Los Angeles school year to shorten due to the budget crisis

Saturday, the United Teacher Los Angeles (UTLA), struck a deal wiht the Los Angeles Unified School Distrct that would cut five days out of the regular school year, making teacher's take five unpaid furlough days this year and seven the next year.

This school year, 4 days will be taken away at the end of the instructional year and schools will also be shut down on May 28.

According to the UTLA, the deal, that is said to save the school district around $180 million, comes amid layoff worries that would effect thousands of employees.

Around 2,100 employees, which includes 1,825 teacher, as well as librarians, health officials and counselors were thought to be laid off due to the $640 million budget crisis. The agreement takes away the permanent pay-cuts... LAUSD wanted a 12% salary reduction.

The agreement is waiting approval by the teachers of the union which is set to vote April 7 through April 9, 2010.

Source:examiner.com/

The City star is being taken to court over stolen design allegations

It's all fashion fabulous in the big apple. That is until someone accuses you of stealing their designs and not paying up. And yes, Whitney Port, the finger is pointed at you.

At the centre of a court battle, The City star is being sued by former employee and fashion designer Adrienne Baravetto. According to Baravetto she did nearly all of the designing for Port's Eve & A clothing line for women when it started in 2007 and then was cut from the deal. Baravetto also claims that this said deal was an oral agreement in which Port would hand over 25 per cent of the company and pay her $80,000 (Dh294,000) annually.

TMZ.com revealed that the lawsuit was filed on Friday in Los Angeles against Port and her dad. They are yet to go to court.


Source:ahlanlive.com/

LA Fashion Weekend Shows Off a California Cool Style

Los Angeles Fashion Weekend drew a crowd of several hundred and a handful of celebrities to Sunset Gower Studios for a three-day taste West Coast fashion -- and a surprise wedding proposal on the runway, which, apparently, is also in this season.

The event kicked off Friday with the debut of White Trash Beautiful (www.wtbclothing.com) a new women's line by designer Nikki Lund and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. While Sambora was nowhere to be seen, the runway show turned into a family affair with Heather Locklear in the audience and the former couple's 12-year-old daughter Ava Sambora on the catwalk.

The rocker wear collection included distressed leather, barely-there skirts, zippers as ruffles, a few feathered headdresses and leather-looking lingerie with a zipper up the crotch (Ava wasn't wearing that little number). A few wardrobe malfunctions made the collection more risque than intended, but perhaps that was appropriate for a designer used to groupies.

Saturday's show focused on eco-friendly fashion with the Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show with proceeds going to the by the Green Youth Movement (www.greenyouthmovement.org), and the show's carbon footprint being offset by planting trees around the city in the coming weeks.

Designers included Lizzie Parker and Emily Factor, little sister of Smashbox owners Dean and Davis Factor, but the scene stealer was new dress line Puridee (www.puridee.com) with one-of-a-kind organic gowns made of "peace silk." Artisans naturally dye the distressed-looking floor-length frocks and the silk worms used are allowed grow into moths (lucky worms). "It's almost like wedding dress gown line," says Mikey Koffman, L.A. Fashion Weekend's founder and producer.

Clearly, Koffman had weddings on the brain when she got down on one knee proposed to her girlfriend on the runway following the Saturday night show.

Fashion Weekend's finale on Sunday featured 100 different looks for men and women from four different designers -- Civil Society, Division E, Zanerobe and Buffalo -- and focused on LA street-chic (think of Nicole Richie on a relaxed trip to Starbucks) with fashion staples like denim, cargo pants, skinny jeans, short skirts, hoodies and pricey T-shirts. Zanerobe, a sporty men's and women's line, stood out by having models don hunter's hats and old-school sports equipment like golf clubs and croquets while working the runway.

While LA fashion shows are no match for those in New York or Milan, Fashion Weekend continues to grow despite a sour retail market. "We've doubled our size; we've doubled our seating capacity; we've doubled our nights," says Koffman, who fell into fashion after owning a custom motorcycle shop. "We've grown to into twice as big of an event just since last season (six months ago).... We're pretty much the only main runway show that's happening this season, so that's exciting."

Oh, and Koffman's girlfriend said yes.

Source:huffingtonpost.com/

L.A. City Council asserts control over proposed energy rate increase

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa contends that rejection of a proposed energy rate hike "would be the most immediate and direct route the bankruptcy the city could pursue.'' (Photo by Gary McCarthy)

By WIRE SERVICES

Story Published: Mar 23, 2010 at 4:36 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 23, 2010 at 4:41 PM PDT

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to assert jurisdiction over a proposed rate hike approved by the Department of Water and Power board and slated to kick in April 1.

The move gives the council authority to review the plan and either affirm it or reject it and send it back to the DWP with recommendations.

"I think the residents of Los Angeles, the ratepayers and businesses, as well as our environmental community, deserve a more transparent process,'' City Council President Eric Garcetti said. "We need to take incremental steps instead of -- in the midst of a recession -- putting a gun to people's heads and saying 'pass this increase.'''

The council's action came amid a warning from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office, which contends that rejection of the proposed increase "would be the most immediate and direct route the bankruptcy the city could pursue.''

In a briefing paper distributed to council members on Monday night, the mayor's office asserted the DWP needed the rate hike or it would not be able to transfer $73 million into the city's depleted general fund.

