Archive for January 30th, 2013

MAP: Summer prep and refinery upkeep help drive up SoCal gas prices
Business & Economy | | January 30 2013, 4:29 PMWhy are gas prices spiking lately? Refiners are switching to cleaner burning summer blends, and some refineries are down for maintenance.

Calif. wins extension to reduce prison crowding
Local | | January 30 2013, 9:21 AMCalifornia fails to meet prison population cap, but judges gave the state a six-month extension.

In China, the government isn't the only spy game in town
US & World | | January 30 2013, 8:48 AMFormer journalist Qi Hong has helped many detect bugs and hidden cameras planted by others. In one year, his bug hunt turned up more than 300 devices.

PHOTOS: High-tech cargo airship being built in Tustin, California
Local | | January 30 2013, 7:39 AMThe airship is undergoing testing this month and must go through several more rounds of flight testing before it could be used in a disaster zone or anywhere else.

NRA's LaPierre, Giffords to testify at senate gun control hearing
US & World | | January 30 2013, 6:51 AMThe national debate over gun laws that has taken on added urgency since last year's mass shootings takes center stage on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

Flu season at its peak across Southern California
http://www.scpr.org/archive | | January 30 2013, 6:27 AMIn Los Angeles County, the department of public health is reporting that the flu has killed four residents, all of whom were 65 years and older. Other counties have also reported deaths.

US economy shrinks, ending trend of slow, steady growth
Business & Economy | | January 30 2013, 5:55 AMThe U.S. economy was hurt by the biggest cut in defense spending in 40 years, fewer exports and sluggish growth in company stockpiles.

San Bernardino is not having a very good week
The Breakdown | | January 30 2013, 9:05 PMThe bankrupt city is trying to get its financial house in order - even as it struggles with a troubled economy and the foreclosure crisis.

Eric Garcetti announces entertainment industry endorsements
Represent! | | January 30 2013, 5:39 PMThe mayoral candiate's campaign released the names of 200 actors, producers and writers who are supporting him for the city’s top billing.

Ron Jeremy has emergency surgery in LA; Twitter overflows with NSFW reaction
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 5:12 PMRon Jeremy, one of the biggest names in pornography, has undergone surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a near-heart aneurysm.

Qualcomm beats Wall Street earnings expectations
The Breakdown | | January 30 2013, 5:04 PMThe San Diego chipmaker made investors very, very happy in early 2013 and revised expectations for it financial performance in the upcoming quarter.

Avery Dennison makes profit, is selling office products unit
The Breakdown | | January 30 2013, 4:58 PMThe labelmaking giant turned in an impressive financial performance and announced that it's leaving highlighters and markers behind.

7 California Republicans propose training school staff to use guns
Pass / Fail | | January 30 2013, 4:26 PMAssemblyman Donnelly said Wednesday that he introduced AB 202 in response to the December shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that killed 20 children and six adults.

LA Catholic archdiocese reverses on priest file redactions
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 4:09 PML.A.'s Catholic Archdiocese says it will turn over 30,000 pages of files without blacking out the names of leaders who decided how to handle priests accused of sex abuse.

Firefighters' union endorses Wendy Greuel for mayor
Represent! | | January 30 2013, 3:19 PMSupport from UFLAC Local 112 could mean more money and exposure for the candidate. The union has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in past mayoral elections.

Anaheim comic book store robbed of key pieces of comics history
Without A Net | | January 30 2013, 3:10 PMBeach Ball Comics in Anaheim was robbed Tuesday night of books like a Stan Lee-signed Amazing Spider-Man #1 and a Superman comic signed by Superman's creators.

Patt's Hats: Lagerfeld, fake fur and military chic
Patt Morrison | | January 30 2013, 2:53 PMI truly did not dress this way as an homage to our women in uniform, and, soon, in combat. Nor was it a subliminal nod to the interview we had scheduled to tape today about a new genre of military erotica – we’ll let you know when that will be on the air.

