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

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

Daily News, Los Angeles, On the Job Column.
October 1, 2001... Byline: Ken Lloyd Oct. 1--QUESTION: How should I deal with an employee who always tattles? Whenever his co-workers even come close to doing something questionable, he rushes to my office to tell me. I appreciate his concern, but I don't...

Burbank, Calif., Airport Board Approves Sale of Land Proposed for New Terminal.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Barbara Jones Oct. 2--BURBANK, Calif.--The Burbank Airport Authority voted unanimously Monday to sell 22 acres of former Lockheed property -- land proposed for a passenger terminal -- to a Boston-based industrial real estate...

Chatsworth, Calif.-Based Data Storage Firm to Use New Funding for Expansion.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Oct. 2--CHATSWORTH, Calif.--DataDirect Networks Inc. completed a $9.9 million round of funding on Monday, money the company says will help it expand. While many companies are being pinched by the economic downturn,...

Former NBA Star Magic Johnson Buys Santa Monica, Calif.-Based Fast Food Chain.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 2--Legendary Los Angeles Laker-turned-entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a Fatburger customer for 20 years, has placed the ultimate to-go order: He's buying the whole chain, fat fries and all. Terms of the...

Los Angeles to Consider Changes to Guidelines for Home Expansions.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Oct. 2--Hoping to avert the problem of "mansionization," the city staff is recommending a more stringent review for homeowners who want to add a second story to their single-story houses. At its meeting tonight,...

Los Angeles City Council to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Home Development.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Oct. 2--The City Council on Wednesday will open up public hearings on a 250-home development proposed on Walnut Canyon Road. The city Planning Commission has unanimously recommended the council approve the...

Council Likely to Approve Glendale, Calif., Skateboard Park.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Naush Boghossian Oct. 2--GLENDALE, Calif.--After seven years of failed attempts, the city is poised tonight to approve plans for a $300,000 skateboard park that would cater to fans of the popular sport who have been practicing...

Southern California Utility Employees Balk at Ban on Vehicle Flags.
October 2, 2001... Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Oct. 2--Dozens of Southern California Gas Co. workers rebelled Monday against an order to remove hook-on American flags from the windows of company vehicles. Since the Sept. 11 atrocities, Americans have...

Palmdale, Calif., Aircraft Modification Employees Await Word on Future.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Oct. 3--PALMDALE, Calif.--SR Technics' 500-employee Palmdale aircraft modification plant continued operating as usual Tuesday despite the shutdown of Swissair, a sister company. SR Technic's top Palmdale...

Traffic to Remain Grounded at Los Angeles Airport.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Dana Bartholomew Oct. 3--Just days after urging the airport commission to reopen LAX to private traffic and parking, Mayor James Hahn announced Tuesday that the central terminal area will remain closed indefinitely because of...

Burbank, Calif., Businessman Gives Bonuses in Effort to Boost Local Economy.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Naush Boghossian Oct. 3--BURBANK, Calif.--In a spirit of patriotism sparked by last month's terrorist attacks, a Burbank businessman has launched a campaign to re-energize the local economy by dipping into his own pocket. Dave...

Media Choppers Return in Limited Capacity to Los Angeles Skies.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Dominic Berbeo Oct. 3--VAN NUYS, Calif.--News media helicopters are partially returning to Los Angeles skies -- though still limited from zipping off to some hot spots -- but some residents say the break from live traffic and car...

Lancaster, Calif.-Based Motor Home Maker Cuts Its Work Force in Half.
October 3, 2001... Oct. 3--LANCASTER, Calif.--Motor-home maker Rexhall Industries Inc. revealed Tuesday that it has laid off 200 employees in response to a slumping economy that has worsened following terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. The...

Glendale, Calif.-Area Rent Hikes May Soon Be Mediated.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Oct. 3--GLENDALE, Calif.--Under a proposed rent mediation program that could take effect as soon as December, landlords would be required to notify tenants of their right to appeal rent hikes and could be prosecuted for...

