar Hernandez, and seven other current and former Bell officials were arrested by police and D.A. investigators. The Los Angeles Times, which broke the story, reported “…a battering ram” had to be used to break into the home of Mayor Hernandez, in order to arrest him. Hernandez was taken into custody Tuesday morning along with city council members Teresa Jacobo, Luis Artiga and George Mirabal as well as ex-council members George Cole and Victor... Read More →
Paris Hilton’s guilty plea in Vegas Hotel Heiress Paris Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor cocaine charges in a Las Vegas court today. Hilton got a plea deal: one year probation, $2,000 fine, 200 hours of community service, and she must complete a drug abuse program. Also, if Hilton violates her probation she risks going to jail for a year! The drug charges followed the socialite’s arrest at the Wynn Las Vegas last month. At first, Hilton denied ownership of the cocaine and the purse it was found in. However, today... Read More →
Uh-oh! Lindsay Lohan failed a court-ordered drug test Instead of calling a news conference when they’re in deep, deep, whatever, a lot of celebs turn to Twitter to tell their side of the story. The latest to do so, the troubled Lindsay Lohan. Late Friday reports were all over the Internet about Lohan possibly testing positive for drugs. Early Saturday morning, Lohan went online and copped to failing a recent drug test on her Twitter page. Here’s a sampling of what she wrote: “Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test and if... Read More →
Two suspects. Both accused of sexually victimizing a child. The Burbank Police Department chose to release the mug shot of one suspect — while refusing to do so in the second case. Did the BPD apply its policy fairly? I don’t think so. Here are the details. The male suspect is 35-year-old Manuel Retana. He was arrested last Tuesday, September 7, and accused of “using his forearm” to brush up against the breast of an 11-year-old girl on a bus. In a Burbank court last Thursday, Retana pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act... Read More →
