Law Enforcement

5 arrested in Bel-Air 'hot prowl' burglary
Five suspects were arrested earlier this month after smashing open a window and burglarizing a Bel-Air home while the residents were inside. The "hot prowl" burglary occurred at 9:30 p.m. on March 1 in the 11500 block of Bel Terrace, according to reports from the LAPD's West Los Angeles Station. After knocking on the door, the suspects allegedly smashed the front glass, entered the home and took a laptop and wallet. The police were called and the suspects were arrested.
Westwood - Century City Patch

$1 million Christopher Dorner manhunt reward to be paid in mid-April
Authorities are aiming to dole out a $1 million reward offered in the hunt for rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner by mid-April. Los Angeles police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said Thursday law enforcement officers from all agencies involved in the nearly weeklong manhunt will get together to read reports, listen to tapes and come to a consensus by mid-April.
Associated Press

Eagle Rock celebrates Change of the Guard at LAPD Northeast
Some 50 people gathered Tuesday afternoon at the Hill Drive residence of Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council President Michael Nogueira to bid farewell to former Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division Capt. Bill Murphy and welcome his successor, Capt. Jeff Bert. The event was hosted by the Council District 14 office of Councilman José Huizar.
Eagle Rock Patch

New commander joins LAPD Rampart Division
Cpt. Gary William Walters has joined the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division as co-commander. He started March 10, with his first official days in the office this week. Walters arrives from the 77th Street Community Police station, which covers the Crenshaw district and parts of South Los Angeles. This is the first time he has served as a commander.
Echo Park - Silver Lake Patch

City Council directs LAPD to accept online police reports
The City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a motion instructing the Los Angeles Police Department to develop a system to facilitate online filing of police reports. Councilmember Mitch Englander introduced the motion in February of 2013 to further modernize the Department's website, LAPDonline.org by enabling the Los Angeles Police Department and the public to file police reports online.
Northridge - Chatsworth Patch

LA's signs of madness
Confusing and contradictory signage almost seems designed to result in parking tickets - not to mention extreme frustration. There's got to be a better way. As the city points out, the demand for curb space has exploded in recent years, with night life and traffic busting out in once-sleepy parts of town. Restrictions have followed suit; hence, all the signage. But why language that reads like it came out of a statewide manual, as further interpreted by engineers and bureaucrats, which is where the sign text comes from? And why are key words like "except," "daily" and "Sunday only" in such tiny letters?
Los Angeles Times

Public Safety

LAFD Chief Brian Cummings promises better response times
Defending his department over criticism on how long it takes to get to incidents, Fire Chief Brian Cummings said Thursday that changes were coming - with increased staffing and new computer programs that would help the department to better explain its response times. Cummings, in a meeting with Los Angeles Daily News editors and reporters, also said the proposed deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers to have three ambulances at games will help improve response times.
Los Angeles Daily News

The Economy

Federal sequester hits home for many of L.A.'s poor
Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County's low-income renters could see a loss in their housing subsidy because of the federal sequester, leading to higher rent payments and a spike in homelessness, according to local officials. City and county officials are in Washington D.C. this week lobbying to try to soften the blow of the cuts, pushing for permission to increase rents so they don't have to throw most recipients off the program altogether.
Los Angeles Daily News

Prisons

State seeks own plan to curb valley fever outbreak in prisons
California corrections officials are seeking help from other state agencies before moving on recommendations to divert large numbers of inmates from valley fever-stricken prisons. "The health and safety of our employees and of the inmates housed in our prisons is of the utmost importance," the state corrections department said in a statement.
Los Angeles Times

City Election

After pension meeting, business group reaffirms support for Greuel
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday reaffirmed its support for mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel after calling her in to clarify remarks she made about retirement benefits. Chamber president Gary Toebben said Greuel reassured his group that she is looking to make new cuts in pension costs and has no interest in challenging any of the reductions in benefits that have already been approved.
Los Angeles Times

L.A.'s mayoral rivals walk fine line in dealing with labor
For months, the top two candidates in the Los Angeles mayoral campaign have bombarded the public with competing claims that each of them is best-suited to get City Hall's financial affairs in order. With a new round of labor talks awaiting the next mayor, a critical question for voters is this: which candidate would be best positioned to negotiate pay and benefit packages with city employees that the public can afford?
Los Angeles Times