Monday, November 14, 2011

Two people seriously wounded in drive-by shooting in Winnetka

Winnetka crimes
Two people were seriously wounded Monday night in a drive-by shooting in Winnetka, police said.

The victims were shot in the 20300 block of Cohassett by attackers who fled the area in a dark sedan, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

"It sounds like the injuries were fairly serious," Officer Karen Rayner told The Times.

Detectives were at the scene gathering evidence. No other details were immediately available.

ALSO:

American hikers imprisoned for months in Iran to marry in May

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Caltrans fires employees amid questions whether safety tests were falsified

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Map shows recent crimes reported near the shooting scene. Credit: Times' Mapping L.A.

School explains class visit by ex-porn star Sasha Gray

Sasha Gray
A visit by former porn star Sasha Gray to a Compton elementary school prompted officials to offer an explanation Monday regarding how the actress ended up reading to a classroom full of children.

Gray, who recently landed a part in the HBO show "Entourage," visited Emerson Elementary School as part of its guest reader program. The visit was arranged by an outside talent coordinator, the Compton Unified School District said in a statement.

"The outside talent coordinator listed the actress as a mainstream actress from the HBO show 'Entourage,' " said the statement, which refrained from mentioning Gray by her name.  "Although we have worked with this talent coordinator for several years, we will meet to review the participant selection process."

The district also said that, contrary to media reports, the reading program was not part of the Reading Across America program.

ALSO:

American hikers imprisoned for months in Iran to marry in May

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Caltrans fires employees amid questions whether safety tests were falsified

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Photo: Sasha Gray in 2009. Credit: Los Angeles Times

John Wayne passengers all ready, new terminal not

John wayne
After five years of planning, officials at John Wayne Airport finally opened the new terminal at the Orange County airfield Monday.

But although passengers may have been ready, alas, the airport wasn’t.

Passengers with luggage had to hike to an adjacent terminal when tests showed the baggage handling system in the new terminal -– the third at the airport -– had failed, the Orange County Register is reporting.

Passengers who didn’t have to check bags were permitted to pass through security at Terminal C. Others, though, were asked to walk to Terminal B to check their bags.

Jenny Wedge, an airport spokeswoman, told the Register that the airport failed a certification test for the baggage system last Thursday and is not authorized to use the system until it gets approval -– a process that could take up to a month.

"We hope to get certified in the next several weeks," Wedge said. She said airport officials hope the baggage snafu will be solved by next week's Thanksgiving holiday rush.

Although the airport held a dedication ceremony Sunday to show off the new terminal, officials never brought up the fact that there was a problem with the baggage system that would prevent it from being up and running on its first day of business.

The new terminal has its own short-term parking area, added concession offerings and –- for the first time -– a customs area. The only international flights out of the Orange County airport are to Canada. But there has been talk about adding flights to Mexico.

Even with the complications Monday, some passengers said John Wayne was a relative cakewalk compared to the lines and congestion at LAX.

"I really like John Wayne Airport. Compared to Los Angeles, it has great service and the lines are shorter,” Bonnie Guevin, 58, a traveler from New Hampshire, told the paper. “I thought I was running late, but even with the check-in change, I have more than enough time."

ALSO:

Plan to widen DNA searches inspired by L.A. serial killer case

Stolen U-Haul filled with family's items recovered in Long Beach

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

--Steve Marble

Photo:  View of the baggage carousels in the new Terminal C at John Wayne Airport. Credit: Steven Georges / Daily Pilot

Judge delays decision on Crystal Cathedral until Thursday

  Crystal cathedral

A bankruptcy judge on Monday delayed a decision as to who would be the buyer of the Crystal Cathedral after Chapman University offered $1-a-month rent for the property's core buildings.

Judge Robert Kwan is giving the Crystal Cathedral board two days to consider the proposal, made Monday afternoon as an addition to the existing $51.5-million Chapman bid, and a $57.5-million offer by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.

"This is what the university can do to try to meet the needs of the university and the congregation," said Jeffrey Broker, the attorney for Chapman.

The new Chapman offer was announced to standing applause and cheers. But not all congregants were excited.

Bruce Fox, of Westminster, said the offer would be great, if he still trusted the church.
"They have made some really bad decisions," he said.

The Chapman offer includes a reserve fund of up to $2 million to pay the 85-year-old Schuller; his wife, Arvella; their daughter Carol Schuller Milner and her husband, Timothy Milner, for various claims. Schuller had previously arranged to be paid $350,000 in living expenses a year for the rest of his life.

He and other family members have sought some or all of that money from the bankruptcy court in unspecified “insider” claims, including copyright infringement for using his name and sermons. Carl Grumer, the attorney for the family members, said $2 million would not be enough to pay the claims.

RELATED:

Diocese of Orange boosts its bid to purchase Crystal Cathedral

Crystal Cathedral email asks for food donations for Arvella Schuller

Creditors: Crystal Cathedral’s Schullers used influence for gain

-- Nicole Santa Cruz in Santa Ana

Photo: A bankruptcy judge is expected to choose a buyer for the Crystal Cathedral building on Thursday. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

Driver who shot CHP officer left rambling note

The man accused of shooting a CHP officer left a rambling note that officials said strongly indicates he had emotional problems.

Richard Bernard Bisbee, 68, is suspected of shooting the officer and then crashing his car before being fatally shot by authorities Sunday night on Highway 99 in Sacramento County.

A letter written by Bisbee is being considered a key piece of evidence in the case.

"[The letter] states that he has contemplated taking his life, currently under medication, doesn't have anybody to talk to at this point," Sgt. Jim Barnes of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office told Fox 40 Sacramento.

The shooting occurred during a traffic stop on the freeway.













ALSO:

American hikers imprisoned for months in Iran to marry in May

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Caltrans fires employees amid questions whether safety tests were falsified

-- Fox 40 Sacramento.

 

O.C. man charged in hit-and-run killing of 2-year-old boy

PEREZ, ANGEL ALBERTO CRUZ
A Santa Ana man accused of drinking 24 bottles of beer with a friend before a hit-and-run accident in which a 2-year-old boy was killed made a court appearance Monday.

Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 23, is charged with striking a mother who was carrying her 1-year-old daughter and holding the hand of her 2-year-old son last week as they crossed a street in Santa Ana, the Orange County district attorney's office said. The mother sustained scrapes on her knees; her daughter was unharmed.

Prosecutors claim Perez had consumed four buckets of beer -- each containing six bottles -- with his friend at a restaurant before plowing into the family with his Toyota SUV.

Perez, who is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, was in the Central Jail courtroom for an in-custody arraignment. He was scheduled for another in-custody arraignment Dec. 8, according to online Superior Court records.

Perez is charged with felonies including vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing bodily injury and hit-and-run with permanent injury or death. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.

If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 16 years in state prison.

ALSO:

American hikers imprisoned for months in Iran to marry in May

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Caltrans fires employees amid questions whether safety tests were falsified

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Farmers market evacuated after manhole explosion

A farmers market was temporarily evacuated and power was out on the Balboa Peninsula over the weekend after a report of a manhole explosion, according to authorities.

About 11:42 a.m. Sunday, Newport Beach firefighters responded to an electrical vault fire at Via Oporto and Via Lido, according to a news release from the Newport Beach Fire Department.

About 50 people were evacuated, while City Hall, the Newport Beach Lido fire station and surrounding areas were temporarily without power because of the blast, the release said.

Southern California Edison responded to the scene about an hour after the call, and power was restored to the fire station and City Hall, according to the Daily Pilot.

ALSO:

American hikers imprisoned for months in Iran to marry in May

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Caltrans fires employees amid questions whether safety tests were falsified

— Lauren Williams, Times Community News

Occupy Oakland: Hundreds at plaza vow to continue movement

Hundreds of defenders of Occupy Oakland, from grandmothers to young children, massed at the main library and marched back to the cleared civic center plaza Monday evening, determined to keep their movement alive by reestablishing a visible presence and branching out.

"We need to take back our village in the plaza because it was a very special place to many people," said Maxine Holz, 55, of Alameda, who has been active at the twice-razed camp for the past month. "It was our base."

Her comments met with uproarious cheers from a crowd that soon flooded onto the muddy lawn where 150 tents had been hauled away hours earlier.

Others spoke of the need to diversify, occupying homes foreclosed by banks and "many city parks, many buildings," and taking the message into the workplace.

More Depression for Mothers and Singles With Breast Cancer

Women who have children living at home and single women have higher levels of depression in the months after treatment than other breast cancer patients, new research shows.

The findings, from a study of 225 women undergoing radiation treatment at nine clinics in Missouri, offers a glimpse into the emotional toll of breast cancer, suggesting that some women face greater psychological challenges in the months after treatment ends. The study, published in the journal Psychology & Health, was conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri, Texas A&M and Tulane University.

To measure differences in depression, women completed questionnaires that resulted in a depression score. The study showed that while all women with a breast cancer diagnosis experience psychological stress, certain women are at greater risk for ongoing depression. Having children living at home, being single or having low income were all risk factors for depression among breast cancer patients during the year after treatment.

One explanation for differences in depression levels may have to do with the amount of emotional and practical support women receive at the time of diagnosis and during and after treatment. It appears that the women who do best are those with husbands or partners, perhaps because they can offer women continuing emotional and practical support. Women with breast cancer who have children at home may face more logistical challenges coping with treatment schedules and side effects and juggling the daily responsibilities of child-rearing, compared with similar women who don’t have children at home.

Although both high- and low-income women had similar levels of depression during the treatment period, low-income women showed more depression after treatment. The explanation may be that low-income women had more worries about missed work time or medical bills related to breast cancer.

