Tuesday, October 21, 2008

A Website on Gang Terror on the Streets of Los Angeles

Tragic Sesnon Wildfire in Northern San Fernando Valley Completely Contained

Local Family Explains What It's Like in These Hard Economic Times

High School Still Reeling From Teen's Suicide

A Listing of the Most Recent Homocides in Los Angeles

Mourners Pay Their Respects to a Homeless Man Who Was Set On Fire and Burned to Death

A Violent Weekend in LA County

Long Beach Police Kill Man in Tense Stand-Off

Scandal and Corruption at an LA Labor Union

Falling Home Prices in Southern California

200 DNA Samples From Sexual Assault Cases Not Tested by Police

Two, Possibly Gang-Related, Shootings in South Los Angeles

A Review of Military Deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan from All Over California from 2001 to the Present

Investigation in High School SAT Exams

An LA Court Awards Damages to 3 Girls who Were Molested by LA School Aide

Two LA County Deputies Accused of Beating Up Firefighter

Racism in the LA Police Dept.

A Case of One citizen Trying to Stifle the Freedom of Another

LA Councilman Advocates Banning the Holding of Elephants in Zoo

Police Raid Vicious Motorcycle Gang

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Convicted Sex Offender on Loose in the San Fernando Valley

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=74246@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=227

Jamiel's Law: LA's Fight Against "Foreign" Gang Members

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_10219288?source=rss_viewed

Brush Fires in Griffith Park

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10224310

Another Elderly Woman robbed in Santa Monica

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-burglaries13-2008aug13,0,3113702.story

Armed Man Injured in Police Standoff in Pasadena

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-standoff13-2008aug13,0,485311.story

Tagger Dispute

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-lopez13-2008aug13,0,2731866.column

Man Arrested In Laguna Beach in Child Sex Sting

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-sting14-2008aug14,0,1748823.story

Neighborhood Dispute Ends in Murder

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-shootings14-2008aug14,0,4538245.story

Hollywood Actor Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-actorarrest14-2008aug14,0,3870190.story

Big Rig Hijacked in Long Beach

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-hijack15-2008aug15,0,3230860.story

Gang Member Arrested For Stealing an FBI Van

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-fbivan15-2008aug15,0,5388959.story

Gang Member Found Dead in San Clemente Park

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-gang15-2008aug15,0,2728363.story

A Sagging Economy Causing Cutback in Hours at Government Jobs; DMV Workers Stage Massive Protest

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dmv17-2008aug17,0,6762662.story

Another Deadly Car Crash After a Police Chase

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chase17-2008aug17,0,7193884.story

Two Charred Bodies Found at Fire Site

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-firedeaths17-2008aug17,0,1839658.story

Sunday, June 1, 2008

The Following is About Mayor Villaraigosa's June Trip to Israel

It is not anti-Israel, but in these hard economic times, some think it's a waste of taxpayers' money for city officials to go anywhere.

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9420932

GI Bill and College

After WWII, the GI Bill was enacted by the US Government in order to financially help returning war veterans received a college education. Nowadays, returning vets from the Iraq War are finding hard to make ends meet whether they are being helped by the GI Bill or not.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9441641

Rising Prices in General in Los Angeles are Taking Their Toll on Many Angelenos

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9441641

High School Football Player Shot to Death in Sun Valley

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9446725

Man Shot to Death in Van Nuys

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9446735

Fire Partially Destroys Universal Studios

As seen by an eye-witness - me!

Billowing black smoke covered a good section of the San Fernando Valley where the studios are located. At first, I thought they were rain clouds. Following the trail of the smoke, one could see that part of the studio back lot was literally covered with thick black smoke. It was surreal. That part of the lot made to look like "New York" was totally detroyed. Full story below.

http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6670379&version=54&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

About Gang Violence and Terrorism on LA Streets

http://lang.dailynews.com/gangs/

Four Hours of Gunfire in the San Fernando Valley

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9327365?source=rss_viewed

Gunfire Erupts on the Ventura Freeway

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9336875

Anti-Semitic Attacks in the Los Angeles Area

The following was taken from an article about anti-Semitic attacks in general in the Diaspora from http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126246.