Los Angeles Employers Plan Pay for Reservists.
October 3, 2001... Oct. 3--With the possibility that local government employees will be called to active military duty, the Los Angeles City Council and county Board of Supervisors took steps Tuesday to make sure their reservists will not be financially hurt and...

Writers for Nickelodeon Cable Network to Vote on Forming Union.
October 3, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Oct. 3--Paul Koretz, chairman of the California Assembly Labor Committee, will oversee an election today that seeks union representation for writers of six animated series on the Nickelodeon cable network. The...

Los Angeles Mayor Expresses Concern over Airport Losses.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Oct. 4--Mayor James Hahn, concerned about the personal and economic losses at airline-related industries since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Wednesday he plans to form an economic assessment task force to help...

Los Angeles' Pierce College to Lease Land for New Farm Project.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Mariel Garza Oct. 4--Pierce College took a big step toward revitalizing its farm Wednesday when the Los Angeles Community College District board of trustees voted to allow the campus to lease land for a joint agricultural education...

Playboy Enters New Deal with Chatsworth, Calif.-Based Video Distributor.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 4--CHATSWORTH, Calif.--The Playboy Bunny has hopped back to Image Entertainment for a multiyear partnership to distribute both videos and DVDs. The companies have a long history together, dating back to...

CEO of California-Based Recreational Vehicle Maker Sees `Short-Lived' Slowdown.
October 4, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Oct. 4--LANCASTER, Calif.--The founder and CEO of Rexhall Industries expressed cautious optimism Wednesday that the slowdown in recreational-vehicle orders prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be short-lived....

Los Angeles-Area Entrepreneur Markets Hispanic-American Beer.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 5--VAN NUYS, Calif.--Right now, Johnny Hernandez is selling beer from a tiny office near Van Nuys Airport, but he's got plans. "One day, I want every beer connoisseur to have an Otra in their icebox," he...

Audit Slams Los Angeles' Debt-Recovery Efforts.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Oct. 5--City Controller Laura Chick issued a scathing audit Thursday of the city's efforts to collect $80 million it's owed, saying more money is spent trying to get the debts paid than the pittance that is actually...

Trade Group: Low Rates Make Homes Affordable for More Los Angeles Residents.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 5--A low-interest-rate environment drove a slight increase in housing affordability in California and the Los Angeles area during August even as prices escalated, a trade group said Thursday. Statewide,...

Pumpkin Prices Jump in Southern California.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Dave Melendi Oct. 5--Diseases plaguing pumpkin patches nationwide are causing retail prices of the Halloween trademark to jump by as much as 25 percent in Southern California. "Pumpkins are getting harder and harder to grow,"...

Upcoming Road Work Will Force Los Angeles-Area Drivers to Adjust.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Holly Edwards Oct. 5--Travelers throughout the San Fernando Valley region will have to navigate sporadic freeway closures and other obstacles thanks to $4 billion in highway maintenance and construction projects scheduled in...

Detectives Find Old Military Rocket in Lancaster, Calif., Yard.
October 5, 2001... Byline: Greg Botonis Oct. 5--LANCASTER, Calif.--Detectives investigating the discovery of toxic chemicals at a downtown home got called next door for another alarming find: an old military rocket a block from Antelope Valley High School....

Daily News, Los Angeles, Business People Column.
October 8, 2001... Oct. 8--EXECUTIVE NAMED: Geoffrey Weiss has been named vice president of Hollywood Records. Praised by new boss Rob Cavallo for his music business sense and his proficiency for making souffles, Weiss will handle artists and repertoire for the...

Longtime Lancaster, Calif., Clothier Packs In Spurs, Boots.
October 8, 2001... Byline: Peggy Hager Oct. 8--LANCASTER, Calif.--A downtown Lancaster business landmark for nearly 30 years is getting ready to close its doors. Art Ekizian is closing The Westerner clothing store and retiring after Christmas, done in by...

