Monday, September 26, 2011

Westside streets reopen as Obama fundraisers end


View West Hollywood road closures in a larger map

Westside streets were reopened Monday night after being closed for a fundraising visit by President Obama, officials said.

San Vicente Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, however, was scheduled to remain closed until noon Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Obama arrived in Los Angeles for fundraisers at the House of Blues in West Hollywood and the Fig & Olive restaurant on Melrose Place near North La Cienega Boulevard. 

The president's motorcade arrived earlier tonight at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where he was planning to spend the night before leaving Tuesday.

His visit caused longer-than-normal commutes for a number motorists during Monday's rush-hour period.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Supervisors dodge questions after private talk with Jerry Brown

Photo: California Governor Jerry Brown. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times After a closed-door meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday, Los Angeles County supervisors held a brief open meeting before quickly leaving.

The hastily called meeting included Brown as well as Sheriff Lee Baca and lasted for about an hour. They were scheduled to discuss a controversial plan to shift responsibility for some parolees from state workers to county probation officers.

The state's Brown Act generally requires that local legislative bodies meet in the open so members of the public can attend and participate. Closed session is normally reserved for sensitive matters such as hiring, firing, public security, labor and property negotiations or pending lawsuits.

A county attorney cited "potential threats to the public services or facilities" as the reason to hold the meeting behind closed doors. Supervisors have been concerned that some parolees could have violent tendencies.

After holding a brief public meeting after the closed session, supervisors Michael D. Antonovich, Zev Zaroslavsky, Don Knabe and Gloria Molina quickly left the room without taking questions about the closed session. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas was not present in open session.

100 years later, Channel Island wetlands to be restored

Prisoners island 
A major restoration project could bring back a long-degraded wetland to one of the remote islands off the Southern California coast.

Workers have broken ground on a $1-million project that will cut down 1,800 nonnative eucalyptus trees and scoop out loads of dirt and gravel to restore a coastal wetland on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park officials announced Monday.

In the coming months, crews will work to return some 60 acres of habitat on the rugged island to the way it was before being degraded by ranching and farming activity more than a century ago.

Crews have started using heavy equipment to reshape the mouth of the island’s largest stream so it will flow freely onto 4 acres of restored wetland at Prisoners Harbor.

The anchorage on the north side of the island was once home to the largest coastal wetland in Channel Islands National Park, an archipelago of five ecologically distinct islands that are sometimes referred to as North America’s Galapagos.

Obama talks up tax plan at West Hollywood fundraiser

Obama and Ferguson

President Obama brought his call for higher taxes on the wealthy to the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip on Monday evening, where he mocked Republicans for calling his fiscal agenda "class warfare."

"If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as a plumber is class warfare, then sign me up," Obama told hundreds of supporters who cheered the president at a fundraiser for his reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Obama's stop at the West Hollywood nightclub was one of the last on a California fundraising swing. He urged the crowd to pressure members of Congress to approve his economic agenda.

"I shouldn’t be paying a lower effective rate than a teacher or a firefighter or a construction worker," said Obama, whose book sales have made him wealthy. He said the nation could not "just cut our way out of this problem.

"We’re laying off teachers in droves, right here in California," he said. "It doesn’t make any sense. It’s unfair to our kids."

About 800 people paid $250 or more each to see Obama at the House of Blues, crowding onto the dance floor and a second-floor balcony. When he asked whether any members of Congress were in the house, a few people pointed to Rep. Janice Hahn (D-San Pedro) on the balcony, but it was unclear whether Obama recognized her.

"Hey, how are you?" the president called out to her without mentioning her name. But his remarks were interrupted by a heckler directly in front of him on the dance floor. The man's shouts about loving Jesus were drowned out by the crowd chanting "Four more years." As security agents dragged the man past a bar toward the exit, the heckler screamed, “Barack Obama’s the anti-Christ.”

Later, as Obama was running down a list of accomplishments in office, another man called out, "Don’t forget medical marijuana." Dodging the issue, Obama smiled and said, "Thank you for that."