The city -- which has a projected deficit of $685 million over the next 14 months -- had been promised that share of the DWP's surplus revenue months ago, and had already programmed it into the budget to pay for various expenses.

"If the city does not receive the additional $73 million transfer, it will run out of cash before the end of the fiscal year,'' the briefing paper reads. "Failure to meet basic obligations would send the city into a financial tailspin, leading to further downgrades and an inability to borrow to meet future financial obligations.''

Councilwoman Jan Perry said: "I think the DWP has put themselves in this situation in terms of the timing and putting themselves up against the wall.

"But I think we still have a responsibility to vet this on the public record, to be fully transparent, not reactionary, allow the ratepayers a chance to have input and to understand the full implications of this proposal,'' she said. "Anything short of that would be dereliction of our responsibilities as elected officials.''

Councilman Dennis Zine described the warning as an attempt "to hold us hostage.''

"This is a scare tactic, and I hope the people of Los Angeles don't fall for it,'' he said.

City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana addressed the council after personally speaking with the mayor, saying, "Let me be clear: the city of Los Angeles is not going bankrupt.''

"If we were not to receive that ($73 million) transfer, we would have to move quickly to figure out what services we would need to focus on, sit down with the controller and determine when would the city literally run out of cash,'' Santana said.

"That does not equal bankruptcy,'' he said. "Bankruptcy is an action that you do when you have no other options. The city will continue to have options -- very difficult options -- before us.''

At present, the DWP tacks on an Energy Cost Adjustment Factor surcharge of 5.09 cents per kilowatt-hour to customers' bills every month.

The utility has proposed increasing that surcharge by 2.7 cents per kWh over a year, starting April 1, to generate $648 million in annual revenue.

About 75 percent of that money would be used to address DWP's failure in previous years to collect a large enough ECAF to offset fluctuations in the price of oil and natural gas and pay for existing renewable energy sources.

The other 25 percent -- called the carbon reduction surcharge -- would be used to pay for programs aimed at encouraging energy efficiency and developing new renewable energy sources.

Former Vice President Al Gore called it "one of the most forward- thinking clean energy plans I have ever seen.''

In a statement released Tuesday, Gore urged the council to support the proposed rate hike, saying it would "provide a dedicated revenue stream for investing in renewable energy production'' while "enabling the city of Los Angeles to invest locally on its own green economy and stimulating job growth.''

Under the plan, the 2.7 cents per kWh increase in the ECAF would be implemented incrementally, DWP spokesman Joe Ramallo said.

DWP customers' bills would go up 0.8 cents per kWH in April, July and October, and by .3 cents per kWh in January -- until the ECAF reaches 7.79 cents per kWh.

Once all the increases have kicked in, Tier 1 customers -- who make up 55-60 percent of all the DWP's customers -- would be charged an extra $2.40- $3.40 a month, according to the briefing paper. That represents an increase of 8 percent.

Tier 2 customers would see their monthly bills go up $11-$16. Tier 3 customers -- who make up less than 7 percent of the highest-end ratepayers -- could expect an increase of up to 28 percent in their bills, equivalent to $52- $65, according to the briefing paper.

The mayor's press deputy, Sarah Hamilton, said businesses would face a significant hike of 21-26 percent in their monthly bills unless they take steps to become more energy-efficient.

The plan drew protests from Carol Schatz, president and chief executive officerof the Central City Association and the Downtown Center Business Improvement District.

"The increase is huge,'' she said. "On a large high-rise in downtown, we're talking about $1 million more a year in power rates, and that can't be borne entirely by the landlord. It's going to be passed onto the tenants. The tenants can't necessarily pass it along to their customers.

"It is huge and they have no way to budget for it,'' Schatz said. "It was sprung on them with less than 30 days notice.''

Kent Smith, executive director of the L.A. Fashion District business improvement district, urged the DWP to consider tightening its belt before moving swiftly to hike rates.

"The challenge is (that) with this economy -- which is an enormously difficult economy -- the only place you can cut is your workforce,'' Smith said. "We're responsible for 64,000 jobs, and we do not want to see any one of those jobs disappear.''

Villaraigosa has set a goal of having renewable energy make up 20 percent of the DWP portfolio by the end of this year, and 40 percent by 2020. He also wants the city to be coal-free by 2020.

Source:wavenewspapers.com/

Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Sees Bankrupcty Possibility

Is the city of Los Angeles going bankrupt?

Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council voted to review a proposed utility rate hike that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says is crucial for the city to avoid falling into bankruptcy.
The council can either affirm the city Department of Water and Power plan or reject it with recommendations.

In a briefing paper sent to council members, Villaraigosa said that without the rate hike, the DWP would not be able to deposit $73 million in the city's general fund and the city would not have enough money to complete the fiscal year on June 30.

"Failure to meet basic obligations would send the city into a financial tailspin, leading to further downgrades and an inability to borrow to meet future financial obligations," the mayor wrote.

The DWP was scheduled to provide at least $220 million to the general fund for the 2009-10 fiscal year. So far, however, the utility has sent only a portion of that money.

This follows a week that saw Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gain some national attention. On Thursday, the mayor gained an important ally in his push for federal aid to speed expansion of the region’s transit network: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

Feinstein called the mayor’s "30/10 Plan" to complete 12 transit projects in 10 years instead of 30 "an innovative idea" that could help ease Los Angeles’ legendary traffic gridlock while creating jobs.

