They seem to be everywhere on the streets of Los Angeles — pushcarts and tables filled with everything from hot dogs and tamales to toys and tools. These businesses are illegal, although the law is rarely enforced. Now, after a decade of debate and compromise, the Los Angeles City Council will consider an ordinance Wednesday that would grant permits to sidewalk vendors, allowing them to come out of the legal shadows.

Nipsey Hussle, the 33-year-old rapper who was shot to death outside of his clothing store on Sunday afternoon, fought for the black and Latino people of his neighborhood of Hyde Park. Long before Hussle was nominated for a Grammy, he was a champion of South L.A. and had been planning to buy back the 'hood — and in recent months, he was succeeding.

Two natural disasters in less than two years have put Sheriff Kory Honea into the limelight. Internet memes describing Honea as a hero are sweeping social media, including one saying his "calendar skips April 1 because nobody fools Honea." Residents of the predominantly rural and Republican-leaning region post hundreds of comments of support on the sheriff department's Facebook page. National and international media outlets clamor for interviews.

When she was born, the baby girl weighed about the same as an apple. A San Diego hospital on Wednesday revealed the birth of the girl and said she is believed to be the world's tiniest surviving micro-preemie, who weighed just 8.6 ounces (245 grams) when she was born in December. The girl was born 23 weeks and three days into her mother's 40-week pregnancy.

Thousands of the world’s leading stem cell researchers are convening in Los Angeles this week to discuss the prospects for a future without human disease. Stem cells could play a key role. These cells are remarkably flexible; under the right conditions, they can be coaxed to develop into many other types of cells in the body.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter won't go on trial until next year on corruption charges that involve the spending of campaign cash on vacations, extramarital affairs and other items, a U.S. judge decided Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Whelan changed the trial date from Sept. 10 to Jan. 14 after defense attorneys raised questions about whether an appeals court must first consider their motion to dismiss the case against the California Republican.

Anderson Cooper was honored Saturday night in front of a star-studded crowd at Sean Penn's ninth annual benefit for the J/P Haitian Relief Organization. Julia Roberts paid homage to Cooper before presenting him with the award. She said he showed bravery as a journalist in matters of crisis, as the event focused on his efforts after the earthquake left thousands of Haitians homeless and without basic resources almost a decade ago.

The strongest earthquake in 20 years shook a large swath of Southern California and parts of Nevada on Thursday, rattling nerves on the July 4th holiday and causing injuries and damage in a town near the epicenter, followed by a swarm of ongoing aftershocks. The 6.4 magnitude quake struck at 10:33 a.m. in the Mojave Desert, about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles, near the town of Ridgecrest, California.

Amid sexual harassment allegations and growing calls for his resignation, West Hollywood Mayor John Duran said Monday that he would relinquish the title of mayor. Duran cited health issues for his decision. He recently was hospitalized with blood clots and said he is on doctor's orders to slow down and rest. In West Hollywood, the mayor's position is a largely ceremonial position that rotates annually among council members. Duran had two months left in his term and said he would cede the gavel to Mayor Pro Tem John D'Amico.

Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town and destroyed hundreds of structures.