Email Author Simone Wilson

Awards

• 2011 - Southern California Journalism Awards/LA Press Club, published December 16, 2010

  "Culture of Cruelty"

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2012 Stories by Simone Wilson

• L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich Looks to Extend Term Limits After 3 Decades in Office

  published Jul 23, 2012

  Not to be outdone by Kenny Hahn, the current record-holder for longest time spent on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (40 years), current supe Mike Antonovich is shooting for the big 44. H... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  'Parent Trigger' Scores First-Ever Victory at Desert Trails Elementary: Judge Issues Historic Ruling Against Adelanto School District

  published Jul 23, 2012

  See also: LA Weekly print stories "California's Parent Trigger" and "Parent Trigger's Second Try." For the first time in American history, parents with kids at an extremely low-performing school -- i... More >>

• All About LA Weekly's Awesome New Commenting System

  published Jul 19, 2012

  You may have noticed, today, upon scrolling down any one LA Weekly story to leave your angry tirade in the little angry-tirade box, that the experience was a whole lot more awesome than you remembered... More >>

• Who Killed Katie Wilkinsr L.A. Sheriff Says Pepperdine President's Son Can't Be Questioned, Despite Fingerprints

  published Jul 19, 2012

  The family of Katie Wilkins, a 25-year-old aspiring graphic designer found dead in her parents' Malibu garage on Saturday, April 28, may never know exactly why or how she died. Based on syringe marks... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  'Carmageddon II' 405 Freeway Closure on September 29, 30 Won't Be as Carefree as Last Year, Warns Metro

  published Jul 19, 2012

  For eager end-of-world watchers, Carmageddon I last summer was a total letdown. We did a little tour of the projected problem streets that famous Saturday, and found they were emptier than ever. Turns... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Burbank Airport Is Cheapest in U.S. (Boo Ya)

  published Jul 19, 2012

  Of all the hyper-local secrets that hardcore Angelenos love to keep in their arsenal -- hidden parking lots, shifty food trucks, shortcuts through Marina del Raaaey -- the best-loved is, without doubt... More >>

• L.A. Street Artists Call Out Councilwoman Jan Perry, Central City East Association With Cardboard 'Skid Row Estates'

  published Jul 18, 2012

  Update, 6:20 p.m.: According to a photo Tweeted by Esoteric Tours, the Skid Row Estates have been demolished. The art piece "looks to have been smashed in anger," writes the tour company. Two downtow... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The 10 Most Depressing Excerpts From Sheriff Spokesman Steve Whitmore's Personal Blog

  published Jul 18, 2012

  All of a sudden, every terrifying conversation we've ever had with L.A. County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore makes so much more sense. We just discovered his LiveJournal personal blog... More >>

• 'Applefied Ads': Santa Monica Ad Intern Delights Internet by Giving Household Products the Apple Treatment

  published Jul 18, 2012

  White background. Stark chrome letters. Floating Apple product, suspended from heaven. Bleh. Bryan Evans, a recent Pepperdine graduate and summer intern at the Rubin Postaer and Associates ad agency ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Gunfire Erupts at Mayor's Anti-Gang Program 'Summer Night Lights' in Sun Valley; Two Shot

  published Jul 18, 2012

  Amid proud statistics from the mayor's office on the effectiveness of his anti-gang program Summer Night Lights since it began five years ago, a shooting at the Sun Valley Park location has "set the b... More >>

• Awkward: CSU Presidents Receive Pay Raises at Apocalyptic Meeting on Budget Cuts

  published Jul 17, 2012

  Two doomsday scenarios were laid out by the California State University Board of Trustees at today's meeting: If the state cuts CSU funding by $250 million next fall, as it has promised to do if voter... More >>

• VIDEO: L.A. Sheriff's Deputy Brutally Detains 'Mentally Ill' Suspect by Smashing, Stomping His Head Into Pavement

  published Jul 17, 2012

  While investigating another story, Telemundo's video team says it caught a brutal L.A. County Sheriff's arrest on tape -- adding to the leaning stack of "excessive force" allegations on some neglected... More >>

