Friday, November 4, 2011

10-year-old boy is grabbed from Monrovia-area backyard, escapes

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies are trying to find a man who snatched a 10-year-old child from his backyard in unincorporated Monrovia and carried him to a nearby apartment complex.

The child escaped by biting the man and ran home to his mother. She was inside the house when the boy was abducted shortly after 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, Lt. Michael White said. Deputies were still interviewing the child and have not identified the suspect or his location, White said.

The suspect had covered the boy's mouth to keep him quiet but dropped him after the boy bit him in the hand, White said. The boy ran home. 

Authorities were working with the boy to get a sketch of the suspect, White said. Temple Station detectives are working with patrol deputies on the case.

ALSO:

Man found dead near San Bernardino school identified

San Diego man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Gale Holland

 

Mixed martial arts fighters stop robbery of L.A. motel









 

An attempted robbery of an L.A. motel was foiled by mixed martial arts experts just arrived from Oregon for a tournament in Long Beach, authorities said Friday.

The fighters struggled for several minutes to subdue the armed man without hurting him, one of them said Friday evening. Los Angeles police commended Brent Alvarez, 33, and Billy Denney, 28, for their actions.

A security video of the conflict at the motel in the 300 block of North Vermont Avenue was posted on YouTube and on the department's website.

Alvarez, who owns a mixed martial arts studio in Eugene, Ore., and Denney, one of his students, were getting off the elevator just before midnight Sunday when they stumbled on the suspect forcing the motel clerk at gunpoint to empty the cash drawer.

The clerk yelled, "Gun! He robbed me!" Alvarez said he saw a flash of the weapon before the suspect plunged it into his bag with the money.

A former hip-hop club bouncer, Alvarez said that 10 years of training in self-defense and defusing conflict kicked in. The suspect didn't seem to want to hurt them, either, Alvarez said, but kept insisting he did it for his daughter.

The man begged to be released so he could kiss the daughter one last time.

"He wasn't trying to punch us; he just seemed like someone who had run out of options," Alvarez said Friday evening. "I think back now and wonder what the hell was I doing? I should of hit him and knocked him out."

Alvarez said he eventually got the suspect in a body lock and chokehold, and the clerk called the police.

Police arrested Luis Rosales, 31, at the scene. Authorities said a loaded 9-millimeter handgun and the money from the cash register were found inside Rosales' backpack.

The two Oregonians are competing Saturday in the World Jiu-Jitsue No-Gi Championship in Long Beach. Alvarez said he has four to seven cage fights lined up.

"I might have more butterflies than usual because I already had my fight for this week," he said.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Gale Holland

O.C. teen gets life in prison for murder committed when he was 14

A Santa Ana teenager was sentenced Friday to 40 years to life in prison for a fatal shooting he committed when he was 14.

Andrew Cervantes, now 15, was tried as adult and will begin his sentence at the California Youth Authority before being transferred at age 18 to state prison.

Prosecutors said Cervantes shot Manuel Orozco, 17, on June 22, 2010, after a gang-related confrontation in Santa Ana.

Cervantes and his friend, Jose Baldemar Moreno, 15, rode their bikes by Orozco, a rival gang member, who was sitting in a parked car. One of the defendants made a hand gesture toward Orozco, who got out of the car and called out to the younger men. An argument erupted, and Cervantes pulled out a gun and shot Orozco in the chest.

Orozco died at the scene, two doors down from his home. Cervantes fled to Stockton, where he was later arrested.

In September, a jury found Cervantes guilty of second-degree murder and street terrorism.

Moreno, who was also prosecuted as an adult, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to three years in custody.

ALSO:

Football coach charged with assaulting student, 15

Conrad Murray jurors begin deliberations in Jackson death

Transient threatened good Samaritan who aided woman, police say

-- Gale Holland

Storm brings rain, snow to Southern California; more coming Sunday

Snow
Scattered showers should continue overnight Friday, giving way to clearer skies Saturday in Southern California.

But the National Weather Service said the showers could return Sunday.

A storm system dumped rain across the region Friday. More than half an inch of rain fell in parts of L.A. and Orange County. Mountain areas were hit by snow.

