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

From the LA Times:

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

Debate Puts Hahn on Hot Seat
Four challengers accuse the incumbent's administration of corruption as he defends his record on reducing violent crime.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-debate03dec03,0,6436229.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Schools Beef Up Patrols After Fights
A spate of clashes between Latinos, blacks at three South Los Angeles campuses takes officials by surprise.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fights3dec03,0,4010364.story?coll=la-home-local

Tentative Pact for Nurses
L.A. County and the union agree to a 9% raise, plus a bonus for working at King/Drew. Nurses will vote on it.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nurses3dec03,1,5649910.story?coll=la-headlines-california

These Routes Aren't Made for Walking
Hoofers and hikers, take heed.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ped3dec03,1,5638323.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Judge Denies Bid to Halt Trauma Unit's Closure
A federal judge on Thursday allowed Los Angeles County to continue with its plan to phase out the trauma center at Martin Luther King, Jr./Drew Medical Center by denying a temporary restraining order sought by a group of doctors and residents.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kingdrew3dec03,1,4447331.story?coll=la-headlines-california

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

From the Daily News:

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

Court monitor flunks L.A. special education
The Los Angeles public school system has made virtually no progress in improving instruction for its 85,000 special-education students, and its first 12 months under a federal consent decree amount to a "lost year," an independent monitor said Thursday.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2573002,00.html

Distemper outbreak puts local dogs at risk
Los Angeles Animal Services officials urged pet owners on Thursday to get their dogs vaccinated against canine distemper after an outbreak of the potentially fatal virus was detected at local shelters.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2573191,00.html

Firefighter a popular choice
30,000 expected to apply for 150 L.A. County positions
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2572889,00.html

New program to help owners keep, repair their homes in L.A.
Community groups joined with government officials Thursday in launching a comprehensive program to help residents who face the loss of their homes because of predatory lending practices.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2572798,00.html

Inmate's courthouse escape ends in recapture
VALENCIA -- A five-hour search for an inmate who escaped into the ceiling at the Newhall Superior Court building ended Thursday night when he was captured by a sheriff's special weapons team.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2573206,00.html

Mayor's MTA track record is slammed
Parkstakes on Hahn on city transit issues
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2572794,00.html

Anti-gang effort pushes peace
March, ball game designed for quiet holiday
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2572768,00.html

Toy and food drives are taking donations
Here is a list of local food and toy drives designed to help needy residents during the holiday season:
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2572761,00.html

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

From other sources:

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

From Attorney General Lockyer
Attorney General Announces Settlement with Safeway to Curb Tobacco Sales to Minors
Settlement Covers 538 Stores; Ends Lawsuit Filed By Lockyer, LA City Attorney Delgadillo
http://caag.state.ca.us/newsalerts/2004/04-137.htm