Top 5 Westside Stories: House Fire, Metro Bus Assault, Sandy Aid

Close out your weekend with a recap of the newsiest and most popular Patch articles from last week. Here are the five stories that topped the headlines on Westside Patch sites:

• Construction on the 405 Freeway is four to six months behind schedule because of an issue with construction materials, according to Metro officials. The $1 billion Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project has an expected completion date in December 2013.

• Join the movement: To aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy, Patch has launched a program called Patch Rebuilds. Click here to tell us which town belongs to your heart, and Patch will donate $1 to the cause for every tweet you send.

• A fire in Brentwood destroyed one house and damaged another. A neighbor rescued the homeowners of the damaged property and the couple were treated for minor injuries. No one else was harmed in the fire.

• The race between Betsy Butler and Richard Bloom to represent the 50th Assembly is still not over. Bloom currently holds a slight lead over Butler. For the latest vote tallies, click here.

• A man charged with sexually assaulting a mentally disabled 18-year-old woman aboard a Metro bus in Culver City pleaded not guilty. Kelly Trotter, 20, who is on probation for grand theft, faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Don't want to miss a single story? Want to be the first to know about news in your neighborhood? Click the links below to follow your local Patch sites on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Santa Monica Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Venice-Mar Vista Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Marina del Rey Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Pacific Palisades Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Brentwood Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Westwood-Century City Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Culver City Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Beverly Hills Patch: Daily newsletter | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter