The small city of Bell in Southeast L.A. County has become synonymous with corruption after The Times revealed huge salaries paid to top officials. L.A. County prosecutors have since charged eight former and current officials with numerous counts of public corruption. Former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo, above, is taken into custody at his Huntington Beach home before being booked into L.A. County Jail. He had an annual salary and benefits package of more than $1.5 million.
The Times generated much discussion and controversy by making public the “valued-added” rankings of L.A. teachers. The coverage played into a national debate about teacher performance. Third-graders at Morningside Elementary in San Fernando, above, listen to teacher Zenaida Tan. Contrary to popular belief, the best teachers weren’t concentrated in the most affluent neighborhoods.
The massive natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno leveled a Bay Area neighborhood and left lingering questions about the safety of the rest of California’s gas pipe system.
It was a turning point in the tight race for California governor: Meg Whitman’s former maid coming forward to say she was undocumented. The revelation left Whitman’s campaign in turmoil and sent her poll numbers falling. Above, Nicky Diaz Santillan breaks down during a press conference at attorney Gloria Allred’s office.
The discovery of the remains of two babies wrapped in newspapers from the 1930s in the basement of an L.A. apartment started an intriguing mystery. Above, LAPD Dets. Jose Robledo, left, and Hector Madrigal outside of the Westlake apartment building where the mummified babies were found.
The LAPD arrested a suspect in one of L.A.’s most prolific serial killing cases. There was controversy about whether the suspect could have been identified earlier. Above, an age progression of mug shots showing suspect Lonnie David Franklin Jr. In December, police released 180 images of women found in possession of the suspect.
The shooting death of veteran Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen was one of L.A.’s great mysteries of the year. And some are skeptical of the solution offered by police.
If any state would legalize marijuana, it would be California. But in the end, voters just said no -- to the surprise of some who assumed California would make history.
In U.S. politics, 2010 was a Republican year. But not in California, where the Democrats continued to dominate. It’s another example of how the state is different. Above, Jerry Brown and his wife, Anne Gust, celebrate his victory over Meg Whitman for governor.