Sigi Schmid, longtime UCLA and former LA Galaxy coach, has died at age 65, the LA Galaxy confirmed to NBC4. 

The 65-year-old German coach died on Tuesday, according to the LA Times. 

Schmid began his coaching career with UCLA, where he managed the Bruins from 1980 to 1999. Schmid then went on to coach the United States Under-20 team before taking over the LA Galaxy in 1999.

Schmid returned to coaching the United States Under-20 team in 2005 before returning to Major League Soccer to coach the Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders.

Schmid returned to the LA Galaxy for a second stint in July of 2017 and resigned in September of 2018.

Schmid is survived by his wife, Valerie, and four children.

The extreme hubbub of the holidays cannot be exaggerated, nor over-estimated, nor blown out of tinsel-strewn, ornament-laden proportion.

People are busy.

They've got to-do lists so thorough that they belong on the wall in some sort of to-do list museum. And taking in all of the pleasures of December is a pursuit that, for too many, must remain unpursued, as dozens of other errands are addressed.

It's a good thing, then, that a number of Southern California spots continue to shimmer in the days that follow Christmas, while a few even push it a bit beyond New Year's Day.

Still wishing you could dip a tired toe into some of the showy splendor of the season? You've got time, even post-Christmas. Best bundle up and drive your sleigh for...

SkyPark at Santa's Village: The Lake Arrowhead-close destination, with its mid-century roots and Santa-sweet charms, is observing Christmas hours through Jan. 6, 2019. Why? Because it's "A Nostalgic Christmas at Santa's Village," of course, which means you'll enjoy sights of the season. 

Christmas Tree Lane: One of the most historic expressions of Christmas stands tall, deodar-style, in Altadena each December. Also? The tall, tall trees are free to see, and they'll keep on looking lovely right through to New Year's night. But be not sad if you have plans through Jan. 1; they'll be back, for one night on Orthodox Christmas, on Jan. 7.

Universal Studios Hollywood: So you're completely wild for the Grinch, and you also say "hooray" for Harry Potter, and you're always up for yuletide-based merriment? The theme park has it all, from Grinchly songs and sights (through Dec. 30) and a light show on the massive side of Hogwarts (twinkling through Jan. 6). Other joyful moments await, at both Grinchmas and Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but dally not, Grinchly peeps and wizards of SoCal.

Knott's Merry Farm: A snowfall in the famous Ghost Town at this Buena Park favorite, each and every night? That seems as unlikely as not eating something with boysenberry in it, while at Knott's. But that exact event is happening each evening, as well as other details that summon the festive spirit of the close of the year. This yearly happening rides away in its holly-covered wagon, though, come Jan. 6.

Moonlight Forest: Saunter by a host of large-scale lanterns, of the illuminated sort, at the LA Arboretum in Arcadia, each night through Jan. 6. Among the wonders you'll see? Think dragons and pandas and flowers and enchanting animals galore. Artisans hailing from China's Sichuan Province created these whimsical and uplifting works of large-scale art; buy your ticket soon if you love spectacular and shimmery sculptures.

Magic of Lights: The glimmery event at the Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana? Where you can drive your car by a number of dazzling displays? And ooh and ahh alongside your pals as they stay cozy inside your car? This is that very event, it sparkles through New Year's Eve, and it is twenty bucks per car.

Winter Fest: Caroling your way to Costa Mesa? For a spin on the mega ice rink at the OC Fair & Event Center? That's your choice, to sing as you go, but you may want to once you arrive. For this nightly extravaganza brims with the glossy gewgaws of the season, from Santa sightings to "snow" falling from above. As for the eight-lane tubing area? Best brush up on your going-downhill-fast skills, through Jan. 6.

LA Zoo Lights: Eager to enter "a twinkling tunnel filled with dynamic colors of swirl"? You can find it at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, where loads of after-dark delights are currently lending illumination. Final night is Jan. 6, 2019; get ticket info now.

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: If you haven't seen Jack Skellington holding court inside Haunted Mansion Holiday just yet, or Small World done up in thousands of bright bulbs, or tried all of the peppermint-amazing treats found around the Anaheim theme parks, or seen Cars Land looking Christmassy, you have time, but not too much: It all fa, la, las away on Jan. 6.

Universal Studios and NBC-owned TV stations operate under the same parent company, NBCUniversal.

A 3.4 magnitude earthquake struck Wednesday near Lucerne Valley, California at 5:15 p.m. Pacific Time according to the United States Geological Survey.

The USGS says the magnitude 3.4 quake was centered about 8 km east south east of Lucerne Valley, which is about 20 miles east of Hesperia.

There were no immediate reports of any damage caused by the quake.

A meaningful gesture became even more meaningful for some South Florida shoppers who offered to help a "homeless" man on Christmas Day.

With dirt on his face and a cardboard sign that read "Homeless, just need a little help to feed my family through the holidays," Brian Breach appeared down-and-out to several shoppers outside of the Target store near SW 82nd Avenue and 3rd Street in Plantation.

But Breach, a content creator and speaker, wasn’t actually homeless. His disguise was all part of a plan to give back.

When shoppers stopped to help Breach, he handed them a crisp $100 bill in return. One man, he said, was moved to tears by the gesture.

"He went on to tell me how he always gives back to the community and he truly believes that things come back to you for doing good deeds and it did,"Breach said.

Breach posted a video of the “Homeless Holiday (giving back) prank” on his Facebook page.

"For Christmas I pretended to be homeless to see who would help my family out during the holidays," the video caption read. "Those who did got something in return. Always Pay it Forward!"

The video shows several instances of shoppers approaching Breach, asking him what type of food he needed or scrummaging for cash. In each case, Breach presented the kind strangers with a $100 bill.

Breach, who has lived in South Florida since he was 13, said he saw a video that inspired him to give back. Within a few hours, the plan was in action.

Breach said the experience was heartwarming and that he was glad he was able to put a smile on people’s faces during the holiday.

Dexter Tinnin of Winston-Salem, North Carolina lost his mother in 2009, so he held onto the final voicemail with his mom's voice on his phone and would listen to it from time to time, according to his family.

Tinnin even refused to switch to an Iphone because the voicemail wouldn't transfer over from his android phone, so for Christmas, his family got creative.

Tinnin's two daughters, Melia and Caroline, and wife managed to get the voicemail and add it to a Build-A-Bear, which allows people to play audio recordings when the bear is squeezed tight.

The Tinnin family gifted the bear with the voicemail to Dexter for Christmas and recorded his emotional response. It's hard to imagine anyone keeping a dry eye watching Dexter's reaction to receiving the Christmas present.

Melia posted the video on Twitter, and by Wednesday afternoon, it had already been viewed more than 3.3 million times.

Two homeless men were charged with burglary Wednesday after allegedly breaking into a Santa Monica home, cooking a meal and taking a shower, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Robby Spillman says the homeless men ate his food, took a shower and treated his Santa Monica apartment like it was their own home. 

"They were able to get on my patio and come in through the back,” Spillman says he found the duo after he came home from Christmas shopping. 

"I saw two homeless men in my home cooking themselves dinner," Spillman says he could hardly believe his eyes. 

Police identified the intruders as Elijah Smart, 29, Markis White, 19, made themselves at home.

"They smelled like they hadn't showered in weeks," Spillman says. "Their clothes were very dirty and ripped."

Spillman says the pair started talking to him and asked if he minded if they "hang out for a while" and said they weren't expecting him back home so soon. 

Spillman says, "I was just in shock." 

Spillman said he kept his cool and played along.

"I was calm and I said to them, 'Do you have enough food?' 'Is there anything I can get you guys?'"

Spillman says his French Bulldog, Rocky, was shaking, so the concerned resident told the homeless men that he was going to grab his puppy and go for a quick walk.

That's when Spillman called 911.

Spillman says his kitchen is a mess, with food left everywhere, along with dirty pots, pans and dishes. 

"I'm probably just going to throw it all away," Spillman says.