Obama’s remarks followed brief performances by rapper B.o.B, who sang his hit tunes "Nothin' on You" and "Airplanes," and the West Hollywood Gay Men’s Chorus, which sang "True Colors" and "We Belong."

Obama was introduced by actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays a gay character on "Modern Family." The actor praised Obama for the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law banning openly gay people from serving in the military, calling it "the signature civil rights accomplishment of our time."

RELATED:

Obama lands in L.A. during Westside rush hour

Protesters gather near House of Blues for Obama fundraiser

Obama arrives at Westside restaurant as streets remain closed

-- Michael Finnegan

Photo: President Obama shakes hands with actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson of ABC's "Modern Family" at the House of Blues. Credit: Getty Images

Earthquake reported near Piru in Ventura County

Piru area earthquake A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck Monday evening about eight miles north of Piru in Ventura County.

The quake was reported about 6:55 p.m. and was centered 10 miles northeast of Fillmore and eight miles north of Piru, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

No other details were available.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

— Robert J. Lopez

Map shows area of reported earthquake. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Obama arrives at Westside restaurant as streets remain closed


View West Hollywood road closures in a larger map

President Obama arrived at a posh Westside restaurant Monday evening for the second stop in a fundraising visit that has snarled area roads and shut down businesses.

Obama's motorcade arrived at the Fig & Olive restaurant on Melrose Place near North La Cienega Boulevard after a fundraiser at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, law enforcement authorities said.

Earlier, Obama arrived at Los Angeles International Airport in time for the evening rush hour, causing longer-than-normal commutes for area drivers.

Law enforcement officials have said a "hard closure" of streets will remain in effect on San Vicente Boulevard, which will be closed between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue until noon Tuesday.

Other streets will be closed depending on the route used by Obama. These include: Sunset Boulevard from Doheny Drive to Sweetzer Avenue; Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny to La Cienega Boulevard; and La Cienega from Sunset to Rosewood Avenue.

Motorists hoping for shortcuts will be disappointed. Shutdowns will be in effect on Olive Drive from Sunset to Santa Monica Boulevard, on Holloway Drive from Sunset to La Cienega, on Fountain Avenue from La Cienega to Sweetzer Avenue, and on De Longpre Avenue from Fountain Avenue to Flores Street.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

-- Andrew Blankstein (twitter.com/anblanx) and Robert J. Lopez (twitter.com/LAJourno)

Shark warnings issued for beaches in San Luis Obispo County

Shark sightings

Shark warnings have been issued for several San Luis Obispo County beaches after at least two sharks were sighted, including one spotted Monday eating a seal near Cayucos.

Pismo Beach, Shell Beach and Cayucos are among the areas where warning signs have been posted, the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department said.

A shark was spotted Saturday morning in kelp beds about 100 yards off shore in the the Dolphin Bay area north of Shell Beach. The shark was about 12 feet long and dark gray, Capt. Jane Schmitz said.

She said a shark was sighted on Sunday in the same general area and was believed to be the same one seen the day before. All beaches in the county remain open.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

— Robert J. Lopez

Map shows area where a shark was spotted. Credit: Google Maps

Tentative pact would restore some LAUSD clerks, library aides

Under mounting public pressure and amid worry about unmanageable campuses, Los Angeles Unified School District officials and a union representing non-teaching employees announced a tentative agreement Monday that is expected to restore close to 400 financial managers, clerical staff and library aides.

The agreement, which falls well short of a full restoration, must be ratified by the Board of Education and Local 500 of the California School Employees Assn. Union negotiators also agreed to four furlough days.

“I’m very pleased that we were able to get to this and save valuable employees,” said L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy.

The district “started to recognize the chaos that's going to happen at schools,” said Espie Medellin, president of Local 500. 

The district laid off nearly 800 workers as of Friday; their health benefits expire at the end of the month. Bringing many of them back to work could take several weeks.