Notably, women who lived a long distance from their doctors showed greater levels of depression after treatment ended. Even though the end of treatment signaled the end of a long commute, it may be that these women also lost their main sources of social support at the clinics where they received treatment.

Ann Bettencourt, professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri and an author of the study, said it was important for doctors to have a simple way to predict who among their patients is at higher risk for depression following treatment, so they can recommend appropriate support and services. In a separate study, she noted, women who were more depressed were less likely to regularly take medications.

Although the latest study didn’t examine the reasons certain women were at higher risk for depression than others, the study authors said doctors can work with both family members and patients to make sure women are receiving adequate emotional and practical support. Single women, for instance, may be encouraged to join support groups or even online discussion boards. Doctors can urge women with children living at home to arrange for practical support from friends and family, like meal preparation or shuttling children to activities, even if they don’t think they need it.

Dr. Bettencourt noted, however, that the reasons women with children at home are more likely to be depressed may go beyond the daily challenges of raising children, and have more to do with worries about a child’s future.

“Women’s concern about their own survival may lead them to worry about the care of the children living in their home, which in turn, may engender higher levels of depression,” she said.

The Meatball Shop Goes Vegetarian

Delicious no-meat recipes for your holiday table.

The Meatball Shop in Manhattan is famous for its meatballs, of course. On a given day you might find a Reuben Ball or a Chicken Cordon Bleu Ball or just a classic beef meatball with tomato sauce.

But surprisingly, some of the restaurant’s most popular and creative dishes don’t contain any meat at all. Topping the list is the vegetarian meatball — a favorite of Michael Chernow, a co-founder of the shop.

“My partner eats the veggie balls every single day without fail,’’ says Daniel Holzman, chef and co-founder. “From a culinary standpoint, they are my favorite meatball. A really good vegetarian meatball that holds together and has a light quality and isn’t super dense tends to be a little more difficult than a regular meatball.”

And while Chef Holzman says he enjoys coming up with new flavor combinations for his meatballs, he most enjoys coming up with new daily market salads, greens, sauces and roast vegetable dishes.

“The vegetable dishes, for me as a chef, are the area where I get to play and have fun,” he says. “All the vegetable dishes change daily, and I get to go to the market and come up with new flavor components, and everything has to taste good together.’’

For Well’s Vegetarian Thanksgiving series, the Meatball Shop is offering three recipes from its new “Meatball Shop Cookbook” that are certain to be the talk of your holiday table. Omnivores and vegetarians alike won’t be thinking about turkey when they gobble down the restaurant’s famous veggie balls topped with a spinach-basil pesto sauce and served with smashed turnips with fresh horseradish on the side.

Visit Well’s interactive recipe collection to see more Vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes; we will be adding new dishes daily.

The Meatball Shop’s
Veggie Balls

The Meatball Shop’s staff eat these around the clock. You’ll often find them at the bar with a big bowl of these and a side of steamed or sautéed spinach. You can also top with Spinach-Basil Pesto. And when it comes to feeding children, this is a great and tasty way to sneak in more veggies.

2 cups lentils
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons tomato paste
8 ounces button mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced
3 large eggs
1/2 cup grated rennet-free Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

1. Combine the lentils and 2 quarts water in a medium stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the lentils are soft but not falling apart, about 25 minutes. Drain the lentils and allow to cool.

2. Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil to a large frying pan and sauté the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme and salt over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to brown. Add the tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. When cool, add the lentils to the vegetable mixture.

3. Add the eggs, Parmesan, bread crumbs, parsley and walnuts to the cooled vegetables and lentils and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.

5. Roll the mixture into round golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the vegetable mixture firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, allowing 1/4 inch of space between the balls and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another.

6. Roast for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. Allow the meatballs to cool for 5 minutes in the baking dish before serving.

Yield: About 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch meatballs.

The Meatball Shop’s
Spinach-Basil Pesto

This pesto is so simple, and its mild, herbaceous flavor makes it the ideal companion for just about any of the meatballs. While many pesto recipes call for pine nuts, we prefer the flavor (and lower price) of walnuts. Try roughly chopping them to add a nice crunchy texture. We also love this as a healthy party dip, especially because it has no raw garlic — your guests will thank you too! You can swap arugula for spinach if you prefer. Pesto freezes well and will keep for up to three months in the freezer.

1/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts
4 cups baby spinach leaves
2 cups fresh basil
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grated rennet-free Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out the walnuts on a small rimmed baking sheet and roast in oven for about 12 minutes, giving them a shake after 6 minutes. Continue roasting until golden brown and toasted. Set aside and allow to cool thoroughly.

2. Fill a large stockpot three-quarters full with water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl halfway with ice and water and set close to the sink.

3. Dump the spinach and basil into the boiling water and stir. After 1 minute, strain the greens, and plunge them into the bowl with ice water. Drain the greens again and squeeze them tightly to get as much water out as possible. Chop the greens roughly.

