Station Fire Update

Six days into it, the Station Fire is now at 127,513 acres and is 22 percent contained.

The Station Fire is burning within the Angeles National Forest and near surrounding communities of La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon, Pasadena and Glendale.

Steep terrain, decadent old growth brush and hot dry weather are factors that drive fire activity. Evacuations and a forest closure order remain in effect.
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS:
ALTADENA AREA:
Open: Fair Oaks Avenue west to Arroyo Seco Road, with the exception of Prieto Fire Road and Millard Canyon north of Rising Hill Road, which remain under mandatory evacuation.
Closed: Chaney Trail and Alzada Drive north of Jaxine Drive
Closed: Areas east of Fair Oaks and north of Loma Alta Drive
NATIONAL FOREST:
Big Tujunga Canyon Road from Mount Gleason to Angeles Forest Highway
Little Tujunga Canyon Road north of the Little Tujunga Ranger Station and Gold Creek
Chantry Flats
ACTON:
Soledad Canyon Road from Agua Dulce Canyon Road to Bootlegger Canyon Road
Angeles Forest Highway south of Aliso Canyon
TUJUNGA:
Northwest of Day at Blue Gum Canyon Road to Glory Avenue to westbound Apperson Street to northbound Fairgrove Avenue to westbound Summitrose Street to northbound Pinyon Avenue to westbound Hillrose Street to northbound Seven Hills Drive to Lonzo Street
VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS:
JUNIPER HILLS:
South of Fort Tejon Road from Mount Emma Road to Longview Road
LITTLEROCK:
Littlerock Recreational Area, Mount Emma Road & Cheseboro Road
GLENDALE:
North of Markridge road between Pennsylvania and Lowell

HEALTH CARE DEBATE (DRAMA-FREE)

A South Los Angeles congresswoman held a drama-free town hall meeting at Los Angeles Southwest College in support of President Barack Obama's national health care plan, it was reported today.
``The health care system is broken and it's got to be fixed,'' Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, told an supportive crowd of more than 400 people Saturday, the Daily Breeze reported.
``It's not simply about the 47 million people who are uninsured, it's about people who can afford health care, who are paying premiums every month but finding that their premium costs keep increasing. God forbid you have a catastrophe.''
Other politicians have faced angry questioners when they hosted similar events in recent weeks. And protestors have used the events as opportunities to criticize not only health care, but other policies of the president.
Waters opposition at Saturday's town hall meeting included a man wearing a Halloween mask and a hood, silently holding a handmade sign over his head, reading ``Disease yes. Medical reform no. Satan.'' When asked if he was expecting any support, the man laughed.
The only time the crowd booed was when Waters mentioned Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, who helped popularize the idea that ``death panels'' would decide end-of-life issues for seniors.
Hawthorne resident Yvette Johnson-Reagan told the Daily Breeze she had insurance, but wanted to make sure the less fortunate could afford it as well.
``I'm not doing it for me,'' Johnson-Reagan said. ``I'm doing it for the people who were at the Forum.''
She was referring to a health clinic at the Forum in Inglewood earlier this month that drew thousands of people seeking free medical attention.
Waters drew applause when she painted a picture of greedy insurance companies milking the public dry.
``This is about getting a handle on the rising costs,'' she said. ``It's about creating competition. It's about being able to ensure that we don't let the same people that's been ripping us off continue to rip us off.''
Sybil Tullos told the Daily Breeze she has had trouble getting insurance because she has pre-existing conditions, a situation Waters promised to fix.
``If I lose my job, I'm screwed,'' Tullos said. ``I'm sick of seeing people demonize President Obama.''

CA finally getting a budget

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The California Senate has approved a plan to close the state's $26 billion budget deficit, giving a glimmer of hope after weeks of fiscal gloom.
The complex package of 31 bills is still being debated in the Assembly.
Failure to pass any one of the bills could jeopardize the entire deal, potentially sinking California further into fiscal chaos.
Senators struggled through the early-morning hours Friday to get enough votes to pass the more controversial measures, including taking billions of dollars from cities and counties.
The compromise plan before the 80-member Assembly and 40-member state Senate was announced Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and party leaders of each house.
It eliminates nearly 60 percent of the deficit with spending cuts to core state services.

Gas prices are down like the economy

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular
gasoline in Los Angeles County declined today for the 33rd time in 34 days,
dropping four-tenths of a cent to $2.841. The average price is 2.2 cents
less than a week ago, 17.8 cents less than a month ago and $1.569 less than a
year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price fell 31 consecutive days, rose two-tenths of a cent
Wednesday, then declined two-tenths of a cent Thursday.
The Orange County average price declined today for the 18th time in 19
days, falling three-tenths of a cent to $2.832, 2.1 cents less than a week ago,
18.1 cents less than a month ago and $1.526 less than a year ago.
However, slight price increases nationally over the past two days are
"probably not a good sign for Southern California prices decreases to
continue," said Automobile Club of Southern California spokesman Jeffrey
Spring, "but this could be a plateau, rather than the start of another price
spike."
"Crude oil prices have risen on the world market, but demand remains
flat and supply is plentiful," Spring said.