The weather service said snow levels in some mountains could drop to 4,500 feet.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

--Shelby Grad

Photo: Snow falling in Big Bear Friday. Megan Garvey / Los Angeles Times

Villaraigosa asks baseball to pick local owner for Dodgers

Click here to learn more about the Dodger sale.In a letter to Major League Baseball’s top official, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told Bud Selig that he strongly believes the next Dodgers owner should be from Los Angeles and should understand how the storied franchise is “deeply woven into the fabric of our great city.” 

“Dodger fans and all Angelenos deserve an owner who loves and believes in this city, who understands that the Dodgers and their historic baseball stadium are not just a team; they are a collective community asset,” he wrote to the commissioner. “I understand that Major League Baseball is a business first and the outcome of any auction and final decisions must be fiscally successful for all.  However, I urge you to weigh heavily the merits of local ownership.”

The current owner, Frank McCourt, and Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that they had reached an agreement to auction the team, which is in bankruptcy court and had become a pawn in McCourt’s high-profile divorce from his wife, Jamie, who claimed half-ownership.

FULL COVERAGE: Dodgers and the McCourts

Some local businessmen have already talked about acquiring the Dodgers, including former owner Peter O’Malley, who said he plans to put together a new ownership group. O’Malley’s father owned the Dodgers and moved them from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.  Ron Burkle, a Southern California supermarket magnate, has also expressed interest in the team.

It's unclear whether Villaraigosa's request will have much sway over Selig and the other team owners who will decide the Dodgers' fate.

2 people found dead in Long Beach, 1 an apparent suicide

Authorities Friday continued to investigate the apparent suicide of a Long Beach woman who weighted herself, sank and drowned in the Colorado Lagoon, as well as the presumed accidental death of a man whose body was found beneath the Willow Street bridge underpass.

Both bodies were discovered Friday morning about three hours apart, said Lisa Massacani of the Long Beach Police Department. She said the deaths appear to be unrelated.

Los Angeles County coroner's officials identified the suicide victim as Debby Winsberg, 51.

Craig Harvey, chief of operations for the coroner's office, said the dead man is 42 and is being listed as “indigent/homeless.” Harvey withheld the man's name pending notification of his family.

“It’s being handled as accident versus a homicide, but it could be natural as well,” Harvey said of the man’s death.

ALSO:

Man found dead near San Bernardino school identified

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Matt Stevens  

UCLA medical officials say patient information data stolen

Photo: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which is operated by the UCLA Health System. Credit: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

The UCLA Health System is warning thousands of patients that their personal information was stolen and they are at risk of possible identity theft, officials said in a statement released Friday.

Officials don’t believe the information has been accessed or misused but are referring patients to a data security company if their name and credit are affected.

Altogether, 16,288 patients’ information was taken from the home of a physician whose house was burglarized on Sept. 6, according to the UCLA Health System.

The physician works for UCLA Faculty Practice Group, whose doctors see patients at the outpatient clinics and the four inpatient hospitals: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital, Mattel Children’s Hospital and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

The stolen patient information included first and last names as well as some birth dates, medical record numbers, addresses and medical information, officials said. It did not include Social Security numbers, credit card or insurance details. The patient information was from 2007 through 2011.

The data were on the physician’s external hard drive, officials said. Though the hard drive was encrypted, a piece of paper with the password was nearby and is also missing. The physician notified UCLA the next day and officials began identifying patients affected.

The theft is not the first breach at UCLA. Between 2005 and 2009, hospital officials were repeatedly caught and fired for reviewing, without authorization, the medical records of dozens of celebrities, including Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett. That prompted a state law imposing escalating fines on hospitals for patient privacy lapses. State regulators later fined Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in connection with privacy breaches involving the records of Michael Jackson.

In the statement, UCLA officials said they would review the hospital’s policies and make any fixes necessary. They have contracted with a data security firm to work with patients and notified the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, which has previously investigated privacy violations at the hospitals.

"UCLA’s concern for its patients is absolute, and we deeply regret any breach of confidentiality and the stress and concern it might cause our patients," the statement said.

ALSO:

Conrad Murray jurors begin deliberations in Jackson death

Transient threatened good Samaritan who aided woman, police say

Football coach charged with assaulting student, 15

-- Anna Gorman

Photo: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which is operated by the UCLA Health System. Credit: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

Woman, 72, struck and killed by freight train in San Fernando

Map shows approximate location of where a woman was fatally struck by a freight train in San Fernando. Click here to learn more about the area.A 72-year-old woman was struck and killed by a freight train Friday near the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road, authorities said.

