Category — Los Angeles, California
UC could oversee prison health
19 March 2010 - California Update
A proposal by the Schwarzenegger administration to overhaul the troubled medical care system for inmates could save $12 billion over a decade, officials say. But it would also cost jobs. The Schwarzenegger administration wants to put the University of California in charge of state prison inmates’ medical needs in an overhaul of the troubled corrections healthcare system that could save $12 …
Serial killer’s photos of women could identify more victims; police flooded with calls
19 March 2010 - California Update
Since the photos were released last week, the department assigned 10 investigators to look into tips based on the photos.
Site of Venice West Cafe, Beat Generation hangout, designated city landmark
19 March 2010 - California Update
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved a new city landmark — a Venice building that from 1958 to 1966 was a hangout for Beat Generation pioneers.
Two of L.A.’s biggest supergraphics coming down as crackdown intensifies
19 March 2010 - California Update
Two of the tallest supergraphics in Los Angeles, standing 11 stories in Hollywood, are being removed by the sign company after City Atty. Carmen Trutanich issued a cease-and-desist letter .
Flags raised over sponsor of Democratic golf fundraiser
18 March 2010 - California Update
An association of cable companies that opposes Internet legislation before the California Legislature is footing the bill for an event at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Democratic state senators will gather in La Jolla this weekend to enjoy rounds of golf, lavish hotel accommodations and gourmet meals at a fundraiser bankrolled largely by a group that wants a favor from them.
Advisory panel would consider increasing regulation of California’s porn industry
18 March 2010 - California Update
After hearing from industry workers, a board of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health votes to form an advisory group. Increased regulation would include mandating the use of condoms. State regulators voted unanimously Thursday to create an advisory committee to consider increasing regulation of California’s porn industry, including mandating the use of condoms and testing for sexually …
Senators announce framework for bipartisan immigration bill
18 March 2010 - California Update
Charles Schumer, a Democrat, and Lindsey Graham, a Republican, propose increasing resources for border enforcement and legalizing millions of illegal immigrants. President Obama praises the proposal. Days before a planned march in Washington, D.C., two U.S. senators announced their framework Thursday for a bipartisan immigration bill that would increase resources for border enforcement, create a …
Decades-old socialite slaying in L.A. makes its way to court
18 March 2010 - California Update
Patricia Galea, the daughter-in-law of a well-known Australian racehorse owner, was fatally shot in 1974. Two suspects at the time have now been charged with murder. On a spring night in 1974, three masked men wielding knives and guns and looking for cash burst into the West Hollywood hillside apartment of a young Australian socialite.
The still-beating heart of L.A. history
18 March 2010 - California Update
Downtown’s El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is much more than a cute tourist trap. To many an outsider, Los Angeles is a stage set. It’s a city constantly pretending to be something it’s not.
L.A. County supervisors’ spending is probed
18 March 2010 - California Update
Prosecutors examine whether supervisors broke the law when they spent millions of taxpayer dollars on pet projects without a public vote or discussion. Los Angeles County prosecutors are examining whether county supervisors broke the law when they spent millions of taxpayer dollars on pet projects without a public vote or discussion.
Polanski is petitioning for freedom
18 March 2010 - California Update
The film director’s attorneys want the case against him dropped based on the alleged misconduct of the judge in the 1977 child sex case. Attorneys for Roman Polanski petitioned a state appellate court Thursday to drop the criminal case against the director, citing secret discussions between high-ranking prosecutors and the judge during the director’s 1977 case.
Attorney general candidate wants to list South Dakota job title on ballot
18 March 2010 - California Update
Republican John Eastman has chosen to list his job as ‘assistant attorney general’ without specifying where. His opponents cry foul. Republican attorney general candidate John Eastman has chosen the job description he will show voters on the June ballot: assistant attorney general. What he isn’t saying, though, is that he is an assistant attorney general in South Dakota.
Discovery of rare wildflower in Ballona Wetlands could halt recreation project
18 March 2010 - California Update
Environmental groups ask the city of L.A. to cease construction of a walkway after thousands of nearly extinct Orcutt’s Yellow Pincushions are found. A walkway project along the banks of a Ballona Wetlands lagoon may be halted because of a surprisingly robust bloom of an obscure wildflower believed to be close to extinction, Los Angeles public works officials said Thursday.