Spillman and his girlfriend have a a baby due in two weeks, and the whole episode has the couple looking for a new home.

"I can't raise my family here," he says.

Spillman says he'll be moving out of their first floor apartment by next month.

A 70-year-old grandmother was shot in Inglewood on Christmas Day, and authorities are working new leads in the hunt for the shooter.

Authorities have released a description of the suspect's vehicle and allege that the suspect stole the victim's purse before taking off with a getaway driver.

The victim was a longtime Inglewood resident and is grave condition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Detectives describe the suspect's vehicle as a black car with tinted windows.

The shooting occurred near Yukon Avenue and 104th street, with torn crime tape marking the remnants of the crime scene, according to police, and a nearby security camera caught a black sedan with paper plates believed to be the getaway car.

The victim's family called police after the grandmother went to the store on Christmas Day and never returned, according to police. A woman in her 30s is believed to have exchanged words with the victim before witnesses heard a single gunshot.

"They thought it was just a conversation," Lt. Neal Cochran of the Inglewood Police Department says. "They look away for a second, then, they hear a pop which was a gunshot. They look over. They see our victim on the ground, and they see the suspect taking her purse."

The victim was shot in the face and was rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where her condition went from critical to grave. Her family was too distraught to speak on camera, but begging police to bring the shooter to justice.

Police and the family are asking for the public's help in finding the shooter and the getaway driver, a man also in his 30s.   

"To shoot her, for who knows what's even in the purse? I don't see how that could ever be worth shooting someone for," Cochran said. 

The yellow paper plates and the grainy photos of the black sedan provide limited evidence to track down the suspects, but the family is hopeful that the people responsible will be caught and brought to justice.

Anyone with information about the suspects is encouraged to contact police.

The family has also set up a GoFundMe account to help during the trying time. If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe, you may do so here. Please note that GoFundMe takes a percentage of donations.

A black New Jersey high school wrestler who was forced by a white referee to cut off his dreadlocks or forfeit his bout will not compete at his school's next match.

Buena Regional High School junior Andrew Johnson will not wrestle at the school's Thursday match as officials investigate the haircutting incident that thrust the student, referee, school and others into the national spotlight, announced Dominic A. Speziali, the attorney representing Johnson and his family.

On Wednesday evening, the Buena Regional school board convened an emergency meeting because of the backlash to what Johnson went through.

The board announced that the district would never again participate in any sporting event at which the referee, Alan Maloney, takes part.

Some residents were very angry that Johnson was forced to make such a choice in the midst of a wrestling match.

The school board also announced that the high school's wrestling coach and athletic trainer would discuss the incident with board members behind closed doors. But, the board said, the outcome of that discussion would not be made public.

An attorney for the Johnson family said the wrestler did not want either of the two school employees fired.

A video of Johnson being forced to cut off his dreadlocks in the middle of his high school gym went viral and gained national attention as people rallied around the teen and raised questions about the treatment of young people of color.

The video, originally tweeted by a SNJ Today reporter, shows fans and coaches watching as Johnson stands dejected while a trainer uses a pair of scissors to cut off his hair.

The crowd cheers as Johnson wins the match - which helped his school to a tournament victory - but despite having his hand raised after the victory the junior stands with his shoulders slumped and head down as he walks off the mat to be comforted by his team.

Maloney has been identified by the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, newspaper as having used a racial slur against a black referee in 2016.

Maloney said he did not remember making the comment, but did agree to participate in sensitivity training and an alcohol awareness program after the incident was reported, according to the newspaper.

Speziali says that during Johnson's match, the wrestler was told his hair "wasn't in its natural state" and that Maloney called the teen's dreadlocks, "braids."

While some criticized Johnson's coaches, he and his family have stood by the coaches and athletic trainer, placing full blame on Maloney.

The Johnsons and Speziali say the referee did not raise any issues about the length of the teen's hair or the need to wear a hair covering when he evaluated Johnson before the match.

"The blame here rests primarily with the referee and those that permitted him to continue in that role despite clear evidence of what should be a disqualifying race-related transgression," Speziali said.

