Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Mid-City, Elysian Park and seven other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in nine L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Mid-City was the most unusual, recording 11 reports compared with a weekly average of 5.5 over the last three months. Elysian Park topped the list of five neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Officer fatally shoots man in South L.A.
A Los Angeles police officer shot and killed a man in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood of South L.A. on Tuesday night. The incident happened about 9:17 p.m. when officers responded to a radio call of an assault by a man with a gun in the 100 block of East 101 Street. A responding officer came in contact with the man and a shooting occurred, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The man died at the scene. No officers were injured and further details about the incident were not immediately available, police said.
Los Angeles Times

Prisons & Parole

A new day in California for convicted killers
For law-abiding citizens, these are tough economic times. But for convicted killers serving time in California prisons, it's a time for optimism. Ian Lovett of the New York Times reported from Los Angeles that the state has upheld 207 of the parole board's 254 decisions to release convicted killers. To date, more releases dates granted to murderers have been allowed to stand in 2011 than in any other year since California chief executives got the power to reverse them.
LAPPL Blog

California legislators move to outlaw inmate cellphones
State lawmakers Wednesday moved to outlaw cellphones for state prisoners and advanced a measure to award special treatment to a proposed football stadium in Los Angeles. Contraband cellphones have proliferated inside California lockups in recent years as inmates have paid up to $1,000 for the devices to communicate with the outside world. "We know they've been used to organize street gangs, traffic drugs and intimidate witnesses," said state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), author of the bill, which the Assembly approved 74 to 0.
Los Angeles Times

Sacramento's inmate dodge
There are two ways to break a promise: all at once, short and to the point, perhaps with a word of regret, or over the course of months, in a silent, maybe-yes maybe-no passive-aggressive snub. Sacramento, in its cruel brilliance, managed to use both methods simultaneously as it broke, and continues to break, a promise to fund the transfer of state parolees and prisoners to county control. Too bad it's not just some internal government versus government spat. It's a major breach of faith that could kill long-held hopes for prison reform - and in the process threaten to end the statewide decline in crime.
Los Angeles Times Editorial

Homeland Security

War on terrorism a priority to California voters, poll finds
Ten years after Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked jetliners, steered them into the World Trade Center towers and plunged a stunned country into a transformative war on terrorism, California voters overwhelmingly believe the fight remains a crucial priority, according to a new poll. Four-fifths of the voters surveyed in the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll said the need to combat terrorism remained the same or was increasing. Just 13% believed the need was decreasing.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Jerry Brown vetoes fine hike for using cell phones while driving
Gov. Jerry Brown has nixed a proposal that would have made penalties more pricey for California motorists caught using cell phones behind the wheel. Senate Bill 28, by Democratic Sen. Joe Simitian, proposed upping the fine for drivers caught texting or talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device from $20 to $50 for the first offense. The final tab with local and state assessments could be up to $328 for first-time offenders.
Sacramento Bee

Healthcare

Scores charged in massive healthcare fraud scams
Ninety-one suspects, including doctors and nurses, have been charged in connection with a new rash of healthcare fraud schemes aimed at bilking the government out of about $295 million, U.S. authorities said on Wednesday. Officials said the operations took place in Miami, Houston, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Detroit, Dallas, New York and Chicago.
Reuters