Jason Wells

If you see a heavy police presence near Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, don't be alarmed, it's just a training exercise. The Burbank Police Department issued a public notice advising residents that exercise will be conducted near the hospital today at Alameda Avenue and Buena Vista Street. -- Jason Wells, Times Community News Follow Jason Wells on Google+ and on Twitter: @JasonBretWells

The Burbank Police Department's crime mapping website could be down for up to two weeks during an upgrade of the system, officials announced Tuesday. The website, CrimeMapping.com, provides information about crime activity in the city by location. The temporary shut down is the result of a larger overall upgrade to the computer system, according to the police department. --Jason Wells, Times Community News Follow Jason Wells on Facebook , Google+ and on Twitter: @JasonBretWells.

As millions of Americans watched elections returns in angst Tuesday night, hundreds of people in Burbank had better things to do - a car enthusiast flash mob anyone? Shortly after 7 p.m., car enthusiasts overtook the expansive Empire Center parking lot, prompting Burbank police to request assistance from Los Angeles, Glendale and the California Highway Patrol as they attempted to disperse a crowd estimated at one point to be more than 1,000 people. It took police until nearly midnight to clear the parking lot - process that clogged surrounding streets as the massive crowd moved out. No injuries were immediately reported, but several drivers were cited and at least one motorcycle was impounded.

The giant tent for Cavalia's latest equine show has risen in Burbank ahead of its Feb. 27 premiere. The show, Odysseo, will feature 67 horses and 45 acrobats, riders and musicians under a tent that organizers say is as tall as a 10-story building with a footprint larger than a football field. Performances at the site in the 700 block of North Front Street will be set against a video screen backdrop the size of three IMAX screens. Cavalia, created by one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, was last in Burbank in 2011.

The Mariposa Equestrian Bridge - which was closed on Monday for repairs -- has been reopened more than a week ahead of schedule, Burbank officials announced. City crews had been working to replace worn wooden planks on the 73-year-old bridge, which reopened on Wednesday morning. The bridge -- located near South Mariposa Street and Valleyheart Drive -- hadn't been expected to reopen until Aug. 10. It was closed earlier this year to repair cracks in some welding points. -- Jason Wells, Times Community News Follow Jason Wells on Twitter and Google+

Burbank police this week issued a public alert after multiple residences were burglarized over a six-day period ending Wednesday. The burglars forced open windows or doors to steal “primarily concealable items such as jewelry and cash,” according to police. The department reminded residents to be aware of their surroundings and to take note of any unknown occupied vehicles on neighborhood streets. Police encouraged those who see any suspicious activity to obtain as much information as possible and then contact the department directly at (818)

Burbank's award-winning Tournament of Roses Parade float was parked on Olive Avenue Thursday for its second show -- a few days of photo staging for local admirers. The float, called "Deep Sea Adventures," won the award for best display of fantasy and imagination. Crowds started to flock to the float Thursday at the corner of Glenoaks and Olive, where it will be on display until Sunday. Burbank is one of a few Rose Parade participants that build their float entirely through volunteer labor.

A masseuse who was called to a Courtyard Marriott hotel room in Burbank on Sunday walked away with the client's iPad and Macbook Pro while he was in the restroom, police said. The client, a 24-year-old man from Florida, reported his Apple gear missing shortly after letting the masseuse into his room at the hotel in the 2100 block of Empire Avenue at about 4:10 a.m., according to police. The masseuse was described as a black woman with long dark hair, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and as wearing a red-hooded sweatshirt.

The 55-year-old man who was found dead Tuesday evening near the Scott Road offramp for the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway in Burbank has been identified as Clifford Morris of Richland, Wash. The cause of death for Morris, who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, remained under investigation, a Los Angeles County coroner official said Wednesday. Burbank police and firefighter paramedics were called to the scene about 5:55 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious was encouraged to call Burbank police at (818)

A five-week-old infant from Burbank is in critical but stable condition after suffering multiple broken bones, and her 19-year-old father is in police custody on suspicion of child abuse. The father, identified by police as Matthew Wojcik, was arrested Tuesday night after Children's Hospital Los Angeles staff alerted investigators of the infant's broken bones, and that the injuries may have been a result of child abuse. After interviewing the infant's parents at the hospital, Burbank police arrested Wojcik on suspicion of felony child abuse.