A visibly Jewish man was attacked April 12 in Los Angeles by two men with shaved heads “who spoke a language not English or Spanish,” according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which is publicizing a $30,000 reward offered by the L.A. City Council for information leading to the apprehension of the attackers.

The victim, a 58-year-old, was wearing a yarmulka when he was attacked by the two men, who called him “dirty Jew” and hit him on the side of the head before punching and kicking him once he was down.

L.A. Police report a steep rise in anti-Jewish attacks in the San Fernando Valley, with anti-Semitic vandalism and improvised bombs targeting the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus and a private home in West Hills.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

LA Tries to Make Itself More Bike-Friendly Due To Rising Gas Prises

For those of you who live in Europe or Israel, you might think that we in Los Angeles are overreacting to the rise in gas prices which are, on average, about $3.90 a gallon as of this writing. Don't forget, this is Los Angeles. We depend on the car unlike any other group of people on this planet.

By the way, I'm one of those people who think biking in this city is undoable, if not dangerous, and I speak from experience.

http://www.theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=394791

LA Councilwoman Found to be Slandered by the Police

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_9254516

Sex Abuse Coverup at LA Schools

http://www.knbc.com/education/16267584/detail.html

5 Foothill Slayings Have Area On Edge

http://origin.dailynews.com/news/ci_9263064

ICE Massive Round-Up of Illegal Immigrants

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/15/18499475.php

A Second Crime Report of the Los Angeles Area

http://www.insidesocal.com/crime/

A Homicide Report of the Los Angeles Area

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/homicidereport/

Firefighters Battle Brush Fire in Griffith Park

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356197,00.html

Marine Shot to Death in San Clemente

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marine16-2008may16,0,1256607.story

"Private Investigator to the Stars" Pelicano Convicted of Racketeering and Conspiracy

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pellicano16-2008may16,0,4434631.story

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Ross Store Evacuated After Robbery

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=65488@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=227

Lead In School Water Alarms Parents

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9070026

Officials in LA City Hall Depict the San Fernando Valley as a Gang War Zone; Residents Say It's Not That Bad

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9069486?source=rv

People Nearing Retirement are Hit by the Bad Economy

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-makeover27apr27,0,595583.story

LA's Chinese Community Demonstrate at CNN's Hollywood Headquarters

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chinese26apr26,0,6415623.story

Fears Arise Over Racial Tension and Gang Violence in LA's Poorest Schools

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-survey26apr26,0,2139687.story

Once Again, the California Wildfires Have Started

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-weather27apr27,0,5226792.story

Ethnic Tension Between Armenians and Hispanics

On April 24, ethnic tension erupted in Grant High School (my old school), between Armenian and Hispanic students during the commemoration of the Armenian genocide by the Turks in 1915.

http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-schoolfight,0,4991993.story

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Fear That New Jail in Mira Loma Could Increase Crime

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8896795

Immigrant Rights Groups Charge Police with Singling Out Certain Groups of People

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8925480

Report Finds LAPD SWAT Team to be "Insular, Self-Justifying and Resistant to Change."

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8934326

Victims of 2005 Police Beating Win Big Settlement

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bell15apr15,1,5492287.story?track=rss

Mayor Asks for Tax Hike to Pay For an Expanded Police Force

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-mayor15apr15,1,4907504.story

Geologists Predict Southern California Could Experience Another Big Earthquake Within the Next 30 Years

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-quake15apr15,1,5567448.story

The Steady Rise in Housing Foreclosures is Blamed for a Decrease in Property Values

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-homes16apr16,0,1614205.story

Animal Shelter Supervisor Convicted in Sex Assaults

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-shelter16apr16,1,7340096.story

Toxic Carcinogen in the Air Around Riverside

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hex16apr16,0,152814.story

Thursday, April 3, 2008

It Doesn't Just Happen in Israel

In early March, a documentary entitled "South Central Farm" was released to the public documenting the life of this former farming community which had become a source of food and a tremendous economic asset to South Central Los Angeles. In 2006, LA authorities destroyed this peaceful community. Although there are many differences, similarities between this community and Gush Katif can also easily be seen. The following youtube links are not part of the "South Central Farm" documentary, but they are still worth viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT66AsTk4iQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wusCsE9C5rw

There is precedent. In 1947, a peaceful Mexican neighborhood in Chavez Ravine was destroyed and its inhabitants expelled in order for Dodger Stadium to be built.

