Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) articles from December 2001

Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) archives from December 2001

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
December 2, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 2--The only thing that seems certain about this economic funk we're in is that for San Fernando Valley area real estate markets it won't be the 1990s all over again. Although the nation officially entered...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
December 3, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Dec. 3--QUESTION: If my boss is on the Internet when I walk into his office, he immediately clears the screen. It makes me wonder what he is doing. Everyone's very busy here, and it's not fair if he's out there playing...

Los Angeles-Area Retailers Report Strong Weekend Traffic.
December 4, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 4--Bargain-happy shoppers swarmed malls last weekend as merchants reported surprisingly strong traffic. Many experts predicted this would be an abysmal holiday season for retailers as nervous consumers cut...

Los Angeles-Area Transit Agency May Relinquish Control of Bus Operations.
December 4, 2001... Byline: Troy Anderson Dec. 4--GLENDALE, Calif.--The new MTA chief offered Monday to turn over bus operations in the San Fernando Valley area to a local board as part of a major restructuring of the mammoth agency. The proposal to...

Environmental Group Fights to Save Trees in Ventura County, Calif., Dam Area.
December 4, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Dec. 4--Ventura County Flood Control District officials met Monday with environmentalists who want to save some of the 41 ancient oaks that will be removed when the controversial Lang Ranch Dam is built. The...

Court Urged to Uphold Los Angeles' Sex-Store Law.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Bill Hillburg Dec. 5--The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday was urged by the city to uphold Los Angeles' 1983 adult business ordinance banning clusters of adult sex shops and sex "superstores." The city claims adult book stores,...

Commission Puts Rate Decision for Los Angeles Airport Parking on Hold.
December 5, 2001... Dec. 5--VAN NUYS, Calif.--The Los Angeles airport commission met late into the night Tuesday and delayed action on a proposal to charge more for parking at Los Angeles International Airport, FlyAway terminals and regional airports to boost...

Pasadena, Calif.-Based Engineering Firm Lands Desalination Contract.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Don Jergler Dec. 5--PASADENA, Calif.--A Pasadena engineering firm was recently awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to build what industry experts say is the nation's largest municipal desalination plant. Advanced...

UCLA Forecasts California Economic Recovery for Mid-2002.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 5--While California's recession started later than the nation's, both economies should begin recovering in the second quarter of 2002, says a key UCLA forecast to be released today. "The turning point for...

Runaway Filming Work Squeezes California's San Fernando Valley.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 5--As Hollywood braces itself, battling the loss of jobs to Canada, Bruce Davis, executive director at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, doesn't foresee a quick fix to curb runaway production. ...

Encino, Calif., Retailer Sees Rise in Sales of Personalized Gifts for Holidays.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 5--Like many shoppers, Cathy Montez wants the holidays to mean something special this year. So she's eschewing the generic gifts available at thousands of retail stores nationwide and looking for presents with...

Alternative Campuses in Los Angeles Area May Be Role Models.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Holly Edwards Dec. 5--SAN FERNANDO, Calif.--In just three years, students at Community Charter Middle School -- culled from low-performing schools in the Northeast San Fernando Valley -- have emerged as the highest-achievers in the...

Shoppers in California's San Fernando Valley Eager to Snap Up Yule Trees.
December 5, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 5--Spurred by an early Thanksgiving and nostalgia for tradition in the wake of the terrorist strikes, San Fernando Valley residents have started snapping up Christmas trees early despite high prices. A seed...

New AOL Chief Brings Political Savvy to Media Business.
December 6, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 6--Richard D. Parsons moves easily between the worlds of politics, big business and Hollywood. It's a trait that should serve him well when he takes over in six months as the new chief executive at AOL...

Disney Theme Parks Highlight Achievements of Company's Creator.
December 6, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 6--Walt Disney would have turned 100 Wednesday, and in celebration, the empire he built feted him mightily. At the Disneyland Resort, John Hench, designer of Tomorrowland and other attractions, and Richard...

Entertainment Executives in California Bewail `Runaway Production'.
December 6, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 6--To keep production companies from fleeing California, legislators need to open the veins of communication with the entertainment industry or the drought will worsen, according to Hollywood executives at a state...

NASA Scrutinizes Jet Formation for Fuel Saving.
December 6, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 6--EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.--Borrowing an idea from nature, NASA is looking to see whether airplanes can save fuel by flying in formation like geese. Just as migrating geese and other birds fly in a V...