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-Based Biotech Firm Amgen Weathers Economy's Ills.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Oct. 9--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--Before the Sept. 11 attack in New York City and Washington, the U.S. economy was teetering on a recessionary fault line. All the elements of an economy sinking deeper into financial...

Pasadena, Calif., Landmark Eatery to Close Permanently on New Year's Eve.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Becky Oskin Oct. 9--PASADENA, Calif.--For decades, Beadle's Cafeteria has sold its ample portions at slim-pickins' prices. But come the end of the year, the $3.65 chicken pie and other home-style platters will be off the menu...

Calabasas, Calif.-Area School District Seeks Approval for Land Deal.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Oct. 9--CALABASAS, Calif.--The Las Virgenes Unified School District board is expected today to approve an agreement to buy four acres from Westlake Village for access to an elementary school that will be relocated. ...

Van Nuys, Calif.-Based Direct Marketing Firm GenesisIntermedia Regroups.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Oct. 9--VAN NUYS, Calif.--Troubles continue to plague direct-marketing company GenesisIntermedia Inc., which confirmed Monday that it is now the subject of a probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In...

Universal Studios Provides Hands-On Science Lessons for School Children.
October 9, 2001... Byline: Sonia Giordani Oct. 9--Where in the world would public school children head to a movie studio for hands-on science lessons with wild animals? Try Universal Studios Hollywood. A capuchin monkey called Crystal and a...

Tight Security Checks Now Routine at Los Angeles Sites.
October 9, 2001... Oct. 9--As the nation went on high alert in the aftermath of U.S. attacks on Afghanistan, authorities in Los Angeles tightened security Monday at hundreds of buildings and public facilities in an effort to prevent terrorism. From...

Voter Pass Controversial Plan to Limit Growth at Burbank, Calif., Airport.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Oct. 10--BURBANK, Calif.--With the highest voter turnout in a municipal election in 20 years, local residents overwhelmingly passed Measure A -- a controversial initiative to limit growth at Burbank Airport, according to...

Los Angeles Airport Parking Lots Will Reopen upon Final Clearance.
October 10, 2001... Oct. 10--Los Angeles International Airport cleared the way Tuesday to open the central terminal area within weeks to private vehicles but only to use the short-term lots for parking and passenger pickups and drop-offs. When the reopening...

Banks Becoming Less Willing to Loan to Small Firms, Business Groups Say.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Oct. 10--Lenders are sizing up small businesses with greater scrutiny as a finicky economy makes securing a loan more difficult. "We are starting to see banks tightening credit. Businesses are finding it difficult...

Los Angeles' Revenue Slide May Continue, Officials Say.
October 10, 2001... Oct. 10--Los Angeles faces a double whammy of slumping tax revenues and rising police overtime and legal costs, officials said Tuesday. With the local economy slowing even before Sept. 11, Los Angeles has lost millions of dollars in...

Calabasas, Calif.-Based Mortgage Lender Gets Flood of Loan Applications.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 10--CALABASAS, Calif.--Countrywide Credit Industries Inc. on Tuesday reported a record number of loan applications and loans in the pipeline during September, thanks to a low interest rate environment. It...

Forces Move to Guard Los Angeles-Area Water Supply.
October 10, 2001... Byline: Bill Hillburg Oct. 10--WASHINGTON--Public access has been halted, extra security is in place, official Web sites have seen taken off the Internet and officials are seeking federal funds for a massive effort to protect Southern...

Burbank, Calif., Officials Consider Impact of Plan to Limit Airport Growth.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Oct. 11--BURBANK, Calif.--In the wake of the overwhelming victory for Measure A -- a controversial initiative to limit growth at Burbank Airport -- city and airport officials were trying on Wednesday to figure out what...