The video drew swift condemnation of the way Johnson was treated and an investigation by the state Division of Civil Rights.

New Jersey native Jordan Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, also voiced his support of Johnson, using Twitter and Instagram to call the incident "nonsense" and a "combination of an abuse of power, racism, and just plain negligence."

The American Civil Liberties Union's New Jersey chapter also responded with a tweet asking, "How many different ways will people try to exclude Black people from public life without having to declare their bigotry?"

Buena Regional School District Superintendent David C. Cappuccio said the district is also investigating the case and "will continue to support and stand by all of our students and student athletes."

For its part, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said it was conducting an investigation into the incident.

Michael Cherenson, a spokesman for the NJSIAA, said the organization had reached out to leagues and conferences that assign referees that they have agreed not to assign Maloney to any event until the matter has been reviewed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A 14-year-old girl from the San Jose area was found dead below a popular overlook near the Grand Canyon, believed to be the victim of a roughly 70-story fall, according to authorities in Arizona.

On Monday, Coconino County sheriff’s deputies responded to Horseshoe Bend Overlook on a report of a missing 14-year-old girl. Her family, who was visiting from the greater San Jose area, had last seen her around 2 p.m. at the overlook and reported her missing around 4 p.m., the sheriff's office said.

Search-and-rescue crews searched the area via helicopters and located the missing girl's body about 700 feet below the overlook, sheriff's officials said. Due to darkness, rescuers had to wait until the next morning to recover the body.

The girl's body was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office in Flagstaff. The girl's name was not released.

The initial investigation indicates an accidental fall, but the death is still under investigation, sheriff's officials said.

Horseshoe Bend is a distinctive U-shaped landmass north of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River. Tourism has increased in recent years and the site, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, draws thousands of visitors every day, according to a recent National Park Service news release.

Last year, the park service said it was installing rim safety railing, though visitors would still be able to walk along the canyon rim beyond the railing to look down at the canyon.

CORRECTION (Dec. 27, 2018, 6:10 a.m. PT): An earlier version of this story misidentified the location of Horseshoe Bend.

A Canada goose poisoned by prescription medication that it found at an Orange County park is flying free after recovering at an animal care center.

Brian McDaniel rescued the sick goose after he found it wandering last week on a street. He was there to open the crate Wednesday and release the goose he calls "Buddy" back into the wild in Huntington Beach. 

Buddy was in poor shape after eating an assortment of pills found at Carr Park. The pills scattered on the ground included sedatives, heart, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication. 

McDaniel called the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, where the bird was treated. The goose likely would have died without care, according to the center. 

"His head an neck were rolling all over the place," McDaniel said. "It couldn't keep its head up. It started flapping its wings aggressively. I thought it was dying."

McDaniel said he was happy to see a safe and happy Buddy take flight Wednesday. After he opened Buddy's crate on a pond shoreline, the goose appeared to wobble at first before confidently striding into the water and swimming away. 

Police are looking for the person who discarded the medication, which included sedatives.

"It's discouraging to know people are that irresponsible," said wildlife manager Lisa Perrone. "Or, maybe they just don't think of the consequences."

The wildlife center continues to care for another bird poisoned by the medication.

Correction: A previous version of this article indicated the goose was released Thursday. It was released Wednesday.

Some Instagram users found themselves swiping through their timelines left to right on Thursday, rather than vertically, prompting widespread outrage and the social media company to roll back the update, NBC News reported.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri explained what happened on Twitter: "That was supposed to be a very small test that went broad by accident. Should be fixed now. If you're still seeing it simply restart the app. Happy holidays!"

The Facebook-owned app's test focused on user interaction with its feed, switching from its traditional up-down swipe to a left-right version. 

The update seemed to upset many people, based on the reactions on social media, but many users said their feeds soon went back to normal. 

An Instagram spokesperson later described the situation as a bug and wrote by email: “Due to a bug, some users saw a change to the way their feed appears today. We quickly fixed the issue and feed is back to normal. We apologize for any confusion.”