In light of the recent budgetary crisis and lack of funds, the question now is: where is the money?

Source:thestatecolumn.com/

Los Angeles Mayor Says Transit Plan Is Model for Other Cities

March 23 (Bloomberg) -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who leads the second-largest U.S. city, said his plan to accelerate public-transit construction with a mix of local funding and federal aid can be used elsewhere as well.

“Senator Dianne Feinstein is supporting this project, saying it could become a national model,” Villaraigosa said today in a Bloomberg Television interview.

Villaraigosa has drawn support for his plan from both of California’s U.S. senators, Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. All are Democrats. He’s seeking federal guarantees or loan subsidies to allow borrowing for subway and light-rail construction in the next year, so work can be completed in 10 years instead of 30. Los Angeles County voters passed a half-cent sales-tax surcharge in 2008 to fund transit projects.

“This is a way for cities and counties and states to come with money in hand to invest in jobs and infrastructure, while at the same time partnering with the federal government,” Villaraigosa said.

The initiative will create jobs, the mayor said. He said a separate effort to raise energy rates at the city-owned Department of Water and Power will create 18,000 jobs.

Source:businessweek.com/

Los Angeles tops EPA's Energy Star buildings list

Los Angeles is once again king of the hill when it comes to the number of energy-efficient buildings, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s second ranking of cities nationwide.

The scorecard calculates how many commercial structures in 2009 earned the agency’s Energy Star rating, which is given to buildings that perform in the top 25% of similar buildings nationwide. Eligibility extends to 13 types of structures such as schools, hospitals, office buildings, retail stores and supermarkets.

Los Angeles had 293 buildings with the label in 2009, covering 76 million square feet and saving an estimated $93.9 million in costs.

Washington, D.C., came in second in the rankings, which also included major cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and New York.

Nearly 3,900 buildings earned the rating last year, more than a 40% boost over the year before. The energy-efficient qualities of the buildings represent more than $900 million in utility bill savings and more than 4.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions averted, according to the agency.

As of the end of 2009, the nearly 9,000 buildings across the country with the Energy Star designation are responsible for overall annual utility savings of around $1.6 billion and avoided greenhouse gas emissions from the equivalent of a million homes a year.

“The good news is we currently have the technology, the know-how and a workforce that is ready to retrofit our homes and commercial buildings to make them more efficient, while dramatically reducing pollution," said Alex Wall, clean energy associate for advocacy group Environment America in a statement. “However, home and business owners need incentives and financing mechanisms that will make it feasible to invest in making their buildings more energy efficient and to reap the tremendous benefits for our economy and our environment."

The Energy Star program reached its 10-year anniversary in December.

-- Tiffany Hsu

Photo: Toyota's Torrance corporate office has the Energy Star label. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Source:latimesblogs.latimes.com/

Health reform: What it means to you right now

If you have a preexisting health condition
Starting this year, insurance companies can no longer exclude coverage for preexisting health conditions. They also cannot suddenly cancel your policy.

If you have kids at home in their early 20s
Beginning this year, they can be covered under your health plan up to age 26 -- no matter their status, in school, out, working or idle.

If you have a business with 25 or fewer workers
You may be able to claim a tax credit of up to 35% of the cost of providing health insurance for your employees.

If you are a senior citizen on Medicare
Those in Medicare's prescription coverage gap will get a $250 rebate this year.

And what happens next?
2011: More money to community health centers treating lower-income and uninsured people.

2012: Nonprofit insurance co-ops established.

2013: New 2.3% sales tax on medical devices -- but many items are exempt.

2014: Requires citizens and legal residents to have health insurance, except in cases of financial hardship, or pay a fine to the IRS.

Source:freep.com/

Health-care reform is now law

The president has signed the bill. I know this has confused some, but health-care reform is now law. The Senate's vote on the reconciliation fixes will modify that law, but President Obama just signed a universal health-care structure into law in the United States of America.

Source:washingtonpost.com/

The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show at Los Angeles Fashion Week

Last saturday afternoon, Sunset Gower Studios played host to a different kind of show, created by the Green Youth Movement and produced by Gallery LA. The Green Youth Movement was started by Archer student Ally Maize, whose mission includes:

“As founder of GYM, I hope to one day garner the support of politicians and educators to create a practical and research based environmental course of study that would ultimately become integrated in every elementary school education curriculum across the nation.”

Eco-Fashionistas of Tomorrow
I asked these chic and lovely fashion show guests what they thought was the most critical issue around sustainability in fashion. They exclaimed, as only 6th graders can, “RECYCLED MATERIALS!” One mentioned that her dad had a jacket made from soda bottles. I told them they were right on the money, as that’s exactly what Lorrie Vogel, General Manager of Nike Considered, said when I interviewed her for CleanTechnica.

Then I asked them who their favorite fashion designer was and they unanimously agreed “Betsey Johnson!” You see, there’s the disconnect. Here we have a group of savvy, well-to-do consumers who care about sustainability and know what’s most important, but their favorite designer isn’t doing anything about it, or else isn’t telling us. I suspect Betsey would be able to keep these girls enthralled much longer if she used recycled nylon & polyester fibers, and perhaps the latest in eco printing for those brilliant colors and fabulous floral prints she does so well! This TreeHugger article mentions some of the leading innovators in the field of eco textile manufacturing.

Eco Designers of Today

However, I think any Betsey girl would have been wowed by LA designer Emily Factor. I certainly was, and would love to find out more about how she creates those lovely print silks. Her collection was fun, flirty and edgy enough to be interesting, even imagining these sheer pieces with slips, which is how they’re likely to be shipped. Plenty of designers send models down the runway in sheer dresses that will ultimately be shipped fully lined. At Betsey Johnson, those slips are usually polyester, one of the easiest fibers to source recycled these days.

Photo courtesy of Bill Ware

The next designer was Seattle-based Lizzie Parker. Her pieces were much more casual and wearable for most women. She featured her new eizzil line, which is designed to be truly “one-size-fits-all” and it really is! It’s also made in the US, and each piece retails below $100, making it affordable too. However, it’s made from organic bamboo, and unfortunately so many vendors have mis-labeled bamboo that the FTC has issued a statement against it, as mentioned previously here.

Photo courtesy of Bill Ware

The last designer, LA-based Puridee, creates ethereal and simple gowns for the most discriminating eco bride. Some of her gowns are dyed, but most of the press around this line is bridal. They had a certain rawness about them, like a gown you’d expect a raw vegan bride to wear. In fact, they’re vegan-friendly too, as they’re made from peace silk. Their website explains the sourcing very eloquently, under “pure & natural.” Of course my favorite was the finale, a mini worn with black knee-high boots, perfect for rolling to the chapel on two wheels.

Photo Courtesy Green LA Girl via Creative Commons License

The reusable gift bag was great too, it included a tiny compressed towel, an hourglass shower timer, and some great coupons. Green LA Girl has more to say about the clothes and the handsome and accomplished special guest whom they honored for his hard work in greening Los Angeles.

Source:feelgoodstyle.com/

Los Angeles Fashion Week: Jeffrey Sebelia's Fluxus collection stands out at Directives West; BOXeight opens with a fete

March 23, 2010 | 8:00 am
Los Angeles Fashion Week has always piggybacked on the Los Angeles Fashion Market, when boutiques and department stores from across the country descend on Downtown L.A.'s Fashion District to place orders for next season.

Friday, Directives West, an L.A.-based trend forecasting division of New York's Doneger Group, bridged fashion week and market with a trend-based show, attended by buyers from Anthropologie, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. Previously, Directives West staged runway presentations targeted toward junior apparel retailers.

For fall 2010, Directives West focused on key trends such as loopy knits, military jackets, lace and ruffles, Native American-inspired patterns and athletic-inspired cotton separates. On the runway, the latter predominated with gray jersey jumpsuits, stretch dresses, leggings and flouncy hoodies. As witnessed by the success of brands such as Juicy Couture and Vince, L.A. seems to create the casual looks that American women want to wear on weekends.

Directive West's most recognizable name was Fluxus, designed by Jeffrey Sebelia, winner of Project Runway's Season 3. Sebelia didn't disappoint the contemporary buyers, giving them top notch looks in the stated key trends -- a shirred cotton jersey jumpsuit and a romantic belted poet blouse worn with a miniskirt over print leggings. Sebelia, mustachioed with shaggy red hair, said his fall Fluxus collection was based loosely on Art Deco and French militaire, adding that he took the label "from a T-shirt brand to a full collection in only six months.”


Later that evening, BOXeight had its “Fashion: Refocus” opening-night event featuring photographers shooting models for LA Confidential magazine wearing looks from Skingraft, Isabel Lu, Funktional and Gold Spun. For BOXeight, it was a refocus to throwing a fete with fashion in the background, and the skinny-jean and boot-wearing hipster crowd didn't mind.

Skingraft, designed by Jonny Cota, also a mustachioed young man with outsize ear jewelry, appeared to draw the most attention from partygoers with an elaborate photo set-up featuring a pregnant model vamping it up wearing the label’s signature intricate studded leather pieces and gothy knits.

Jenny Park's Funktional showcased its wearable "grandma meets grunge" collection for young women with on-trend separates such as slouchy jersey tops and leather skirts. And Sophia Kim, designer of Isabel Lu (named after her niece), channeled the 1980s with sculpted dresses featuring bustiers and shoulder pads. Even Kim's photo stylist was wearing a Madonna “Blond Ambition" tour T-shirt.

Source:latimesblogs.latimes.com/

LA Fashion Week: Kell on Earth Puts On a Heavenly Show for Alternative Apparel

A little order descended on LA Fashion week tonight in the form of PR maven Kelly Cutrone's production of the Alternative Apparel show. The party actually took place following the fashion show, not during it (nice improvement over some of the other shows.) The show started promptly after seating and things appeared organized with actual lists of the clothing being modeled sitting on the chairs. Celebrities arrived on time and were friendly. The whole tone was low-key, but completely professional.

If you haven't heard of Alternative, then its my pleasure to introduce you to one of Los Angeles' best fashion houses with a unique blend of style and California cool. Alternative has elevated the simple t-shirt from couch potato wear to a fashion-forward staple. Actress Carla Gallo, who starred in HBO's Carnivàle arrived at the show in an Alternative T-shirt dress. She praised her dress from Alternative as very comfortable, and based on her favorite fashion piece, surprise, a T-shirt!