4. Combine the greens and walnuts with the salt, olive oil and Parmesan in a food processor and process until a smooth consistency is reached. Taste and season with additional salt, if desired.

Yield: 4 cups.

The Meatball Shop’s
Smashed Turnips With Fresh Horseradish

Don’t pass turnips by the next time you’re at the market. When they’re cooked right, their earthy flavor is seriously irresistible. At the Meatball Shop, people go crazy for them. The kick from the horseradish brings out the natural sweetness, and the sour cream adds a tangy, rich element.

8 large turnips (about 2 pounds), peeled and quartered
1/2 cup sour cream
6 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons freshly grated horseradish, or more to taste
2 teaspoons salt

1. Place the turnips in a large pot with enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until fork-tender, about 25 minutes. Drain thoroughly, until completely dry.

2. Place the turnips in a bowl and, while they are still hot, add the sour cream, scallions, horseradish and salt. Mash with a wire whisk or potato masher until well combined but still chunky. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

Earthquake: 3.4 quake shakes Central Valley

A shallow magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Monday afternoon 18 miles from Cartago, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 4:40 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 3.1 miles.

According to the USGS, the epicenter was 18 miles from Olancha, 24 miles from Coso Junction, 28 miles from Lone Pine and 150 miles from Los Angeles Civic Center.

In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

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

— Ken Schwencke

Image: Location of the epicenter. Credit: Google Maps

5-year-old boy injured after falling from school bus in Mecca

A 5-year-old boy was being treated for injuries after he fell from a moving school bus in Riverside County, officials said Monday afternoon.

The child apparently fell from an open door as the bus was moving near 70th Avenue and Hayes Street in Mecca, the California Highway Patrol said.

Paramedics at the scene had requested a helicopter to take the boy to a hospital, the Riverside County Fire Department said.

The extent of the child's injuries was unclear. The Fire Department described them as moderate, but the CHP said they were major.

The CHP was investigating the incident, reported about 3:15 p.m. No additional details were immediately available.

ALSO:

American hikers imprisoned for months in Iran to marry in May

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Caltrans fires employees amid questions whether safety tests were falsified

— Robert J. Lopez

twitter.com/LAJourno

Earthquake: 3.4 quake shakes near Cartago

A shallow magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Monday afternoon 18 miles from Cartago, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 4:40 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 3.1 miles.

According to the USGS, the epicenter was 18 miles from Olancha, 24 miles from Coso Junction, 28 miles from Lone Pine and 150 miles from Los Angeles Civic Center.

In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

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

— Ken Schwencke

Image: Location of the epicenter. Credit: Google Maps

5 arrested at homeless encampment, an Occupy San Diego outgrowth

Occupy90
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness at what has become a homeless encampment near San Diego City Hall, a successor to the Occupy San Diego movement, police said.

Dozens  are living on a street adjacent to the civic theater, watched 24 hours a day by a dozen or more San Diego police officers. The ad hoc settlement has its own food distribution system; a nearby public toilet is also available.

On Oct. 28, police removed Occupy San Diego protesters and some homeless people from the plaza, arresting 51.

Those who moved voluntarily were allowed to take their sleeping bags and other belongings to an area along a nearby street.

In the succeeding weeks, the area has become predominantly a place for San Diego's homeless to sleep. Police have allowed them to remain, as long as they do not block the sidewalk.

"We're not hurting anyone," said a homeless person who identified himself as Dr. Alexander as he emerged from his sleeping bag.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

 Photo: Homeless encampment near San Diego City Hall. Credit: Tony Perry / Los Angeles Times

Somali pirates, beware: Three Navy ships deploy from San Diego

Boat

The three Navy ships from the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group deployed Monday from San Diego for a seven-month mission to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf region.

Aboard the ships are 1,200 Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Marines and sailors are set to train with the armed forces of U.S. allies and be prepared to rapidly respond to orders from the commander in chief, including possibly putting Marines ashore for combat operations or providing humanitarian assistance if a nation is struck by an earthquake or other natural disaster.

The sailors and Marines will also be involved in the anti-piracy efforts of a coalition of nations. The Marines have had training specifically targeted at boarding and seizing pirate boats that prey on merchant vessels, said Col. Michael Hudson, commander of the 11th MEU.

"If I were a Somali pirate, I'd be looking for a different line of work," said Capt. Humberto Quintanilla, commodore of the three-ship flotilla: the amphibious assault ship Makin Island, amphibious dock landing ship Pearl Harbor, and amphibious transport dock ship New Orleans.

The deployment is the maiden voyage of the Makin Island, equipped with new technology akin to that of a hybrid car so that the ship uses 60% less fuel than ships of the same class.

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 318

Click through for more photos of Southern California Moments.

Larry: A homeless man named Larry stares across the street near the 7th Street Metro station in downtown Los Angeles in this Nov. 10 photo by Greg Keating.

An earlier photo of Larry was our Southern California Moments pick for March 11.