Retailing to Kids Remains Problematic for Entertainment Industry, FTC Says.
December 6, 2001... Byline: Bill Hillburg Dec. 6--WASHINGTON--The Federal Trade Commission gave a rave review Wednesday to Hollywood's effort to clean up its youth marketing act, but panned theater owners and retailers for still allowing minors access to...

Future of Boeing's 717 Jetliner Remains Unknown.
December 7, 2001... Byline: Felix Sanchez Dec. 7--LONG BEACH, Calif.--Aviation analysts say it's a done deal. Union engineers fear the final airframe rivets will soon be driven. Jittery white- and blue-collar workers privately fear their jobs are history, yet...

Disney to Offer Free Admission for Military to California Theme Parks.
December 7, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 7--Joining the growing bandwagon of military supporters, Disney announced Thursday it will offer free admission to active members of the military, a deal quickly followed by Universal Studios. Active-duty...

Palmdale, Calif., Neighbors Oppose Location of Proposed Hospital.
December 7, 2001... Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Dec. 7--PALMDALE, Calif.--Neighbors of a proposed Palmdale hospital are organizing to try to get it moved elsewhere, saying it would bring traffic, crime and noise to their neighborhood. Calling themselves...

Kaiser Permanente Begins Palmdale, Calif., Medical Center Project.
December 7, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 7--PALMDALE, Calif.--Kaiser Permanente broke ground Thursday on a $16.7 million medical center, a project that will give the community its second major health facility. Kaiser Permanente is building its...

Time Warner Cable to Close Chatsworth, Calif., Production Studio.
December 7, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 7--CHATSWORTH, Calif.--West Valley Studios, a production facility where scores of television commercials, videos and other programs are produced, will be shut Dec. 28, owner Time Warner Cable said Thursday. ...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
December 9, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 9--VAN NUYS, Calif.--A slowing economy won't stunt the growth of Pacoima-based USA Wireless Technologies Inc. The manufacturer and distributor of wireless and related products will spend about $3.7...

Palmdale, Calif., Capital Improvement Plan Includes $402.6 Million in Projects.
December 10, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 10--PALMDALE, Calif.--In a 10-year plan offering a snapshot of how they envision the Palmdale of the future, city officials call for widened streets, large regional parks and a library that would bring adult and...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
December 10, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Dec. 10--QUESTION: If someone is at a company almost four years and has received outstanding reviews, but sales are down because of market conditions, can that person be let go without a warning? The company has about 300...

Burbank, Calif., City Council to Consider Incentives for Affordable Rents.
December 11, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Dec. 11--BURBANK, Calif.--Responding to a study that shows many poor and large families are unable to afford housing in Burbank, city staffers have proposed new incentive programs for landlords to keep rents affordable...

Viacom to Consolidate Management of CBS, UPN.
December 11, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 11--Viacom Inc. announced plans Monday to combine its two broadcast networks, CBS and UPN, under Viacom's CBS Television Unit. Ratings leader CBS and the surging UPN will retain separate on-air identities...

Burbank, Calif.-Based Company Specializes in Holiday Decor.
December 12, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 12--If snarled strings of tree lights get you down and your efforts at decorating your home for the holidays fizzle, call "Dr. Christmas," who for $3,000 to $70,000 can create a wonderland old St. Nicholas would...

Trauma Units at Los Angeles County Hospitals Will Stay Open.
December 12, 2001... Byline: Troy Anderson Dec. 12--The 10 private hospitals in Los Angeles County with trauma care units have agreed to keep their centers open through June 30 after the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to pay them $9.4 million. "They...

Krispy Kreme's Burbank, Calif., Store Has Sweet Debut.
December 12, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Dec. 12--BURBANK, Calif.--It's a phenomenon. It's cultlike. But it's not "Harry Potter." The latest attraction is Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, which opened Tuesday at the Burbank Empire Center on Victory Place to shouts of...

Air Force Decides X-33 Rocket Plane Is Bound for Scrap Pile.
December 12, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 12--PALMDALE, Calif.--After one last "flutter of interest" from the government died, the $1.2 billion X-33 rocket plane is being dismantled. Also earmarked for dismantling is Edwards Air Force Base's $32...

Bus Plan Drives Head of Los Angeles-Area Transit Agency.
December 12, 2001... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Dec. 12--The MTA's new management team rolled out its vision Tuesday for improving transit in the San Fernando Valley through more local control and savings from greater efficiencies that would be plowed back into...

Holiday Gifts Continue to Fill United Parcel Service's Trucks.
December 12, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 12--John Casillas and Santa Claus have one thing in common this holiday season: delivering gifts. Though the headlines tell of an overall decline in the economy, the view from Casillas' big brown sleigh with the...

