Local Briefs

2.7 Earthquake in Carson

A magnitude 2.7 earthquake was reported Thursday at 7:58 p.m. in Carson, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Carson was the center of a 3.7 earthquake last week, so this is an after shock.

The earthquake occurred less than a mile from West Carson, one mile from Los Angeles, two miles from Torrance and two miles from Long Beach.

In the last 10 days, there have been four earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

An average of 59 earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.0 and 3.0 occur per year in the Greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.

First human case of West Nile virus in LA County

LONG BEACH — The first human case of West Nile virus in Los Angeles County this mosquito season was recovering at home, Long Beach health officials said.

The patient, a person in their 40s whose gender was not revealed, was diagnosed with neuroinvasive illness earlier this week, officials said on Sept. 20th.

“As we approach Labor Day weekend enjoyment, this is an important reminder for people to continue to take steps to avoid mosquito bites,” Long Beach Health Officer Anissa Davis said. “Everyone needs to take steps to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.”

Los Angeles County officials also confirmed 14 additional mosquito samples that have tested positive for the virus. The new samples were found in 12 locations, including six that had not yet had any West Nile activity this year — Canoga Park, La Mirada, Long Beach, Paramount, Santa Fe Springs and Winnetka.

Additional new samples were also found in Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Norwalk, Valley Village and Woodland Hills, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

The district has now confirmed a total of 40 West Nile-positive mosquito samples this year.

Water Main Break in WeHo Floods Streets

An 8 inch steel pipe burst Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills near the 101 Freeway, on La Cienega Blvd. and Cahuenga Boulevard, causing flooding in the area.

Crews contained the water main break at Odin Street and Holly Drive by 4 pm. The breach snarled traffic during rush hour.

Water mains in many areas of the county were built in the 1920’s, and are breaking down as the pass the century mark in age.

Pershing Square is Racist.

A coalition of community activists are calling on Los Angeles to rename Pershing Square. They accuse General John Pershing, who led the US Expeditionary Forces in World War I, of being a racist.

The group wants to rename the park ‘Lawson Square’ after civil rights icon Reverend James Lawson. He spent 25 years in LA as a pastor.

The group, called Rename Pershing Square, says Pershing Square is named after a "white supremacist general with no ties to Los Angeles, responsible for genocidal campaigns against communities dear to Los Angeles (Filipino, Native American, Muslim, Korean and Mexican),” says the groups website.

”This park was named Pershing Square in honor of Armistice Day, which is the conclusion of World War I and it was named for Pershing for his role in World War I. Well Armistice Day is a celebration of peace. And so if Los Angeles really wants to have Pershing Square represent peace as it was originally 100 years ago named to commemorate, it doesn’t make sense to have Pershing. While he may have been celebrated for peace at the end of World War I, his other actions throughout his career are in no way representative of peace," said Mike Prysner with the Coalition to Rename Pershing Square.

The coalition includes members with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, American Indian Movement SoCal and so many others.