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

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

Hard Times Fail to Hurt Los Angeles-Area Adult Video Manufacturers.
November 1, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 1--Terrorist attacks, war in Afghanistan and a faltering economy are not having an effect on one of the San Fernando Valley's most robust industries: adult videos. Some of the area's top manufacturers of...

Los Angeles Mayor: Federal Government Should Take over Airport Security Duty.
November 1, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Nov. 1--Mayor James Hahn stepped up his call Wednesday for the federal government to take over security at the nation's airports, including a requirement that all luggage be screened for weapons. During his...

Westlake Village, Calif.-Based Internet Service Provider Keeps Customer Base.
November 1, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 1--WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--As pioneers in the world of free Internet service providers, United Online Inc. remains steadfast in its ways, despite the bloodletting in the first quarter. "We're focusing on...

Fewer Tourists, Reduced Consumer Spending Hurt Los Angeles Luxury Businesses.
November 1, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 1--Early this year, Piero Selvaggio's Posta was humming, with tables packed and cash registers ringing, as patrons flocked to dine at his upscale Sherman Oaks restaurant. But in the weeks after Sept. 11,...

Los Angeles Mayor Goes Shopping to Spur Local Economy.
November 1, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Nov. 1--SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.--Mayor James Hahn spread some bucks around the Valley on Wednesday -- not from the city treasury, but from his own pocket -- as he went shopping on Ventura Boulevard to promote the...

County Rejects Santa Clarita, Calif., Officials' Stand on Mining.
November 1, 2001... Byline: Heather MacDonald Nov. 1--SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--Measures proposed by Santa Clarita city officials to downsize plans for a sand and gravel mine in Soledad Canyon would make the mine unprofitable, county officials say. The...

Boeing May Be Included in Joint Strike Fighter Work, Lockheed Martin Says.
November 2, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Nov. 2--PALMDALE, Calif.--Lockheed Martin officials indicated Thursday they will talk with Boeing about the possibility of bringing them in on the joint strike fighter program. Switching gears from statements that...

Pennsylvania Health Firm Ready to Build Palmdale, Calif., Hospital.
November 2, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Nov. 2--PALMDALE, Calif.--A Pennsylvania medical chain said a three-month study persuaded it to move forward with building a 120-bed hospital in west Palmdale. In a letter received Thursday by the city, Universal...

Southern California Leaders Lay Plans to Revitalize Local Economy.
November 2, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 2--Southern California's economic revival hinges on billions of dollars in state-funded public improvements, a massive job retraining effort and the creation of an image of Los Angeles International Airport as a...

Lancaster, Calif.-Based Motor Home Maker Bolsters Sales with Deep Discounts.
November 2, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 2--Just as automakers have done, Rexhall Industries has been luring new motor-home customers with rock-bottom financing and deep discounts to improve sales after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The plan appears...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
November 5, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Nov. 5--QUESTION: One of our best salespeople just returned from vacation with a small diamond pierced through her nose. It's the first thing you notice when you see her, and I cannot imagine why she did this. I am...

Child Doctors' Group Calls for New Media Ratings System.
November 5, 2001... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Nov. 5--Violence in entertainment and aggressive behavior in children have a closer correlation than secondhand smoke and lung cancer, according to a report to be released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics....

Two Los Angeles-Based Banks Plan to Merge.
November 6, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 6--California National Bank will absorb People's Bank of California to form one entity with $3.5 billion in assets, creating the second-largest bank based in Los Angeles, the parent company of both banks announced...

North Hollywood, Calif., Company's Bullet May Aid Fight against Terror.
November 6, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 6--LEONA VALLEY, Calif.--In the barrage of new security questions raised by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 one of the most perplexing is how to make the skies safe to fly. Ken Elliott thinks he has an...

Shoppers' Spirits Remain Undaunted, Surveys Show.
November 6, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 6--Despite war anxiety and weak economy fears, American consumers plan to spend about the same amount of money shopping this holiday season as last, surveys released Monday show. Retail sales in the Los...

Major League Baseball Faces Big Decisions.
November 7, 2001... Byline: Brian Dohn Nov. 7--Baseball's return to the plateau of national pastime was too much for commissioner Bud Selig, so he did something about it. He squashed the momentum two days after one of the greatest moments in history. ...

Los Angeles County Hospitals' Emergency Rooms on Financial Critical List.
November 7, 2001... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Nov. 7--Emergency rooms in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Los Angeles County lost nearly $100 million last year, threatening the region's ability to provide critical health care, the California Medical...