Southern California Association of Governments Gives Region Low Marks.
December 13, 2001... Byline: Dana Bartholomew Dec. 13--Los Angeles area freeways remain deplorable, its schools abominable and homes unaffordable for most residents, according to a year-end report card on the region released today. On the bright side,...

Canadian Subsidies Hurt Hollywood Film Industry, Study Says.
December 13, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 13--Hollywood's claim that runaway production has eroded the U.S. film industry got support Wednesday from a study showing movie production in Canada has soared since that nation's government began offering tax...

Directors Guild of America, Producers Make Tentative Deal on New Contract.
December 13, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 13--The Directors Guild of America on Wednesday reached a tentative agreement with producers on a new three-year contract, a full seven months before its current contract is due to expire. The swiftness of...

OPINION: Despite $3,000 Price Tag, Consumers Will Pay for Scooters.
December 13, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 13--SANTA MONICA, Calif.--IT's too cool. So L.A. kind of cool. IT is inventor Dean Kamen's Segway Human Transporter, the mystery shrouded invention formerly known as IT. And after all the hype, I...

Judge to Hear Thousand Oaks, Calif., Appeal against $2.3 Million Sewage Fine.
December 13, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Dec. 13--A Los Angeles Superior Court judge today will hear an appeal from the city of Thousand Oaks, which is fighting a record $2.3 million state fine imposed after a sewer line failed and spilled 86 million gallons...

Los Angeles Airport Removes Ban on Curbside Service.
December 14, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Dec. 14--Curbside drop-offs and pickups at Los Angeles International Airport -- suspended because of security concerns in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks -- will resume at 5 a.m. Saturday, just in time for the...

Investors Abandon Thousand Oaks, Calif.-Based Amgen amid Acquisition Reports.
December 14, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 14--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Amgen Inc. was punished by investors Thursday amid reports the world's largest biotechnology company is in late-stage talks to purchase Immunex for $18 billion in cash and stock. "If...

Boeing to Continue Building Its 717 Jetliner.
December 14, 2001... Byline: Felix Sanchez Dec. 14--LONG BEACH, Calif.--The Boeing Co. said Thursday it will continue manufacturing 717 passenger jetliners but at a slower production pace, a move designed to buy time while potential purchasers become...

DVDs Become Favored Format for Home-Video Collections.
December 14, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 14--DVD software sales -- fueled by holiday blockbuster releases like "Shrek," "Star Wars: Episode One -- The Phantom Menace" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" -- are expected to double from last year in...

Glendale, Calif., Apartment Association Works on Rent Issues.
December 14, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Dec. 14--GLENDALE, Calif.--In an attempt to avoid rent control, the newly formed Glendale Apartment Association is floating a proposal to have landlords raise rents only once a year and to disclose the maximum increase...

Los Angeles-Area Stores Stop Accepting Checks Due to Fraud Problems.
December 17, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 17--Behind the counter at the Candy Factory in North Hollywood sit four chocolate truffles. The only barrier between cocoa bliss and your stomach -- a sign that reads "We're sorry, we don't accept checks." Hit...

Smaller California Manufacturers Not Taking Advantage of Financing Programs.
December 17, 2001... Byline: John W. Cox Dec. 17--Tens of millions of dollars in low-interest financing are going untapped by the state's small and medium-size manufacturers, despite recent interest rate cuts that make the program more attractive than ever....

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
December 17, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Dec. 17--QUESTION: Someone left a mean anonymous note on my desk saying that I talk too loud on the phone. We work in cubicles, and I admit that my voice carries, but that's how I talk. Being on the phone is central to my...

Los Angeles Homeowners See Property Tax Bill Rise More.
December 17, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Dec. 17--A series of bond issues and other add-on charges have driven Los Angeles homeowners' average annual property tax bill up by $374 and City Hall wants approval for $35 a year more with a measure on the March 7...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
December 17, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 17--The Arco Towers, a familiar signature on downtown Los Angeles' skyline, symbol of the city's once-substantial corporate muscle and its attractiveness to Asian investment dollars, are for sale, the Daily...

Amgen's $16 Billion Deal for Immunex May Lift Buyer Higher.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 18--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Amgen Inc. confirmed Monday that it will buy Immunex Corp. for about $16 billion, blurring the lines between the world's largest biotechnology company and a leading pharmaceutical player....

Study to Focus on Security of High-Rise Buildings in Los Angeles.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Dec. 18--Rand Corp. plans to study private-sector security in Los Angeles and produce recommendations on how high-rise buildings can be made safer for the public, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo announced Monday....

Sales Portend Good Year for Valencia, Calif.-Based Developer Newhall Land.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Dec. 18--VALENCIA, Calif.--Its housing sales broke records and retail development increased, but The Newhall Land and Farming Company's industrial development sagged a bit in 2001. That is the year-end...

Home Sales in California's San Fernando Valley Drop in November.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 18--Sales of single-family homes in the San Fernando Valley fell 14 percent in November compared with last year because of recession fears and tight supply, an industry tracker said Monday. But prices...

Needed Homes in Ventura County, Calif., Vie with Open Space.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 18--Ventura County could prove to be too nice for its own good, as a study released Monday suggests that several of its cities will run out of housing as early as 2004. The key to the problem lies in the...

California Governor Proposes Plan to Ease Traffic Woes.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Dec. 18--Gov. Gray Davis proposed spending $49 million to relieve commuter headaches in the Greater San Fernando Valley Area on Monday out of nearly $900 million in new state transportation projects. The Valley's...

New Leader's Hands-On Approach to Shake Things Up at Universal Studios.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 18--Universal Studios President and Chief Executive Officer Ron Meyer has led his studio to another banner year. For his reward, he got a new boss on Monday: media mogul Barry Diller, who is making what is...

Battle Wages On over Ventura County, Calif., Development's Wastewater Disposal.
December 18, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Dec. 18--An environmental group said Monday that a study on water supply and wastewater disposal for the 3,050 homes and other development proposed for Ahmanson Ranch raised more questions than it answered. ...

Los Angeles Airport Commissioners Shore Up Collapsing Budget.
December 19, 2001... Byline: Beth Barrett Dec. 19--Taking steps to ease a cash-flow crunch at LAX, airport commissioners on Tuesday authorized a line of credit and use of bond funds for a total of $212 million to cover losses due to the falloff in air traffic...

City Council Members Question Public-Relations Pact at Los Angeles Airport.
December 19, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Dec. 19--Los Angeles City Council members raised serious questions Tuesday about paying $1.5 million to a politically connected public relations firm to promote the now-abandoned plan to expand Los Angeles International...

Palmdale, Calif.-Area Highways on Road to Receiving Funds for Improvements.
December 19, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 19--PALMDALE, Calif.--Gov. Gray Davis' proposed $892 million interregional transportation improvement plan includes $74.9 million for Highways 58 and 138 -- both heavily traveled two-lane highways with a high...

Shoppers Keep Layaway Plans Alive.
December 19, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 19--An old favorite of penny-watchers has returned as shoppers feeling light in the wallet and wary of debt have rediscovered the layaway. Reserving an item with the cash on hand and paying it off at...

Family Quarry Business in California Battles to Stay in Business.
December 19, 2001... Byline: Amy Raisin Dec. 19--ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, Calif.--The U.S. Forest Service shut down a well-known family-owned stone mining business in Bouquet Canyon over a permit dispute, citing the 1997 death of the original owner as grounds...

Calabasas, Calif.-Based Toy Retailer Posts Third-Quarter Loss.
December 19, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 19--CALABASAS, Calif.--Upscale toy retailer The Right Start Inc. posted a $9.9 million third-quarter loss Tuesday but said it expects to show a profit for the full year. The loss equals $4.07 per share versus...

Union Bank of California Announces Purchase Plans.
December 20, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 20--SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--Union Bank of California said Wednesday it will buy First Western Bank for about $45 million in cash and stock, as the company deepens its community banking footprint in Los Angeles and...

Dick Clark Suit Alleges Grammy Blacklist Policy.
December 20, 2001... Byline: Dana Bartholomew Dec. 20--Pop music icon Dick Clark filed a $10 million lawsuit Wednesday claiming Grammy Awards chief Michael Greene threatened to "blacklist" Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and other top stars if they performed...

Shoppers Get Real Deals as Retailers Try to Lure Customers to Buy.
December 20, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 20--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--With only five days left in the crucial shopping season, retailers are trotting out their biggest discounts to lure conservative shoppers. "It's almost panic time in the retail...

Experts Cite Cost versus Risk in Glendale, Calif., Water Vote.
December 20, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Dec. 20--GLENDALE, Calif.--With experts declaring the groundwater safe to drink despite chromium 6 contamination, the city's consultant and others questioned some City Council members' insistence on continuing costly...