The district has pledged $8 million toward job restorations. Some of the funds will come from $55 million unspent from last year’s budget, Deasy said. He added that most of that money needs to be held in reserve because of potential midyear cuts in state funding.

Much of the recent parent anger over the cuts has been directed at the closing of elementary school libraries. Some of those positions will be restored, but Deasy said other priorities may take precedence, such as middle school financial managers and clerical staff needed to keep schools operating.

Non-teaching employees in Local 500 have seen their numbers shrink to about half in recent years. They’ve also adjusted to shorter work years and reduced workdays. But the deal will include an effort to keep part-time employees working at least four hours a day -- the threshold for health benefits.

“Health benefits for these families is critical,” said union field representative Connie Moreno.

ALSO:

Man pleads not guilty to tossing son overboard

'Diversity' bake sale at UC Berkeley stirs debate

Two missiles destroyed in ocean off Camp Pendleton

-- Howard Blume

Protesters gather near House of Blues for Obama fundraiser


View West Hollywood road closures in a larger map

Up to 200 protesters were waiting for President Obama across from the House of Blues on Monday afternoon, shouting slogans and waving placards on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.

The protesters were representing a number of causes including pro-immigration, antiwar and for preserving Social Security and Medicare benefits, said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
 
Some of the signs read "U.S.-NATO Out of Afghanistan," "Be a Man, Not a Mouse" and "Hands Off Social Security."

Whitmore said deputies were monitoring the demonstration, which he described as peaceful.

Obama was planning to attend a fundraising event at the House of Blues, as well as the Fig & Rose restaurant on Melrose Place near North La Cienega Boulevard.

Law enforcement officials have said a "hard closure" will remain  in effect on San Vicente Boulevard, which will be closed between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 6 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday.

Other streets will be closed depending on the route taken by Obama. These include: Sunset Boulevard from Doheny Drive to Sweetzer Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny to La Cienega Boulevard and La Cienega from Sunset to Rosewood Avenue.

Motorists hoping for shortcuts will be disappointed. Shutdowns will be in effect on Olive Drive from Sunset to Santa Monica Boulevard, on Holloway Drive from Sunset to La Cienega, on Fountain Avenue from La Cienega to Sweetzer Avenue, and on De Longpre Avenue from Fountain Avenue to Flores Street.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

-- Andrew Blankstein (twitter.com/anblanx) and Robert J. Lopez (twitter.com/LAJourno)

Two missiles destroyed in ocean off Camp Pendleton

Two Sea Sparrow missiles on the ocean floor about 1.7 miles from Camp Pendleton were destroyed Monday without killing any fish, the Navy announced.

The two missiles were jettisoned Aug. 30 while being taken by helicopter to an amphibious assault ship. The missiles had begun swinging uncontrollably and posed a danger to the helicopter and its crew, the Navy said.

Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians conducted a controlled detonation to destroy the two missiles in about 60 feet of water. Divers later found no visible parts, the Navy said.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Downtown L.A. stadium developer lays out parking, transit plans

Preliminary renderings of the planned Farmers Field show a design that's in keeping with the AEG template - shiny and conventional. -- PHOTOGRAPHER: AEG
Los Angeles lawmakers Monday got their first peek at a transportation plan for the proposed 72,000-seat football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.

In a presentation to a City Council committee, a transportation consultant for the project’s developer, Anschutz Entertainment Group, laid out preliminary proposals on how to ease traffic congestion and improve public transit near the stadium. He described a parking strategy that would direct game-day drivers to parking zones based on the direction they’re traveling from and explained plans for an AEG-funded expansion of a light rail station on Pico Boulevard.

He did not discuss broad measures to encourage football fans to use public transportation to get to the stadium, even though a bill passed by state legislators earlier this month requires AEG to reduce car traffic.

As a part of the bill, which limits the time line for legal challenges to the project, AEG must build a carbon-neutral stadium with more public transit users than any other stadium in the country. William Delvac, an attorney for AEG, said that in order to meet the carbon-neutral requirement, the firm may purchase carbon offset credits from eco-friendly projects nearby that do work to mitigate global warming.