Warner Bros. Hopes `Harry Potter' Spells Success.
November 7, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 7--BURBANK, Calif.--Universal has the "Jurassic Park" series, Fox the "Star Wars" films and Paramount holds claim to the box office leader of them all: "Titanic." A week from Friday, Warner Bros. is counting on...

Barbie Christmas Tree Will Be Holiday Hit, Toy Trade Publication Predicts.
November 8, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 8--TARZANA, Calif.--As a girl, Maureen Kassel dreamed of living the life of Barbie. Now she's actually living it and may be making the dreams of a new generation of little girls come true this Christmas. ...

Jail Inmates Clean Up Littlerock, Calif., Illegal Dump.
November 8, 2001... Byline: Greg Botonis Nov. 8--LITTLEROCK, Calif.--An illegal dump site blamed on a paroled burglar who ran his own trash hauling business was cleaned up Wednesday thanks to the help of a Los Angeles County program using jail inmates as...

Food Bank to Aid Services in California's San Fernando Valley.
November 8, 2001... Byline: Holly Edwards Nov. 8--NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Striving to serve thousands of destitute and homeless people in their own neighborhoods, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission will open today the first food bank of its kind in...

Florida Health-Care Company Buys Lancaster, Calif., Hospital.
November 9, 2001... Byline: Karen Maeshiro Nov. 9--LANCASTER, Calif.--Lancaster Community Hospital has been sold by its parent company to a Florida health-care company that operates 43 hospitals, primarily in the Southeast and Southwest. The 117-bed,...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
November 11, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 11--FANNIE MAE BIDS TO HELP ECONOMY: The Los Angeles area's residential real estate sector got a much-needed dose of good news Friday with Fannie Mae's announcement of a five-year, $50 billion affordable...

Offering Patients More Choices Becomes Newest Thing in Contraception.
November 12, 2001... Byline: Evan Henerson Nov. 12--How do you build a better birth control pill? That's the dilemma researchers at pharmaceutical companies have faced since the synthesized form of the female hormone progesterone was approved by the U.S....

Los Angeles-Area Women's Investing Club Digs High Finance.
November 12, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 12--On the first Monday of every month, 17 women come together to sip tea, eat cake and gossip -- about the economy. Meet the Dow Janes, an investment club that doesn't care about nylon snags, runny make-up or...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
November 12, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Nov. 12--QUESTION: My manager said that he fancies himself as a person who can tell if someone is lying. He says when people lie, they lose eye contact and fidget. I never thought much about his comments until he accused...

New Los Angeles Transit Agency Boss Sees Major Role for Technology.
November 12, 2001... Byline: Troy Anderson Nov. 12--The new chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority envisions a brave new world of transportation where emerging technologies will relieve traffic congestion and whisk bus and rail...

Burbank, Calif., Airport Issue Stalls Building Permits.
November 13, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Nov. 13--BURBANK, Calif.--Fearing lawsuits from developers whose airport-related projects have been placed on hold because of voter-approved Measure A, city staff have taken the unusual step of asking the City Council to...

Two California-Based Broadband Companies Plan to Join Forces.
November 13, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 13--Occam Networks Inc. said Monday it has entered definitive talks to acquire Accelerated Networks Inc. in a deal that would value the combined companies at about $120 million. The move has been approved by...

Interest Rate Cut Pushes Los Angeles-Area Home Sales, Prices Up in October.
November 13, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 13--The San Fernando Valley's residential real estate market displayed surprising strength during October with both sales and prices making modest gains thanks in part to low interest rates, a trade group...

Face-Off Likely Tonight over Glendale, Calif., Rent Control Program.
November 13, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Nov. 13--GLENDALE, Calif.--Apartment owners and tenants are expected to face off tonight over a controversial rent control program. The City Council, along with the Housing Authority, is scheduled to vote on...

Shoppers Mob New Retail Project in Hollywood, Calif., during Its First Weekend.
November 13, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 13--HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--After its first weekend, Hollywood & Highland is already proving to be one of Tinseltown's brightest new stars. Retail experts agree that even after the glitz of its opening fades, the...

Consultant for Los Angeles-Area School District Bid on Learning Center Complex.
November 14, 2001... Byline: Sonia Giordani Nov. 14--A firm that has submitted a bid to complete the Belmont Learning Complex had a $4.3 million real estate consulting contract with the Los Angeles Unified School District even as it was drafting its proposal,...

Los Angeles County Supervisors Approve $818 Million Medical Center Contract.
November 14, 2001... Byline: Troy Anderson Nov. 14--With little fanfare, Los Angeles County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to seeks bids on the largest capital project in county history -- an $818 million replacement of the Los Angeles County-USC...