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.

Nearly 350 Irvine homes without power for more than 24 hours

Almost 350 Southern California Edison customers in Irvine have been in the dark for more than 24 hours because of the failure of an underground cable.

The breakdown knocked out power to 1,493 customers at 5:47 a.m. Sunday, said Edison spokeswoman Lauren Bartlett. By late Monday morning, 343 remained in the city's Turtle Rock neighborhood without power. Edison expected service to be restored by 2 p.m.

Some residents were incensed by the outage.

"It's an issue of basic maintenance, it sounds like, and why should it take so long to fix it?" said resident Barbara Shapiro, 76, whose had no electricity Monday.

Bartlett said Edison was working to restore power as quickly as possible.

ALSO:

Plan to widen DNA searches inspired by L.A. serial killer case

Stolen U-Haul filled with family's items recovered in Long Beach

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

— Abby Sewell

 

 

Earthquake: 3.2 quake strikes near Mammoth Lakes

A shallow magnitude-3.2 earthquake was reported Monday afternoon 13 miles from Mammoth Lakes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 2:33 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 2.5 miles.

According to the USGS, the epicenter was 14 miles from Round Valley and 161 miles from Sacramento.

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

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

— Ken Schwencke

Image: Map shows the quake's epicenter. Credit: Google Maps

Really? The Claim: Exercise Can Ward Off Migraines

THE FACTS

Many migraine sufferers are reluctant to hit the gym, fearful that pushing themselves too hard may bring on an attack. But for some, exercise may have the opposite effect.

Migraine triggers vary widely from one person to the next. A few case reports have identified people for whom periods of physical activity could precipitate severe headaches. But by and large, the research has shown that for people predisposed to migraines, regular exercise, at least a few times a week, either does no harm or may have modest benefits.

In one of the most thorough studies, published in the journal Cephalalgia in October, researchers in Sweden randomly split 91 migraine sufferers into three groups. One group exercised for 40 minutes three times a week. Another was given topiramate, a drug that helps prevent migraines. The third underwent regular relaxation exercises. The study lasted three months, and the subjects were monitored over an additional six months.

The scientists found that the rate of migraines fell in all three groups, and that each intervention was equally effective. They noted that for people who want to reduce migraines without the side effects of drugs, exercise may be a good alternative.

In a smaller study, the same researchers looked at 26 migraine sufferers before, during and after cycling sessions on stationary bikes at a clinic in Sweden. The subjects cycled three days a week for three months. At the end of the study, they saw improvements in cardiovascular fitness and reductions in the severity and number of migraines they experienced.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Exercise may help prevent migraines in some people.

Light Therapy for Dark Days

For the millions of Americans who suffer from mild to severe winter blues — a condition called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD — bright-light therapy is the treatment of choice, with response rates comparable with those of antidepressants, reports today’s Consumer column.

Many experts think light therapy is underused, given its affordability and relative lack of side effects, in large part because there is little profit to be made from it and no commercial incentive to promote the treatment.

Patients generally sit in front of the light box, which can be as small as 9 by 11 inches and 5 inches deep, with the bright light emanating from the square surface, in the morning. “With the natural dawn being later in winter, the body rhythms drift late,” Dr. Lewy said. “If you can fix the drift, you can fix the depression.”

Light therapy may even help with major nonseasonal depression, experts say, and with sleep disorders. And because it has few side effects, researchers are studying whether light therapy can help with depression during pregnancy and be used to treat elderly people with dementia. It is also being investigated for the treatment of bulimia nervosa, severe premenstrual syndrome and even attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder.

To learn more, read the full story, “A Portable Glow to Help Melt Those Winter Blues,” and then please join the discussion below.

Plan to widen DNA searches inspired by L.A. serial killer case

Photo: California Congressman Adam Schiff, left,  during a meeting at the Altadena Library in April. Source. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) would make it easier for police departments to use DNA technology to solve cold cases.

Schiff pointed to last year's break in the 25-year-old "Grim Sleeper" serial murder case, in which the LAPD checked DNA from a suspect against a statewide database. Investigators eventually arrested the suspect's father, Lonnie David Franklin Jr., after getting a DNA sample from him that resulted in a perfect match with evidence in the case.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Grim Sleeper killings, 1985-2007

Fortunately, Franklin lived in California, Schiff said. If he had lived in another state, investigators might not have been able to conduct such a check.

Schiff's bill would instruct the FBI to create a system that would allow a state to request a search of the national DNA database.

20 to 25 protesters arrested at Occupy Oakland

Overturned big rig jams traffic on 101 Freeway in Calabasas

Occupy Oakland raid: Protesters chant they'll 'never be defeated'

First openly lesbian Miss Long Beach contestant joyous after loss

Long beachIn the end, there was no crown and no sash for Jenelle Hutcherson, the first openly lesbian contestant in the Miss Long Beach and Miss Southern California cities pageant Sunday.

