LA Train Riders Mourn Victims

California dumps responsibility onto county, city

(NEWSER) - The good news for California is that its state prison system has a lot fewer prisoners and parolees to deal with. The bad news, according to the mayor and police chief of Los Angeles, is that crime on the streets is going to rise. The state last weekend shifted responsibility for thousands of parolees and inmates onto local jurisdictions, in part to cut costs and in part to comply with a Supreme Court order to improve prison overcrowding, reports the Wall Street Journal . More»

Teachers union says plan will lead to 'chaos in education system'

(NEWSER) - The mayor of Los Angeles wants to allow outside groups to place bids for control of hundreds of the city’s schools, the LA Times reports. Antonia Villaraigosa’s education reforms would allow bidding by charter-school organizations and other education nonprofits to run 50 schools scheduled to open over the next four years. Controversially, the mayor also wants to extend such groups the opportunity to take over hundreds of existing schools ranked “failing” under federal criteria. More»

(NEWSER) - The mayor of Los Angeles wants the city to follow Chicago’s lead and privatize parking meters and garages to stem the city's budget crisis, the LA Times reports. Antonio Villaraigosa says LA can pull in at least $80 million by leasing meters and six city garages to private companies. Critics, noting a backlash in Chicago after rates were quickly jacked up, aren't pleased. “This is fool’s gold,” one councilman said. “What a stupid idea.” More»

Easy victory paves way for possible 2010 governor bid

(NEWSER) - Antonio Villaraigosa cruised to a second term as mayor of Los Angeles, avoiding a run-off with his nearest rival. With 99% of precincts reporting the mayor had secured 55.5% of the vote, although turnout was low. After a tough first term and the exposure of an extramarital affair, Villaraigosa was banking on a strong showing to bolster a possible gubernatorial run in 2010. More»

Feds find message 22 seconds ahead of fatal Sept. 12 train wreck

(NEWSER) - The engineer steering the Metrolink train that crashed last month sent a text message 22 seconds before the fatal collision, the Los Angeles Times reports. Robert M. Sanchez sent 29 text messages Sept. 12, a federal investigation reveals. The commuter train ran through a red signal and hit a freight train, killing 25 and injuring 135 in California's worst modern train collision. More»