BART trains, stations stay open throughout protest

Although transit officials warned Bay Area travelers about protests that could disrupt train travel through downtown San Francisco on Monday night, the evening commute went off with little difficulty.

The protests against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District began about 5 p.m. as expected; it was the third round of demonstrations in the last three weeks, stemming from the July 3 fatal shooting of an intoxicated, knife-wielding transient by a BART police officer.

Although several dozen protesters gathered at the Civic Center BART station and marched along busy Market Street, BART officials said that all stations stayed open and all trains ran on time.

No damage or injuries were reported.

BART police arrested two people for marching into the paid area of the Embarcadero Station, where demonstrations are prohibited.

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Protesters shut down BART station in San Francisco

3 BART stations shut down amid San Francisco protest

-- Maria L. La Ganga in San Francisco

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton arrested on murder warrant

Former Laker Javaris Crittenton was arrested Monday evening at John Wayne International Airport on a murder warrant in connection with a slaying in Atlanta, the FBI said.

He was taken into custody without incident by a fugitive task force of FBI agents and Los Angeles Police Department officers, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. He was being booked Monday night by LAPD officers.

Crittenton, 23, allegedly shot Jullian Jones, a mother of four, on Aug. 19 as she stood outside her home with two other people, authorities said.

Earlier Monday, police said Crittenton may have been hiding in the L.A. area and was considered armed and dangerous.

Atlanta homicide detectives said Crittenton was trying to shoot someone he believed had stolen jewelry from him in April, according to Georgia law enforcement sources.

Jones was caught in a hail of bullets from the driver’s side of a sport utility vehicle. She was hit multiple times and declared dead at a hospital, according to authorities.

Crittenton, of Fayetteville, Ga., was drafted by the Lakers in 2007 but was traded in his rookie year to the Memphis Grizzlies. His NBA career sputtered with the Washington Wizards in 2009 when he and then-teammate Gilbert Arenas pulled guns on each other.

ALSO:

Rose Bowl tailgaters face new restrictions

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton, wanted in slaying, may be in L.A.

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Photo: Former Lakers player Javaris Crittenton. Credit: FBI

Yosemite fire now at 4,700 acres; 300 people evacuated

 
A wildfire, touched off when a propane tank on a motor home traveling one of the main highways into Yosemite exploded, was in its fifth day Monday, but visitors to the national park could be forgiven if they didn’t notice.

Smoke from the rugged slopes burning in a box canyon along the Merced River didn’t even tinge the skies above Yosemite Valley, said Scott Gediman, Yosemite National Park spokesman.

“The sky is blue,” Gediman said. "There’s water in the waterfalls, the trails are open and it does not affect them in any way, shape or form.”

The motor home went up in flames Thursday afternoon on Highway 140 between Yosemite and Mariposa, spitting embers that started separate fires on both sides of the river, Gediman said. There were no injuries in the vehicle fire, he added.

By Monday, the blaze had eaten more than 4,700 acres of manzanita, scrub oak and Ponderosa pines. Highway 140 remained closed, but the other major routes into the park –- highways 41 and 120 –- were still open. And park services were unaffected.

“It’s business as usual,” said Lisa Cesaro, spokeswoman for Delaware North, the park concessionaire.

About 300 people, mainly park service and concession employees, were under an evacuation order covering El Portal, Rancheria, Cedar Creek Lodge and the Merced River campgrounds.

Most of them were placed in empty cabins, tents or other lodgings in the valley, or found space with family and friends, park authorities said.

Brush fire flares up, forces part of Highway 138 to close

A wildfire that burned 345 acres near the Los Angeles-San Bernardino county line was 85% contained Monday, but the blaze flared up Monday evening, forcing the closure of a segment of Highway 138, fire officials said.

The blaze originally began along the highway south of Pinion Hills, east of Palmdale and west of Victorville, on Saturday after a series of lightning strikes from violent thunderstorms hit the desert areas, although the official cause has not been determined.

A small spot fire apparently leaped across the containment lines Monday, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Still, the blaze was enough under control for officials to redeploy some resources to other fires in the region.

ALSO:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Southern California brush fires getting under control

Cardiff State Beach closed after sewage spill in Escondido       

Heat wave hits Day 6 in Southern California; warning issued

-- Phil Willon

twitter/LATimesWillon

Man sentenced in stabbings outside USC-UCLA football game

A Winnetka man convicted of attempted murder in connection with a fight outside the Rose Bowl before the USC-UCLA football game last year was sentenced Monday to 15 years, four months in prison.

Anthony Richard Cisneros, 23, pleaded no contest last month to two counts of attempted murder. He was arrested in the wake of a Dec. 4 fight that broke out after a football hit a Mercedes-Benz.