Obama lands in L.A. during Westside rush hour


View West Hollywood road closures in a larger map

A number of Westside streets were shut down during Monday afternoon's rush-hour commute as President Obama landed at Los Angeles International Airport.

The president was flying by helicopter Monday afternoon to the sprawling Veterans Administration facility in Westwood, where he would take a limousine to a fundraising event at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, according to law enforcement sources.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's  and Los Angeles Police departments have warned motorists to expect major traffic delays throughout the afternoon and into the evening in West Hollywood and surrounding areas.

One West Hollywood businessman questioned why Obama didn't hold his fundraising events at a hanger at Los Angeles International Airport or Santa Monica Airport, where he could have landed directly without crippling small businesses for the day by forcing them to lose customers because of the roadway shutdowns.

"Why is the president speaking at a place that is going to destroy business in the area?" asked Lawrence Abramson, who helps run a small modeling agency in in 8300 block of West Sunset Boulevard. "Small business are just getting by ... This is not fair."

Obama was also scheduled to attend a fundraising event at the Fig & Olive restaurant on Melrose Place near North La Cienega Boulevard.

Law enforcement officials have said a "hard closure will remain  in effect on San Vicente Boulevard, which will be closed between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 6 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday.


 Other streets will be closed depending on the route taken by Obama. These include: Sunset Boulevard from Doheny Drive to Sweetzer Avenue; Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny to La Cienega Boulevard; and La Cienega from Sunset to Rosewood Avenue.

Motorists hoping for shortcuts will be disappointed. Shutdowns will be in effect on Olive Drive from Sunset to Santa Monica Boulevard, on Holloway Drive from Sunset to La Cienega, on Fountain Avenue from La Cienega to Sweetzer Avenue, and on De Longpre Avenue from Fountain Avenue to Flores Street.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

--Andrew Blankstein (twitter.com/anblanx) and Robert J. Lopez (twitter.com/LAJourno)

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 269

Click through for more photos of Southern California Moments.

Brace yourself: Michael Yanow photographs an athlete preparing to start the Los Angeles Triathlon 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.

Army Ranger from Orange County killed in Afghanistan

Holtz A U.S. Army Ranger from Orange County has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced.

Sgt. Tyler Nicholas Holtz, 22, was killed Saturday in Wardak province while leading an assault against a Taliban position.

Holtz was mortally wounded by small arms fire during a heavy firefight, the Army said. He has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.

Born in the city of Orange and a graduate of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Holtz was on his fourth combat deployment to Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

"Tyler Holtz personified the Ranger creed to the final moments of his life and his actions inspire us to do the same," said Lt. Col. David Hodne, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

Holtz is survived by his father, Andrew Holtz of Capistrano Beach; his mother, Karen Holtz, of Dana Point; and his three brothers Luke, Hayden and Michael, all of Dana Point.

"Sgt. Holtz had the stuff from which legends are made," said Col. Mark Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

ALSO:

California state prisoners to resume hunger strike

Magic carpet malfunctions at Disney’s Aladdin show in Anaheim

Michael Jackson death: Choreographer Ortega to be first witness

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Sgt. Tyler Holtz. Credit: U.S. Army

Man pleads not guilty to tossing son overboard

Sloan Steven Briles An Irvine man accused of throwing his 7-year-old son overboard during a harbor cruise in Newport Beach pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of felony child abuse and endangerment.

Sloan Steven Briles, 35, also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer, the Daily Pilot reported.

If convicted on all charges, Briles faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. Briles is out on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be back in court Oct. 4 for a preliminary hearing.

Briles was allegedly drinking during an Aug. 28 cruise around the harbor when he began poking his 7-year-old son in the chest and slapping him in the face, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

The 7-year-old began to cry and asked his father to stop because it was hurting him, according to the district attorney's office.

Briles is accused of picking up his son and throwing him 10 feet over the side of the boat.

