Author: Steve Marble

The Rio Tinto borax mine in Boron made good on threats of a lockout, shutting the doors today on about 570 hourly workers after the two sides failed to reach a deal on a new labor contract.

It began at 7 a.m. as employees and their families showed up outside the gates saying they wanted to work, but were told they couldn’t come in. Replacements were brought in to do their jobs.

“The last thing we want to do is hurt our employees, but we cannot continue to negotiate without a willing partner and we cannot continue to deliver on our commitments to customers with the threat of a strike hanging over our heads,” Dean Gehring, general manager of the mine, said in a statement today.

Rio Tinto, a London-based mining giant with operations on five continents, has been negotiating with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30 for the last five months. The company says it has lost 25% of its global borax share and needs to make changes to stay competitive.

The union is resisting proposed changes in the seniority system it believes would open the door to nepotism and cronyism and ultimately to breaking the union.

“They are locking out workers and telling the families they are going to take food off the table and threaten their jobs unless people agree to roll over and surrender their rights to the corporation,” said union spokesman Craig Merrilees.

“To their credit, people are standing up and saying, ‘Enough is enough. You may be big, you may operations all over the world, but the line is being drawn here in Boron and you will have a fight if you want to destroy our jobs, our lives and our communities.’”

— David Kelly

A man was shot early this morning in North Hollywood, police said.

A dark-colored sedan that appeared to be a Lincoln Cadillac or Continental was in the 5800 block of Whitnall Highway about 1:30 a.m. when one of its passengers got out of the car and fired a shot at the victim, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Lou Torres said.

The victim was transported to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in stable condition. The incident was possibly gang-related, Torres said. No other information was given.

— Corina Knoll

A man was hospitalized early this morning after being struck by what appears to be random gunfire while standing outside a Hollywood nightclub, authorities said.

Two of the officers who responded to the shooting outside the Cabana Club were injured when a nearby crowd threw rocks and bottles at them, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Enrique Mendoza said.

Officers found a man about 24 years old with a gunshot wound to his left foot when they arrived at the club on Ivar Avenue just south of Sunset Boulevard about 2:30 a.m., Mendoza said.

The victim was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in stable condition.

Witnesses reported seeing a white Dodge Charger leave the scene, Mendoza said. It was not known how many suspects were involved and no descriptions were available.

— Corina Knoll

The Crystal Cathedral, the Garden Grove megachurch, is laying off workers, selling surplus property and may be pulling its “Hour of Power” television show from eight markets in the wake of a precipitous drop in contributions.

[Updated at 7:40 p.m.: An earlier version of this post said the church was pulling its "Hour of Power" TV show from a dozen markets.]

The 7,000-member church has also canceled its “Glory of Easter” pageant, a popular reenactment of the life and death of Jesus Christ, which sold tens of thousands of tickets each year.

“This cuts to the heart of our ministry,” said spokesman John Charles. “It is sad news.”

Charles said that the church’s revenue dropped 27% from roughly $30 million in 2008 to $22 million in 2009. “Our indicators show that 2010 revenue will drop,” he added. “If it maintains, that would be fine, but we don’t have a crystal ball, so we are cutting.”

The church, founded by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller more than 50 years ago, lost members in the wake of a family feud after he stepped down. His son, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, succeeded his father, but stepped down in 2008 after disagreements. His sister, Sheila Schuller Coleman, is now the church’s leader.

[Updated at 7:10 p.m.: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified the founder as Robert A. Schuller and his son as Robert A. Schuller Jr.]

Charles said the church surveyed its members last fall to see if the dispute had caused a drop in revenue. But he said, “We found out it had no effect. It is the economy. We have people living on fixed incomes and a lot of older, retired people. Revenue has dropped at all nonprofits across the board.”

–Margot Roosevelt

More than 100 items left behind on the moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts were named a California historical resource by a state preservation panel today.