2 Road Shootings on the 101 Freeway and in Long Beach Seem to be Unrelated

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=63478@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=227

Glendale Cop, Shot by Dangerous Murder Suspect, Saved From Death by Bullet Proof Vest

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=63790@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=227

Anthrax Hoax at the Port of Long Beach

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-container3apr03,1,4159952.story

LA Neighborhood, Once Thought to be Finally Gang-Free, Isn't After All

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-robertson3apr03,1,6706681.story

The Illegal Activities of "Private Eye to the Stars" Anthony Pellicano

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-pellicano-sg,1,6702911.storygallery

Police Detain 3 in Illegal Weapons Sales

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-barricade4apr04,1,4304791.story

Living in LA's Skid Row

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outthere15feb15,0,1072762.story

Violence in South LA

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outthere28mar28,1,4553144.story

Substitute Teacher in Azusa Arrested on Child Molestation Charges

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-azusa4apr04,1,942778.story

Go-Kart Rider is Shot Dead in Florence

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gokart4apr04,0,4333471.story

Elementary School Teacher Arrested For Carrying Gun To Class

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teacher4apr04,0,1165839.story

Orange County Sheriff Found Dead, Accused of Child Molestation

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-deputy4apr04,0,5180857.story

Monday, February 18, 2008

Pasadena Church Hosts a Pro-Palestinian Anti-Semitic Conference Creating Tensions Between Local Christians and Jews

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/02/16/religion/dpt-intheory02162008.txt

The Recent Murder at an Oxnard Junior High School Was Due To Homophobia

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1714214,00.html

According to one Critic, There are No Oscar-Worthy Films This Year

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=244367&command=displayContent&sourceNode=244365&contentPK=19912531&folderPk=112383&pNodeId=188965

Security Company President and Employee Indicted of Conspiracy and an Attempt to Carry a Firearm on an Aircraft

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=acf2fdfd-297c-43f2-a471-ab894b6089dc

Cyber Pranksters

Coming on the heels of the deadly shooting incident in Winnetka, a new phenomenon is occurring - cyber users notifying the LAPD SWAT teams in Southern California of a tragedy taking place - and it's all a joke. Sometimes, the cyber users don't even live in California.

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8291447

Refugees From Last Year's Wildfires Still Have No Homes

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8291562

'Turf War' in LA City Hall Over How to Deal With Gangs

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8291554

Police Investigating Two Shootings, One of Which Might be Gang-Related

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8290166?source=rss_viewed

LAX Evacuated Over a Suspected Terrorist Threat

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8294957?source=rss_viewed

USDA Recalls 143 Million Pounds of Tainted Beef

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beef18feb18,0,4428760.story

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

LAPD Accused of Failing to Investigate Complaints Against its Officers

http://www.knx1070.com/Investigating-The-LAPD/1641427

Spies for China

Below is part of an article that appeared in www.washingtontimes.com regarding a Southern California resident being one of four who were arrested on charges of spying for China.---------


A second case involving China included the arrest yesterday in California of a former Boeing engineer who was indicted on charges of economic espionage and acting as an unregistered Chinese agent.

Dongfan "Greg" Chung, 72, of Orange, Calif., was a former Rockwell International engineer until the company was bought by Boeing in 1996. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Mr. Chung held a secret clearance and worked at Rockwell and Boeing facilities in Downy, Calif., and Huntington Beach, Calif., respectively, court papers show.

He is charged with providing Boeing proprietary information on the space shuttle and U.S. military aircraft and helicopters to China beginning in 2002.