13 Chino dairies violated Clean Water Act, agency says

Dairy cows in Chino in 2010
The federal government Monday ordered 13 Chino-area dairies to correct violations of the Clean Water Act that allowed manure runoff and other pollutants to run into local waterways.

The dairies underwent inspections by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, which found violations that included failure to prevent manure and other contaminants from discharging into the water supply.

The dairies also failed to minimize discharges of contaminants, failed to develop waste management plans and failed to properly inspect the facilities, the quality control board found.

President Obama lands in San Diego for fundraiser

Air Force One, carrying President Barack Obama, just landed at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego.

Mayor Jerry Sanders, Rep. Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista), and Marine Corps brass are on the tarmac to greet the president before his motorcade leaves for a $5,000 per-person fundraiser in La Jolla.

Obama is set to leave San Diego about 4 p.m. to fly to Los Angeles.

The West Los Angeles area is bracing for a return engagement of Obama-jam as the president visits fundraising events, including one at the House of Blues in West Hollywood.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department warned motorists in the area to expect major traffic delays throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

San Vicente Boulevard will be closed between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue until noon Tuesday.

Sunset Boulevard will be closed from Doheny Drive to Sweetzer Avenue. Santa Monica Boulevard will be closed from Doheny to La Cienega Boulevard. And La Cienega will be closed from Sunset to Rosewood Avenue.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

-- Tony Perry in San Diego and Andrew Blankstein in Los Angeles

Paula Radcliffe on Motherhood and Marathons

At the Berlin Marathon this weekend, 37-year-old Paula Radcliffe of England placed third, easily qualifying for the Olympic Games in London next year. Ms. Radcliffe holds the world record for the marathon, but this was her first such race in nearly 23 months after giving birth to her second child.

Ms. Radcliffe’s success in Berlin comes after a difficult year in which she considered retirement, reports New York Times reporter Jere Longman.

At her best, Radcliffe has redefined possibility for women’s distance running, wearing a nasal strip to aid her asthmatic breathing, knee-high compression socks to massage her calves and a titanium necklace, often seen on baseball pitchers, that is meant to improve blood flow and reduce muscle stress.

The familiar nodding motion of her head suggests both exertion and determination. It is not an elegant running style. Sometimes it seems that every step Radcliffe takes is uphill, yet she prefers to run from the front, pushing the pace, resolved to get to the finish line first.

She has won world championships in the marathon, the half-marathon and in cross-country and a European championship at 10,000 meters on the track. She has won prestigious marathons in New York, London and Chicago. She has extended a top international career through the births of two children. But Radcliffe’s body has been as fragile as it has been brilliant, operating in that narrow, redlining zone between the hum of inexorable victory and the rattle of breakdown. And her luck in four Olympics has been awful, empty of medals, full of disappointment.

Her buildup to Berlin has been accompanied by life-giving affirmation and career discouragement. The year since giving birth to her son was “the hardest ever,” Radcliffe said. Injury and illness made her consider retiring more than once. Doubt and frustration calcified and stabbed like a bone spur.

“There have been times when I’ve said, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore,’ ” Radcliffe said Thursday over lunch in a hotel in Potsdamer Platz. “Two minutes later, you change your mind. There isn’t anything else I’d rather do at this point.”

To learn more about Ms. Radcliffe, read the full story, “Two Steps Back. 26.2 Miles Forward,” and then please join the discussion below.

Coffee Drinking Linked to Less Depression in Women

Morning pick-me-up? For many women, the mood elevating effects of a cup of coffee may be more than fleeting.

A new study shows that women who regularly drink coffee — the fully caffeinated kind — have a 20 percent lower risk of depression than nondrinkers. Decaf, soft drinks, chocolate, tea and other sources of caffeine did not offer the same protection against depression, possibly because of their lower levels of caffeine, the authors say.

Dr. Albert Ascherio, an author of the study and professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, said it was too early to recommend that women load up on extra lattes. More research is needed, he said, and “a very high level of caffeine can increase anxiety” and insomnia, potentially reversing any mood-lifting effects.