Joshua Dirling, a Cal State Fullerton student, was stabbed in the cheek, and Vimal Patel was stabbed in the back during the melee.

Two of Cisneros' older siblings also pleaded no contest to lesser charges stemming from the brawl.

Arthur Joseph Cisneros, 26, pleaded no contest to an assault charge and was ordered to serve a year in County Jail and three years' probation.

Akira Sheree Cisneros, 24, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery count shortly after the incident. She was sentenced to three years' probation and 40 hours of community service.

ALSO:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

O.C. prepares to welcome home Little League world champs

-- Richard Winton 

Photo: An empty beer carton sits next to a Pasadena police car during a USC-UCLA game after two people were stabbed in a parking lot at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Dec. 4, 2010. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

California 140 to Yosemite expected to reopen Tuesday

A main road to Yosemite that has been shut down since last week by a large wildfire is expected to reopen Tuesday, officials said.

California 140 was expected to reopen at 6 a.m. because fire crews had made progress in beating back flames in the area, the U.S. Forest Service said. The highway had been closed since Thursday afternoon from about four miles east of Midpines to about four miles west of the park boundary.

Officials also were planning to lift an evacuation order Monday night that had affected about 300 people, most of them park service and concession employees, in the El Portal, Rancheria, Cedar Creek Lodge and Merced River campgrounds.

The blaze, known as the Motor fire, began along the Merced River on Thursday afternoon and had scorched about 5,230 acres of pine and brush by Monday evening, officials said. The blaze was 50% contained.

Fire officials credited a massive air assault that involved large tanker planes and helicopters that made repeated water and retardant drops with helping crews make progress in their efforts to battle the blaze.

ALSO:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Southern California brush fires getting under control

Cardiff State Beach closed after sewage spill in Escondido       

Heat wave hits Day 6 in Southern California; warning issued

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Photo: Crews work a fire line during the Motor fire. Credit: U.S. Forest Service

Brush fire north of Murrieta fully contained

A 160-acre grass fire north of Murrieta was fully contained in just over five hours but forced the evacuation of nearly a dozen homes as well as road closures in the Riverside County town of Menifee, authorities said.

More than 160 firefighters were called in to fight the blaze, which damaged two outbuildings, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials. No injuries were reported.

The fire was reported in Menifee about 1 p.m. and spread quickly.

Meanwhile, a wildfire that burned 345 acres near the Los Angeles-San Bernardino county line was 85% contained Sunday evening, after 555 federal, state and local firefighters were call in to battle the blaze, according to information released by the forestry department.

The fire began near Highway 138, south of Pinion Hills, east of Palmdale and west of Victorville, on Saturday after a series of lightning strikes from violent thunderstorms hit the desert areas, although the official cause has not been determined.

A second wildfire at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in the community of Mentone burned 67 acres and was expected to be completely contained by Monday night, fire officials said.

Also:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

O.C. prepares to welcome home Little League world champs

-- Phil Willon in Riverside

Human hand found at Lake Isabella leads to tip in murder mystery

A human hand sticking out of the sand at Lake Isabella provided a tip that led authorities to arrest two Kern County men on suspicion of murder and conspiracy, authorities said.

The hand was discovered Saturday by a woman walking the shoreline in the Hanning Flat area of the lake, the Kern County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators excavating around the hand found a body that appeared to have suffered wounds to the head and torso, authorities said. The body was tentatively identified as that of Michael Thomas Hill, 52.

Detectives followed leads and arrested Dennis Lee Simmons, 59, and Clifton Blake, 42, on Sunday in connection with the death, the department said in a release. Both men are Weldon residents.

The men were being held at the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield.

ALSO:

Pasadena father charged with suffocating baby daughter

Father throws son, 7, overboard on cruise, authorities say

Arraignment postponed for mother in dropping death of baby

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Brush fires in San Diego County burn more than 400 acres [Updated]

A brush fire in rural northeast San Diego County has burned more than 300 acres and prompted California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials to warn residents of three dozen homes in the Rancho Heights Road area to be prepared to evacuate.

The fire broke out at 10:30 a.m. after a Toyota Camry crashed into a light pole on Pala Temecula Road, sending sparks into dry grass.

By 4 p.m., the fire had not damaged any structures, and no fire-related injuries had been reported. Dozens of firefighters are fighting the blaze, but it is listed as zero percent contained.

[Updated, 4:20 p.m.: Also in northeast San Diego County, firefighters are battling a brush fire off Wildcat Canyon and San Vicente Road near the community of Ramona. More than 100 acres have burned, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. More than 100 firefighters are on the scene, with two air tankers and three dropping-water helicopters.]

