Here are some local headlines around the Southland on Tuesday...
VETERANS DAY: GOV. OFFICES, COURTS, LIBRARIES, BANKS, POST OFFICES CLOSED
It's Veterans Day and observances are planned throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. A parade in the San Fernando Valley, Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills will hold its 49th annual Veterans Day Program, while observances are also planned for Carson, Inglewood and Monterey Park. Government offices, courts, libraries, banks and post offices will all be closed.
VANDALS TARGET BARACK OBAMA SUPPORTERS WITH HATE MESSAGES
Torrance police are asking for the help Tuesday in solving cases of graffiti vandalism that targeted supporters of Barack Obama. The vandalism occurred during the weekend in South Torrance. At least five homes and several cars were vandalized. One house had the N word spray painted on its side. Vandals also spray painted the phrase "Go back to Africa on the house's front wall. (NBCLosAngeles.com)
$11.2 BILLION DEFICIT PROJECTED FOR CALIFORNIA
The Legislature's nonpartisan analyst says California's budget deficit will grow to $28 billion through June 2010 unless lawmakers take bold action to close the shortfall, possibly including a hike in the state income tax. The Legislative Analyst's Office is urging lawmakers to act immediately on Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposals to close the deficit for this fiscal year, projected at $11.2 billion -- about 11 percent of the state's general fund. They include a 1.5 cent sales tax increase.
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ACCUSED BIGAMIST ARRESTED IN MEXICO
A Los Angeles woman who fled the country with her children after being charged with bigamy and insurance fraud has been caught in Mexico. Authorities say Damaris Amesquita was captured by a bail bonds agent in Mexicali after she fled earlier this year. Authorities say her two daughters, 9 and 11, and a 2-year-old boy she had falsely claimed was her biological son were found unharmed. Authorities say Amesquita fraudulently collected death benefits of more than $120,000 for her husband and falsely obtained health benefits for the 2-year-old by claiming him as her son. Prosecutors say her husband still lives in Guatemala. Amesquita is a former clerk with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. (LA Times)
SCHWARZENEGGER SUPPORTER BIDS FOR STATE CONTRACT
A private prison company that has been lobbying the Schwarzenegger administration and is a campaign contributor to the governor's causes has made a bid to operate an overhauled inmate medical system, a move that could conflict with court-ordered reforms. The offer by The GEO Group Inc. of Florida caught the court-appointed receiver overseeing reform of California's inmate health care system by surprise. (Fort Mill Times)
NO PACKING WHILE DRINKING
The sheriff of Los Angeles County plans to prohibit his off-duty deputies from carrying their guns while drinking because several have been accused in recent years of firing weapons while intoxicated. Sheriff Lee Baca says there has been a disturbing rise in alcohol-fueled misbehavior among his deputies. Since 2004, more than one dozen deputies have been accused of brandishing or shooting a gun while under the influence of alcohol. (LA Times)
WALLY IN "BEAVER" SERIES GETS SCULPTURE DISPLAYED AT LOUVRE
Tony Dow, best known as the actor who portrayed big brother Wally in the '50s TV series "Leave It to Beaver," will have one of his abstract sculptures on display at the Louvre. Several sculptors from the Karen Lynne Gallery -- including Dow -- will have their works shown at the historic art museum in Paris as part of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition. (NBCLosAngeles)
NFL PLAYER SENTENCED FOR DUI HIT-AND-RUN
A Fresno County judge has sentenced NFL player Jason Shirley to 30 days in a work program. A jury found the Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman guilty of drunken driving and hit and run. Shirley was convicted and sentenced on Monday. Police say the former Fresno State football player was drunk last year when he crashed into a Fresno apartment and fled the scene. (SF Gate)
GUNMAN ESCAPES AFTER KILLING MAN ON HAWTHORNE STREET
Detectives are searching for the gunman who shot and killed a man in Hawthorne Monday night. The shooting occurred in the 12800 block of Doty Avenue near West El Segundo Boulevard about 9:15 p.m. Monday, according to the Sheriff's department. The victim, whose name was not released, died at a hospital. The murder is being investigated by both the Hawthorne police and Sheriff's homicide detectives.
GUNMAN ESCAPES AFTER KILLING MAN ON POMONA STREET
An investigation was under way into the shooting death of a 33-year-old man in Pomona, authorities said. The gunfire in the 2200 block of Spencer Avenue, near Bangor Street, was reported about 6:50 Monday evening, according to Pomona police. Officers responding to the scene found the victim on the street with gunshot wounds in his upper body. The Pomona resident died at the scene. His name was withheld.
HIT-RUN DRIVER SOUGHT AFTER MAN KILLED STRUCK, KILLED ON TARZANA STREET
Detectives are asking for the public's help to find an alleged hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a 55-year-old man crossing a street in Tarzana. The victim, Charles Ernest Lawson, of Northridge, was crossing Oxnard Street, west of Donna Avenue, when he was hit by a mid-sized car traveling eastbound about 5:40 a.m. Monday, according to Los Angeles Police. Lawson died at the scene. Witnesses told police that the driver stopped momentarily before driving away. The suspect was described as a man of Middle Eastern descent, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing about 200 pounds, with brown hair and
balding on the top. The suspect also reportedly wore glasses, had a mustache, and was wearing a brown-khaki flannel jacket. (Daily News)
DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED WOMAN MISSING AFTER HOSPITAL DISCHARGE
A search is continuing for a developmentally disabled 20-year-old woman who went missing after being discharged from a Hollywood hospital. Angie Martinez also has a mild case of mental retardation and needs immediate medical attention. Martinez is of medium height, average weight, and has dark brown hair. She frequents the MacArthur Park area, is "streetwise" and can get around with public transportation. Martinez was discharged from Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Sunday after undergoing surgery to remove a fistula on her left arm.
FORECAST
It will be mostly sunny. Highs will be in the mid-60s to lower-70s in Los Angeles and vicinity, the upper-60s to mid-70s in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, the mid-to-upper-60s in the Santa Clarita Valley and the 60s in the Antelope Valley. Air quality will be good to moderate. (NBCLosAngeles)