The Foreclosure Crisis Also Affects Renters

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus13feb13,1,5617710.column

Director Spielberg Quits Olympics

Steven Spielberg has quit his position of artistic director of the Beijing Olympics because of the Chinese support of the Sudanese government over its policy of ethnic cleansing in Darfur. Apparently, he was under pressure from other Hollywood celebrities.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021203044.html

Thursday, February 7, 2008

50 Arrested in Child Care Fraud

http://www.knx1070.com/Multi-Million-Dollar-Child-Care-Fraud/1616266

Man Kills His Entire Family and a Police Officer

A day after a college student was kidnapped in Woodland Hills leading to a manhunt by the LAPD (I was wondering why all the main roads leading to Woodland Hills were cordoned off), a man in neighboring Winnetka killed his entire family and a member of the LAPD SWAT team this morning. In a radio interview, LA Coucilman Dennis Zine, himself a 40 year veteran of the LAPD and a founder of the SWAT team, was near tears on hearing of the officer's death.

http://www.knx1070.com/5-Victims--1-SWAT-Officer-Dead-in-Winnetka-Standof/1614328

Aurthorities Step Up Raid Against Illegal Immigrants

http://www.knx1070.com/Immigration-Raid-in-Van-Nuys/1617633

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Unease In and Around Hollywood

Will there be an Oscars ceremony this year, or will go the way of the Golden Globes and be cancelled? As of this writing, no one knows the answer to that. But local businesses that rely on the high volume of work generated by the Oscars are, understandably, anxious.

http://www.sfvbj.com/industry_article_pay.asp?aID=08109181.8091702.1583530.92063902.8622203.291&aID2=121801

Bacteria at Local Beaches

The recent rains have caused unhealthful runoff into the ocean causing a high count of bacteria. A "rain advisory" remains in effect.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8173463

Confusion at Local Voting Booths

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-calvote6feb06,0,5537347.story

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8175116

Orange County: A Beating Death of a Jail Inmate and the next OC Sheriff

http://www.ocregister.com/news/county-sheriff-orange-1974670-carona-deputies

Block Party Turns Into a Riot

Police tried to break up a block party on 30th St. but the party-goers refused to leave. Consequently, things got ugly. My thanks to Susan Laufer of Princeton NJ for providing me with this article.

http://media.www.dailytrojan.com/media/storage/paper679/news/2008/01/28/News/Riot-Forces.Break.Up.Party-3170685.shtml

Monday, February 4, 2008

No Happy Ending to the Writers Strike?

Hollywood writers may not find a very friendly atmosphere in the studios they work for should the strike end soon.

http://origin.dailynews.com/ci_8160097

Two Shot at Hollywood Nightclub

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8163220

Tenants and Landlords Fight Sex Offenders

A public safety plan was proposed to allow landlords and tenants to report any suspicious behavior. This will tend to crack down on sex offenders.

http://origin.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8164627

Threats Against the Church of Scientology

http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-me-scientology5feb05,1,4813130.story

Alhambra Teenager Latest Victim of Racial Violence in Monrovia

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_8153981

Gang Arrests in Moreno Valley

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_R_rgang03.41b05b1.html

Gang Leader Accused of Exporting Drugs from LA to Tenessee Goes on Trial

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/feb/04/trial-accused-mail-order-drug-conspiracy-chief-wee/

Racial Violence in Monrovia

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-monrovia4feb04,1,5814404.story

Trailer Park Owners Accused of Unsafe Conditions

http://www.knbc.com/news/15200972/detail.html

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Cops Fighting Crime Spree at UCLA

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8128083

Racial Tensions at Kennedy High School

There were many instances of racially motivated fights at LA high schools over the past few years. The below link is just the latest example.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8130464

Housing Crisis Makes Credit Hard to Come By

Due to the present housing crisis facing LA and the nation, thousands of homeowners are suddenly finding it extremely difficult to borrow against their property.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-loans1feb01,0,6255734.story

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Craqcking Down On Illegal Immigrants

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is making a determined and forceful effort to arrest and deport individuals who have immigrated here illegally.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8104586