[Updated, 5:30 p.m.: The brushfire off Wildcat Canyon Road near Ramona has been contained, with no evacuations necessary, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced at 5:30 p.m. The fire burned 70 acres of brush.]

ALSO:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

O.C. prepares to welcome home Little League world champs

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Pala fire. Credit: KTLA-TV/fox5sandiego.com

Brush fire prompts evacuation of dozens of homes

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has ordered the mandatory evacuation of dozens of homes as a brush fire continues to spread north of the Pala Indian Reservation, burning more than 350 acres.

Residents of 79 homes were directed to the gymnasium at the Pala Tribal Administrative Center on the reservation, authorities said.

The fire broke out at 10:30 a.m. after a Toyota Camry crashed into a light pole on Pala Temecula Road, sending sparks into dry grass.

No fire-related injuries have been reported, authorities said. Dozens of firefighters are battling the blaze, but it is listed as zero percent contained.

Another brush fire off Wildcat Canyon Road near Ramona has been contained, with no evacuations necessary, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced at 5:30 p.m. The fire burned 70 acres of brush.

Also:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

O.C. prepares to welcome home Little League world champs

-- Tony Perez in San Diego

Pilot suffers broken leg in crash into Santa Monica home

A pilot suffered a broke leg, and a painter on the ground was hit by flying debris when a single-engine Cessna taking off from Santa Monica Airport crashed into a home Monday afternoon.

The aircraft went down about 2:30 p.m. into a home at 21st Street and Navy.

Lauralee Ash, a Santa Monica police spokeswoman, said the pilot suffered a broken leg in the crash shortly after takeoff from the Santa Monica Airport. Ash said a painter working on the home was also hit by flying debris from the Cessna. A second painter also suffered the effects of aircraft fuel inhalation and was treated at the scene.

Ash said the painting crew pulled the pilot from the wreckage.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

ALSO:

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

O.C. prepares to welcome home Little League world champs

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton, wanted in slaying, may be in L.A.

-- Richard Winton

Photo: Site of plane crash. Credit: KTLA News

 

Grass fire scorches 160 acres, forces evacuation of some homes

A grass fire just north of Murrieta scorched 160 acres and forced the evacuation of 11 homes Monday afternoon, Riverside County fire officials said.

The fire was reported in Menifee about 1 p.m. and spread quickly in the 100-degree heat, damaging two outbuildings. The fire was 50% contained by midafternoon.

“They’re making really good progress on it," said Theresa Briscoe, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Meanwhile, a wildfire that burned 345 acres near the Los Angeles-San Bernardino county line was 85% contained Sunday evening, after 555 federal, state and local firefighters were call in to fight the blaze, according to information released by the forestry department.

The fire began near Highway 138, south of Pinion Hills, east of Palmdale and west of Victorville, on Saturday after a series of lightning strikes from violent thunderstorms hit the desert areas, although the official cause has not been determined.

A second wildfire at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in the community of Mentone burned 67 acres and was expected to be completely contained by Monday night, fire officials said.

That fire broke out late Sunday morning near Greenspot Road. More than 300 firefighters battled the fire, which never threatened any structures.

ALSO:

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

O.C. prepares to welcome home Little League world champs

-- Phil Willon in Riverside

Tallying the Benefits of Chocolate

Chocaholics may have more reason to indulge in a chocolate truffle or two today. New research from scientists at the University of Cambridge suggests that the heart-healthy benefits chalked up to regularly indulging in chocolate treats may not be all hype. The research involved more than 100,000 subjects and included data from a half dozen studies.

By many measures, consumption of chocolate was linked to lower rates of stroke, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions. But there was no beneficial effect on the risk for heart failure or diabetes.

The report did mention some caveats, but it provides another boost to the increasingly popular view that chocolate — especially the dark variety — can be beneficial in moderation. Read the full report, Evidence of Heart Benefits From Chocolate, and then please join the discussion below.

No Evidence That Breast-Feeding Prevents Eczema

Many parents who breast-feed believe it can boost a child’s immunity, protecting against a number of allergies. But that widely held belief has not always been borne out in studies. Now, researchers in Britain have found that breast-feeding may not protect infants against developing eczema and other allergic diseases.

Even among children who had been breast-fed for six months or longer, there was no evidence that breast-feeding prevented eczema or limited its severity. The results were the same for children whose mothers had a history of allergy and for those who had a positive reaction to the allergens used in the skin-prick test.

The researchers were careful to point out that their findings were not a reason for mothers to avoid breast-feeding — only an indication that not all of the reputed benefits were backed by evidence. Read the full report, Breast-Feeding Does Not Prevent Eczema, and then please join the discussion below.

Skydivers who collided in midair remain in critical condition

The two skydivers who collided in midair over Lake Elsinore on Friday remain in critical condition in a Riverside County hospital.