LAPD Public Information Officer Rosario Herrera said the woman, identified only as a Latina, was walking along Van Nuys Boulevard when she was hit about 11:30 a.m.

Herrera said the collision appeared to be accidental. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Los Angeles County coroner withheld the name of the victim pending family notification.

ALSO:

Man found dead near San Bernardino school identified

San Diego man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Matt Stevens  

Image: Map shows the approximate location where a woman was fatally struck by a freight train in the San Fernando Valley.

Source: Google Maps

Conrad Murray: No verdict in first day of jury deliberations

Conrad Murray in court Nov 3 2011

Jurors in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician, Conrad Murray, completed their first day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict.

The jury will return to the downtown L.A. courthouse Monday to continue deliberations.

If convicted in the pop star's death from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, Murray faces up to four years in prison.

The case was officially submitted to the jury late Thursday after closing arguments.

 FULL COVERAGE: Trial of Conrad Murray

An attorney for Murray told jurors Thursday his client would never have been put on trial were it not for the pop star’s celebrity.

“Somebody’s got to say it: If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson, if it were anybody else, would this doctor be here today?” defense attorney Ed Chernoff told jurors.

A prosecutor told jurors Thursday that the testimony of a renowned anesthesiologist in Murray's defense was "junk science."

The harsh rebuke of the testimony of Dr. Paul White, a leading expert on the surgical anesthetic propofol, came near the conclusion of the prosecution's closing argument.

White, who was among the first scientists in the U.S. to study the drug, testified over four days in Murray's defense and said Jackson probably injected himself with the drug, causing his own death.

RELATED:

Defense calls Conrad Murray a victim as case goes to jury

Conrad Murray’s defense employed ‘junk science,’ D.A. says

Conrad Murray lied to police about Jackson's death, D.A. says

-- Victoria Kim and Harriet Ryan at L.A. County Superior Court

Photo: Conrad Murray, center, stands with defense attorneys J. Michael Flanagan, second from left, and Ed Chernoff, right, before the start of Thursday's court proceedings. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Pool

Former sailor sentenced to prison for stealing, selling military gear

A former enlisted U.S. sailor was sentenced in San Diego federal court Friday to 2 1/2 years years in prison for stealing and selling military hardware, including rifle scopes, laser-aiming devices  and night-vision equipment.

Phillip Andro Jamison, 31, was a petty officer 1st class assigned to Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado with access to the unit's armory. He admitted selling some of the gear on EBay and exporting the night-vision equipment to Hong Kong.

Jamison pleaded guilty to a single count of exporting defense articles without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Huff also ordered Huff to repay $170,000 to the Navy.

ALSO:

UCLA medical officials say patient information data stolen

Conrad Murray: No verdict in first day of jury deliberations

Tough times force Santa to cancel rounds in Redondo Beach

--Tony Perry in San Diego

If your pet is scared of fireworks night, use real medicine, not homeopathy


Fireworks: may not respond well to homeopathic treatment

Fireworks: may not respond well to homeopathic treatment


Fireworks night may be fun for humans, but it can be hell for pets. The combination of animals’ ultra-sensitive hearing with a lack of comprehension about “what the heck is causing that noise” results in many pets panicking when they hear the bangs, shrieks and whines of fireworks.


The Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK, have put together a useful list of suggested tips to help keep anxious dogs – and other pets – calm while there are fireworks displays going on outside. Tip number eight caught my attention this year:


If you have a particularly anxious pet, you should speak to your vet about treatments that can help.  Both traditional and homeopathic remedies such as Flower Essences and other natural products are available, and have been found to be very useful in many cases. It is important that you discuss any treatments with your vet before using them.


This contrasts with part of the comprehensive policy statement about fireworks phobias on the website of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association:


Given that an evidence base exists for conventional drugs and behavioural therapies, a clinician should not prescribe an unproven alternative that directly or indirectly results in the worsening of a behavioural problem. There is no peer-reviewed evidence for the efficacy of herbal or homeopathic drugs, or food supplements in the management or treatment of noise phobias. They should not be considered to be suitable for the treatment of noise fears and phobias.