Many Still Doubt Airport Security, New Survey Shows.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Dana Bartholomew Oct. 11--With air traffic down sharply since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, nearly one-third of potential Thanksgiving fliers say they're so afraid that they'll either hit the highways or stay home, according to a...

California State University Turns to Real World Experience for Students.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 11--NORTHRIDGE, Calif.--J. David Power didn't learn the tricks of the research trade in the classroom, but he hopes to pass them on to California State University, Northridge, students. As a...

Former Los Angeles Mayoral Hopeful to Head Development near Wetlands.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Oct. 11--Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Steve Soboroff was named on Wednesday as president of the Playa Vista development, the controversial and ambitious plan to build a new residential and commercial project near...

Los Angeles Mayor Says City's Water Is Safe.
October 11, 2001... Byline: Holly Edwards Oct. 11--SUN VALLEY, Calif.--Aiming to allay fears and promote the public's sense of security, Mayor James Hahn on Wednesday declared the city's water supply safe from terrorist attack and encouraged residents to...

Screen Actors Guild Members to Elect New President.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Oct. 12--Ballots are being mailed out today for the election of the Screen Actors Guild's new national officers, marking the first time in the guild's history that the two leading presidential candidates are women....

Lines, Delays Await Travelers at Los Angeles Airport.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Mariel Garza Oct. 12--It's 9:40 a.m. on a hazy Thursday morning when Eileen Haskell, her daughter and her sister-in-law arrive at the shuttle depot at Parking Lot C -- two hours before their scheduled takeoff from Los Angeles...

Palmdale, Calif., College Touts Partnership in Aircraft Power-Plant Program.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Jim Skeen Oct. 12--PALMDALE, Calif.--Highlighting a partnership for "Aerospace Valley," Antelope Valley College and aircraft-modification company SR Technics America sponsored an open house Thursday for the college's airframe and...

Burbank, Calif., Officials Stymie Building Permits for Airport Projects.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Oct. 12--BURBANK, Calif.--Unsure how to enforce newly approved Measure A -- an initiative they believe may be illegal -- city officials announced Thursday that they have stopped processing building permits for projects at...

NBC Acquires Spanish-Language Broadcaster Telemundo.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Oct. 12--NBC made official Thursday its plans to buy Telemundo Communications Group Inc., the second-largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the U.S., for nearly $2 billion in cash and stock. NBC officials said...

Meetings to Resume in Simi Valley, Calif., for Former Nuclear Research Workers.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Beth Barrett Oct. 12--SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--The federal Labor and Energy departments' public meetings for former Rocketdyne and other Southland Cold War workers who may have become ill as a result of their jobs have been rescheduled...

Sales Lag for Chatsworth, Calif.-Based Microturbine Maker.
October 12, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 12--CHATSWORTH, Calif.--Shares of microturbine maker Capstone Turbine Corp. rebounded slightly from a 52-week low on Thursday, even though several analysts had downgraded the stock in response to an earnings...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
October 14, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 14--VAN NUYS, Calif.--TRAVEL FIRM PLANS MOVE: Brendan Tours Inc., one of the nation's biggest world tour operators, suffered a huge hit after the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks on New York City and Washington,...

Los Angeles Officials to Select Developer for Senior Housing Plan.
October 15, 2001... Byline: Cecilia Chan Oct. 15--City officials today will begin interviewing five developers who have submitted proposals to build a 57-unit affordable senior complex at 367 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The proposed three-story apartment with...

`I Love Lucy' Merchandise Posts Strong Sales, Licensing Firm Says.
October 15, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 15--Fifty years ago today, America fell in love with Lucy. A half-century after iconic redhead Lucille Ball first graced the small screen, the Lucy name is still going strong. Reruns of "I Love Lucy" are...

Los Angeles Airport's New USO Center Will Be Named after Bob Hope.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Dominic Berbeo Oct. 16--HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Officials launched a fund-raising campaign Monday for a new USO center and museum at Los Angeles International Airport that will be named after the most famous troop-pleaser himself: Bob...