The two men are both officer cadets in the British military, although British authorities still are trying to determine if they were taking part in an exercise related to military training or were on a personal outing, said Katharine Keith, communications officer for the British consulate general in Los Angeles.

Riverside County firefighters were called to Skydive Elsinore on Friday evening and found one of the skydivers not breathing and in traumatic full arrest.’ The other skydiver sustained major injuries, fire officials said.

The identities of the two men have not been released. Both are officers-in-training in the British military, a program akin to the ROTC in the United States, Keith said. Family members have joined the men at the hospital, she said.

ALSO:

Rose Bowl tailgaters face new restrictions

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton, wanted in slaying, may be in L.A.

-- Phil Willon

Hells Angels suspected in kidnapping, beatings in El Cajon

 
Four members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang are being sought by San Diego law enforcement on suspicion of taking part in the kidnapping and savage beating of another club member and a club associate in 2007 and 2010.

The four suspects are all heavily tattooed, including the DAGO tattoo indicating that they are part of the club's San Diego chapter, authorities said.

Five other members of the Hells Angels have already been arraigned and are set for trial in the beatings. The beatings, which took place in El Cajon, involved the theft of the victims' motorcycles, authorities said.

Law enforcement officials believe the four may be attempting to flee the country and link up with Hells Angels chapters in Mexico or elsewhere in Latin America.

Wanted are: David Dabbs, 41; Dustin Harroun, 30; Stephen Sanders, 42, and Troy Scholder, 30.

San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anonymous tips can be left at (888) 580-8477.

ALSO:

Rose Bowl tailgaters face new restrictions

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton, wanted in slaying, may be in L.A.

 -- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: DAGO tattoo on Dustin Harroun, from a previous arrest. Credit: San Diego County Crime Stoppers

Former Armenian soldier, 65, indicted on four counts of murder

A grand jury indictment was unsealed Monday against a former Armenian army soldier accused of killing four people.

Those killed included the family of a woman he allegedly was obsessed with and a prostitute on Sunset Boulevard.

Alberd Tersargyan, 65, was arrested last year shortly after the body of Karine Hakobyan was discovered by her teenage daughter slumped in the front seat of her car in Little Armenia. She had been shot at close range.

Fifteen months earlier, the same daughter had come home to the family's apartment to find the bodies of her father, Khachik Safaryan, and her younger sister. 

The four-count murder indictment returned Aug. 26 claims the daughter witnessed her father's killing. The special circumstance makes Tersargsyan eligible for the death penalty.

The indictment supersedes existing charges and avoids the need for a preliminary hearing.

Tersargyan once served in the Armenian army and fancied himself "a professional killer," detectives said. He became a suspect in the slayings after police received a tip from his employer.

Packing a Safe School Lunch

The start of the school year always brings a fresh round of worries for parents of schoolchildren. This week the Personal Health columnist Jane Brody takes a look at the hazards of home-packed meals, which are often consumed after spending hours unrefrigerated.

While there are no statistics on how often schoolchildren are sickened by the lunches they bring from home, it’s far better to be safe than sorry, said Nancy Donley, the president of STOP Foodborne Illness, an advocacy organization.

Ms. Donley, who lives in Chicago, knows the risks all too well. In 1993 she lost her only child, 6-year-old Alex, to one of the nastiest food contaminants, E. coli 0157:H7, innocently consumed in store-bought ground meat. Rather than retreat into a fetal position, she channeled her grief and anger into helping others avoid a similar tragedy.

What are some ways to pack a school lunch and lower the risk of food poisoning? For answers, read the full column, “Personal Health: Smart Choices to Ensure Safety at Lunch,” and then please join the discussion below.

Grizzly blamed for Yellowstone hiker death

Yellowstone National Park rangers are trying to capture a grizzly that they say killed a hiker from Michigan last week, the second fatal bear attack this summer at the famed park, authorities said Monday.

The body of John Wallace, 59, was discovered Friday along a trail near an area of the park known for its high population of bears. An autopsy concluded he died from injuries in a bear attack.

“We know of no witnesses” to the attack, park Supt. Dan Wenk said. “We think we provide visitors with pretty good knowledge and techniques to keep them safe in the backcountry. Unfortunately, in this case, it didn't happen that way.”

Rangers set traps and plan to kill the animal if they can establish through DNA analysis that it was the one that attacked Wallace, Wenk said. He said park officials do not believe the bear was involved in the other mauling this summer several miles away from where Wallace's body was discovered.

In July, a female bear with cubs killed a hiker from Torrance. Officials did not kill the sow grizzly because they concluded it was defending its cubs.

In the latest case, there were no signs of cubs in the area where Wallace was killed. Wallace, of Chassell, Mich., was apparently traveling alone and had pitched a tent in a developed campground sometime Wednesday, park officials said.