Source:huffingtonpost.com/

Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall '10: Gen Art Fêtes Alumni

Gen Art helped get Los Angeles’ fashion set into the swing of things with a poolside party March 16 at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Tropicana Bar in Hollywood. The party, which kicked off with a parade of former Gen Art “Fresh Face” designers and their models, was hosted by Amber Rose, a former Ford model known best as rapper Kanye West’s lady friend.

Gen Art, which in the past has presented up-and-coming Los Angeles designers in installations or catwalk presentations, pared down its approach this season but still drew a sizable crowd of fashion insiders and gathered some of the best Los Angeles designers.

Participating designers—including Brigid Catiis, Eduardo Lucero, Elmer Ave., Endovanera, Erik Hart, Freddie Rojas, Geren Ford, Wren, Grey Ant, Jared Gold, Jeffrey Sebelia, Katy Rodriguez, Kit Scarbo, Louis Verdad, Orthodox, Rami Kashou and Society for Rational Dress—each showed a single look from their Fall 2010 collections.—Erin Barajas

Source:apparelnews.net

Add to favorites Examiner Bio FGI-LA presents "The Designer and their Muse". An LA Fashion week staple

Last week as LA Fashion week kicked off the second bi-annual FGI-LA "the Designer and their Muse” event commenced with a strong purpose. To give us an opportunity to see and even meet the real magicians behind the fashion magic that happens in Los Angeles. Like GenArt from the night before, it’s all about pride. Pride in what Los Angeles has to offer. And shouldn’t we all celebrate in that? I say yes. I sadly missed last season’s launching event and heard the most incredible reviews so of course this year it was top on my LA Fashion Week agenda. And what I discovered was a environment where you could walk right up to your favorite LA designers with their stunning model muses in a Fall 2010 design and just simply say hi. Accessibility. Pretty amazing.

So as I milled around this room of fashion greats, to my left is Lloyd Klein with his muse Natalie Cole. Donning am beautiful emerald green one shoulder gown. To the right is the proud LA fashion mainstay Nony Tochterman of Petrozillia and her muse Samaire Armstrong, (who I love.) And even from the designer meets mass market world, Michelle Bohbot who’s collection Bisou Bisou has been be a JC Penney success for years, was accompanied by CariDee English. (America’s Next Top model... and definitely one of the more successful winners of all the seasons.) But for me and many others, there was a stand out designer and muse for the evening. And a personal favorite of mine as his runway show last season blew me away. The fabulous Oliver Tolentino and his incredible pineapple fabric gown with fresh water pearls, tiers, rosettes and romance galore. Everyone was talking about this dress. Not only was the gown stunning, Oliver wanted you to not just see it but touch it. The pineapple fabric, solely made in the Phillippines has a magical hand feel. While it’s stiff like silk organdy, it’s presence is soft and fluid. In snagging a couple words with Oliver he told me that he is ever inspired by nature and that always translates into his collections. I'm definitely looking forward to what is to come with Oliver and with all the designers for that matter.

FGI-LA has it right in giving Los Angeles an event that showcases our design celebrities to everyone. This city has much to be proud of and we as a city need to band together to promote our talent. I'll be looking forward to next season and the seasons to come of this event as it takes it's rightful place as the premiere event of every LA Fashion week. From your Editor-in-Chic... I'll see you on the streets.

Source:examiner.com/

Los Angeles named among new 4G markets for Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel Corp. has named Los Angeles and six other U.S. markets as places where the companies plans to expand 4G wireless service later this year.

The company on Tuesday said it will offer its WiMAX-based services in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and St. Louis. Sprint earlier this year said WiMAX was coming in 2010 to Kansas City, Boston, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington.

Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ: CLWR), based in Kirkland, Wash., is building the 4G network and selling services under its Clear brand. Sprint, a majority shareholder in Clearwire, and cable partners Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) resell the service in Clearwire’s markets under their own brands.

WiMAX is similar to WiFi, but its signal can cover an entire city instead of just a coffee shop or airport. It can provide download speeds comparable to a wired Internet connection.

Sprint (NYSE: S) this week is expected to unveil a mobile phone, to be for sale this summer, that works on both the 4G and current 3G networks. The company already sells 4G-compatible data cards for laptops and the Overdrive Mobile Hotspot, which can provide a connection with 4G speeds for as many as five WiFi-enabled devices.


Source:bizjournals.com/

NHL Game Summary - Colorado at Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Drew Doughty's power-play blast at the 3:40 mark of overtime gave the Los Angeles Kings a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche in the opener of a home-and-home set.

Los Angeles had given up a goal with 6.6 seconds left to tie the game, but Ruslan Salei took a cross-checking penalty at the 3:21 mark in the extra frame and Doughty made him pay as his huge blast from the top of the right circle beat Craig Anderson cleanly for the win.

The win gives Los Angeles 89 points on the season and moves the team into the fifth spot in the Western Conference. The Kings are tied with the Predators, but have two games in hand. Colorado is at 87 points and sits in the seventh spot.

Ryan Smyth scored twice and Wayne Simmonds scored the other goal, while Anze Kopitar and Jarret Stoll each had two assists for the Kings, who have won their past two games. Jonathan Quick finished the game with 18 saves.