Rose Parade, Before the Rose Parade: Most parades, as a rule? They happen when they happen, after a good deal of behind-the-scenes prep. But the venerable Rose Parade, which began in the late 1800s, is so large that the party for the public begins well before the event. Happening in the days ahead of the famous procession? Float decorating, Equestfest presented by Wells Fargo (yep, the horsies), and Bandfest presented by Remo (yep, the music). Even the brand-new, food-packed Sip & Savor is on the stage, too. Can't wait for the big day? You're not alone, rosy peeps.

Kwanzaa 2018! Traditional seasonal celebrations may deliver joy and vibrancy, on several levels, but few Southern California cultural events can rise to the festive spirit of this annual offering from the Lula Washington Dance Theatre. The "highlight of the program" will be the Harambee Suite, "featuring students of the LWDT school," but look for several beautiful expressions of the holiday, made through movement. The dates? Buy your ticket now for Friday, Dec. 28, Saturday, Dec. 29, or Sunday, Dec. 30. 

Annenberg Community Beach House Polar Plunge: The final Saturday of the year is expect to be cool-ish, as winter days 'round LA go, but, even with that in mind, would you dare dash, while rocking your swimsuit, into the Pacific Ocean? Several adventurers shall, on Saturday, Dec. 29. That's free to join, but spend ten bucks beyond that and retreat to the Beach House's heated pool for a splash, a warm shower, games, and more convivialities. There'll be treats, too, for purchase. A reward for your ocean-based bravery? Let's call it that, okay.

Snow Days: There may be flakes to enjoy in our mountains, but down here, in the flattier section of Southern California? We're distinctly lacking in the cold stuff, as usual. There is a way to find it, though, if you venture to Kidspace Children's Museum through Sunday, Dec. 30. Snow to play in, a snowy storytime, live entertainment, and cookie decorating (for an additional three dollars) are on the schedule. Take note: Lots of Rose Bowl happenings are afoot nearby, so plan your journey in/out accordingly.

Pasadena Film Tour: You're all up in the Rose Parade excitement, and you've got several Crown City outings planned. But have you seen the many movie locations that dot the historic town? Hop on a bus and invite film-loving smartie Jared Cowan be your story-sharing behind-the-scenes guide to Pasadena's cinematic past. The stop-packed tour covers comedies ("Legally Blonde") to TV shows ("Parks and Recreation"), so surely something you love will be on the route. Tickets for the Dec. 29 tour? Find 'em here, Pas-obsessed movie lovers.

Michelle Obama is the most admired woman by Americans in 2018, bumping Hillary Clinton out of the top spot for the first time in 17 years, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Obama finished first by a significant margin this year, Gallup said on its website Thursday. The former first lady received 15 percent of responses, with Oprah Winfrey in second with 5 percent. Clinton came in third place with 4 percent of responses, tying with current first lady Melania Trump.

Former Secretary of State Clinton, a former first lady as well, claimed the title of the most admired woman 22 times, more than any other woman. Obama came in second to her three times.

Queen Elizabeth II finished among the top 10 women for the 50th time.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama's husband, former President Barack Obama, is the man Americans most admired in 2018, receiving 19 percent of the responses. He has claimed the title 11 times in a row.

President Donald Trump ranked second behind Barack Obama, receiving 13 percent of the responses. George W. Bush followed with 2 percent, with Vice President Mike Pence, Pope Francis, Elon Musk, the Dalai Lama and former President Bill Clinton also making the list.

Gallup conducted its annual survey Dec. 3 to 12 and asked Americans in an open-ended question to name any living man and woman they most admire. The survey was first conducted in 1946.

President Donald Trump falsely told American troops in Iraq that he gave them a 10 percent raise, and was also wrong in calling the raise their first pay hike in a decade, NBC News reported.

In fact, troops will receive a 2.6 percent hike in 2019, up from a 2.4 percent raise in 2018. American troops have received a pay hike every year for decades, though 2019's raise is the largest in nine years.