So who is right here? The non-evidence-based lay people, or the evidence-based vets?


This debate is given added significance in 2011 because of a new product that has been launched in recent months. Calmex is a tablet that contains, among other ingredients, a psychoactive plant extract called Piper Methysticum, known more commonly as Kava Kava which has caused serious liver damage in people.


The precise toxicology mechanism is not understood, so the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) recommended a ban on the substance for humans (because it was not possible to give advice on how to use it safely, or who might be at risk from using it). The ban was issued in 2002, and renewed a few years later.


How can such an ingredient find its way into treatments for pets when it is banned for humans in the UK?   The manufacturers claim that since Piper methysticum (Kava kava) is listed on page 178 of Annex I of the EU Register of Feed Additives, Calmex is classified as a "Complementary Feed" in accordance with EU regulation 767/2009 and does not require a Marketing Authorisation. Essentially, it cannot be classed as a medicinal product.


However, the situation is still far from clear. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which has the final say over whether something is a medicinal product or not, issued the following statement today: "This product does not have a marketing authorisation as a veterinary medicinal product and we’re aware of concerns over its use and are investigating. People should only use authorised veterinary medicines and the VMD aims to ensure that all vet medical products are safe to use."


When asked for clarification, the European Food Standards Agency, which produces the EC  directives that the manufacturer of Calmex refers to, gave the following provisional statement: “Piper methysticum is indeed an authorised feed additive. However, the intended use as feed additive is 'flavouring' and this I would deny for the product at stake. Consequently, it is up to the UK authorities to decide whether it is a (unauthorised) veterinary medicine. Against the background of Art 13 of Reg 767/2009 there are several claims on the flyer that could be challenged.”


My advice? If your pet is frightened of fireworks, stick to the safe, evidence-based answers.



Tough times force Santa to cancel rounds in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach santa
Times are tough, even for Santa Claus.

His annual sleigh visits to neighborhoods in Redondo Beach have been canceled, indirectly because of city budget cuts, the Redondo Beach Police Officers Assn. announced, according to a Daily Breeze report Friday.

Furloughs, pay cuts and a reduction in the police force have reduced the number of officers available to volunteer in their free time, said police union president Sgt. Dave Taneman.

"It takes at least five officers per night to put the sleigh out," Taneman told the newspaper.

The Redondo Police Officers Assn. said officers will instead hold two afternoon events in local parks where parents can bring their children to see Santa.

Man whose body was found outside school may be murder victim

Image: Map shows approximate location of where a man's body was found at an elementary school near San Bernardino. Source: Google Maps The body of an unidentified man was found outside at an elementary school near San Bernardino Friday morning, authorities said.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death as a murder, but detectives have not found any evidence the deceased was a school staff member or associated with the school, said agency spokeswoman Cynthia Bachman.

An employee at Muscoy Elementary School found the body shortly before 7 a.m. outside of a school building. Despite the ongoing homicide investigation, classes were not canceled at the school, which is on the 2000 block of Blake Street.

Sheriff’s officials declined to released details of the suspected homicide, saying only that the slaying appeared to have occurred on campus. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Phil Willon

Image: Map shows approximate location of where a man's body was found at an elementary school near San Bernardino. Source: Google Maps

Man found dead near San Bernardino school identified

A suspected murder victim whose body was found outside an elementary school near San Bernardino Friday morning has been identified, authorities said.

The victim was identified as Roy Alan Craddock, 25, of San Bernardino, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials.

An employee at Muscoy Elementary School found the body shortly before 7 a.m. outside a school building.

Sheriff’s officials declined to released details of the suspected homicide, saying only that the slaying appeared to have occurred on campus. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Maria Garcia, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino Unified School District, said the victim was not a school employee and that classes were not disrupted.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Phil Willon

Human trafficking suspects being retried in kidnappings

Two human trafficking suspects face trial Monday for allegedly kidnapping a Brazilian woman and her young son and holding them ransom in Orange County.

The victims were being smuggled into the United States from South America and then held at a Costa Mesa motel, the Orange County district attorney’s office said in a prepared statement.   

Reynaldo Junior Eid, 52, and Alaor Docarmo Oliveira Jr., 57, were convicted in the 2005 case more than three years ago but a California Appeals Court overturned the conviction last year because of a jury instruction error.

