Some headlines for Monday, May 20, 2013

Temperatures in L.A. to heat up to 80s and 90s Monday, then drop

LA Times

Following pleasant weekend weather, Los Angeles residents should expect warmer temperatures on Monday that will heat up downtown and valley areas across the region.

Great hall at LAX’s new Bradley terminal to be named for Antonio Villaraigosa

Daily News

The new international terminal championed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa won’t be finished by the time he leaves office next month, but it will carry his name in a prominent place.

Councilmember Zine Honors Public Safety Officers

Woodland Hills Patch

At his 11th annual Z Awards for ExZellence Thursday, Councilman Dennis Zine honored seven public safety personnel for outstanding service in Los Angeles’ third council district.

Kamala Harris: Gun Control Meeting With Other DAs At LAPD Aims To ‘Eliminate Violence In California’

Huffington Post

Bringing together district attorneys and law enforcement officials from throughout the state, Attorney General Kamala Harris convened a working group Friday to develop a strategy on how to better enforce gun laws, particularly for those prohibited from owning a firearm.

Disaster preparedness should include pet microchipping, says county

Ramona Sentinel

The county’s Department of Animal Services will offer pet microchipping, rabies vaccinations, dog licenses and discount spay and neuter coupons during a clinic from noon to 2 p.m. today at Woodglen Vista Park in Santee, in advance of wildfire season.

Being sociable could save your life in a disaster

Rawstory.com

According to a researcher, being sociable and connected to your neighbors could save your life in the event of an emergency. Writing for New Scientistmagazine, Sociologist Robert Sampson said that an area’s social infrastructure can make a difference in the survival rate of citizens in a natural disaster or other emergency.

Social Media — Citizens’ Expectations on Response

Emergency Management Magazine

Overall, I think we have, as a profession, crossed the great divide in what emergency managers think about social media.  Almost everyone now recognizes that it is not a fad, it may have value, people are using it widely in disasters and perhaps we should be engaged somehow as an agency.

Here are a few headlines for April 24, 2013.

New pollution study ranks Los Angeles areas in top 10 worst in state

Daily News

A statewide snapshot measuring the cumulative impact of pollution on public health reported that of the top 10 percent most polluted ZIP codes in the state, half are in Southern California. Three Los Angeles County communities are especially burdened: East Los Angeles, Vernon and Baldwin Park, according to CalEnviroScreen 1.0, an interactive tool released Tuesday by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

LAPD hosting Van Nuys gun buyback May 4

Daily News

The city of Los Angeles will host four anonymous gun buybacks, including one in Van Nuys, on May 4.

Study: Yes, L.A. has the worst traffic in the country — again

LA Times

Los Angeles has reclaimed the dubious honor of having the worst traffic in the United States, according to an annual congestion scorecard.

L.A. City Council jumps into San Onofre debate

LA Times

Los Angeles became the latest — and largest — city to weigh in on the fate of the San Onofre nuclear plant Tuesday, with the City Council unanimously passing a resolution calling on federal regulators to hold off on deciding whether the plant can restart.

L.A. City Council votes to move away from coal-fired energy

LA Times

The Los Angeles City Council approved a plan Tuesday to begin moving away from coal-fired energy, despite warnings from a Department of Water and Power watchdog that the shift could cost more than $650 million.

Santa Monica College temporarily evacuated after bomb threat

LA Times

Santa Monica College was evacuated Tuesday because of a bomb threat, police said.

About 12:30 p.m. Santa Monica police were requested to assist in evacuating the main campus quad, said Santa Monica police Sgt. Richard Lewis. The threat was cleared about 1:30 p.m.

Poll: Terrorism as Part of Life

ABC News

Since the early post-9/11 years, Americans have expected terrorism. Majorities have said they think “occasional acts of terrorism in the U.S. will be a part of life in the future,” when the Pew Research Center has asked–74 percent thought so in 2003–and while expectations of terrorism have dipped in recent years, the Boston marathon attacks rejuvenated them.

Jittery public, hoax calls add to pressure on law enforcement

LA Times

Someone calls 911 to make a bomb threat, prompting the evacuation of a local TV station as police race to the scene. It turns out to be a hoax.

‘Zombie apocalypse’ invades U. of Michigan campus as part of emergency preparedness exercise

Washington Post

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — You can learn a lot from a zombie. At least that’s what a University of Michigan professor hopes her 31 graduate students took away from Tuesday’s bizarre, albeit bloody, “zombie apocalypse.” The classroom exercise was designed to get School of Public Health students thinking about what the appropriate response should be during a disaster.

A few top headlines for April 23, 2013.

LAPD hosting Van Nuys gun buyback May 4

Daily News

The city of Los Angeles will host four anonymous gun buybacks, including one in Van Nuys, on May 4.

LAX officials say contractor mistakenly triggered emergency alert

LA Times

An emergency message displayed on monitors telling passengers at Los Angeles International Airport to evacuate was mistakenly triggered by a contract worker, airport officials said.