California to Benefit from Defense Appropriations Bill Passed by Congress.
December 21, 2001... Byline: Bill Hillburg Dec. 21--Federal tax dollars for firefighting tanker planes, new and extended aerospace contracts, and local social service programs won final congressional approval Thursday as lawmakers passed a pair of key spending...

'Lord of the Rings' Has Record-Setting Opening Day at Theaters.
December 21, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 21--"Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" ascended to Hollywood history in its opening day, drawing an estimated $18.2 million to become the third-biggest Wednesday opening ever. If New Line...

Resale Housing Prices Set New Record in Los Angeles Area.
December 21, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 21--Resale housing prices set records in Los Angeles and statewide during November even though sales dipped, an industry trade group said Thursday. In Los Angeles County the median price for a...

Travel Crunch Starts Early at Los Angeles Airport.
December 21, 2001... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 21--Christmas weekend travelers jammed Los Angeles airports and freeways Thursday in advance of today's peak crush for holiday family reunions and adventurers on beaches and ski slopes. The season got off to a...

Chatsworth, Calif.-Based Capstone Turbine's Chief Financial Officer to Resign.
December 21, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Dec. 21--CHATSWORTH, Calif.--Capstone Turbine Corp.'s Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Watts will resign at the beginning of the new year, the company said Thursday, ending a six-year reign that saw the company's stock...

`How the Grinch Stole Christmas' Pays Off for Universal Studios.
December 21, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 21--UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.--With consumers snapping up DVD and VHS versions of "Jurassic Park III," "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Mummy Returns" and "Shrek," Universal Studios Home Video...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
December 23, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Dec. 23--When the Episcopalian priest was supervising the construction of the congregation's church those oh-so-many years ago, a dispute developed with the property owner to the east. The pastor made sure that...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
December 24, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Dec. 24--QUESTION: I've been using a hand-held cell phone for years and have had no problems while driving. The other day, my boss told me that I should get rid of it and use a hands-free unit or else pull over when I...

OPINION: Last-Minute Gifts Can Still Be Affordable.
December 24, 2001... Byline: Dan Anderson Dec. 24--It's Christmas Eve and for whatever reason -- work, school, the dog ate your calendar -- you haven't started shopping yet. No worries. We're with you on this one. We sent three reporters out with the...

'Harry Potter' Becomes Top-Grossing Film of Year.
December 27, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Dec. 27--Heavy holiday ticket sales made "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" the top grossing film of 2001 and helped "Ali" knock out the previous record for a Christmas Day opening, taking in $10.2 million on...

Spilled-Over Work Might Reach Lockheed Martin's Palmdale, Calif., Facility.
December 27, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Dec. 27--PALMDALE, Calif.--Lockheed Martin's Palmdale plant could get more jobs from work spilling over from other company sites and from potential contracts for its Advanced Development Programs unit. In a series of...

Despite Post-Holiday Sales, Traffic Remains Light at Los Angeles-Area Malls.
December 27, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Dec. 27--The after-Christmas crunch hit mildly this year, as sated shoppers stayed away from malls. Though sales are still fantastic, with 25 percent off just a starting point at most stores and cresting near 75...

Group to Stage Protest of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Dam.
December 28, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Dec. 28--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Even as Ventura County officials announced this week that fewer oak trees might be cut down to make way for the Lang Ranch Dam, environmentalists remained committed to a rally Saturday...

Postage Rates to Increase Again.
December 28, 2001... Byline: Bill McAllister Dec. 28--WASHINGTON--Enjoyed mailing your Christmas cards at the postage price of 34 cents each? Next Christmas the stamps are likely to cost at least 37 cents. As much of the nation did its holiday shopping,...

California Roads Rated Worst in Nation, Industry Study Shows.
December 28, 2001... Byline: Dana Bartholomew Dec. 28--California now ranks first in the nation for crumbling and congested highways, that cost each driver an extra $558 a year in car repairs, a study released Thursday said. The roadbuilding industry...

Panorama City, Calif., Skating Rink Faces January Closure.
December 28, 2001... Byline: Mariel Garza Dec. 28--PANORAMA CITY, Calif.--When the Ice Chalet skating rink opened its doors more than four years ago, Mele Maka of Arleta was among those inspired to hit the ice for the first time. But now that the...

Activist Urges Los Angeles Officials to Refuse Market's Booze License.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Dec. 31--Community activist Xavier Flores' longtime fight against new liquor outlets and the crime they encourage now finds him pitted against City Council President Alex Padilla. Standing in front of the...