Digging up a piece of Hollywood history
18 March 2010 - California Update
Cecil B. DeMille’s massive movie set, built in 1923 for ‘The Ten Commandments,’ lies buried on California’s Central Coast. One man’s quest to unearth the lost city has lasted nearly 30 years. Strong winds scour the dunes, which hide a curious history. Nails and fragments of concrete are scattered everywhere. Steel cables, carved pieces of wood and slabs of painted plaster poke out of the ground …
DWP board imposes first of four electricity rate hikes
18 March 2010 - California Update
The increases over the next year are planned to help the nation’s largest municipal utility cover its financial commitments and continue Mayor Villaraigosa’s plan for securing more renewable power. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s appointees at the Department of Water and Power took the first step Thursday toward imposing electric rate increases of up to 28%, despite complaints from …
Bipartisan immigration reform framework announced
18 March 2010 - California Update
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) have laid out the framework for a comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform bill that would include tougher border enforcement, creation of biometric Social Security cards and a path to legalization for the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Judge dismisses one officer’s case in racial discrimination suit against Burbank Police Department
18 March 2010 - California Update
In throwing out the case of Jamal Childs, Burbank Superior Court Judge Joanne O’Donnell ruled that discriminatory comments alleged by Childs were inadmissible because they fell outside the statute of limitations.
State regulators agree to explore requiring porn industry performers to use condoms and adopt other safety measures
18 March 2010 - California Update
State regulators voted Thursday to establish a committee to explore the possibility of requiring porn industry performers to use condoms and to take other safety measures.
Sheriff Baca argues with Republican congressman about Islamic group
18 March 2010 - California Update
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca argued with a Republican congressman from Indiana during a hearing Wednesday when the lawmaker questioned his relationship with an Islamic nonprofit group.
Zankou Chicken’s tragic family rift impedes chain’s growth
18 March 2010 - California Update
A fatal dispute has left the popular chain divided into two factions. The chain, which once had international ambitions, remains confined to the Southland. Everyone loves Zankou Chicken.
Persian fire-jumping ceremony a celebration with a bit of danger
18 March 2010 - California Update
Before the Persian New Year, people build small bonfires and jump over the flames to symbolize the changing of seasons and rebirth. Some celebrators suffered burns at an event at Dockweiler beach. Each year before the Persian New Year of Nowruz, Iranians gather on Southern California beaches to celebrate a festival of fire.
State rejects all bids for O.C. Fairgrounds
18 March 2010 - California Update
Offers fell below expectations; officials will continue trying to sell the property to help reduce budget deficit. The state has rejected all seven bids for the Orange County Fairgrounds in its first attempt to sell off state property and landmarks to help reduce California’s budget shortfall.
Episcopal Church approves ordination of openly gay bishop in Los Angeles
18 March 2010 - California Update
Mary Glasspool, senior assistant to the bishop of Maryland, will be ordained in May. The Episcopal Church gave final approval Wednesday to the ordination of an openly gay bishop in Los Angeles, putting a face behind a policy that has divided the church and caused some of its more conservative members to break away.
Man arrested in meat thermometer attack during "Shutter Island" screening
18 March 2010 - California Update
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a suspect in the case of a moviegoer who was attacked with a meat thermometer during a screening of “Shutter Island” at a Lancaster theater last month.
State rejects all seven bids for O.C. Fairgrounds
18 March 2010 - California Update
The state has rejected all seven bids it received for the Orange County Fairgrounds because they were too low.
Running from the recession
18 March 2010 - California Update
Training for the L.A. Marathon provides structure and solace to the newly jobless. Your foot strikes the ground about 1,500 times when running a mile. It strikes the ground about 39,300 times when running 26.2 of them. That’s called a marathon, for which you need both training and a routine.
Court tightens definition of cyber-bullying
18 March 2010 - California Update
Appellate panel rules 2 to 1 that hostile comments left on a Harvard-Westlake School student’s website aren’t protected by the 1st Amendment. The 1st Amendment doesn’t protect hostile Internet banter among teenagers if the messages can be taken as genuine threats of harm, a California appeals court has ruled in a case that more clearly defines when free expression crosses a line into cyber …
Whitman shows her chops
18 March 2010 - California Update
The Republican gubernatorial candidate in California isn’t dodging the media anymore. She proves to be articulate and quick on her feet. Where has she been? This Meg Whitman who wowed reporters at last weekend’s Republican state convention. The political novice who skillfully debated Monday as if she’d been doing it her entire life.
L.A. County supervisor calls for accountability in fight club case at probation camp
18 March 2010 - California Update
Supervisor Mike Antonovich seeks a report from an education agency on the hiring and screening of a probation camp teacher accused of arranging boxing-style bouts between rival gang members. Expressing deep concern over allegations that a teacher arranged fights between students in a classroom at a Los Angeles County juvenile probation camp, Supervisor Mike Antonovich said Wednesday that he …
Foster mother had 5 abuse complaints
18 March 2010 - California Update
Inquiries are focusing on her role in the death of a 2-year-old girl and how she got licensed in the first place. One of the abuse reports about her was substantiated. The South Los Angeles foster mother under investigation in the fatal beating of a 2-year-old child had been the subject of five previous child-abuse complaints, including one substantiated allegation that she had severely …