Monday, October 31, 2011

LAPD officers wound assault suspect in South Los Angeles

Officers responding to a shooting call in South Los Angeles wounded an armed man, Los Angeles police officials said Monday night.

Details about the Halloween night incident, which was reported shortly before 8 o'clocknear the intersection of 22nd Street and Central Avenue, were not immediately available, said LAPD Officer Bruce Borihahn.

Officers responded to 911 radio call of shots fired/assault with a deadly weapon when they saw a man holding a handgun, Borihahn said. After officers made unspecified contact with the man, an officer-involved shooting took place.

The wounded man, whose identity and condition were not immediately released, was taken to a hospital.

ALSO:

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Defense expert concedes Conrad Murray violated care standard

-- Andrew Blankstein (Twitter.com/anblanx)

 

Man killed in shooting was Good Samaritan, authorities say

Authorities believe a Good Samaritan was shot and killed Monday when he tried to stop four people from robbing another person behind a U.S. post office in Canyon Country.

The unidentified man tried to “prevent the robbery and approached the suspects with a baseball bat,” Deputy Lillian Peck said. “One suspect produced a handgun and shot the Good Samaritan victim in the torso.”

The attempted robbery occurred about 3:10 p.m. in the 18300 block of Soledad Canyon Road. The intended victim was shot in the right thigh as he attempted to run away, Peck said.

All four suspects fled through an alley and were subsequently taken into custody, Peck said.

Both victims were transported to a hospital, where the Good Samaritan was pronounced dead, Peck said. The robbery victim was treated for minor injuries and “will be released shortly,” she said.

Detectives have learned that the injured victim had arranged a meeting to sell a Nintendo DS Game System to the four suspects, Peck said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station at (661) 255-1121.

ALSO:

Magic Castle fire forces club to close for Halloween

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Reportedly drunk teenager falls off 50-foot cliff in Laguna Beach

-- Louis Sahagun

Cost projection for California bullet train jumps to nearly $100 billion

A mock-up of the California high-speed rail system. Credit: California High-Speed Rail Authority

California's bullet train will cost an estimated $98.5 billion to build over the next 20 years, an amount far higher than any previous projection, according to a business plan scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday.

The estimate includes possible future inflation that will drive up the cost of the line, which would send trains at up to 220 mph from Southern California to the Bay Area.

The cost growth results in large part from a major revision in the construction schedule. In the past, the state assumed the system would be completed by 2020 but now assumes construction would be finished in 2033. That stretched-out schedule and an assumption that future inflation would average 3% per year are two key reasons the overall estimated cost of the system almost doubled in the new business plan.

In the past, the California High Speed Rail Authority has estimated the cost of the system would be $43 billion, based on construction being finished in 2020.

The California High Speed Rail Authority, the state agency running the project, plans to unveil the new business plan at a news conference Tuesday morning in Sacramento.

The authority’s past two plans have been sharply attacked, not only by opponents but many supporters, for offering unrealistic construction cost and ridership figures. The authority wants to begin construction next year and hopes  to gain approval from the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown for appropriations from a bond issue that would build a $6.3-billion segment from Fresno to Bakersfield.

The price of the system has long been a moving target.

When the first business plan surfaced, it projected a $34-billion cost. By 2009, the estimate had jumped to $43 billion, in part because the authority included future inflation in the estimated cost of building the system over the next decade.

In August, the authority released two planning documents that signaled even higher costs. The cost of building only the first two segments in the Central Valley had jumped by as much as 100%, not including future inflation.

RELATED:

Bullet train under fire from local officials

Rail authority approves what critics call ‘train to nowhere’

Churches, schools, homes could be razed by bullet train route

-- Ralph Vartabedian

Photo: A mock-up of the California high-speed rail system. Credit: California High Speed Rail Authority

A Thanksgiving Feast, No Turkeys Allowed

Delicious no-meat recipes for your holiday table.

Are you ready to reimagine Thanksgiving without the turkey?

Every fall, the Well blog goes vegetarian for Thanksgiving, taking the meaty bird off the table to make room for a spectacular array of vegetarian soups, sides, main courses, salads and desserts. While a turkey-free Thanksgiving might sound like heresy to traditionalists, we’ve discovered that focusing on the bounty of the fall harvest, rather than the bird, can alter your eating habits and inspire your cooking year round.

Each day for the next three weeks, the Well blog will feature a new vegetarian or vegan option for your holiday table. All of this year’s recipes will be updated daily in our interactive recipe collection. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, you’ll discover mouthwatering new dishes created by an all-star lineup of chefs, cookbook authors and television food personalities. So get ready to save a turkey and savor the flavors of your most creative Thanksgiving ever.

To kick off Well’s Third Annual Vegetarian Thanksgiving, we teamed up with the popular vegan chef Nava Atlas, whose new book, “Vegan Holiday Kitchen: More than 200 Delicious, Festive Recipes for Special Occasions,” hits bookstore shelves today.

Ms. Atlas offers a starter of coconut butternut squash soup; a side dish of black rice, corn and cranberries; a colorful kale salad; and a hearty vegetable couscous suitable for serving as a main course.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen’s
Coconut Butternut Squash Soup

Once you’ve got the squash baked, this soup comes together quickly. The mellow flavors of squash, kale and red onions synergize delectably and look gorgeous together as well.

1 large butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil or other vegetable oil
1 large yellow or sweet white onion, chopped
1 medium apple, any variety, peeled and diced
2 cups prepared vegetable broth, or 2 cups water with 1 vegetable bouillon cube
2 teaspoons good-quality curry powder
2 teaspoons grated fresh or jarred ginger, or more, to taste
Pinch of ground nutmeg or allspice
1 14-ounce can light coconut milk
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Garnish
2 medium red onions, quartered and thinly sliced
1 good-size bunch kale (about 10 to 12 ounces)

1. To bake the squash, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut in half and place halves, cut side up, in a foil-lined shallow baking dish and cover tightly with more foil. Bake for 30 to 50 minutes, until you can easily pierce the flesh with a knife. Scoop out and set aside.

2. Heat about half the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until golden, about 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Add the apple, squash, broth and spices. Bring to a steady simmer, then cover and simmer gently until the apples are tender, about 10 minutes.

4. Transfer the solids to a food processor with a slotted spoon, in batches if need be, and process until smoothly puréed, then transfer back to the soup pot. Or better yet, simply insert an immersion blender into the pot and process until smoothly puréed.

5. Stir in the coconut milk and return the soup to a gentle simmer. Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until well heated through. Season with salt and pepper. If time allows, let the soup stand off the heat for an hour or two, then heat through as needed before serving.

6. Just before serving, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet. Add the red onions and sauté over low heat until golden and soft.

7. Meanwhile, strip the kale leaves off the stems and cut into thin shreds. Stir together with the onions in the skillet, adding just enough water to moisten the surface. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the kale is bright green and just tender, about 5 minutes.

8. To serve, ladle soup into each bowl, then place a small mound of kale and onion mixture in the center.

Yield: 8 servings.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen’s
Black Rice, Corn and Cranberries

The first time I came up with this recipe, I thought I’d better cut the recipe in half so my family of four wouldn’t be eating it for the rest of the week. What a mistake — we tore through it in no time. While it’s a festive eyeful, it’s too good to save for only special occasions, and too simple not to make for everyday meals.

