Law Enforcement

3 LAPD officers injured in Palms going after suspect in burning home
A 29-year-old man who allegedly set a Palms apartment on fire, leading to injuries to three Los Angeles police officers, was facing felony arson charges Wednesday. The fire burned in an apartment at 3767 S. Bentley Ave., between Palms and Venice boulevards, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officers were sent to the residence around 6:30 p.m.
City News Service

LAPD Officer Mathias received recognition from MADD
During the presentations portion of the regular meeting of the Los Alamitos City Council on Monday, March 18, a representative of the Orange County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving presented a plaque to Los Alamitos Police Officer Samantha Mathias in recognition of her efforts to combat drunk driving in the City. Of all the officers in the Los Alamitos Police Department, Officer Mathias wrote the highest number of DUI citations over the last year.
Orange County Breeze

10 charged in Southern California marijuana grow house ring
Ten people were arrested Wednesday by state and local authorities and charged in connection with a ring that operated marijuana grow houses across Southern California. Authorities served search warrants at 26 locations, including 15 that were grow houses, across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Authorities seized more than $250,000 in cash, seven guns--including an assault rifle--and more than 8,000 marijuana plants.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD Northeast still seeking suspects in Eagle Rock burglaries
With yet another residential burglary reported in Eagle Rock on Saturday, LAPD Northeast Division Senior Lead Officer Nina Preciado said officers are still seeking the persons responsible for the string of crimes. The most recently home burglary in Eagle Rock was reported on Saturday, March 16 at the 3800 block of Wawona St. at around 12:30 p.m. Preciado said the police had yet to determine if the crimes were being committed by a group of connected burglars.
Eagle Rock Patch

City Council approves $1.25M settlement for 2 LAPD lesbian officers
The Los Angeles City Council approved a $1.25 million settlement Wednesday to a current and former officer who accused the Police Department of discriminating against them and harassing them because they are lesbians. The City Council voted 12-1 to approve the settlement, with Councilman Mitch Englander the lone no vote, said Frank Mateljian, a spokesman for the City Attorney's Office.
CBS LA

Legislation

GOP bills would undo parts of Gov. Jerry Brown's prison plan
Republican lawmakers proposed a package of bills on Tuesday intended to counter what they see as a growing threat to public safety from sending some inmates to county jails instead of state prisons. The 13 bills seek to counter the effects of prison realignment in 2011 by improving supervision of parolees and increase penalties for sex offenders and those who illegally possess or sell firearms. The measures also would send more convicts back to prison to ease the burden on local jails while protecting counties from lawsuits.
Associated Press

Bill would force police to get warrants for emails
A Bay Area lawmaker's new bill would require California law enforcement agencies to get a search warrant before asking service providers to hand over a private citizen's emails. SB 467 by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, is sponsored by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based civil liberties group. Leno introduced a place-holder version of the bill last month, but rolled out its operative language Wednesday.
Contra Costa Times

The Courts

Federal judge won't budge, throws out lawsuit fighting L.A. Superior Court consolidation
Without ruling on the merits of the case, a federal judge late Monday threw out a lawsuit by legal services and community organizations to block the Los Angeles Superior Court from drastically reducing the number of local courtrooms hearing eviction cases. The plaintiffs, however, intend to continue fighting the so-called court consolidation plan, which took effect Monday and they are deciding between appealing the decision or bringing the case to a state court instead.
Los Angeles Daily News

City Government

Mickey Kantor tapped to examine LA city deficit
LA City Council President Herb Wesson, wants former U.S. Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor, center, to head a panel that would examine the city's finances. Facing projected deficits totaling nearly a billion dollars over the next five years, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson said Wednesday he wants to appoint former U.S. Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor to head a panel that would examine the city's books. Kantor, who served under President Bill Clinton, lives in Los Angeles.
KPCC

Animal-shelter workers rallying at East Valley Shelter to oppose end of overnight duty
Animal welfare activists joined city unions in rallying to resuscitate overnight shifts at Los Angeles animal shelters. Organizers scheduled a vigil Wednesday night at the East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys to oppose a Los Angeles Animal Services decision to remove shelter workers from overnight duty. The change is expected to begin March 31.
Los Angeles Daily News

City Election

Riordan endorses Greuel, joins campaign as an advisor
Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan on Wednesday endorsed Wendy Greuel and joined her mayoral campaign as a senior advisor on economic issues. Riordan, a Republican who has called for a major overhaul of the city's pension system and who supported Republican Kevin James in the primary, said Greuel asked him to help better connect the business community and organized labor on financial issues facing the city.
Los Angeles Times

Backers of dueling medical pot measures tangle in court
A Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that ballot arguments for two opposing Los Angeles medical marijuana measures do not violate the law and should appear as they were written in the city's official voter guide. Attorneys for both measures had alleged the other side violated the city election code. Lawyers for Proposition D, which is backed by the City Council and a labor union representing marijuana dispensary workers, sued the city first.
Los Angeles Times