Former gang members and addicts clear out encampments from Venice homes
Describing themselves as a professional neighborhood watch group, former gang members and addicts are helping Venice residents clear encampments from their doorsteps.
Watch CBS News
Laurie Perez is an award-winning journalist you'll catch most nights at 9, 10, and 11 PM reporting on CBS LA. She primarily covers the LA metro area and is a member of CBS LA's Team of journalists with a special focus on immigration issues.
Since joining CBS LA in September of 2014, Laurie has covered some of Southern California's biggest news events - everything from extreme weather to civil unrest to the Dodgers' World Series runs. She's been on the ground for deadly and destructive weather, in the crowd during every massive protest of the last decade, and on the streets as the COVID pandemic shut things down. She was in Pacific Palisades and Altadena in the very first hours and days of the devastating 2025 fires. With experience, empathy, and deep sources, Laurie delivers stories that help you understand and connect with your community.
Laurie's career has taken her around the nation. Before moving to Southern California, she worked as a local reporter and national correspondent in the Pacific Northwest, the South, and the Northeast.
Laurie is a graduate of Tufts University and has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
In her free time, Laurie is always looking for new places to relax and recharge in Southern California's beautiful outdoors. She's a major sports fan, especially college basketball - go UCONN! Laurie and her husband love to travel and she loves getting tips from others who've had great adventures.
Describing themselves as a professional neighborhood watch group, former gang members and addicts are helping Venice residents clear encampments from their doorsteps.
A pack of coyotes appears to have taken over an empty condominium complex that is under construction in West Hollywood, sparking safety concerns for residents living nearby.
After months of testing a new program aimed at catching bike lane violators, the city of Santa Monica is now issuing tickets with the help of an artificial intelligence-powered camera system.
Wilbur Garcia is finally heading home nearly a month after immigration agents detained him during an asylum appointment that was scheduled a day after his high school graduation.
One South Bay couple shares how they blend creativity with compassion through their business, Parting Wishes, helping families fulfill their loved ones' wishes.
A homeless blogger living in Los Angeles County is hoping that her own quest to document the struggles that come with homelessness will help shine a light on the crisis as California closes in on the gubernatorial election.
In her plea agreement, Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang admitted to working with her former fiancé and campaign staffer to push pro-Chinese propaganda.
A Malibu road is turning into a playground for wealthy guys with flashy cars, and one fellow car enthusiast is trying to shut it down.
The Pasadena Unified School District, citing structural concerns, announced that it will demolish the beloved tower at Eliot Arts Magnet.
Larry Vein, the founder of the Pali Strong Foundation, which fought for victims of the 2025 Palisades Fire, has died at 61. Since his death in late April, friends and family have gathered to remember his passion and spirit as a relentless advocate for his community as they worked to rebuild from tragedy.
On Third Street in the Arts District, there's a purple Trinket Trade box, and in it are things that are certainly not necessary, but they are fun.
Southern California residents are voicing their frustrations over the cost of tickets for the LA28 Olympic Games, which event organizers have billed as affordable, especially after getting early access last week.
Hoop dreams came true for some local girls basketball teams after the Los Angeles Clippers hosted the Recreation and Parks league finals at the Intuit Dome.
LA28 organizers will start sending emails to Southern California residents who registered for the locals-only pre-sale event on Tuesday.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco says his election fraud probe of the Proposition 50 Special Election last fall has come to a halt due to "politically motivated lawsuits and court filings."