“The trial itself was not in question,” said Farrah Emami, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. “The evidence was presented once before, and the jury unanimously convicted both defendants."

According to the DA's office, the 24-year-old woman and her 5-year-old son passed through numerous smugglers before getting picked up in Costa Mesa by Eid and Oliveira at a gas station.  

Eid and Oliveira are accused of demanding an additional $14,000 to deliver the victims to the woman’s husband, a Brazilian national living illegally in Florida. The suspects allegedly threatened to take the victims to New York to work off their debt if the $14,000 went unpaid.

The suspects and victims were detained by police as they attempted to flee a Travelodge on Newport Boulevard, authorities said.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Matt Stevens

Fast and Easy Vegan Dishes

Delicious no-meat recipes for your holiday table.

Every dish on the Thanksgiving table doesn’t have to involve hours of preparation. That’s why Well’s Vegetarian Thanksgiving series is offering four new vegan dishes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.

The vegan chef Lindsay S. Nixon is giving Well readers a sneak peek at her new cookbook, “Everyday Happy Herbivore: Over 175 Quick-and-Easy Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes,” to be published by BenBella Books in early December. All the dishes are simple enough for everyday eating, but they also pack enough color and flair for a festive holiday table.

Ms. Nixon said she wanted to create a cookbook for busy people like herself who need easy recipes that take little time to make.

“I find a lot of cookbooks have really long, complex recipes that take an hour or more to prepare, ” she said. “In my day-to-day life, I need dinner on the table in 20 minutes without much fuss.”

While many vegan recipes contain exotic ingredients, Ms. Nixon said she focused on dishes made with items that would be found in any pantry, or readily available. Some less common ingredients, like tofu or nutritional yeast, are easily found in many specialty markets and natural foods stores.

Three of the recipes — a tofu quiche packed with greens, pasta noodles coated in pumpkin and sage, and a Cajun cornbread casserole — are hearty enough to work as main courses for vegan diners. A rice and broccoli combination flavored with Dijon mustard can work as a vegan substitute for a more traditional stuffing.

You can find Chef Nixon’s recipes below. And visit the interactive recipe collection to see all the dishes in Well’s Vegetarian Thanksgiving so far; we will be adding new dishes daily.

Everyday Happy Herbivore’s
Quick Pumpkin-Sage Pasta
This is a great way to use up leftover pumpkin. It whips up as quickly as you can boil pasta and really captures the taste of autumn.

4 ounces whole-wheat pasta
3/4 cup vegetable broth
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 to 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of dried oregano
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Vegan Parmesan for garnish (optional)

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

2. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until thoroughly warm, about 5 minutes.

3. Taste, adding more sage if desired, plus salt and pepper to taste.

4. Cover and let sauce rest for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to merge and sauce to thicken slightly.

5. Toss cooked pasta with pumpkin sauce and taste, adding more salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with vegan Parmesan if desired.

Chef’s note: For a one-pot meal, prepare sauce in the same pot used to cook pasta, setting the pasta aside as you make the sauce.

Yield: 2 servings.

Nutritional information per serving: 262 calories; 2.4 grams fat; 51 grams carbohydrates; 8.2 grams fiber; 5.3 grams sugars; 10 grams protein.

Everyday Happy Herbivore’s
Dijon Rice With Broccoli
Dijon mustard and broccoli complement each other beautifully and come together to jazz up a side of rice. Since all Dijon mustards and hot sauces are a little different, this recipe is very much “to taste.”

1 cup cooked brown rice
2 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
2 to 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
Agave nectar or sugar, to taste (optional)

1. Steam broccoli or, if it is frozen, microwave as directed.

2. Meanwhile, whisk 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, low-sodium soy sauce and hot sauce together.

3. Taste, adding more hot sauce and Dijon mustard if needed. (Chef Lindsay Nixon says she usually adds up to 1 1/2 teaspoons of hot sauce and 3 to 4 teaspoons of Dijon.) If the Dijon is too strong for your liking, add a few drops of agave nectar or a pinch of sugar to help cut the bite.

4. Mix with cooked rice (if using leftover rice, add a splash of broth or water before reheating it).

5. Then mix in cooked broccoli, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Yield: 2 servings.

Nutritional information per serving: 150 calories; 1.4 grams fat; 30.6 grams carbohydrates; 3.6 grams fiber; 1.7 grams sugars; 5.3 grams protein.

