Los Angeles Times - Top News

USC made its offer to neuroscientists a no-brainer

By Larry Gordon and Eryn Brown, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The school's 'all hands on deck' effort to lure Arthur Toga and Paul Thompson from UCLA included money and the prospect of new collaborations, as well as less tangible personal perks.

The courtship that has riveted the neuroscience world blossomed at a Saturday night dinner in a tony Brentwood restaurant.

Labor group won't back away from campaign mailer

By David Zahniser, Laura J. Nelson and Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:37:00 GMT

Mailer to Latino voters urges support for Wendy Greuel because she 'will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour,' but Greuel does not back that minimum pay level for all workers.

The most powerful labor organization in Los Angeles refused Friday to back away from a campaign mailer in which it urges voters to support Wendy Greuel for mayor because she "will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour."

Analyst disputes Brown's budget outlook as too glum

By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:27:00 GMT

Legislature's advisor sees $3 billion more in revenue, which could hamper the governor's bid to curb spending.

SACRAMENTO — California's financial picture is much brighter than Gov. Jerry Brown suggested in his latest spending plan, according to the Legislature's top budget advisor, who said the state will have $3.2 billion more at its disposal than the governor estimated.

Democrats seeking office have their eye on Sacramento

By Mark Z. Barabak and Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:39:00 GMT

Lawmakers and candidates are increasingly feeling they can accomplish more at the state level than in Washington, where many would be serving in the minority.

WASHINGTON — Early this year, Leticia Perez and her husband flew here for a whirlwind 48 hours. The couple dined at the Italian Embassy, visited the Lincoln Memorial and joined the crowd on the National Mall watching as President Obama was inaugurated for a second term.

In Mexico, immigrants' relatives watch U.S. debate, and hope

By Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:59:00 GMT

Many are skeptical that Congress will pass immigration reform legislation, but if it happens, they say, it will mean the reunion of countless family members, some separated for 20 years.

TONATICO, Mexico — Armando Guadarrama was navigating his taxi through the narrow streets of this central Mexico pueblo on a recent Saturday morning, some 2,000 miles from the Beltway.

Ex-Compton fire official charged with arson, theft

By Abby Sewell, Angel Jennings and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:56:00 GMT

Marcel Melanson, once considered a charismatic department hero, pleads not guilty to stealing expensive radios while a battalion chief and denies setting a fire to cover up the theft.

Marcel Melanson was a hero in Compton.

California's unemployment rate drops to 9%

By Alana Semuels — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:37:00 GMT

California’s pace of job creation slowed in April, as employers added 10,300 jobs in April, nevertheless pushing the state’s unemployment rate down to 9% from 9.4% the month before.

Cedars-Sinai stands out for steep pricing

By Chad Terhune and Ben Poston, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

It's the only hospital near the top in every category in a Medicare report. But few patients pay the full amount.

When Medicare disclosed average charges from thousands of U.S. hospitals for 100 common procedures last week, only one hospital was near the top in every category: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

L.A. mayor's race result may be unknown for weeks after election

By James Rainey, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:10:00 GMT

Mail-in ballots, the apparent tightness of the race and the peculiarities of the City Clerk's counting procedures open the possibility of a delayed outcome.

After a contest for mayor of Los Angeles that has consumed the better part of two years, the two finalists, their staffs, the media and a largely disinterested electorate doubtless would welcome an end to the drama Tuesday, election day.

Federal judge lifts LAPD consent decree

By Joel Rubin, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:04:00 GMT

The order ends oversight imposed in 2001, mostly over the Rampart scandal, which involved abuse of suspects, evidence tampering and perjury.

The federal judge who oversaw a dramatic, forced transformation of the Los Angeles Police Department has freed the department from the final vestiges of federal oversight.

Cause of Texas fertilizer plant fire may never be known

By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:50:00 GMT

Investigators have not been able to rule out arson or a faulty golf cart or electrical system. Officials won't comment on whether an arrested paramedic has been cleared.

A malfunctioning golf cart, a faulty electrical system or even arson could have led to the fire that triggered the deadly explosion of a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, but federal and state officials said Thursday that their $1-million investigation had yet to find the cause.

Facing walkout, UC medical centers canceling elective surgeries

By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:31:00 GMT

Hospitals in San Diego, Irvine, L.A., San Francisco and Davis take action in face of a possible strike next week by patient care and technical workers.

SACRAMENTO — Facing a possible two-day strike next week by patient care and technical workers, the five large University of California medical centers are starting to cancel elective surgeries that had been scheduled as soon as Monday, officials said.

