Press Telegram

Gas Watch

The following are the lowest per-gallon gas prices reported on Monday in the Long Beach area. Prices are reported by the public on www.losangelesgasprices.com * $2.09, Calico, 6597 Long Beach, Long Beach

9.5108.5

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK BOYS BASKETBALL

Both Sides Could Win in Pike Land Swap

LONG BEACH A state Supreme Court decision last week that seemingly favors environmentalists in a lawsuit against a city- state tidelands swap at the Pike at Rainbow Harbor may have actually been a victory of sorts for b oth sides. The court dismissed the city of Long Beach's challenge to an appellate court ruling in the case, but acknowledged a recent relaxing of the law governing such swaps.

On the Search for Their 2 Cents

LONG BEACH Area post offices were swamped with customers searching for 1- and 2- cent stamps Monday as the cost of sending a first-class letter increased for the first time in four years, from 37 to 39 cents. Customers reported sporadic shortages of the 2-cent stamps throughout the greater Long Beach area, but United States postal officials said any problems would be solved quickly.

Campus: New President Moves In

LONG BEACH New Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander wasn't the only family member to start at a new school Monday. Alexander, before beginning his first day as leader of the 34,545- student campus, dropped off his 6- and 9- year-old daughters at Minnie Gant Elementary School across Atherton Street from the university.

Howard Stern As Dirty As He Wants to Be

NEW YORK He took pot shots at free radio, the Federal Communications Commission, even TV personality Pat O'Brien. Howard Stern debuted on satellite radio Monday, stirring up trouble and talking dirty. But this time, he won't get bleeped.

Lisa Fernandez Holds Her Olympic Medals with Her

Hollis Shines in Lakewood Net

Asking your goalkeeper to stop every ball shot on net is often asking the impossible. Lakewood High goalie Tiffany Hollis nearly did the job but had to settle for a 1-1 tie against visiting Wilson High in a Moore Leauge girls soccer game on Monday.

Tenaya

Watson of Wilson High shoots while defended by Lakewood's Tavia Sharber in Monday's game at Lakewood. Kevin Chang/

Jeannie Saunders Glides to the Basket During the 49ers' Blow-Out Victory Over Cal Poly at the Walter Pyramid On

Ride-Along Teen Reports Officer's Killing

EAST PALO ALTO A 16-year-old who was accompanying an East Palo Alto police officer on his beat made the first call reporting that the officer had been shot, authorities said. The teenager, who was part of a volunteer program that trains young people for possible careers in police work, was riding along with Officer Richard May when a 23-year-old parolee allegedly killed the officer, said East Palo Alto Police Lt. Rod Norris.

Doug: Baby, What a Change

Fernandez adds to lineup She has been the standard-bearer of her sport for years, vaulting from a spectacular career at St. Joseph High in Lakewood to winning NCAA titles at UCLA and Olympic gold medals at Atlanta, Sydney and Athens. She has become a legendary performer in women's softball because of her versatility, as she has become equally successful as a dominant pitcher as well as a prolific-hitting infielder who actually led her undefeated USA team in the 2004 Games in Greece with a .54...

History Lesson Through Letters

Part of my vacation was spent reading a book called "Letters of the Century.' Compiled by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler, it is a compilation of missives written during the last century. Let me share four I found fascinating.

Former Va Techqb Vick Arrested for Pulling Out Gun

Associated Press Former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, booted from the team last week for his behavior on and off the field, was charged Monday with pulling a gun on three teenagers during an altercation in a restaurant parking lot.

Dodgers' Furcal Set for Surgery

Associated Press Shortstop Rafael Furcal, who signed a $39 million, three-year free agent contract with the Dodgers last month, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Murder Re-Trial Witness Uneasy

LONG BEACH His memory wasn't clear, whether talking about what he said to police over the past dozen years or when asked what he had said just a few hours earlier. What was very clear Monday was that Ruben Lucero did not want to be testifying in a murder trial at the Long Beach Superior Court.

Guadalajara Holds Its Destiny

Guadalajara stands two games from a return trip to Copa Libertadores, South America's club soccer championship, and needs only a tie and maybe less tonight against Necaxa at Home Depot Center to reach an InterLiga final. Guadalajara, which reached the Copa Libertadores semifinals last summer, is atop Group B after two rounds of InterLiga play in Texas. Doubleheaders tonight and Wednesday at HDC will determine four finalists, and Sunday's games at HDC will decide Mexico's final two entrants in...

Not the Happiest Place for Some

SANTA ANA Four members of a family involved in a 2004 roller coaster accident sued Disneyland, alleging the theme park failed to follow proper safety procedures on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride. The lawsuit was filed in Orange County Superior Court on Thursday. It says the Cope family of Telluride, Colo., was on the ride returning to the loading area when their train collided with another one being loaded with new passengers.

Smugglers Plan Hits On Border Guards?

Mexican alien smugglers plan to pay violent gang members and smuggle them into the United States to murder Border Patrol agents, according to a confidential Department of Homeland Security memo. The Officer Safety Alert, dated Dec. 21, warns agents that the smugglers intend to bring members of the international Mara Salvatrucha street gang also known as MS-13 into the country for the deadly mission.

Baca Boosting Deputies in Compton

COMPTON The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is adding personnel in its stepped-up battle against street gangs in Compton, where the murder rate soared last year, authorities said Monday. The Operation Safe Streets bureau the department's anti- gang unit is doubling in size, to 18 investigators, who will focus on problems in Compton, said Steve Whitmore of the sheriff's department.