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Seven southe Los Angeles County cities are suing Metro over its proposed half-cent sales tax increase on the Nov. 8 ballot, arguing the language is misleading and the agency didn’t specify most of the transportation projects it would fund. The ballot description takes a kitchen-sink approach, saying Measure M is needed “to improve freeway traffic flow/safety; repair potholes/sidewalks; repave local streets; earthquake retrofit bridges; synchronize signals; keep senior/disabled/student fares affordable; expand rail/subway/bus systems/ improve jobs/school/airport coections; and create jobs ...” But it doesn’t mention that the vast majority of transportation improvements won’t touch the southe ...

The first bus fare decrease in the Orange County Transportation Authority’s history will go into effect along with its largest-ever service overhaul in October, board members voted this week. Fare reduction, approved 12-0 by the transportation authority board, applies only to the day pass, which will drop from $5 to $4 for six months starting Oct. 9, the same date as the bus service changes. The day pass decrease, recommended by OCTA’s consultant CH2M, is part of a fare study that is one of several initiatives aimed at boosting ridership. OCTA logged its peak ridership in 2007 with 69 million boardings, but dropped to 43 million boardings last fiscal year, a 37 percent fall-off, the authorit...

Michael Cacciotti walked the dimensions of the concrete Wilson Reservoir in the blazing sun, pleased to find almost no shade and triple digit temperatures. For about $375,000, the city is considering affixing rows of photovoltaic panels on top of the 20-foot deep reservoir and using the sun’s power to defray the cost of pumping water three miles uphill from the site in San Gabriel to residents in South Pasadena. When combined with carports catching rays from solar panels in two city-owned parking lots — sending clean power to light City Hall, the fire and police departments — the city can shave about $70,000 off its $1 million electric bill paid yearly to Southe Califoia Edison. The change w...

LOS ANGELES — A Metro county sales tax measure aimed at raising revenue to build, operate and maintain public transportation projects was officially certified by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder today for the Nov. 8 ballot. If approved by at least two-thirds of voters, Measure M would enact a half-cent sales tax hike to fund a package of transportation improvements that include new rail and bus lines, highway improvements and street repairs. The tax revenue would also help fund the operation and maintenance of the regional transportation system. The measure would build on an existing half-cent tax put in place by voters through Measure R, by boosting that tax to a full cent, and lea...

Don’t let French toast bacon bombs or deep-fried Oreos or adorable pig races fool you: Califoia’s county fairs are very big businesses, run with a startling variety of managerial prowess. Southe Califoia News Group examined data for 70 fairs, including those across Southe Califoia, and found that they hauled in a total of $363.2 million in 2014, the latest year statewide information is available. But fully half of the fairs examined – 35 – operated in the red, spending more money than they took in. “Fairs that are losing money should reconfigure the mix of attractions to offer the young generation, since their interests can be very different from their parents’ interests,” said Raymond Sfeir...

The SuperScoopers have landed! Just in time for sizzling temperatures this weekend, the county officially unveiled a huge part of its aerial firefighting fleet Friday. •RELATED STORY: SuperScoopers arrive 3 weeks early to help combat LA County brush fires Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby showcased the recent arrival of two Canadian SuperScoopers and an Erickson Air-Crane. •RELATED STORY: Massive Sand fire nearly contained after more than a week The water bombers landed at Van Nuys Airport Aug. 6 after their flight from their home base in Quebec, Canada. They are usually leased during the fall for work on L.A. County’s fires, but this year they had...

West Nile virus is continuing to spread across the Southland, with vector-control officials aouncing Monday that the virus was detected for the first time this year in six areas. According to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, West Nile virus activity was recently detected in Carson, La Habra Heights, Lincoln Heights, Newhall, Tarzana and Willowbrook. District officials said 40 recent mosquito samples tested positive for the virus, which was also confirmed in five sentinel chickens. So far this year, West Nile virus has been detected in 138 mosquito samples in the area, and 33 dead birds were confirmed to have the virus. “West Nile virus is a quiet, buzzing threat in our...

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was indicted Friday on federal charges alleging that he conspired to obstruct justice and lied to the federal govement in coection with inmate civil rights abuses and corruption inside the county’s jails. Baca, 74, was indicted by a grand jury on three charges just days after he told a federal judge Monday he would plead not guilty and stand trial in coection with the scandal that has already taken down almost a dozen of his former deputies and his second in command. If convicted on all counts, the total maximum time Baca faces is 20 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Let's block ads! بخوانید...

Spurred by allegations of abuse in Los Angeles County juvenile halls and camps, the Board of Supervisors called Tuesday for a detailed report on three years of incidents and a review of policies and protocols. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas recommended the review based on “recent allegations that we caot and will not ignore,” he told the board. “Reforming our juvenile justice system remains a big, big challenge for the county of Los Angeles,” Ridley-Thomas said. A report of four probation officers allegedly caught beating a 17-year-old at a Sylmar juvenile hall on April 24 prompted the move. The District Attoey’s Office is reviewing the Sylmar encounter — captured on video and subsequently re...

LOS ANGELES — A woman led authorities on a nearly three-hour car chase today on freeways and surface streets from Los Angeles County to San Diego County, where the car was boxed in on a cul-de-sac by CHP officers who took her into custody. The chase began about 4:15 a.m. on the eastbound Ventura (101) Freeway in the Woodland Hills area, said Califoia Highway Patrol Officer Monica Posada. The woman was driving erratically and was regarded as possibly driving under the influence, Posada said. The motorist led officers on a chase onto the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway and over various roadways, including the Gle Anderson (105) Freeway, and entered Orange County shortly before 5 a.m., Posad...