Everyday Happy Herbivore’s
Cajun Cornbread Casserole

This delicious and spicy cornbread-topped casserole is a complete meal, with grains, beans and vegetables all in one dish. Serve with hot sauce on the table.

1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 small onion, diced
2 celery stalks, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (commercial blend, or make your own)
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 to 2 tablespoons raw sugar (optional)
3/4 cup nondairy milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan or casserole dish.

2. Drain tomato juices into a skillet, and chop tomatoes into smaller pieces. Set chopped tomatoes aside to use in Step 5.

3. Add water as necessary until a thin layer of liquid covers the skillet.

4. Sauté onion, celery, garlic and bell pepper over high heat until onion is translucent, bell pepper slices are tender and all of the water has evaporated, about 4 minutes.

5. Turn off heat, and mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning, chopped tomatoes and kidney beans, stirring to combine. Set aside.

6. In a small mixing bowl, whisk cornmeal, baking powder, salt and, if desired, additional Cajun seasoning (several dashes, so the mix looks speckled when stirred). You can also add 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar if you like a sweet cornbread topping. Then stir in nondairy milk and applesauce. It should be thick but spreadable, like hummus, and not dry.

7. Pour bean mixture into your baking dish, and pat down firmly with a spatula. Spread cornbread mixture on top, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cornbread is a deep golden, cracked and firm to the touch. Allow to sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional information per serving: 269 calories; 1.9 grams fat; 54.3 grams carbohydrates; 10.9 grams fiber; 11.1 grams sugars; 11.6 grams protein.

Everyday Happy Herbivore’s
Greens Quiche
Chef Lindsay Nixon says she developed this recipe to save a bunch of greens that were languishing in her fridge. “It’ll work with any leafy greens you have on hand, particularly sturdy greens like kale, chard and collards,” she says. “And although it’s crustless, it firms up nicely so you can cut perfect pieces. Who knew wilty leftovers could taste so good?”

1 pound extra-firm tofu
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (often found in the bulk section of a natural foods store)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon onion powder (granulated)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (granulated)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 cups chopped greens

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease a shallow 9-inch pie dish and set aside.

3. Combine all ingredients, except greens, in a food processor or blender and whiz until smooth and creamy, stopping to break up chunks and scrape the sides as necessary.

4. Mix in greens, and transfer batter to a pie dish.

5. Using a spatula, spread the mixture around so it’s even and tight.

6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center is firm (not mushy).

7. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing (serving at room temperature is best).

Make ahead: You can make and store the mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to bake, or bake the quiche a day or two ahead of time and gently reheat in your oven on warm for 10 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings.

Nutritional information per serving: 84 calories; 1.2 grams fat; 10.7 grams carbohydrates; 2.4 grams fiber; 0.8 grams sugars; 9.2 grams protein.

4 wounded, 1 critically, in South L.A. shooting

Police searched Friday for four men involved in a South L.A. shooting that left four victims wounded, one critically.

Details were sketchy but four men between the ages of 25 and 30 were shot near 4340 Long Beach Avenue about 11:15 p.m. Thursday, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Rosario Herrera.

Three of the victims suffered non-critical gunshot wounds and one man shot in the upper body was critically injured, she said.

The suspects fled the scene.

Herrera could not confirm media reports that the victims were on bicycles when they were shot.   

ALSO:

Border agents rescue 5 illegal immigrants from tunnel 

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Matt Stevens

Former Bell police chief cracks public pension Top 10

Adams
The number of former public employees making more than $100,000 a year in retirement from California’s largest public pension system has jumped 99% in the last two years.

The Orange County Register calculated that there are 12,199 retirees in the state who are firmly in the $100K club, those earning six-figure pensions through the California Public Employees Retirement system.

That’s up from 6,133 six-figure retirees in 1999.

At the top of the chart is Bruce V. Malkenhorst, the retired city administrator of Vernon who since his retirement has been heads and shoulders above other well-compensated retirees.

Malkenhorst now earns $530,268 a year -– or just over $44,000 a month, according to calculations released this week by California Pension Reform.

New to the club this year is Randy Adams, the former police chief in Bell who lost his job in that city’s public corruption scandal, which lead to the high-profile arrests of eight city leaders.