Here's what Trump said on Wednesday: "They said, 'You know, we could make it smaller. We could make it three percent. We could make it two percent. We could make it four percent.' I said, 'No. Make it 10 percent. Make it more than 10 percent.' Because it's been a long time. It's been more than 10 years. That's a long time. And, you know, you really put yourselves out there, and you put your lives out there. So congratulations." 

A Pennsylvania national guardsman faces attempted homicide charges after prosecutors say he fired at SWAT officers during a Christmas night standoff at his Chester County home.

Nathaniel Lewis, 34, surrendered to police Wednesday morning after a crisis negotiator sang Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" — made famous by Bing Crosby in the film of the same name — to him over the phone, the county district attorney's office said.

Lewis was taken into custody nine hours after he locked himself inside his East Vincent Township home. Prosecutors said officers responded to the house along Aftons Circle at 9 p.m. on Christmas after his estranged wife called for help. The couple have been going through a separation.

The wife told police that Lewis' sister-in-law went to the home to check on him but had trouble getting in. She eventually forced her way inside and found Lewis wielding a rifle. He fired four shots at the woman as she fled, police said. She was not hurt.

The Chester County Regional Emergency Response Team, a SWAT team, was called in after officers arrived. At some point during the standoff, prosecutors said Lewis fired upon police from his home. Bullets hit an armored truck with officers in and around it, along with a neighboring home and car.

A SWAT sniper returned fire. No one was hit in either case. A second SWAT team, the West Chester Emergency Response Team, was deployed to assist after the gunfire erupted.

Tom Hogan, the district attorney, also came to the scene and said he handed out Christmas cookies to the officers at the scene.

Lewis eventually surrendered at 7 a.m. Wednesday following the over-the-phone Christmas serenade. He was taken to Paoli Hospital for treatment of a minor head wound. A breathalyzer also detected alcohol in his system, police said.

Investigators found a rifle, spent shell casings and two firearm magazines in a second-floor bedroom, police said.

"This being SWAT, they ate the cookies, made fun of each other, and went home to their families, quietly satisfied with a job well done," Hogan said in a post to Facebook.

Lewis is charged with several counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and weapons violations.

"This defendant is lucky he did not kill a police officer," Hogan said in a news release on Thursday. "The SWAT team members deserve the highest praise for their courage and dedication. While the rest of the world was going to bed after a long Christmas day, our officers were laying their lives on the line for hours in the bitter cold."

Lewis remains in the Chester County Prison after being unable to post bail. It's not clear if he's retained an attorney. His status in the National Guard was not immediately known.

A black hotel guest says he was 'racially profiled' at a Hilton Hotel in Oregon and asked to leave the property by police for trespassing.

Jermaine Massey described his experience with a hotel staffer named Earl on Instagram. He says the trouble began as he spoke to his mother on his phone in the hotel lobby and hotel staff called the police on him. Massey wrote, "the exact reason is still unclear to me."

Massey posted a second post and series of videos on Instagram that appear to show a portion of his encounter with police at the hotel.

In the video, an officer is heard saying, "Earl is in control of the property… If he says you gotta leave, you gotta leave."

Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Chris Burley confirmed an officer arrived at the DoubleTree Lloyd Center in Portland after hotel employees contacted police. The staff requested officers respond to the location regarding "a person who hotel staff were trespassing from the property."

Burley said that the man gathered his items and left. Before he left, police offered assistance to a new hotel, which he declined. 

Social media reaction posts began surfacing with the hashtag #HotelEarl. Over the past year, hashtags have emerged following other reported incidents of black people being racially profiled, such as #LivingWhileBlack, #BBQBecky, #CornerstoreCaroline, #PermitPatty and #PoolPassPete. Videos have documented black people harassed as they golf, eat, nap and swim. 

"It is never ok to discriminate against guests for the color of their skin and to prejudge them based on your own bias against that race," Massey wrote on Instagram following the ordeal.