Burbank, Calif., Airport Lawsuit Moves Forward.
November 15, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Nov. 15--BURBANK, Calif.--The City Council will proceed with an amended lawsuit challenging Measure A, and also will pay for supporters of the voter-approved initiative to intervene in the litigation. Claiming the...

Amgen Wins Federal Approval for Another New Drug.
November 15, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 15--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--U.S. regulators on Wednesday approved Amgen's rheumatoid arthritis drug Kineret, an integral piece to the biotechnology giant's broadening diversification in this sector. "Kineret is...

Hollywood Can Play Role in Battle against Terrorism, Producer Tells Congress.
November 15, 2001... Byline: Bill Hillburg Nov. 15--WASHINGTON--Adding Arab-American families to soap operas, broadcasting less "Baywatch" and casting Osama bin Laden as the villain of video games will help America's war on terrorism, Congress was told...

Stars Join Fight against 3,050-Home Development Project in Southern California.
November 15, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Nov. 15--CANOGA PARK, Calif.--Emmy-winning actors Martin Sheen and Rob Reiner joined with environmentalists Wednesday in kicking off a campaign to halt the 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch project, which they fear will clog...

Glendale, Calif., Council Opts to Stay Out of Rent Mediation.
November 15, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Nov. 15--GLENDALE, Calif.--The City Council has abandoned plans to establish a publicly funded rent mediation program, opting instead to allow the new Glendale Apartment Association to resolve landlord-tenant disputes....

Malibu, Calif.-Based Toymaker Jakks Pacific Inks Deal to Use Barney.
November 15, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 15--MALIBU, Calif.--Not unlike the children who buy its products, Jakks Pacific loves Barney. Of course, the local toymaker has an added financial incentive to like the giggly tyrannosaur, as it announced a...

Southern California Economy Looks Up, Report Says.
November 16, 2001... Byline: Dana Bartholomew Nov. 16--Southern California will avoid a recession even as the nation's overall economy reels from the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to an economic forecast to be released today. The...

Los Angeles Planners to Weigh New Home Development Versus 1890s Farmhouse.
November 16, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Nov. 16--PALMDALE, Calif.--A proposed 41-home tract is on hold at least until January to allow study of the historical significance of a 111-year-old farmhouse, possibly the oldest house in the city, located on the site....

Los Angeles School District May Lose Millions under Governor's Proposed Cuts.
November 16, 2001... Byline: Sonia Giordani Nov. 16--Los Angeles Unified could lose as much as $74 million under the governor's proposed budget cutbacks, slicing academic programs and forcing the district to re-examine its spending priorities, school officials...

Woodland Hills, Calif.-Based Toymaker Applause Trims Its Work Force.
November 16, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 16--WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--Toymaker Applause Inc. has cut its 400-person work force by about 10 percent in response to the souring economy and Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Layoffs took place at the...

Los Angeles-Area Buyers, Sellers Rave about Microsoft's Xbox Video Game System.
November 16, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 16--One of the holiday season's few bright stars hit shelves Thursday, as Microsoft's Xbox made its high-profile debut. Though the entertainment system's black and green box looked sharp on those shelves, it...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
November 18, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 18--SYLMAR, Calif.--They have finally taken down the For Lease sign at the Valley Gateway Business Center. All three buildings at the 168,288-square-foot facility in the 15600 block of Roxford Street in...

Pacoima, Calif., Ball Field Renovations Come In under Budget.
November 19, 2001... Byline: Troy Anderson Nov. 19--PACOIMA, Calif.--A newly refurbished baseball field was dedicated Sunday afternoon at Ritchie Valens Park as part of a $105,000 restoration project in which the bleachers and drinking fountain also were...

Shopping around Drives Auto-Insurance Rate Down for California Customers.
November 19, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 19--With auto insurance companies in the midst of a rate increase binge, drivers renewing coverage or buying it for the first time can save some money by implementing a simple strategy: Shop around. It is...

Harry Potter Throws Invisibility Cloak over Box-Office Competition.
November 19, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 19--BURBANK, Calif.--"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" cast a powerful spell over audiences during the weekend, grossing a staggering $93.5 million at the box office -- by far the biggest debut in motion...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
November 19, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Nov. 19--QUESTION: We have a resume for an applicant who looks pretty good, but we are unsure how to interpret his online degree. We don't want to eliminate someone just because he followed a different course for his...

