Malibu Motorcyclist Killed on Pacific Coast Highway

(MALIBU, Calif.) -- A motorcyclist was killed Wednesday night after being struck by a car in Malibu.

The victim was travelling eastbound on the Pacific Coast Highway around 8:45 p.m. when a white car leaving the parking lot of Geoffrey's restaurant crashed into him. The victim died on the scene.

The scene of the accident shut down portions of the Pacific Coast Highway Wednesday night.

An investigation into the incident is underway.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Five Dead in Long Beach Plane Crash

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) -- Five people are dead, after a plane bound for Salt Lake City crashed during take-off at Long Beach Municipal Airport on Wednesday.

Authorities say the plane crashed around 10:35 a.m. while on departure in the northwest part of the airport. Officials say the twin-engine aircraft burst into flames after it crashed, killing five of the six occupants and resulting in one person being rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The circumstances of the crash are being investigated.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

National Lampoon Boss Arrested For Alleged Ponzi Scheme

(LOS ANGELES) -- The chief executive of National Lampoon Inc. was arrested Wednesday in West Hollywood, accused of being part of a million-dollar Ponzi scheme.

The head of the comedy franchise, Timothy Durham, 48, was indicted by a federal grand jury, charged with defrauding investors through his loan company and using the money for his personal needs, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times. Authorities say the Ponzi scheme involved around $200 million.

Durham's business associates James Cochran and Rick Snow are also reportedly facing charges related to securities and wire fraud.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Justice Dept. Sues California over Sikh Inmate

(WASHINGTON DC) -- The U.S. Justice Department filed suit against the state of California and Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday over a California prison requiring a Sikh inmate to shave his beard.

Sukhjinder Basra, an inmate at prison in San Luis Obispo in central California, was allegedly required to shave despite the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The Sikh religion sees unshaven hair as an act of faith.

RLUIPA protects the religious freedom of people institutionalized in prisons, mental health facilities, and nursing homes. The act was passed in 2000.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

EPA: Los Angeles Among Top Cities with Energy-Efficient Buildings

(WASHINGTON) -- Los Angeles has been ranked as the top city in the nation when it comes to energy-efficient buildings that have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification.

Los Angeles leads the list of cities that had the most certified energy-efficient buildings in 2010, according to the EPA. The agency says a rise in the number of Energy Star certified buildings across the country benefits the health of Americans and saves money.

"Through their partnership with Energy Star, metropolitan areas across the U.S. are saving a combined $1.9 billion in energy costs every year while developing new ways to shrink energy bills and keep our air clean," EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said.

The other cities that make up the top five on the list are Washington D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, in that order.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio