Law Enforcement

LAPD searches for suspect who fatally shot man, injured 3 others in Northridge
Police are looking for a 22-year-old man they say opened fire into a car in Northridge, killing a man and injuring three other people. Just after midnight Sept. 25, someone walked up to a car containing four people, pulled out a gun and started shooting. The car was near Parthenia Street and Balboa Boulevard. Louis Villegas, 25, died later at a hospital. The other three people recovered from their wounds.
Los Angeles Daily News

1 dead, 1 injured after chase, officer-involved shooting in Van Nuys
A man was fatally shot and a woman was wounded by Los Angeles police officers Wednesday night after a brief chase through the San Fernando Valley, authorities told The Times. Though authorities stressed it is still early in the investigation, sources told The Times that one report suggests the chase began after the man and woman opened fire at officers about 9:40 p.m. and fled. The pursuit ended near Vanowen Street and Firmament Avenue, officials said. Multiple officers fired multiple times, authorities said. No officers were injured.
Los Angeles Times

Rec center director accused of stealing kids' lunch money
The director of a Los Angeles recreation center is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing up to $15,000 from the facility, including lunch money from children in her care. Carol Brandt, who served as the director of the Montecito Heights Recreation Center, was arrested Tuesday and charged with embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, according to Los Angeles Deputy Dist. Atty. Dana Aratani.
Los Angeles Times

Violent crimes up 17% in 2011
The number of violent crimes in the United States rose by 17% in 2011, the first year-to-year increase since 1993, according to a report released Wednesday by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. But the report said that the jump was more a matter of returning to the norm after historically low numbers in 2010. In 2010, incidents of violent crime experienced an unexpected double-digit drop of 13%.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

Riordan's pension initiative would move future LA city workers to 401(k) plans
Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan has filed a ballot initiative to overhaul the city's employee pension system. Riordan wants to require future workers to enroll in 401(k) style retirement accounts instead of government pension plans. Riordan says his initiative would benefit new city hires. Under Riordan's measure, current employees would not switch to 401k's, but they would see their retirement benefits frozen.
KPCC

Public Safety

Bath salts dangers underscored
Los Angeles County health officials warned against the use of bath salts - the designer drug involved in a series of bizarre incidents and arrests - just one week after a new study charted a skyrocketing number of calls to U.S. poison control centers about the drug. The relatively new drug has been known to provoke hallucinations, paranoia and uncontrollable violent outbursts, officials said.
Los Angeles Times

Statewide earthquake drill, ShakeOut, planned Thursday morning
More than 9.3 million Californians are expected to pause their routines Thursday at 10:18 a.m. to participate in what is being billed as the "largest earthquake safety drill in U.S. history." Across the state in schools, offices, hospitals and for the first time, Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, people will be asked to drop, cover and hold on during the annual Great California ShakeOut drill. Los Angeles Metro trains will also slow down at 10:18 a.m. as if a real earthquake occurred.
Los Angeles Times

Prisons

Hunger strike continues at Corcoran
A rolling hunger strike that has moved through three California prisons had dwindled by Wednesday to 69 inmates, officials said. The fasting began among some 500 inmates Oct. 10 at the state's maximum security Pelican Bay State Prison near Oregon and at the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, north of Los Angeles. By Friday, Pelican Bay inmates had resumed eating.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

L.A. budget official backs 2 tax hikes to avoid public safety cuts
L.A.'s top budget official on Wednesday recommended two tax measures for the March municipal election ballot, saying both are needed to avert cuts to police and fire services. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said the tax hikes -- one on parking revenue, the other on real estate sales -- would generate up to $125 million annually for the city budget, which has been in a continual state of crisis since the nation's 2008 financial meltdown. He put a particular emphasis on the proposed real estate tax hike, arguing that there is a connection between the safety of a community and its property values.
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce urges tax reform at City Hall
Pushing an aggressive agenda of tax reform and local investment, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday urged local officials to do more to make the city business friendly. "We all know today's economy is challenging all of us," Chamber President Gary Toebben said at the annual Access L.A. Day at City Hall. "It is all about jobs and creating a climate that is conducive to business."
Los Angeles Daily News