LAX says ‘emergency’ evacuation display was an accident

LA Times

Los Angeles International Airport officials early Tuesday said a message on multiple flight status displays warning passengers to evacuate because of an emergency was an accident.

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LAX officials investigate hacking of flight status boards

LA Times

Operations personnel at Los Angeles International Airport late Monday were reviewing their computer systems to determine how multiple flight status boards were hacked to show an emergency message, authorities told The Times.

Most Americans see terrorist acts as ‘part of life’

LA Times

WASHINGTON — The vast majority of Americans say that occasional acts of terrorism are “part of life,” and many doubt the government can do much more to prevent them, a new poll finds.

About three-quarters of Americans said they agree that “occasional acts of terrorism in the U.S. will be part of life in the future,” according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Only about 1 in 5 disagreed.

LAPD Sees Spike in False Alarms After Boston Bombings; Still Encourages Public to Call With Concerns

NBC 4 News

Since Monday’s deadly twin explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line, law enforcement officials in Los Angeles have been on high alert and flooded with calls from residents reporting suspicious packages.

LAX official: Expect delays because of sequestration furloughs

LA Times

The operator of LAX is “very concerned” about the impact the air traffic controller furloughs will have on flight delays, a Los Angeles World Airports spokeswoman said Monday. 

Fire Department Says Fire Season Has Officially Started

 CBS Local News

MONROVIA (CBSLA.com) — As firefighters come close to full containment of a brush fire in Monrovia, the fire department says that a potentially hazardous fire season has officially begun.

Crime victims in SB County to be notified of rights by phone

Daily Press

SAN BERNARDINO • A mass notification phone system will now be used to contact every victim in every criminal case in San Bernardino County, according to a District Attorney’s office news release.

FEMA to telephone survey 6,000 individuals on its community preparedness efforts

Government Security News

FEMA is planning to conduct a telephone survey among 6,000 individuals or households to determine the effectiveness of the awareness, recruitment and public information campaigns it runs on behalf of its community preparedness programs.

First-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System to occur tomorrow

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with its many federal, state and local partners, is reminding the American public that the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled to occur at 11:am tomorrow.

Superstorms cause ‘seismicity’ and could aid tracking hurricanes

Allvoices.com

Seismometers around the nation recorded the rattling of the seafloor as ocean waves collided last October during superstorm Hurricane Sandy along the eastern seaboard of the United States, according to researchers at the University of Utah reporting in Science Daily.

AFTER BOSTON, A FEW FACTS ABOUT TERRORISM

The New Yorker

As Boston honors and buries the victims of last week’s heinous bombings, it is well to remember, after Friday’s media-intermediated lockdown drama, that for the families of the dead and injured this was an intensely personal and private tragedy. Yesterday, a memorial servicewas held for Martin Richard, the eight-year-old boy who was the youngest victim. This morning was the funeral of Krystle Campbell, a twenty-nine-year-old trainee restaurant manager. Tonight, a memorial service will be held for Lu Lingzi, a twenty-three-year-old graduate student from China.

Health officials trace meningitis roots to quash outbreak fears

LA Times

L.A. County officials said they compared a strain of meningitis from a case in April that killed a West Hollywood lawyer to others in the county to determine whether there was an outbreak.

Here are a few top headlines for April 19, 2013.

Shorts-and-sunscreen weather on tap for Southern California

LA Times

Southern Californians will get a sneak preview of summer this weekend when temperatures climb to 10 degrees warmer than normal for the time of year, forecasters said.

Police respond to spate of Southern California bomb threats

LA Times

Bomb squads from Hollywood to East L.A. to Berkeley have been busy as law enforcement officers responded to multiple bomb threats in the wake of the Boston Marathon attack.

Security will be tightened at upcoming Los Angeles public events

Daily News

With thousands of people expected to fill the streets of Los Angeles for CicLAvia and other events this weekend, law enforcement officials say they are stepping up security because of the Boston bombings, even in the absence of a credible threat in Los Angeles.

Bomb threat at Hooters closes Hollywood Boulevard
LA Times

Hollywood Boulevard was temporarily closed Thursday over a bomb scare at a Hooters restaurant.

Bomb squad responds to pressure-cooker-like device in Silver Lake

LA Times

An abandoned item appearing to be a pressure or rice cooker led a Los Angeles Police Departmentbomb squad to respond Wednesday to a Ralph’s parking lot in Silver Lake.

LAPD Reminds Public To Use ‘iWatch’ Website In Wake Of Boston Bombings

CBS Local News

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —The Los Angeles Police Department is reminding the public Thursday of a website designed for residents to report suspicious activity or behavior in wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Police Blow Up Suspicious Package in Silver Lake Shopping Center [Photos]

Echo Park Patch

A suspicious package found in a shopping mall on Glendale Boulevard in Silver Lake Wednesday afternoon turned out to be no threat, according to officers at the scene.