Adams was not among those charged, though he was named in a lawsuit filed by then-Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, a case that has since been dropped.

Adams makes a solid $265,437 in retirement -– or a bit more than $22,000 a month. He was the police chief in Bell for about one year.

The standings, of course, would have been drastically altered had former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo been able to collect on $650,000 a year he was poised to get from CalPERS.

But the state retirement system slashed the amount he could collect to $50,000.

ALSO:

Border agents rescue 5 illegal immigrants from tunnel 

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Steve Marble

Photo: Former Bell Police Chief Randy Adams at a council meeting in July. Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times

Football coach charged with assaulting student, 15

Pasadena’s city prosecutor has filed a misdemeanor battery charge against John Muir High School football Coach Ken Howard for his role in a Sept. 28 scuffle with a 15-year-old student.

Howard will be arraigned Dec. 1 for “battery on a school ground,” City Prosecutor Connie Orozco stated in an email Wednesday.

A battery committed on school property is punishable by up to one year in jail and fines not exceeding $2,000, according to state law.

Attorney Joe Hopkins, who represents Howard, told the Pasadena Sun the student struck at Howard before the coach attempted to restrain him during a search for weapons.

“I haven’t seen the charge in writing, but if it looks like a case that needs to go to trial, then we’ll let a jury decide,” Hopkins said.

Federal probe sought in fatal shooting of man holding nozzle

Douglas Zerby
Family members, civil rights attorneys and community groups are planning to call Friday for a federal investigation into the shooting death of a 35-year-old man by Long Beach police officers who mistook a black water hose nozzle for a gun.

The planned news conference -- organized by the Long Beach Campaign to Stop Police Violence and Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, or ANSWER -- comes a day after the Los Angeles County district attorney's office cleared the two officers.

The district attorney's office concluded that Long Beach Police Officers Victor Ortiz and Jeffrey Shurtleff acted lawfully in self-defense when Douglas Zerby pointed what they thought was a handgun at them.

Brian Claypool, attorney for Zerby's family, said the officers should have been prosecuted for negligent homicide. He said the officers did not identify themselves as police officers, nor did they order Zerby to put down the water hose nozzle.

Transient threatened good Samaritan who aided woman, police say

A 51-year-old transient was arrested on suspicion of attempting to kill a good Samaritan who stopped him from yelling obscenities at a woman on San Fernando Road, police said.

The transient, Leonard Ochoa, was taken into custody just after 2:16 p.m. Tuesday in connection with attempted murder after he brandished a knife and threatened to kill the other man who stepped in, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz told the Glendale News Press.

Ochoa had just exited the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services and was pushing his shopping cart on the 4600 block of San Fernando Road when he began yelling obscenities at a woman who was walking by him, according to police reports.

The good Samaritan, who was seated on a nearby retaining wall, shouted at Ochoa, advising him that his rants were “uncalled for,” according to police.

Ochoa walked over to the man, stood 6 feet away and told him, “We are going to fight to the death,” according to the incident report.

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-- Vernonica Rocha, Times Community News

Conrad Murray jurors begin deliberations in Jackson death

Conrad Murray in court Nov 3 2011
Jurors in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician, Conrad Murray, began deliberations Friday.

If convicted in the pop star's death from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, he faces up to four years in prison.

The case was officially submitted to the jury late Thursday after closing arguments.

FULL COVERAGE: Trial of Conrad Murray

An attorney for Murray told jurors Thursday his client would never have been put on trial were it not for the pop star’s celebrity.

“Somebody’s got to say it: If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson, if it were anybody else, would this doctor be here today?” defense attorney Ed Chernoff told jurors.

Green-flag warning of possible flooding issued in Sierra Madre

With rain falling across Southern California, the foothill city of Sierra Madre has issued a green-flag warning to alert residents of possible flooding, mud and debris.

The warning was triggered Thursday afternoon when the National Weather Service forecast an 80% chance of rain.

Up to 2,000 of the city's residents live in the canyon and foothill areas most effected by heavy rain, said a spokesman for the Sierra Madre Police Department.

Recycling center mired in controversy

Burbank officials have set a self-imposed Nov. 15 deadline to hammer out a deal with a new operator for the city’s recycling center — even if the prospective newcomer was selected by the current contractor who is accused of making almost $33 million in fraudulent claims.