1 cup black rice or wild rice
3 tablespoons olive oil or other vegetable oil
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
3 to 4 scallions, green and white parts, thinly sliced
2 cups thawed frozen corn kernels
1/4 cup lemon or lime juice, or to taste
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves, to taste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds for topping

1. If using black rice, combine in a saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat, cover and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 30 minutes. If you’d like a more tender grain, add 1/2 cup additional water and cook until absorbed. If using wild rice, combine with 3 cups of water and cook as directed above.

2. Just before the rice is done, heat half the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and sauté over low heat until golden. Add the scallions and corn kernels and sauté just until warmed through.

3. Transfer the cooked rice to the skillet. Turn the heat up to medium-high, then add the lime juice, cilantro, cumin, oregano, thyme, cranberries and remaining oil. Gently stir the mixture, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. To serve, transfer to an attractive serving platter and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds over the top.

Yield: 8 servings.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen’s
Massaged Kale Salad With Cranberries and Cashews

There are so many ways to vary this salad: You can toss in some slivered baby carrots, add diced pears or apples, substitute another kind of nut, or add a bit of thinly shredded red cabbage for extra color or sliced celery or bok choy for extra crunch. Even in its simple form, as presented here, it’s luscious and festive.

1 good-size bunch kale, washed and dried
Olive oil or other vegetable oil, as needed
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup crushed toasted cashews, or pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste

1. Strip the kale leaves off the stems. Cut into ribbons and place in a large bowl.

2. With a little olive oil rubbed into your palms, massage the kale for a minute or so, until it becomes bright green and softens a bit.

3. Stir in the remaining ingredients and serve at room temperature.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen’s
Seven-Vegetable Couscous

Seven-vegetable couscous is a well-known offering at Sephardic Jewish New Year celebrations, but since it’s a bountiful, colorful tribute to the harvest, it makes a great meat-free main dish for Thanksgiving as well. Despite the long ingredient list, it’s as easy as can be to make.

1 1/2 cups couscous, uncooked
1 tablespoon vegan margarine
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 cup finely shredded white cabbage
1 medium turnip, peeled and diced
1 medium yellow summer squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 15- to 16-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups diced ripe tomatoes
2 teaspoons grated fresh or jarred ginger, or more, to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Dried hot red pepper flakes, to taste, optional
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup golden raisins (for garnish)
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley (for garnish)
Sliced or slivered toasted almonds (for garnish)

1. Combine the couscous and 3 cups boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Cover and let stand until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then stir in the margarine, turmeric and salt. Cover and set aside.

2. For the vegetable stew, heat the oil in a large saucepan or soup pot. Add the onions and sauté over medium heat until translucent. Stir in cabbage and sauté until it and the onion are lightly golden.

3. Add the remaining stew ingredients. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Add water as needed to produce a moist, but not soupy, consistency. The vegetables should be just tender, but still firm.

4. To serve, arrange the couscous on the outer edge of a large serving platter and make a well in the center. Pour the vegetable mixture in the center, then sprinkle with the garnishes, topping with sliced or slivered toasted almonds. Let each guest place a mound of couscous on his or her dinner plate and top it with the vegetable mixture.

Yield: 8 servings.

The things you see when cycling around London


Cycling is fun (Photo: Rex)


One day last week I borrowed one of this newspaper's Brompton fold-up bicycles and took it for a spin along the south bank of the Thames. As a comparative novice, I could suddenly see the point of cycling. It was a lovely day: the sun shone, and the air was fresh and crisp. Cycling means that you're part of your surroundings but at the same time slightly detached, because you're higher-up and you're travelling faster than the people on the pavement.


This is a pleasant feeling; it's better than walking. You're invigorated by the heart beating faster and the lungs filling with air. You pass all human life – fast enough to see what's going on and to get away. Here is an extremely brief glimpse of my bicycle trip.


From Wandsworth I travelled to Putney along the bank of the river, with only a few detours on side roads. I whizzed through Wandsworth Park, opposite the Hurlingham Club, which gleams white through trees on the opposite bank. I overtook a platoon of cashmere-wrapped yummy mummies who strolled, five abreast, with their big Bugaboo prams.


In Putney I sped down a tree-lined road where a group of Scandinavians – tourists, they looked like – had stopped to peer at a front garden populated with about 20 painted gnomes. That was interesting enough, but the most intriguing sight I passed that afternoon was a man returning – home? to a friend's house? – with his Waitrose shopping. He looked like anyone else. But who knows what strains were bearing down on him? As he turned in to the driveway I saw him fish a half-bottle of vodka out of his carrier bag and lift it to his lips.


All of this makes bicycling fun, for me. The trouble is, as an infrequent cyclist, by the time I arrive at my destination I'm drenched in what some people used to call a "muck sweat". Assuming I can't have a shower and change into fresh clothes, what should I do about this?



California rounds up sex offenders for Halloween

Halloween 2011 in California was marked an aggressive crackdown by state and local officials on sex offenders.


It started in  the last few weeks, when Riverside County supervisors and several cities approved measures prohibiting all registered sex offenders from decorating their houses or distributing candy to trick-or-treaters.


The state, which has long required  sex offender parolees to  stay in their homes on Halloween night, added a provision for homeless sex offenders in most of the state: They were ordered to spend Halloween night at “transient sex offender roundup centers.”


Under state law, sex offender parolees with homes are subject to strict rules on Halloween night. From 5 p.m. Monday until to 5 a.m. Tuesday, they are required remain indoors with no exterior lights on. They are forbidden to putting jack o’ lanterns or other seasonal decorations outside their homes and banned from opening the door to anyone but law enforcement personnel.


But about 2,000 of the state’s nearly 9,000 sex offender parolees are homeless, partly because of restrictions that prohibit them from living within 2,000 feet of parks and schools.


So this year, as part of the California  Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s annual Operation Boo crackdown on sex offenders, homeless sex offender parolees in three of the four state parole regions were ordered to report to designated centers to remain there under supervision from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Halloween night.

Luis Patino, a spokesman with the corrections  department, said homeless sex offender parolees were notified of the requirement in their mandatory weekly meetings with parole officers, and that agents were able to track down those who didn’t comply through the GPS devices on their ankle bracelets.


He said that the restrictions are intended to protect children and families on the holiday and that it’s more efficient and cost-effective to have transient sex offenders report to centers than to track them individually.


“If you bring them all together for a few hours, it frees up some of our agents to do other things, like compliance checks,” he said.


Some groups cried foul, calling the Halloween sex offender restrictions a costly waste of time that violate the civil rights of people who, in many cases, have not  committed a crime against children.
“As far as we can tell, no trick-or-treater has ever been sexually assaulted on Halloween,” said Janice Bellucci, state organizer for California Reform Sex Offender Laws.

She called the curfew center plan reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

ALSO:

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Defense expert concedes Conrad Murray violated care standard

--Abby Sewell

Vernon mayor resigns after criticism over vote

Vernon

The mayor of Vernon submitted his resignation Monday, following criticism from a state senator who accused the City Council of acting in a secretive way.

Mayor Hilario “Larry” Gonzales was one of three council members who voted to promote Vernon’s interim city attorney Oct. 18 without placing the item on the meeting agenda. State Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) assailed the council members for the move last week, calling it “an egregious violation” of their recent commitment to operate in a more transparent way.

Gonzales submitted a letter to the city on Monday, saying he would resign as soon as his pension payments were confirmed by CalPERS.

“He’s 82 years old and he’s tired of the battles,” said former interim City Atty. Michael Montgomery, who confirmed Gonzales’ resignation.

Gonzales had served on the City Council since 1974, when he was appointed to fill a vacant seat. He and other Vernon councilmen have enjoyed among the highest salaries in the state in recent years, and also approved annual compensation of over $500,000 for several of the city’s top administrators. Three different Vernon officials have been convicted of public corruption since 2006, including Gonzales’ predecessor, Leonis Malburg.

