~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the LA Times:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How Whole Departments Fail A Hospital's Patients
A culture of mismanagement pervades nursing, orthopedic surgery, the residency program and the pharmacy. Individual employees' shortcomings often make matters worse.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kdday4dec08,0,5917752.story?coll=la-home-headlines

A Drive to Split School District
Mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg rides a yellow bus across the city as he calls for the dismantling of L.A. Unified. Message has appeal in the Valley.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hertz8dec08,1,7435437.story?coll=la-headlines-california

LAX Project Advances Amid Storm Clouds
City's approval of the EIR comes as the county and others prepare to turn to the courts to stop the modernization plan.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax8dec08,1,4650704.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Reyes Is Named to MTA Board
He joins two other council colleagues, all mayoral appointees, on the transit panel.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mta8dec08,1,4650701.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Panelist Resigns, Taking a Swipe at Hahn
Faced with removal by Mayor James K. Hahn, Los Angeles businessman Nathan Brogin resigned Tuesday from the South Valley Area Planning Commission with a letter that blasted Hahn for having "violated a trust and confidence."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hahn8dec08,1,6009663.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Delgadillo's Challenger Drops Out
Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo will get a free ride to reelection after his only opponent, Etan Z. Lorant, announced Tuesday that he is dropping out of the race.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rocky8dec08,1,7173288.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Councilman Offers Plan for Hiring More Police
Councilman Greig Smith unveiled a plan Tuesday that he said would let the city hire 440 police officers at a cost of $25 million.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs8.1dec08,1,6843316.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Reforms Proposed That Could Increase City Fees
To head off a potential $300-million budget shortfall next year, the city administrative officer proposed reforms Tuesday that could lead to higher fees for city services.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs8.3dec08,1,7629750.story?coll=la-headlines-california

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Daily News:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LAUSD's bait and switch
Valley's promised classroom seats will be built elsewhere
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2582845,00.html

Hahn goes for new look on panels
Valley activist quits, says Hahn move violates trust
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2582694,00.html

Council OKs LAX master plan
County moves toward legal action to block city
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2582560,00.html

Supervisors want inquiry in girl's death
Criminal charges urged
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2582552,00.html

Sobriety checkpoints pay off in arrests, fewer deaths
Alcohol-related deaths crept up in California for the fifth straight year, but there appears to have been a marked drop in injuries and fatalities in areas conducting sobriety checkpoints during the past year, authorities said Tuesday.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2582806,00.html