• Torrance Panhandler Bites Woman in Neck for Refusing to Give Him Money

  published Jul 17, 2012

  Bums of southwestern L.A. County, gone wild! Torrance police say a panhandler waiting outside a small hospital called Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center assaulted a female employee earl... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Completely Useless New California Law Says You Can Use Siri to Text While Driving

  published Jul 17, 2012

  In a time-wasting attempt to earn back an iota of public approval, California Governor Jerry Brown just OKed a new law that (sort of, not really) allows texting while driving. The law, proposed by L.... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Claire Rose: Friends Say Santa Monica Woman Was Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver on Her Birthday

  published Jul 17, 2012

  In Santa Monica's third serious hit-and-run in as many weeks, a 30-year-old woman was killed by the driver of a dark Toyota sedan just after midnight on Monday morning. Friends on Facebook and Twitte... More >>

• Sage Stallone, Sylvester Stallone's Son, Found Dead in Hollywood Hills Apartment: Report

  published Jul 13, 2012

  A former child actor and current Hollywood mini-mogul with an iconic last name was found dead in his Hollywood Hills home today, reports the New York Post. Sage Moonblood Stallone, 36, son of actor S... More >>

• Pasadena PD on Brink of Suburban Rampart Scandalr Cops Allegedly Beat Black Teen Jeremi Carr

  published Jul 13, 2012

  Just a few months after unarmed black teen Kendrec McDade was shot to death by Pasadena police officers -- we called him "the next Trayvon Martin" -- the Pasadena Police Department finds itself in fam... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  L.A. Metro Trains to Run Until 2 a.m. on Weekends

  published Jul 13, 2012

  Haaaaaaallelujah. Metro's big announcement today is better than all its 2012 ribbon-cuttings combined: The transportation authority's official blog reports (with three exclamation points!!!) that, be... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Occupy L.A. vs. LAPD at Downtown Art Walk: Four Officers Injured, 17 Protesters Arrested

  published Jul 13, 2012

  Occupy L.A.'s plan last night was to use the popular Downtown L.A. Art Walk as a stage for their own "Chalk Walk" -- the most high-profile demonstration so far in their ongoing crusade to prove chalki... More >>

• L.A. Mural Ordinance Postponed Into Oblivion

  published Jul 12, 2012

  Last October, when L.A. City Hall started drafting an ordinance that would lift the city's oppressive mural moratorium, we tried to be patient. Even though it had taken the City Council over a decade ... More >>

• Cedars-Sinai Borrows Space Camera From NASA for More Precise Tumor Extraction

  published Jul 12, 2012

  Two of L.A.'s most prestigious institutions come together, today, for some cutting-edge teamwork: Cedars-Sinai is announcing that it has borrowed a special space camera from NASA's Jet Propulsion La... More >>

• Giovanni Ramirez Sues LAPD Chief Beck for Implicating Him in Dodger Beating

  published Jul 12, 2012

  A sheepish apology from LAPD Chief Charlie Beck isn't good enough for former Dodger beating suspect Giovanni Ramirez, who was dramatically arrested in May 2011 for allegedly bashing in Giants fan Brya... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Erin Galligan, Venice Cyclist, Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver on the PCH

  published Jul 12, 2012

  A 30-year-old bicyclist who lived in Venice and worked at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood was killed by a hit-and-run driver late Tuesday night. Erin Galligan was riding southbound along the rig... More >>

• 32 Chihuahuas Seized From La Puente Home

  published Jul 12, 2012

  A woman found with 32 chihuahuas and chihuahua mixes living inside her La Puente home told officers she was just trying to save them from life on the suburban streets of east L.A. County. According t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  8-Foot-Tall Lego Man Washes Up on Topanga Beach; No One Gives a Damn

  published Jul 11, 2012

  Here's the difference between Florida and California: When a giant 8-foot-tall Lego man washes up on the beach as part of a guerilla art project, Florida cops detain him and hold him in custody (as w... More >>