Authorities said Wallace likely was killed Wednesday or Thursday during a hike along the Mary Mountain Trail. Rangers also found grizzly tracks and bear droppings near Wallace's body.

The body was discovered in an area of the park that rangers close from March to June because it is considered “high-density” grizzly country.

In the case of Wallace's death, Wenk said there was too little information to know if it was a defensive attack or not. As a result, he said the bear would be killed if it can be positively identified as the culprit.

Despite the killings, Wenk said dangerous encounters remain rare between grizzlies and the more than 3 million people who visit the park each year. The July killing was the first inside the park first since 1986.

ALSO:

Yellowstone grizzly bear euthanized for 'predatory behaviors'

Victim of Yellowstone grizzly bear mauling was Torrance resident

Agency seeks to end sea otter relocations, to allow them off SoCal

-- Associated Press

Photo: A grizzly crosses a highway near Yellowstone National Park. Credit: David Grubbs / Billings Gazette

Really? The Claim: Sea Salt Is Lower in Sodium Than Table Salt

THE FACTS

Recently, the American Heart Association surveyed 1,000 people nationwide about their thoughts on sodium and heart health. Sixty one percent said that they believed sea salt was a low-sodium alternative to table salt.

They can be forgiven for thinking so. Sea salt is marketed as a health food, added to soups, potato chips and a wide variety of packaged snacks labeled “low sodium,” “all natural” and “healthy.”

But in reality, sea salt and table salt are not terribly different, at least chemically. The real differences are in how the two are used in cooking.

Table salt comes from underground salt deposits. Companies that sell it typically add an anti-caking agent to keep it from clumping, as well as iodine, an essential nutrient. During processing, table salt is stripped of many of its natural minerals.

Sea salt, on the other hand, is made from evaporated seawater. With little processing, it retains most of its magnesium, calcium and other minerals, which some cooks say give it a better flavor.

But both contain the same amount of sodium chloride by weight, which means they contribute equally to total sodium consumption and have the same effect on blood pressure.

Officials recommend that adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, equivalent to a teaspoon of salt. You should eat less if you are black, hypertensive or older than 40. Yet most Americans consume more than double the amount they need, mostly from processed foods, so it is best to limit salt — of any kind.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Sea salt is no lower in sodium than table salt.

Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations

About 70 homes have been ordered evacuated as a wildfire burns outside Yosemite National Park, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Highway 140 into the park remains closed indefinitely from Midpines to El Portal, but Highways 41 and 120 are open and the park's visitor services are unaffected, said National Park Service spokeswoman Kass Hardy.

The blaze, dubbed the Motor fire, has burned 4,755 acres and is 35% contained, Hardy said. It started Thursday when a tourist's motor home went up in flames.

More than 800 firefighters are on the fire line.

The evacuated areas include Cedar Lodge, Rancheria, Incline, the El Portal trailer court and the Merced River Canyon Campgrounds.

ALSO:  

Mexican drug tunnel found in grocery store

Skydivers collide in midair, sustain serious injuries

Producer must pay $800,000 in sex-harassment case

-- Gale Holland

 

BART braces for another transit protest in San Francisco

 
Bay Area Rapid Transit officials are warning commuters to brace for another round of protests and BART station closures in downtown San Francisco during the evening rush hour.

The protests, which are expected to begin at 5 p.m. Monday, would be the third round of service disruptions in as many weeks, stemming from the July 3 fatal shooting of an intoxicated, knife-wielding transient by a BART police officer.

BART officials suggest that commuters consider finding other ways in and out of downtown San Francisco and check 511.org and BART's website for service announcements.

ALSO:

Rose Bowl tailgating parties face new restrictions

Rare birds found taped to passenger's body at LAX

Heat wave hits Day 6 in Southern California; warning issued

--Maria L. La Ganga in San Francisco

Photo: Bay Area Rapid Transit police arrest a man during a protest at the Civic Center train station in San Francisco. Credit: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Attorneys claim Michael Jackson was drug addict, wants inner circle to testify

Defense lawyers for Michael Jackson's personal physician signaled Monday that they intend to rely on witnesses from Jackson's own inner circle to portray the singer as a desperate drug addict constantly "on the hunt" for the surgical anesthetic that killed him.

In papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray detailed the testimony they plan to elicit at the physician's upcoming trial from a host of Jackson confidants, including longtime friends, medical providers, the nanny to his three children and his make-up artist.

Most of these insiders have not cooperated with Murray's defense. But in the court filing, his lawyers suggest that accounts the prospective witnesses gave police concerning Jackson's drug use and career worries make their testimony vital to the doctor's claim that Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of propofol.