A link between caffeine intake and depression had been suspected for years. Previous research reported that the risk of suicide decreases with increasing coffee consumption. And a study of over 2,200 middle-aged men in Finland found that heavy coffee drinkers had a significantly lower risk of severe depression than men who avoided coffee, though the sample size was considered too small to be very definitive.

The new study, published in the latest issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, was larger and more rigorous, analyzing data on nearly 51,000 women taking part in the famous Nurses’ Health Study. Between 1996 and 2006, the women provided detailed information every two years on their caffeine intake, depression risk factors and overall health, including their weight, their use of hormones and their levels of exercise and smoking. Women who reported a diagnosis of depression or showed signs of it at the start of the study were excluded from the analysis.

During the decade that the women were followed, 2,607 cases of clinical depression were diagnosed. Over all, women who regularly drank coffee had a lower risk of depression — about 20 percent — than the women who abstained, and the risk was dose dependent. In other words, the likelihood of depression fell with each additional cup of coffee, in this case up to as many as six cups a day.

When soda, herbal teas and other sources of caffeine were taken into account, the relationship did not hold up. “The other sources were so minimal,” said Dr. Ascherio. “Nobody would get the equivalent of four cups of coffee by drinking tea or caffeinated drinks.”

The researchers aren’t sure why caffeine might keep depression at bay. “We know that caffeine enters the brain and activates the release of different neurotransmitters that are related to mood, like dopamine and serotonin,” Dr. Ascherio said. “That may explain the shorter-term effects on mood. But the long-term mechanisms of caffeine intake on mood we don’t really know.”

He also noted earlier research showing that coffee can have a protective effect against Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in which symptoms of depression are common, suggesting that “caffeine may have some beneficial effect on neuronal health,” he said.

Dr. Ascherio is looking to examine in another large study whether other factors, like genetics, may play a role. “We want to see if there are different effects in people with different genotypes that could affect the metabolism of caffeine or that predispose to depression,” he said.

In an editor’s note that accompanied the study, Dr. Seth A. Berkowitz called the research “an important contribution because it is, to my knowledge, the first large-scale study of coffee consumption to evaluate a mental health outcome in women.” He added that “it seems premature to recommend coffee consumption until studies with methodologies better able to determine causality are conducted.”

The latest study only looked at women drinking as much as four to six cups of coffee a day, and not higher amounts. But earlier research on caffeine and suicide risk found that risk of suicide decreased progressively up to six or seven cups a day, then increased after eight or more cups a day.

“Some people may think a bit is good so more is better, but that’s not true,” Dr. Ascherio said. “We self-medicate ourselves with caffeine, and each person usually knows their optimal level.”

Four children discharged after alleged DUI crash in Lancaster

Stanesha Allen
Four of six children injured in an alleged drunk-driving crash in Lancaster have been released from the hospital, while two remain hospitalized, one in critical condition, authorities said Monday.

Stanesha Allen, the mother of three of the children, foster mother of two and aunt of one, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving but remained in the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Allen, 31, of Lake Los Angeles, was driving the 2002 Toyota Sequoia east on East Avenue I about 5:15 a.m. Sunday when she lost control of the vehicle, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The SUV flipped four times, leaving some of the children partially ejected, officials said.

Two of the children were airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital with critical injuries. The other four and Allen were taken to the hospital by ambulance with minor to moderate injuries.

Magic carpet malfunctions at Disney’s Aladdin show in Anaheim

Magic carpet malfunctions at Disney's Aladdin
Cast members of "Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular" show at California Adventure had quite a scare Sunday after the magic carpet malfunctioned, leaving Aladdin and Jasmine hanging by their harnesses.

Parkgoers quickly took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon to spread the news.

Actors playing Aladdin and Jasmine, equipped with harnesses, were riding over the audience during the 4:45 p.m. show Sunday when the mishap occurred.