THIS IS FROM A CITY NEWS SERVICE ARTICLE

The Economy and the Weather both Hot as Hell

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Southland once again will bake under sizzling
temperatures today, with the region's heat wave showing no clear sign of
dissipating.
The National Weather Service forecast highs today in the low 100s in the
San Fernando, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel and Pomona valleys and the mountains
of Los Angeles County, other than the Santa Monica range.
Because the humidity level -- now at the 20-30 percent level -- is
expected to make the heat particularly uncomfortable in the mountains, an
excessive heat warning will be in effect for mountain areas until at least 8
tonight.
"The combination of temperature and humidity will create dangerously
hot conditions, with heat index values climbing to 100 degrees or more" in
mountain regions, according to an NWS advisory.
The heat index is a measure of discomfort based on humidity and heat,
which could peak at 105 in mountain areas today, forecasters said.
The Antelope Valley is expected to experience highs of 108 today. On
Tuesday, the mercury climbed to 107 in Lancaster, setting a record for a July
21, besting the one set in 2006, when the temperature in the city reached 106.
How much longer the heat wave will last was not certain this morning as
meteorologists struggled to forecast the departure of a strong upper-level high-
pressure system that has been parked over the West for several days.
One computer model indicates that it will push eastward starting Monday
or Tuesday, but another one shows the system staying put, said meteorologist
Jamie Meyer in a telephone interview from the NWS office in Oxnard.
In any event, we will not see "a whole lot of change anytime soon,"
she said.
The NWS forecast highs today of 74 in Avalon; 75 at Newport Beach; 76 at
LAX; 85 in Long Beach; 88 in Anaheim; 89 in downtown L.A.; 90 on Mount
Wilson; 93 in San Gabriel; 94 in Burbank; 96 in Pasadena; 102 in Woodland
Hills; 104 in Newhall; and 106 in Palmdale and Lancaster.

THIS IS FROM A CITY NEWS SERVICE ARTICLE

CA PLANNING A CAR SALE?

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The state of California is planning to have a giant used car sale next month.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced plans Friday to sell off 15 percent of the state's approximately 40,000 light vehicles, a step officials said would generate $24.1 million over the next year.
The announcement comes as state officials are trying to erase a $26.3 billion budget deficit.
Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said the idea for the sale came from state employees, who provided tips about workers taking home vehicles when they shouldn't and other cars sitting unused in state garages.
The sale will be held Aug. 28 and 29 in Sacramento."

THIS IS FROM AN AP NEWS ARTICLE

Don't call him a Weirdo

VAN NUYS, Calif. - Next time you see Joesph Weirdo you should call him Joseph Weir as Los Angeles Circuit Court Judge Jack Musselman approved his request for a legal name change.

“I didn’t want to go through life as a Weirdo,” said Weir.

Weir stated, in his petition, that he suffered great embarrassment and that’s the reason for the name change, not to avoid paying debts or change his status in society.

Those are the main reasons for name changes said Judge Musselman. Weir is one of more than 300 people to have paid the $200 filing fee this year for a name change, said a court clerk.

West Nile Virus Found in Los Angeles

Health officials are urging people to eliminate standing water that attracts insects and use mosquito repellent.

The urging comes after the West Nile Virus was detected in mosquitoes collected from two Long Beach traps.

The virus has been detected in 14 counties across California—including Los Angeles and Riverside.

Health officials are urging people to avoid mosquito-infested areas, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, keeps screens and windows closed, and limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants.

There have been three confirmed cases of Californians contracting the virus.

Offshore Dilling a Bad Idea says Schwarzenegger

Governor Schwarzenegger says people who think offshore oil drilling will bring down gas prices are just “blowing smoke”.

Some analysts say Schwarzenegger’s comment was being directed towards Republican Presidential nominee John McCain and possible running mate Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

The California Governor also criticized U-S energy consumers for not using enough renewable energy.

Schwarzenegger wants 33 percent of all California electricity to come from renewable sources—the state currently gets 12 percent.

Schwarzenegger also wants to add seven Million more hybrid vehicles by 2020.

Schwarzenegger and Crist did agree on one thing that the everyday driver needs to do more for the environment—drive slower, keep engines tuned, and tires properly inflated.

Recycling bottles, paper, and FOOD?

Beginning in September more than 85-hundred Los Angeles families will be recycling their wasted food.

The newest program will be launched in North Central and South L-A to reduce the amount of city garbage.

The plan estimates that eight to 20 pounds of food waste per household could be recycled.

About 27 percent of black-bin waste in landfills is food waste—and residents dump about 230-thousand tons of food scraps every year.

The 140-thousand dollar--one-year trial program will be paid through existing trash fees.

If the project goes city-wide it will cost around 13 Million dollars.

Teachers and SEX, no fooling around on this issue

The state Senate has unanimously passed two bills that will allow teacher licenses to be revoked.

Legislation by State Senator Bob Margett allows teachers who plead no contest to certain sex crimes or drug offenses or have had their licenses revoked in other states to be banned from teaching in California.

The bills are opposed by the California Teachers Association, the A-C-L-U, and gay rights groups.

The bills are in response to an Associated Press Investigation that reported more than 25-hundred teachers nationwide had sexual misconduct allegations from 2001 to 2005.

More than 300 of those teachers were in California.

Prior to Margett’s bills passing the Credentialing Commission would hold a discretionary review hearing.

The bill would also extend the statute of limitations for disclosing past teacher misconduct—making records available for five years.Margett’s bills are now going to the full Assembly for approval.

Not Just a Game, Sports are BIG Business

Many Southern Californians are literally going out to the ball game.

A new study reports that sporting events contributed five Billion dollars to the Southern California economy in 2007.

Up from one point six Billion in 2005.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the L-A Sports Council studied data from 55 local sports organizations—excluding high school sports and “one time only” events.

The President of the Los Angeles Sports Council- David Simon says there are many reasons for why sports are a booming business.

Simon says it’s because of increased tickets prices, tickets sales and more people being interested in sports.

Simon also says attendance just doesn’t apply to professional teams- it also affects minor league and college events.

About 25 Million southlanders attended a sporting event last year.

That number is down by close to four Million from 2005 data.

The Dodgers had the highest attendance of all Southern California sports franchises with three point eight Million attendees.

Also the study reports local sports organizations provide more than 14-thousand jobs.

Los Angles County generated 79 percent of all southland sporting events revenue.