DoubleTree by Hilton Portland General Manager Paul Peralta released this statement to KGW-TV, Portland's NBC affiliate:

"Safety and security of our guests and associates is our top priority at the Doubletree by Hilton Portland. This unfortunate incident is likely the result of a misunderstanding between our hotel and guest. We are sorry that this matter ended the way it did. We are place of public accommodation and do not discriminate against any individuals or groups. We have reached out to the guest in order to resolve this matter. I look forward to speaking with Mr. Massey today and resolving this issue directly with him."

It was an email to NBC4 that led us to a homeless encampment some residents feel rivals Skid Row itself.

As part of our "Streets of Shame" series, NBC4 has been flooded with emails, phone calls, photos and videos of what people in Los Angeles say they live with every day. Their stories of the homeless crisis have been a focus for our series, their complaints about the city’s response has been a mission NBC4 is trying to get answers to. 

The latest concern for some in the San Fernando Valley is an encampment near the Sepulveda Basin. It sits along a riverbank just south of Burbank Boulevard and north of the 101 Freeway and from the 405 Freeway to Havyenhurst Avenue. It took NewsChopper4 Alpha to view it from above to grasp just how big it is down below. 

"I’m, like, I’m shocked right now," says a woman who didn’t want to be identified. She was walking near the start of the encampment just by the 405 Freeway with her husband and their little dog. "We can’t even walk our dog, like honestly, through the streets."

She said she was afraid of a confrontation with one of the countless people suffering from homelessness in the bushes.

Driving by on Burbank Boulevard, you may not immediately see it, but recent traffic when the area was down to one lane before the Christmas holiday left some drivers staring at what was beyond the brush.

People who live nearby and reached out to NBC4 say some tents are so big, they appear like warehouses. They say they’ve seen the people who live here – some in what they call "tree houses" and using titles among themselves like "mayor" and "governor" of the encampment. 

And while it's not illegal to be homeless in Los Angeles, some residents argue the City isn't doing enough to enforce health and safety codes and to push encampments like this out.

"I came here because it's quiet and lovely," says Deborah Smith, a recently new resident of Sherman Oaks who sent pictures of the RVs that line Riverside Drive where she lives.

"It's a safety factor now," she says. "It's dirt, it's filth, I’m seeing rodents that I've never seen and it's become unbearable."

Smith says she's seen the encampment near the basin and worries the amount of homeless people living there could lead to an increase in her area as well. 

LA City Councilwoman Nury Martinez says the encampments in the Sepulveda Basin capture her exact frustrations.

In a statement to NBC4, she added this: "While service providers are out there almost daily, there are numerous homeless individuals who do not want the assistance at this time. At the same time, we have neighborhoods in parts of this city saying that while something needs to be done about homelessness, they don't want housing or service providers in their community."

"As a result, encampments concentrate in areas like this, and it's not fair. It's not fair for communities like Lake Balboa, or Van Nuys, or Sun Valley. And it's not fair for our kids or families to not feel safe or be able to enjoy the recreational and nature-based amenities of the Sepulveda Basin."

"This location, and others across the city, are targeted by the Unified Homeless Response Center for coordination of critical social and clean-up services."

Martinez said she was unavailable for on-camera comment and did not discuss the bigger concern for those who live around here – the documented rise in crime.

"The filth and the aggressiveness and the needles and the feces, that to me is a crime," Smith says. "And we’re not getting anywhere."

A woman and her 13-year-old son were found dead Thursday morning inside the family's San Fernando Valley apartment.

Police said the boy's father called 911 to report that he came home to the Valley Glen residence in the 13800 block of Oxnard Street and found his family members dead.

Police did not release details about the causes of death. No arrests were reported early Thursday. 

"We do not have a motive at this time, although detectives are saying that they do not believe this was random," said LAPD detective Meghan Aguilar. "Either the people or the location was targeted."

Refresh this page for updates.  

NBC4's Oleevia Woo contributed to this report.

From funny moments to beauty shots to intense grief, NBCLA's top Instagram photos of 2018 documented a year of extremes. 

Here's a roundup of our top nine, most-liked Instagram posts of 2018.