In brief: L.A. abandons red light cameras
Los Angeles – After months of intense debate over the fate and effectiveness of red light cameras, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday delivered a final blow to the controversial program, voting unanimously to shut it down July 31.
The 13-0 vote came in the wake of a backlash over disclosures that paying hefty fines for camera-issued tickets is considered “voluntary” by city officials. That’s because the Los Angeles County Superior Court has opted not to aggressively enforce collections against those who simply ignore the citations.
“Let it die, enough already,” Councilman Paul Krekorian begged his colleagues. “Let’s just be done with this and move on.”
‘Jeopardy!’ host injured in pursuit
San Francisco – “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek said he snapped his Achilles tendon while running after a burglar who had stolen cash, a bracelet and other items from his San Francisco hotel room.
The 71-year-old Trebek told KGO-TV that he also injured his other leg when he fell down during the chase early Wednesday. He was on crutches later Wednesday when he hosted the National Geographic World Championship at Google headquarters in Mountain View.
San Francisco police Lt. Troy Dangerfield said 56-year-old old Lucinda Moyers was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and receiving stolen property. The cash and bracelet hadn’t been found but other items were recovered. Dangerfield said officers found several items near the hotel ice machine.
Trebek is scheduled for surgery on Friday and is expected to be in a cast for six weeks.
Circumcision ban won’t go to ballot
San Francisco – San Francisco residents will not be voting in November on whether to prohibit circumcision after all, according to a tentative ruling by a Superior Court judge made public Wednesday.
Judge Loretta M. Giorgi ordered the city’s director of elections to strike the measure from the ballot because she said it was “expressly pre-empted” by the California Business and Professions Code.
Under that statute, only the state is allowed to regulate medical procedures, and “the evidence presented is overwhelmingly persuasive that circumcision is a widely practiced medical procedure,” the ruling said.