Earlier this year Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) introduced legislation that would have disbanded Vernon, which has only about 100 residents but over 1,800 business, and made it a part of Los Angeles County.

1 man killed, another wounded in Canyon Country shooting

Authorities on Monday evening were investigating the shooting death of one man and the wounding of another behind a U.S. post office in Canyon Country.

Both victims were taken to a hospital, where one was pronounced dead, Deputy Lillian Peck said. The identities of the victims were not released.

Witnesses who reported the shooting in the 18300 block of Soledad Canyon Road told sheriff’s investigators from the Santa Clarita Station that they saw three men running from the scene about 3:10 p.m.

Two teenage suspects  have been detained, Peck said.

Detectives asked anyone with information to call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 255-1121.

ALSO:

Magic Castle fire forces club to close for Halloween

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Reportedly drunk teenager falls off 50-foot cliff in Laguna Beach

-- Louis Sahagun

Critics of lesbian homecoming couple are bullies, official says

 Couple

The San Diego school superintendent Monday branded as “adult bullies who preach hate and intolerance” the people who have made phone calls and sent emails criticizing the students' selection of a lesbian couple as the homecoming king and queen at Patrick Henry High School.

Supt. Bill Kowba said adults criticizing the selection of Rebecca Arellano and Haileigh Adams are "demonstrating such a lack of tolerance and are presenting such a negative role model for children with their hateful comments."

Arellano was named homecoming king at a Friday pep rally. Adams was named homecoming queen at a school dance Saturday.

The calls and emails, Kowba said, "are also disrupting the work of the school to focus on the education of students ... if these calls and emails were from students, they would face disciplinary measures."

Kowba said that he supports and congratulates the Patrick Henry homecoming king and queen “and wish them and the school well ... I look forward to the day when all students can come to school, free of harassment and bullying.”

--Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Haileigh Adams (left) and Rebeca Arellano. Credit: KGTV-TV Channel 10

New report warns shorter school year would hurt low-income, other students

A report released Monday by a statewide advocacy group warns that low-income students, students of color and English learners will be disproportionately harmed if school districts in California move to further shorten the academic calender due to budget cuts.

The report by the nonprofit The Education Trust-West cites research findings that extending instructional time leads to academic gains and narrows the achievement gap for low-income students and struggling schools. Yet two years ago, amid a floundering economy, the state allowed districts to reduce the calender from 180 to 175 days.

And in June, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation -– AB 114 -- that permits districts to further shorten the school year by up to seven additional days to accommodate a $1.8-billion cut in school funding that would be triggered if tax revenues fall $2 billion below projections.

If districts follow through, California could have among the shortest school calenders in the nation, and significantly shorter than countries such as the Netherlands, with 200 instructional days, and Japan with 243.

“Taking away days impacts all students, but particulary in a state like ours, has the higest impact on our  highest needs students,” said Ed Trust-West Executive Director Arun Ramanathan. “We should be restoring on a state level the requirement for a full school year and should do what is necessary at the district and state level to target funds to make that happen.”

The report cited a survey of nearly 400 districts by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, in which 57% reported shortening the school calender in 2010-2011. Meanwhile, a March study by UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access found that more than half of principals from schools serving low- and medium-income students reported cutting instructional days compared to only 25% of those in districts with high levels of local revenue.

AB 114, which, among other provisions, prohibits teachers from being laid off midyear, has divided the education community. To shorten the school calender, districts would have to negotiate furlough days with local teachers unions.

Even in that eventuality, a shorter school year covers only about two-thirds of the cuts schools would sustain if the midyear trigger is pulled, according to several school board associations in a September letter to Gov. Brown expressing their concern about the effect of the legislation.

State education leaders are also worried about the potential consequences of further trimming the school year.

"It would be catastrophic,” said Erin Gabel, director of government affairs for the Department of Education. “We’re talking about basic access to students’ instructional time.”

-- Carla Rivera

Two people shot behind post office in Canyon Country

Authorities are investing the shooting Monday of two people behind a U.S. post office in Canyon Country.

Witnesses who reported the two gunshot victims told sheriff’s investigators in Santa Clarita that they saw three men running from the shooting in the 18300 block of Soledad Canyon Road.

Officials said the shooting occurred about 3:10 p.m.

The identities of the victims were not revealed and authorities did not provide a description of the three men seen fleeing the scene. The gunshot victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing and did not provide further details.

Detectives urged anyone with information to call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 255-1121.

ALSO:

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Defense expert concedes Conrad Murray violated care standard

--Ann M. Simmons in Santa Clarita

Warning posted after shark is seen off Encinitas

Lifeguards are advising people to stay out of the ocean off Encinitas in northern San Diego County after a surfer spotted an 8- to 10-foot Great-White shark Monday afternoon.

Although the beach has not been closed, signs are being posted advising people to stay out of the water and lifeguards are in a boat patrolling offshore, said lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles, director of marine safety for the city of Encinitas.

"The shark wasn't aggressive or threatening but the surfer was pretty concerned so we're telling people to stay clear," Giles said.

Although tourists sometimes mistake a dolphin for a shark, the surfer's sighting was considered credible because of his long experience in local waters, Giles said. The sighting occurred shortly after 3 p.m. off Beacon's Beach in Leucadia, just north of the famed Swami's surf break.

Stretches of ocean off Mission Beach and La Jolla in the city of San Diego were closed for several days in August after shark sightings.

Giles said the advisory will stay in effect until Tuesday morning.

--Tony Perry in San Diego

CalArts studio vandalized with alleged hate symbols

School officials and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating vandalism that reportedly included hate symbols painted on the wall of an art studio at the California Institute of the Arts over the weekend.

KCBS-TV Channel 2 reported Monday that the vandalism included red swastikas and demonic images. In a statement released to The Times on Monday, the school confirmed that the vandalism occurred on the CalArts Valencia campus in a studio belonging to Daine Carter, but a school spokeswoman would not confirm the nature of the vandalism, calling classifications "subjective."

"We are having an ongoing investigation," spokeswoman Margaret Crane said. "This is all new to us."

Crane said that campus security is increasing its presence and will begin monitoring entrances and exits to the school.

It is the second alleged hate crime targeting at CalArts students since September. A statement released from President Steven Lavine on Sept. 8 addressed acts of "hateful and racist graffiti found on our campus … are morally corrupt.' "

"We do not accommodate or accept language, images or actions that aim to marginalize or strip another of their humanity," Lavine reiterated in a statement Monday. "Such actions are cowardly, ignorant, and wholly counter to the values of the artists we seek to be and become and we want to stress that there will be no tolerance for anyone caught engaging in these acts."

Carter was not immediately available for comment.

According to the school’s news release, Carter told police, “they took my DVDs and paints and painted on my walls.”

The results of the investigations are pending.

ALSO:

Magic Castle fire forces club to close for Halloween

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Reportedly drunk teenager falls off 50-foot cliff in Laguna Beach

-- Matt Stevens

UCLA writes computer program to battle East L.A. gangs

Gangs
A team of UCLA researchers has once again delved into the world of crime fighting, this time developing a computer program capable of pointing police in the right direction when rivalries between street gangs erupts into violence and crime.

The university announced Monday that mathematicians have devised a complex algorithm that crunched information from the Los Angeles Police Department on more than 1,000 gang-related crimes and suspected gang crimes in the LAPD’s Hollenbeck Division -- an area of East L.A. that is home to more than two dozen active gangs.