High School Honors Three Who Have Fallen

South High School in Torrance honored its third former student who was killed in battle in Afghanistan.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-southhigh29jan29,0,2949404.story

Falling Prices

US home prices have fallen steeply since the start of the economic slowdown. Homes in Southern California, especially, have been hit hard.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-homes30jan30,0,6271844.story

Retaliatory Gang Shootings in Watts

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-watts30jan30,0,7422816.story

Mortgage Company Losses

Countrywide Home Loans, the nation's premier home lending institution has posted a loss of $422 million in the fourth quarter.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-countrywide30jan30,0,6886024.story

Court Trial of LA Man Accused of Being Saddam Informant

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8113083?nclick_check=1

Monday, January 28, 2008

Anti-Semitic Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations in LA Area

The following is part of an article that appeared on www.pslweb.org - the Party for Socialism and Liberation-----

One of the largest U.S. actions was in Anaheim, south of Los Angeles, in the heart of the Arab American community, where well over 500 people waved Palestinian flags and held signs and banners demanding justice for Palestine. Arab American youth chanted "End the siege of Gaza now!" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!" while marching. Muna Coobtee, ANSWER Coalition, chaired the rally, which featured speakers from local Arab and Palestinian groups, nearby mosques, student groups and a representative of the La Riva/Puryear Party for Socialism and Liberation presidential campaign. Speakers mourned the death of Dr. George Habash, founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and urged support for the March 15 mass march to stop the war in Los Angeles and the upcoming Al-Awda convention commemorating 60 years since "al-Nakba" (the creation of the state of Israel and forced "ethnic cleansing" of over 750,000 Palestinians).

Rain Storms in California

Heavy rains caused havoc in California including one fatality.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/01/29/news/state/13_31_551_27_08.txt

Gang Member Gets Life in Prison

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8099300?source=rss_viewed

Another Drive-By Shooting in LA Kills One

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8099764

Hijacking Hoax at LAX

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8100972

Rent Control (or lack of it) in the Los Angeles Area

A common misconception that is held by people around the world is that the Los Angeles area is controlled by Los Angeles. This is false. As a result, what might be true for areas that ARE controlled by LA may not be true for those areas that are not. For example, there is no rent control for those people who don't live under LA's jurisdiction. Consequently, poor people, especially the elderly, are being forced to vacate their homes.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rent28jan28,0,7822882.story

Thursday, January 24, 2008

America's Maltreatment of US Soldiers

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8059480

School Health Cuts

The schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District could soon be forced to close many of its health clinics.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8059324

Navigating LA's Bureaucracy

A local organization based in Sherman Oaks is trying to help new businesses overcome LA's stifling bureaucratic red tape - but apparently, it's an uphill battle.

http://origin.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8059318

Heavy Rains in LA Area, ONce Again, Causing Havoc in Malibu

http://origin.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8069920

Hackers Threaten Scientology Through the Internet

http://www.ksat.com/news/15132759/detail.html

Museum Raid

Authorities raid several museums in Southern California looking for stolen artifacts.

http://www.wvva.com/News/index.php?ID=20439

Rapper Named in Gang Crackdown in Compton

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080124/en_nm/rapper_crackdown_dc

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Typhus on Rise in Orange County

http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-typhus,0,3275109.story

Documentary About LA Gangs

"Made in America" is a documentary that is being shown at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The two gangs that are featured are still active today. Below is part of an article that was posted on www.LAist.com.

Made in America tells the story of the rise of the two most notorious gangs in Los Angeles: the Crips and the Bloods. Through dozens of interviews with both current and former gang members on both sides, Peralta provides a clear glimpse into a violent, despairing world that is seldom seen. These interviews are fascinating in the way Peralta is able to extract true humanity from what most would consider stone-cold killers. What's more, his exploration of the history that preceded the formation of the gangs--the racist housing codes that established South Central Los Angeles, the collapse of the L.A. industrial base after World War II, the 1965 uprising in Watts--provides a framework wherein the origin of the Crips and Bloods can be more fully understood. Made in America is a documentary that everyone should see when it ultimately reaches theaters.