The move by the California State Historical Resources Commission is part of a larger effort by scientists to protect what they say are valuable cultural artifacts at Tranquility Base, where man first set foot on the moon  July 20, 1969.

Similar efforts are in the works in other states with close ties to the Apollo program in the hopes of building momentum to have the items named a United Nations World Heritage Site. International treaties prohibit nations claiming sovereignty to the moon – but not to man-made objects that were left there.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin jettisoned scientific equipment, tools, empty containers and waste products to lighten the load of the Eagle lunar module for take-off and to account for the weight of moon rocks and soil samples.

— Mike Anton in Orange County

Former Manson family member Bruce Davis, who was convicted in the 1969 killings of musician Gary Hinman and ranch hand Donald "Shorty" Shea, was recommended for parole today.

A two-member Board of Prison Terms panel recommended Davis, 67, for release following his 26th parole hearing at the California Men’s Colony at San Luis Obispo, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Davis has been in prison since April 21, 1972.

Corrections officials will now take the decision under review to make sure there were no legal or factual errors. If the decision still stands after 120 days, the case will then be forwarded to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor has 30 days to review the board’s decision. He can reject it, take no action or modify the decision by adding a parole condition or changing the date of release.

Davis, one of the lesser-known followers of cult leader Charles Manson, was convicted in 1972 of the Manson-dictated murders of Hinman and Shea, whom Manson suspected of being a police informer.

Davis was not involved in the infamous Manson family murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others.

— Andrew Blankstein

Photo: An undated picture of Charles Manson follower Bruce Davis. Credit: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Veteran Compton high school coach Russell Otis today was sentenced to 60 days in county jail, placed on three years’ probation and ordered to undergo a year of sex offender counseling.

Otis, 47, was convicted last year of a misdemeanor charge of child molestation for subjecting a former player to a barrage of text messages that the player testified was sexual in nature.

Otis also will have to register as a sex offender, which will bar him from teaching or coaching again.

In the 20 seasons that he coached boys’ basketball at Dominguez High School, he directed the Dons to five state championships and 10 CIF Southern Section titles.

Otis’ attorney, Leonard Levine, announced in court that he will appeal the conviction.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Pat Connolly released Otis on bail pending appeal.

—Lance Pugmire

Consumers are being alerted by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials to inspect refrigerators and and freezers for Italian sausage products that have triggered a salmonella outbreak across 37 states.

As of Monday, 187 cases of salmonella had been reported nationwide, including six in Los Angeles in which one resident was hospitalized.

The ready-to-eat products produced by Rhode Island-based Daniele International Inc. are distributed nationwide under dozens of labels, not all of them bearing the “Daniele” name. About 1.24 million pounds of the tainted products were recalled after public health officials notified food chains, said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health.

“We worked hard with retailers to make sure these products were off the shelves, but certainly, there were people who bought sausage beforehand,” Fielding said. “We ask that if you have bought Italian sausage recently, as a precautionary measure, check our list of tainted products and if it conforms, dispose it or return it to the store for a refund.”

Salmonella is a common bacterial food-borne illness that could be life-threatening to the very young, the elderly and those with weak immune systems. Initial symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consumption.

The source of the outbreak remains under investigation, but a sample of the Daniele products tested positive for salmonella. Daniele International voluntarily recalled all of its products containing black pepper, which the producer believes might be the source of contamination.

“My guess is the number of people affected is understated since many don’t go to the hospital,” Fielding said. “They may just think it’s a bug going around.”

—  Esmeralda Bermudez

 A former Los Angeles County assistant fire chief was found guilty today of beating a puppy to death outside his Riverside home last year.

Glynn Johnson, 55, was found guilty in Riverside County Superior Court of animal cruelty and using a deadly weapon, a 12-pound rock, to kill Karley, a mixed breed shepherd.

The case has drawn wide attention, especially from animal-rights groups. For weeks leading up to Johnson’s arrest, protesters rallied in front of the district attorney’s office asking that the fire chief be prosecuted.