"But history has been made," Hutcherson wrote on her Facebook fan page. "Doors have been opened and memories made!!"

The 25-year-old hair artist was a finalist in the competition but lost when the Miss Long Beach title was awarded to Kristin Bopp, while Megan O'Connell-Barbre won the Miss Southern California cities title. The prize for each is a $3,000 appearance contract with the Community Action Team, a nonprofit led by pageant director Justin Rudd.

Sporting a Mohawk, tattoos, a pierced nose and small black ear plug-ins, Hutcherson wrote that she was treated well by other contestants. "Nobody tried to ripped my tux," she joked.

For the swimwear part of the pageant, Hutcherson wore red and white striped boy shorts and a black and white striped tank top. For evening wear, she ditched the gown and heels for a black tuxedo with a royal purple dress shirt.

Hutcherson, who moved to Long Beach from Bakersfield three years ago, said she got the idea to enter the pageant during a conversation with Rudd while cutting his hair.

Rudd, she said, told how she could enter the pageant and said her wild colors, tattoos and her individuality would all be embraced.

"He gave me no reasons not to join," Hutcherson said.

She said she hoped her participation in the pageant would spread a message of equality, diversity and creativity as well as unite Long Beach's large gay community.

Hutcherson plans to participate in Donald Trump’s Miss California USA pageant and has been looking for financial support in the form of sponsorships and donations.

"The journey is not over," she wrote Sunday. "The world is your oyster. It's what you do with what you have that makes you shine."

ALSO:

L.A. police shoot man in downtown

Toy M16 rifle in moving car triggers false alarm

Some protesters remain at Occupy Oakland site after raid

— Ruben Vives

Photo: Jenelle Hutcherson, left. Credit: Courtesy of Justin Rudd

 

Diocese of Orange ups offer for Crystal Cathedral: $57.5 million

The Diocese of Orange increased its offer for the  Crystal Cathedral, raising it  to $57.5 million
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange again increased its offer for the bankrupt Crystal Cathedral, raising it over the weekend to $57.5 million, $2.1 million more than it had previously bid for the Garden Grove property.

Alan Martin, the attorney for the diocese, said the offer was increased a second time in recent days because of feasibility studies conducted in connection with two sale plans on the table.

One major factor is the amount of some insider claims -- which could total more than $6.5 million -- that include debts to founder Robert H. Schuller, his wife, Arvella; daughter Carol Milner and Timothy Milner, Carol's husband.

"Everything else is the same," Martin said of the diocese's offer.

Another bidder, Chapman University, increased its offer two weeks ago to $51.5 million, and that has not changed.

Attorneys spent Monday morning in bankruptcy court in Santa Ana detailing a monetary breakdown of the two proposals.

ALSO:

L.A. police shoot man in downtown Los Angeles

Oakland again issues eviction notice to "Occupy" protesters

96-year-old accused of killing wife had been "confused": neighbor

-- Nicole Santa Cruz in Santa Ana

Photo: The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Credit: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

Heavy D autopsy results inconclusive; more tests needed

Click here to see more photos of Heavy D.

The conclusions of an autopsy of rapper Heavy D have been deferred pending the results of toxicology tests, the L.A. County coroner's office said on Monday.

Officials said the autopsy was inconclusive and that it could take several weeks to determine a cause of death.

Ed Winter, a coroner's spokesman, said last week no illegal drugs were found at Heavy D's Beverly Hills home, but a doctor had prescribed him a drug after the rapper, 44, experienced a cough.

PHOTOS: Heavy D | 1967-2011

The coroner plans toxicology tests, which are common in cases when a relatively young, healthy person dies unexpectedly.

"We need to see what's in his system," Winter said.

Winter said the rapper had recently gone to London.

Heavy D was stricken Tuesday while returning to his Beverly Hills condominium after a shopping trip and died a short time later at a hospital, authorities said.

Heavy D experienced breathing problems at his condo complex on Maple Drive and then collapsed.

"Upon arrival, officers discovered a male, 44 years old, conscious, communicative, but having difficulty breathing," the Beverly Hills Police Department said in a statement.

RELATED:

PHOTOS: Notable music deaths of 2011

Rapper Heavy D dead after collapsing in Beverly Hills

 Heavy D may have died from pneumonia complications

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Rapper Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers, performing at the Grammy Awards in February 2009 in Los Angeles. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Toy M16 rifle in moving car triggers false alarm

The sight of a toy M16 rifle being played with in a family's minivan on the freeway was enough to send seven police and sheriff's units in pursuit of the vehicle.

The false alarm began when a motorist reported seeing a person brandish a rifle out of the green minivan in Walnut on Friday afternoon. When authorities caught up to the vehicle in a park-and-ride in Chino Hills, they saw two boys in child safety seats. On the lap of one of the boys was the plastic green-camouflage rifle, its orange tip flagging it as a replica.