The deadline for mail-in ballots for the Burbank primary is 7 p.m. today, so for all those procrastinators, that means in-person drop offs are you're only option. Residents can drop off their ballots at five locations - the Buena Vista Library, Joslyn Center, Tuttle Center, McCambridge Recreation Center and the city clerk's office - up until 7 p.m. today. Residents who lost or threw away their ballot can pick up a provisional ballot - also due by 7 p.m. -- from the city clerk's office.

The giant tent for Cavalia's latest equine show has risen in Burbank ahead of its Feb. 27 premiere. The show, Odysseo, will feature 67 horses and 45 acrobats, riders and musicians under a tent that organizers say is as tall as a 10-story building with a footprint larger than a football field. Performances at the site in the 700 block of North Front Street will be set against a video screen backdrop the size of three IMAX screens. Cavalia, created by one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, was last in Burbank in 2011.

Burbank's award-winning Tournament of Roses Parade float was parked on Olive Avenue Thursday for its second show -- a few days of photo staging for local admirers. The float, called "Deep Sea Adventures," won the award for best display of fantasy and imagination. Crowds started to flock to the float Thursday at the corner of Glenoaks and Olive, where it will be on display until Sunday. Burbank is one of a few Rose Parade participants that build their float entirely through volunteer labor.

Burbank police are warning motorists to expect delays in the area of Vanowen and Buena Vista streets on Wednesday and Thursday. Signals at the intersection will be completely down while crews relocate them, so traffic will be controlled by posted stop signs and flaggers. Police advised motorists to avoid the area. --Jason Wells, Times Community News Follow Jason Well s on Facebook , Google+ and on Twitter: @JasonBretWells.  

A masseuse who was called to a Courtyard Marriott hotel room in Burbank on Sunday walked away with the client's iPad and Macbook Pro while he was in the restroom, police said. The client, a 24-year-old man from Florida, reported his Apple gear missing shortly after letting the masseuse into his room at the hotel in the 2100 block of Empire Avenue at about 4:10 a.m., according to police. The masseuse was described as a black woman with long dark hair, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and as wearing a red-hooded sweatshirt.

Burbank police have opened an investigation into who may have left 10, 50-gallon barrels of toxic material on a city street that threatened to spill into a nearby storm drain Thursday morning. Firefighters and police were called at about 6:25 a.m. to Spazier Avenue just east of Victory Boulevard, where they discovered the barrels full of “various substances consistent with roofing materials similar to tar and white paint.” According to police, some of the barrels were leaking their contents toward the wash at the east end of Spazier Avenue, but firefighters were able to contain and clean up the spill.

The Burbank Police Department's crime mapping website could be down for up to two weeks during an upgrade of the system, officials announced Tuesday. The website, CrimeMapping.com, provides information about crime activity in the city by location. The temporary shut down is the result of a larger overall upgrade to the computer system, according to the police department. --Jason Wells, Times Community News Follow Jason Wells on Facebook , Google+ and on Twitter: @JasonBretWells.

You'd expect Burbank to beat out Las Vegas in terms of having higher standards of living, lower crime rates or being more family friendly. But having a more robust nightlife? According to the event-listing website, Eventful, Burbank beat out the Sin City for the No. 1 spot in “The Scene” category, that is, the city with the most nightlife events. Of course, keep in mind that cities were ranked by listed events per capita. Also, making the “Most Eventful Cities Ranking” index was Pasadena, which came in at No. 4 in the categories for cities with populations under 150,000 people and for most “on campus” events.

A fund has been set up to raise money for the widow and two sons of a 33-year-old Burbank man who was killed in a head-on crash on Sunday. The man, Roman Ramos Rubio, of Burbank was killed when his sedan was struck at the intersection of Buena Vista Street and Alameda Avenue by an SUV driven by 29-year-old Ivan Valle, also of Burbank, according to police. Rubio is survived by his wife, Giselle, and two sons -- Ethan, 2, and 9-year-old Ryan, who was diagnosed with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the fund's website.

Commuters going north of Burbank on the 5 Freeway will have to contend with a series of ramp closures this week as part of a major HOV lane construction project. The California Department of Transportation has announced plans to close the ramps and lanes along the corridor through Friday. The ramps, lanes and times are listed below. The closures are part of a $121-million project to construct High Occupancy Vehicle, or carpool, lanes in each direction along the 5 Freeway between Hollywood (170)