According to reports, the show was halted and audience members were quickly evacuated as crew members worked to fix the carpet.

No injuries were reported.

"Long story short, at CA Adv, the Aladdin show, when they fly on the magic carpet it flipped over and they were just hanging," Twitter user hahamanda said.

Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown confirmed that there was a malfunction during Sunday's 4:45 p.m. show.

"As is our safety practice, both performers were harnessed and they were uninjured," Brown said.

ALSO:

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Officer's attorney blames Kelly Thomas for deadly altercation

Four children discharged after alleged DUI crash in Lancaster

-- KTLA News

Photo: The magic carpet malfunctioned during the live show "Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular" at Disney's California Adventure on Sunday. Credit: Ken Howard / Disneyland Resort


Man killed, woman wounded in South L.A. shooting

Shooting A man was killed Monday morning in a shooting in South Los Angeles, police said.

Initially, police said a woman was wounded in a shooting at 6:30 a.m. on West 49th Street and South Grand Avenue. A 40-year-old man was killed in the same incident, LAPD Officer Gregory Baek said later.

The man and woman were sitting in a car when a man approached them from behind and shot through the windshield, police said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, Baek said.

Police are searching the area for the suspect, who left the scene on foot, but no description was available. 

-- Abby Sewell

Photo: LAPD officers investigate the scene of a shooting Monday morning in South Los Angeles that left one dead and one wounded. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Michael Jackson death: Judge rejects bid to show video

Conrad Murray in court
A day before opening statements in the trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician, a judge ruled jurors will not see video of the pop star’s final news conference.

Lawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray had argued that the footage showed Jackson “under the influence” in public three months before his death and that it established the singer had agreed to a comeback concert series of just 10 “This Is It” shows and not the 50 ultimately scheduled.

But Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor noted Jackson never mentioned the number of shows in the video and said that it was irrelevant to how he died, the issue at Murray’s trial.

“The proposed evidence is not relevant to what may or may not have happened on June 25, 2009, or shortly beforehand,” Pastor said.

Man is shot after leaving Hollywood nightclub [Updated]

Map shows approximate location of incident in black and recent crime reports in brown and red. Click for more details on The Times' interactive Crime L.A. project.

A man was shot and wounded after a hip-hop show in Hollywood early Monday.

The man was leaving the Wonderland Club, where Compton rapper Problem and the Inglewood hip-hop group Cali Swag District performed, when the shooting took place.

Officer Gregory Baek of the Los Angeles Police Department said the victim, a 25-year-old man, had gotten in an altercation with someone at the club.

The man left the club and was walking near Yucca Street and Cahuenga Boulevard about 1:18 a.m. when a vehicle approached him from behind and someone shot him in the back.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and was in stable condition.

[Updated at 9:14 a.m.: Rapper M-Bone, a member of the Cali Swag District, was killed in May in a drive-by shooting in Inglewood. M-Bone, whose real name is Montae Talbert, was shot twice in the head while sitting in a car.]

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Obama traffic gridlock expected during West Hollywood visit

Officer charged in death of homeless man Kelly Thomas heads to court

-- Abby Sewell

Image: Map shows approximate location of the incident as a black square as well as recent crime reports in brown and red. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Kelly Thomas death: Officer pleads not guilty, on suicide watch

Manuel Ramos
A Fullerton police officer charged with second-degree murder in the death of homeless man Kelly Thomas will remain in jail on $1-million bail, an Orange County judge ruled Monday.

Office Manuel Ramos through his attorney entered a not guilty plea to a murder charge and a charge of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, Ramos faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Ramos' attorney, John Barnett, told the judge that the Thomas case was not a "typical murder" and that typical bail should not apply.

"This was a violent felon who confronted my client that evening," Barnett said. He said that his client was targeted by the district attorney because he was the first to arrive on the scene. Six officers were involved in the incident that led to Thomas' death, but only two, Ramos and Cpl. Jay Cicinelli, were charged. Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and use of excessive force.