Jackson's longtime make-up artist Karen Faye, for example, told detectives that the recording star "was weak, extremely thin and seemed to be under the influence of drugs" the week before his death and told her he didn't think he could "physically complete" a 50-show comeback attempt in London, according to the filing.

A friend, Susan Etok, told police the singer expressed the same doubts about performing in the "This Is It" shows and asked her to help him get propofol and other drugs, the filing states.

The nanny, Grace Rwaramba, told investigators she had repeatedly tried to stage interventions and once fielded a call from Jackson's children when their father had passed out on the floor. She was fired two months before the singer's death after complaining about his drug use, according to the filing.

Whether jurors will hear from those closest to Jackson remains unclear. Prosecutors have questioned the relevance of the confidants' testimony. A hearing before Judge Michael Pastor is set for Monday afternoon.

Volunteers survey the homeless in San Fernando Valley

Armed with flashlights and clipboards, dozens of volunteers fanned out before dawn Monday to find the most vulnerable people living on the streets of North Hollywood and Sun Valley.

The effort organized by the San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition, a network of service providers, aims to help at least 75 people into stable housing and find them the services they need to stay off the streets.

North Hollywood and Sun Valley are among more than 90 communities nationwide to join the 100,000 Homes campaign, an effort to house 100,000 homeless people by 2013.

Using a model developed by the campaign, volunteers are surveying the homeless three nights this week about their health, alcohol or drug use and other issues that influence how likely they are to die if left on the streets. The information will be used to prioritize the most vulnerable for permanent housing as well as for counseling, treatment and other services.

“Once you start learning about somebody and they are more than a body, they are a name, then you have the opportunity to do something to get them off the streets,” said John Horn, co-chair of the San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition.

Rose Bowl tailgating parties face new restrictions

When football season starts at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 10 with a game between UCLA and San Jose State University, tailgating fans will face new restrictions.

Alcohol consumption is now prohibited in all tailgating sections after kickoff, and the parking lots will open to the public only six hours before kickoff. Under the previous rules, fans could pull in as much as eight hours before the game, the Pasadena Sun reported.

Other new rules ban loud music, music with inappropriate language and drinking out of glass containers.

Pasadena police and Rose Bowl officials drew up the new rules after two men were stabbed outside the stadium before last year's UCLA-USC game, said Rose Bowl spokesman Charles Thompson Jr.

"People would come out 10 hours before [the game] thinking they could get in. People would come out who had no tickets. People would come and make it one big party all day long," Thompson said.

The parking lots will be patrolled by Pasadena police and by green-clad "tailgating ambassadors" working for Contemporary Services Corp., which has provided security at the Rose Bowl for 40 years.

Pasadena Police Lt. Bruce George said police arrest an average of nine people at each Rose Bowl game. Of those, six are typically arrested for being drunk in public, and three are arrested for scalping tickets.

Violence among fans at athletic events has generated growing concern. A beating incident at Dodger Stadium on opening day and a series of brawls at a San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders game last week spurred Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) to call for legislation beefing up security at sporting events.

"There are many things worth fighting for," Gatto said in a statement. "The fact that someone wore a rival sports franchise's jersey to a game isn't one of them."

ALSO:

Baby dropped from building: Mother due in court today

Heat wave hits Day 6 in Southern California; warning issued

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton sought in fatal drive-by shooting

-- Ana Facio-Krajcer, Times Community News

Photo: An entrance to the Rose Bowl. Credit: Cheryl A. Guerrero / Times Community News

Michael Jackson was a desperate drug addict, doctor’s lawyers say

Defense lawyers for Michael Jackson's personal physician signaled Monday that they intend to rely on witnesses from Jackson's own inner circle to portray the singer as a desperate drug addict constantly "on the hunt" for the surgical anesthetic that killed him.

In papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray detailed the testimony they plan to elicit at the physician's upcoming trial from a host of Jackson confidants, including longtime friends, medical providers, the nanny to his three children and his make-up artist.

Most of these insiders have not cooperated with Murray's defense. But in the court filing, his lawyers suggest that accounts the prospective witnesses gave police concerning Jackson's drug use and career worries make their testimony vital to the doctor's claim that Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of propofol.

Jackson's longtime make-up artist Karen Faye, for example, told detectives that the recording star "was weak, extremely thin and seemed to be under the influence of drugs" the week before his death and told her he didn't think he could "physically complete" a 50-show comeback attempt in London, according to the filing.

A friend, Susan Etok, told police the singer expressed the same doubts about performing in the "This Is It" shows and asked her to help him get propofol and other drugs, the filing states.

The nanny, Grace Rwaramba, told investigators she had repeatedly tried to stage interventions and once fielded a call from Jackson's children when their father had passed out on the floor. She was fired two months before the singer's death after complaining about his drug use, according to the filing.