Gang Violence at Birthday Party

Police are investigating a gang shooting at a birthday party that left 2 people dead. This is common in the the LA area and is the second such incident so far this year.

http://www.gazettes.com/murders1242008.html

Indiana Man Charged With Arson on Catalina Island

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-catalina23jan23,1,4449610.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=6&cset=true

Mall Lockdown

The LAPD locks down an entire shopping mall in order to catch bank robbers.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bank23jan23,1,1429040.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=5&cset=true

A Director in the Sheriff's Dept. is Stripped of his Special Status

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-baca23jan23,1,5698061.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=2&cset=true

Disturbing Scenes at Orange County Jail

Police are seen using undue force against inmates.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ocjail23jan23,0,5444017.story?coll=la-home-center

LA Prosecutors Deliberately Perjured Themselves in Trial of Teenager

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/23/BA38UKKBO.DTL

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Unauthorized Photos of Teen Water Polo Players End Up on Gay Website

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/site-photos-web-1962653-polo-water

A Plan to Alleviate the Water Shortage in Southern California

...but some of the less affluent communities surrounding LA are pessimistic.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water20jan20,0,5461319.story?coll=la-home-center

End of LA's Airport Committee?

A committee assembled by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to promote flights outside of Los Angeles will meet later this month, and there could be an unpleasant item on the agenda: disbanding itself.

http://www.labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aID=16037226.8680126.1576341.3009115.5124076.784&aID2=121248

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Prominent Fashion Mogul Charged with Sexual Harassment

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-charney17jan17,0,1233679.story?coll=la-home-local

Strong Winds Causing Havoc in Southern California

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-winds18jan18,0,2311006.story?coll=la-home-center

Dismal Sales Shutter Stores

The Christmas holiday season is usually the biggest sales period in the year. But a slowing national economy has severely hurt many retailers.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail18jan18,0,5155488.story?coll=la-home-center

Hospital Dumping

For many years, it has been common practice for hospitals to rid themselves of poor patients with no health insurance by driving them to skid row and dumping them there. The below link is the latest example of this.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jan17/0,4670,HomelessDumping,00.html

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Safety Lapses at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-onofre16jan16,1,1152402.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

The Most Recent Casualty From Iraq

As of this writing, over 400 Californians were killed in Iraq. The below article is about the most recent such death.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-death16jan16,1,7582576.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Safety at MacArthur Park

New surveillance cameras installed at MacArthur Park to reduce crime don't seem to be working as expected.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-camera16jan16,1,7702188.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Showdown Between Bush and Environmentalists

Environmentalists have long ago succeeded in banning the use of sonar during navy exercizes in the waters off of Southern California. President Bush is expected to override the ban.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sonar17jan17,0,738138.story?coll=la-home-center

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Foster Kids Being Forced Out of Their Homes at 18

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/terminated-at-18/18062/

Fatal Fight

Fights ending in fatalities are common in Los Angeles. The latest such incident occurred today at the Beverly Center near Beverly Hills.

http://www.knbc.com/news/15039712/detail.html

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Hollywood Actors to Steer Clear of Golden Globe Awards

Members of the Screen Actors Guild, which include such celebrities as Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, and George Clooney, are likely to stay away from this years Golden Globe Awards in support of the writers strike.

http://www.7days.ae/en/2008/01/06/actors-to-boycott-awards.html

Happenings in Orange County

The following piece of information appeared in ocbj.com, an on-line magazine dealing with news from Orange County.

EDUCATION The former finance director of Aliso Viejo’s Soka University of America pleaded innocent last week to charges he embezzled $1.7 million from the private university during seven years. Kiyoshi Hatanaka, 52, of Aliso Viejo left his job at university in early 2006 after allegations arose that he had created sham university accounts at a Los Angeles bank to gamble large sums at casinos in Temecula and Las Vegas, officials said. He was indicted on eight counts of embezzlement and eight counts of money laundering. A trial date has been scheduled for Feb. 12.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS 84 of 112 OC companies on a Bloomberg stock index closed lower in 2007.
Distressed homes made up 24% of OC homes for sale in late December, up from 23% two weeks earlier.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Other LA Crime

Although homicides are down, other serious offenses have increased according to LA County Sheriff Lee Baca.

http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2008/01/region_sees_ris.php

Homicide Report

The following article, below, first appeared on www.latimesblogs.latimes.com/homicidereport/. It has been partially copied here It lists all homicides in LA County alone since January 2.