Convention on breastfeeding begins in Anaheim
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 2:02 PMPhysicians, nurses, lactation consultants, nutritionists, advocates and moms will discuss how breastfeeding is promoted -- and undermined.

Law regulating LA's group homes sent back to working group
Represent! | | January 30 2013, 1:58 PMA proposal to regulate group homes in the city of Los Angeles is subject to more study after neighborhood and social service groups voiced concerns.

Milestone for Santa Monica Mtns and Simi Hills bobcat study
Off-Ramp | | January 30 2013, 1:57 PM"One of the most striking findings from this study is the discovery of a deadly mange epidemic, as well as a correlated exposure to anti-coagulant rat poisons."

Country star Emmylou Harris charged with hit-and-run in LA
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 1:33 PMThe Grammy-winning singer was charged Wednesday for failing to exchange information with a driver whose car she hit on a freeway on Oct. 1.

Salut! Cal State Fresno revamps wine-maker program
Pass / Fail | | January 30 2013, 1:07 PMThe university will get $1 million donation to improve wine-making degree program.

Your toddler knows what you're thinking
Pass / Fail | | January 30 2013, 10:56 AMThe ability to reason has an enormous impact on how both adults and children understand, evaluate and accept what they are taught -- how we come to know the things that we know.

BlackBerry 10 unveiled, RIM changes name (Photos)
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 10:26 AMRIM is promising a speedier device, a superb typing experience and the ability to keep work and personal identities separate. Previews have gotten favorable reviews on blogs.

In immigration news: Obama vs. Senate reform plans, what's different this time, an immigration debate glossary, more
Multi-American | | January 30 2013, 10:08 AMObama vs. Senate immigration reform plans: Differences in the details - Southern California Public Radio The White House and Senate immigration plans announced this week share common principles, including more border security and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Maven's Morning Coffee: a city council race in the Valley
Represent! | | January 30 2013, 8:06 AMToday is Wednesday, Jan. 30 and headlines include a city council race in the San Fernando Valley, no endorsement from SEIU, and a look at the city attorney.

The dog ate my productivity: 'Puppy Bowl IX' locker room cam is streaming joy
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 8:00 AMStreaming from the locker room every pregame frolick, nibble, nap, and prance, Animal Planet's answer to the Super Bowl has all the tiny canine action. Meet the pups.

UPDATE: La Cienega Boulevard in Baldwin Hills reopens after it was closed for repairs
The Latest | | January 30 2013, 7:07 AMCrews were still working on the road early Wednesday morning and opened it at about 7 a.m. They are still trying to determine what caused it to buckle.

Garcetti, Greuel battle for key SEIU union endorsement
Represent! | | January 30 2013, 5:43 AMAfter several rounds of voting, the executive board is expected to meet next week to decide if the union will endorse a candidate.
AirTalk®

Sibling rivalry and the 'SuperBro-wl'
| January 30 2013, 4:30 PMYou’re born, and your life is great. Then, you get a little brother or sister and everything changes. Suddenly, time with the family is ripped between the two siblings.

Are human beings headed for extinction?
| January 30 2013, 12:01 PMThe common perception is that as time marches on, the human population will continue to rise. Advances in technology and health will lead to longer lives, and thus the Earth will be burdened by billions upon billions of hungry mouths to feed, both young and old. And not just food, but oil, land, water and other resources will be gobbled up until there isn’t enough to go around.

Is Egypt on the verge of collapse again?
| January 30 2013, 10:51 AMEgypt President Mohamed Morsi has dismissed the violence and told reporters, “What is happening now in Egypt is natural in nations experiencing a shift to democracy,” but as the bodies pile up and the calls for his ouster grow louder, what could be done to shift the course in Egypt?

How do you handle your sick days?
| January 30 2013, 10:47 AMIn the pre-digital days it was okay to just stay home, eat chicken soup, curl up in bed and watch Andy Griffith reruns. Nobody expected you to do anything. But nowadays with our digital interconnection, we feel compelled to keep up with email, participate in conference calls, and work remotely.

