LA Daily Blog NEWS WIRE for Wednesday August 20, 2008

Here are the stories ZD was reading today. (Aka: LA Daily Blog NEWS WIRE)

Federal probe focuses on wife of L.A. City Atty. Delgadillo
via Los Angeles Times - Print Edition on 8/20/08
Investigators are seeking information about her consulting business and taxes, sources say. Federal authorities investigating Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and his wife are seeking information about her consulting business and taxes, according to sources familiar with the inquiry.

Financials Slammed Again As Pros See Crisis Growing
via CNBC Top News and Analysis on 8/20/08
The financial industry was hit with more downgrades and dire predictions, continuing a drumbeat of bad news for the already battered sector.

New principals begin work in L.A. mayor's schools partnership
via L.A. Times - Education on 8/20/08
They are hired as part of an ambitious, high-stakes effort to improve some of the lowest-achieving campuses. Tim Sullivan's first day as Markham Middle School's principal was Monday. He quickly found out that the computers didn't recognize his employee identification number and that he didn't have enough staff to register about 300 sixth-graders for classes the next day.

In L.A., majority of `mayor's school' principals transferred out
via News by editor@dailynews.com (George B. Sánchez, Staff Writer) on 8/19/08
Just five months after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took control of 10 of Los Angeles' lowest-performing schools, principals at seven of the sites requested transfers that left the mayor's reform partnership searching for replacements a few months before classes started.

Board approves law that holds parents accountable for kids' graffiti
via L.A. Times - California Local News on 8/20/08
The L.A. County supervisors' measure will allow authorities to hold taggers and their parents liable for civil damages. Seeking to hit graffiti vandals and their parents in the pocketbook, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure that would allow authorities to hold taggers -- and their parents -- liable for civil damages. It takes effect in 30 days.

NAKED CITY, a daily news report
via Ron Kaye L.A. by Ron Kaye on 8/20/08
Times gets scooped on feds probe of Rocky -- it's Sam Zell's fault Clearly, there can't be any other explanation for the San Francisco Chronicle of all papers scooping the Times on the federal probe of City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo -- it's got to be Zell's fault, isn't everything?At least it seems that way if you listen to KCRW and KPPC and all the coverage they've given to blaming the Times' decline and fall on the guy who bought the paper a year ago instead of the people who ran it for years.
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City Council: Can You Post Quarterly Financial Report on LACity.org Website, Please
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 8/18/08
A GOOD COMMENT FROM ZUMA'S INBOX: ZumaDogg@Mayor09.com: Zuma - Could you raise the Question to City Council and challenge them topost quarterly financial report on their WEB site: Budget...Go to LADailyBlog.com for full story.

Board of County Stupidvisors Says "YES" To Holding Parents Accountable For Their Kid's Graffiti via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 8/19/08
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF STUPIDVISORS PASS GRAFFITI LAW TO HOLD PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE: LOL! Let me be perfectly blunt. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCING YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS GRAFFITI PROBLEM AND...Go to LADailyBlog.com for full story.

Leimert Park Action Gets Curiouser and Curiouser
via Mayor Sam's Sister City - Home of Los Angeles Politics by (Michael Higby) on 8/20/08
Controversy continues over the harassment of the Shaw Family at Leimert Park last weekend as they sought signatures for petitions to place Jamiel's Law on the ballot. Debate has continued over who was involved and who was responsible for the law enforcement operation during which the Shaws and...

Oil jumps ahead of supply report
via Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com on 8/20/08
Oil prices rose Wednesday ahead of the government's weekly energy supply report as the market looks for a fresh reading on the slumping demand for energy.

Fed officials say must be ready to curb inflation
via Reuters: Business News on 8/19/08
ASPEN, Colo. (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve must be ready to take action if slowing economic growth fails to curb inflation stemming from higher food and energy prices, two top Fed policy-makers said on Tuesday, indicating that higher interest rates may be needed.

Board approves law that holds parents accountable for kids' graffiti
via Los Angeles Times - Top News on 8/19/08
The L.A. County supervisors' measure will allow authorities to hold taggers and their parents liable for civil damages. Seeking to hit graffiti vandals and their parents in the pocketbook, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a measure that would allow authorities to hold taggers -- and their parents -- liable for civil damages.

Griffith Park fires were deliberately set
via KABC - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports on 8/19/08
A rash of fires in Griffith Park over the last three weeks were deliberately set.

Zuma Dogg's "The Shady Report" (Monthly Report and Election Special Thread)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 8/19/08
With Council on recess, and that summer vacation feel in the air between now and Labor Day, now is a good time to post a monthly recap, "The Shady Report" thread, with links to the stories I hope you...Go to LADailyBlog.com for full story.