"This is a big two points," said Smyth. "They battled hard right until the end, and they capitalized with six seconds left. We capitalized on our power play, which was big tonight. It is gut-check time now, and it is important to fight through adversity."

Peter Mueller had a goal and an assist while Chris Stewart and T.J. Galiardi each had a goal for the Avalanche, who have dropped three straight. Craig Anderson stopped 19 shots in the loss.

"It's a playoff-type game," said Colorado head coach Joe Sacco. "It had playoff atmosphere written all over it. There was a lot of intensity in the game. I thought our guys responded with a good game defensively which is something we were looking for. Unfortunately we didn't come away with the extra point but we did get one. It's something for us to build on."

These two clubs will play in Colorado on Wednesday.

With the score tied in the third, the Kings took a 3-2 lead midway through the frame as Smyth got the puck behind the net and from the right side, used a wraparound to get the puck across the goal-line.

Colorado, though, got Anderson out of the net in the final minute and tied the game with 6.6 seconds to play. Paul Stastny skated into the LA end and made a move to get around the defender. His initial shot was stopped as he fell to the ice, but Galiardi was there to stuff home the rebound.

"We can not be letting those goals go in late in the game like that," said Doughty. "The last minute of every period is really important, especially the third period. Getting the win is huge, but it is pretty disappointing we gave them that point."

The Avalanche possessed the initial lead in the game when Stewart threw a shot on net from the left boards that hit off the stick of Fredrik Modin and snuck past Quick at the 7:14 mark of the first.

LA, though, got the goal back at the midway mark of the period on the power play. Brad Richardson sent a seam pass from the left point to the right circle where Kopitar fired it over to the left side of the net and Smyth redirected it in.

The Kings took a 2-1 lead with 4:19 left in the second when Simmonds got the puck behind the net, skated out to the right side and slipped a backhand between the pads of Anderson.

Colorado tied the game 4:54 into the third on a 2-on-1 break as Mueller skated down to the right circle and beat Quick with a wrister to the short side.

Game Notes

Los Angeles won the only other meeting, 3-0, on February 13. After Wednesday's contest these teams will meet one more time, April 11 in Colorado, the last game of the season for both teams...Colorado went 0-for-5 on the power play while the Kings were 2-for-3.

Source:scoreboards.canoe.ca/

ACLU 'disturbed' by Los Angeles police shooting

LOS ANGELES — A fatal weekend police shooting of an unarmed man who family members say was autistic prompted the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California on Monday to urge the Los Angeles Police Department to re-examine its policies.

Steven Eugene Washington was shot by gang enforcement officers Allan Corrales and George Diego near Los Angeles' Koreatown shortly after midnight Saturday after he approached them and appeared to remove something from his waistband, police said. No weapon was recovered.

Corrales and Diego heard a loud noise while driving in their patrol car and turned around to see Washington. The officers said the 27-year-old was looking around suspiciously and manipulating something in his waist area.

When the officers tried to stop Washington to investigate, he quickly approached them and seemed to pull something from his waistband, Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger told reporters at a news conference Saturday afternoon.

Each officer fired once and Washington was hit in the head, police said.

The officers fired "with the belief that he was arming himself, and in defense of their lives," Paysinger said.

Corrales and Diego called paramedics, who pronounced Washington dead at the scene.

ACLU of Southern California Executive Director Ramona Ripston said the organization was deeply troubled by the shooting.

"The initial news coverage of the incident shed little light on why lethal force was necessary when officers were not responding to any report of criminal activity and had no reason to suspect Mr. Washington of a crime just because they heard a loud noise as they were driving past," Ripston said in a statement.

"We urge the LAPD to go beyond a one-time investigation examining the conduct of the officers, and take a broader look at changes in department policy and training that could help prevent such a tragedy from recurring," she said.

Family members said at a news conference Saturday that Washington was autistic and had never shown any signs of violence or had any trouble with police.

"They assured us that they are investigating, they also assured us that they care, so all we want is answers," aunt Vickie Thompson said.

The LAPD's Force Investigation Division and the district attorney's office are investigating the shooting.

Corrales has been with the LAPD for nearly seven years, and Diego for nearly eight years, police said.

Source:AFP

With stroke of a pen, Obama signs health reform into law

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKBW/ABC) -- President Obama signed in to law Tuesday the much debated and controversial Health Insurance Reform bill.

Multimedia Watch The Video After a year of negotiations, debate and political drama, President Obama today signed the historic health care bill that reshapes care for millions of Americas while setting up a divisive battle with Republicans that's expected to spill into the November elections and beyond.

Senior adviser David Axelrod says bill's "reality is different from caricature.""Today, after almost a century of trying. Today, after over a year of debate. Today, after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America," Obama said to a standing ovation.

"With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all the game playing that passes for governance in Washington, it's been easy to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing," the president said. "It's easy to succumb to the sense of cynicnsm about what's possible in this country, but today we're asserting that essential truth... that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations."

"We are a nation that faces its responsibilities and faces its challenges," Obama added. "Here in this country we shape our own destiny. ... That's what makes us the United States of America."

The attendees chanted "Fired up, ready to go" -- Obama's campaign slogan -- as the president and Vice President Biden arrived.

"Ladies and gentleman, to state the obvious, this is a historic day," Biden said to a cheering crowd before the president took the podium.

