Law Enforcement

Jump in fugitive sex offenders higher than initially thought
The increase in fugitive sex offenders in California since the state changed key prison policies is more than double that previously believed, according to data released Wednesday by corrections officials. The data show a 65% rise from October 2011 to Jan. 1 of this year in warrants issued for paroled sex offenders who were tracked by GPS units and went missing. Previous state reports showed about a 30% climb for that period.
Los Angeles Times

Police try new approach to truancy in Harbor Area
Police officers tried a different approach Wednesday to round up teenagers ditching school in the Harbor Area and Carson: No one received a truancy ticket during the morning sweep dubbed "Operation Back in School." Instead, the operation attempted to find another solution to collecting fines and treating teens negatively, offering counseling to figure out the reasons teenagers were skipping class.
Torrance Daily Breeze

LAPD plans DUI checkpoints in Eagle Rock, Hollywood
The Los Angeles Police Department will conduct sobriety and driver license checkpoints and beefed-up anti-driving under the influence patrols in Hollywood, Hyde Park, Eagle Rock and South Los Angeles from Friday night to midnight Saturday. A saturation patrol will be deployed in Hollywood from 6 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday, the department announced today.
City News Service

LAPD helicopter dispatched to Del Rey to search for burglar
Police searching for a burglary suspect near Kenyon and Louise avenues in Del Rey dispatched a helicopter. Officers set up a perimeter around the area and were waiting to apprehend the suspect, who apparently left his bike by the property. A neighbor saw a man entering an apartment who looked nothing like the resident and called police.
Marina Del Rey Patch

Burbank elevates interim police chief of three years to permanent status
Scott LaChasse - Burbank's interim police chief who was brought on three years ago to reform a department plagued with allegations of excessive force, discrimination and sexual harassment - has been appointed to the position permanently, effective immediately, officials announced Wednesday. During his tenure in Burbank, LaChasse has instituted several reforms to the police department, “offering stability” through reorganization, strengthening internal affairs investigation procedures, improving officer training and creating contemporary use of force policies and review procedures, Interim City Manager Ken Pulskamp, who made the decision, said in a statement.
Burbank Leader

Legislation

Solo drivers could use carpool lanes on off-hours under proposal
A bill by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Sliver Lake) that would allow solo drivers to use carpool lanes during non-peak hours on the 134 Freeway in Glendale and Burbank has been amended to possibly include other local freeways. Gatto's bill, AB 405, passed its first hurdle Monday after it was approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee on a 15-1 vote.
Los Angeles Times

California lawmaker wants to regulate social network sites
Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-San Leandro) is making a second attempt to regulate social network websites, including Facebook and Twitter, amid privacy concerns. With support from Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Corbett has introduced a bill that would require the websites to remove personal identifying information on minors upon the request of their parents, and allow adults to have their own information taken down.
Los Angeles Times

Federal Budget

Obama budget impact on California: Win some, lose some
President Obama's budget offers a mixed bag to California: money eagerly sought by Los Angeles to expand its transit system, but no federal funds to help the state pay its nearly billion-dollar bill for jailing illegal immigrants. The budget sent to Congress provides $130 million to help fund the start of the first segment to extend the Los Angeles subway to the city's Westside and begin work on the downtown Regional Connector.
Los Angeles Times

City Budget

Villaraigosa says city workers should pay more toward retirement
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Wednesday that city employees should pay considerably more for their healthcare and retirement benefits to avoid "giant balloon payments" in coming years. Appearing on KTTV's "Good Day L.A.," Villaraigosa argued that workers should contribute as much as 20% of their salaries toward their retirement benefits, up from the 11% that most pay now. "If we're going to keep [pensions], they've got to be sustainable," he said.
Los Angeles Times

City Election