With no real weapon to worry about, the responding officers gave the parents a lecture about how their children need to be careful when playing with a pretend firearm.

"We take that pretty serious," said Deputy Warren Toy, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "We definitely educated [the parents] not to point even a toy gun at somebody because you never know if the other person had a real gun and would seek to engage."

ALSO:

L.A. police shoot man in downtown Los Angeles

Occupy Oakland raid: Protesters chant they'll 'never be defeated'

96-year-old accused of killing wife had been "confused": neighbor

-- Matt Stevens

Stabbing suspect arrested after standoff with SWAT team

A 3-1/2 hour standoff ended Monday morning with the arrest of man who allegedly stabbed another man in the Inglewood area, police said.

The stabbing occurred about 2 a.m. in the lot of a car wash near the corner of Cimarron Street and Manchester Avenue, said Sgt. Rudy Alaniz of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The assailant left the car wash and barricaded himself in his home on Cimarron Street, Alaniz said. A special weapons and tactics team assembled outside his home and, after nearby residents were evacuated, launched a projectile at the house, smashing a window, Alaniz said. The man then emerged from the home and was arrested. He was booked on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Woman shot while fighting off a mugger in Windsor Square

A woman was shot Monday morning when she resisted a robbery attempt while walking from her home to her car in Windsor Square, police said.

A man approached the woman on the 4500 block of West 4th Street at about 6:45 a.m. and demanded her property, said Sgt. Ed Clark at the LAPD's Olympic station.

When she did not yield, the man pulled a gun and shot her in the leg, he said. The shooter fled the scene on foot. No description was released.

The victim was in stable condition at a hospital, Clark said.

ALSO:

20 to 25 protesters arrested at Occupy Oakland

Overturned big rig jams traffic on 101 Freeway in Calabasas

Occupy Oakland raid: Protesters chant they'll 'never be defeated'

— Abby Sewell

Crystal Cathedral buyer expected to be chosen Monday

Crystal Cathedral
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge is expected to decide Monday between two offers to buy the landmark glass-walled Crystal Cathedral building in Garden Grove.

Chapman University and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange have submitted competing bids buy the cathedral and surrounding buildings.

The diocese recently increased its bid to $55.4 million from the $50 million it originally offered. Under its proposal, the Crystal Cathedral congregation would move after three years, with the option of relocating to St. Callistus Catholic Church in Garden Grove.

Chapman University, meanwhile, has offered $51.5 million.

The church filed for bankruptcy protection last October, listing more than $50 million in debt. The ministry has been mired in turmoil for last several years, beginning with the resignation of Robert A. Schuller, the founder's son, as pastor in 2008.

RELATED:

Crystal Cathedral's supporters are still praying for a miracle

Diocese of Orange boosts its bid to purchase Crystal Cathedral

Crystal Cathedral email asks for food donations for Arvella Schuller

— Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: A bankruptcy judge is expected to choose a buyer for the Crystal Cathedral building on Monday. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Some protesters remain at Occupy Oakland site after raid

Occupy Oakland Nov 14 2011
A small band of protesters continued to face off with police in Oakland on Monday morning after authorities cleared the Occupy Oakland camp from a downtown plaza.

Protesters who were present when police moved in said the arrests and clearing were conducted peacefully. There were no reports of police using tear gas or projectiles, and no injuries were reported.

About 20 protesters were arrested, according to early media reports.

The plaza was barricaded and downtown streets blocked off following the raid. A few scattered tents remained visible, but flattened.

Dozens of police officers from multiple departments remained on scene, while about 50 protesters remained gathered outside the barricade on 14th Street and Broadway.

20 to 25 protesters arrested at Occupy Oakland

Occupy Oakland police in riot gear Nov 14 2011
About 20 to 25 protesters were arrested at Occupy Oakland, according to media reports, as police converged on the camp Monday morning in an apparent effort to break up the site.

Video from the scene showed officers dismantling tents while protesters chanted, "Every time you kick us out, we are gonna multiply." A pair of protesters held an impromptu exchange of wedding vows as police cleared the camp.

Police representatives could not be immediately reached to confirm the number of arrests.

FULL COVERAGE: Occupy protests

Occupy Oakland: Hundreds of police move on encampment

Oakland police and other law enforcement officers converged on the Occupy Oakland camp early Monday morning
Oakland police and other law enforcement officers converged on the Occupy Oakland camp early Monday morning in an apparent effort to break up the protest site.

"Our goal has been to facilitate individuals to remove their tents, cooking facilities, and belongings, and to leave cooperatively. We partnered with community allies to help facilitate communication with the protesters regarding their departure, and we partnered with Alameda County to provide services to assist those with housing and behavioral health needs," the city said in a statement.

According to media reporters at the scene, police were beginning to issue dispersal orders. Several arrests were made at one tent area, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

FULL COVERAGE: Occupy protests

Some Occupy Oakland residents had anticipated the raid and had left their camps overnight. The Oakland Tribune reported that hundreds of police officers gathered early Monday morning before going to the camp area.