California Governor Approves Millions for Community Colleges.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Oct. 16--To the joy of cash-strapped community colleges, Gov. Gray Davis has signed a bill to restore $46.9 million -- a fraction of what he cut from the 2001 state budget -- to fund maintenance, instructional equipment...

Economy Fuels Brea, Calif.-Based Furniture Retailer's Sell-Off.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 16--The sofas that sat in Krause's Furniture showrooms for weeks are now flying out the door, only a little too late. The same tight retail market that doomed the retailer is now translating into a speedy...

California Hospitals Prepared for Small-Scale Breakouts.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Oct. 16--With fear sweeping the country over the threat of more terrorist attacks, local and state officials urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and promised to take steps to deal with potential problems....

Deadline Looms for Filing Insurance Claims for Northridge, Calif., Quake.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Jason Kandel Oct. 16--About 50 San Fernando Valley-area residents attended a meeting Monday about a Dec. 31 deadline to file lawsuits or claims against insurance companies for damages stemming from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake....

Phillips Tightens Security at California Refineries.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Helen Guthrie Smith Oct. 16--Employees, including the bosses, can no longer drive through the gates at Phillips 66 refineries in Wilmington and Carson. They have to park outside and walk in, said Andy Perez, a spokesman for the...

Hollywood Businesses Suffer as Anxious Tourists Stay Away.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Oct. 16--HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--In the weeks just before its highly awaited revival, Hollywood Boulevard has become a boulevard of broken dreams, with visitors scarce since last month's terrorist attacks. Tour buses...

Critics Assail Proposal for Transit Zone in California's San Fernando Valley.
October 16, 2001... Byline: Troy Anderson Oct. 16--Opponents of a proposed separate transit system for the San Fernando Valley denounced the plan Monday, calling it a power grab that would not lower costs or provide better service. "It's all about...

Burbank, Calif., Officials Sue to Overturn Voters' Ban on Airport Growth.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Helen Gao Oct. 17--BURBANK, Calif.--A week after voters approved an initiative to limit growth at Burbank Airport, city officials filed suit Tuesday to overturn Measure A -- saying it is ambiguous and unconstitutional. The...

Southern California Leaders Hope to Establish Trade Office in Armenia.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Naush Boghossian Oct. 17--GLENDALE, Calif.--The first Southern California hearing about a plan to create a trade office in Armenia drew dozens of people Tuesday, including a state assemblyman and several local business owners who...

Cheesecake Factory to Lease Building for Corporate Headquarters in California.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 17--CALABASAS, Calif.--The Cheesecake Factory Inc. on Tuesday said it would gobble up a big chunk of one of the last buildings at Lost Hills Business Center for its new corporate headquarters. The company...

Doctor Says Coffee May Lower Risk of Gallstones and Parkinson's Disease.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Lisa Mascaro Oct. 17--Go ahead, have a cup. A researcher from the University of California, San Francisco, concludes that a morning cup of joe may not be as bad as critics have said. Along with helping to pry open the eyes,...

Southern California Mail Room Staffs Use Extra Care.
October 17, 2001... Oct. 17--Worried mail room workers across Southern California donned latex gloves, disposable masks and adopted other precautions Tuesday in the face of the threat of bioterrorist attacks elsewhere in the nation. Cases of anthrax exposure...

Las Angeles Asks Private Company to Conduct Polygraph Tests on Police Recruits.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Oct. 17--In an effort to speed up the police recruiting process, the City Council on Tuesday approved a $615,000 contract with a company to conduct polygraph tests on new recruits. After the Los Angeles Police...

Spanish-Language Television Voice Dubbing Actors Organize into Union.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Greg Hernandez Oct. 17--BURBANK, Calif.--Inside a small sound studio, Humberto Amor intently watches a screen playing the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." Amor is paying particular close attention to the dialogue of the...