Obama and Biden today were joined by Americans whose stories have touched the president and Democrats who voted "yes" for the health care bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is credited with bringing together enough Democrats to make the health care vote possible in the House, also attended. As Obama acknowledged Pelosi today, the crowd chanted, "Nancy, Nancy."

Vicki Reggie Kennedy, the wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, was also present at the event. In an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Kennedy said her husband would've been "exhilarated" and "thrilled" by the passage of the bill. Sen. Kennedy, who was behind many landmark health bills, made health care reform the focal point of his long Senate career.

Proponents of the legislation say the health care bill will impact all Americans positively, even those who currently have health insurance.

"I think every American is going to have a more secure relationship with their insurance companies as a result of this because there are a series of protections that will be implemented over time that are important to people," White House senior adviser David Axelrod said on "Good Morning America" today.

Source:wkbw.com/

Health Care sign and travel...GOP health care opposition unabated

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's signature today on the health care overhaul isn't the end, just the beginning of the next phase of the fight. He plans to make trips around the country, starting with Iowa Thursday, to persuade skeptics that the medical system remake will make their lives better. Republicans say they'll continue to fight it in whatever forum is appropriate, including the courts.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has harsh criticism for the just-passed health care bill. He says it's unconstitutional, deserves to be repealed and will help cost President Barack Obama a second term. He commented after a book signing in California.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton takes the lead in Mexico today as U.S. officials discuss the drug war with Mexican government representatives. The meeting is in keeping with a promise that President Barack Obama made to be a "full partner" with Mexico in the anti-drug trafficking effort. It comes just two weeks after three people linked to the American consulate were killed.

BEIJING (AP) — China's official Xinhua News Agency says a man who stabbed eight elementary school children to death has a history of mental health problems. Five children were wounded in this morning's attack and the man, said to be a former doctor armed with a large knife, was arrested.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The heavily fished hammerhead shark is still in the soup despite a U.S.-backed proposal to save it from the cooking pot. The proposal to protect three species of hammerhead sharks, prized for their fins for use in soup, was rejected at a U.N. conservation meeting. Japan led the opposition.

Source:9and10news.com/

World Water Week in LA

Do you take that glass of tap water for granted? The one that sits in front of you while you eat out?

So often we finish our soda, or our glass of wine, while those 12 ounces of clean water sit not enjoyed, not sipped, not used. But, of course, there are millions of people who need clean water, which is where UNICEF's annual tap water iniative comes in.

During the week of March 21-28, a host of restaurants throughout the United States and Los Angeles are asking diners to pay a dollar for their requested glass of tap water.

When all of those dollars are added up for the UNICEF Tap Project, the organization then puts them into its water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, which ultimately benefit people needing clean drinking water at spots around the globe.

AOC, Hugo's, and Real Food Daily are just a few of the local restaurants on the participant list. If you'll be dining out over the next week, and requesting water, make note and help out.

Source:nbclosangeles.com/

Free Oscar Documentaries Make Spring Mondays Better

Monday night, that great stretch of what now.

Oh, maybe some random television, some emotional eating, maybe some easy-chair napping. That's all fine. But now that we've heard about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences showing Oscar-winning documentaries, for free, on Monday nights, we're putting away the bag of chips.

They'll hold for a day or two.

But great free movies won't. Starting on Monday, March 22, the Academy will be screening a dozen Oscar winners at its Vine theater. Up on March 22: "Mighty Times: The Children's March" and "Born Into Brothels." Films like "March of the Penguins," "Man on Wire," and "The Cove" are upcoming.

Source:nbclosangeles.com/

Michael Jackson Doc Interrupted CPR to Hide Drugs: Report

The doctor charged with manslaughter in the case of Michael Jackson's death interrupted CPR on the singer and delayed calling 911 in order to collect and hide drug vials in the room where Jackson died, stunning new documents obtained by the AP reveal.

Dr. Conrad Murray, who long treated Jackson and allegedly administered lethal amounts of the drug propofol to the star, stopped the process of CPR so he could hand another man drug vials to stash away, Jackson's logistics director Alberto Alvarez told investigators, according to the AP.

Jackson died June 25 from an overdose of propofol and two other drugs Murray gave him -- Jackson reportedly referred to the propofol as his "milk" and used the drug to sleep, even though the powerful sedative is meant to be used in hospitals under the supervision of a doctor, experts said.

According to Alvarez, Murray interrupted CPR on Jackson to instruct Alvarez to put vials of drugs in a bag. The statement was questioned by Murray's lawyer, who alleged Alvarez did not mention the vials in an earlier statement.

"Alberto, Alberto, come quickly," Murray said, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press. "He had a reaction, he had a bad reaction."

Alvarez told investigators he saw Jackson with his mouth and eyes open with no sign of life, an IV attached to the singer's body as Murray performed mouth-to-mouth while Alvarez did CPR.

Jackson's children, Prince and Paris, cried as they saw the doctor trying to save their father, according to Alvarez. They were quickly ushered away.

Alvarez said Murray then told him to remove an IV bag from a stand and put it in a blue canvas bag. He did, and noticed the bag had a connector with a milky white substance in it. Alvarez didn't say what happened to the bags, nor did he identify what was in the vials.

Two days after Jackson's death, under several hours of questioning by police, Murray eventually directed them to a closet in Jackson's bedroom. In it, they found propofol and other sedatives in a bag.