Southern California Travelers Choose In-Car Entertainment over Flying.
November 19, 2001... Byline: Mariel Garza Nov. 19--Holiday checklist post-Sept. 11: 1). Cancel plane reservations. 2). Call Mom in Tucson to say you'll be there in time for turkey if the minivan doesn't break down. 3). Install DVD player, Sony...

Calabasas, Calif.-Based Toy Retailer to Buy FAO Schwarz.
November 20, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 20--CALABASAS, Calif.--In a deal that extends its reach from infants to teen-agers, Right Start Inc.'s chief executive said Monday that the educational toy retailer will buy the venerable Manhattan-based FAO...

Weekend Gross Sales for Harry Potter Film Set New Record at Box Office.
November 20, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 20--The final weekend grosses for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" came in at $90.3 million Monday, slightly lower than Warner Bros.' original estimates but still strong enough to break the box office...

Demand Outstrips Supply of Plots at Encino, Calif., Community Garden Center.
November 20, 2001... Byline: Holly Edwards Nov. 20--ENCINO, Calif.--Larry Craig picks a bright red flower from his plot at the Sepulveda Community Garden Center, snaps a leaf in half, raises it to his nose and inhales deeply. "It smells just like...

Gridlock Gnaws Away at Los Angeles Days, Census Figures Show.
November 20, 2001... Byline: Beth Barrett Nov. 20--The average commute in Los Angeles -- the nation's most gridlocked city -- rose in the past decade, according to new 2000 Census figures to be released today. Regional planners blamed a continuing failure...

Property Owners Initiate Effort to Boost Tourism in Downtown Los Angeles.
November 20, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 20--With tourism in Los Angeles stifled by a shaky economy and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a coalition of downtown property owners initiated a program Monday to jump-start a sector vital to the region. ...

Ban on Use of Los Angeles Airports for Filming Bothers Entertainment Industry.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Nov. 21--Three months after Los Angeles officials banned television and movie filming at the four city-owned airports, members of the entertainment industry are growing frustrated with the restrictions and...

New Drugs Will Boost Earnings 20 Percent for California-Based Amgen, CEO Says.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 21--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Riding the success of its two recently approved drugs, biotechnology behemoth Amgen Inc. on Tuesday projected earnings per share growth in the low 20 percent range for 2002, double that...

Harry Potter Movie Falls Short of Making Box-Office History.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 21--"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" missed becoming the fastest movie to cross the $100 million mark in ticket sales but the Warner Bros. adventure-fantasy was poised to tie that movie industry record...

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-Based WellPoint Health Networks Expands Yet Again.
November 21, 2001... Nov. 21--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--WellPoint Health Networks Inc. made its second billion-dollar acquisition in little more than a month Tuesday, a deal that expands its reach to the mid-Atlantic and bolsters its standing as one of the nation's...

Los Angeles Plans to Keep Nevada Power-Plant Share.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Nov. 21--LOS ANGELES--Fearful of future problems with electricity supplies, the Los Angeles City Council reversed itself Tuesday and decided to retain a partnership in a Nevada power plant. The 9-5 vote will allow...

Credentials Bring More than Money to California Schoolteachers.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Holly Edwards Nov. 21--Prompted by financial incentives, record numbers of California schoolteachers have earned their profession's highest distinction, with the greatest number coming from the Los Angeles Unified School District,...

Consumer Group Releases Report Warning of Dangerously Loud Toys.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Karen Maeshiro Nov. 21--LANCASTER, Calif.--Two toy fire engines, a Barney music keyboard, a Sesame Street talking CD player and a toy gun are among seven toys that are dangerously loud and could pose a hearing hazard to young...

Travel Fears Alter Southern Californians' Holiday Patterns, Experts Say.
November 21, 2001... Byline: Mariel Garza Nov. 21--Southern Californians prefer drive-away rather than fly-away long weekends this Thanksgiving Day holiday and more people than normal just plan to stay at home, travel industry experts said Tuesday. Los...

Postmaster General Delivers Plea for Americans to Send Holiday Cards.
November 23, 2001... Byline: Bill McAllister Nov. 23--With his round face, blue eyes and chubby cheeks, a younger John Potter would have made a wonderful Christmas card cherub. These days, however, the boyish-faced, 45-year-old Potter, the country's 72nd...

Los Angeles-Area Malls Open Early, Offer Diversions to Lure Customers.
November 23, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 23--Doors open early today at many stores, ringing in one of the most challenging holiday shopping seasons in years for retailers. War and a withering economy stand in the way of a great season, with analysts...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Business Agenda Column.
November 24, 2001... Nov. 24--MEETINGS TUESDAY The Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting at 7 a.m. at 11335 Magnolia Blvd., Suite 2-D, North Hollywood. Call (818) 508-5155 WEDNESDAY The American Business Women's...

