Los Angeles Times - Top News

Cancer screening: What could it hurt? A lot, actually

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Routine cancer testing saves lives, but it also leads to biopsies, surgeries, radiation, even deaths that otherwise would not have occurred. But experts' reevaluations are met with public angst.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

A teen party, a mysterious death -- and a town's unanswered grief

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Joe Loudon attended a gathering in Orinda, drank some beer and later died. Miscues in the investigation led to finger-pointing, igniting a debate over whether his death was an accident or a crime.

The telephone rang shortly after 8 a.m. on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The caller was a friend of my son's who said he needed to speak to him. "It's important," he said.

Candy Spelling stands firm on $150-million asking price

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The widow of TV producer Aaron Spelling can afford to be patient for someone to make an offer on her 56,500-square-foot Holmby Hills mansion.

Eight months ago when Candy Spelling, widow of legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling, put her 4.7-acre estate in Holmby Hills up for sale, the $150-million listing price raised more than a few eyebrows.

LACMA loses 23% of its investments in meltdown year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:29:00 -0800

No arts nonprofit is apt to show a rosy balance sheet for the year of the great economic meltdown, unless by rosy one means red ink.

'New Moon' smashes 'Harry Potter' midnight ticket sales record

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The vampires have beat the boy wizard.

California gains jobs, but unemployment still rises to 12.5%

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

More seek work amid hopes that companies are finally hiring again. Meanwhile, prospects for job growth in key industries, such as construction and manufacturing, remain weak.

California employers added workers to their payrolls in October for the first time in more than a year, but the state's unemployment rate ticked higher as more job seekers entered the labor pool amid hopes that companies are finally hiring again.

Tommy Jacquette dies at 65; South L.A. activist helped found the Watts Summer Festival

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

After the Watts Riots in 1965, Jacquette channeled his rage into community organizing. He helped create neighborhood programs for youth but is best known for his work with the festival.

Tommy Jacquette, who channeled a simmering rage to become one of South L.A.'s most important social activists, died this week of complications from cancer, his daughter said. He was 65.

California launches probe into alleged scam targeting churches

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown says dozens of African American churches were defrauded of thousands of dollars over lease agreements for computerized advertising kiosks that were supposed to be free.

State Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown said Friday that he is investigating an alleged scam that forced more than 30 African American churches in Southern California to pay thousands of dollars for substandard computer equipment that was supposed to be free.

16 Afghans killed in suicide attack

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Afghanistan officials think Farah Gov. Rohul Amin may have been the target; he was not injured. The attack comes a day after President Karzai appealed to militants to put down their arms.

Authorities on Friday were investigating whether a blast that hit a crowded marketplace in western Afghanistan was aimed at a provincial governor considered friendly to the United States.

Stocks fall for 3rd day as dollar strengthens

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Stocks fell for a third straight day Friday as a drop in the price of oil depressed shares of energy and raw-material producers and a pair of disappointing earning reports added to doubts about the economic recovery.