Obama responds to criticism with 'fix it' strategy

By Kathleen Hennessey and Christi Parsons, Washington Bureau — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:07:00 GMT

The president has tried to posit himself as a pragmatic, decisive leader in response to the political pounding he has taken over a series of controversies.

WASHINGTON — At a news conference in a rainy Rose Garden on Thursday, President Obama and the Turkish prime minister had weighty matters to discuss — the bloody civil war in Syria, a disastrous Syrian refugee crisis and Turkey's strained relationship with Israel. But before they got too far into that, Obama had something else to say.

California bills on firearms, violence clear hurdles

By Chris Megerian and Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:44:00 GMT

Legislation passed by the Senate includes a measure requiring gun owners to keep firearms locked up if they live with someone prohibited by law from using guns.

SACRAMENTO — State lawmakers advanced measures related to firearms and violence Thursday, including two introduced after the mass killing at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

House immigration group reaches 'agreement in principle'

By Lisa Mascaro and Michael A. Memoli — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:24:00 GMT

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has reached an "agreement in principle" on a sweeping immigration bill that would parallel work underway in the Senate, sources said Thursday.

Greuel cites high-profile role as an executive at DreamWorks SKG

By Maeve Reston and Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:53:00 GMT

The candidate's position at DreamWorks was about more than making movies — she was a go-between for the studio to the political, governmental and civic worlds.

Wendy Greuel's resume is dotted with the political accomplishments of a politician on the rise. But there was an unconventional detour: her stint as an executive at DreamWorks SKG, working alongside Hollywood titans Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

IRS problem started with vague tax exemption rules

By Matea Gold, Washington Bureau — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:44:00 GMT

IRS was ill-equipped to handle the deluge of tax-exempt applications from 'social welfare' organizations and to police their political activities, experts say.

WASHINGTON — In spring 2010, agents in the Cincinnati office of the Internal Revenue Service, which handles applications for tax-exempt status, faced a surge of filings by new advocacy groups, with little guidance on how to treat them.

House Republicans repudiate Obama healthcare program -- again

By Noam N. Levey — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:39:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – House Republicans voted for the 37 th time Thursday evening to repeal all or part of President Obama’s healthcare law, underscoring once again the deep partisan divide over the landmark 2010 legislation.

Attack ads in L.A. mayor's race seek Latino votes

By Kate Linthicum and Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:48:00 GMT

One spot links candidate Wendy Greuel to former Gov. Pete Wilson, who backed Prop. 187, while another accuses rival Eric Garcetti of masquerading as a Latino.

The importance of Latinos in next week's mayoral election was highlighted again Wednesday as a new round of dueling attacks ads emerged seeking to undermine both candidates' appeal to Spanish-speaking voters.

Jerry Brown urges UC to stress graduating students in 4 years

By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:30:00 GMT

The California governor addresses UC regents. He recently proposed giving UC and Cal State more money if they boost graduation rates 10% by 2017.

SACRAMENTO — The graduation rates of UC students came under more scrutiny Wednesday as Gov. Jerry Brown urged administrators and faculty to prod more undergraduates to earn a degree in four years, not six.

Obama ousts IRS chief over inquiry

By Matea Gold, Joseph Tanfani and Melanie Mason, Washington Bureau — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:12:00 GMT

In a bid to restore Americans' trust, the president says targeting conservative groups was 'inexcusable.'

WASHINGTON — President Obama forced out the head of the IRS on Wednesday, seeking to restore the public's faith in the tax agency while asserting a measure of control over a rapidly growing political problem.

Scientists create human embryos to make stem cells

By Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:43:00 GMT

For the first time, scientists have created embryos that are genetic copies of living people to make stem cells, which may help treat many diseases but also raises concerns about human cloning.

For the first time, scientists have created human embryos that are genetic copies of living people and used them to make stem cells — a feat that paves the way for treating a range of diseases with personalized body tissues but also ignites fears of human cloning.

L.A. Unified continues Breakfast in the Classroom program

By Dalina Castellanos — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:48:00 GMT

The Los Angeles Board of Education approved funding for discretionary programs such as classroom breakfasts at its meeting Tuesday.

Bangladesh crowd gathers as collapse cleanup ends

By Mark Magnier, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:18:00 GMT

Prayers are said for the victims at the site of the collapsed garment factory. Some families are still without the bodies of their loved ones.

NEW DELHI — Thousands gathered Tuesday in the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza garment factory complex in Bangladesh to pray for the 1,127 people who died in the world's worst apparel industry disaster.

Defense to furlough most of its 800,000 civilians

By David S. Cloud — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:19:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department will furlough most of its 800,000 civilian employees for 11 days, a decision that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called “difficult” but necessary to meet mandatory federal spending cuts this year without harming national security.