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

From the LA Times:

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

Voters Favor Scaling Back 3-Strikes Law
A decade after passing strict sentencing rules, most want changes. They also support a stem cell research measure, one of 16 on the ballot.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-poll20oct20,1,6007392.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Ex-Officer Admits to Robberies
While with the LAPD, Ruben Palomares led a crew of law enforcement cohorts in a crime spree that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd20oct20,1,113731.story?coll=la-headlines-california

LAX Plan Poised to Pass
Council appears to have the necessary votes and could approve the expansion today. A hearing Tuesday yields emotional testimony.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax20oct20,1,509212.story?coll=la-headlines-california

LAPD Violated Blake's Rights, Judge Says
Los Angeles police violated Robert Blake's constitutional rights when they allowed an author into the actor's Studio City home during a police search the day after Blake's wife was fatally shot, a judge ruled Tuesday.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-blake20oct20,1,5354348.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Navigant Awarded King/Drew Contract
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a contract Tuesday to pay a private consulting group $13.2 million to manage the day-to-day operations and restructure Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kingdrew20oct20,1,3583876.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Villaraigosa Runs Ads for Measure A
In TV spots, the mayoral candidate asks voters to approve a sales tax increase to add police officers in L.A. County.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-measurea20oct20,1,962428.story?coll=la-headlines-california

W. Covina Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Robbery Suspect
A West Covina police officer shot and killed a masked, fleeing armed robbery suspect who pointed a loaded handgun at him, authorities said Tuesday.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-shoot20oct20,1,3238838.story?coll=la-headlines-california

L.A. County Urges Rail Hazards Probe
Prompted by last weekend's train derailment near Whittier, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday asked local public safety agencies to investigate rail hazards, including whether there is a need to create buffer zones between homes and railroad tracks.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-train20oct20,1,3374496.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Lomita Council Joins Opponents of Port Expansion
Joining a rising volume of discontent over pollution and traffic from the region's two seaports, the Lomita City Council has voted unanimously to oppose the predicted expansion of the Port of Los Angeles.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lomita20oct20,1,7360737.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Voter Rolls See Major Upswing
As many as 20,000 people a day have registered in L.A. County in the last few weeks. Officials credit close presidential race.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-register20oct20,1,3906965.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Oversight Left Staples Tract Tax-Free for 5 Years
For the past five years, the Los Angeles County assessor's office has forgotten to collect millions of dollars in property tax on 26 acres across from Staples Center, where a billion-dollar hotel and entertainment complex is slated for development.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-staples20oct20,1,3993157.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Group Asks for Clothing Donations After Fire
City Council President Alex Padilla and Maryanne Haver Hill, executive director of Meet Each Need With Dignity, called Tuesday for people to donate clothing to the nonprofit group.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs20.1oct20,1,2511044.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Councilmen Ask for Review of Port Contract
Councilmen Tony Cardenas, Jack Weiss and Antonio Villaraigosa each submitted proposals Tuesday calling for the council to formally review a decision by the city's port commission to award a $540,000 consulting contract to former port Executive Director Larry Keller.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs20.3oct20,1,3297478.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Ironworkers Endorse Hahn for Second Term
In his bid for a second term, Mayor James K. Hahn received the endorsement Tuesday of local ironworkers.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs20.2oct20,1,2904261.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Claim may turn into lawsuit
Former LAPD deputy chief alleges defamatory comments in letter written by lawyer employed by city.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/burbank/news/la-blr-claims20oct20,1,4608480.story

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

From the Daily News:

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

Help for homeless vets
VA chooses North Hills site for rehabilitation center
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2479047,00.html

Will plan for LAX fly at council?
Setting the stage for a showdown vote today on the future of Los Angeles International Airport, supporters and opponents of Mayor James Hahn's $11 billion modernization and expansion plan battled Tuesday before the City Council over its impact on safety and traffic, and the high cost.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2478914,00.html

Voter registrations likely to set record
SACRAMENTO -- A riveting, tight presidential race and 16 California ballot propositions ranging from gambling to reforming "three strikes, you're out" sentencing laws is driving a dramatic record-breaking hike in voter registrations for the Nov. 2 election, statewide elections officials reported Tuesday.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2479126,00.html

Council blocks port marketing pact
Members question giving consulting contract to former director Keller
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2479210,00.html

Killing rate begins to slow
Year-to-date total is 422
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2478956,00.html

Latinos more at risk from pollution
Latinos suffer from more environmental hazards than the rest of the population, and, to make matters worse, they lack the information they need to protect themselves, a study released today says.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2478955,00.html

Board hires company to review King-Drew
County supervisors Tuesday voted to hire an outside consultant for up to $13.2 million to turn around medical problems at troubled Martin Luther King-Drew Medical Center.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2479041,00.html

County asks for report on rail safety
Seeking to hold Union Pacific accountable for the second local train derailment in 16 months, Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday ordered a report on what steps can be taken to prevent another train crash.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2478832,00.html

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

From other sources:

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

From the LAPD
"Reward Offered in Brutal Murder"
http://lapdonline.org/press_releases/2004/10/pr04513.htm

"Open House Festival"
http://lapdonline.org/press_releases/2004/10/pr04514.htm

"Mentally Ill Missing Person Sought by Family"
http://lapdonline.org/press_releases/2004/10/pr04515.htm