Law Enforcement

D.A.'s office admits letting slaying suspect avoid prison
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office admitted Monday that its prosecutors erred in allowing a suspect - now accused in the killing of four people in Northridge - to receive drug treatment instead of prison time during a September court hearing. The suspect, Ka Pasasouk, was in Van Nuys Superior Court after being arrested on suspicion of drug possession. He was on probation at the time, and the L.A. County Probation Department had urged that he be sent back to state prison for "long-term detention" because of his lengthy criminal record.
Los Angeles Times

Man on 110 Freeway overpass causes gridlock, is held by police
A man who appeared ready to jump off a downtown overpass brought traffic on the southbound 110 Freeway to a near standstill for about two hours Monday afternoon. Authorities said the gridlock spread onto stretches of the 101, 10 and 5 Freeways. "Horrible," is the only word California Highway Patrol Officer Tatiana Sauquillo could use to describe how bad traffic was.
Los Angeles Times

Hate crimes accounting
In 2011, U.S. law enforcement agencies reported 6,222 hate crime incidents involving 7,254 offenses, according to our just-released Hate Crime Statistics, 2011 report. These incidents included offenses like vandalism, intimidation, assault, rape, murder, etc. The data contained in this report, which is a subset of the information that law enforcement submits to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program, includes the following categories: offense type, location, bias motivation, victim type, number of individual victims, number of offenders, and race of offenders.
FBI Annual Report

Traffic and Transit

Traffic deaths in 2011 fewest in six decades
Traffic deaths in the USA continued their historic decline last year, falling to the lowest level since 1949, the government announced Monday. A total of 32,367 motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians died in 2011, a 1.9% decrease from 2010. Last year's toll represents a 26% decline from 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The trend may not last, however.
USA Today

Use of public transportation jumps
More people nationwide are using public transit, according to a report released Monday by the American Public Transportation Assn., a group that advocates for the transit industry. Nationally, trips on public buses and trains rose 2.6% in the first three quarters of 2012 compared with the same period last year, totaling more than 7.9 billion, according to the report.
Los Angeles Times

Immigration

Local jails may limit immigration holds to convicts
In the next year, many of California's local jails might limit federal immigration "holds" to detainees with felony convictions, greatly reducing the number of people deported from the state solely for entering the country without permission. Gov. Jerry Brown met with leaders from the California State Sheriffs' Association last week to discuss ways to give city police and county sheriff's departments discretion on immigration enforcement.
California Watch

Parole

Last woman convicted in Missy Avila murder released from prison on Monday
Laura Ann Doyle, one of two San Fernando Valley women convicted of murdering their childhood best friend, was released Monday from prison. Doyle, 45, was paroled from a Central Valley prison after serving 22 years for killing 17-year-old Michele "Missy" Avila, state prison officials said. Severson, 45, was paroled in December 2011 over the objections of Los Angeles prosecutors.
Los Angeles Daily News

Public Safety

L.A. seeks controversial overhaul at LAFD's troubled 911 call center
Los Angeles officials are pressing for a major cost-cutting change at the Fire Department's troubled 911 call handling center despite a top commander's warning that making the move is too risky and would jeopardize public safety. The plan, backed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the City Council and Fire Chief Brian Cummings, would switch dispatchers from 24-hour shifts to traditional eight-hour workdays, saving an estimated $3.2 million in overtime costs each year.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Appeals court rules 100 digital billboards in Los Angeles must come down
An appellate court on Monday said 100 digital billboards installed across Los Angeles must come down. In a blow to two major billboard companies, Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS Outdoor, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled the permits for 100 digital billboards are invalid. The digital displays are largely centered in neighborhoods like Hollywood, Westwood and Venice.
Los Angeles Daily News

State Economy

California's population is moving out, Census Report shows
About 100,000 more people moved away from California in 2011 than relocated to the Golden State, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The trend can be explained, in part, in monetary terms. Even in an economic boom, the cost of living in California has increased, prompting people to move out, and, in recent years, unemployment in the state has skyrocketed.
NBC4