Law Enforcement

LAPD fires less-than-lethal rounds at rowdy Kings fans downtown
Los Angeles police fired less-than-lethal rounds at a rowdy crowd of Kings fans Monday night as they were trying to rock an MTA bus, police at the scene said. The crowd, described as more than 100 people, had been pushed to 9th and Figueroa streets from Staples Center, where they had gathered after the Kings' historic Stanley Cup victory. Bottles were thrown at some officers before the less-than-lethal rounds were used. An officer at the scene said the weapons are specifically designed for crowd control.
Los Angeles Times

Kings parade and rally to be held Thursday in downtown L.A.
A parade honoring the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings is scheduled for Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, followed by a "Championship Rally" at Staples Center. The parade will begin at noon at the corner on Figueroa and Fifth Street, then head south on Figueroa to Staples Center, the team announced tonight, shortly after its 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils gave it its first Stanley Cup in its 45-season history.
City News Service

2 arrested in death of youth minister Oscar Duncan: LAPD
Two suspects have been arrested in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old youth minister Oscar Duncan, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Monday. Duncan was shot in the head around 10:30 p.m. June 4 in the 600 block of Santa Clara Avenue in Venice, police said. Duncan was approached by as many as four people in a Honda sedan when the shooting occurred, according to police.
NBC4

Reward offered in 1989 hit and run that killed 3 year-old
The Los Angeles Police Department and Crime Stoppers Los Angeles have reopened a 23 year-old cold case with the hopes of finding the person responsible for the hit and run death of 3 year-old D'Ancee Nathanial Barnes. The boy was the son of Carson Councilmember Mike Gipson and wife LeCresha who say they want justice for the death of D'Ancee.
Intersections South LA

FBI: Violent crime down for fifth straight year
The number of crimes reported to police dropped again last year compared with 2010, but a closer look at the numbers suggests the long annual line of declines in crime levels may have hit bottom. Last year marked the fifth straight year of year-to-year improvement for the number of violent crimes reported to authorities. It was the ninth consecutive year of declines for property crimes, according to preliminary FBI data for 2011 released Monday.
Associated Press

Prisons

California Death Row suicide highlights executions' delays
When James Lee Crummel hanged himself in his San Quentin Prison cell last month, he had been living on Death Row for almost eight years -- and he was still years away from facing the executioner. California's automatic death penalty appeals take so long that the state's 723 condemned inmates are more likely to die of old age and infirmities --or kill themselves -- than be put to death. |
Associated Press

Pensions

California pension fund down almost 5% as year end looms
The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest U.S. pension, has seen its market value decline 4.8 percent this year after stocks fell amid the brewing fiscal crisis in Europe and slowing of the U.S. economic recovery. The fund's value declined to $226.1 billion as of June 8, down from $237.5 billion at the start of its fiscal year July 1. As recently as March 31, the fund was up 1.9 percent for the first nine months.
Bloomberg

City Government

Ballot Initiatives

Measures on 'three strikes,' GMO food labels qualify for ballot
California's November ballot will include questions on modifying the state's "three strikes" sentencing laws and requiring labels for genetically modified foods. Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced Monday that two additional initiatives have qualified for the general election ballot, bringing the total measures slated for a vote this fall so far to eight.
Sacramento Bee

State Budget

State lawmakers will start moving budget plan through Legislature
State lawmakers, at risk of having their pay docked if they fail to pass a budget this week, say they will begin moving a spending plan through the Legislature on Tuesday regardless of whether they reach a deal on what should be in it. Although Democratic legislators have consented to most of the spending plan released by Gov. Jerry Brown in May, a proposal released by the Assembly on Monday reflects opposition to some of the cuts in welfare, healthcare and college financial aid.
Los Angeles Times