Whether jurors will hear from those closest to Jackson remains unclear. Prosecutors have questioned the relevance of the confidants' testimony. A hearing before Judge Michael Pastor is set for Monday afternoon.

Questioning of wrong teen in molestation probe leads to lawsuit

A Burbank family has sued the Burbank Police Department and the Burbank Unified School District, alleging their teenage daughter was illegally interrogated after her identity was confused with that of a friend who reported an allegation of sexual molestation.

The lawsuit, filed in June in Los Angeles County Superior Court, also names several police department and school district officials and seeks unspecified damages, the Burbank Leader reported.

City and district officials declined to comment on the specifics of the case, but did say they have procedures in place to respond to allegations of sexual abuse.

On Sept. 7, 2010, the plaintiff, who was 16 at the time, accompanied a long-time friend to the counselor's office at John Burroughs High School to report that the friend was being molested by her older brother, according to the lawsuit. A short time later, Burbank police officers arrived, asked the plaintiff to hand over her cellphone and began questioning her.

The officers refused to allow the plaintiff to contact her parents, and then placed both students in squad cars in full view of classmates and transported them to the police station, according to the lawsuit.

Once there, the officers allegedly confused the identities of the two girls, and began questioning the plaintiff about her family, specifically what her father and brother looked like. The family also claims the officers asked their daughter what schools her younger siblings attended, saying that they would be brought to the station as well.

Southern California brush fires getting under control

Fire crews were gaining the upper hand on three wildfires that together burned more than 550 acres in inland Southern California over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

A wildfire that burned 345 acres near the Los Angeles-San Bernardino county line was 85% contained Sunday evening, after 555 federal, state and local firefighters were called in to fight the blaze, according to information released by Cal Fire.

The blaze began near Highway 138 south of Pinion Hills, east of Palmdale and west of Victorville on Saturday after violent thunderstorms in the desert areas spawned a series of lightning strikes. The official cause, however, has not been determined.

A second wildfire at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in the community of Mentone burned 67 acres and was expected to be completely contained by Monday night, fire officials said. More than 300 firefighters battled the fire, which broke out late Sunday morning near Greenspot Road and never threatened any structures.

A third fire burned more than 150 acres in the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County, just south of Interstate 8 near Pine Valley. Triggered by lightning Sunday afternoon, the blaze was reported to be 35% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

ALSO:  

Mexican drug tunnel found in grocery store

Skydivers collide in midair, sustain serious injuries

Producer must pay $800,000 in sex-harassment case

-- Phil Willon in Riverside and Catherine Saillant

 

Heat wave hits Day 6 in Southern California; warning issued

The heat wave that has gripped Southern California will continue for at least one more day, as the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for large swaths of the region.

Officials said temperatures in inland areas of Southern California could top 105 degrees on Monday. It is expected to be even hotter in desert areas, but cooler along the coast.

The region has been suffering from hot weather for six days, but officials said a cool-down is expected to begin Tuesday.

On Sunday, many took refuge at beaches, pools and air-conditioned shopping malls. Others laid low at home, staying within range of a window fan or shaded patio.

In Norwalk, Joel and Maria Lopez said they actually relished the heat, which seemed perfect for barbecuing and soaking in their backyard pool.

"It finally feels like summer," said Joel, a 32-year-old truck driver who has been keeping fans running around the clock.

The sizzling weather drew about 100,000 visitors to the sand and surf of Huntington Beach, where lifeguards carried out dozens of rescues as a crew filming a television program for the Weather Channel rode along.

"This has definitely been a busy summer weekend for us," said city Marine Safety Lt. Mike Beuerlein.

Ex-Laker Javaris Crittenton sought in fatal drive-by shooting

The FBI believes Javaris Crittenton, a onetime Los Angeles Lakers player wanted in an Atlanta slaying, is in California.

Authorities allege that Crittenton fatally shot Jullian Jones on Aug. 19 in the woman's driveway in Atlanta. Police have been seaching for him for several days.

Atlanta police told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Crittenton, 23, had reported being robbed of jewelry earlier and might have mistaken Jones as the thief when he opened fire from inside his sport utility vehicle as he drove by.

“It appears Mr. Crittenton observed who he thought was the perpetrator walking down the street," Maj. Keith Meadows told the paper. "It so happens Miss Jones was walking down the street at the same time."

LAUSD buys out contract of chief academic officer for $231,164

The Los Angeles Unified School District has bought out the contract of its chief academic officer, a key appointee who worked closely with former Supt. Ramon C. Cortines, but who quickly fell out of favor with his successor, John Deasy.

