HANDS ON THE WHEEL
January 1, 2009 it became illegal to text message while driving in California.
Penalties For Texting While Driving.
Similar to the cell phone law that went into effect July 1, 2008; the base fine for a first violation is $20; subsequent violations are $50. The total cost of the citation is significantly higher than the base fine, with the addition of local court costs and program fees. The penalty varies from county to county.
New Years Eve Murder in Bel Air
Police arrested Gilbert Llewelyn McDonald, 34, in the shooting death of a onetime local basketball star Felix L. Lang Jr., 28, at a New Year’s Eve party at a rented Coldwater Canyon mansion. The L.A. Valley College basketball star’s body was found on a curb across the street from the four-story stucco home on New Year’s Day. The shooting occurred near Harvard-Westlake School and St. Michael All Angels Episcopal Church. This is another incident involving party houses,mansions that host illegal, professionally catered and paid events. Sources say Lang, acting as a self-appointed bouncer got into an argument over a taco plate with McDonald, and was killed about 4 A.M. as the party came to a close. As themen started fighting the suspect produced a handgun, and the weapon discharged, but no one was hit at that time. Moments later, the suspect pointed the handgun at the victim and fired several rounds at close range. It was McDonald’s decision to fire the second time that prompted police to book him on suspicion of murder. It did not appear to be a case of self-defense, police stated. The home was rented by three men.
Car Racing On The Pomona Freeway
Two vehicles racing on the Pomona Freeway in East L.A. caused a fired up six-car pileup closing westbound lanes for an hour. The crash occurredwest of the Long Beach Freeway near Indiana Street and happened when one driver lost control of his vehicle, causing other cars to collide and burst into flames. Bystanders helped pull people from the flames, and one person was taken to the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, in critical condition.
Oldest Person On Earth
Gertrude Baizes of Los Angeles is the oldest person on earth—114-year-old. Previously holding the esteemed title was Maria de Jesus (115-year-old) from Portugal, who recently passed away.
Gaza Supporters Rally In Westwood
Supporters of both sides of the conflict in Gaza held a round of boisterous but, peaceful demonstrations in front of the Federal Building in Westwood. The groups were separated by dozens of police officers. At a pro-Palestinian rally that began early in the day, hundreds of demonstrators lined the curb on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood waving flags and posters. Some read “End the Occupation. Start the peace.” Another proclaimed—“Gaza = Auschwitz.”
New Report Card System For L.A. Parents
Parents in L.A. will start receiving a one-page report card regarding their child’s school progress. The report provides a more accessible picture of their child’s school work. For high schoolers, the report card provides dropout figures, and shows how many students are proficient in English and math, and whether that number is going up or down. L.A. Unified has been collecting student information for about a decade.
Hooters Goes Back To Court
Hooters honchos are fired up at a lawsuit brought by whom they consider “a group of morons” claiming sexual discrimination. Restaurant higher-ups say they have a legal right to hire who they want to wait on customers. This isn’t the first battle for the restaurant known as much for good-looking female help as for its menu. Hooters said that it has fought this battle before and won and plans on doing the same this time. They say the suit is brought by a desire to make an easy cash settlement.
Great White Steamer Is Put To Rest
The small island town ofAvalon finally decided that it didn’t want the SS Catalina, which has for 50 years ferried more than 25million people to its shores. The Port of LosAngeles, and harbors in San Diego, Vancouver, Honolulu and the Port of Ensenada also agreed. So, Mexican demolition workers have put an end to the three-decade campaign to preserve the steamship by cutting the 302-foot vessel in pieces for scrap. The huge vessel owned by onetime Catalina Island landowner and chewing gum mogul William Wrigley, cost approximately $1 million to build and made daily trips between Wilmington and Avalon between the years of 1924 through 1975.
Open Gates To Celebrity Homes
A ruling for Beverly Park, an exclusive residential area in L.A. allows nannies, gardeners and those working in the area to enter and exit through the gates that lead to celebrity homes. The area has a North and South side, and those on the North prohibited workers on the South from using their gates. An L.A. County Superior Court judge ordered a peaceful union of North and South, but Northers plan to appeal.
BHSD Changes Enrollment Rules
Students who move out of the BH school district in high school can now stay on through 12th grade if the student was enrolled in BHUS District for four years, and attended at least one semester of high school. Students in seventh grade can finish through eighth, and students in K-5, can finish through fifth grade—as long as they have been enrolled in the BHUS District for four years. The decision will be up for a final vote which is set for a later date.
Lawn Ornaments & Drug Smugglers
Authorities busted a drug ring using concrete donkey statues to smuggle $1.5 million worth of marijuana into Los Angeles. Some 15 people were arrested in s scheme to bring 1,800 pounds of pot in 200 concrete burros. Police discovered the drugs in a shipping container at the Port of Long Beach. The ‘donkey’ shipment from Mexico was sent to a fictitious business in Fontana. Acting on a lead U.S. customs officials found the contraband and alerted approximately a dozen agencies of the Los Angeles Border Enforcement Security Task Force.
Bus Ride Rate Increase
Fare to ride a bus in Orange County increased from $1.25 to $1.50 as Orange County Transportation Authority officially charge higher rates for a second time in 18 years. The OCTA Board of Directors voted the increase in fares. Fuel costs for OCTAjumped 185%since 2005 as the organization faces a short fall of at least $18 million in annual bus operating budget. Increases were necessary because OCTA may fall behind in its “fare-box recovery,” a state requirement that the agency make at least 20 cents on every dollar spent on bus service to receive state funding.
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon In Jail
Dr. Jan Adams, the non-board certified plastic surgeon responsible for doing surgery on music star Kanye West’s mother the day before she died, received a one year jail sentence after rolling over to a charge that he drove drunk last year. Adams pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of DUI over an incident occurring in the Bay area last summer where he was cited driving on a freeway the wrong way and with a blood alcohol level of .20—more than twice the legal limit.
State Offices Take An Unpaid Day
Some 200,000 workers took their first unpaid day off as a result of CA’s fiscal crisis. Californians can’t take a driver’s test, appeal a rejected unemployment claim or conduct business at many state office buildings. Adding to the confusion of residents, some other state services and facilities will stay open as usual.
