L.A. Times - Most E-mailed Stories

Activists push ballot initiative to end state benefits for illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The measure would end public benefits to illegal residents, challenge the citizenship of their U.S.-born children, cut welfare payments to those children and impose new birth certificate requirements.

In a stretch of desert just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, men and women in khakis and the colors of the American flag recently gathered at a border watch post they call Camp Vigilance and discussed their next offensive in the nation's immigration wars.

Schwarzenegger sweeps out nursing board

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

He replaces most members, prompted by reports of problem practitioners continuing to work for years as cases against them drag on, endangering patients.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced most members of the state Board of Registered Nursing on Monday, citing the unacceptable time it takes to discipline nurses accused of egregious misconduct.

Problem nurses stay on the job as patients suffer

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

California's oversight board often takes years to mete out discipline for egregious misconduct, leaving the public unaware of the risk.

Nurse Owen Jay Murphy Jr. twisted the jaw of one patient until he screamed.

If red wine's good, are resveratrol pills even better?

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Such is the thinking, though not the proof. Resveratrol supplements are a prime example of how hope, buzz and profit can distort science.

In August 2003, when scientists first revealed the life-extending powers of trans-3,4,'5-trihydroxystilbene-- also known as resveratrol -- its earthly form had all the allure of an apple in the garden of Eden.

French and fishtail braids: A step-by-step guide

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:15:08 -0700

Republican pundits open fire on Sarah Palin

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Their harsh views conflict with those of grass-roots GOP voters, revealing a serious split within the party.

Since announcing her resignation, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been pummeled by critics who have called her incoherent, a quitter, a joke and a "political train wreck."

As the Hollywood machine abandons L.A., its supporting workers struggle

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Small, blue-collar businesses that sustain California's entertainment industry -- prop houses, studio equipment shops -- fight for business as film production migrates to incentive-rich states.

In an industrial yard behind Burbank's Bob Hope Airport, dozens of orange forklifts and 135-foot-high booms stand idle, gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. As recently as two years ago, the yard was largely empty because the equipment was busy being used to hoist cameras, rig lights and build sets for "Iron Man," "Get Smart," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and other movies shooting throughout Southern California.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the first U.S. nuclear meltdown

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A reactor in Chatsworth began leaking radioactive gas on July 14, 1959. Some area residents blame the facility for their health issues and say the site remains contaminated.

On the morning of July 14, 1959, Sodium Reactor Experiment trainee John Pace received the bad news from a group of supervisors who had, he recalled, "terribly worried expressions on their faces."

Microsoft plans free, online version of Office

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The technology titan tries to stop Google Docs from encroaching on its turf.

Everyone predicted Microsoft Corp. wouldn't take long to fire back against Google Inc.'s latest foray into its home turf.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a question of eugenics

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

After the Supreme Court justice's comments in a recent interview, I would like to know if she believes some populations are in need of shrinking through abortion.

Here's what Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in Sunday's New York Times Magazine: "Frankly I had thought that at the time [Roe vs. Wade] was decided," Ginsburg told her interviewer, Emily Bazelon, "there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of."