Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Leimert Park and 15 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 16 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Nine neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Leimert Park was the most unusual, recording six reports compared with a weekly average of 1.5 over the last three months. Playa Vista topped the list of seven neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD park site finally gets city money
Since it opened to the public in 2009, the lawn on the south side of the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters building has lingered in a municipal budget no-man's land. When the $440 million police building opened, there were no public dollars to pay for maintenance of the lawn or landscaped areas that surround the building. Now, the city is ready to do its job. The city has identified $800,000 to pay for maintenance at the park, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry announced on Tuesday. The Dept. of Recreation and Parks will be responsible for maintenance, according to Perry's office.
Los Angeles Downtown News

Hit-and-run suspect sought by police turns himself in
The driver suspected of seriously injuring a 57-year-old Los Angeles woman and her 5-year-old foster son in a hit-and-run last week was arrested Monday after turning himself into authorities. Steve Smith, 43, was booked in the Metropolitan Detention Center on felony charges of hit-and-run, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Detectives on Saturday sought the public's help in finding Smith, a day after he allegedly hit the woman and child as they crossed Broadway at 41st Street.
Los Angeles Times

Alleged stalker shows up at Mila Kunis' gym three times, LAPD says
The 27-year-old man accused of stalking actress Mila Kunis is being evaluated at an area hospital after he was found outside Kunis' gym Friday for the third day in a row, police said. Kunis' assistant filed a police report Thursday after the man, identified by police as Stuart Dunn, made his second appearance at the gym. Officers were called to the gym about 11 a.m. Friday and found Dunn there a third time. They detained Dunn at the scene before taking him to the hospital, the Los Angeles Police Department reported Tuesday.
Los Angeles Times

Teen drivers who travel with friends at higher risk for fatal crash
The chance of teenage drivers dying in a crash increases with every additional teenage passenger in the car, according to a new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. But a survey by Consumer Reports also found that drivers ages 16 to 21 are less likely to talk on a hand-held phone or text while driving if they bring friends along for the ride. While the studies would seem to offer conflicting advice about young drivers, they come at a critical time.
Los Angeles Times

Homeland Security

Would-be underwear bomber a double agent
The would-be bomber in the recently-uncovered plot to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner leaving Yemen was an undercover intelligence agent. The plot was revealed to U.S. intelligence officials based on a tip by Saudi intelligence services, and had been revealed by a Saudi intelligence source who had been inside Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and providing information to the Saudis and the CIA for some time.
John Miller/CBS News

City Government

Businessman Austin Beutner drops bid for L.A. mayor
Multimillionaire businessman Austin Beutner announced Tuesday he is dropping his campaign for mayor in 2013, citing family issues. "I've been trying to lift two weights," Beutner said in an interview. "I have been trying to be a good husband and father and devote the time needed for this campaign. "Most of the things that have worked out for me, I busted my butt to be successful. Over the last few weeks, some family issues have come up that I need to devote my time to." Beutner, who is married with four children, declined to elaborate on the family issues.
Los Angeles Daily News

L.A. renters' group fights Villaraigosa's bid to hike parking fines
Troubled by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to hike parking fines for the sixth time in seven years, an advocacy group for L.A. renters launched a campaign Tuesday to persuade City Hall to drop the proposal. The Coalition for Economic Survival fired off an email blast urging members to "take action" by calling and writing the 15 City Council members who will decide whether to approve the new round of parking ticket increases, part of the plan to eliminate the city's latest budget shortfall.
Los Angeles Times

Law would require some L.A. markets to keep shopping carts from leaving site
The Los Angeles City Council approved a new law Tuesday that requires some markets to install systems to prevent the theft of shopping carts from store property. The law was intended to reduce the proliferation of abandoned shopping carts on city streets and sidewalks. The plan, approved on a 12-0 vote and sent to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, will apply only to new markets and those in which at least 50 percent of the store is being remodeled.
Los Angeles Daily News

Municipal Budgets

Glendale issues layoff notices after redevelopment cuts
The city of Glendale has begun issuing layoff notices to the first of more than two dozen employees expected to be cut from the city's payroll due to the loss of redevelopment revenue. The employees are split evenly between management and non-management staff and include two planning assistants, an economic development manager, a redevelopment project manager, a neighborhood services field representative and an administrative analyst, city spokesman Tom Lorenz told the Glendale News-Press in an email.
Los Angeles Times

Environment

California will reach 40 million people milestone later than expected
California was supposed to have about 40 million people by now, according to population projections made before the Great Recession, but a slowdown in births and immigration has forced the state's demographers to push back that expected milestone by at least six years. Forty million people will live in California by the end of 2018 and 50 million by 2048, the state Department of Finance said in estimates released Tuesday. California had about 37.7 million people last year, the department said.
Bay Area News Group