The goal was to bring some mathematical order to the murky, shifting gang landscape in Hollenbeck, where rivalries and alliances between groups are difficult to track.

By sifting through a decade of crime data and searching for otherwise undetectable patterns, the algorithm was designed to identify which gangs were most likely involved in crimes.

To test it, the researchers created an imaginary set of crime data that closely mirrored the actual shootings, assaults and other crimes in the Hollenbeck Division. They then removed pieces of important information — either the name of the victim, the perpetrator or both — and tested whether the computer algorithm could come up with the missing data.

About 80% of the time, the high-powered calculations were able to identify the three gangs that were most likely to have committed a crime against a rival.

"That narrows it down quite a bit,” said Martin Short, co-author of the study, in an announcement released by UCLA. It is, he said, “significantly better than chance.”

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 304

Click through for more photos of Southern California Moments.

Lucha libre: Salina Canizales photographs four masked men at the Muertomania event in Lincoln Heights on Sunday.

Every day of 2011, we're featuring reader-submitted photos of Southern California Moments. Follow us on Twitter and visit the Southern California Moments homepage for more on this series.

Lessons From a Halloween Costume

A year ago I made the seemingly mundane choice to let my son choose his costume for Halloween. He chose Daphne from Scooby Doo. A few parents at his preschool disapproved, I wrote a blog post about it, and in the blink of an eye, the post set off a national discussion about gender identity, bullying and a parent’s role in both issues.

It seemed everywhere I turned someone was reposting my article or writing a commentary on my parenting. CNN called for an interview. Even the Well blog wrote a piece on the subject. My original article still gets a couple of hundred views each day and has about 47,000 comments. Isn’t that insane? I had no idea it would strike such a chord.

A year later, looking back on the events before and after Halloween, I still struggle to understand what all the fuss was about. The silly thing is that everybody else put far more thought into the costume than my son did. He loved Scooby Doo the cartoon, but he had already dressed as Scooby Doo, the dog, for a past Halloween. He looks just like the Scooby Doo character Fred in real life, so he didn’t see a lot of costume potential there. The obvious choice, to him at least, was Daphne — orange wig, purple outfit — can’t get much more fun than that.

But the rest of the world, starting with some of the mothers at his preschool, saw things differently. The moms were upset I’d let him wear the costume to school, and so were many people who read about it. I received some pretty terrible comments and name-calling about my 5-year-old that I couldn’t reprint. Someone tweeted the police department where my husband works and said they should take my children away. All because of a costume.

A lot was made about the cross-dressing aspect of my son’s choice, but in my writing about it, the message I intended to send was that bullying is a cycle, often learned at home. A few readers and parents I knew suggested I had set my son up for bullying by letting him wear the costume in the first place. But none of my son’s friends teased him about his costume. Once he made it past a few disapproving mothers, my son had a blast at the party. The only people who were upset about it were adults.

I think what became so clear to me from this experience was that children are not born hating anything just because it’s different. They learn it. And with the ever increasing list of child suicides tied to bullying, it is a cycle that must end.

It is our job as rational human beings to teach our children and those around us that it is O.K. to be different. It’s O.K. to not conform to every single thing. It’s O.K. to be who we are. We can’t bow to that lowest common denominator.

This year, my son made the bold decision to dress up as…Indiana Jones.

Does my son understand the interest and controversy his costume decision generated last year? No. He’s only 6, so he doesn’t quite grasp the concept of “millions,” though he does know that his picture was all over the Internet and TV.

He still loves Scooby Doo and the gang. He loves the picture of him dressed as Daphne and tells the story of dressing like Daphne for Halloween pretty regularly. If someone comments that it is a “girl” costume, his usual response is: “What do you care? It’s a costume. Not for a boy or a girl. Just a costume.”

Sarah Manley is a Kansas City, Mo., mother of three who writes about parenting and other issues at the Nerdy Apple Bottom blog.

Retired Judge Lourdes G. Baird named to county jail violence panel

Retired federal Judge Lourdes G. Baird was appointed Monday to the newly formed County Commission on Jail Violence where she will probe allegations of brutality and abuse against inmates by Los Angeles deputies at Men’s Central Jail. 

Baird, 76, served as a judge in the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California for 13 years before stepping down in 2005.

"Judge Baird is a person of impeccable integrity, wisdom and independence,” County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said in a statement.

Yaroslavsky nominated Baird and helped establish the commission.

“As this region's top federal prosecutor and one of the most respected federal judges in the district, she earned a reputation as a 'straight shooter' who lets the facts dictate her conclusions,” Yaroslavsky said.

Magic Castle fire forces club to close for Halloween

Magic Castle will be closed for Halloween as a result of the fire that struck the complex Monday, according to an update on the club's website. The site said details about reopening would be provided as soon as the damage could be assessed.

The Comedy Store tweeted an invitation to the Magic Castle, offering to help the club relocate its Halloween gala for "no charge." No one at Magic Castle could be reached to discuss the offer and Comedy Store officials said they had not yet received a response.

"These are our friends," said Alf Lamont, vice president of marketing at the Comedy Store. "I love the Magic Castle, it's a landmark. Nobody wants to see them put out."

On its Twitter account, Magic Castle sent a message to followers thanking them "for all for your concern, support & understanding. This community is a tight-knit one & we can feel the love from around the world."

They also sent a thank you to the Los Angeles Fire Department and the 120 firefighters who responded "so quickly."

ALSO:

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Defense expert concedes Conrad Murray violated care standard

-- Andrew Blankstein

Reportedly drunk teen falls off 50-foot cliff in Laguna Beach

A teenage boy was taken to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach after falling off a 50-foot cliff early Sunday morning -– apparently after trying to avoid police officers.

Police were first called to the Aliso Creek Inn at 10:45 p.m. Saturday to break up a large party. A couple hours later, at 12:32 a.m., dispatchers received a call regarding a teenage boy who had gone missing. The 17-year-old was located prior to their arrival at the bottom of a cliff near Country Club Drive, the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot reported.

Police believe the teen ran away when police arrived earlier in the night because he was heavily intoxicated and wanted to avoid officers, Lt. Jason Kravetz said. He jumped over a barrier, hoping to hide behind it, but fell and landed in the creek below.

Kravetz said the teen suffered from hypothermia and extreme alcohol intoxication.

ALSO:

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king

Grandmother's stolen ashes returned to Woodland Hills family

Defense expert concedes Conrad Murray violated care standard

--Joanna Clay, Times Community News

Lindsay Lohan spends Halloween at county morgue

Lindsay lohan1

As she awaits a possible jail sentence for violating probation, actress Lindsay Lohan spent Halloween surrounded by the dead at one of Los Angeles' most spooky haunts: the county morgue.

In her effort to get on the judge's good side, Lohan on Monday checked in for her fourth day at the L.A. County coroner's office -- chipping away at more of the 120 hours of community service she must perform to satisfy her sentence for violating a 2007 drunk driving probation and for a necklace theft conviction last summer.

Lohan and her attorney hope to convince Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner at a probation violation hearing Wednesday that Lohan has turned over a new leaf and is getting serious about doing the needed work.

She was booted out of a 360-hour community service program at the Downtown Women's Shelter after repeatedly failing to show up.

"Lindsay has been very diligent in her attendance at the morgue, and is there again today." said her publicist, Steve Honig, who wouldn't comment on her legal strategy.

"She is very eager to get closure on this situation so she can put it behind her and move forward with several projects currently being lined up for her," he said.

