Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Van Nuys and eight other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in nine L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Van Nuys was the most unusual, recording 15 reports compared with a weekly average of 7.8 over the last three months. Broadway-Manchester topped the list of three neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. County Probation Department beefs up staff to handle release of state inmates
Los Angeles County probation officials said Tuesday plans to ramp up department operations in light of the influx of prisoners reassigned from state parole to the agency's jurisdiction are moving in the right direction. Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers told the Board of Supervisors that despite hiring challenges and added training required, the department was moving forward with plans to increase staffing in a division designed specifically for AB 109 probationers - low-level inmates released to county probation rather than state parole as a result of an order to decrease prison overcrowding.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD seeks public's help to find missing 85-year-old man
The Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday asked for the public's help in locating a missing 85-year-old man. Charles Fredrick Randall was last seen at his home in the 600 block of Wall Street at 12 p.m. on Aug. 13 when a friend brought him lunch. Randall's friend is now concerned about his welfare due to an undisclosed health condition, according to the LAPD. Randall was described as a white male with gray hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs roughly 170 pounds.
CBS LA

Surveillance image released in case of burned pit bull left for dead
Los Angeles police are asking for the public's help for information leading to the suspect who was seen yanking a critically injured dog from the bed of his truck over the Fourth of July weekend in Winnetka. Police released an image of the suspect's truck, which they believe is a late '80s white Toyota pickup with dark stripes on the side, a toolbox in the bed, large off-road tires, a sunroof and small extra cab windows.
Los Angeles Daily News

Echo Park gang injunction hearings to move forward
A judge in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse ruled Wednesday to allow the gang injunction process to move forward. A strictly procedural ruling, this allows the Los Angeles City Attorney's office to serve the six gangs named in the inunction complaint with a complaint summoning said Deputy City Attorney Jim McDougal. The case was heard in a full courtroom by Judge Abraham Khan, who allowed the case to go forward because the motion was officially unopposed.
Echo Park - Silver Lake Patch

Traffic

405 Freeway's Wilshire Boulevard onramp closing Thursday
Drivers who frequent the 405 Freeway on Los Angeles' Westside will have yet another months-long ramp closure to deal with starting Thursday. The eastbound Wilshire Boulevard onramp to the northbound I-405 will close for reconstruction until mid-November as part of the freeway's ongoing Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project. The ramp, which averages about 8,000 vehicles per day, will be demolished and rebuilt to accommodate three times as many vehicles and be seismically up to date, Metro officials said.
NBC4

Northridge intersection known for collisions gets traffic lights
A busy intersection that's seen more than 40 pedestrians struck by a car in the past five years finally got a traffic light installed this past week. Nineteen of those collisions at Reseda Boulevard and Dearborn Street in Northridge were hit-and-run incidents, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. L.A. City Councilman Mitch Englander helped secure funding for the traffic light in response to the number of incidents.
Northridge - Chatsworth Patch

Legislation

Sex-abuse survivor bill advances on second attempt
A week after it failed in a key Assembly committee, legislation that would allow more alleged victims of childhood sexual abuse to have their day in court advanced Wednesday. The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bill 131, which would extend the statute of limitations for some alleged victims of childhood sexual abuse. The same committee had blocked the measure last week.
Riverside Press-Enterprise

City Government

Garcetti, City Council reach deal on DWP labor contract, source says
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council have reached a deal on a four-year package of salaries and benefits with the union representing Department of Water and Power workers, said sources close to the negotiations. Garcetti called a news conference for Thursday morning to discuss the proposed contract with the Local 18 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He did so hours after he met privately with the union's top official at a Silver Lake restaurant.
Los Angeles Times

City agrees to study $3 billion roadway repair plan
Los Angeles City Council members moved Wednesday to study a taxpayer-funded multibillion dollar plan to repair thousands of failing city streets. The City Council backed a plan to explore a $3 billion bond proposal to fix 8,700 lane miles of street, or about one-third of Los Angeles' roadways. Taxpayers will foot a significant portion of the total bill, which could top $5 billion if curb and sidewalk repairs are included.
Los Angeles Daily News