Oakland police said Sunday that a man shot to death near the Civic Center on Thursday had been staying at the Occupy movement's encampment, as had one suspect in the killing.

In a statement Sunday, Mayor Jean Quan said the city has made "real progress" over the last few days in encouraging some protesters to leave voluntarily. The city reports that the number of tents is down to 150, from 180.

"It is now clear to most Oaklanders that because of the increased violence associated with the camp and the strain on our city's economy and resources, now is the time for the encampment to end," she said.

In her message Sunday, Quan said the city has "tried to negotiate" with the encampment residents since the beginning but that Oakland remains "one of the few cities where occupiers refuse to allow direct communications with a group of representatives."

"Camping is a tactic," she wrote. "It is one that has divided Oakland, a city of the 99%. It's time to work together on the issues of unemployment, foreclosures and education cuts. While the camping must end, the movement continues."

ALSO:

L.A. police shoot man in downtown Los Angeles

Oakland again issues eviction notice to "Occupy" protesters

96-year-old accused of killing wife had been "confused": neighbor

-- Lee Romney and Shelby Grad

Photo: A line of police officers stand at an Occupy Oakland encampment early Monday. Credit: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press

Overturned big rig jams traffic on 101 Freeway in Calabasas

An overturned big rig blocked the two right lanes of the eastbound 101 Freeway at Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas on Monday morning, triggering a SigAlert and jamming traffic.

The lanes were expected to reopen at 7 a.m., CHP Officer Francisco Villalobos said.

The accident occurred at about 3:30 a.m., when the big rig struck a car hauler and tipped over, according to the SigAlert website.

Three CHP units were deployed to the scene.

ALSO:

Shooting victim is tied to Occupy Oakland

Oakland again issues eviction notice to 'Occupy' protesters

96-year-old accused of killing wife had been 'confused': neighbor

— Matt Stevens    

Fat cats and paunchy pooches: could your pet be diabetic?


Diabetic animals often start to drink from unusual places. Photo credit: MSD Animal Health

Diabetic animals often start to drink from unusual places (Photo credit: MSD Animal Health)


I’ve blogged before about pet obesity: one recent study showed that almost two thirds of dogs carry extra weight, with one in three being clinically obese. Cats are prone to the same problem. There are many adverse consequences of excessive body weight, including an increased tendency to arthritis and heart disease. And there’s one specific hormonal disease that’s highly correlated with obesity: diabetes.


Today is World Diabetes Day, which has the primary aim of highlighting the disease in humans. With the trend to an increasing incidence of the condition in pets, it’s important to highlight the animal version of diabetes as well.


In fact, November has been designated as Pet Diabetes Month in an effort to raise awareness of the problem. Many people don’t recognise the early signs of diabetes: they may think that their pet is just showing signs of old age. A simple online screening survey has been set up for owners to discover if their pet is likely to be suffering from diabetes. Early diagnosis of the problem, followed by early treatment, can reduce the severity of the physical consequences of diabetes.


A definitive diagnosis of diabetes requires urine or blood tests, but simple observation can be enough to have a strong suspicion about what’s going on. Whenever I see a middle aged pet that has lost weight despite eating the same diet, alarm bells go off in my head. If the owner reports that the pet is also drinking more than usual, more alarm bells start ringing. But even then, simple laboratory work is needed to confirm the diagnosis: a dipstick test that demonstrates sugar in the urine, or a blood test that shows a higher than normal blood sugar level.


I remember one older vet who did manage to make the definitive diagnosis without a lab test. A younger vet had hospitalised a sick dog and was trying to work out what was wrong with it. The dog had just piddled on the floor, and the older vet was helping to clean it up. As he put the mop away afterwards, he said: “I think you’ll find that she’s diabetic.”  How had he deduced this? As he’d been mopping, he’d noticed that his feet were sticking to the floor: the only possible reason for this had to be that the urine was loaded with sugar.


The art of veterinary medicine, gained from wisdom gathered over years of experience, will always be a part of my job that can’t be learned at university.



500 pounds of pills recovered during DEA buyback

More than 500 pounds of pills were collected throughout Glendale as part of the recent national prescription drug takeback, officials said this week.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s third takeback event, which was held Oct. 29, collected more than eight tons, or 16,560 pounds, of prescription pills at numerous collection sites in the Los Angeles area, according to the agency.

Of that, 541 pounds were collected at six sites in Glendale. About half, 250 pounds —the largest amount collected — came from a collection site in La Crescenta, said Special Agent Sarah Pullen, spokeswoman for the agency. The agency boxed up the collected pills and incinerated them a week after the event, she told the Glendale News-Press.

“I believe this is one more step to educate our community of the hazards of prescription drug abuse,” said Matt Zakarian, president of the Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition. I hope people understand how this affects our youth's perception of harm.”

--Veronica Rocha, Times Community News

Comment

Comment