Sautner ordered Lohan to spend at least 16 hours a week working at the morgue pending Wednesday's hearing. Since being late on the first day she tried to work at the morgue, Lohan has since arrived promptly and complied with all the requirements, coroner's officials say.

Lohan faces the very real prospect of jail time again Wednesday, but how much time she would spend there may be limited by overcrowding because her shoplifting offense is not a violent crime.

ALSO:

Magic Castle fire: Officials assess damage to historic venue

On Halloween, homeless sex offender parolees pulled off streets

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king draw support, anger

-- Richard Winton

Photo: Lindsay Lohan listens during a probation status hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court this month. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Key Conrad Murray witness faces new contempt of court charge

Conrad Murray in court Oct 31 2011

The judge overseeing the trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician said Monday he was considering finding a key defense witness in contempt of court and fining him $1,000 for violating an order.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said the witness, an anesthesiologist who is the main medical expert for Dr. Conrad Murray’s defense, violated a court order by mentioning in his testimony conversations he had with Murray.

Pastor had earlier warned Dr. Paul White to keep from mentioning the “two extensive conversations” he said he had with Murray, information the judge had previously ruled was inadmissible evidence in the case.

Minutes after the judge’s admonishment, White again brought up the conversation before jurors, the judge said.

“That is a direct violation of my order and quite frankly constitutes direct contempt,” Pastor said.

Really? The Claim: For a More Restful Nap, Avoid Caffeine

THE FACTS

Late November is the start of the busiest travel season of the year, when millions of drivers hit the road for long-distance treks. Many will be sleep-deprived and looking to pull over for a nap or a dose of caffeine.

But the best idea may be to combine the two, and not in the order one might think.

Ordinarily, sleep experts advise steering clear of coffee and other stimulants before resting, since caffeine disrupts sleep. As a result, studies on drowsy drivers have generally compared the restorative benefits of pulling over and napping versus pulling over for a cup of caffeine. Researchers have found that a 15- to 30-minute nap increases alertness and driving performance, but most studies show that drinking caffeine is a slightly superior strategy.

In a series of studies, however, sleep researchers in England found that drinking a cup of coffee and then immediately taking a 15-minute nap was even more effective. The researchers tested sleep-deprived subjects in driving simulators and found that a “caffeine nap” improved driving performance and reduced sleepiness better than other commonly employed techniques, including cold air, a short nap, a break with no nap or 200 milligrams of caffeine, roughly the amount in a 10-ounce cup of strong brewed coffee.

This method is believed to work because the short power nap helps clear the brain of the sleep-inducing compound adenosine. Caffeine, meanwhile, takes about 20 minutes to have its physiological effect — kicking in just as the napper is awakening.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A cup of coffee followed by a 15-minute nap may be more restorative than either one alone.

Detectives investigate fatal South L.A. shooting

Sheriff's homicide detectives were investigating the shooting death early Monday of a man in unincorporated South Los Angeles.

The victim, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene on the 1300 block of East Florence Avenue. The shooting occurred about 1:09 a.m.

No further details were available.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500.

To remain anonymous, call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

ALSO:

West Hollywood closes streets for Halloween festival

Runner who died in L.A. half-marathon identified, was 37

Bloody knife in car of ex-Penthouse model found dead on beach

-- Abby Sewell

Off-duty Santa Ana officer fatally shoots person in Lakewood

An off-duty Santa Ana police officer fatally shot and killed someone in Lakewood on Monday morning.

Officials at the Los Angeles County sheriff's headquarters bureau said the shooting occurred at 6:30 a.m. in the 20700 block of Studebaker Road but had no further information.

Sheriff's investigators were en route to the scene.

A spokesman for the Santa Ana Police Department could not be immediately reached.

ALSO:

West Hollywood closes streets for Halloween festival

Runner who died in L.A. half-marathon identified, was 37

Bloody knife in car of ex-Penthouse model found dead on beach

-- Abby Sewell

Defense expert concedes Conrad Murray violated medical care standards [Updated]

Dr, Paul White testifying Friday Oct 28 2011

A defense medical expert conceded Monday that Michael Jackson’s personal physician violated the standard of medical care by providing the pop star with a surgical anesthetic in his home.

At the start of a cross-examination that is expected to last all day, Dr. Paul White, the defense’s most important witness, acknowledged the treatment the doctor gave Jackson for two months before his death was potentially life-threatening.

“Without careful bedside monitoring, it could be dangerous,” said White, a leading anesthesiologist and expert in the drug propofol.

“Could it result in death?” a prosecutor pressed.

“If the infusion somehow came opened up widely … certainly you could achieve a significant effect that could result in cardiopulmonary arrest,” White replied.

On Halloween, homeless sex offender parolees pulled off streets

Halloween jack o lanterns

California's homeless sex offender parolees will be rounded up and kept indoors Halloween night under a new initiative announced under the state's annual Operation Boo crackdown.

The state corrections department began the Halloween night initiative in 1994 and has expanded it since.

Sex offenders on parole are required to remain indoors from 5 p.m. Halloween night to 5 a.m. the next day and are banned from turning on external lights or decorating their houses for Halloween.

During the curfew they may only open the door to law enforcement.

The new condition imposed this year deals with transient sex offenders, who will be required to report to special centers to spend the night under supervision.

Cooler temperatures to visit Southern California

Temperatures were expected to cool down Monday from the weekend, reaching the 70s along the coast, and the 80s inland, according to the National Weather Service.

The cooler temperatures should prevail through Tuesday and warm up Wednesday.

The end of the week could bring colder-than-normal temperatures and even a “slight” chance of showers, said Bonnie Bartling of the National Weather Service.

By Friday, low-pressure troughs could cause temperatures to dip as much as 15 to 20 degrees, she said.

“Its just the fall weather,” she said.

ALSO:

West Hollywood closes streets for Halloween festival

Runner who died in L.A. half-marathon identified, was 37

Bloody knife in car of ex-Penthouse model found dead on beach

-- Matt Stevens

Lesbian couple voted homecoming queen and king draw support, anger

Lesbian couple crowned Homecoming Queen and King

Students at a San Diego high school elected a lesbian couple as homecoming king and queen over the weekend, a move that has garnered international attention for the couple.

Patrick Henry High School senior Rebeca Arellano was crowned king on Friday and her girlfriend, Haileigh Adams, was named queen, KSWB-TV reported.

"I hope people understand that lesbians and gays do need the same rights," Adams told the San Diego television station.

The couple said they were not planning to run and was shocked by the attention they've received.

Arellano, the school's first female homecoming king, told ABC News, "it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had."

The couple said they had received a lot of positive support, but that a lot of people were also angry about it, saying that it's wrong for a girl to be king.

ABC News reported that Arellano posted a response on Facebook: "For all the girls who think tradition should be continued, go back to the kitchen, stop having sex before you're married, get out of school and job system, don't have an opinion, don't own any property, give up the right to marry who you love, don't vote, and allow your husband to do whatever he pleases to you. Think about the meaning of tradition when you use it in your argument against us."













ALSO:

Cooler temperatures to visit Southern California

West Hollywood closes streets for Halloween festival

Runner who died in L.A. half-marathon identified, was 37

-- Kimi Yoshino

Photo: Rebeca Arellano, left, was crowned homecoming king and her girlfriend, Haileigh Adams, queen at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego. Credit: Rebeca Arellano via KSWB-TV

Preservationists try to save Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach

Balboa Fun Zone

A Balboa Fun Zone preservationist has started a Facebook campaign to halt plans for ExplorOcean, the ocean-themed educational center that would essentially replace the 1930s-era amusement park.