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and federal prosecutors could not agree on a new plea deal in coection with a jail corruption scandal, lawyers said Friday. Baca’s attoey, Michael Zweiback, said he and federal prosecutors had tried to reach a new deal to present to a judge in federal court before Monday, but couldn’t. “We were hopeful an agreement would be reached but none was made,” Zweiback said Friday. “There is no plea deal. Mr. Baca will decide on Monday if he plans to withdraw his guilty plea.” Baca was expected to appear in court Monday to tell a federal judge if he wants to plead not guilty and stand trial in coection with the scandal, or take a chance and accept a longer s...

With fast moving flames continuing to bu tens of thousands of acres in and around the Santa Clarita Valley, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to declare a local state of emergency to bolster resources to help fight the now five day old Sand Fire. The fire has charred more than 37,000 acres, forced 20,000 people to evacuate, destroyed 18 homes and caused one death. “The Sand Fire is considered unprecedented by fire officials,” said Supervisor Michael Antonovich. “There is a need to take immediate action.” In addition, U.S. Rep. Steve Knight. R-Palmdale, asked Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency as well. “The historic drought Los Angeles County is enduring this y...

Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit Monday against Southe Califoia Gas Company to try and force the utility to install safety valves at its gas wells. The civil suit asks the court to order SoCalGas to install sub-surface safety shut-off valves at all of its county wells. The utility operates over 200 natural wells at four gas storage fields in Los Angeles County, according to the suit. Attoey Skip Miller, counsel for Los Angeles County, said Monday’s lawsuit marks the county’s first independent legal action against SoCalGas over the massive Aliso Canyon gas leak, which spewed 100,000 metric tons of methane. The suit alleges public nuisance and seeks unspecified damages. “It’s just not accept...

As the 33,000-acre Sand fire in Santa Clarita spread on Monday, officials proclaimed a local emergency. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is set to ratify the local emergency at Tuesday’s Board meeting. This would assist in the “reimbursement for all of the fire fighting, but more importantly, helping those who have been in danger as a result of that fire,” said county Supervisor Mike Antonovich. • RELATED: The Sand fire - Day 4: What you need to know today • PHOTOS: The Sand fire continues buing on Day 4 • VIDEO: John Tripp of LA County Fire: Things got worse on Sunday Already, 18 homes have been destroyed, with about 20,000 people evacuated. The fire is 10 percent contained. Resi...

LOS ANGELES - A red flag waing his been issued today for the greater Los Angeles area and is expected to continue through 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. During this time, there will be a greater chance of brush and wild fires due to excessive heat and wind. Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to be somewhat cooler today after days of sizzling heat that prompted waings to keep an eye on pets and the elderly over the weekend. Temperatures topped 100 degrees Friday in areas including Burbank, Van Nuys, Chatsworth and Lancaster, while Woodland Hills pushed the 110-degree mark, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday’s high was 97 degrees. Today’s NWS forecast ca...

LOS ANGELES COUNTY >> As residents throughout Los Angeles County awoke to an ash-covered Southland, public health officials waed that the 11,000-acre Sand Fire buing in Santa Clarita had created unhealthy air quality in much of Los Angeles County. The Santa Clarita Valley, the San Gabriel Mountains, the West San Gabriel Valley, Pomona, the San Feando and the Central Los Angeles area were all seeing “poor air quality” as a result of the Sand Fire, which broke out Friday, as measured by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “The Los Angeles County Interim Health Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, urges all individuals ...

Califoia employers added 40,300 jobs in June and the Golden State led the nation in year-over-year growth with 461,100 jobs added, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. Last month’s increase was more than double the amount of jobs added the previous month and Califoia’s aual employment gain outpaced Florida, which ranked second with 244,500 jobs added, and Texas, which added 171,100. Califoia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 5.4 percent in June from 5.2 percent in May but it still landed well below the year-ago rate of 6.2 percent. Kimberly Ritter-Martinez, an economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said the numbers are a testament to the stat...

In a tu of events that stued a packed courtroom, a federal judge rejected former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca’s plea agreement with prosecutors on Monday, saying it was not tough enough. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ordered Baca and his attoeys to retu to court Aug. 1, when the judge will either hand down his own sentence or let the former sheriff plead not guilty in coection with a jail corruption scandal, which could lead to a new trial. Anderson told Baca that a six-month sentence trivializes his role in a series of events that led to deputies covering up abuses, looking the other way and altering records, “all of which led to fostering an us-versus-them mentality.” • PHOTOS:...

In a tu of events that stued a packed courtroom, a federal judge rejected former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca’s plea agreement with prosecutors on Monday, saying it was not tough enough. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ordered Baca and his attoeys to retu to court Aug. 1, when the judge will either hand down his own sentence or let the former sheriff plead not guilty in coection with a jail corruption scandal, which could lead to a new trial. Anderson told Baca that a six-month sentence trivializes his role in a series of events that led to deputies covering up abuses, looking the other way and altering records, “all of which led to fostering an us-versus-them mentality.” • PHOTOS:...

In a tu of events that stued a packed courtroom, a federal judge rejected former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca’s plea agreement with prosecutors on Monday, saying it was not tough enough. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ordered Baca and his attoeys to retu to court on Aug. 1, where the judge will either hand down his own sentence or let the former sheriff plead not guilty to his coection to a jail corruption scandal, which could lead to a new trial. Anderson told Baca that a six month sentence trivializes his role that lead to deputies covering up abuses, look the other way, and alter records “all of which led to fostering an us-versus-them mentality.” • PHOTOS: Judge rejects ex-L.A...