Before Boston, concerns about readiness in Massachusetts, other states

Miami Herald

WASHINGTON — Even before Monday’s deadly bombing at the Boston Marathon, concern was growing about soft targets and the level of counter-terrorism preparedness in Massachusetts and numerous other states

Majority of Americans Unaware of DHS Program to Report Potential Terrorist Activity, Survey Finds

HS Today

A new survey released only hours before Monday’s horrific terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon found that more than 56 percent of Americans said they’d never heard anything about the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign.

Here are a few top headlines for April 12, 2013

Cool temperatures, ‘very heavy drizzle’ on tap this weekend

LA Times

Southern California is expected to experience cool, cloudy conditions and possibly some light rain this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Security guard killed at Panorama City strip mall, LAPD says

LA Times

A security guard was shot and killed near a liquor store in a Panorama City strip mall, Los Angeles police said Thursday night.

Case of meningitis-related bacterial illness reported in L.A. County

LA Times

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been alerted about a Los Angeles County case of meningococcal infection, a bacteria-caused illness that can lead to potentially deadly meningitis, according to a spokesperson.

Sheriff considers following LAPD’s no-report policy on ‘swatting

LA Times

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will “seriously consider” following the Los Angeles Police Department’s new policies on confirming “swatting” incidents against celebrities, a department officials said.

Mountain lion captured in Glendale-area neighborhood

Daily News

GLENDALE, Calif. - A large mountain lion found wandering through backyards in the Glendale area has been tranquilized and captured.

LAFD Airlifts Hiker In Distress Near Castle Peak

KCBS

WEST HILLS (CBSLA.com) —A hiker was airlifted Thursday in the Woodland Hills area after reportedly suffering from a medical issue.

LA mayor’s office evacuated over powder in letter

Sacramento Bee

LOS ANGELES — Officials say part of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office was evacuated after a letter was received with white powder inside.

Donated LAFD Equipment on Display at Woodland Hills Fire Station

LAFD Blog

LOS ANGELES - On Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2013, Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings visited Fire Station 84 in Woodland Hills where newly donated emergency services equipment was displayed.

Napolitano: DHS Targeting Human Traffickers

Officer.com

The Obama administration unveiled in Washington Tuesday a plan aimed at doing a better job of stopping human trafficking.

Here are a few top headlines for April 8, 2013

High-wind advisory issued for Southern California

LA Times

A wind-whipped Monday is expected in Southern California as a cold front blasts a stream of cool air through the coast and into the valleys, the National Weather Service said.

Neighborhood meetings in the San Fernando Valley

Daily News

THIS WEEK Community Meetings Calendar …

LAPD tries to crack down on celebrity ‘swatting’

LA Times

The Los Angeles Police Department says it’s trying to get tough on crank callers who “swat” the homes of celebrities. The most recent example came Thursday when singer Rihanna’s home was swatted.

Metrolink train hits dump truck, 13 injured

LA Times

A Metrolink commuter train collided with a dump truck near Pacoima, injuring more than a dozen people Saturday, authorities said.

Crime in Los Angeles drops in first quarter of 2013

KPCC

Crime in Los Angeles dropped in the first three months of this year, with violent crimes dropping by half over the past eight years, top city officials said Friday.

Weather, disaster agencies turn to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

Star Tribune

With the season for quick-hitting storms about to barge into Minnesota, social media are about to become a key news tool.

A feeder program for the LAPD

LA Times

The subject of the morning class was criminal investigation, and there was no hesitation on the part of the 17-year-old when he was asked to stand and explain aggravated assault.

Here are a few top headlines for March 12, 2013

California earthquake: Aftershocks continue for second day

LA Times

A magnitude-4.7 earthquake in Riverside County continued to produce aftershocks for a second day.

There were more than a dozen small aftershocks Tuesday morning, after more than 150 on Monday. All were small and probably not felt by residents in the Anza area.

L.A. population will be much older, more settled, study says

LA Times

The future of Los Angeles will be a grayer one, as aging boomers, slowing immigration and shrinking birthrates radically change the face of the county, a new study from USC predicts.

data over the last 13 years.

L.A. to neighborhood councils: Cancel elections or help pay for them

Daily News

With the failure of Measure A in last week’s election, the city’s 95 neighborhood councils are being asked to weigh in on a proposal to either cancel their elections next year or pay up to 20 percent of their annual $37,500 budget to cover the costs.

LA: Prepare for 2 weeks if disaster hits

UPI.com

LOS ANGELES, March 11 (UPI) — Los Angeles fire officials, on the anniversary of Japan’s devastating earthquake, advised people to be ready to be on their own for two weeks if disaster hits.

How Do You Have the Time?

Social Media 4 Emergency Management 

There is one question that is asked at nearly EVERY social media presentation and it is always “the resource question.”