James Pobog, 60, joins a small and growing group of traditionalists who stand in protest of the plans by the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, which owns much of the Fun Zone's waterfront land, the Daily Pilot reported.

Some have bemoaned the loss of the carnival-like atmosphere, even before the museum ended the historic carousel's lease in September.

ExplorOcean officials insist their plans will modernize the Fun Zone and make the area more relevant for future generations. They unveiled their designs publicly last week.

"Seeing this slick-produced video set off alarm bells," Pobog said. "They're not doing this out of altruism. Someone's going to make a boatload of money."

The nonprofit museum plans to rent the space out and generate revenue from a number of sources.

Conrad Murray trial: Prosecution to cross-examine defense expert

Dr. Paul White

Prosecutors in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray will get their chance Monday to cross-examine the defense's star witness, anesthesiologist Paul White, as the trial enters its final days.

White testified Friday that Michael Jackson probably caused his own death by injecting himself with a dose of propofol while his doctor wasn't looking. The defense expert also directly challenged the theory put forth by the government's main medical witness, Dr. Steven Shafer, who spent five days on the stand. Shafer had said that the only plausible scenario was that Murray had let Jackson's IV drip the surgical anesthetic for three hours, even after the pop star had stopped breathing.

His testimony is the first evidence the defense has provided to support the theory that it was Jackson -- and not Murray -- who administered the drug that killed Jackson.

FULL COVERAGE: The trial of Conrad Murray

Despite that theory, White conceded that he could not explain Murray's behavior, suggesting that the defense plans on admitting that the doctor made mistakes, but denied that he directly caused Jackson's death.

The prosecution's cross-examination could take all day, but the trial is expected to wrap up this week. White is likely to be the final defense witness unless Murray takes the stand on his own behalf.

Murray, 58, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the involuntary manslaughter charge.

RELATED:

Witnesses: Who's who in the trial of Conrad Murray

Conrad Murray trial: Caving in to a patient's demands?

Conrad Murray patient: 'I am alive today because of that man'

-- Victoria Kim and Harriet Ryan at Los Angeles County Superior Court

Photo: Dr. Paul White, an anesthesiologist and propofol expert, holds up an IV drip in the final stage of Dr. Conrad Murray's defense case on Friday. Credit: Paul Buck / Pool

Runner who died in L.A. half-marathon identified, was 37

Ambulance near finish line of Rock N Roll Marathon 2011

A 37-year-old man who collapsed and died near the finish line of the Los Angeles Rock 'n' Roll half-marathon was identified Monday as Charles Whitmore Riske of Costa Mesa.

He died about two hours into the event as he kicked into the final stretch of the race in downtown L.A., officials said.

The runner had previously been identified as being 40-years-old, but L.A. County Coroner Asst. Chief Ed Winter said Riske was 37. His cause of death had not been determined.

Paramedics attempted CPR before Riske was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m., Winter said.

Race officials said Sunday the death was the only serious health issue associated with the race. More than 8,000 runners ran the 13.1 miles that started and ended at L.A. Live.

RELATED:

Crystal Cathedral supporters pray for miracle

Driver accused of deliberately running over man

Flights between LAX and East Coast resume after snowstorm

-- Matt Stevens

Photo: An ambulance stationed near the finish line of the Rock 'n' Roll half-marathon. Credit: Anne Cusak / Los Angeles Times

 

No suspects in fatal South L.A. shooting

Sheriff's homicide detectives were investigating the shooting death early Monday of a man in unincorporated South Los Angeles.

The victim, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene on the 1300 block of East Florence Avenue. The shooting occurred about 1:09 a.m.

No further details were available.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500.

To remain anonymous, call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

ALSO:

West Hollywood closes streets for Halloween festival

Runner who died in L.A. half-marathon identified, was 37

Bloody knife in car of ex-Penthouse model found dead on beach

-- Abby Sewell

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Quantas flights from LAX scheduled to resume Sunday night

QantasQantas Airways flights from Los Angeles were scheduled to resume Sunday night after the airline had shut down operations worldwide over the weekend because of conflicts with employee unions.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reported on Facebook and Twitter that flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, would be departing the airport. The airline usually operates 34 departures a week from LAX.

The airline posted an announcement for L.A. passengers on its website:

If you are booked on a flight that is scheduled to depart from Los Angeles on Sunday 30th or Monday 31 October (local time), please travel to the airport as normal.

If your travel has been disrupted and you are in Los Angeles, we will contact you once we have details of your flight. We recommend you do not travel to the airport for a Qantas flight unless you have been advised to do so. All flights are still subject to regulatory approval.

The Times' John M. Glionna in Seoul reports:

An Australian arbitration court has issued an emergency ruling that will allow Qantas Airways to return to the skies after a bitter labor dispute prompted the airline to ground its entire fleet during the weekend. ...

The court’s ruling ended weeks of strikes and canceled a staff lockout against the world’s 10th-largest airline that caused chaos at Qantas destination airports worldwide, including LAX. ...

In past months, the rolling worker strikes by pilots, aircraft mechanics, baggage handlers and caterers have forced the cancellation of 600 flights, disrupted travel for 70,000 passengers and cost Qantas $75 million.

The airline had posted policies on refunds and accommodations for stranded travelers during the shutdown.

ALSO:

Driver accused of purposely running over a man

Crystal Cathedral supporters pray for a miracle

Flights between LAX and East Coast resume after snowstorm

-- Mary Forgione

Photo: A Qantas plane at the departure gate in Perth, Australia, on Monday, local time. The airline started to resume operations after a shutdown over the weekend. Credit: Daniel Munoz / Reuters

Man collapses, dies near finish line of L.A. half marathon

A 40-year-old man died Sunday after he collapsed near the finish line of the Los Angeles Rock 'n' Roll half marathon, according to authorities and the footrace's medical director.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our heartfelt sympathies go out to the runner’s family and loved ones," said Dr. Lewis Maharam, medical director of the Competitor's Group Rock 'n' Roll marathon races held around the country. 

“The family has asked for their privacy during this difficult time," Maharam said. "Out of respect for their request, we will have no further comment.” Race officials declined to release the man's name.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the 600 block of Olympic Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles near the finish line of the race around 9:30 a.m., about two hours into the event. They performed CPR on the man before taking him to a nearby hospital.

Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said the incident was the only serious health issue associated with the race that he was aware of. No further details were immediately available.

The race, with at least 8,000 runners and walkers, began and ended at L.A. Live, following a course that passed the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and crossed the 6th Street bridge, reaching Boyle Avenue before doubling back.

ALSO:

Driver accused of purposely running over a man

Crystal Cathedral supporters pray for a miracle

Flights between LAX and East Coast resume after snowstorm

-- Victoria Kim and Kenneth R. Weiss

Wide body chassis rules in Manhattan Beach pumpkin race

168698.ME.1030.pumpkinraces4.WJS

The winner had a wide-body chassis, low slung to the ground like the pumpkin that whisked Cinderella into the night after the ball.

It also had a novel design, cribbing from in-line skates, to make it whiz past competitors and claim the title to the 21st Annual World Famous Pumpkin Race in Manhattan Beach.

"Innovation won this year," said Karl Rogers, the race's organizer and lifelong Manhattan Beach resident. "Sometimes it's luck; sometimes it's design. This year's winner had an innovative design."

This year's race attracted an estimated 12,000 people, Rogers said, to watch 814 pumpkins compete for fame, and in some cases infamy: smashed to smithereens by an oversized wooden Mallet-O-Justice. This squash mashup has become an annual highlight as competitors who knowingly violate the rules by bringing in ringers, such as a dolled up watermelons painted orange or affixing pumpkins to skateboards that run fast and true.