Among other efforts, Judy Elliott oversaw the selection of a new reading program and an early academic intervention initiative. She also developed a new policy — limiting homework to no more than 10% of a student’s grade — that prompted widespread public debate this summer. Deasy ultimately shelved the idea.

Elliott will receive the salary and benefits she would have earned by completing the final year of a contract ending June 30, 2012. She’ll also be compensated for unused vacation days. The package totals $231,164. She joined the district in June 2008.

Members of the Board of Education have not universally supported Elliott but also did not applaud the cost of the buyout. Budget cuts have led the state’s largest school district to lay off thousands of employees in the last three years.

Board member Steve Zimmer said he could tolerate the buyout only because he has learned of a reserve fund set aside for such purposes.

"I'm surprised [the fund] exists but OK with the buyout if it doesn't cost a single job — if and only if," he said. 

“I don’t believe we should have done it,” said board member Richard Vladovic. “You pay someone a salary and let them work or you fire them. With the money crunch, we shouldn’t buy them out.”

Vladovic also praised Elliott: “I thought she provided a lot of leadership. I’m sorry to see her go. We argued, but it was about the right things.”

Abortion is about money as well as morals

Termination is big business

Forget the moral rights and wrongs. Forget, too, talk of a woman’s right vs a baby’s right. Britons should see abortion as a consumer issue. Then they ‘ll cheer Nadine Dorries MP for ending the monopoly enjoyed by some abortion providers. For years the Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire has campaigned to provide women seeking abortion with independent counselling; finally, the government has agreed.

About time, too. Until now, organisations that provide terminations were allowed to counsel women who sought advice before their abortion. These organisations are sometimes called “abortion charities”, because they offer women abortions free of charge through the NHS. But despite their “charity” status these are private providers who get  £60 million a year from the Department of Health for their services. Given their vested interest in the procedure, you can imagine the advice they were giving the woman seeking counsel: go for it, girl. Or rather, get rid of it, girl.

Had this been the situation in any other section of the market, consumer groups would have been up in arms long ago. Imagine Big Pharma informing the public that their anti-malaria vaccine was the only one that worked. “Which?” and other consumer lobby groups would be waving placards and launching protests against the abuse of clients.

Guardian writers and readers have been gnashing their teeth about the government’s proposals being anti-feminist. What nonsense: it’s anti-feminist to treat women as dummies who must take advice from “experts” with a vested interest. If I want to have an abortion or any even minor surgery, don’t I deserve independent counsel on the advantages and disadvantages of taking such a step?

A business that stands to gain from a procedure, whether it be vaccination or termination, cannot provide independent counsel to those contemplating the procedure. That’s not judgemental moralising, just good economics.

Ezat Delijani, L.A. developer, philanthropist dies

Ezat Delijani, who fled his native Iran during the revolution and became a prominent Los Angeles real estate investor, philanthropist and savior of landmark theaters, has died.

His death was confirmed Sunday by the office of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar. Huizar said that Delijani, former president of the Iranian American Jewish Federation, passed away Saturday.

In 1979, Delijani fled Iran’s Islamic Revolution and arrived in Los Angeles, where he quickly became a real estate magnate, notably in the fashion and textile district.

In 1982, then-Mayor Tom Bradley asked Delijani to buy the Los Angeles Theatre, one of the historic but timeworn movie palaces that lined Broadway. The theater was scheduled to be demolished.

Delijani went on to buy three more Broadway theaters,the Palace, State and Tower theaters. Several years ago, he began working with Huizar and business leaders on a campaign to revitalize the Broadway corridor. In June, the Palace Theatre reopened with a showing of “Sunset Boulevard” after a $1-million restoration.

Delijani’s son, Shahram Delijani, once described the theaters as his father’s gift to Los Angeles – a way to thank the region for taking in the family.

The intersection of 7th Street and Broadway was formally dedicated as Ezat Delijani square in 2009.

Delijani was also instrumental in the creation, in 1999, of an Iranian American Jewish center in Hollywood.

Delijani’s political ties raised eyebrows in 2008. Delijani, who had long donated campaign money and gifts to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, found himself in a lease dispute with one of his tenants in Beverly Hills, a pharmacist. When Beverly Hills police declined to investigate because the case appeared to be a civil matter, the Delijani family contacted Baca.

According to a Times investigation, Baca launched a criminal investigation, which was assigned “rush” status,typically reserved for high-priority cases. When prosecutors declined to file charges, citing a lack of evidence, Baca met with L.A. Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley to learn how to appeal that decision.

Late in 2010, prosecutors reversed their decision and filed a forgery charge against Delijani’s tenant. Baca denied that he’d given Delijani special treatment, and Cooley said he was not involved in the decision to pursue charges

--Scott Gold

Photo: Ezat Delijani, left, with L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca. Credit: L.A. Times