Will services like Netflix and Hulu be the Blockbuster of the future?
| January 30 2013, 10:47 AMDoes digital streaming mean physical copies of movies on DVD and blu-ray disc will go the way of the vinyl record?

Blackberry’s last stand
| January 30 2013, 10:47 AMBlackberry rolls out two phone models today, the Z10 and Q10. But if these phones are not well received by consumers, Blackberry may be out of the smartphone game for good. Where do your Blackberry loyalties lie?
Take Two®

LA engineering professor to receive National Medal of Science
| January 30 2013, 9:30 PMAn engineering professor from our own backyard is heading to the White House. Dr. Solomon Golomb has spent the past 50 years teaching engineering at the University of Southern California.

'The Myth Of The Perfect Girl' and how to raise a happy, healthy daughter
| January 30 2013, 10:17 AMGirls today face a lot of pressure: Be smart, popular and perfect while doing well in school, playing sports and volunteering. But too often they spend so much time meeting everyone else's expectations, which doesn't leave them much time for themselves.

Harbaugh brothers bring sibling rivalry drama to Super Bowl XLVII
| January 30 2013, 9:33 AMThis Sunday's Super Bowl is the first time in American sports history that brothers will compete for a championship as head coaches. On one side, we have John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens, and on the other, his little brother Jim, with the San Francisco 49ers.

US economic growth shrinks during fourth quarter
| January 30 2013, 9:21 AMEconomic growth shrank in the last quarter of 2012, according to a preliminary report by the Commerce Department. The nation's output of goods and services decreased slightly, after growing at an annual rate of more than three percent in the previous quarter.

Why Guantanamo Bay won't be closed any time soon
| January 30 2013, 9:04 AMThis week the State Department announced that their special envoy assigned to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been reassigned. Some say its another sign that President Obama may not fulfill his campaign promise to close the base.

LA Dodgers and Time Warner Cable reach deal for new channel
| January 30 2013, 8:58 AMThis week Time Warner Cable announced a 25-year, $7 billion deal for a Dodgers baseball channel.

Surfer Garrett McNamara conquers massive wave in Portugal (Photos)
US & World | | January 30 2013, 8:58 AMProfessional surfer Garrett McNamara barreled down a behemoth wave off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal earlier this week, and some witnesses in his camp claim it was 100-feet high.

What is 'unlocking' a cell phone and why is it illegal?
| January 30 2013, 8:58 AMAs of January 26, it became illegal to unlock your cell phone, meaning that even if you own it outright, you can't alter the device to make it to work on another carrier without risking a fine.

California high speed rail plan still in need of land
| January 30 2013, 8:58 AMJust six months remain until California is set to break ground on its high speed rail project. A project with a price tag of more than $68 billion. The intensely debated plan would link San Diego to San Francisco by way of trains traveling up to 220 miles per hour.

Gabby Giffords, NRA's Wayne LaPierre testify on gun violence
| January 30 2013, 8:57 AMThis morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding the first Congressional hearing on gun violence since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords made the opening statement:

What immigration reform means for binational same-sex couples
| January 30 2013, 8:57 AMEarlier this week, a group of senators, the so called Gang of Eight, unveiled their plans for immigration reform.

Climate change could have negative effects on hydropower
| January 30 2013, 8:40 AMWe've heard a lot about immigration today but one of the other big issues President Obama pledged to tackle in his inaugural address is climate change. It's an important issue for California, which relies on heavy snow in the winter and abundant runoff in the spring to produce cheap energy.
Off-Ramp®

Wanted: Rose Bowl Flea Market chaperone
Arts & Entertainment | | January 30 2013, 3:05 PMGordon and family need professional help, preferably someone who is not only qualified as a family counsellor, but who appraises items for Antiques Roadshow.

Debunking Disney myths, Philip Glass opera 'The Perfect American'
Arts & Entertainment | | January 30 2013, 1:20 PMI've spent decades researching Walt Disney and his films, from his first days as an animator in Kansas City to his last weeks in Burbank. This misbegotten portrait is as bogus as the rumor Walt's body was frozen and stored somewhere under Disneyland.