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

From the LA Times:

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

ID System Gets in Face of Criminals
LAPD officers field-test a hand-held computer using facial recognition to identify suspects. Critics raise issues of privacy and reliability.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gangs25dec25,1,2728308.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Evictions Cast a Pall on Holidays
Tenants ordered out of apartments at 69th and Main because of gang activity find it hard to celebrate as they scramble to find homes.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-apartment25dec25,1,4672723.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Local Councils Press Hahn for More Funding
A year after the state shut down the popular playground in Bee Canyon Park for safety reasons, new equipment is finally being installed this month. But the Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council is picking up the bill, not the Los Angeles parks department.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-councils25dec25,1,3977081.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Former Duck Farm to Become Park
Nonprofit's purchase of the site along the San Gabriel River is part of a plan to build 25 play areas in L.A. County over the next five years.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-duckfarm25dec25,1,6083416.story?coll=la-headlines-california

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

From the Daily News:

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

How to check your hospital's report card
The federal government is now telling patients whether their local hospitals are doing what they should.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2618071,00.html

'Dumped' teen builds new life
Today, Rosa Cyphers is trying to create the kind of Christmas for her infant daughter that she never had with her family in Pacoima, on the streets of the San Fernando Valley or in her Van Nuys foster home.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2618056,00.html

Price tag jumps for rail project
The cost of building a high-speed rail system in California has soared so high that even supporters are wondering whether the project is feasible.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2617759,00.html

Street to be widened for college
GLENDALE -- Heavily traveled Mountain Street at the south end of Glendale Community College near the Glendale Freeway will undergo a major overhaul this spring as the school prepares to build a new parking structure.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2617757,00.html

They've put 'help' in all languages
Vital information translated for Red Cross Web pages
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2617776,00.html