JetBlue offers 'Carmageddon' solution
Flights sell out
LONG BEACH, Calif.—JetBlue Airways offered commuters an alternative method for traveling between Long Beach and Burbank during the San Diego (405) Freeway closure today, selling $4 flights between the two cities on Saturday, but the flights quickly sold out.
JetBlue will offer flights from Burbank to Long Beach at 12:20 and 6:35 p.m. Saturday. Flights from Long Beach to Burbank will depart at 1:50 and 7:55 p.m.
The airline announced the flight deal at midday, and it announced via Twitter that all seats had been sold out by about 4 p.m.
“We’re helping Angelenos get over the gridlock altogether and enjoy the Valley or the beach, their favorite soccer match or a food festival, without having to brave the traffic jams to get there,” according to Mark Rogers, the airline’s Los Angeles marketing manager.
The $4 price includes taxes and fees and one free checked bag. For an additional $1, passengers were offered a seat with extra leg room and early boarding.
The flights take about 35 minutes.
JetBlue is also offering a 40.5 percent discount on its vacation packages to Las Vegas from either Burbank or Long Beach.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — An ammonia leak at a cold storage facility in Long Beach today prompted authorities to close freeway offramps in the area for nearly five hours while crews worked to handle the problem.
The leak was reported at the Long Beach Cold Storage and Logistics facility at Anaheim Street and Daisy Avenue around 3:30 a.m. , the Long Beach Fire Department reported.
The facility is the same where a leak was discovered Feb. 2, said Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Matt Dobberpuhl.
Los Angeles has long been a dream for immigrants haling from various parts of Africa. The United States Census estimates the current population of African immigrants at about 881,300. With so few numbers in the disparate communities, Africans are a silent minority, carrying a very low profile. They are less likely than other immigrants, say Latinos, to question political decisions. And many come from countries where the political consequences for questioning government can be harsh.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A three-day count of the homeless population in much of Los Angeles County will begin tonight in the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles.
What is billed as the nation's largest count of the homeless is conducted every two years and is headed by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A major ramp leading out of Los Angeles International Airport was closed again during today's rainstorm, but engineers hope to install a temporary fix to the treacherous curves Sunday.
Airport officials and Caltrans have been forced to barricade the major airport exit, from the Sepulveda Boulevard tunnel to the eastbound Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway, whenever the pavement got wet because cars would spin out on two closely-spaced, tight turns.
God may not notice the thousands of prayers tweeted for victims of Oklahoma’s devastating tornado — but Ricky Gervais sure has. And he is not pleased.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 75,000 people have used the hashtag #PrayForOklahoma, including pop starlets, pastors and politicians, according to Topsy.com, a trend-monitoring site.
For example, the White House tweeted:
President Obama: “Our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today.” #PrayForOklahoma
