Law Enforcement

Man held in fatal hit-and-run of federal judge's son, police say
Los Angeles police have made an arrest in a hit-and-run collision that killed a 23-year-old Pacific Palisades film director whose father and grandfather are federal court judges. LAPD Det. John Skaggs said a man was arrested Thursday evening in connection with the death of David Pregerson. The suspect was in the process of being booked for vehicular manslaughter Thursday night. Skaggs said the man was expected to be arraigned at the Airport Courthouse on Monday. The detective did not release additional information.
Los Angeles Times

Massive gang sweep nets 130 arrests across Southern California
Authorities arrested more than 100 gang members across Southern California Thursday as part of a massive state and national sweep. In Los Angeles County alone, 99 gang members were arrested with alleged ties to the Mexican Mafia foot soldiers, Los Sureños. The nationwide sweep included 638 arrests from 100 gangs, according to immigration and Homeland Security Investigations officials. The sweep, called Project Southbound, netted 131 arrests across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. A total of 19 firearms were also seized during the month-long local operation that concluded on April 13.
Long Beach Press-Telegram

3 people shot on Van Nuys sidewalk
Three people were shot on a sidewalk in Van Nuys Thursday night. CBS2 reported that one of the shooting victims has died. An officer at the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley Community Police Station said no information was available. The shooting occurred around 9:45 p.m. in the 15800 block of Saticoy Street, between Woodley and Haskell avenues, the officer said. ABC7 reported that the shooting was a drive-by shooting.
City News Service

Two years after he went missing, Fox executive formally declared dead
Two years after Fox executive Gavin Smith mysteriously disappeared, the missing man has formally been declared dead, officials said. Sheriff's officials said a public death certificate has been issued for Smith, dated May 1, 2012. In the two years since Smith vanished, detectives had said they had significant evidence that he was killed, but the case remained unresolved. "We have physical evidence of his death," Bill McSweeney, sheriff's chief of the detective bureau, said Thursday. Smith's body, though, has never been found, he said.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Pérez public safety death benefits bill goes to Jerry Brown
Gov. Jerry Brown will once again consider a bill to give more time for survivors of firefighters and peace officers felled by job-related diseases to apply for benefits. The Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to advance Assembly Bill 1035, by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, D-Los Angeles. The legislation nearly doubles the amount of time after a worker falls ill in which family members can seek workers' compensation for work-spurred cases of tuberculosis, cancer and bloodborne infectious diseases.
Sacramento Bee

California may get more federal money to pay for jailed immigrants
Congressional Republicans are proposing a rare increase in federal funding to help states like California pay for jailing immigrants in the country illegally. A GOP-led House appropriations panel on Wednesday approved a spending bill that would provide $210 million nationwide in the next fiscal year to help local and state governments pay the incarceration costs, up from $180 million this year.
Los Angeles Times

Paid sick leave, rape kits among Assembly Appropriations suspense bills
In an annual ritual, the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday delayed action on scores of bills, including two dealing with paid sick leave and evidence of rapes. The Appropriations Committee is often the place where bills go to die. Most bills must pass through before getting a floor vote and some make it no further, ending their journey on the "suspense file."
Sacramento Bee

City Government

City recommends replacing Parker Center with 27-story tower
The vacant Parker Center should be demolished and a 27-story tower housing a variety of city offices should rise in its place, according to a recommendation from the City Department of Public Works and the Bureau of Engineering. The city for years has pondered what to do with the dilapidated 1954 former police headquarters, which became obsolete when most LAPD functions left the building in 2009 for the new $440 million Police Administration Building on First Street.
Los Angeles Downtown News

Los Angeles turns to city veteran to run building department
Los Angeles' interim head of the Department of Building and Safety was given the permanent job Wednesday after a 13-0 City Council confirmation vote. The move elevates Raymond Chan, a longtime veteran of the Department of Building and Safety. Chan has been with the agency since 1987, and was appointed to the agency's No. 2 position, executive officer, in 2003. He has served the top job at the agency since last year.
Los Angeles Times

Mayor Eric Garcetti headed to Washington, D.C., for White House Correspondents' Dinner, meetings with federal leaders
Mayor Eric Garcetti will be in Washington, D.C., Saturday for the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. In addition to attending the star-studded event emceed by "Community" actor and comedian Joel McHale, Garcetti is also expected to meet Friday and Saturday with White House and congressional leaders to pitch local initiatives regarding jobs, transportation and the Los Angeles River, aides said.
City News Service