Judge Erick Larsh found no unusual circumstances in the case and left the bail at $1 million. 

Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said Ramos has been on suicide watch.

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'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Woman stopping to rescue injured dog hit by car

Obama traffic gridlock expected during West Hollywood visit

-- Richard Winton

Photo: Fullerton Police Officer Manuel Ramos, shown in Orange County Superior Court last week, entered a not guilty plea in Kelly Thomas' death Monday. Credit: Paul Rodriguez / Associated Press

 

Gunman at large after man killed in Pico-Robertson neighborhood [Updated]

Map shows location of Sunday's shooting in purple, as well as nearby homicides in red, since January 2007. Click for more details on The Times’ interactive Homicide Report.

Police on Monday were investigating a shooting that left a man dead in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.

The victim, described only as a Latino man, was walking in the 8800 block of West 18th Street at 11:40 p.m. Sunday when he was shot, said Lt. Carlos Islas of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Los Angeles station. 

[Updated at 9 a.m.: At least 19 homicides have been reported within 2 miles of Sunday 's shooting since January 2007, according to coroner’s data collected for The Times’ interactive Homicide Report.]

Police responded to a report of shots fired, and neighbors heard a vehicle leaving the scene, Islas said.

There was no description of the gunman, and it was unclear what the motive was. The victim was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he died.

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'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Obama traffic gridlock expected during West Hollywood visit

Officer charged in death of homeless man Kelly Thomas heads to court

-- Abby Sewell

Image: Map shows the location of Sunday's shooting in purple, as well as 19 other homicides in red, since January 2007. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Woman stopping to rescue injured dog hit by car

Police were looking Monday for a hit-and-run driver who struck a woman who had stopped to remove an injured dog from the road.

The 61-year-old woman was hit by a red Buick with damage on the passenger-side door in the Sunday incident in San Diego's Castle neighborhood.

The driver continued without stopping.

The woman was taken to the hospital with a broken leg and a lacerated liver. The dog did not survive.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Obama traffic gridlock expected during West Hollywood visit

Officer charged in death of homeless man Kelly Thomas heads to court

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Woman shot in South L.A.; police search for gunman

Police are searching for a gunman who shot a woman Monday in South Los Angeles.

The shooting was reported at 6:30 a.m. on West 49th Street and South Grand Avenue, LAPD Officer Gregory Baek said.

Police are looking for a man who reportedly left the scene on foot. There was no description of him.

Baek said he had no information on the woman's condition or further details about the shooting.

ALSO:

'Diversity bake sale' at UC Berkeley stirs criticism

Obama traffic gridlock expected during West Hollywood visit

Officer charged in death of homeless man Kelly Thomas heads to court

-- Abby Sewell 

6 kids hurt, boy loses foot in suspected drunk-driving crash

Stanesha Allen
A mother of six has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after a rollover accident that injured herself and six children inside her SUV, including a boy who had to have his foot amputated.

Stanesha Allen, 31, of Lake Los Angeles, was driving the 2002 Toyota Sequoia east on East Avenue I about 5:15 a.m. Sunday when she lost control of the vehicle, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The SUV flipped over four times, leaving some of the children partially ejected, officials said.

Investigators were trying to determine if all the children were wearing seat belts or if they were restrained in car seats.

Paramedics airlifted a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl to Antelope Valley Hospital with major injuries, including head trauma.

Obama traffic gridlock expected during West Hollywood visit

Obama near San Jose 9.25.11
The Westside is bracing for a return engagement of Obama-jam as the president visits Monday for fundraising events, including one at the House of Blues in West Hollywood.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department warned motorists to expect major traffic delays throughout the afternoon and into the evening not only in West Hollywood but also in surrounding areas in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

"Local access will be restricted in some areas," the department said in a statement Sunday. "Residents, businesses and visitors to West Hollywood are strongly encouraged to plan ahead to avoid any inconveniences."

The impact could begin as early as morning rush hour; San Vicente Boulevard will be closed between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 6 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday.

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