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From the LA Times:

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L.A. Utility Overbilled by $4.2 Million, Audit Says
Public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard overcharged the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power by $4.2 million through "unsubstantiated, unsupported and questionable" billings, the city controller said in an audit released Tuesday.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fleishman17nov17,1,1985767.story?coll=la-headlines-california

State Youth Prisons on Road to Rehab
Schwarzenegger details an overhaul of the CYA meant to settle a suit alleging abuse of inmates. Critics say it doesn't go far enough.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cya17nov17,1,2540845.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Waters at Center Stage in King/Drew Drama
The congresswoman brings her organizing skills and trademark passion to the battle over whether the trauma unit will be closed.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kingdrew17nov17,1,1416612.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Debt Trouble Puts Gardena on Watch List
Standard & Poor's acts because the city can't pay a $26-million debt. The move is a possible prelude to bankruptcy.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gardena17nov17,1,2630687.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Port Officials Say Critical Report Will Not Undergo Revisions
Harbor area residents on a panel that advises the Port of Los Angeles accused officials this week of trying to revise a consultant's report that was critical of the port's environmental record.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-laport17nov17,1,1060116.story?coll=la-headlines-california

LAX Expects Long Lines for Holidays
The airport is seeing a strong rebound from a post-9/11 decline in traffic. Recent passenger growth has outpaced many major airfields.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax17nov17,1,6341941.story?coll=la-headlines-california

City Stops Excavation on Belmont Tunnel Property
A small band of transit history buffs and graffiti devotees managed Tuesday to stall excavation of the abandoned Pacific Electric subway yard near downtown Los Angeles, the underground center of the city's graffiti culture.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-belmont17nov17,1,3735628.story?coll=la-headlines-california

D.A.'s Website Targets Fugitives
L.A. County hopes to increase pressure on Mexico to extradite murder suspects.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-flee17nov17,1,2866263.story?coll=la-headlines-california

L.A. Students Practice New Drill to Survive Gas Plume
Forget "Stop, drop and roll." There's a new drill in town.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-drill17nov17,1,2588082.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Council Turns Down Tax Measure for Police
Los Angeles City Council members Tuesday rejected a proposal from Mayor James K. Hahn to ask voters in March to raise the city sales tax to hire more police officers.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-police17nov17,1,7950576.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Review Faults Trauma Center
Two experts categorize King/Drew unit's care as 'poor to marginal.' A nursing shortage is seen as a key problem.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-trauma17nov17,1,1453324.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Council Scraps $540,000 Pact With Ex-Port Chief
The city port commission's decision to award a $540,000 consulting contract to former port Executive Director Larry Keller was unanimously rejected Tuesday by the Los Angeles City Council.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-keller17nov17,1,5787891.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Crime wave concerns city
Seven robberies over past 30 days has some La Cañada Flintridge residents on edge.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/glendale/news/la-gnp-crime17nov17,1,3892197.story

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From the Daily News:

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$4.2 million outrage
DWP audit finds unexpectedly large overbilling for P.R.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2539410,00.html

Valley four accused of visa fraud
Hundreds of Iranians in scam, agents say
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539685,00.html

Council shelves tax hike for cops
The City Council on Tuesday decided there will be no ballot measure next March proposing increased sales taxes to hire more than 1,000 police officers, but left open the possibility of hiring new officers using bonds.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539648,00.html

City Council panel backs Deaton as head of DWP
With few questions and even less criticism, a key Los Angeles City Council committee Tuesday approved the council's top adviser as head of the Department of Water and Power.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539554,00.html

State settles lawsuit, will reform CYA
STOCKTON -- To settle a lawsuit accusing the California Youth Authority of using illegal methods to supervise and discipline wards, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday announced a major overhaul of the juvenile prison system.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539534,00.html

Higher pay for new counsel OK'd
Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday approved an annual salary of $190,000 for Raymond G. Fortner Jr., who was appointed last week as county counsel.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539618,00.html

LAX planning in short term
Smaller steps mulled to beef up security
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539382,00.html

Free pet neutering for the low-income
LANCASTER -- Low-income dog owners can get their pets spayed or neutered Saturday and Sunday for free.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2539683,00.html