City officials cut ties with Burbank Recycling Inc. in March after the state alleged the firm submitted millions in fraudulent recycling claims. Under the terms of its contract with the city, Burbank Recycling is permitted to choose its successor. If the city agrees, it gets $150,000 to cover the expenses of transferring the operation, Public Works Director Bonnie Teaford said.

In this case, both parties agreed on the chosen successor, Burrtec Waste Industries Inc., a Fontana-based recycling operator that has a clean record and is financially sound, according to Burbank officials.

L.A. Councilwoman Jan Perry resigning leadership post

L.A. Councilwoman Jan Perry in 2007
The No. 2-ranking official on the Los Angeles City Council said Thursday she is resigning from her leadership post, partly out of unhappiness with what she described as behind-the-scenes maneuvering over redistricting and the council presidency.

Councilwoman Jan Perry, who has been the council's president pro tempore since 2009, said she was troubled by "private" talks that have taken place over replacing Councilman Eric Garcetti as president.

She also suggested that new boundary lines for the council's 15 districts are already being redrawn in secret, even though a 21-member commission has been charged with doing that job in public.

"There are allegations that maps have already been drawn and seen before the executive director position was even filled" for the council's Redistricting Commission, she said in an interview.

Perry, who represents downtown and part of South Los Angeles, will remain on the City Council. She laid out her views in a letter sent to her colleagues Thursday night.



Showers roll into Southern California; storms, hail possible later

Showers moved into Southern California early Friday morning, with the potential for thunderstorms and even hail later in the day.

The rain was light and was expected to end by 9 a.m. said meteorologist Dave Bruno of the National Weather Service.

But forecasters said there is a 50% to 60% chance that a second storm will arrive from the north by 11 a.m. and stretch throughout the afternoon.  

Bruno said the afternoon showers could bring thunderstorms and even hail.   

"We could have snow in the Grapevine later this evening," he said. "It's conceivable that nothing could fall, but the most likely thing is about one inch. Hopefully, it won't stick to the ground.”

Bruno said the rain should end by 9 p.m.

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-- Matt Stevens

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana Vehicle accident
Santa Ana police Thursday night were investigating a vehicle accident that left two small children and two adults injured.

A mother was with her adult niece and three children -- ages 1, 3 and 5 -- when the accident occurred about 4:45 p.m. near Civic Center Drive East and North Spurgeon Street, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department.

"The driver apparently didn't see them," Bertagna said of the pedestrians, who were crossing Civic Center Drive.

He said the vehicle struck the mother, the niece and 1- and 3-year-old children, who were in strollers. The 5-year-old was not hit, Bertagna said. 

The 3-year-old was pinned under the right front tire of the vehicle. The woman who was driving the vehicle moved it off the child before police arrived, Bertagna said.

The 3-year-old, mother and niece were taken to a hospital in critical condition with non-life-threatening injuries. Bertagna described the injuries to the 1-year-old as minor.

The driver was taken to a hospital for an unknown medical condition.

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Occupy Oakland protesters, police injured in violent clash

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Photo: Santa Ana police at the accident scene. Credit: KTLA-TV Channel 5

Border agents rescue 5 illegal immigrants from tunnel

Tunnel from Mexico
Border Patrol agents rescued five illegal immigrants who became stuck in a tunnel as they were trying to enter the United States from Mexico near Otay Mesa, federal authorities said Thursday.

An agent on patrol early Wednesday noticed a man stuck in an opening in the ground, Customs and Border Protection said. The man told the agent there were four other people in the tunnel behind him.

Four men and one woman, all Mexican citizens, were pulled from the tunnel with the help of the San Diego and Chula Vista fire departments.

The makeshift tunnel branched off an abandoned gas line near the Otay Mesa port of entry, the agency said. The illegal immigrants had entered the tunnel via a manhole on the Mexican side of the border near the international boundary.

The five adults were taken into custody. The case was under investigation.

ALSO:

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby

Long Beach police cleared in fatal 'water nozzle' shooting

Occupy Oakland protesters, police injured in violent clash

-- Robert J. Lopez
twitter.com/LAJourno

Photo: The hole near Otay Mesa from which the immigrants were rescued. Credit: Customs and Border Protection

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