Law Enforcement

Police informants can testify in disguise, court rules
A confidential law enforcement informant may wear a disguise while testifying in a criminal case, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a trial judge's decision to permit a police informant to wear a wig and a false mustache while testifying in a drug case. The defendant, who was convicted, argued in an appeal that the disguise violated his constitutional right to confront his accuser.
Los Angeles Times

Ring burglarized homes of Times subscribers
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of burglarizing the homes of Los Angeles Times newspaper subscribers who were on vacation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The burglars allegedly stole $1 million in property over the last three years. Detectives said one of the suspects obtained lists of subscribers who had submitted "vacation holds" to a vendor that distributes newspapers for The Times. Officials said they have identified 25 victims but believe there are more than 100.
Los Angeles Times

Why the LAPD opposes granting an alcohol license to a 7-Eleven planned on York
Chief Charlie Beck tells the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that "an over-concentration already exists" of businesses licensed to sell alcohol in the area, which witnessed 122 calls for police service over a year. According to a copy of a May 28, 2012 letter written by Chief Beck to Morella Herrera, licensing representative of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in Los Angeles, seven businesses within the ABC census tract of the proposed 7-Eleven were licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. "There are four Off-Sale ABC licenses and four On-Sale license locations, but only three [of each type] are permitted within the census tract," according to the letter.
Eagle Rock Patch

Got a gently worn dress to spare? Give it to the 'Northeast Prom Sweets'
The Northeast community station of the Los Angeles Police Department is collecting recycled dresses, shoes, clutch bags and jewelry to donate to students at Eagle Rock High School and Franklin High School who wish to attend prom night this year but may not be able to because of financial constraints. This is the first time that the Northeast station has come up with such a program, which has already raised well over 200 dresses, according to Genevieve Bravo, a crime and intelligence analyst at the station's Crime Analysis Detail.
Eagle Rock Patch

Super Bowl safety tips from LAPD
The LAPD provides the following safety tips for Super Bowl Sunday: If you're attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant:
* Designate your sober driver before the party begins.
* Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself. Eat plenty of food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
* If you don't have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or if possible stay where you are for the night and don't drive until you are sober.
Calabasas Patch

Gun Control

California's gun background-check system could be national model
Every day for the past 22 years, California's background checks have stopped about a dozen felons, mentally ill people and others from buying guns. When prospective gun buyers stride into California gun stores they must swipe their driver's licenses or state IDs. That sets off a review process that runs their names not only through the same FBI criminal database other states use but also almost 20 other sources, from mental health records to DMV data. It's a check more rigorous than any other state's.
Bay Area News Group

Legislation

California lawmakers propose arming teachers, other school workers
A group of seven Republican state lawmakers proposed legislation Wednesday that would allow school districts to use education funds to train teachers, administrators and janitors to use guns so they can protect campuses from violent intruders. The lawmakers, led by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of San Bernardino, made the proposal in response to last month's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and six adults.
Los Angeles Times

Public Health

LAFD considers plan to beef up ambulance service for flu season
Fire officials in Los Angeles are considering a plan to beef up ambulance service to deal with expected increases in the number of patients who need to be transported to hospitals if the flu virus wreaks havoc across the region. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned that the flu season started early this year, signaling that it could be a bad season for the illness.
Los Angeles Times

State Budget

State analyst: California now $5 billion ahead
California's top fiscal review office said today the state is now poised to finish January $5 billion ahead for the month in the wake of state and federal tax changes. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office told The Bee last week that it believed the state would finish the month $4 billion ahead based on record payments from quarterly tax filers through the middle of January. The overages are compared against a monthly forecast that Gov. Jerry Brown issued just 20 days ago.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

L.A. City Council sends group home plan to task force
Despite an emotional appeal from a councilman who told of his personal experience with homelessness, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday pushed off for 90 days a proposal to try to control illegal group homes operating in the city. During that time, a task force of city officials and agencies will look into concerns that the proposal will create more homelessness among veterans, the disabled and the elderly.
Los Angeles Daily News