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

From the LA Times:

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

Mother Fights Schools on Cable TV
The woman speaks in Armenian about the Glendale district's English-learner policy. Officials say she spreads fear and mistrust.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-glendale2jan02,1,5308481.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Palmdale Pops Up on Fliers' Radar
The reopening of the airport in north Los Angeles County is part of a strategy of shifting flights to outlying facilities from LAX.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-palmdale2jan02,1,978508.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Probes Appear to Clear Facility
Nurses had accused Good Samaritan Hospital of using hidden cameras to spy on them. Two reports find no supporting evidence.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nurses2jan02,1,271368.story?coll=la-headlines-california

The nuisance next door
Pets, parties -- little annoyances spark major feuds. But mediation can work miracles.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/valley/la-re-mediate2jan02,1,7151723.story?coll=la-editions-valley

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

From the Daily News:

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

DWP saw overbilling
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power auditors reported finding more than $350,000 in overbillings by two public-relations firms as early as 2002, but their warnings were ignored by utility managers who renewed their contracts worth more than $5 million a year, the Daily News has learned.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2629519,00.html

Good grades for L.A. medicine
Government rates hospitals on Net
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2629752,00.html

DWP auditors often questioned P.R. bills
In addition to a 2002 audit that challenged more than $350,000 in bills from two public-relations consultants, DWP accountants flagged thousands of dollars of invoices after they came due -- including nearly $300 for booze at a formal dinner and $5,000 to sponsor a concert.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2629520,00.html

First-timer property tax cut pushed
Legislation to ease burden on state's new homeowners
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2630265,00.html

Agencies join to fight hate crime
The FBI will team up with the LAPD and Sheriff's Department to form a hate-crime task force, replacing a sheriff's unit that disbanded three years ago because of budget cuts, officials said.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2630262,00.html