Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Montecito Heights, Jefferson Park and seven 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. Seven neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Montecito Heights was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.6 over the last three months. Jefferson Park topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD searching for driver involved in fatal Koreatown hit-and-run
LAPD are searching for the hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a man on Olympic Boulevard in Koreatown on Saturday night. The fatal crash took place about 11:20 p.m. Saturday, near the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Norton Avenue, said a desk officer at LAPD's West Traffic Division. Investigators believe the vehicle that struck the pedestrian was eastbound on Olympic Boulevard and the victim was apparently not in a crosswalk when he was hit, said Officer Cleon Joseph of LAPD's Media Relations section.
Southern California Public Radio

Man fatally shot in South Los Angeles; gunman remains at large
A man was fatally shot in South Los Angeles early Sunday morning, and police are still searching for the gunman, authorities said. The unidentified victim was walking from a liquor store on 103rd Street and Avalon Boulevard when he was shot in the stomach about 1:10 a.m., Los Angeles police Lt. Al Neal said. Witnesses heard four shots fired by an unidentified suspect who fled. Paramedics took the victim to St. Francis Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, Neal said.
Los Angeles Times

Woman shoots herself after police chase in Hollywood Hills
An early-morning police pursuit ended Sunday in Studio City when a woman shot herself in the head, authorities said. The woman was transported to an area hospital but her condition was not known, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Sal Ogaz. The incident began about 3:30 a.m. when a 911 caller reported hearing several shots in the 700 block of Lillian Way in Hollywood and a black Nissan leaving the scene, Ogaz said. Officers saw the car and tried to stop it, but the driver refused.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD asks for public's help to find missing man with medical condition
The Los Angeles Police Department and a missing man's family are asking the public to be on the lookout for Anthony Lara, 35. Lara was last seen leaving a UPS in Bell around 5 a.m. Sunday. He left work early but never made it home. His family is extremely worried because they said he has a medical condition. CBS2

Candlelight vigil held in Burbank for missing FBI agent
Dozens of Burbank residents gathered at McCambridge Park this week to pray for the safe return of FBI special agent Stephen Ivens, who was reported missing two months ago. The park is not far from the Ivens' home in the 1700 block of Scott Road, where the 36-year-old agent who specialized in national security was last seen on May 10. Ivens was thought to be despondent and possibly suicidal, police said at the time.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

Pensions, loss of tax revenue puts other cities at risk for bankruptcy
Don't be surprised if more California cities go belly up. Certainly a number of experts around the state won't be. The pressures that pounded San Bernardino, Stockton and Mammoth Lakes into bankruptcy mode aren't much different from those threatening other cities around the state: stagnating tax revenue, spiraling pension obligations and decreased financial support from the state, among others.
Los Angeles Daily News

Capital Punishment

Judge hears testimony on one-drug executions
A California team of executioners is rehearsing how to use a new lethal injection to end the lives of death row prisoners with a single drug, an expert witness testified Friday. John McAuliffe, a former corrections officer who has been contracted to develop the new single-drug protocol, made the disclosure before a judge who is considering the Los Angeles County district attorney's bid to immediately execute two death row inmates.
Associated Press

New Law

Legislation to allow hands-free driver texting signed into law
Under legislation that Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law today, California motorists can dictate, send or listen to text-based messages while they're behind the wheel if they're using voice-activated, hands-free devices. Brown's signing of Assembly Bill 1536 alters state law to treat texting much as it does wireless telephone calls now: Motorists can engage in such activities provided that they are not holding cellular phones or other electronic devices.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

General manager for city of Los Angeles' Information Technology Agency resigns
Randi Levin, general manager of the city's Information Technology Agency, resigned on Friday. In a statement, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he accepted the resignation of Levin, who served as a general manager of the agency since 2007. Her departure follows a string of negative media stories concerning her husband, Maurice, but a Villaraigosa spokesman said she was not asked to resign. "This is Randi's decision," Peter Sanders said.
Los Angeles Daily News