ENTERTAINMENT
April 15, 2013 | By Yvonne Villarreal
AMC is getting into the Saturday business. The network announced Monday that it was moving its third-season western drama "Hell on Wheels" to Saturday nights beginning Aug. 3. It marks yet another push by the network beyond its destination Sunday night programming. Last year, it launched its reality block on Thursday nights -- a night once home to "Mad Men" in its early days. Saturdays would see the network build up a third night of programming. PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times “A new episode of 'Hell on Wheels' on Saturday night after a full day of western fan favorites is going to be like the saddle on top of the horse,” Charlie Collier, the network's president and general manager, said in a statement.
AUTOS
April 5, 2013 | By Ronald D. White
Look around you the next time you're on the road. Chances are, you'll see someone still holding a smart phone to their ear, someone else with the phone on the steering wheel as they text, another peering down at something in their lap rather than looking at the road in front of them. A new survey released Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined that there is an army-sized group of 660,000 drivers out on the roads at any given moment of the day, texting, tweeting or otherwise partially preoccupied by something other than driving.
AUTOS
April 2, 2013 | By Ronald D. White
General Motors is recalling some model year 2013 Buick Encores with steering wheel fasteners that may not have been properly installed. The problem could cause the steering wheel to come loose or separate from the steering column. If the steering wheel separates from the steering column while driving, the ability to steer could be lost, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall involves 144 Encores equipped with a heated steering wheel and manufactured between Dec. 9 and Dec. 28. GM issued a statement about the recall, saying there were no known crashes or injuries related to the problem.
AUTOS
March 28, 2013 | By David Undercoffler
Scion kicked off the second day of the 2013 New York International Auto Show by unveiling a refreshed version of its tC coupe. The two-door compact car is Scion's biggest seller, so the 2014 model is a relatively minor upgrade from the version Toyota's youth-oriented brand started selling in 2010. "The sustained success of the tC, which accounts for 40 percent of all Scions ever sold, challenged designers to enhance the 2014 sports coupe in ways that keep it exciting to today's drivers without losing its core appeal," Scion Vice President Doug Murtha said.
AUTOS
March 22, 2013 | By David Undercoffler
Don't worry, baby boomers, Chevrolet hasn't forgotten about you. GM's everyman brand has in recent years launched one impressive small car after another. The compact Cruze, subcompact Sonic and tiny Spark have all done well for the company, both in terms of sales and in capturing younger buyers. Photos: First drive of 2014 Chevy Impala Now Chevy brings us the all-new 2014 Impala, a full-size, front-wheel-drive sedan. The Impala is aimed at competitors such as the Toyota Avalon and Hyundai Azera, both of which were recently overhauled.
NEWS
March 21, 2013 | By Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal blogger
Ferris wheels are totally old-school fun, but they're becoming the latest pop-up landmarks worldwide. Travel + Leisure magazine 's March issue names Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier among the coolest in the world for the ride that debuted in the 19th century. Here's why we should cherish our local spinner: It's the only solar-powered Ferris wheel on the planet, which makes it a pretty clean ride for those concerned about their carbon footprint, and at night it's illuminated with 160,000 energy-saving LED lights.