Murray, a Texas-based physician, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in February in Los Angeles.

Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson...in the commission of an unlawful act, not a felony," a statement from the L.A. District Attorney's office said at the time of the hearing.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office has asked a court to suspend Murray's license pending the outcome of criminal proceedings against him.

Source:nbclosangeles.com/

THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR

Mar 23, 2010 8:30 pm (Tuesday)



Echo 1822 W Sunset Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90026
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Source:eventful.com/

31 Los Angeles Marathon runners hospitalized, 1 in critical condition

Legal news for California personal injury attorneys. One runner is in critical condition, and 30 others were rushed to the hospital while running in LA marathon.

California personal injury attorneys alerts- The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 115 calls of injured runners during the Los Angeles Marathon.

Los Angeles, CA—At least 31 runners, who participating in the 25th Annual Los Angeles Marathon, were rushed to the hospital after complaining of ailments such as fatigue, dehydration and chest paints. One runner was hospitalized in critical condition after collapsing during the marathon on Sunday, March 20, 2010, as reported by MyFoxLA.com.

Over 25,000 runners gathered to participate in the Los Angeles Marathon, which stretched for 26-miles and outside the Los Angeles city limits. The Los Angeles Fire Department was busy responding to 115 medical assessments during the marathon, in which 31 runners were rushed to area hospitals for treatment. Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center reportedly received seven runners, while Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital treated 10 other runners as of 6:30 p.m. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center reportedly treated injured runners as well. The hospitals reported that they had treated numerous aches, cramps, dehydration and shortness-of-breath complaints.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics were part of 10 two-person bicycle teams to patrol the entire marathon trek. The Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital medical director stated, “It’s important for people running a marathon to stretch, eat properly and stay hydrated tonight and in the days following the race… Running a marathon is stressful on the body, no matter how one prepares. Taking it easy and allowing your body to recuperate afterwards is the key to a healthy recovery.”

Source:justicenewsflash.com/

Twittering stars put in good times at Los Angeles Marathon

Audrina Patridge of The Hills fame joined celebs Shia LaBeouf, Sean Astin, Gordon Ramsay, and Andy Baldwin and 25,000 others who took to the streets of Los Angeles for the annual marathon.


Afterward the 24-year-old took to her Twitter account to exclaim: 'Morgan & I ran LA Marathon! Join me in support of Sunshine Kids & buy the skirt I ran in @ http://www.runningskirts.com & they’ll donate 5 percent.'


The marathon is the classic distance for a street marathon, 26.2 miles, and starts at the Dodger Stadium to wind up at the water's edge at the Santa Monica Pier.


UPI reported Baldwin, an Ironman triathlete and officer in the United States Navy, was the top celebrity runner, completing the trek in 3 hours and 24 minutes. He took to his Twitter account to tweet: 'Thanks for all the support @LAMarathon today! @alycialane @rembrandtflores @teamworldvision @richcruse @richroll @boomboomreed @joshcoxrun.'


Patridge's time was not known. Ramsay put in a very respectable finish at 3:36, LaBeouf timed in at 4:35 and former child star Astin made it in 5:16. Ramsay on his Twitter account noted he had to stop halfway. The fiery chef tweeted: 'damn, had to stop at 15 miles, just felt my calf muscle go. massive well done to everyone who got round.'

Source:monstersandcritics.com/

Google to leave China April 10: state media

US Internet giant Google will close its business in China next month and may announce its plans in the coming days, Chinese media reported on Friday, after rows over censorship and hacking.

The China Business News quoted an official with an unidentified Chinese advertising agency as saying Google would go through with its threatened withdrawal on April 10, but that Google had yet to confirm the pull-out.

The agency is a business partner of Google, the report said.

The report did not specify whether Google would close all or part of its operations in the country.

The newspaper quoted an unidentified Google staff member as saying the company may announce on Monday the details of its exit from China and compensation for its local staff.

Google China spokeswoman Marsha Wang declined to comment on the report, telling AFP only that there had been "no update" on the company's situation.

The report was the latest in a series of clues to emerge recently indicating Google planned to leave China, which has the world's largest population of online users, at 384 million.

Google has cried foul over what it said were cyberattacks aimed at its source code and the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

The Financial Times reported last week that Google was "99.9 percent" certain to abandon google.cn, citing an unnamed source.

Chinese media said Wednesday that Google sent a notice to clients saying google.cn could close at the end of March.

The issue has sparked a simmering war of words between China and the administration of US President Barack Obama, which has called on Beijing to allow an unfettered Internet.

The dispute has exacerbated mounting tensions between the two over a range of trade and diplomatic issues.

Beijing tightly controls online content in a vast system dubbed the "Great Firewall of China", removing information it deems harmful such as pornography and violent content, but also politically sensitive material.

Google has continued to filter google.cn results to abide by Chinese censorship demands, but says it will eventually stop the screening.

Google confirmed earlier this week that it had received a letter purportedly from a group of 27 Chinese advertising agencies calling for the US company to open talks on compensation for possible business losses if it leaves China.

However, representatives of several of the firms subsequently told AFP they knew nothing of the letter and Chinese media reports have raised doubts about its authenticity.

Google's Wang told AFP the company is still "reviewing" the letter.

Source:wavenewspapers.com/