Press Telegram

Fur Flies at City Auditor Debate

LONG BEACH -- The city auditor's office may not be one of the most prominent in most voters' eyes, but you couldn't tell by watching the rapt audience at Monday night's debate between City Auditor Gary Burroughs and his challenger, Laura Wilson Doud. The two candidates challenged each other's integrity, including allegations made against Doud in a campaign flier by Friends of Gary Burroughs 06. The flier, which was received in some voters' mailboxes Monday, points to a bankruptcy filing by he...

Taylor Pleads Not Guilty to 11 Counts of War Crimes

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone -- In his first appearance before a special international tribunal, Charles G. Taylor, the former Liberian president, pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of war crimes, but not before refusing to recognize the court's jurisdiction and accusing it of attempting to meddle in the region's affairs. "I think this is an attempt to divide and rule the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone and so most definitely I am not guilty," said Taylor amid tight security at a crowded hearing be...

Real Estate On L.B. Blvd. Divided for Development

LONG BEACH -- A prime chunk of downtown real estate near the corner of Long Beach Boulevard and First Street that drew interest from several high-profile development teams will be divided into three parts for development, the city announced Tuesday. The number of teams has been whittled to two competing developers per block, with one proposal that includes a three-story museum that pays homage to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

County Won't Force Homeless Centers On Cities

Los Angeles County supervisors backed down Tuesday from plans to locate new homeless centers countywide, instead approving a $100 million effort that would put the facilities only in communities that want them. The reversal came after more than four hours of debate and sharp criticism from residents that locating "stabilization centers" in each of the five supervisorial districts would shift much of Los Angeles' Skid Row population to the San Fernando Valley and neighboring communities.

Charter Construction Curricula Considered

LONG BEACH -- The Long Beach Board of Education is considering a proposal to create a charter high school catering to female students interested in careers in the construction and building trades. The five-member board held a hearing Tuesday on the proposed Rosie the Riveter Charter High School, which would offer construction-related math and technology courses in addition to the standard high school curricula.

Storm of Activity Heads L.B.'S Way

LONG BEACH -- A late-season spring storm dumped more than an inch of rain Tuesday on Long Beach and was expected to linger today before the sky begins clearing in advance of this weekend's Grand Prix. Two people in the Southland were rescued from swollen creeks and an apparent buildup of rain water collapsed a store roof.

Offshore Lng Plant Possible

LONG BEACH -- A Texas oil and gas firm is eyeing the possibility of developing an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal near Long Beach, company officials said Tuesday. Esperanza Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Tidelands Oil and Gas Corp. in San Antonio, is in the early stages of evaluating sites and the economics of building the LNG terminal somewhere offshore and up to 12 miles from the "greater Long Beach area."

Deputy Rosa Mourned

LOS ANGELES -- A rose of virtue was bid farewell Tuesday when 1,500 mourners including family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers honored slain Deputy Maria Cecilia Rosa. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said his murdered deputy's name could be translated to the rose of virtue while addressing Rosa's family and friends her funeral Mass held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown Los Angeles.

C-17 Budget May Get Funds From Senate

A U.S. Senate supplemental appropriations bill approved on Tuesday would add $227.5 million to the budget to pay for advance parts and supplier procurement for more C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes. The money would be used to pay for parts, supplies and raw materials that are needed to build the C-17s and that must be ordered far in advance to ensure they are ready for installation when needed.

Condo Fire Injures Firefighter

LONG BEACH -- Fire engulfed a waterfront condominium Tuesday, causing at least $2 million damage and leaving a firefighter slightly injured. Flames were reported about 11:10 a.m. in the third-story dwelling at Marina Pacifica, an upscale, gated community near Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The 570-unit complex sits just north of Marine Stadium near the Davies Bridge.

Local Crime Briefs

Fifth baby safely surrendered in county A newborn dropped off at Downey Regional Medical Center is the fifth baby to be turned over to authorities in Los Angeles County this year under the Safe Surrender program.

Council Postpones Bond

LONG BEACH -- An item on a proposed bond that would expand park space was postponed from Tuesday's City Council meeting, and is expected to be heard within the next month. The proposal will call for the City Council to consider issuing a $25 million bond to expand park space in the north and west side of Long Beach.

South Gate Sailor Dies in Iraq

A 20-year-old sailor from South Gate died April 2 "as a result of enemy action" in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, the U.S. Department of Defense released Tuesday. Hospitalman Geovani Padillaaleman and three Marines assigned to the 2/28 Brigade Combat Team serving with Multi-National Force West were killed while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the defense department.

Drug Rehab Law Saved State $1.5b

California taxpayers saved nearly $2.50 for every dollar spent sending nonviolent drug offenders to treatment centers rather than jail under the state's Proposition 36, a UCLA study released Tuesday says. The study is the most comprehensive to date and the first cost- benefit analysis of the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000.

Of Lilacs and Taxes

NOW LATE FILERS CAN BE EVEN LATER: April is the cruelest month, breeding/ Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing/ Memory and desire, stirring/ Dull roots with spring rain. That's it? That's what T.S. Eliot (as he wrote in "The Waste Land") had a beef with April about? Lilacs and lust?