Johnson was accused of beating the dog after a long feud with his neighbors over various issues in 2008. Prosecutors called the beating unprovoked. The dog had to be euthanized. Prosecutors also say Johnson put dog feces in his neighbors’ mailbox with a letter warning them to keep their dogs off his property.

— David Kelly, reporting from Riverside

Photo: Glynn Johson; Credit: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

More breaking news in L.A. Now:

L.A. controller warns against using reserve fund to patch budget gap

Italian sausage products recalled in 37 states

Sex offender arrested for allegedly soliciting children at downtown L.A. housing complex

Storm could bring more snow and closures to mountains

Former owners of medical center to pay $10-million settlement in alleged Medicare fraud scheme

79-year-old jewelry thief, subject of Halle Berry movie, arrested at South Coast Plaza

Workers in the troubled Los Angeles County Probation Department have spent several days wondering who is in charge of the department after receiving conflicting messages from management.

As relations continue to sour between outgoing Probation Chief Robert Taylor and county supervisors, Taylor announced Friday to his staff that his deputy, Ron Barrett, would take over the department as acting chief Feb 1.

On Monday, however, County Chief Executive William T Fujioka said he ordered Taylor to rescind the announcement and stay on the job. That message was subsequently sent to some, but not all, probation employees earlier today.

“Barrett’s appointment is not going to happen,” Fujioka said in an interview, noting that the responsibility to name an acting chief would be his own.

Taylor announced last year that he would retire once a successor is appointed, but he has become anxious to leave early as the search to replace him continues amid questions about his management ability.

County supervisors, who have recently vocalized their dissatisfaction about Taylor, are set to interview the top candidate to replace him, Alameda County Probation Chief Donald H. Blevins, this week.

The department’s 6,200 staffers oversee 60,000 adult probationers and 20,000 youths, including about 3,600 in county-run detention halls and camps. The juvenile operation has been the subject of U.S. Justice Department oversight for misuse of force.

— Garrett Therolf

Crime in Palmdale and Lancaster has declined substantially in recent months, continuing a trend that has made the high desert towns the safest they have been in years, city and law enforcement officials said today.

The crime rate dropped 22% in Lancaster and 11% in Palmdale in 2009 compared with the previous year, authorities said.

In Palmdale, that puts the crime rate at its lowest level since 1995, city officials said. Arson fell 34%, rape was down 25% and auto theft dropped 19%, according to figures provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

However, the number of homicides increased from five in 2008 to eight in 2009, and burglaries were also up during that period.

In Lancaster, the decline in serious crime was more dramatic. City officials said the drop equates to 1,254 fewer serious crimes in 2009 compared with the previous year, or 24 fewer serious crimes each week. Particularly significant was a 45% decline in violent gang-related crime, such as homicide, rape, robbery and assault, according to statistics from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Burglaries, authorities said, decreased 23% during the same one-year period.

— Ann M. Simmons

A Palos Verdes Estates woman who upset neighbors by renting her 7,000-square-foot house for weddings, film shoots and other large gatherings, including an art and furniture auction, pleaded no contest today to creating a public nuisance.

Melahat Uzumcu was sentenced to three years of informal probation and fined $500. She is not allowed to rent the home for commercial purposes and must give the city 72 hours’ notice if more than 50 people will be visiting her at once.

Uzumcu was charged with four misdemeanors before agreeing to a plea deal with the city prosecutor. She faced two years in jail and a $4,000 fine.

The home on Paseo del Mar was advertised on several websites for weddings and other large parties, but also for film shoots and vacation rentals at $2,000 a night and $10,000 a week.

The house sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It has seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms and floors made of wood from Brazil.

Police responded to noise and parking complaints from neighbors 18 times in July, August and September. Neighbors compared the noise to a rock concert.

When she originally was charged, Uzumcu said she had just returned from a year in Argentina and her native Turkey. She said then that neighbors complained because they were “just jealous they don’t have my home.”

She could not be reached for comment today.

–Jeff Gottlieb from the South Bay