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
November 24, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Nov. 24--QUESTION: We have an employee who has been very emotional lately. He is not handling feedback well, and he even cries on occasion. I have been supportive and talked to him about this, but he insists he is fine....

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
November 25, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Nov. 25--Commercial real estate in the Westlake Village area is still a popular investment option in these sluggish economic times. For example, Duesenberg Investment Co., a Los Angeles-based investment group,...

Developer Hopes to Take Historic Site from Los Angeles-Area School District.
November 27, 2001... Byline: Sonia Giordani Nov. 27--Throwing a wrench into the Los Angeles Unified School District's plan to buy the Ambassador Hotel for a school site, a prominent developer has submitted an eleventh-hour proposal to buy the historic property...

Southern California's Economy Takes Slight Hit, Experts Say.
November 27, 2001... Nov. 27--With the nation's economy declared officially Monday to have fallen into recession, analysts said Southern California has fared somewhat better and should rebound by next summer along with the rest of the country. A panel of...

Retail Sales during First Holiday Shopping Weekend Outpace Last Year's Figures.
November 27, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 27--The first weekend of the holiday shopping season brought good news for retailers who posted sales ahead of their pace last year. Nationwide, same-store sales climbed 2.3 percent for the weekend over the...

Southern California Theme Parks Offer Steep Discounts.
November 27, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 27-- Southern California theme parks hoping to lure visitors with bargain-price admission tickets could be rewarded with more loyal customers in the long run, industry experts said Monday. "It's a great way...

Officials Work to Save Los Angeles Airport from Financial Crash.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Nov. 28--The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have taken a heavy toll on the city's finances, with officials estimating Tuesday losses of more than $40 million at Los Angeles International Airport and extra costs of more than...

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-Based Amgen Linking Up with NASA on Shuttle Experiment.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 28--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Amgen Inc. is sending its laboratory aloft as the biotechnology giant partners with NASA to study the effects of space travel on the human skeleton. The project is part of the...

Los Angeles School District Loses to Developer in Battle for Hotel Property.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Sonia Giordani Nov. 28--A prominent Beverly Hills developer -- condemned by the mayor and school officials -- won bankruptcy court approval Tuesday to negotiate the purchase of the historic Ambassador Hotel for $15 million more...

Traffic Soars for Discount Retailers in Softening Economy.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 28--With shoppers minding their money carefully this year, value-oriented retailers are watching traffic soar. Whether in the form of outlets, discounters or off-price stores, the bargain spots are attracting...

Harry Potter Movie Web Site Draws Crowd, Officials Say.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Nov. 28--"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" isn't just red-hot at the nation's box offices -- the official Web site dedicated to the 11-year-old boy wizard and his friends is also burning up the Internet. ...

Glendale, Calif., Officials Consider Housing Subsidies.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Nov. 28--GLENDALE, Calif.--As escalating housing prices put homes and apartments out of residents' reach, officials are mulling a range of options, ranging from incentives for landlords to accept Section 8 tenants to...

Los Angeles County Board Delays Action on Mine.
November 28, 2001... Byline: Heather MacDonald Nov. 28--SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--A last-minute curveball forced the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to delay action Tuesday on a proposed sand and gravel pit in Soledad Canyon and might prompt a...

Lancaster, Calif., Council Approves Plan to Keep Costco.
November 29, 2001... Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Nov. 29--LANCASTER, Calif.--The city will give up a slice of Lancaster City Park to keep Costco and its $470,000 a year in sales tax revenue. Capping two years of controversy, City Council members voted for...

Thousand Oaks, Calif., Cultural Park Project to Open in December.
November 29, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Nov. 29--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Southern California residents soon won't have far to travel to sniff roses and dahlias in an English garden or peek at a pagoda and koi pond in a Japanese garden. The nonprofit Hogan...

U.S.-Based Fruit Companies Face Falling Prices.
November 29, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Nov. 29--For fruit growers, a rotten economy isn't the only worry cropping up. Amid the groves and jungles of the world, political turmoil and competition has changed the landscape for U.S.-based fruit companies....

Civic-Minded Jewelry Store in Van Nuys, Calif., Begins Liquidating Inventory.
November 29, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Nov. 29--VAN NUYS, Calif.--Continental Coin and Jewelry, a San Fernando Valley landmark for nearly four decades, is cashing out, the victim of the very trustworthiness customers had come to know. The store, widely...