"Surprisingly, people want to be caught cheating," Rogers said. The referees in black and white striped shirts call them out and with great fanfare, pummel the pumpkins to a pulp, much to the delight of kids watching the race.

The key to a top-notch squash is aligning independent axles and wheels perfectly parallel so the pumpkin-mobile will head straight down the hill of Manhattan Beach Boulevard without veering off course.

Rogers, an internet software entrepreneur who dreamed up the race decades ago, said this year's winner has reconfigured the design in a way he's never seen: channels scooped out for the axles running front to back, instead of side to side.

-- Kenneth R. Weiss

 Photo: Competitors cheer on their pumpkins during the 21st Annual Pumpkin Race near the Manhattan Beach Pier on Sunday. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Driver accused of running over a man on purpose, killing him

A Rancho Cucamonga man was being held on suspicion of murder after he allegedly drove his car over another man in Pico Rivera.

Alfredo Campos, Jr. 38, was arrested shortly after the incident at 1:19 a.m. Sunday near Passons Boulevard and Telegraph Road. 

Witnesses told sheriff's deputies that Campos and the 38-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, had gotten into a fight and that Campos got into his car and deliberately ran over the other man, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A deputy on patrol nearby arrived at the scene as Campos was fleeing, according to the sheriff's statement. Deputies stopped Campos at Slauson Avenue and Boer Street in an unincorporated section of Whittier and arrested him.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. 

ALSO:

Man plunges to his death from Pasadena bridge

Woman dies in fiery Santa Clarita crash

Driver sought after 3 children are injured in hit-and-run

 

— Abby Sewell

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 303

Click through for more photos of Southern California Moments.

Fall sky: Using the Instagram mobile app, Ken Shelton snaps a shot of the Helms Bakery district in Culver City on Oct. 24.

Every day of 2011, we're featuring reader-submitted photos of Southern California Moments. Follow us on Twitter and visit the Southern California Moments homepage for more on this series.

Occupy Orange County protesters allowed to stay overnight

The Irvine City Council has approved Occupy Orange County demonstrators' request to camp overnight on the Civic Center lawn.

"America is a democratic country," Mayor Sukhee Kang said Thursday. "It is important as a city to respect and facilitate free speech rights for everyone and that is exactly what the city has done on Tuesday night after listening to over 60 people speak. It wasn't about politics, it wasn't about partisanship, it was about respecting their voice."

City council members approved the request unanimously.

It's a move that bucks the trend of lawmakers in cities such as Santa Ana, where activists are barred from setting up overnight encampments.

"What was holding us back was that we were not fully established," said Irvine resident and Occupy Orange County demonstrator Abdur Outlaw, 22.

Woman dies in fiery crash in Santa Clarita

A driver died in a fiery car crash in Santa Clarita on Sunday.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was driving westbound on Plum Canyon Road, just east of Heller Circle, when her car moved onto the sidewalk and crashed into an out-of-service traffic signal pole, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

The car caught fire, trapping the driver inside the vehicle as flames engulfed it. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP is investigating the crash.

— Abby Sewell

Man collapses near finish line of half-marathon

A 40-year-old man was in grave condition Sunday after he collapsed during the Los Angeles Rock 'n' Roll half-marathon, fire officials said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the 600 block of Olympic Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles near the finish line of the race around 9:30 a.m., about two hours into the event Paramedics performed CPR on the man, who was described only as a “possible participant.” The man was transported to a hospital.

Fire department spokesman Erik Scott said the incident was the only serious health issue associated with the race that he was aware of. No further details were immediately available.

The race, with an estimated 15,000 runners and walkers, began and ended at L.A. Live, following a course that passed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and crossed the 6th Street bridge, reaching Boyle Avenue before doubling back on itself.

-- Victoria Kim

 

Crime alerts for Cypress Park, Gramercy Park and 13 other L.A. neighborhoods

Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 15 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times’ Crime L.A. database.

Seven neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Cypress Park (A) was the most unusual, recording four reports compared with a weekly average of 1.2 over the last three months.

Gramercy Park (H) topped the list of eight neighborhoods with property crime alerts. It recorded 12 property crimes compared with its weekly average of 5.9 over the last three months.

Alerts are based on an analysis of crime reports for Oct. 20–Oct. 26, the most recent seven days for which data are available.

Ben Welsh, Thomas Suh Lauder

Flights between LAX and East Coast resume after snowstorm

Los Angeles International Airport reported that LAX flights both to and from the East Coast resumed normal operations following an unusual October snowstorm that hit the Northeast on Saturday.

The airport advised those picking up passengers to check with the airline regarding arrival times.

Cancellations of Qantas Airways and Air France flights due to labor disputes remained in effect.

Australia-based Qantas grounded aircraft around the globe Saturday because of a worker strike and lockout. Qantas has 34 departures a week from LAX, serving 880,000 passengers at the airport between January and September. 

An Australian tribunal ordered an end to the labor action Sunday morning (Monday in Australia) and directed the two sides to return to the bargaining table. It remained unclear when flights would resume. 

Meanwhile, LAX reported, Air France announced the cancellation of Flight 69 from LAX to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Flight 72 from Charles de Gaulle to LAX until Wednesday. All other flights remain on schedule, but passengers were encouraged to check with the airline for updates.

-- Abby Sewell and wire reports

Three children suffer minor injuries in hit-and-run; driver sought

Three children injured Saturday evening in a hit and run in South Park sustained only minor injuries and were released from the hospital, police said.

Police were still seeking the driver that struck the children, ages 4, 6 and 11. The crash took place around 5:30 p.m. in the 100 block of East 47th Street.

Sgt. Kevin Custard at the LAPD's Central Traffic division said the children had bumps and bruises and were checked out and released from an area hospital.

The vehicle was described only as a blue car.

To report information about the incident, call the Central Traffic division at (213) 972-1853.

-- Abby Sewell

Landmark California water deal on the rocks

Water

The mega-deal signed eight years ago between the water-rich Imperial Valley and water-poor San Diego County was supposed to stop the fighting and litigating over the Colorado River. It hasn't.

The Imperial Irrigation District and the San Diego County Water Authority are increasingly annoyed at the California Legislature for reneging on a promise to resolve the future of the Salton Sea, that environmental invalid that straddles Riverside and Imperial counties and is dependent on agricultural runoff for its survival.

While there are numerous suggestions for the Salton Sea, most center on decreasing its salinity level, which threatens birds and fish, and on stabilizing (or reducing) its size so that property owners are not subject to periodic flooding. A water bond being prepared for the statewide ballot in 2012 would possibly include $100 million for such a project — a mere drop in a very salty bucket. Fixing the sea, most planners assert, would cost upward of $10 billion.

Unless the state follows through on its promise to deal with the Salton Sea issues, the larger water deal could be struck down in the courts and California’s plan for dividing its share of the Colorado River thrown into disarray.

In the domino-world of water, loss of the Imperial-San Diego deal could lead to pressure in Southern California to seek more water from Northern California.

It’s all a far cry from that sunny day in October 2003 when the water barons of California met at a spot overlooking the Hoover Dam to sign a 75-year pact and declare an end to years of intra-state fighting over the Colorado — much to the delight of the federal government and six other states that depend on the river for survival.

“We thought everything was settled out nicely on the Colorado River,” said Roger Patterson, assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “But if somebody can see how this one is going to play out, they’ve got better vision than I do.”

