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

From the LA Times:

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

State Plan to Reform Prisons Is Laid Out
SACRAMENTO - Reversing a century-long tradition of allowing California's prisons to operate as fiefdoms, Schwarzenegger administration officials Thursday unveiled a new model that places one man in charge and aims to reduce crime by better preparing inmates for life on the outside.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prison7jan07,0,2161596.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Two Political Money-Laundering Schemes Bring $96,000 in Fines
L.A. ethics officials settle with 17 contributors to city mayoral and council candidates' campaigns.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ethics7jan07,1,5265885.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=2&cset=true

5 Quakes, Reaching 4.4, Stir Fontana
Damage is minor after the 'swarm.' It will taper off with slight tremors.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quake7jan07,1,2651298.story?coll=la-headlines-california

2 More Lawsuits Filed Over Hahn's LAX Plan
Three suits now seek to invalidate the City Council's approval of the project and to have a new environmental impact report done.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax7jan07,1,7272155.story?coll=la-headlines-california

MTA Software Doesn't Compute, Audits Say
A system designed to coordinate bus repairs can't do math, workers contend. Agency officials say 'kinks' are being worked out.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mta7jan07,1,7272152.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Agency Role Examined in Child's Care
Probe is begun into Family Services' work with the family of a 3-month-old who died.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-baby7jan07,1,6599497.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Chick Requests State Audit of City Spending on Law Firms
L.A. controller says the city attorney, citing client-attorney privilege, reversed his promise to let her review billings by outside lawyers.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-audit7jan07,1,6719131.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Villaraigosa Unveils Environmental Plan
Mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa unveiled his environmental plan for the city Thursday, pledging to plant 1 million trees and turn the city's Department of Water and Power into a cutting-edge environmental utility that would generate high-paying "green" jobs.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-antonio7jan07,1,2427196.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Effort to Cut Drug Costs Not Yet Proved Effective
The Schwarzenegger plan would induce pharmaceutical firms to offer discounts to the poor. Critics doubt it will succeed.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-drugs7jan07,1,7435440.story?coll=la-headlines-california

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

From the Daily News:

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

Robbers feast on ritzy diners
String of holdups hits upscale restaurants
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2639493,00.html

Rain brings down the roof at City Hall
With another major storm bearing down on Southern California, crews scrambled Thursday to fix leaks in the new $900,000 roof at Los Angeles City Hall, which recently underwent a $300 million seismic upgrade.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639322,00.html

Chick says Delgadillo attempting to halt probe
Two allies clashing over proposed audit of legal bills
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639322,00.html

Drug discount plan aimed at uninsured
SACRAMENTO -- A prescription drug plan touted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would give 40 percent discounts on medications to 5 million uninsured, low-income Californians, his administration said Thursday.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639443,00.html

More LAX lawsuits filed
County joins cities, others in opposition
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639116,00.html

Mayor and rival warming up race
Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn touted a jobs program to keep kids out of gangs, while Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa picked up the endorsement of a major environmental group as the race for mayor heated up Thursday.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639149,00.html

Red Cross still keeping its promise
"Tonight in Los Angeles, if you were left homeless and displaced after a disaster, it wouldn't be the city helping you. It would be the Red Cross."
--Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639010,00.html

Adult, youth prisons shift responsibilities to agency
SACRAMENTO - California would replace its current troubled adult and youth prison systems to reflect a new emphasis on diverting criminals before and after prison, under a reorganization plan set in motion Thursday.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2639592,00.html