Local News: April

Actor/comedian Dane Cook’s half brother was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly stealing millions from the funny man.  Darryl McCauley was charged with eight counts of larceny over $250 and forgery and larceny by continuous scheme.  Prosecutors said that McCauley had forged a $3 million check written from Cook’s account to himself.  Reports say that McCauley  pulled off the allegedly scheme even while Cook was paying him $12,500 a month to be his personal business manager.  McCauley continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Get ready users of Southern California Edison Company because depending on who is calculating your monthly electric bill, if you are a residential customer, you will likely see an increase due to a recent rate hike approved by utility regulators.  California Public Utilities Commission president, Michael Peevey said the rate hike would add $2 to the average monthly residential bill of $85 within Edison’s service area covering Central and much of Southern California, but not the city of Los Angeles.  Consumer groups say rate raises could possibly double the estimate given by Edison and the PUC in 2009.  Homes using a lot of energy will pay even more than that. 

The decision allows Edison to raise rates by less than 2% a year in 2010 and 2011, but the amount could be affected by changes in the price of natural gas used to run power plants or electricity bought from other generators.  The increase is less than what Edison sought, but more than an administrative law judge recommended.

Edison reports that 65% of its 4.3 million residential customers will see little or no change in their monthly charges because they participate in special programs for low-income families or consume little power.  Business charges also will increase, but neither the PUC nor Edison offered any estimates.  Edison will start collecting the new rates April 2009.

Actor T.R. Knight was involved in a three-car accident in Hollywood.  He was going eastbound on Hollywood Boulevard and the other car was going westbound when they collided. Knight was not injured but a man and a woman were taken to the hospital by ambulance.  Police investigated who was at fault, but no citations were given.

President Obama called his visit to Los Angeles a wrap, but not before he made a talk show television appearance hoping to boost his ratings by  popping in to the “The Tonight Show” hosted by Jay Leno.  He dished with Leno and the millions watching about his life in the White House.   Topics included everything from the desperate search for a family dog to pickup basketball games under the watchful eyes of Secret Service agents.

“I don’t get the hard fouls I used to,” Obama said.  Obama’s visit to the nation’s most populous state served as a nice ‘thank you’ for the sizable amount of votes he picked up here on election day in November.

Almost a month after controversy erupted over Corona del Mar High School’s reported cancellation and then all of a sudden rescheduling of a theatrical production of “Rent,” the American Civil Liberties Union sued school officials for fostering a “sexist” and “homophobic” atmosphere.  Although the complaint cites the show’s brief cancellation as an example, much of it focused on the aftermath of a Facebook video posted in January in which three Corona del Mar football players threatened to rape and kill a female classmate and also used slurs to describe homosexuals.  The video was posted on the online profile of a fourth student, who threatened the young woman at school said reports.  The video has been removed, but ACLU officials cite little that the school did to punish the boys or for that matter protect the young woman, even after her parents expressed dire concerns over her safety.  ”School and district officials, through their action and inaction, have not only failed to take steps to address this hostile environment, but they have contributed to it and given sanction to it,” stated the 36-page complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court.  ”These allegations are very serious and the district will utilize its best efforts to ascertain the truth of these matters, as well as to be sure there are procedures to promptly resolve discrimination and harassment disputes.” stated district Supertindent Jeffrey Hubbard. 

A Riverside County jury returned a verdict of death for Raymond Lee Oyler for starting the 2006 Esperanza fire in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains that killed five firefighters, destroyed 34 homes and charred more than 41,000 acres.  The decision camedown after barely a day of deliberation.  Firefighters and the families of the victims were thrilled with the verdict saying that it offered a measure of justice for a henious crime that would affect their lives forever.  “For the last 2 1/2 years, life has been unbearable,” stated Gloria Ayala, the mother of Daniel Hoover-Najera, one of the firefighters who was killed in the blaze.  ”Danny is no longer down the hallway, no longer a conversation away.  This loss is almost too much, but now justice will be served.”  She had a message for Oyler.  ”I harbor no anger, only hope that you understand the depth of pain you caused us and your family,” Ayala said, as she stood with the families of other victims outside the courthouse.  ”More importantly, I forgive you for the act that took my son’s life.”  Judge W. Charles Morgan will sentenced Oyler to death or life in prison without parole at a hearing on June 5, 2009.  Oyler (38) was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, 20 counts of arson and 17 counts of using an incendiary device.  Prosecutors said the Beaumont mechanic had set fires throughout the San Gorgonio Pass in the summer of 2006 leading to the Esperanza fire.