Downtown LA: Joseph Cosina,19, was shot multiple times at 1024 South Grand Ave at about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, and was taken to California Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two other men where also shot and a woman was stabbed. All three victims were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries. Police officials said the shooting was related to an argument that started inside a nightclub, the Crash Mansion, and escalated outside the club's parking lot. More to come.

Compton: A man was shot in the 15700 block of South Tarrant Ave. at about 6:04 p.m., Thursday Jan. 3. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounched dead.

West LA: A man was shot by an LAPD officer in the 1800 block N. Sawtelle Blvd at about 2:12 a.m., Friday Jan. 4. The man was about to be pulled over for running a red light when he suddenly stopped his vehicle, stepped out and pointed a gun at the officer. The man was also a suspected serial robber. More to come

Highland Park: A latino man was shot multiple times in the 900 block of Milwaukee Ave. at about 8:10 p.m, Thursday Jan.3.

Long Beach: John Fernandez,25, was shot in the 1900 block of Pine Avenue at about 12:05 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he died at 11:15 a.m. Three other people were also shot and taken to the hospital; one is in critical condition. According to Long Beach police officials, Fernandez was among a group of people celebrating the new year in the backyard of a house. The suspect shot Fernandez and the crowd, then fled.

Rain Storm in California

Pounding rain in Los Angeles and throughout California is causing havoc from the northern to the southern end of the state.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_re_us/winter_storm

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Police in Long Beach Still See No Motive for New Year's Eve Slaying

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lbshooting3jan03,1,5899569.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Schools Vandalized

McKinley Ave. Elementary School was one of many such schools in the LA area that were vandalized over the Christmas/New Year holiday. According to some teachers, this is a common problem when schools are closed during holidays.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-school3jan03,1,804836.story?track=rss

LA Area Population Statistics for 2007

The population increase in Los Angeles and neighboring counties is slowing down dramatically according to journalists Sharon Bernstein and Paloma Esquivel.

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/pol/515353647.html

Indicted Orange County Sheriff Says He'll Return to Work

Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona, who was indicted for corruption, says he'll return to work. OC Superviser John Moorelach is insisting that he step down.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-carona4jan04,0,7357299.story?coll=la-home-local

Trouble Ahead for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

Economists see an economic slowdown at LA's busiest ports that could affect large sections of the LA metropolitan area.

http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_warehousing04.24564c5.html

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Rogue Police Officers Go to Trial for Staging Home Invasion Robberies

Two former cops are set to go on trial for staging home robberies. Some people in the LAPD say that they might be part of a gang that specializes in this.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7862499

The First Murder in the New Year

Police suspect it might be gang related.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7862510

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Hispanic vs. Black Gangs

Even though homicides and other violent crimes in Los Angeles have declines sharply in the past few years, violence between Latino and black gangs continue.

http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_7849122?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com

Tackling LA's Problems

Los Angeles has many problems. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has promised to find solutions for all of them in 2008. The question is though, is he able to?

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_7845382

Torture in LA Jails?

An inmate alleges he was pepper-sprayed by police for no apparent reason. According to him, this type of thing happens often.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-inmate1jan01,1,2382287.story?track=rss

Driving Becoming a Nightmare on Highland Ave.

Residents say Hollywood gentrification has drawn more drivers eager to show off their wheels -- sometimes with fatal results.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-race1jan01,1,5681978.story?track=rss

Heavy Rainstorm to Occur in the Southland

A heavy rainstorm is expected in the Los Angeles area in the coming days, according to meteorologists, wreaking havoc on the roads, and in areas that were victim to last summer's wildfires.

http://cbs2.com/local/storms.heaviest.rain.2.621299.html