Meg Whitman Press Conference

Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman faced the press today answering questions about hiring then firing her maid, Nicky Diaz. Whitman claims she did not know Diaz was here in the U.S. working illegally without any documentation.

Diaz also claims Whitman abused her verbally and financially, Whitman denies the claims. Whitman and her husband, Dr. Harsh, claim Diaz stole mail that would prove that she was here illegally. They now have a lock on their mailbox and pick up the mail themselves.

When asked by a T.V. reporter to take a lie detector test, a la Maury Show, to prove here innocence, Whitman said that she would be happy too.

Photos and footage by Ted Soqui © 2010

McCourt Trial Final Day

Attorney Dennis Wasser and Jaime McCourt.

Attorney Victoria Cook.

Attorney Steve Susman

Attorney Dennis Wasser

Dodger exec. Howard Sunkin, Attorney Sorrell Trope, and Frank McCourt.

The divorce trial between Jaime and Frank McCourt has finally gone to the judge after 10 days of testimony.

The question of who will own the L.A. Dodgers will be decided by L.A. Superior Court Judge Scott M. Jordon, who can take up to three months to come up with a decision.

Both sides claim they will be victorious, and more lawsuits are sure to come.

Photos and footage by Ted Soqui © 2010

L.A. Roads Rated 2nd Worst In Nation

Wilshire blvd., Beverly blvd., and Western Ave.

The TRIP foundation, a non-profit national transportation research group, rated the roads of Los Angeles second worst in the nation with 63% of roads in poor condition.

San Jose was number one with 64 %, and Honolulu was number three with 62 %.

The TRIP foundation also recommended repairing the roads sooner and using higher quality paving materials, to save money on costly road repairs and delays to traffic.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Tea Party Rally In BH

Opening ceremonies.

Pat Boone.

Child protester.

The crowd.

O-B-A-M-A.

Tea Party supporters.

Rally attendees.

The entertainment.

Hundreds of Tea Party members and supporters held a rally at the Beverly Gardens Park in Beverly Hills.

Pat Boone was the master of ceremonies and speakers included actor Robert Davi and Victoria Jackson (former SNL cast member).

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

LiLo In Court, Again

Lindsay arriving to court.

A pap gets ticketed by B.H.P.D.

Lindsay leaving court.

Lindsay Lohan arrives to the Beverly Hills Courthouse to face the judge again. Lohan failed two court ordered drug test, and now faces more jail time.

Ted Soqui © 2010

City of Bell, "Corruption On Steroids."

The day's events following the arrest of eight Bell city officials.

Photos and footage by Ted Soqui © 2010

So Long Joe

We hardly knew you.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2010

Apartment Fire In KTown

A L.A.F.D. Fire Fighter climbing a ladder to the 6th floor.

Flames on the 6th floor.

Residents of the apt. bldg. watch the fire from the street below.

A L.A.F.D. working the fire outside the 6th floor.

L.A.F.D. working the fire on the 6th floor.

Three L.A.F.D. hook and ladder trucks on St. Andrews.

Residents of the building hugging each other, safe.

Kitty saved by her owner.

A Korean-American L.A.F.D. Fire Fighter speaks to the Korean Press about the fire.

A six story apartment building at 614 s. St. Andrew's in L.A.'s Koreatown caught fire this morning. The structure, built in the 1920's, billowed smoke and flames for over an hour. The residents of the building were forced to evacuate, many quickly left with their pets and the clothes they were wearing. Several residents reported hearing gun shots before at the building before the morning blaze.

The building also reported a fire yesterday. The A.T.F. and L.A.F.D. are investigating the fire.

Over 130 fire fighters were on scene. No one was seriously injured.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Welcome To The Wild East

This sign on the 110NB Arroyo Parkway always warms me up coming home to the HLP (Highland Park).

Of all the signs on the 110NB, this one has the most bullet holes in it with approximately 13.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2010

9-11-01 in L.A.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2001

Westlake Residents Hold Community Meeting With L.A.P.D

Westlake residents vent their frustration with the L.A.P.D.

Westlake residents listen to L.A.P.D. Chief Charlie Beck.

L.A.P.D. Charlie Beck.

Family of Manual Jamines.

L.A.P.D Chief Charlie Beck.

L.A.P.D. officials.

No bullhorns.

Angry Westlake resident.

L.A.P.D. take to the streets.

L.A.P.D. on 6th Street and Union.

Hundreds of angry residents from the Westlake area of L.A. hold a community meeting with city and L.A.P.D officials. Many people vented their frustration with the L.A.P.D.'s handling of the shooting death of Manuel Jamines. Several people loudly heckled L.A.P.D. Chief Charlie Beck.

Jamines was wielding a knife and threatening people on 6th Street, when a L.A.P.D. officer told him in English and Spanish to drop the knife. Jamines refused and was shot and killed by the officer.

Westlake residents took to the streets for a third night in a row, after the meeting. The L.A.P.D was ready this time and arrested several protesters.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Protest Aftermath On 6th Street

"we want revolution"

L.A.P.D. Rampart Station on 6th Street.

Blood on the sidewalk from Manuel Jamines.

Anti-police graffiti on 6th Street.

Street vigil for Manuel Jamines on 6th Street.

Aftermath of the 2nd night of protesting and clashing with L.A.P.D officers on 6th street in the Westlake area of L.A.

Protesters are upset over the shooting of Manual Jamines, a Guatemalan immigrant, by a L.A.P.D officer. Jamines was wielding a knife and threatening people when a L.A.P.D. officer ordered him, in both english and spanish, to drop the knife. Jamines who was intoxicated on alcohol was shot and killed by the L.A.P.D. officer.

The protesters are angry by how quickly the L.A.P.D officer used deadly force, instead of non-leathal means, to deal with Jamines.

Click on Jonathan Alcorn's blog to see his post on the evening's clash between L.A.P.D. and protesters.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010