Law Enforcement

Officer in controversial stop defends actions to Police Commission
A Los Angeles police sergeant who was involved in the controversial detention of a "Django Unchained" actress earlier this month told the LAPD's civilian overseers Tuesday that the department's disciplinary system was deeply flawed and defended his own response to the incident.
Los Angeles Times

FBI: Help us catch the AK-47 bandit
During what authorities believe was his first bank robbery nearly three years ago in Chino, California, the AK-47 Bandit-so named because he carries an assault rifle during takeover-style robberies-shot and seriously wounded a police officer while making his escape. Since then, he has robbed or attempted to rob five more banks, most recently in August, when he hit a rural bank in Nebraska.
FBI News Release

New Laws

Jerry Brown signs bill allowing families to seek gun restraining order
California will become the first state that allows family members to ask a judge to remove firearms from a relative who appears to pose a threat, under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown said Tuesday he had signed. The bill was proposed by several Democrats and responds to a deadly rampage in May near the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Associated Press

First-time misdemeanor offenders could get break under Bonnie Lowenthal bill
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal creating a pilot program aimed at easing court loads from dealing with first-time offenders. The legislation, Assembly Bill 2124, defers sentencing of a defendant who has pleaded guilty or no contest to certain misdemeanors.
Riverside Press-Enterprise

California Gov. Jerry Brown signs privacy, anti-spying bills
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed several bills that address concerns about spying and privacy, including new restrictions on the paparazzi, tighter laws against "revenge porn,'' and a prohibition on the state from helping federal intelligence agencies collect phone records without warrants.
Los Angeles Times

Metro

Metro breaks ground on key downtown L.A. subway link
Transportation officials Tuesday cheered the start of construction for a subway project designed to close a frustrating gap in Los Angeles County's growing rail network. During a symbolic groundbreaking in Little Tokyo, local and federal representatives touted the 1.9-mile, $1.4-billion Downtown Regional Connector's potential to help unite a sprawling and congested region.
Los Angeles Times

Economy

L.A. economy lags, shows spotty growth
The economic recovery in Los Angeles has been uneven and lags behind the rest of the state and nation, according to a report to be released this morning by Beacon Economics and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. The report, released as part of the chamber's annual Los Angeles City Hall lobbying day, says the unemployment rate in the city of Los Angeles has remained stubbornly high.
Los Angeles Business Journal

City Government

Deal to get financial records from DWP trusts goes to utility board
Los Angeles lawmakers are pressing ahead with a plan that could end the legal battles over two controversial trusts affiliated with the Department of Water and Power. The City Council voted in August to seek a long list of conditions before ending lawsuits over the trusts and sending a disputed $4 million payment to the nonprofits.
Los Angeles Times

Skid row groups are divided over future of homeless district
A deep divide over the future of skid row and of the thousands of homeless people living in the 50-block district's streets and shelters emerged during a community forum in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night. The near-capacity crowd in the Los Angeles Theatre Center's 470-seat auditorium split nearly evenly on key issues in instant electronic polls conducted during the meeting, including a proposal by City Councilman Jose Huizar, who convened the meeting, to appoint a homeless czar.
Los Angeles Times