Baltimore-Based Firm Wants to Establish Certification of Dietary Supplements.
October 17, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Oct. 17--To bolster credibility, dietary supplements are seeking seals of approval amid complaints some manufacturers package anything but the herb on the label. "All vitamins are not created equal," said Barbara...

Residents of California's San Fernando Valley Organize against Secession.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Dominic Berbeo Oct. 18--VAN NUYS, Calif.--An organized voice for San Fernando Valley residents opposed to breaking up the city was born Wednesday as a group called One Los Angeles held its first public meeting to plan how to keep...

Los Angeles-Area Retailers to Hire Fewer Holiday Workers This Season.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 18--Santa better start loading up the sleigh early this year; there won't be as many little helpers this holiday season. Malls are already trotting out their decor and seasonal shops have begun to open, but...

Predictions Made about Residential Real Estate Market in California.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 18--California's residential real estate market is expected to weather war and a weak economy with sales declining slightly next year and prices continuing their record climb, a trade group said Wednesday in...

Woodland Hills, Calif., Chamber of Commerce Discusses Possible New City.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Harrison Sheppard Oct. 18--WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--The grass-roots battle for the hearts and minds of San Fernando Valley voters came to the West Valley on Wednesday, as secession supporters and opponents clashed at a forum before...

Decline in Tourism to Make Big Impact on Los Angeles-Area Economy.
October 18, 2001... Byline: Rick Orlov Oct. 18--Los Angeles County's economy will lose $2 billion in revenue by June and thousands of people will lose their jobs because of an unprecedented falloff in tourism and travel since the Sept. 11 attacks, officials...

Los Angeles Airport Will Reopen to Private Cars.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Jason Kandel Oct. 19--Los Angeles International Airport's central terminal, closed to passenger cars since the terrorist attacks, could reopen as soon as Saturday under a plan expected to be announced by Mayor James Hahn this...

Purchase Expands Thousand Oaks, Calif.-Based WellPoint Health Networks.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Oct. 19--THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--WellPoint Health Networks Inc. said Thursday it agreed to buy RightChoice Managed Care for $1.3 billion, a move that expands the insurer's reach into the Midwest. The deal entitles...

Hollywood Enlists for Duty in War against Terrorism, Entertainment Leaders Say.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Oct. 19--Sixty years after Hollywood joined the war against the Axis powers, Washington and the entertainment industry are joining forces in the war on terrorism, industry leaders said Thursday. A handful of...

Medical Response Company's Los Angeles-Area Workers Plan Daylong Strike.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Dominic Berbeo Oct. 19--GLENDALE, Calif.--Demanding better salaries and benefits, 150 paramedics and technicians for the nation's largest privately owned emergency response company plan to hold a one-day strike and picket today...

Workers May Strike at Screen Industry Fund's California Retirement Campuses.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Dominic Berbeo Oct. 19--WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--Members of the union for 450 nurses, techs and other workers at Motion Picture and Television Fund facilities voted to strike if a new contract is not reached by Oct. 31 when the...

Los Angeles-Area Toy Companies Report Jump in Sales.
October 19, 2001... Byline: Brent Hopkins Oct. 19--Playing around is turning out to be big business for local toy firms, who reported hefty earnings on Thursday. Malibu's Jakks Pacific Inc. saw income jump more than $1 million, El Segundo's Mattel...

Daily News, Los Angeles, Real Estate Column.
October 21, 2001... Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Oct. 21--WINNETKA, Calif.--Our economy is in trouble, and we're at war. But this unsettling combination won't keep John Kunkel from house shopping. The Winnetka resident is willing to spend between $450,000...

California Federal Bank's Ad Campaign Goes for `Average' Look.
October 22, 2001... Byline: Evan Pondel Oct. 22--Elvis Schmiedekamp got all shook up when he learned that his face was the new hook for California Federal Bank's advertising campaign. "I was truly apprehensive," he said. "I'm just a customer service...