The lawyers go to court Nov. 21 and all sides are looking for a Plan B.

Read the full story.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Sprinklers irrigate fields in the Imperial Valley. Credit: David McNew / Getty Images

Half-marathon closes many downtown L.A. streets

Downtown Los Angeles streets are closed Sunday morning for the 2011 Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

The event, which benefits the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is expected to draw about 15,000 runners and walkers. The race begins and ends at L.A. Live. Participants must travel  both ways on a route that extends from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to Whittier Boulevard and Boyle Avenue.

No-parking zones are in effect along the race route.

A map and list of road closures is available at event website. A map is also available at the city's traffic information site.

— Abby Sewell

 

Two shot in apparent gang-related attack in South L.A.

Two men were in serious condition after being shot on a South Los Angeles street Saturday night.

The two men were walking with another man on the sidewalk in the 1700 block of West 50th Street at about midnight when a vehicle approached them and someone in the vehicle asked the men which gang they belonged to, said Sgt. Rudy Alaniz at the LAPD's 77th Street station.

When the men said they weren't in a gang, someone in the vehicle fired several shots, hitting one man in the head and one in the chest, Alaniz said.

There was no description of the vehicle or suspects, who have not been arrested. The victims were not identified.

-- Abby Sewell

Hollywood nightclub fight leaves man in critical condition

A man was in critical condition Sunday morning after a fight broke out among Halloween revelers on Hollywood Boulevard.

The brawl occurred as club-goers were leaving the Playhouse Hollywood nightclub on Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue about 1:30 a.m., said Sgt. Mark Ro of the LAPD's Hollywood station.

The fight involved two groups, Ro said. He said a crowd of club patrons, many in Halloween costumes, was looking on when a man fell to the ground and was kicked in the head several times until he was unconscious. The man was transported to a local hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition, Ro said.

Ro said three suspects kicked the victim, who was not identified. They could face charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

No suspects have been arrested. Ro said witnesses provided descriptions of them, but the victim's friends were uncooperative with police. It was unclear what triggered the fight.

ALSO:

California surfer bitten on neck by shark airlifted to hospital

Scarlett Johansson hacker suspect allegedly stalked woman

Building fire reveals indoor marijuana farm

-- Abby Sewell

Man in Smurf costume shot leaving Halloween party

A man in a Smurf costume was shot in the leg while leaving a Halloween party Sunday morning.

The man left a party on 6th Avenue and 30th Street at about 2:30 a.m., said Sgt. Mayberry at the LAPD Southwest station, who would not give his first name.

He encountered a group of gang members and was shot once in the calf, Mayberry said. He was transported to a local hospital and was in stable condition.

City News Service reported the man and his girlfriend were dressed as Smurfs. The suspect first punched the victim's girlfriend, and when he came to her aid, the suspect shot him. Mayberry said the victim was painted blue but could not confirm that he was dressed as a Smurf.

ALSO:

Scarlett Johansson hacker suspect allegedly stalked woman

North Hollywood building fire reveals indoor marijuana farm

-- Abby Sewell

Earthquake: 3.5 quake strikes near Kettleman City

A shallow magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Sunday morning four miles from Kettleman City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 6:26 a.m. Pacific time at a depth of 0 miles.

According to the USGS, the epicenter was six miles from Avenal, 16 miles from Huron, 22 miles from Coalinga and 140 miles from San Jose City Hall.

In the past 10 days, there have been no earthquakes magnitude 3.0 and greater centered nearby.

Read more about California earthquakes on L.A. Now.

— Ken Schwencke

Image: Location of the epicenter. Credit: Google Maps

California surfer bitten on neck by shark airlifted to hospital

Shark

A California surfer is recovering at a San Jose hospital after being bitten on the neck by a shark off the coast of Monterey County.

Officials said the surfer's condition with not life-threatening, but no other details were immediately available.

The shark attack occurred Saturday morning at Marina State Beach, the Monterey County Herald reported. The shark bit the surfer and also took a chunk out if his surfboard.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Red flag fire warning extended through Sunday afternoon

A red flag fire warning is to remain in effect until 3 p.m. Sunday for the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The National Weather Service said an upper-level high-pressure system and weak offshore flow will maintain warm, dry conditions through Sunday in inland areas.

Single-digit humidity and offshore winds gusting to 30 mph are expected in the mountains.

-- Bettina Boxall

Man collapses and dies while hiking north of Porter Ranch

A 76-year-old man collapsed and died Saturday morning while hiking with his wife and a group of friends on the Limekiln Canyon trail north of Porter Ranch.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, some of whom were flown there by helicopter, worked for 20 minutes trying to revive the hiker, department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. The man, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The department received the call at 8:36 a.m.

-- Bettina Boxall

Man shot himself in Monrovia in front of his ex-wife and their child

The man who fatally shot himself on a Monrovia street Saturday afternoon did so in front of his ex-wife and their child, according to police.

He was holding his ex-wife at gunpoint on the 300 block of South Myrtle Avenue when police arrived around noon. When officers ordered him to drop the weapon, he turned the gun on himself and pulled the trigger, Monrovia Police Sgt. Daniel Verna said.

The man, who lived in Texas, had been following the woman and their 7-year-old daughter, who are Los Angeles County residents, when he confronted them near Library Park.

A number of witnesses saw the shooting, but no one else was injured. The man died at the scene.

Police did not identify any of those involved or provide any further details.

RELATED:

Man fatally shoots himself on busy Monrovia street, police say

-- Bettina Boxall

Shark attacks surfer on the Central Coast

A shark attacked a surfer on the Central Coast on Saturday morning, biting him on the neck and forearm and taking a chunk out of his surfboard at Marina State Beach, the Monterey County Herald reported.

Fellow surfers used beach towels to apply a tourniquet to Eric Tarantino's arm wound after he got to shore with the help of a friend, the newspaper said. He was later airlifted to San Jose Regional Medical Center. Authorities said his injuries did not appear life threatening.

They plan to post signs warning of shark danger at beaches from Fort Ord to Moss Landing.

-- Bettina Boxall

Qantas Airlines grounds flights in labor dispute [Updated]

Photo: Qantas Airlines passengers Kay O'Brien, left, and her husband Tim, from Australia, try and find a new flight home after the airline announced that all flights had been cancelled due to a labor dispute at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
Australia-based Qantas Airlines grounded flights across the globe Saturday amid an intensifying labor dispute that is disrupting international travel for thousands of passengers.

The company’s domestic and international departures were canceled after Qantas announced that it is locking out workers represented by three of its employee unions, including those that represent pilots and baggage handlers. Qantas advised its customers not to go to the airport until further notice and said a full refund will be available to any customer who chooses to cancel a flight.

“Qantas regrets that this action has become necessary and apologizes sincerely to all affected passengers,” the company said in a statement.

Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey said the company informed her that its actions would ground five of its aircraft -– three 747s and two A-380s -– at LAX. “I think it’s significant for us,” she said. “Qantas is a major customer of ours. Whenever disruption occurs for a major business customer, we feel their pain.”

[Updated 3:44 p.m.: LAX officials officials said Saturday that Qantas’ decision would actually leave nine of the company’s aircraft grounded at LAX, including six 747s and one A380.]

So far, one 8:50 a.m. flight from LAX to New York has been canceled, an airport spokeswoman said. LAX staffers are referring all customer calls to the Qantas web site, www.qantas.com.

Qantas’ decision is expected to cost roughly $20 million per day. It was the latest move in a protracted labor dispute that has affected 70,000 passengers and led to the cancellation of 600 flights, the company said.

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